Patents Examined by Adam Tissot
  • Patent number: 9610950
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle travel control apparatus, mounted on a host vehicle, which performs travel control of the host vehicle on the basis of a positional relationship between the host vehicle and a preceding vehicle traveling ahead of the host vehicle, the vehicle travel control apparatus including a millimeter wave sensor that acquires target data of the preceding vehicle by receiving a reflected wave of an emitted electromagnetic wave; and an ECU that determines the presence or absence of a preceding vehicle traveling directly ahead of the host vehicle on the basis of the target data acquired by the millimeter wave sensor and that performs acceleration and deceleration control of the host vehicle on the basis of the presence or absence of the preceding vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroki Goto
  • Patent number: 9604640
    Abstract: Disclosed is a collision avoidance assistance device including: an assistance region setting unit is configured to set an assistance region in the vicinity of a vehicle based on a set lateral acceleration determined according to a vehicle speed during steering; and an assistance control unit is configured to permit collision avoidance assistance for the vehicle when an obstacle is detected within the assistance region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuki Yoshihama, Toshinori Okita
  • Patent number: 9598006
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a turn signal includes a turn signal switch configured to include at least one of operation modes of a lane change mode and a turn mode. A steering angle sensor is configured to detect a steering angle of a vehicle. A controller is configured to control the turn signal switch to turn on and off a turn signal lamp according to an operation mode and to turn off the turn signal lamp in at least one of a case in which the steering angle, which returns in a reverse direction to a course change direction detected by the steering angle sensor, reaches a preset angle and a case in which an operation time of the turn signal switch exceeds a preset time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION, DAESUNG ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sung Eun Kim, Bong Gi Song, Seag Woo Lee
  • Patent number: 9595198
    Abstract: An unmanned aerial system (UAS) position reporting system may include an air traffic control reporting system (ATC-RS) coupled with a ground control station (GCS) of a UAS and at least one network-connected remote terminal. The ATC-RS may include an automatic dependent surveillance broadcast (ADS-B) and traffic information services broadcast (TIS-B) transceiver and one or more telecommunications modems. The ATC-RS may receive position data of at least one UAS in an airspace from the GCS and the at least one network-connected remote terminal and selectively communicate the position of the at least one UAS in the airspace to a civilian air traffic control center (ATC), to a military command and control (C2) communication center, or to both through the ADS-B and TIS-B transceiver. The ATC-RS may display the position of the at least one UAS in the airspace on a display screen coupled with the ATC-RS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Kutta Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas V. Limbaugh, David H. Barnhard, Thomas H. Rychener
  • Patent number: 9592714
    Abstract: A vehicle control device includes a spring mechanism configured to connect a sprung member and an unsprung member of a vehicle, generate a spring force according to a relative displacement between the sprung member and the unsprung member, and be able to variably control the spring force, and a damping mechanism configured to connect the sprung member and the unsprung member, generate a damping force for damping a relative motion between the sprung member and the unsprung member, and be able to variably control the damping force, wherein the spring mechanism and the damping mechanism are controlled based on a first physical quantity relating to a sprung vibration of the vehicle and a second physical quantity relating to an unsprung vibration of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yanqing Liu, Jin Hozumi, Masaaki Tabata
  • Patent number: 9592798
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a brake system including a main brake applying braking force to a wheel of a vehicle when the vehicle travels, a parking brake applying braking force to the wheel of the vehicle when the vehicle is parked, and a parking brake controller operating the main brake when the parked vehicle is sensed to move above a predetermined reference value and stopping the operation of the main brake after increasing locking force of the parking brake when the movement of the vehicle is stopped according to the operation of the main brake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Chan Won Lee
  • Patent number: 9593591
    Abstract: A control for a turbine engine using electrical machines monitors engine health and allocates power extraction between the electrical machines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven D. Phillips, Tom M. Neuman, Michael Armstrong
  • Patent number: 9587946
    Abstract: A navigation device presenting guide information based on a photographed image of a boarding guide display item, such as a station name signboard, a roll sign, or a route map, that can be photographed in a station yard. The device acquires a photographed image of a boarding guide display item by controlling the photographing unit, identifies display content from the photographed image of the boarding guide display item of a transportation device acquired and specifying a route, station name, and traveling direction of a current position based on the identified display content and traffic network data stored in the storage unit, extracts station names present in the traveling direction from the traffic network data based on the route, station name, and traveling direction of the current position, and generates guide information including at least part of the extracted station names, and outputs at least part of the generated guide information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: NAVITIME JAPAN CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kosuke Uetake
  • Patent number: 9573482
    Abstract: There is provided an information processing apparatus including a travelable information display unit that displays before a discharge, regarding motor-driven movable bodies of a discharge source and a discharge destination driven by using electric power of batteries, information about places to which the motor-driven movable body of the discharge source can move using electric power of the battery left after the discharge by assuming, when information about a discharge amount discharged from the battery of the motor-driven movable body of the discharge source toward the motor-driven movable body of the discharge destination that receives power supply is input, a case in which the discharge amount is discharged from the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshihito Ishibashi
  • Patent number: 9563528
    Abstract: A mobile apparatus and a localization method thereof which perform localization of the mobile apparatus using a distributed filter system including a plurality of local filters independently operated and one fusion filter integrating results of localization performed through the respective local filters, and additionally apply accurate topological absolute position information to the distributed filter system to improve localization performance (accuracy, convergence and speed in localization, etc.) of the mobile apparatus on a wide space. The mobile apparatus includes at least one sensor, at least one first distribution filter generating current relative position information using a value detected by the at least one sensor, at least one second distribution filter generating current absolute position information using the value detected by the at least one sensor, and a fusion filter integrating the relative position information and the absolute position information to perform localization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sung Hwan Ahn, No San Kwak, Kyung Shik Roh, Suk June Yoon, Seung Yong Hyung
  • Patent number: 9561790
    Abstract: A control device is configured to select one of a CD (Charge Depleting) mode in which an SOC of a power storage device is consumed and a CS (Charge Sustaining) mode in which the SOC is maintained within a predetermined range. The CS mode includes a first CS mode selected based on an intention of a driver, and a second CS mode selected when the SOC decreases to a predetermined amount. The predetermined range in the first CS mode is narrower than the predetermined range in the second CS mode. As a result, a distance for which a vehicle can travel using only the drive force of a rotating electric machine after mode switching from the CS mode to the CD mode based on the intention of the driver can be ensured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masato Kanehara
  • Patent number: 9558663
    Abstract: Driving condition monitoring system and method includes animal detecting components that detect presence of an animal, each located in a stationary mounting structure in a vicinity of the travel surface and apart from the travel surface, and a vehicle detecting sensor coupled to each animal detecting component and that is activated to detect the presence of a vehicle within a set distance therefrom only when the animal detecting component coupled to the vehicle detecting sensor detects the presence of an animal in the vicinity of the animal detecting component. A communication system is coupled to each animal detecting component and communicates directly to the vehicle or occupant thereof, the detected presence of an animal in the vicinity of the animal detecting component when the vehicle detecting sensor coupled to the animal detecting component detects the presence of a vehicle within the set distance from the vehicle detecting sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Intelligent Technologies International, Inc.
    Inventor: David S Breed
  • Patent number: 9534901
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for generating a route plan for accessing harvestable resources is provided. A processor receives a node layout for a location with harvestable resources, wherein the location includes at least two parcels. A processor determines a first route network for the location at a first time step. A processor determines a second route network for the location at a second time step. A processor generates a first route plan is based, at least in part, on the first route network and the second route network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Cecilia J. Aas, Raymond S. Glover
  • Patent number: 9534918
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate generally to identifying and displaying traffic lanes that are available for autonomous driving. This information may be displayed to a driver of a vehicle having an autonomous driving mode, in order to inform the driver of where he or she can use the autonomous driving mode. In one example, the display may visually distinguishing between lanes that are available for auto-drive from those that are not. The display may also include an indicator of the position of a lane (autodrive or not) currently occupied by the vehicle. In addition, if that lane is an autodrive lane the display may include information indicating how much further the vehicle may continue in the autonomous driving mode in that particular lane. The display may also display information indicating the remaining autodrive distance in other lanes as well as the lane with the greatest remaining autodrive distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Philip Nemec, Brian Douglas Cullinane, Manuel Christian Clement, Robertus Christianus Elisabeth Mariet
  • Patent number: 9528449
    Abstract: A method and system is disclosed for blending between different torque maps of a vehicle in a smooth and progressive manner. Blending is delayed if the vehicle driver cannot detect that blending is taking place, for example when the difference between a source map and target map is below a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Limited
    Inventors: Paul Darnell, Elliot Hemes, Stephen Stacey
  • Patent number: 9528836
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for generating a route plan for accessing harvestable resources is provided. A processor receives a node layout for a location with harvestable resources, wherein the location includes at least two parcels. A processor determines a first route network for the location at a first time step. A processor determines a second route network for the location at a second time step. A processor generates a first route plan is based, at least in part, on the first route network and the second route network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Cecilia J. Aas, Raymond S. Glover
  • Patent number: 9528602
    Abstract: A door control system with transmission control includes a transmission control apparatus for controlling a shift-by-wire type transmission and a door control apparatus for controlling opening and closing of a door of a vehicle. The door control apparatus outputs a shift lock request to the transmission control apparatus when a door switch is manipulated to open. The door control apparatus checks whether a shift range signal is a non-drive range by setting a delay from the output of the shift lock request. When the shift range is the non-drive range, the door control apparatus opens the door. When the door switch is manipulated to close, the transmission control apparatus does not output the shift lock request and closes the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroaki Sugiura
  • Patent number: 9514642
    Abstract: A method for queue recognition by wireless vehicle to vehicle communication includes: checking a relevance for surrounding vehicles from which an ego vehicle receives messages by a comparison with relevance criteria and establishing a relevance if the relevance criteria are satisfied; selecting the speed and position values that are associated with relevant surrounding vehicles and have the speed values indicating a same direction of travel as the ego vehicle; defining a first virtual vehicle to which mean values of selected speed and position values are allocated as values for the at least one first virtual vehicle; recording a time profile of the speed and position values of the at least one first virtual vehicle; recording, as a change value, the time profile of changes in the speed and position values of the first virtual vehicle; and comparing the change value with a queue criterion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Lotz, Hongjun Pu, Fa Zhang
  • Patent number: 9511766
    Abstract: In an inter-vehicle control apparatus, a controller performs acceleration control of an own vehicle, based on an actual inter-vehicle physical quantity and a target inter-vehicle physical quantity. A limiter sets a limit value for a target jerk during the acceleration control. A detector detects an occurrence of at least one of: an event in which the inter-vehicle distance becomes discontinuously shorter; and an event in which a target inter-vehicle distance corresponding to the target inter-vehicle physical quantity becomes discontinuously longer. A determiner determines a risk of collision with the preceding vehicle, based on an operation state of the preceding vehicle in relation to the own vehicle. When at least one of the events is detected, the limiter sets the limit value to a value based on the risk of collision such that change in deceleration of the own vehicle is kept lower as the risk of collision decreases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takuma Sudou, Jin Kurumisawa, Toyohito Nozawa, Tatsuya Namikiri
  • Patent number: 9511759
    Abstract: A clutch control device for a work vehicle includes a determination unit that determines as to whether or not a clutch cutoff condition has been established based upon whether or not the accelerator pedal is being operated, as determined by the accelerator pedal operation determination unit, the vehicle speed of the work vehicle detected by the vehicle speed detection unit and the braking force of the work vehicle detected by the braking force detection unit; and a clutch control unit that controls engagement/release of a clutch so as to release the clutch when the determination unit determines that the clutch cutoff condition has been established.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: KCM Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Hyodo, Tetsuji Tanaka, Isamu Aoki, Keigo Kikuchi