Patents Examined by Atul Trivedi
  • Patent number: 11668580
    Abstract: A system and methods relate to, inter alia, aggregating geolocation data and auxiliary data associated with a plurality of driving activities. The system and methods may further identify the plurality of driving activities that have common geolocation data points based on a geolocation threshold. The system and methods may further determine, from among the identified plurality of driving activities, one or more designated driving activities based on an auxiliary threshold. The system and methods may further generate the neighborhood map that includes the one or more designated driving activities. The system and methods may further transmit a visual representation of, or electronic message detailing, the neighborhood map to a mobile device of a user for display, or otherwise causing the neighborhood map to be displayed to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: BLUEOWL, LLC
    Inventor: Kenneth J. Sanchez
  • Patent number: 11667284
    Abstract: A control ECU (10) executes left-side preliminary control for preventing an occupant from performing an operation of opening a left door when an object is predicted to reach a left virtual line segment (LVL) based on a position of the object. The control ECU executes right-side preliminary control for preventing the occupant from performing an operation of opening a right door when the object is predicted to reach a right virtual line segment (RVL) based on the position of the object. Further, the control ECU executes both-side preliminary control for preventing the occupant from performing an operation of opening both of the left door and the right door when the object is predicted to reach a central virtual line segment (CVL).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Noriyuki Saito, Takuya Kaminade, Iwao Izumikawa
  • Patent number: 11667171
    Abstract: A method and system for estimating surface roughness of a ground for an off-road vehicle to control steering of a vehicle, an implement, or both, comprises detecting motion data of an off-road vehicle traversing a field or work site during a sampling interval. A first sensor is adapted to detect pitch data of the off-road vehicle for the sampling interval to obtain a pitch acceleration. A second sensor is adapted to detect roll data of the off-road vehicle for the sampling interval to obtain a roll acceleration. An electronic data processor or surface roughness index module determines or estimates a surface roughness index based on the detected motion data, pitch data and roll data for the sampling interval. The surface roughness index can be displayed on the graphical display to a user or operator of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Christopher D. Birkland, Tyler D. Schleicher
  • Patent number: 11662728
    Abstract: Methods for performing maintenance operations using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The methods are enabled by equipping a UAV with a maintenance tool capable of performing a desired maintenance operation (e.g., nondestructive inspection) on a limited-access surface of a large structure or object (e.g., a wind turbine blade). The UAV uses re-orientation of lifting means (e.g., vertical rotors) to move the maintenance tool continuously or intermittently across the surface of the structure while maintaining contact with the surface of the structure undergoing maintenance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Joseph L. Hafenrichter, Gary E. Georgeson
  • Patent number: 11661206
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and systems for providing a lateral center of gravity of an aircraft on an aircraft display. A fuel distribution in the aircraft fuel tanks is determined. A lateral center of gravity of the aircraft is determined based on the fuel distribution. The lateral center of gravity is sent to the aircraft display. The present disclosure further provides an aircraft display for displaying the lateral center of gravity of an aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: BOMBARDIER INC.
    Inventors: Andrei Drancea, George Shpati
  • Patent number: 11639103
    Abstract: Controlling the speed of a motor vehicle with an adaptive cruise control system in a curve can include dynamically adjusting the speed of the motor vehicle depending on the planned exit from the roundabout and the current position of the motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Andreas Ediger, Franziskus Bauer, Harald Koerfgen, Katharina Ziegler, Lukas Schrumpf, Alina Dahms
  • Patent number: 11631285
    Abstract: A method and apparatus in a vehicular telemetry system for determining accelerometer thresholds based upon decoding a vehicle identification number (VIN).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Geotab Inc.
    Inventor: Neil Charles Cawse
  • Patent number: 11623640
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for providing assistive action to a driver of a vehicle to increase a following distance between the vehicle and a target lead vehicle. In one example, providing assistive action includes, operating the vehicle manually behind a target lead vehicle on a road, including estimating a following distance between the vehicle and the target lead vehicle, and responsive to the following distance being less than a first threshold following distance, providing an assistive action by adjusting a mapping from a driver demand to a wheel torque of the vehicle to increase a perceived resistance of the vehicle to the driver demand as the following distance decreases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Scott Thompson, John Rollinger, Douglas Martin, Vincent Martinez
  • Patent number: 11618442
    Abstract: A method for controlling a vehicle to make an emergency stop of the vehicle providing a camera and an electronic control unit (ECU) at the vehicle. Presence of a road condition is determined at the road along which the vehicle is traveling. Responsive to determining an emergency driving condition while the vehicle is traveling along the road at the road condition, the ECU at least partially controls driving of the vehicle along the road. While the ECU is at least partially controlling driving of the vehicle along the road, and responsive to determining an end of the road condition, a target stopping location is determined ahead of the vehicle at the road along which the vehicle is traveling and after the end of the road condition. The ECU at least partially controls driving of the vehicle to the target stopping location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Alexander F. Viehmann
  • Patent number: 11618446
    Abstract: Example embodiments relate to measuring rotational speeds of trailer wheels using radar. A computing device may cause a vehicle radar unit to transmit radar signals toward a wheel of trailer being pulled by the vehicle. The computing device may receive radar reflections corresponding to radar signals that reflected off the wheel and determine a rotational speed of the wheel based on the radar reflections. For instance, the computing device may identify the highest or lowest frequency in the frequency spectrum of the radar reflections and use the frequency and the wheel's radius to calculate the rotational speed of the wheel. The computing device can use rotational speed measurements for trailer wheels to monitor performance of the trailer and adjust vehicle navigation accordingly. In some instances, the computing device may determine that one of the trailer wheels requires servicing based on monitoring the rotational speeds of the trailer wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventor: Benjamin Pitzer
  • Patent number: 11618447
    Abstract: A sudden acceleration prevention method for a vehicle includes the following steps, which may be performed by a controller: monitoring an output signal of an accelerator pedal sensor so as to obtain a detected operation state of an accelerator pedal, determining whether the detected operation state of the accelerator pedal is within a predetermined brake pedal operation range, determining whether the detected operation state of the accelerator pedal is within a predetermined accelerator pedal and brake pedal overlapping operation range if the detected operation state of the accelerator pedal is within the predetermined brake pedal operation range, and outputting an output reduction control signal of the vehicle if the detected operation state of the accelerator pedal is not within the accelerator pedal and brake pedal overlapping operation range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Eun Sik Kim
  • Patent number: 11618441
    Abstract: A vehicular control system includes a camera, a non-vision sensor and a control having at least one data processor. The camera is disposed at a vehicle and views at least forward of the vehicle. The non-vision sensor is disposed at the vehicle and senses at least forward of the vehicle. The control, responsive at least in part to processing at the control of captured image data and captured sensor data, determines a fault of the camera or of the non-vision sensor. Responsive to determination of the fault of the camera or of the non-vision sensor, the control wirelessly communicates an alert to a remote processor that is located remote from the vehicle and that is not part of the vehicle. Responsive to receipt of the communicated alert, the remote processor at least in part assumes control of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Krishna Koravadi
  • Patent number: 11614738
    Abstract: A managing apparatus provides self-driving of a vehicle, which allows the vehicle to enter a parking space out of a plurality of parking spaces from an outside of a parking lot including the plurality of parking spaces, and which allows the vehicle to leave the parking lot for a predetermined place in the outside. The managing apparatus is provided with: a wait time setting device configured to set a maximum wait time of the vehicle in the predetermined place; and a controller configured to set a driving route for returning the vehicle to the parking lot from the predetermined place on condition that the maximum wait time elapses from an arrival of the vehicle in the predetermined place, and configured to provide the self-driving of the vehicle along the driving route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshio Mukaiyama
  • Patent number: 11610337
    Abstract: Boresight and lever arm calibration of cameras and scanners on UAVs or mobile platforms is performed by optimizing the flight/travel path of the UAV/platform relative to control points or tie points. The flight/travel paths account for the potential bias of boresight angles, lever arm and times delays to produce an accurate estimation of the orientation of these cameras/scanners relative to the GNSS/INS coordinate system of the UAV/platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Purdue Research Foundation
    Inventor: Ayman F. Habib
  • Patent number: 11603081
    Abstract: For a tank truck using an EBS, the present invention provides a tank truck rollover relieved control method based on electronic braking deceleration. Firstly, a tank truck rollover scene applicable to the relieved control method is defined; then, a least square method is adopted to establish a characterization function of tank truck braking deceleration; and finally, tank truck rollover relieved control is achieved on the basis of the characterization function of the braking deceleration and the EBS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: SOUTHEAST UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Xu Li, Kun Wei, Qimin Xu
  • Patent number: 11597291
    Abstract: A drone-based product delivery mechanism in which power is transferred between the drone's battery and a product's battery while the product is in transit to its destination. For a short distance delivery, the drone battery may be used to charge the product battery so that the product is delivered with a fully-charged battery. On the other hand, for long distance deliveries, the power from a fully-charged product battery may be used to charge the drone's battery to extend the flight time/radius of the drone or to supplement the drone battery to conserve its power. The power transfer may be carried out using a wireless connection or a wired connection. The wireless connection may be a Qi interface, whereas the wired connection may be a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connection. The product packaging may be re-designed to allow the desired power transfer between the drone and the product inside the packaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Sathish Kumar Bikumala, Jace W. Files
  • Patent number: 11597369
    Abstract: A method includes obtaining first fluidic pressure information indicative of fluidic pressure in a hydraulic cylinder of a machine as a function of time, and generating a first training set including second fluidic pressure information associated with impeller clutch engagement values. A training system associated with the machine computes a first plurality of test system response values based on the first training set, compares first plurality of test system response values with a plurality of observed response values, and determines a first response error. The training system determines whether the first response error is less than or equal to a threshold error value, generates a time-step predictive analytical model associated with the first training set, and provides the time-step predictive analytical model to an electronic control module of the machine. The time-step predictive analytical model is usable to control machine torque and/or an impeller clutch of the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin J. Hodel, Jeffrey K. Berry
  • Patent number: 11597362
    Abstract: A control apparatus of a vehicle includes a collision determination unit configured to determine whether there is the possibility that the vehicle will collide with an object moving in a direction intersecting a longer direction of the vehicle, a signal determination unit configured to determine whether or not a traffic light in front of the vehicle is red, and a braking control unit configured to apply braking force to the vehicle. When the vehicle is travelling toward an intersection, in a case where it is determined that there is the possibility that the vehicle will collide with the moving object, the braking control unit applies higher braking force, and in a case where it is not determined that there is such a possibility and it is determined that the traffic light is red, the braking control unit applies lower braking force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinya Sato, Hiroyuki Koibuchi
  • Patent number: 11590952
    Abstract: A method for controlling an ESC integrated braking system including: checking, by a control unit, whether a brake is in an on state or a standby state as the braking system is activated; checking, by the control unit, whether a current temperature value is in a low temperature state lower than specified reference temperature; and controlling, by the control unit, a current duty for driving a hydraulic control valve and a current component of a motor for driving a master cylinder according to the state of the brake and whether the current temperature value is in the low temperature state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yong Cheol Seol
  • Patent number: 11590943
    Abstract: A control system of a BBW device may include brake-by-wire (BBW) devices provided to each of wheels of a vehicle to perform a braking control or a suspension control of the vehicle, sensors configured for detecting an operating state of each of the BBW devices, and controllers connected to each of the BBW devices to control a corresponding BBW device among the BBW devices, in which the controllers are configured to determine whether the sensors fail according to data received from the sensors, and when determining that any a sensor among the sensors fails, the controllers turn off any a BBW device of the BBW devices which is a target detected by the failed sensor, and perform the braking control or the suspension control of the BBW devices based on a traveling state of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Hae Ryong Choi, Dong Yoon Hyun