Patents Examined by Basil T Jos
  • Patent number: 9551989
    Abstract: A method of extending the operation of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is disclosed. The method comprises detecting that an energy storage device on board the UAV is depleted below a threshold level, landing the UAV at a base station, and initiating operation of the base station to cause a replacement mechanism thereof to remove the energy storage device on board the UAV from the UAV and to replace this with another energy storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: David Scarlatti, David Esteban Campillo, Enrique Juan Casado Magana
  • Patent number: 9547990
    Abstract: An emergency landing control system for an aircraft includes a landing site data source, a performance margin data source, an engine health data source, an aircraft health data source, and a processor. The landing site data source determines, continuously and in real-time, available landing sites. The performance margin data source conducts, continuously and in real-time, continuous performance analysis of an engine. The engine health data source determines, continuously and in real-time, available engine power as a function of time. The aircraft health data source determines, continuously and in real-time, available aircraft life as a function of time. The processor receives data from these data sources and, based on these data, continuously generates landing paths to one or more of the available landing sites, and selectively and continuously adjusts maximum available engine power up to emergency power limits, as needed, during execution of a landing maneuver to a landing site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Richard Ling, Grant Gordon, Kevin Moeckly
  • Patent number: 9545875
    Abstract: A method for controlling a light emission of at least one headlight of a host vehicle includes: reading in a side collision warning signal which represents a risk for the host vehicle of a side impact from another vehicle; generating an activation signal using the side collision warning signal and a position information which represents a position of the other vehicle relative to the host vehicle; and controlling the light emission of the at least one headlight based on the activation signal, in order to illuminate the other vehicle with the aid of the at least one headlight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Manoj Mohamed
  • Patent number: 9547312
    Abstract: A guiding unit and a computation unit, the computation unit comprising elements for saturating, if necessary, a usual optimized slope for the landing, following a comparison with a slope computed on the basis of a performance criterion relative to a deceleration capability of the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS SAS
    Inventors: Alexandre Buisson, Benjamin Tessier
  • Patent number: 9545896
    Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to a motor vehicle safety arrangement and method for positioning an occupant properly on a vehicle seat and restraining the occupant thus positioned in preparation of the vehicle potentially being subject to a rear-end collision. A safety belt is associated with the vehicle seat and an electric reversible safety belt retractor is associated with the safety belt. A rearward-looking detection system detects and classifies the collision risk for an approaching object. At least one sensor monitors one or more vehicle parameters. A control unit determines a driving state as critical or non-critical from the monitored vehicle parameters. The control unit controls the electric reversible safety belt retractor to apply a predetermined pullback force on the safety belt in response to the collision risk for an approaching object being classified as high within a predetermined time of an indicated critical driving state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: VOLVO CAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Andrew Backhouse, David Madas
  • Patent number: 9547308
    Abstract: A rapid transition floating vessel that is able to follow the yaw motions of a turret moored floating vessel is provided. The rapid transition floating vessel includes a system and processes for dynamically positioning the floating vessel alongside a turret moored floating vessel whereby the floating vessel remains at a safe distance while being connected to the turret moored floating vessel. This is achieved by the floating vessel following the yaw motions of the turret moored floating vessel as the turret moored floating vessel weathervanes about a center of the turret moorings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Keppel Offshore & Marine Technology Centre Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Aziz Merchant, Anis Hussain, Ankit Kumar Choudhary
  • Patent number: 9545935
    Abstract: A portable mounting assembly is provided comprising a mounting disc comprising at least one magnetic component for attaching the mounting disc to an axle bearing on a vehicle such as a locomotive, for determining speed; and a stabilizer bar attached at a first end to the mounting disc and at a second end to an outrigger comprising at least one magnetic component for attaching to a stationary component of the vehicle. A method of providing speed control to a portable remote control system for a locomotive is also provided. A method of overriding a speed control mode operated by a portable remote control system for a locomotive is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: ZTR Control Systems
    Inventor: Aldo Liberatore
  • Patent number: 9545923
    Abstract: An object-detection system for, e.g., a vehicle collision avoidance system, utilizes a metamaterial-based phase shifting element array to generate a scan beam by varying the effective capacitance of each metamaterial structure forming the array in order to control the phases of their radio frequency output signals such that the combined electromagnetic wave generated by the output signals is reinforced in the desired direction and suppressed in undesired directions to produce the scan beam. The metamaterial structures are configured to resonate at the same radio wave frequency as an incident input signal (radiation), whereby each metamaterial structure emits an associated output signal by way of controlled scattering the input signal. A variable capacitance is applied on each metamaterial structure, e.g., using varicaps that are adjusted by way of phase control voltages, to produce the desired output phase patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventors: Bernard D. Casse, Armin R. Volkel, Victor Liu, Alexander S. Tuganov
  • Patent number: 9545048
    Abstract: A system for managing the transfer of agricultural material from a material-transferring vehicle to a material-receiving vehicle. An unloading chute is adapted to transfer material from a first storage container of the material-transferring vehicle to a material-receiving vehicle alongside the material-transferring vehicle. A location-determining receiver is adapted to estimate position data for guiding the material-transferring vehicle. An image sensor is mounted on the material-transferring vehicle or the first storage container for estimating a lateral separation distance between the first storage container and the material-receiving vehicle for receiving the material. An electronic data processing system guides the material-transferring vehicle based on the estimated position data and the estimated lateral separation distance, to maintain a generally constant target lateral separation distance between the material-transferring vehicle and the material-receiving vehicle during the transfer of the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Terence D. Pickett, Brandon M. McDonald
  • Patent number: 9545911
    Abstract: Provided are collision avoidance apparatus and method for a vehicle, which are capable of maintaining a braking force and assisting a steering force by providing a braking control signal and a steering control signal to a wheel of a driver's steering intention direction during braking for collision avoidance, thereby achieving lateral avoidance. The collision avoidance apparatus for the vehicle includes: a measurement unit configured to measure a motion of an opposite vehicle; and an electronic control unit configured to determine whether there is a risk of collision with the opposite vehicle, based on a measurement result from the measurement unit, and, when it is determined that there is the risk of collision, provide a braking control signal and a steering control signal to an actuator for controlling a wheel of a driver's steering intention direction and provide a braking release signal for releasing a braking force from a wheel opposite to the driver's steering intention direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Deok-Ju Kim
  • Patent number: 9545946
    Abstract: A steering system is provided to support a straight running of a vehicle. The steering system included an active steering assistance system, a support torque section, and a correction section. The support torque section is configured to calculate a supporting torque based on a steering torque applied to a steering wheel of the vehicle. The correction section is configured to calculate a correcting torque on a basis of a progressively calculated supporting torque. The active steering assistance is configured to be controlled on the basis of a control torque based upon a superimposition of the supporting torque with the correcting torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Thorsten Wilhelm Hestermeyer, Sergio Trimboli, Jens Dornhege
  • Patent number: 9547569
    Abstract: To provide a vehicle electronic control unit including a first microcomputer (2, 3) and a second microcomputer (3, 2) capable of transmitting and receiving signals to and from the first microcomputer. One of the first microcomputer and the second microcomputer outputs a PWM signal to the other microcomputer (3, 2). The other microcomputer detects an on-time of the PWM signal, performs a self diagnosis according to the detected on-time, and outputs a self diagnosis result to the one microcomputer. The one microcomputer diagnoses the other microcomputer based on the self diagnosis result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: KEIHIN CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yusuke Ikegami
  • Patent number: 9545900
    Abstract: Hill hold control for a vehicle that is executed in response to idling stop of an engine is cancelled on the condition that a command to restart the engine for recovery from the idling stop is issued and an engine rotation speed is higher than or equal to a predetermined determination value; whereas, cancellation of the hill hold control is prohibited when the engine is in process of being stopped through the idling stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kouki Moriya, Yutaka Fukatsu
  • Patent number: 9546874
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer storage media are provided for identifying an optimal route to a destination for a user. The optimal route is customized for the user based on one or more route factors. The route factors may include a physical limitation of the user or a restricted area of a healthcare environment. The route factors may also include obstacles within the route or user preferences. An optimal route is identified as such when no route factors conflict with the optimal route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: CERNER INNOVATION, INC.
    Inventors: David Compton, James Eaton, Justin Nelson, David Pierre, Matthew Sawka
  • Patent number: 9547311
    Abstract: The presently disclosed subject matter includes a method and system of planning autonomous mission, the mission being executed by one or more autonomous agents. A generic mission template is obtained, the generic mission template being constructed from a plurality of mission-objects and defines logical connections between the plurality of mission-objects, wherein each mission-object is configured to logically represent a respective type of mission-element; one or more mission-object in the generic mission template are associated with a respective real world mission-element, thereby generating a specific mission plan; with the help of a processor an agent-specific mission plan is generated for the one or more agents, based on the generic mission template and the specific mission plan, wherein an agent specific mission plan comprises tasks assigned to a respective designated agent and is compatible with the technical requirement of the respective designated agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: ISRAEL AEROSPACE INDUSTRIES LTD.
    Inventors: Assaf Tamir, Amira Sharon
  • Patent number: 9545912
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle mode-switching control device for a hybrid vehicle controls that an output of an engine and/or motor in response to a mode-switch request. In a case of a difference between an actual transmission gear ratio and a target transmission gear ratio, a deficit with respect to the requested drive power occurs that causes discomfort to the driver. The drive power surplus or deficit caused by the transmission gear ratio deviation can eliminated by correcting of the motor torque and/or the engine torque by a correction amount necessary to eliminate the surplus or deficit of drive power. In this way, the lack of drive power due to the transmission ratio deviation and the driver's sense of discomfort can be eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Takano, Shintaro Oshio, Yoshihisa Kodama, Takuro Hirano
  • Patent number: 9546877
    Abstract: A navigation system is provided which dynamically changes a destination so as to meet a user's objective, based on various changes in situation which occur during traveling, and indicates a changed destination to the user. An objective representing an action of a user is recognized based on information inputted by the user (S201). A place at which the recognized objective can be achieved is set as a destination (S203). Guidance is performed so as to reach the destination having been set (S204). When it is determined, during traveling based on the guidance, that the objective is difficult to achieve, a substitute place at which the objective can be achieved is set as a destination (S206 to S209).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, FUJITSU TEN LIMITED
    Inventors: Shinichi Suzuki, Atsushi Nishida, Isao Ishibashi, Masahisa Ishibashi, Yasutaka Yoshimura, Kenichi Murata
  • Patent number: 9545915
    Abstract: A method includes utilizing navigation data from a navigation system to segment a route to be travelled by a travelling vehicle into segments each having a road grade different than neighboring segments. The method further includes discharging a battery of the vehicle as the vehicle travels along an initial segment of the route according to a state-of-charge (SoC) set-point based on the road grade of the initial segment and a variable representative of the road grades of at least two other segments of the route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Anthony Mark Phillips, Georgia-Evangelia Katsargyri, Ming Lang Kuang, Ilya Vladimir Kolmanovsky, John Ottavio Michelini, Munther Abdullah Dahleh, Michael David Rinehart
  • Patent number: 9545847
    Abstract: Vehicle is configured to supply power to outside of a vehicle. Vehicle includes an engine, a battery, a first MG configured to generate power with use of motive power of the engine, a switching unit configured to switch power supplied to outside of the vehicle between power generated by the first MG and power stored in the battery, an ECU configured to control the switching unit, and a detection unit configured to allow the ECU to determine whether or not the vehicle is located indoors. When the ECU determines that the vehicle is located indoors based on an output from the detection unit, it controls the switching unit so that the power supplied to outside of the vehicle to be switched from power generated by the first MG to power stored in the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomoaki Honda, Toshio Inoue, Shunsuke Fushiki, Keita Fukui, Hidekazu Nawata, Yuta Niwa, Taichi Osawa
  • Patent number: 9547314
    Abstract: A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes an acceleration delta module and a remedial action module. The acceleration delta module determines an acceleration delta of a vehicle based on a difference between an actual acceleration of the vehicle and a desired acceleration of the vehicle. The acceleration delta module also determines an average value of the acceleration delta corresponding to at least one of a first predetermined period and a predetermined number of samples of the acceleration delta. The remedial action module, based on the average value of the acceleration delta and independent of a torque command generated to accelerate the vehicle, selectively takes a remedial action by adjusting operation of at least one of an engine and an electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Mark A. Vernacchia, Jeong J. Park, Pierre U. Mokwe, James Mason Faucett