Patents Examined by Basil T Jos
  • Patent number: 10254414
    Abstract: A method of enhancing global navigation satellite system performance includes the steps of (A) determining position information based upon (i) global navigation satellite system information, (ii) dead reckoning using one or more sensor inputs, and (iii) a correction signal, (B) when the global navigation satellite system information is unavailable, adjusting the position information and generating the correction signal based upon pre-defined map data, and (C) when the global navigation satellite system information is reacquired after being unavailable, suspending the dead reckoning for a predefined amount of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: VEONEER US INC.
    Inventors: Daniel McFarland, Jens Nitzschke
  • Patent number: 10249190
    Abstract: A vehicular display control apparatus includes: a condition determination portion that determines whether a deviation prediction condition has been established, the deviation prediction condition being a condition based on which a deviation between a sensible speed for a driver and an actual traveling speed is predicted; a speed difference determination portion that determines whether a speed difference between the actual traveling speed and a speed limit is a switching determination value or larger, and whether a shortage of the traveling speed from the speed limit is the switching determination value or larger; and a switching control portion that switches a speed display indicating the traveling speed to an emphasized display in a case when the condition determination portion determines that the deviation prediction condition has been established, and also when the speed difference determination portion determines that the speed difference is the switching determination value or larger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuji Nonoyama
  • Patent number: 10234874
    Abstract: A drone control system for controlling a drone which includes an onboard-flight-system previously configured to receive navigational-data in a format compliant with a standard navigational data transmission protocol. The system includes a remote-sensor and an interface. The remote sensor is located remotely from the drone and determines the position of the drone relative to the remote-sensor. The interface, coupled with the remote-sensor, produces a pseudo GPS signal indicating the position of the drone and to provide the pseudo GPS signal to an onboard-flight-system of the drone. The format of the pseudo GPS signal is fully compliant with the standard navigational data transmission protocol employed by the onboard-flight-system. The onboard-flight-system is receives inertial tracking data from an onboard inertial-measuring-unit and the pseudo GPS signal, and tracks the position of the drone by merging the inertial tracking data and the pseudo GPS signal and navigates the drone accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: ELBIT SYSTEMS LAND AND C4I LTD.
    Inventor: Yair Kahn
  • Patent number: 10227011
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling braking of a machine mounted for movement on rails. The machine is provided with mechanical wheel brakes, electric drive motors for rotating the wheels and a control system for braking. The method comprises the steps of: —monitoring the movement and operations of the machine to detect whether a stop command shall be activated to stop the machine immediately, —switching-on the mechanical wheel brakes to stop the machine if the stop command is activated, and —activating the electric drive motors of the machine simultaneously with the switching-on of the mechanical wheel brakes to rotate the wheels and prevent locking and sliding of wheels on the rails if movement of the machine is detected at the moment of the activation of the stop command. The invention relates also to a system and computer program product for controlling braking of a machine mounted for movement on rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Cargotec Finland Oy
    Inventor: Timo Kivelä
  • Patent number: 10209719
    Abstract: A pool cleaning robot, a mobile computer, and a method for operating a pool cleaning robot, the method may include receiving, by the pool cleaning robot, demarcation information that defines pool zones and pool cleaning robot operational parameters related to the pool zones; wherein the demarcation information is generated by a mobile computer and under a control of a user; and performing a cleaning operation, by the pool cleaning robot, based on the demarcation information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: MAYTRONICS LTD.
    Inventors: Yair Hadari, Shay Witelson
  • Patent number: 10209715
    Abstract: A processing system includes at least one computer processor, which is configured to implement a method that includes receiving crowd-sourced driving path data, map data, and real-time sensor data associated with a roadway. The method includes generating, by the processing system, optimized driving path data for the roadway based on the crowd-sourced path data, the map data, and the sensor data. The method includes providing control signals to control an autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle based on the optimized driving path data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Jason Scott Hardy, Thomas Glaser, Joerg Mueller, Mithun Jacob
  • Patent number: 10207712
    Abstract: Control system, which is adapted for application in a vehicle and intended to detect following vehicles on the basis of environmental data which are obtained from one or several environmental sensors disposed on the vehicle. The environmental sensors are adapted to provide an electronic controller of the control system with the environmental data which reflect the area in front of, laterally next to and/or behind the vehicle. The control system is at least adapted and intended to detect one or several other vehicles participating in traffic behind the own vehicle with the environmental sensors. A lane associated with each other vehicle, in which the other vehicle(s) drive(s), is detected. An occupancy of the own lane and/or of at least one adjacent lane by the other vehicle(s) is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Monika Schaper, Hrachia Grigorians, Karl-Heinz Glander
  • Patent number: 10185327
    Abstract: Methods and systems for communicating between autonomous vehicles are described herein. Such communication may be performed for signaling, collision avoidance, path coordination, and/or autonomous control. Several communications from autonomous vehicles may be received at a computing device, where the autonomous vehicles are travelling within a threshold distance of each other. Each communication may include an indication of the next waypoint on a route for the respective vehicle. The computing device may analyze the communications to determine maneuvers for the autonomous vehicles so that each autonomous vehicle may navigate to the corresponding waypoint in the least amount of time or distance. The computing device also may cause each of the autonomous vehicles to move in accordance with the maneuvers for the respective vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Blake Konrardy, Scott T. Christensen, Gregory Hayward, Scott Farris
  • Patent number: 10179584
    Abstract: A parking-assist system suitable for use on an automated vehicle includes a radar sensor and a controller. The radar-sensor detects a first-vehicle and a second-vehicle adjacent to a travel-path of a host-vehicle. A distance between the first-vehicle and the second-vehicle defines a parking-space. The controller is in communication with the radar-sensor. The controller determines the distance before the host-vehicle enters a zone of the travel-path adjacent to the parking-space. The zone has a length determined by the distance, and the controller determines when the parking-space is large enough to accommodate the host-vehicle based on the distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: APTIV TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
    Inventors: Jeremy S. Greene, Mohamed A. Moawad
  • Patent number: 10169999
    Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and methods are provided for interfacing a roadway obstacle and navigation system with an obstacle identification and route determination system to identify roadway obstacles based on vehicular data. The roadway obstacle and navigation system may receive vehicular data through sensor utilization and communications with electronic devices. The vehicular data may be analyzed by the roadway obstacle and navigation system in conjunction with the obstacle identification and route determination system to identify roadway obstacles. The roadway obstacle and navigation system may use the roadway obstacles to provide safety alerts to drivers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Allstate Solutions Private Limited
    Inventor: Anil Kumar Pandurangarao
  • Patent number: 10137799
    Abstract: An electric vehicle includes a plurality of electric drive units coupled to one or more axles of the electric vehicle. The drive units have an associated power loss map that is approximated by a plurality of second-order polynomials. Torque is apportioned between the electric drive units to minimize total power losses based on coefficients of the second-order polynomials for each of the electric drive units and a driver torque demand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brian Gillespey, Arnulf Sponheimer
  • Patent number: 10139001
    Abstract: A continuously variable transmission includes a continuous gear-change mechanism, a gear-change operating section to which a gear-change operation is input, and a gear-change controlling section changing a gear ratio of the mechanism according to the gear-change operation that is input from the operating section. A first gear-change operation and a second gear-change operation, performed subsequently to the first operation, or an input from a second gear-change operating section can be input to the operating section. The e controlling section is provided with the plural gear ratios for plural gears and previously set, causes the mechanism to perform, according to the first operation, a gear-change operation to a gear ratio for a next gear, and to perform, according to the second operation, a gear-change operation to an intermediate gear ratio set between the gear ratio for the next gear and a gear ratio for a second next gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takemi Oguri, Minoru Kagawa, Hiroyuki Kiryu, Mitsuo Takano, Nobuhiro Uchijima
  • Patent number: 10137885
    Abstract: A system and method for operating a vehicle having different operating modes affecting emissions include activating, by a vehicle controller, at least one of the different operating modes affecting emissions selected in response to an estimated population density of a designated area associated with a current location or an anticipated future location of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Frederic Stefan, Alain Marie Roger Chevalier, Evangelos Bitsanis, Michael Marbaix
  • Patent number: 10133274
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for interacting with a plurality of autonomous vehicles. In one implementation, a system may include at least one processor. The at least one processor may be programmed to receive from each of the plurality of autonomous vehicles navigational situation information associated with an occurrence of an adjustment to a determined navigational maneuver, analyze the navigational situation information, determine, based on the analysis of the navigational situation information, whether the adjustment to the determined navigational maneuver was due to a transient condition, and update the predetermined model representative of the at least one road segment if the adjustment to the determined navigational maneuver was not due to a transient condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: MOBILEYE VISION TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
    Inventors: Amnon Shashua, Yoram Gdalyahu, Ofer Springer, Yoav Taieb
  • Patent number: 10132932
    Abstract: Example embodiments include an aerial vehicle configured to establish a geo-fence. In particular, an aerial vehicle may include an inertial measurement unit, a GPS sensor, and vehicle controller circuitry that works together to establish a geo-fence based on an initial location. In an example embodiment, the aerial vehicle may establish a rectangular geo-fence and a wind direction based on received angular data, acceleration data, and location data. The rectangular geo-fence may include a minimum fence height, a maximum fence height, a fence length, and a fence width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Horizon Hobby, LLC
    Inventors: Michael McConville, Chris Huhn
  • Patent number: 10124804
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for optimizing traffic control device detection are provided. The method includes: determining whether a first vehicle is traveling to an intersection with a traffic control device and whether the first vehicle is within a predetermined distance of the intersection; in response to determining that the first vehicle is traveling to the intersection with the traffic control device and that the first vehicle is within the first predetermined distance of the intersection, scanning for the traffic control device; controlling the first vehicle to increase a distance between the first vehicle and a second vehicle in front of the first vehicle if the scanning fails to detect the traffic control device; and controlling the first vehicle to maintain the distance between the first vehicle and the second vehicle in front of the first vehicle if the scanning detects the traffic control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Valor Yaldo, Xiaofeng Song
  • Patent number: 10127741
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to an electronic vaporizing device having a vehicle monitoring component for monitoring a plurality of performance data associated with a vehicle, analyzing the plurality of performance data to determine at least one vehicle condition, and outputting the data and/or analysis to a user of the device. The electronic vaporizing device may comprise at least one vehicle monitoring component operable to interface with a plurality of machine devices of an associated vehicle to capture a plurality of vehicle performance data associated with at least one of the plurality of machine devices, determine at least one performance condition based on at least a portion of the plurality of captured performance data, and generate a plurality of vehicle status data therefrom. The determination of the at least one performance condition and generation of the plurality of vehicle status data may be based on a plurality of performance data capture parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: LunaTech, LLC
    Inventors: John David Cameron, Dean Becker, Gene Fein
  • Patent number: 10123475
    Abstract: A method for automatically monitoring soil surface roughness as a ground-engaging operation is being performed within a field may include receiving pre-operation surface roughness data associated with a given portion of the field and receiving post-operation surface roughness data associated with the given portion of the field. In addition, the method may include analyzing the pre-operation and post-operation surface roughness data to determine a surface roughness differential associated with the performance of the ground-engaging operation and actively adjusting the operation of at least one of an associated work vehicle and/or implement when the surface roughness differential differs from a target set for the surface roughness differential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignees: CNH Industrial America LLC, Autonomous Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: John H. Posselius, Luca Ferrari, Taylor C. Bybee, Bret T. Turpin
  • Patent number: 10119832
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides charging station guide apparatus and method. The charging station guide apparatus includes: a global positioning system (GPS) receiving a GPS signal transmitted from a GPS satellite; a storage unit storing charging station information including map information and charging station position information; a control unit generating a first display window including a vehicle object representing vehicle position information and a charging station position object representing charging station position information based on the GPS signal, the map information, and the charging station information, generating a second display window including a charging station distance object representing charging station distance information, and also generating an image so that the second display window overlaps with one end of the first display window; and a display unit displaying an image generated from the control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Hye Jin Choi, Sang Yeon Lim, Jake Gin, Yeonji Kim, Yongho Lee, Jeong Won Lee, Hyun Seung Yang, Sungtae Cho
  • Patent number: 10119827
    Abstract: A computer system maintains, for a given geographic region, a data structure that identifies a traction value for each of a plurality of locations of a road network within a geographic region. At least of a start or destination location is determined for the trip. The computer system may plan the trip, including selecting at least one of a route or a vehicle to use for the trip, based on the traction values of one or more of the plurality of locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Rander, David McAllister Bradley, Matthew Wood