Patents Examined by Basil T Jos
  • Patent number: 9745051
    Abstract: An engine control device having a calculator for calculating a pitch setpoint for at least one propeller of the engine, the calculator taking account at least of a flight speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Nicolas Jerome Jean Tantot, Thierry Brichler
  • Patent number: 9738280
    Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling the speed of a host vehicle during an on-ramp merging situation. One method includes identifying a position of an upcoming on-ramp merging with a lane where the host vehicle is currently traveling based on lane markings identified in an image captured by a forward-facing image sensor mounted on the host vehicle, detecting a merging vehicle on the upcoming on-ramp, and determining a speed of the merging vehicle. The method also includes automatically, at a control unit, adjusting a speed of the host vehicle based on the speed of the merging vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Freddy Rayes
  • Patent number: 9731668
    Abstract: An computing device is configured to detect that a user device is approaching the vehicle. An identifier for the user device and an identifier for the vehicle is transmitted to a remote server. A model is used to generate settings data in the vehicle, wherein the model is generated at least in part based on the identifier for the user device and the identifier for the vehicle. At least one setting for the at least one component in the vehicle is generated according to the model, and is applied to the at least one component in the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Oleg Yurievitch Gusikhin, Perry Robinson MacNeille, Randal Henry Visintainer, Edward Andrew Pleet
  • Patent number: 9733346
    Abstract: A method for providing sound tracking information includes detecting a sound emitted adjacent to a subject vehicle and generating a sound tracking result based at least on sound data relating to the detected sound. A relative velocity of another vehicle operating near the subject vehicle is determined based on an angle of the other vehicle determined from the sound tracking result. A notification regarding the other vehicle is determined based on the relative velocity. The sound tracking result includes, for each of a plurality of angles relative to the subject vehicle in each of a plurality of frames of sound data according to time, an estimate of a probability of the presence of at least one other vehicle at each respective angle in each respective frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Yoon Ho Jang, Jae Kwang Kim
  • Patent number: 9734639
    Abstract: A system and method for monitoring an industrial vehicle are presented. The system includes a first imaging subsystem for acquiring a plurality of load-carrying-portion images. A cargo-detection subsystem is configured for analyzing each of the plurality of load-carrying-portion images to determine whether cargo is positioned on the load-carrying portion. A power-detection subsystem is configured for determining when the industrial vehicle is running. A motion-detection subsystem is configured for determining when the industrial vehicle is in motion. An analytics subsystem is configured for calculating the amount of time that the industrial vehicle is running, the amount of time that the industrial vehicle is running while cargo is positioned on the load-carrying portion, the amount of time the industrial vehicle is in motion, and the amount of time the industrial vehicle is in motion while cargo is positioned on the load-carrying portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Hand Held Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Taylor Smith
  • Patent number: 9726514
    Abstract: A navigation system suitable for installation in a host-vehicle includes a navigation-device, a display, and a receiver. The navigation-device is configured to determine a first-location of a host-vehicle. The display is configured to show navigation-information to an operator of the host-vehicle. The navigation-information indicates the first-location relative to a map. The receiver is configured to receive profile-information associated with an other-vehicle. The profile-information includes a second-location of the other-vehicle. The system indicates the second-location on the map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Devaiah Aiappa Pudiyathanda, Vijayalakshmi Kr, Pramod Narayanan Kaniampal, Scott D. Brandenburg, Suresh K. Chengalva
  • Patent number: 9728092
    Abstract: A method of determining the speed of the wind to be taken into account for determining a maximum authorized takeoff weight of an aircraft. A measured speed TASmes of the local wind is calculated from at least one current speed TASinst of the local wind and an observed speed TASobs of the local wind on the basis of weather observations and on the basis of a heading value. The measured speed TASmes is compared with the observed speed TASobs in order to determine a calculated speed TASperfo of the local wind while also making use of at least one instability criterion of the local wind as supplied by the weather observations and weather forecasts. The calculated speed TASperfo is then for taking into account in order to optimize the maximize authorized takeoff weight of the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: AIRBUS HELICOPTERS
    Inventors: Etienne Poudrai, Nicolas Certain, Bernard Spinosi
  • Patent number: 9727056
    Abstract: A system for changing a control-mode of an automated vehicle from automated-control to manual-control includes an operator-detection device and a controller. The operator-detection device is operable to detect a readiness-state of an operator of a vehicle while a control-mode of the vehicle is automated-control. The controller is configured to forecast a future-time when the control-mode of the vehicle should change from automated-control to manual-control and determine a take-over-interval for an operator to assume manual-control of the vehicle once notified. The take-over-interval is determined based on the readiness-state. The controller is also configured to notify the operator that the control-mode of the vehicle should change from automated-control to manual-control no later than the take-over-interval prior to the future-time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael H. Laur, Ludong Sun, Indu Vijayan, Serge Lambermont, Ryan S. Middleton
  • Patent number: 9719792
    Abstract: A system and method provides a route and turn-by-turn directions based on estimates of current and future traffic along the route. A client device may request turn-by-turn directions between an initial and a final location. A server may identify a plurality of routes between the locations. Each route of the plurality of routes may be divided into route segments. For each route segment of a particular route, the server may estimate a travel time. The travel time may be based on estimated vehicle volume data generated from information received from other users vehicle Based on the estimated travel time for each route segment of a particular route, the server may estimate a total travel time for the particular route. The server may repeat this estimate for each of the plurality of routes between the locations and select the route with the lowest estimated travel time. Based on the selected route, the server may generate turn-by-turn directions and transmit the directions to the client device for display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: David M. Barth
  • Patent number: 9720409
    Abstract: A surveying system having a total station integrated into an unmanned ground vehicle communicates with a plurality of mobile communication stations that are located on known site coordinates. By locating the mobile communication stations on known coordinates, the location of the ground vehicle is precisely triangulated and controlled. Construction drawings are loaded into the system, thereby allowing the vehicle to locate itself at specific points designated in the drawings for the marking of on-site construction grid lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Inventor: Jesse Gil
  • Patent number: 9715771
    Abstract: A trip data management and display system for a vehicle. The system includes a processor, a memory, a user-interface and a display. During a trip traveled by the vehicle, the processor receives data from one or more systems or components. The processor receives input via the user-interface to associate a category and a filename with the received data for storage in the memory. The stored data may then be retrieved for display upon the display of the vehicle. The trip traveled by the vehicle is predefined according to user-settable parameters or is automatically determined based on vehicle characteristics. Instantaneous data corresponding to a trip currently being traveled by the vehicle may also be displayed on the display adjacent to the stored data from memory. The data stored may be managed by a user to associate it with different or multiple categories or to delete particular stored data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Gregg, Nicholas S. Sitarski
  • Patent number: 9715230
    Abstract: Using a trick flight control process, a pilot may fly an aircraft while having control over two axes of orientation while the aircraft may be rotating automatically about a third axis of orientation. The pilot may continue to fly the aircraft during an automated trick rather than relinquishing control completely to the aircraft's electronics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: TRAXXAS LP
    Inventors: Wesley Ronald Erhart, Tom Kawamura
  • Patent number: 9714014
    Abstract: An electric brake apparatus includes an electric actuator configured to actuate a brake mechanism according to an actuation request signal, and an actuator controller configured to control an operation of the electric actuator with use of a power source mounted at a vehicle to perform control of holding and a release of braking by the brake mechanism. When a system recovers and the actuator controller detects that the control of the holding or the release has been interrupted with an uncompleted control state since system down occurred in the middle of the control of the holding or the release of the braking by the brake mechanism, the actuator controller maintains the interrupted state until a new actuation request signal is issued, and controls the operation of the electric actuator according to the content of the new actuation request signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignees: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD., MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michiharu Okada, Shigeyuki Uehara, Kenji Hashida, Wataru Yokoyama, Kenichiro Matsubara
  • Patent number: 9709416
    Abstract: In a living area data generation section, a road link having the number of times of traveling not less than a predetermined number of times is acquired based on travel history data, and a predetermined area including the road link is determined as a living area. In a user model generation section, based on the travel history data, the number of outings is acquired by necessary time for outing, according to whether the destination is in a living area or non-living area, and model data of user's outing pattern is generated. In a search condition determination section, based on the model data, a facility search range is determined, and a ratio between the numbers of facilities to be searched for from the living area and non-living area is determined as a search condition. In a facility search section, search is conducted for facilities conforming to the condition and to be presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Mizuno, Yasuhiro Shimizu
  • Patent number: 9709411
    Abstract: A system and method provides a route and turn-by-turn directions based on estimates of current and future traffic along the route. A client device may request turn-by-turn directions between an initial and a final location. A server may identify a plurality of routes between the locations. Each route of the plurality of routes may be divided into route segments. For each route segment of a particular route, the server may estimate a travel time. The travel time may be based on estimated vehicle volume data generated from information received from other users vehicle Based on the estimated travel time for each route segment of a particular route, the server may estimate a total travel time for the particular route. The server may repeat this estimate for each of the plurality of routes between the locations and select the route with the lowest estimated travel time. Based on the selected route, the server may generate turn-by-turn directions and transmit the directions to the client device for display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: David M. Barth
  • Patent number: 9701300
    Abstract: In an accelerator-off state, a torque command Tm1* of a first motor is set such that an engine, that is in a state in which fuel injection is stopped, is subjected to motoring by the first motor. Subsequently, torque commands Tm2* and Tm3* of a second motor and a third motor are set such that a torque of the second motor becomes equal to or less than a threshold value—Tref or equal to or more than a threshold value Tref and a hybrid vehicle runs with a required torque Td*. Then, the first motor, the second motor, and the third motor are controlled by using the torque commands Tm1*, Tm2*, and Tm3*.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshimitsu Takahashi
  • Patent number: 9696169
    Abstract: The described principles provide a method and system for identifying a potentially closed road based on reroute requests, and of accommodating the potential road closure while continuing to test the road status periodically via routing decisions and rerouting requests. While the optimal route assumes that the potentially closed road is open, a replacement route is defined assuming that the potentially closed road is closed. A fraction of users are sent along the optimal route, and if a reroute request is received, the potentially closed road is assumed to be closed still. The affected user is rerouted to a recovery route that matches the optimal route up to the potentially closed road, and then differs from the optimal route thereafter to avoid the potentially closed road.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: GENERAL MOTORS LLC
    Inventors: Richard A. Johnson, Steven C. Tengler
  • Patent number: 9688255
    Abstract: A technique involves operating a vehicle. The technique includes receiving, by processing circuitry, an accelerometer signal from an accelerometer. The technique further includes processing, by the processing circuitry, the accelerometer signal to determine whether the vehicle is currently experiencing tire skid. The technique further includes controlling, by the processing circuitry, the vehicle based on whether the vehicle is currently experiencing tire skid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: AAI Corporation
    Inventors: Anne Marie Trapp, Brandon Reid Hall
  • Patent number: 9682709
    Abstract: A method is provided for the detection of a critical snaking motion of a trailer of a vehicle combination, in which a setpoint yaw rate of the trailer is ascertained from the transverse acceleration of the trailer and the longitudinal speed of the vehicle combination, the actual yaw rate of the trailer is ascertained using a yaw rate sensor, and by a comparison of the curve over time of the setpoint yaw rate and the actual yaw rate, the presence of a critical snaking motion of the trailer is ascertained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Benjamin Baust, Markus Beisswenger
  • Patent number: 9672666
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for collecting vehicle data is provided. The method for collecting vehicle data in a vehicle data collection server communicating with a vehicle through a wireless network includes receiving vehicle data corresponding to first to Nth data items from a first vehicle. When alternative data collection vehicles are needed, the method searches for the alternative data collection vehicles in a group of vehicles, for each of the first to Nth data items, receives vehicle data corresponding to at least one of the first to Nth data items through the searched alternative data collection vehicles, and stores the vehicle data received from the first vehicle and the vehicle data received from the alternative data collection vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Dong Jin Shin, Sang Jae Han, Dong Youl Lee, Jae Am Seo, Chul Min Kim