Patents Examined by Andy Schneider
  • Patent number: 11904895
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus related to cruise control for a vehicle. In one approach, speed for a first vehicle is controlled in a first mode using data from sensors. The speed is controlled while keeping at least a minimum distance from a second vehicle being followed by the first vehicle. In response to determining that data from the sensors is not usable to control the first vehicle (e.g., the data cannot be used to measure the minimum distance), the first vehicle changes from the first mode to a second mode. In the second mode, the first vehicle maintains a constant speed and/or obtains additional data from sensors and/or computing devices located externally to the first vehicle. In another approach, the additional data can additionally or alternatively be obtained from a mobile device of a passenger of the first vehicle. The additional data is used to maintain a safe minimum distance from the second vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Amy Rae Griffin, Xiao Li, Maria Pat F. Chavarria, Alpha Chavez Labiano
  • Patent number: 11794774
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to method for controlling an autonomous or human-driven vehicle that can include receiving, via a processor a vehicle communication indicative of a traffic flow parameter, and determining, based on the vehicle communication, a driver behavior characteristic, determining, via the processor and based on a historic driver behavior record, a driver performance characteristic, generating, via the processor, a first speed assignment and a lane assignment and associated with the vehicle and causing to transmit a first speed and lane assignment message to the vehicle. The system uses enhanced sensing technology within a connected environment to observe vehicle speeds and other vehicle patterns to ingest real-time, road network patterns of vehicle behavior, manages traffic through simulation, and sends messages to dynamic lane management controls such as signage, V2V communication, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Archak Mittal, Yifan Chen, Eric H. Wingfield
  • Patent number: 11794740
    Abstract: A smart cruise control system includes a controller communicatively connected to a first sensor obtaining front image data and a second sensor obtaining front radar data, wherein the controller is configured to recognize a front vehicle based on the front image data and the front radar data, and in response to the front vehicle being not recognized in the front radar data and the front vehicle being recognized in the front image data, control the vehicle so that the vehicle is not accelerated even if the distance between the vehicle and the front vehicle recognized in the front image data is greater than the preset distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: HL KLEMOVE CORP.
    Inventor: Giyeon Won
  • Patent number: 11776409
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods, Internet of Things systems, and storage mediums for street management in a smart city. The method may include obtaining, based on the object platform, street monitoring information of a target area through the sensor network platform; determining, according to the street monitoring information, distribution of fallen leaves on the street, the distribution of fallen leaves including a total amount of fallen leaves and a count of fallen leaf piles; determining, based on the distribution of fallen leaves, cleaning difficulty of each street in the target area; determining, based on the total amount of fallen leaves and the cleaning difficulty, at least one street to be cleaned from the target area; and determining, based on the at least one street to be cleaned, a fallen leaf cleaning route of the target area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: CHENGDU QINCHUAN IOT TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zehua Shao, Haitang Xiang, Bin Liu, Xiaojun Wei, Lei Zhang
  • Patent number: 11763539
    Abstract: A method for providing information related to an external object in a field of view of a driver of a vehicle comprises that the driver is monitored by a camera system, and that an estimated eye position is identified based on data provided by the camera system. Spatial information is gathered for at least one external object outside the vehicle. A basic display location is determined for a visual output related to the external object based on the spatial information. At least one imminent or instantaneous disturbance event for the vehicle is detected. An eye position correction and/or a display location correction are determined in response to the imminent or instantaneous disturbance event. The visual output related to the external object is generated based on the estimated eye position and the basic display location and based on the eye position correction and/or the display location correction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Aptiv Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Dennis Müeller, Lutz Roese-Koerner, Christian Prediger, Alexander Barth
  • Patent number: 11755022
    Abstract: A vehicle control device includes an external situation recognition unit configured to recognize an external situation around a vehicle to recognize a traffic participant, an action schedule acquisition unit configured to acquire a first action schedule of the vehicle, an action schedule notification unit configured to notify a terminal possessed by the traffic participant of the first action schedule of the vehicle to request an approval of the first action schedule, a receiver configured to receive the approval of the first action schedule from the terminal; and an execution controller configured to execute an operation of the vehicle in accordance with the first action schedule when the receiver receives the approval of the first action schedule from the terminal and to suppress the operation of the vehicle in accordance with the first action schedule when the receiver does not receive the approval of the first action schedule from the terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Junichi Morimura, Junya Watanabe, Seiji Arakawa
  • Patent number: 11745737
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a powertrain and a controller. The controller, responsive to a parameter indicative of a grade on which the vehicle is travelling having a value greater than a threshold, and a given accelerator pedal input, commands the powertrain to produce an amount of drive torque for the vehicle that is based on the value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Bryan Michael Bolger, Sergey Gennadievich Semenov
  • Patent number: 11698644
    Abstract: A method, a computer program, an apparatus, a transportation vehicle, and a network component for controlling a maneuver within a platoon of transportation vehicles. The method for controlling a maneuver within a platoon of transportation vehicles includes receiving information related to a maneuver for the platoon; determining information on a fuel efficiency of the maneuver based on fuel consumptions for maneuvering from an initial state to a maneuver target state, keeping the maneuver target state, and reverting from the maneuver target state to the initial state; and deciding whether to perform the maneuver based on the information on the fuel efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Inventors: Guillaume Jornod, Andreas Pfadler
  • Patent number: 11676489
    Abstract: An operation schedule changer can execute, as a schedule change process for changing a normal operation schedule, an advancing change process, a delay change process, and a cut-in change process. The schedule changer executes one of the advancing change process, the delay change process, or the cut-in change process based on a boarding demand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Higashide, Kenji Okazaki, Keiichi Uno
  • Patent number: 11657717
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes: a memory configured to store information about mobile bodies, each of which forms a vehicle by being coupled with a main body unit and is capable of autonomous driving; and a processor configured to transmit a summon command to a first mobile body existing within a predetermined range, the summon command summoning the first mobile body to a predetermined assembly location, and cause a predetermined number of first mobile bodies assembled at the predetermined assembly location to carry one first main body unit that is larger or heavier than a main body unit that can be carried by one first mobile body, and to cause the predetermined number of first mobile bodies to move to a predetermined destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuki Nakano, Masato Ura, Koji Takao, Hideyuki Sakurai, Keisuke Hotta, Rieko Masutani, Atsushi Hanawa, Masanobu Ohmi, Takashi Hayashi, Atsushi Nabata, Tetsuro Sakaguchi
  • Patent number: 11630466
    Abstract: A server is communicably connected to a plurality of vehicles that includes vehicles usable as guest rooms, and includes a server controller. The server controller is configured to control a formation of the plurality of vehicles depending on a positional relationship between windows or doors provided in the plurality of vehicles, or depending on scenery from the windows provided in the plurality of vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiromitsu Fujii, Kohei Miwa, Yuko Mizuno, Shinsuke Ariga, Hirotaka Omisha, Tsuyoshi Okada
  • Patent number: 11618482
    Abstract: To determine whether a driver's state is suitable state for driving. A vehicle-mounted device 10 includes: a traveling support control unit 30 that senses that the driver is provided with guidance regarding the driving operation; a line-of-sight detection unit 32 that detects the direction of a driver's line-of-sight; a condition determination unit 33 that determines whether a gaze condition is satisfied, the gaze condition including: that, with respect to a preset gaze direction, the driver's line-of-sight faces the gaze direction until a first reference time elapses from when guidance is sensed; and that time during which the driver's line-of-sight faces the gaze direction is equal to or longer than a second reference time; and a driver state determination unit 34 that determines whether the driver is in a state of being able to drive based on the determination result of the condition determination unit 33.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: CLARION CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Shojima
  • Patent number: 11603093
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus for guarding at least one vehicle includes a controller. The controller is configured to acquire vehicle information including class information for a class to be held in the at least one vehicle and travel information for the at least one vehicle, determine hazard information attributable to holding of the class based on the acquired vehicle information, and determine security information for guarding the at least one vehicle based on the determined hazard information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ryuichi Kamaga, Kouki Moriya, Yui Ogura, Shintaro Matsutani
  • Patent number: 11597410
    Abstract: An automatic driving proposal device or an automatic driving proposal method is used for a vehicle that selects either a state of an automatic driving or a state of a manual driving by an occupant. The automatic driving proposal device or the automatic driving proposal method performs a driving change request to the occupant in the state of the automatic driving, determines whether the automatic driving is possible in the state of the manual driving, calculates a calculation value corresponding to a distance or a prediction time or calculates a change index, and proposes the automatic driving to the occupant on a necessary condition of determining that the automatic driving is possible and also determining that the calculation value is higher than a threshold value or determining that the change index is lower than a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nozomi Kitagawa, Sei Iguchi, Norio Yamamoto, Kiyotaka Taguchi, Yuji Ota, Kazuyoshi Isaji
  • Patent number: 11572085
    Abstract: To implement a configuration to calculate a manual driving recoverable time required for a driver who is executing automatic driving in order to achieve a requested recovery ratio (RRR) for each road section, and issue a manual driving recovery request notification on the basis of the calculated time. A data processing unit is included, which calculates a manual driving recoverable time required for a driver who is executing automatic driving in order to achieve a predefined requested recovery ratio (RRR) from automatic driving to manual driving and determines notification timing of a manual driving recovery request notification on the basis of the calculated time. The data processing unit acquires the requested recovery ratio (RRR) for each road section set as ancillary information of a local dynamic map (LDM), and calculates the manual driving recoverable time for each road section scheduled to travel, using learning data for each driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Eiji Oba
  • Patent number: 11566903
    Abstract: The autonomous vehicle generates an overlapped image by overlaying HD map data over sensor data and rendering the overlaid images. The visualization process is repeated as the vehicle drives along the route. The visualization may be displayed on a screen within the vehicle or at a remote device. The system performs reverse rendering of a scene based on map data from a selected point. For each line of sight originating at the selected point, the system identifies the farthest object in the map data. Accordingly, the system eliminates objects obstructing the view of the farthest objects in the HD map as viewed from the selected point. The system further allows filtering of objects using filtering criteria based on semantic labels. The system generates a view from the selected point such that 3D objects matching the filtering criteria are eliminated from the view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: NVIDIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gil Colgate, Mark Damon Wheeler, Wei Luo
  • Patent number: 11560150
    Abstract: A vehicle interlock system includes a wheelchair fixing device configured to fix a wheelchair to a vehicle, a seatbelt device having a seatbelt configured such that, an occupant seated in the wheelchair wears the seatbelt, and a control unit. The control unit is configured to limit at least one of an upper limit traveling speed and an upper limit acceleration of the vehicle or output a warning signal, or to output a warning signal while limiting at least one of the upper limit traveling speed and the upper limit acceleration of the vehicle depending on at least one of the following conditions: whether the wheelchair is fixed to the vehicle with the wheelchair fixing device; whether the occupant is wearing the seatbelt; and so forth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Mitsuyoshi Ohno, Makoto Sekizuka
  • Patent number: 11548499
    Abstract: An automatic parking system instructs a plurality of autonomous driving vehicles in a parking lot such that each autonomous driving vehicle parks in a target parking space within the parking lot, and includes an instruction change target vehicle specifying unit configured to, in a case where the autonomous driving vehicle becomes a failed vehicle due to abnormality or communication interruption during automatic driving according to instruction, specify an instruction change target vehicle from normal autonomous driving vehicles based on parking lot map information, a location of the failed vehicle, and a location of the normal autonomous driving vehicles, and a vehicle instruction unit configured to, in a case where the instruction change target vehicle is specified, issue a route change instruction, an evacuation instruction, or a stop instruction to the instruction change target vehicle, such that the instruction change target vehicle gets away from the failed vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tatsuya Sugano
  • Patent number: 11541911
    Abstract: A memory stores a plurality of steering angle characteristics including a first steering angle characteristic and a second steering angle characteristic. A steering angle characteristic selecting unit selects a selected steering angle characteristic from the steering angle characteristics stored in the memory. A driving control unit controls the steering angle of an autonomous-driving vehicle in accordance with the selected steering angle characteristic and a rightward or leftward operation amount of a mechanical operation unit of an autonomous-driving vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hirohito Ide, Yuchi Yamanouchi
  • Patent number: 11535251
    Abstract: A full speed range adaptive cruise control system for a host vehicle includes a plurality of sensors that each generate a signal, a memory that includes executable instructions and a processor that executes the executable instructions. The executable instructions enable the processor to detect a target vehicle as being stopped along a route based upon the signals from the plurality of sensors, cause the host vehicle to stop at a distance from the target vehicle, detect the target vehicle moving along the route after the host vehicle has stopped based upon the signals from the plurality of sensors, determine whether a first predetermined period of time has elapsed since the host vehicle has stopped, determine whether a first predetermined condition is satisfied if the first predetermined period of time has elapsed, and cause the host vehicle to move if the system determines that the first predetermined condition is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Amanpal S. Grewal, Dmitriy Feldman, Robert C. Baraszu, Chinar Dhamija