Patents Examined by Anthony R Jimenez
  • Patent number: 11535334
    Abstract: An electrical switch device for a human-powered vehicle comprises an electrical switch unit and a connecting part. The electrical switch unit is configured to generate a signal in response to a user input. The connecting part is provided on the electrical switch unit so as to electrically connect an additional electrical switch device to the electrical switch device. The electrical switch device is configured to selectively transmit the signal from the electrical switch unit and an additional signal from the additional electrical switch device to an operating device configured to operate the electric component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Akihiko Syouge, Takuma Sakai, Kazuma Mori, Yasuyuki Komada, Takehiko Nakajima, Noor Ashyikkin Binti Mohd Noor
  • Patent number: 11527780
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present disclose describes systems and methods responsible for reducing errors in a battery model used in the operation of a battery control system. The battery control system may operate based on a modeled response of the battery derived from the battery model. If the battery model is not calibrated/validated, errors in the battery model may propagate through the modeled response of the battery to the operation of the battery control system. A calibration current pulse may result in a different measured response of the battery than the modeled response of the battery to the same calibration current pulse. A validation technique, which uses a difference between the modeled response and the measured response of the battery to the calibration current pulse as a method to calibrate the battery model, may protect the battery control system from the contribution of errors from an uncalibrated battery model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: CPS Technology Services LLC
    Inventors: Steven G. Rinaldo, Zhihong Jin, Perry M. Wyatt
  • Patent number: 11511796
    Abstract: A method for damping dependent scaling for reducing wheel imbalance in a steering system includes determining roadwheel speed energy using a roadwheel speed signal and determining that the roadwheel speed energy is greater than a predetermined energy threshold, and in response: adjusting the roadwheel speed signal; and computing a wheel imbalance reduction command using the adjusted roadwheel speed signal. The method also includes determining that the roadwheel speed energy is not greater than the predetermined energy threshold, and in response computing the wheel imbalance reduction command using the roadwheel speed signal. The method also includes computing a motor torque command using the wheel imbalance reduction command, the motor torque command used to generate a corresponding amount of torque at a handwheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Apurv Naman, Rangarajan Ramanujam, Anthony J. Champagne
  • Patent number: 11508535
    Abstract: A spring unit includes a mechanical spring means having a spring direction and being located between a first spring support and a second spring support, which first and second spring supports are movable in relation to each other in the spring direction. The spring unit further includes a first actuation member facing the rear side of the first spring support and a second actuation member facing the rear side of the second spring support, which first and second actuating members are movable relative to each other and relative to the first and second spring supports in the spring direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Hitachi Energy Switzerland AG
    Inventor: Jean Mathae
  • Patent number: 11505202
    Abstract: An autonomous vehicle (AV) maintenance system engages a user of an AV to assist in maintenance tasks. A sensor interface receives data captured by a sensor of the AV. An issue detector processes the sensor data to detect an issue in the AV. A user interface module instructs a user to perform a maintenance task addressing the detected issue. A verification module verifies that the user successfully completed the maintenance task.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: GM Cruise Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Yifei Zhang, Jeffrey Shaw, Alexander Willem Gerrese, Jeremy Stephen Juel
  • Patent number: 11508995
    Abstract: A battery device includes a battery unit which has a plurality of batteries connected in series; first and second lines each led from a cathode and an anode of the battery unit; first and second semiconductor switch elements which are inserted into the first line; a driver configured to generate a drive signal to turn off one of the first and second semiconductor switch elements when a protective operation is performed; a third semiconductor switch element which is inserted between a gate of at least one of the first and second semiconductor switch elements and an intermediate voltage point of the battery unit; and a semiconductor switch controller including a detector configured to turn on the third semiconductor switch element when the drive signal is detected and to apply a potential smaller than a source potential to a gate of one of the first.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Atsushi Chinen
  • Patent number: 11498567
    Abstract: A method for operating a working vehicle-working device combination having a part system for adjusting the working vehicle-working device combination includes determining a motor torque of a motor of the working vehicle-working device combination based on a motor parameter, determining a first loss torque based on at least one motor loss parameter of the motor, determining a second loss torque based on at least one load parameter of a load system of the working vehicle-working device combination, determining an output torque of the working vehicle-working device combination based on the motor torque and the first and second loss torques, and performing a control operation on the working vehicle-working device combination or on the part system based on the output torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventor: Manuel Billich
  • Patent number: 11501583
    Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring the health of a vehicle battery are described, in which an example vehicle includes a vehicle battery, one or more vehicle battery sensors, and a processor. The processor is configured to determine a battery health metric of the vehicle battery, wherein the battery health metric is based on a battery service time, a battery state of charge, and a battery temperature. The processor is also configured to perform a battery refresh operation on the vehicle battery responsive to determining that the battery health metric is above a refresh threshold. And the processor is further configured to activate a vehicle alert responsive to determining that the battery health metric is above an end-of-life threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Hanyang B. Chen, Michael J. Irby
  • Patent number: 11493927
    Abstract: A self-learning vehicle control system, the control system including: a controller configured to receive one or more of the following inputs: actual propulsion effort command; actual braking effort command; requested speed command; change in the requested speed command; change in the requested acceleration command; measured vehicle location; measured vehicle 3-D speed; measured vehicle 3-D acceleration; and measured vehicle 3-D angular speed; and one or more position determination sensors communicably connected with the controller; one or more 3-D speed determination sensors communicably connected with the controller; one or more 3-D acceleration determination sensors communicably connected with the controller; one or more 3-D angular speed determination sensors communicably connected with the controller; and an output device communicably connected with the controller and for providing requested speed and acceleration commands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: THALES CANADA, INC.
    Inventors: Alon Green, Dennis Yazhemsky
  • Patent number: 11495422
    Abstract: A control device includes a button assembly having one or more buttons and a button carrier that includes a plurality of resilient, independently deflectable spring arms. The control device may be configured as a wall-mounted keypad to control a load control device, or as a thermostat to control a temperature regulation appliance. The button carrier may be configured to prevent interference between the buttons during operation of the control device. The button assembly may be captured between a faceplate of the control device and a housing that is attached to a rear side of the faceplate. The control device may include one or more button retainers that are attached to the buttons and that are configured to align respective outer surfaces of the buttons relative to each other, and relative to the faceplate of the control device, when the buttons are in respective rest positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Nikhil Vithal Bhate, Rich Destremps, James Harrison, Jason Edward Jennings, Eric Jonathan Mace, Stephen Phillips
  • Patent number: 11477889
    Abstract: An electronic module is provided including power switches mounted on a circuit board and configured as an inverter circuit for an electric motor. A sliding member is coupled to an actuator. A power contact switch is provided including a first conductive body, a second conductive body, and a contact switch. The first and second conductive bodies are mounted on a first surface of the circuit board and include pins received through through-holes of the circuit board to make electrical contact with two conductive tracks on a second surface of the circuit board. The contact switch pivotably is secured to the first conductive body and pivotably moveable by the sliding member to make contact with the second conductive body with movement of the actuator. A flyback diode is electrically connected between the first and second conductive track on the second surface of the circuit board parallel to the power contact switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua M. Lewis, Michael D. Grove
  • Patent number: 11467008
    Abstract: In general, the subject matter described in this disclosure can be embodied in methods, systems, and program products for receiving an indication that a vehicle has begun accelerating from a stationary state. A computing system sets, in response to having received the indication that the vehicle has begun accelerating from the stationary state, an orientation value generated using a gyroscope to a default orientation value. The computing system repeatedly updates the orientation value generated using the gyroscope, based on changes in gyroscope orientation that occurred after the computing system set the orientation value to the default orientation value. The computing system determines that the updated orientation value satisfies criteria that indicates that the vehicle is likely to encounter or has encountered a dangerous situation. The computing system outputs a signal to cause the vehicle to employ a safety measure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Davis Intellectual Properties LLC
    Inventors: Shannon R. Davis, Charles Leo
  • Patent number: 11465533
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an electric machine, a battery, an accelerator pedal, a battery cooling system, and a controller. The electric machine is configured to propel the vehicle. The battery is configured to provide electrical power to the electric machine. The battery cooling system is configured to cool the battery in a plurality of cooling modes. A transition between cooling modes of the battery cooling system corresponds to either an increase or a decrease in battery power being utilized to cool the battery. The controller is programmed to truncate an acceleration request under certain conditions to prevent an increase in battery power output in order to reduce a rate at which the battery temperature increases and to prevent a transition to a cooling mode that requires an increase in battery power output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yanan Zhao, Xiaohong Nina Duan, Jeffrey Allen Doering, Angel Fernando Porras, Jordan Mazaira
  • Patent number: 11467000
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for generating a mapping application that displays an initial map with a zoom level that is based on a travel time associated with the location of the user. The mapping application receives a request to present a digital map from a client device. Based on the current geographic location of the client device, the mapping application estimates a distance in which a user of the client device can travel within a particular time period. The mapping application then selects a parameter for a viewport of the digital map based at least on the estimated distance. For example, the viewport parameter may be a zoom level. The mapping application then generates the digital map in accordance with the selected parameter, and displays the digital map via a user interface of the client device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: GOOGLE LLC
    Inventors: Alejo Grigera, Ryan Galleher
  • Patent number: 11457696
    Abstract: Systems and apparatus related to an automated footwear platform including an actuator assembly for controlling a footwear lacing apparatus are discussed. In an example, an actuator assembly can include an actuator frame with a plurality of integrated actuators. The actuator frame is adapted to interconnect elements of the actuator assembly, the actuator frame including a width, a length, and a thickness where the width and length form an exterior surface and an interior surface separated by the thickness. The plurality of actuators are integrated into the actuator frame, each actuator of the plurality of actuators including an actuator head extending from the exterior surface and a button interface extending from the backside of the actuator head through the interior surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric P. Avar, Narissa Chang, Fanny Yung Ho
  • Patent number: 11460850
    Abstract: A trajectory estimate of a wheeled vehicle can be determined based at least in part on determining a wheel angle associated with the vehicle. In some examples, at least a portion of the image associated with the wheeled vehicle may be input into a machine-learned model that is trained to classify and/or regress wheel directions of wheeled vehicles. The machine-learned model may output a predicted wheel direction. The wheel direction and/or additional or historical sensor data may be used to estimate a trajectory of the wheeled vehicle. The predicted trajectory of the object can then be used to generate and refine an autonomous vehicle's trajectory as the autonomous vehicle proceeds through the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventors: Vasiliy Karasev, James William Vaisey Philbin, Sarah Tariq, Kai Zhenyu Wang
  • Patent number: 11456494
    Abstract: A method for detecting an imminent overheating of at least one battery cell of a battery, preferably for a motor vehicle. The imminent overheating is detected as a function of at least one determined first variable relating to the at least one battery cell. A temperature gradient over time of a temperature sensed in a predetermined proximity to the at least one battery cell and/or a voltage of the at least one battery cell is determined as the at least one first variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Markus Goebel, Dominik Gottlieb
  • Patent number: 11440561
    Abstract: A control system includes a manipulation interface unit that generates manipulation quantity information and priority information, a plurality of automatic control units that generates automatic control outputs based on predetermined inputs, safety verification units that confirm safety of the automatic control outputs, and an output control unit that outputs a control output according to any one of a predetermined automatic control output and the manipulation quantity information. Based on the priority information, the output control unit selects an automatic control output having the highest selection priority from the automatic control outputs of which the safety is confirmed to generate the control output, generates the control output according to the manipulation quantity information when the safety verification units confirm the safety, or generates the control output according to the manipulation quantity information regardless of the safety confirmation results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: HITACHI, LTD.
    Inventors: Nobuyasu Kanekawa, Shinji Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 11436502
    Abstract: A sector situation (SS) evaluation framework is based on knowledge transfer and is specifically applicable for small-training-sample environment. The SS evaluation framework is able to effectively mine knowledge hidden within the samples of both target and non-target sectors, and properly handle the integration between the knowledge derived from different sectors. This framework includes three main steps: (1) sufficiently mine the knowledge within the samples of the target sector using the strategies of multi-factor subset generation and multi-base evaluator construction, and build target base evaluators; (2) precisely learn the knowledge in the samples of the non-target sectors using similar strategies for the target sector, together with a sample transformation, and build non-target base evaluators; and (3) efficiently integrate the target and non-target base evaluators based on evaluation confidence analysis of those base evaluators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: BEIHANG UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Xianbin Cao, Wenbo Du, Xi Zhu, Yumeng Li
  • Patent number: 11433736
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for providing thermal management for components of a vehicle. In one example, a method may include exchanging heat between different coolant systems via a heat exchanger using predicted data indicating estimated coolant temperatures for a vehicle trip and measured data indicating dynamic conditions for the vehicle trip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Sakthish Sathasivam, Ashish Naidu