Patents Examined by Ana Thomas
  • Patent number: 9878625
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a high voltage battery, a charger and an ECU. When electric power from an external power supply is equal to or less than first predetermined electric power and first power feeding control to feed electric power to a low voltage system power line is performed, the ECU is configured to control the charger to: continue the drive of the charger when a first predetermined time has not elapsed from a start of the first power feeding control or when charged electric power of the high voltage battery is greater than second predetermined electric power that is smaller than the first predetermined electric power after the first predetermined time has elapsed; and stop the drive of the charger when the charged electric power of the high voltage battery is equal to or less than the second predetermined electric power after the first predetermined time has elapsed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Fumiyoshi Kuribara, Shigetaka Asano
  • Patent number: 9873334
    Abstract: A method and system are provided for variably adjusted voltage of the LDC applied with an IBS (Intelligent Battery Sensor). The LDC output voltage control mode is determined in each of three driving modes, and the high electric loads are separated into two or more groups. The LDC output voltage value and the order priority are differentiated based on the durability of the auxiliary battery. Additionally, an LDC output voltage order table is generated according to the driving mode and the SOC state based on the auxiliary battery SOC information obtained from an IBS. Thus, consumed energy of the LDC and an energy consumption amount of the auxiliary battery are minimized, thus improving fuel efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Dong Jun Shin, Yong Kak Choi, Soung Han Noh, Hwan Hwang, Jun Yeon Park, Chang Ryeol Ryu
  • Patent number: 9862352
    Abstract: A system and method for identifying an occupant of a vehicle as an authorized user and managing settings and configurations of vehicle components based on personal preferences of the authorized user includes detecting occupant characteristics from multiple sensors, determining whether the occupant is an authorized user of the vehicle based on a comparison of the occupant characteristics with a user database including registered user profiles, and automatically adjusting vehicle cabin and/or control components based on personal preferences of the occupant identified as a registered user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: INTEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Victor B. Lortz, Branislav Kveton, Vijay Sarathi Kesavan, Somya Rathi, Anand P. Rangarajan
  • Patent number: 9857193
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a method for an application executing on a mobile device. The method renders an animated navigation presentation for output to an external display screen not part of the mobile device. The navigation presentation includes an animated map showing at least a portion of a route to a destination. The method simultaneously displays information regarding a maneuver along the route on a display screen of the mobile device without displaying a same animated map on the mobile device. In some embodiments, the displayed information regarding the maneuver comprises a graphical instruction and a text instruction for a next maneuver along the route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Emanuele Vulcano, Bradford A. Moore, Jorge Fino, Marcel van Os
  • Patent number: 9834213
    Abstract: A lane keeping assist apparatus is disclosed which includes a lane detecting part; an information output device; an actuator that generates a force for changing an orientation of a vehicle; and a controller that performs a lane keeping assist control based on a positional relationship between the lane and the vehicle, wherein the lane keeping assist control includes an alert control and an intervention control via the actuator, the controller selectively operates in a first mode where the alert control and the intervention control are executable, a second mode where only the intervention control is suppressed or a third mode where the alert control and the intervention control are suppressed, and the controller, during operating in the first mode, performs a mode transition to the second mode when the abnormality determination results indicate an abnormal state concerning only the part related to the intervention control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuji Okuda, Hidenobu Kinugasa, Taisuke Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 9827860
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a high voltage battery, a charger and an ECU. When electric power from an external power supply is equal to or less than first predetermined electric power and first power feeding control to feed electric power to a low voltage system power line is performed, the ECU is configured to control the charger to: continue the drive of the charger when a first predetermined time has not elapsed from a start of the first power feeding control or when charged electric power of the high voltage battery is greater than second predetermined electric power that is smaller than the first predetermined electric power after the first predetermined time has elapsed; and stop the drive of the charger when the charged electric power of the high voltage battery is equal to or less than the second predetermined electric power after the first predetermined time has elapsed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Fumiyoshi Kuribara, Shigetaka Asano
  • Patent number: 9827925
    Abstract: There is a need to predict a driving environment with high responsiveness by a simple configuration. There is provided a driving environment prediction device that predicts a driving environment of a vehicle that causes a vehicle stop. The driving environment prediction device comprises: a first vehicle stop time rate calculator which is configured to calculate a rate of vehicle stop time in a first period, as a first vehicle stop time rate (shorter-period vehicle stop time rate); a second vehicle stop time rate calculator which is configured to calculate a rate of vehicle stop time in a second period which is longer than the first period, as a second vehicle stop time rate (longer-period vehicle stop time rate); and a driving environment predictor which is configured to predict the driving environment, based on the shorter-period vehicle stop time rate and the longer-period vehicle stop time rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Michihiro Miyashita, Koji Ito, Nobukazu Ueki, Kouhei Tochigi
  • Patent number: 9823268
    Abstract: In a method for calibrating a sensor installed in a vehicle, a triggering signal for the calibration is automatically generated subsequent to the vehicle production process, during which calibration sensor signals are calibrated as a function of the inclination of the ground on which the vehicle is located.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Henrik Bechtler, Marcus Wagner
  • Patent number: 9824596
    Abstract: A method of planning a flight path for a search can include receiving, by a control system, an indication of a search area boundary; receiving, by the control system, an indication of a selected search pattern; determining, by the control system, a flight path based on the search area boundary and the selected search pattern; and transmitting one or more indications of the flight path to an unmanned aerial vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignees: INSITU, INC., UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON THROUGH ITS CENTER FOR COMMERCIALIZATION
    Inventors: Amy Claire Arbeit, Christopher W. Lum
  • Patent number: 9815456
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a transmission, a motor, and at least one controller. The motor is configured to be selectively coupled to the transmission. The at least one controller is programmed to output a fault for a coil temperature sensor of the motor based on an oil temperature of the transmission, a phase current of the motor, and a temperature change in a coil of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Hongjie Wu, Yuqing Tang, Shahram Zarei
  • Patent number: 9815492
    Abstract: A method for controlling the articulation angle of a big rig, in which a first articulation angle control unit, which determines and controls a target wheel angle of at least one steerable wheel of the tractor unit so as to achieve a predefined target articulation angle of the big rig, is combined with a further articulation angle control unit for controlling the articulation angle with the first articulation angle control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Robert Bosch Automotive Steering GmbH
    Inventor: Nicolas Boos
  • Patent number: 9811092
    Abstract: A vehicle traveling control device includes: a communication unit that communicate with preceding vehicles; a position information acquisition unit that acquires position information on the preceding vehicles and following vehicles around a host vehicle with which the host vehicle can carry out vehicle-vehicle communication; a number of vehicles calculation unit that calculates a reference number of vehicles and an estimated number of vehicles; and a traveling control unit that causes the host vehicle to travel at the traveling position behind the following vehicle if the estimated number of vehicles is larger than the reference number of vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masashi Obuchi, Koji Taguchi
  • Patent number: 9805522
    Abstract: A method for planning a vehicle diagnosis in a vehicle includes: estimation of an operating characteristic of the vehicle on a route to be traveled by the vehicle; and planning of the vehicle diagnosis based on a probability that the estimated operating characteristic of the vehicle will correspond to an operating characteristic suitable for the vehicle diagnosis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GMBH
    Inventors: Rainer Schnurr, Udo Schulz, Uta Fischer
  • Patent number: 9801230
    Abstract: A method for remotely controlling a telematics unit (TMU) of a vehicle includes: receiving, by a telematics multimedia system (TMS) center, login information of a vehicle remote control application of a user terminal using a vehicle remote control service; transmitting, by the TMS center, a wake-up message for enabling the TMU of the vehicle to the TMU of the vehicle as soon as the login information is received; and transmitting, by the TMS center, a remote control signal for controlling the TMU of the vehicle to the TMU of the vehicle after the wake-up message is transmitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Chang Woo Chun
  • Patent number: 9789874
    Abstract: A running control device has an engine coupling running mode enabling an engine brake running mode performed by coupling an engine and wheels with an engine brake applied by driven rotation of the engine, and an inertia running mode performed with an engine brake force lower than that of the engine brake running mode. The running control device includes a steering wheel steering angle as a condition of terminating the inertia running mode. The running control device performs a first inertia running mode with the rotation of the engine stopped and a second inertia running mode with the engine rotating. The first inertia running mode is terminated when the steering angle becomes equal to or greater than a predefined first determination value. The second inertia running mode is terminated when the steering angle becomes equal to or greater than a predefined second determination value larger than the first determination value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takeaki Suzuki, Masaki Matsunaga, Yasunari Kido, Takayuki Kogure, Yukari Okamura, Rentaro Kuroki, Takuya Hirai, Masaki Mitsuyasu, Jonggap Kim, Akihiro Sato, Yusuke Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 9758148
    Abstract: When a basic creep torque Tctmp is a positive value and a braking torque demand Trb* is a negative value, the control procedure sets a basic reflection rate Rctmp based on the braking torque demand Trb* (S240). In a state of non-activation of vehicle distance control (S250), the control procedure sets a target reflection rate Rc* using the basic reflection rate Rctmp directly (S230). In a state of activation of vehicle distance control (S250), the control procedure sets the target reflection rate Rc* using a guarded reflection rate Rcgd obtained by guarding the lower limit of the basic reflection rate Rctmp with a previous value of the target reflection rate (previous Rc*) in a previous cycle (S270 and S280).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshimitsu Takahashi
  • Patent number: 9751531
    Abstract: When the object detection unit 10 detects the front vehicle X, the speed of the own vehicle 2 is controlled using a detection value of the state of the front vehicle (position, speed) detected by the front vehicle state detection unit 15, and, in the lost state where the front vehicle X is not detected, the speed of the own vehicle 2 is controlled using an estimation value of the state of the front vehicle by the lost front-vehicle state estimation unit 22 based on a condition that a length of the scheduled traveling route of the own vehicle 2 is shorter than a predetermined threshold in the detection target range by the object detection unit 10 as a necessary condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Daichi Kato, Toru Kokaki
  • Patent number: 9752371
    Abstract: A method and a system for controlling the opening/closing of a vehicle door are provided. The method includes determining whether a door is in a locked state and when the door is determined to be in the locked state, determining whether a smart key is within a predetermined distance. When the smart key is determined to be within the predetermined distance, a door latch module is changed to a “ready-to-open” state in the locked state of the door. The method further includes determining whether the smart key is maintained to be within the predetermined distance and operating an exterior handle of the door. When the exterior handle is operated, the door is opened and locking of the door is released simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Yongdae Seo, Soonchan Kwon
  • Patent number: 9731727
    Abstract: A method for detecting the alertness of a vehicle driver includes the detection of a potentially dangerous situation by a system of the vehicle; the estimation of a visual observation field of the vehicle driver; and the detection of the alertness of the vehicle driver by comparing an orientation or a position of the potentially dangerous situation to the visual observation field of the vehicle driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Oliver Heim, Charbel Assaf
  • Patent number: 9713500
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a surgical robot control apparatus, in which a control stick member is connected to an upper surface of a base member, pivots and rotates around a connection portion, and is provided with a rotary button control member, a mode switching button member, and a control member which can be operated with the thumb. Thus, the surgical robot control apparatus can realize multiple functions. A surgeon can grasp the control stick member to easily control operation of a surgical robot and can perform other work using the other hand. Thereby, when performing surgery, the surgical robot control apparatus remarkably reduces the fatigue of the surgeon, thereby providing a surgical environment that is convenient and safe; and which provides maximized efficiency. Further, the surgical robot control apparatus can increase the safety of a patient using a safety device based on a buttons, software, and hardware while performing surgery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: SNU R&DB FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Sungwan Kim, Youdan Kim, Hyeon Hoe Kim, Hee Chan Kim, Chan Gook Park, Choonghee Lee, Chiwon Lee, Yong Hyun Park, Seungwoo Noh, Chiyul Yoon