Patents Examined by Adam D Tissot
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Patent number: 10997867Abstract: A method and a system for establishing an approach to hover path for a rotorcraft enabling it to approach a mobile target and to hover relative to the target. An initial approach to hover path is firstly defined from measurements of the characteristics of the respective routes of the target and of the rotorcraft and also of the wind conditions to which the rotorcraft is subjected. During the flight of the rotorcraft, a required approach to hover path is determined in real time as a function of potential variations in the characteristics of the target, of the rotorcraft, and of the wind. Thereafter, the initial path is updated by the required path where necessary in order to guarantee safety of the approach to hover path for the rotorcraft relative to the target.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2017Date of Patent: May 4, 2021Assignee: AIRBUS HELICOPTERSInventor: Nicolas Canale
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Patent number: 10991261Abstract: An airfield visibility monitoring system may include a measurement unit to emit one or more pulses of electromagnetic radiation along an aircraft glideslope associated with a runway and detect backscattered radiation from the glideslope associated with the emitted pulses. The measurement unit may further determine round-trip times between emission of the one or more pulses and detection of the backscattered radiation. The system may further include a controller. The controller may determine values of a visibility metric for multiple distances from the measurement unit along the glideslope based on the detected backscattered radiation and round-trip times, determine values of the visibility metric for multiple altitudes based on the values of the visibility metric along the glideslope, and direct an airfield communication unit to broadcast values of the visibility metric for at least some of the altitudes.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2018Date of Patent: April 27, 2021Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.Inventor: Carlo L. Tiana
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Patent number: 10983223Abstract: A method for determining geolocation of a UAV near a power grid includes detecting, via a transceiver, a carrier signal transmitted from a first grid node to identify the node's fixed geolocation. A response signal may be transmitted from a second grid node in response to the carrier signal to identify a fixed geolocation of the second grid node, or the UAV may process the carrier signal. A processor determines time-of-flight of the carrier signal, e.g., using the response signal, and derives the UAV's geolocation using the time-of-flight. Determining time-of-flight may include referencing a lookup table indexed by time-of-arrival at the transceiver of the modulated carrier and response signals. A timestamp may indicate time-of-transmission of the carrier and response signals, respectively. Deriving geolocation may include subtracting time-of-transmission of the response signal from that of the carrier signal. A system includes the processor and transceiver.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2018Date of Patent: April 20, 2021Assignee: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AS REPRESENTED BY THE ADMINISTRATOR OF NASAInventors: Andrew J. Moore, Scott B. Dorsey
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Patent number: 10974615Abstract: An unmanned flying object includes a battery remaining quantity acquirer that acquires a remaining quantity of a battery; an arrival decider that, when the unmanned flying object starts traveling from a first point at which the unmanned flying object is currently located to a second point through which the unmanned flying object passes next to the first point, decides whether the unmanned flying object can arrive at the second point, on the basis of an end time of a time zone in which the unmanned flying object is permitted to fly and the remaining quantity of the battery; and a flight controller that, if it is decided that the unmanned flying object can arrive at the second point, causes the unmanned flying object to depart for the second point.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2017Date of Patent: April 13, 2021Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORPORATION OF AMERICAInventor: Shunsuke Kuhara
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Patent number: 10970903Abstract: The disclosed computer-implemented method may include displaying vehicle environment awareness. In some embodiments, a visualization system may display an abstract representation of a vehicle's physical environment via a mobile device and/or a device embedded in the vehicle. For example, the visualization may use a voxel grid to represent the environment and may alter characteristics of shapes in the grid to increase their visual prominence when the sensors of the vehicle detect that an object is occupying the space represented by the shapes. In some embodiments, the visualization may gradually increase and reduce the visual prominence of shapes in the grid to create a soothing wave effect. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2019Date of Patent: April 6, 2021Assignee: Lyft, Inc.Inventors: Han Han Xue, Jisi Guo, Katherine Marisa Dill, Johan Ulrich Lewin Jessen, Audrey Liu, Oleg Vadim Panichev, Robert Earl Rasmusson, Jr.
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Patent number: 10967824Abstract: An apparatus includes a first capture device, a second capture device and a processor. The first capture device may generate a first plurality of video frames corresponding to an interior view of a vehicle. The second capture device may generate a second plurality of video frames corresponding to an area outside of the vehicle. The processor may be configured to perform operations to detect objects in the video frames, detect occupants of the vehicle based on the objects detected in the first video frames, determine whether a potential collision is unavoidable based on the objects detected in the second video frames and select a reaction if the potential collision is unavoidable. The reaction may be selected to protect occupants determined to be vulnerable based on characteristics of the occupants. The characteristics may be determined by performing the operations on each of the occupants.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2018Date of Patent: April 6, 2021Assignee: Ambarella International LPInventors: Shimon Pertsel, Patrick Martin
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Patent number: 10967902Abstract: A method and equipment for calibrating the steering angle sensor system of an electric steering system of a transportation vehicle during a software update, wherein the steering angle sensor system has a rotor position sensor for determining the rotor position of the electric motor of the electric steering system and the steering angle is derived from the rotor position. The method includes starting the software update, reading in and saving the present position data of the electric motor of the steering system, reading in and saving the memory values of the present calibration of the steering angle sensor system, cyclically monitoring the rotor position of the electric motor using the rotor position sensor, performing the software update, terminating the software update, and writing back the memory values of the calibration and releasing the software update.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2018Date of Patent: April 6, 2021Inventors: Ingo Swieter, Luis Alberto Cisterna
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Patent number: 10968607Abstract: When correcting an error caused by deviation of an attitude detection device with respect to a work machine including a swing body which swings, a working implement being attached to the swing body, the attitude detection device outputting an attitude of the work machine, the error is corrected by using a first position which is a position of a part of the work machine when the work machine is in a first attitude and a second position which is a position of the part when the work machine is in a second attitude.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2015Date of Patent: April 6, 2021Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.Inventors: Tsutomu Iwamura, Masanobu Seki, Masashi Ichihara, Kenjiro Shimada, Satoru Shintani, Yuki Shimano, Eiji Ishibashi
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Vehicle systems for adjusting resistance or sensitivity of steering wheels and/or accelerator pedals
Patent number: 10960924Abstract: Vehicle systems are disclosed. A vehicle system includes one or more sensors, a steering wheel, an accelerator pedal, a steering wheel actuator, an accelerator pedal actuator, and a controller. The controller is communicatively coupled to the one or more sensors and the steering sensitivity adjusting unit. The controller includes at least one processor and at least one memory module storing computer readable and executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the controller to detect an object based on output from the one or more sensors, and send to the steering sensitivity adjusting unit an instruction for adjusting a sensitivity of the steering wheel in response to detecting the object.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2017Date of Patent: March 30, 2021Assignee: TOYOTA RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC.Inventors: Todd J. Rowell, Michael L. Elkins -
Patent number: 10960771Abstract: A method is provided for increasing the operating range of a vehicle which is driven by an electric motor. The method determines that a state of charge reserve of an energy store of the vehicle should be used for operating the electric motor. The state of charge reserve lies outside a state of charge range which is intended for the energy store. In response to this, the method uses electrical energy from the state of charge reserve of the energy store in order to operate the electric motor of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2016Date of Patent: March 30, 2021Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AktiengesellschaftInventors: Thomas Christ, Michael Rath
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Patent number: 10964135Abstract: A control circuit configured to control an actuator mounted in a vehicle performs a self-diagnostic procedure. A monitoring circuit is configured to monitor an operating state of the control circuit based on diagnostic information resulting from the self-diagnostic procedure. When determining that the control circuit operates abnormally, the monitoring circuit blocks a control signal output from the control circuit to the actuator and outputs a reset signal to initialize the control circuit while maintaining the diagnostic information resulting from the self-diagnostic procedure in a RAM. Furthermore, when a predetermined condition is further satisfied, the monitoring circuit stops outputting the reset signal, thereby restarting the control circuit so that the control circuit performs abnormality response processing.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2018Date of Patent: March 30, 2021Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.Inventor: Toshihiro Takahashi
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Patent number: 10956759Abstract: An apparatus includes a capture device and a processor. The capture device may be configured to generate a plurality of video frames corresponding to an interior view of a vehicle. The processor may be configured to perform operations to detect objects in the video frames, detect occupants of the vehicle and seats of the vehicle based on the objects detected in the video frames, determine an age of the occupants based on characteristics of the occupants and select a reaction if the age of the occupant is below a threshold for the seat. The threshold may be based on a location of the seat within the vehicle. The characteristics may be determined by performing the operations on each of the occupants.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2018Date of Patent: March 23, 2021Assignee: Ambarella International LPInventors: Shimon Pertsel, Patrick Martin
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Patent number: 10953850Abstract: An apparatus includes a capture device and a processor. The capture device may be configured to generate a plurality of video frames corresponding to an interior view of a vehicle. The processor may be configured to perform operations to detect objects in the video frames, detect (a) occupants of the vehicle and (b) seats of the vehicle based on the objects detected in the video frames, determine a status of a seatbelt for each of the occupants and select a reaction based on (a) a state of the seatbelt and (b) characteristics of the occupants. The reaction may be selected to encourage proper usage of the seatbelt based on the characteristics of the occupants. The characteristics may be determined by performing the operations on each of the occupants.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2018Date of Patent: March 23, 2021Assignee: Ambarella International LPInventors: Shimon Pertsel, Patrick Martin
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Patent number: 10957125Abstract: A client computing system (CCS) receives a tool measurement from a measurement tool other than by determining the tool measurement from a vehicle data (VD) message. The CCS generates a VD report including a vehicle identifier of a vehicle associated with the tool measurement and the VD report. The VD report can include temporal and/or spatial identifiers pertaining to the tool measurement. The VD report can be provided to a server computing system (SCS) for storage as part of a VD record associated with the vehicle. The CCS that generated the VD report or another CCS can request the VD report from the SCS. The SCS can determine if the requesting CCS is authorized to receive the VD report to maintain the vehicle owner's privacy. The tool measurement can be selected from a service procedure provided to the CCS from SCS and displayed at the CCS.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2019Date of Patent: March 23, 2021Assignee: Snap-on IncorporatedInventors: Patrick S. Merg, David Costantino, Lester B. Johnson
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Patent number: 10955253Abstract: Disclosed embodiments provide systems and methods for aggregating and displaying tactical information. Multiple navigation routes between a starting location and ending location are computed. Each route is evaluated on a variety of criteria, and a ranked list is presented to a user. Additional information, such as rendering a geographically specific notification, display of a virtual range card, and/or information pertaining to an air support operation may also be rendered. Embodiments further enable issuing of air support requests via a tactile user interface. In this way, pertinent information is rendered in a timely manner to battlefield and commanding personnel to enable effective decision-making.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2018Date of Patent: March 23, 2021Inventor: Alex Mathew
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Patent number: 10946843Abstract: A vehicle travel assistance system includes distributing half of target yawing moment to inner wheels and distributing the rest to outer wheels; increasing the amount of increase in the braking force of the inner wheels as the target yawing moment distributed to the inner wheels increases, and increasing the amount of decrease in the braking force of the outer wheels as the target yawing moment distributed to the outer wheels increases; and causing the braking force of the inner wheels to increase according to the amount of increase in the braking force of the inner wheels, and causing the braking force of the outer wheels to decrease according to the amount of decrease in the braking force of the outer wheels.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2016Date of Patent: March 16, 2021Assignee: ADVICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Yosuke Ohmori, Masaki Shiota, Yosuke Yamada, Yukio Mori
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Patent number: 10933750Abstract: A vehicle may include: a power-supplier; a starting part to receive an ignition command; a drive part to generate driving force, braking force, and steering force using power of the power-supplier; a user interface (UI) to receive power from the power-supplier, a command from a user, and output image information; and a controller to control the drive part and the user interface (UI) upon receiving an ignition command, stop operation of the drive part upon receiving a command of a rest mode, and to perform and control operation of the user interface (UI). The vehicle may further include: an air conditioner to adjust an indoor temperature; an input to receive an operation command of the air conditioner, a target indoor temperature and a rest mode. The controller controls the air conditioner on the basis of detected indoor and outdoor temperatures.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2017Date of Patent: March 2, 2021Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATIONInventors: JongChan Jun, Chang Yu Kim, Jihye Kim, Kwan Sik Jeon, Hongjun Kim, Junsik Hwang, Kwon Hyoung Choi, Jinhyung Lee
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Patent number: 10935989Abstract: Methods and systems for navigating a vehicle along a surface employ a scanner to scan a light beam over the surface; employ light reflected by one or more fiducial markers on the surface onto pixels of a receiver to determine a spatial arrangement of the fiducial markers on the surface; and compare the spatial arrangement of the fiducial markers with a predetermined map of the fiducial markers to determine a location of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2020Date of Patent: March 2, 2021Inventor: Gerard Dirk Smits
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Patent number: 10930154Abstract: A driving support system includes a driving support apparatus that receives a information related to a predetermined spot, determines whether or not the predetermined spot is present ahead in a subject vehicle lane in which a subject vehicle is present based on this information, causes an in-car instrument to perform a predetermined operation based on a relative distance between an object present in an adjacent lane and the subject vehicle when the predetermined spot is not present ahead in the subject vehicle lane, and restrains the in-car instrument from performing the predetermined operation when the predetermined spot is present ahead in the subject vehicle lane.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2018Date of Patent: February 23, 2021Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Hiroyuki Yamada, Makoto Katayama
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Patent number: 10928488Abstract: In one embodiment, a LIDAR device of an autonomous driving vehicle (ADV) includes an array of light emitters to emit a number of light beams to sense a physical range associated with a target. The LIDAR device further includes a prism-shaped mirror assembly having a plurality of joining faces acting as reflective surfaces and a bottom base face. The rotatable platform is configured to rotate with respect to a vertical axis perpendicular to the bottom base face. The light emitters are configured to project the light beams onto the reflective surfaces of the mirror assembly, which are deflected towards the target. The mirror assembly rotates along with the rotatable platform while the array of light emitters remains steady. The LIDAR device further includes one or more light detectors to receive at least a portion of the light beams reflected from the target.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2018Date of Patent: February 23, 2021Assignee: BAIDU USA LLCInventors: Tianjia Sun, Yaoming Shen, Xiangfei Zhou, Yang Han