Patents Examined by Alan D Hutchinson
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Patent number: 10180689Abstract: A vehicle security unit is for a vehicle including at least one data communications bus, an On-Board Diagnostic (OBD) port coupled to the at least one data communications bus, and a vehicle tracking unit to be coupled to the OBD port. The vehicle security unit may include a security unit housing, a short-range security wireless device carried by the security unit housing, and a vehicle security controller carried by the security unit housing and configured to establish a wireless communication link via the short-range security wireless device with the vehicle tracking unit and communicate via the at least one data communications bus responsive to the communication link.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2016Date of Patent: January 15, 2019Assignee: OMEGA PATENTS, L.L.C.Inventor: Kenneth E. Flick
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Patent number: 10178511Abstract: A method including receiving, at a server, vessel AIS information, said AIS information including at least a vessel identifier and a vessel location. Querying a location data store in response to the vessel location, said location data store including port location information. Determining, in response to said querying, whether the vessel is in a port area or port approach area and iteratively receiving, additional AIS information which may be stored as structured data. And calculating port performance metrics in response to the location information, and transmitting those performance metrics through a network.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2016Date of Patent: January 8, 2019Assignee: Marcura Equities FZEInventors: Christian Siemers Haunsoe, Aleksandrs Tarasenko
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Patent number: 10175055Abstract: The invention relates to a navigation method and to a navigation device. In the navigation method, the actual movement of the navigation device and thus of the user of the navigation device is detected. In order for a prescribed destination to be reached, navigation instructions are output by the navigation device. Signals that reflect the actual geometry of the surroundings can be transmitted to the navigation device by a device for detecting the surroundings. If it is recognized that output navigation instructions have not been followed, then the signals that reflect the geometry of the surroundings are detected. Based on the difference between the actual movement and the movement prescribed by the instructions, alternative navigation instructions are determined. In comparison to the originally suggested navigation instructions, the alternative navigation instructions constitute a confirmation in the direction of movement suggested by the original navigation instructions.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2015Date of Patent: January 8, 2019Assignee: ELEKTROBIT AUTOMOTIVE GmbHInventors: Thomas Mayrhofer, Florian Bartels, Heinz Grotter
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Patent number: 10168700Abstract: A method, system, and/or computer program product controls movement and adjusts operations of an aerial drone. A drone camera observes an aerial maneuver physical gesture by a user. The aerial drone then performs an aerial maneuver that correlates to the aerial maneuver physical gesture. The drone camera observes the user performing a physical action. One or more processors associate the physical action with a particular type of activity. A drone on-board computer adjusts an operation of an aerial drone based on the particular type of activity.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2016Date of Patent: January 1, 2019Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Michael S. Gordon, James R. Kozloski, Ashish Kundu, Peter K. Malkin, Clifford A. Pickover
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Patent number: 10168164Abstract: In some implementations, a navigation application can integrate third party services into the navigation application in an easy to use and convenient manner. For example, the navigation application can receive user input indicating that the user is interested obtaining transportation from a ride hailing service. In response to receiving the indication, the navigation application can invoke an application extension for a third party ride hailing application. The navigation application and ride hailing application can then communicate to provide the ride hailing service through the navigation application.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2016Date of Patent: January 1, 2019Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Ryan Shelby, Eric Albert, David Hodge, Curtis Galloway, Tara Teich, Sam Iglesias, Maria D. Ioveva
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Patent number: 10163346Abstract: A computer system, method, and computer program product, for detecting a stay of a vehicle. The computer system includes an interface component configured to periodically receive location data sets (211-1 to 211-n) from one or more location sensors attached to the vehicle. The system further includes a motion detection component configured to detect a stop of the vehicle when at least two consecutive location data sets (211-1, 211-2) represent the same physical location within a tolerance range to define a stop location of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2018Date of Patent: December 25, 2018Assignee: PTV Planung Transport Verkehr AGInventor: Olaf Neumann
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Patent number: 10151589Abstract: An open water navigation apparatus for use by a swimmer, the navigation apparatus includes a pair of swim goggles having a right lens, a left lens, and a head strap, a navigation module retained on the head strap of the pair of swim goggles, and a navigational signal output mechanism connected for signal communications to the navigation module.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2014Date of Patent: December 11, 2018Inventor: Kent Lassen
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Patent number: 10151595Abstract: The present disclosure is related to vehicle navigation systems. The teachings may be embodied in methods for predicting fuel consumption and time of arrival, including: recording a destination user input; calculating a distance to the destination from a current location of the vehicle; recording a driving speed profile for the destination user input or for a route to the destination, as calculated by the vehicle navigation apparatus; storing the driving speed profile together with a driver feature; recording a user input comprising a desired speed, time of arrival, or fuel consumption trend; recording a second destination user input; and calculating the fuel consumption and the time of arrival for the new destination user input on the basis of a route to the further destination, as calculated by the vehicle navigation apparatus, and a consumption value representing fuel consumption of the stored driving speed profile applied to the route.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2015Date of Patent: December 11, 2018Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBHInventor: Tobias Huber
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Patent number: 10144434Abstract: A method and apparatus for identifying a cause for a fuel inefficiency of a vehicle are disclosed. For example, the method categorizes a plurality of vehicles into a plurality of peer groups, determines for each peer group a baseline of a vehicle operation efficiency, determines for each peer group a baseline of driving behavior, identifies at least one vehicle with a vehicle operation efficiency in one peer group of the plurality of peer groups that is an outlier as compared to the baseline of the vehicle operation efficiency associated with the one peer group, determines whether a driving behavior of a driver driving the at least one vehicle is an outlier as compared to the baseline of the driving behavior associated with the one peer group, and identifies a cause for the vehicle operation efficiency being an outlier.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2015Date of Patent: December 4, 2018Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.Inventors: Taylor Smith, Abhay Dabholkar, Charles Drotar
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Patent number: 10137964Abstract: An electrical bicycle operating system comprises a first switch to generate a first transmission control signal, a second switch to generate a second transmission control signal, and a control unit to electrically operate at least one of an electrical bicycle seatpost assembly, an electrical suspension, and a driving unit configured to output an assist force when both the first switch and the second switch are operated concurrently.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2016Date of Patent: November 27, 2018Assignee: SHIMANO INC.Inventors: Yuta Kurokawa, Atsushi Komatsu
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Patent number: 10131376Abstract: A steering controller can control steering of a vehicle and is suitable for precision farm controlling. The steering controller can rotate the steering shaft of the vehicle direct the vehicle on a desired path, for example, using a satellite positioning system. Components of the steering controller are environmental protected by a housing that has an opening extending between its front and rear surfaces. The opening is lined by a shaft. A hub located near the front of the opening can be coupled to the steering shaft of the vehicle. A motor has a stator fixed to the housing and a rotor fixed to the hub. When the housing is attached to a fixed location on the vehicle, the motor can rotate the steering shaft by rotating the hub with respect to the housing. A control module drives the motor based on commands from a guidance module.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2015Date of Patent: November 20, 2018Assignee: AGJUNCTION LLCInventors: Raymond Mortimer, Steven R. Miller, Brian Ganz, James Hutchings, Charles D. Syverson
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Patent number: 10131331Abstract: A braking force control device includes an actuator configured to control a braking force generated in vehicle wheels of a vehicle and a control unit configured to output a braking force command value to the actuator. The control unit is configured to perform at least one of the following processes of generating a braking force command value by performing a filter processing on a required braking force based on a braking operation amount using a filter having a smaller damping ratio than a damping ratio of a pitch motion of the vehicle when the required braking force increases, or generating the braking force command value by performing the filter processing on the required braking force based on the braking operation amount using a filter having a greater damping ratio than the damping ratio of the pitch motion of the vehicle when the required braking force decreases.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2016Date of Patent: November 20, 2018Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Shiro Monzaki, Tamio Kano, Tomoaki Morimoto, Daiji Watanabe
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Patent number: 10124776Abstract: A brake control device includes: an object detector; and an ECU configured to (a) determine, based on an output of the object detector, whether a predetermined condition that there is a possibility that the vehicle collides with the object, is satisfied; (b) apply an automatic brake when it is determined that the predetermined condition is satisfied; and (c) stop applying the automatic brake when an operation amount of an accelerator operation unit of the vehicle becomes equal to or larger than a predetermined threshold. The ECU also continues applying the automatic brake when a specified condition including a condition that an operation amount of a brake operation unit of the vehicle is larger than a predetermined amount is satisfied even when it has been determined that the operation amount of the accelerator operation unit becomes equal to or larger than the predetermined threshold.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2016Date of Patent: November 13, 2018Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Masaaki Uechi
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Patent number: 10117377Abstract: An agricultural implement system includes a wheel position control system configured to control respective positions of an aligned wheel and an offset wheel of the agricultural implement system. The aligned wheel is configured to be substantially laterally aligned with a corresponding vehicle wheel/track, and the offset wheel is configured to be laterally offset from the corresponding vehicle wheel/track. The wheel position control system is configured to instruct lowering of the aligned wheel and the offset wheel to transition a toolbar assembly to a non-working position, the wheel position control system is configured to instruct raising of the aligned and offset wheels to transition the toolbar assembly to a working position, and the wheel position control system is configured to instruct raising of the offset wheel above the aligned wheel while the toolbar assembly is in the working position such that the offset wheel is disengaged from the soil surface.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2016Date of Patent: November 6, 2018Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLCInventors: Johnathon R. Dienst, Michael J. Connors
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Patent number: 10118667Abstract: A bicycle motor control system, configured to control a drive motor that is provided on a bicycle, comprises a controller configured to control a drive motor that is configured to selectively output driving force in accordance with a manual drive force, and cause the drive motor to stop when a detected manual drive force, sensed by a manual drive force sensor, falls below a predetermined force threshold value, which is set in accordance with a crank angle of a crankshaft.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2016Date of Patent: November 6, 2018Assignee: Shimano Inc.Inventors: Yasuhiro Tsuchizawa, Hiroshi Matsuda, Tomohiro Kondo
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Patent number: 10099689Abstract: In a vehicle travel support system or a vehicle travel support method, a control apparatus estimates a travel path of a vehicle on the basis of the present position of the vehicle and map information, acquires from a map information storage apparatus a curve radius that is of a curve included in the travel path and that is contained in the map information, performs a vehicle turning support or a deceleration support prior to entry to the curve on the basis of a start point of the curve which is detected on the basis of front images, and performs the vehicle turning support for the curve by using the curve radius contained in the map information.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2016Date of Patent: October 16, 2018Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Takuji Wada, Hiroyuki Koibuchi
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Patent number: 10086829Abstract: A method is provided to control a power steering device and an adaptive damping system of a motor vehicle. The power steering device makes available a mechanical steering angle range that is limited by steering stops. The adaptive damping system makes available a variable damping force. The damping force of the adaptive damping system is increased and a maximum achievable steering angle is simultaneously increased in case a steering stop is reached.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2016Date of Patent: October 2, 2018Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Thomas Degenstein, Marcus-Andre Reul
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Patent number: 10086843Abstract: A method for assisting a user of a motor vehicle, including: acquiring parameters associated with a context in which the motor vehicle is being used; developing a list of suggested actions; selecting a suggested action from among the list of suggested actions in accordance with the context in which the motor vehicle is being used; and transmitting the selected suggested actions to the user via a man/machine interface. A multimedia system, a motor vehicle, and a computer medium can implement the method.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 2012Date of Patent: October 2, 2018Assignee: RENAULT s.a.s.Inventors: Jean-Philippe Alexander, Thomas Chapuis
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Patent number: 10086826Abstract: A control device for a hybrid vehicle including an internal combustion engine includes: a limiting unit configured to limit an output of the internal combustion engine when temperature of cooling water for cooling the internal combustion engine is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature; a discharging unit configured to discharge, when internal pressure of a fuel tank is equal to or higher than predetermined pressure, fuel evaporative gas in the fuel tank into an intake passage of the internal combustion engine while the internal combustion engine is being driven; and a prioritizing unit configured to prioritize the limiting of the output of the internal combustion engine by the limiting unit over the discharging of the fuel evaporative gas by the discharging unit, when the discharging unit is to discharge the fuel evaporative gas and the limiting unit is to limit the output of the internal combustion engine.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2016Date of Patent: October 2, 2018Assignee: MITSUBISHI JIDOSHA KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Takuya Sato, Shigetoshi Hirano, Tadayoshi Hirao, Takahiro Oguma
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Patent number: 10086701Abstract: Method and system for driver assistance in a vehicle; the current value of a driving variable correlated with the driving of the vehicle is determined; an optimal value of the driving variable in the future and after a given amount of time has elapsed since the current instant starting from the current state of the vehicle is determined and supposing an excellent action upon the driving controls of the vehicle; an expected value of the driving variable in the future and after the given amount of time has elapsed since the current instant starting from the current state of the vehicle is determined and supposing a constant action upon the driving controls of the vehicle; and the current value, the expected value and the optimal value of the driving variable are displayed together in an instrument of the instrument panel of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2016Date of Patent: October 2, 2018Assignee: Ferrari S.p.A.Inventors: Maximilian Romani, Roberto Montanari, Lorenzo Romani, Fabio Pagliai