Patents Examined by Ce Li
  • Patent number: 9925665
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a robot system controlling method and robot system which perform link angle control and joint stiffness control through feedback control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kiyoshi Takagi
  • Patent number: 9889767
    Abstract: A MGECU in a control device mounted on a vehicle has a feedback control section, a correction torque calculation section, an instruction torque calculation section. The feedback control section calculates a torque to be used for performing a feedback control of an actual rotation speed to follow a target rotation speed. The correction torque calculation section calculates a correction torque based on a change rate of the target rotation speed and inertia of a rotary body which includes the motor generator. When the target rotation speed is changed to decrease a difference between the target rotation speed and the actual rotation speed, the correction torque calculation section reduces the correction torque. The instruction torque calculation section adds the torque calculated by the feedback control section and the correction torque calculated by the correction torque calculation section in order to obtain the instruction torque to be used for the motor generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shingo Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 9884646
    Abstract: A parking assist system includes an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to: at the time of assisting in parking a vehicle to a parking area, determine a path from an initial position of the vehicle to a target position; generate a first circumference that passes through the initial position and that touches a traveling direction of the vehicle, as the path; determine a center position on the basis of a position of a rear corner of a parked vehicle ahead, a turning radius of the vehicle at a minimum turn and the target position; and generate a second circumference that has a center at the center position and that passes through the target position and touches both the traveling direction of the vehicle at the target position and the first circumference, as the path continuous with the first circumference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignees: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Motokatsu Tomozawa, Motonari Obayashi, Hironobu Ishijima
  • Patent number: 9873437
    Abstract: Methods of assessing driver behavior include monitoring vehicle systems and driver monitoring systems to accommodate for a slow reaction time, attention lapse and/or alertness of a driver. When it is determined that a driver is drowsy, for example, the response system may modify the operation of one or more vehicle systems. The response system can modify the control of two or more systems simultaneously in response to driver behavior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kin C. Fung, Timothy J. Dick
  • Patent number: 9856032
    Abstract: A method and device for controlling at least one actuator control system of an aircraft, an associated computer program product and aircraft are disclosed. In one aspect, the method includes determining a variation in thrust of the aircraft for controlling a variable relating to the aircraft relative to a set point, calculating a first control command signal to be sent to an engine control system in order to obtain the variation in thrust, and transmitting the first control command signal to the engine control system. The controlled variable can be an acceleration along a direction taken by a speed vector among the air speed vector and the ground speed vector and the set point can be an acceleration set point along the direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: THALES
    Inventors: Sylvain Lissajoux, Matthieu Claybrough, Christophe Garnavault
  • Patent number: 9845027
    Abstract: A vehicle occupant protection device that smoothly operates a seat and a seatbelt. When a collision is predicted, if the time to the collision reaches a preset time t1, a seat control ECU starts operation of a seat actuator, and if a time to the collision reaches a preset time t2 (t1>t2), the seat control ECU starts operation of a seatbelt actuator. Further, when the time t2 to the collision is reached or when the time t3 (t1>t2>t3) is reached at which time the seatbelt actuator is activated to start application of a predetermined tensile force to the seatbelt, the seat control ECU stops operation of the seatbelt actuator. Seat adjustment and seatbelt adjustment may be adapted such that both the adjustments are not performed at the same time or, alternatively, such that both the adjustments are operated at the same time only during a time period in which application of the predetermined tensile force to the seatbelt starts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Syuzo Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 9841749
    Abstract: Example systems and methods allow for runtime control of robotic devices during a construction process. One example method includes determining at least one sequence of robot operations corresponding to at least one robot actor, causing the at least one robot actor to execute a portion of the at least one sequence of robot operations during a first time period, receiving an interrupt signal from a mobile computing device indicating a modification to the at least one sequence of robot operations, where the mobile computing device is configured to display a digital interface including one or more robot parameters describing the at least one robot actor and one or more tool parameters describing operating characteristics of at least one physical tool, and causing the at least one robot actor to execute a portion of the at least one modified sequence of robot operations during a second time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Bot & Dolly, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Linnell, Kendra Byrne, Matthew Bitterman
  • Patent number: 9835463
    Abstract: When a route searching command is input, a control unit searches for a provisional route disregarding remaining energy. Next, a finding unit finds charging lanes and charging spots near the provisional route and a calculation unit calculates a charging lane traveling distance and a spot charging usage amount. Then, a searching unit searches for charging lane information, and the like, the first route that restrains charging up cost and uses charging lanes and searches for, on the basis of the spot charging usage amount, charging spot information, and the like, the second route that restrains charging up cost and uses charging spots. A generation unit generates information about the retrieved routes that includes charging up cost and the expected time required. which is presented by a presentation unit. Accordingly, it is possible to find routes including charging plans that use charging lanes and charging spots and to enhance user convenience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignees: PIONEER CORPORATION, PIONEER SYSTEM TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuji Takahashi
  • Patent number: 9835466
    Abstract: A method of creating map data including search acceleration data arranged to increase the speed at which a route can be planned across an electronic map comprising a plurality of navigable segments, each navigable segment representing a segment of a navigable route in the area covered by the map, wherein the method comprises: a) reducing the number of navigable segments to be considered in the creation of the search acceleration data by removing navigable segments to form a core network of navigable segments; b) dividing the electronic map into a set of hierarchical regions such that the or each navigable segment is categorized into at least one region in each level of the hierarchy; c) using a time varying function associated with at least some, and generally each, navigable segment of the core network to determine whether that navigable segment is part of minimum cost route to at least one of the regions and recording this determination in the search acceleration data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: TomTom Navigation B.V.
    Inventors: Heiko Schilling, Ewgenij Gawrilow, Moritz Hilger, Andreas Profous, Jürgen Werber, Dominique Pelle
  • Patent number: 9827853
    Abstract: A vehicle comprises a driver display on which is displayed an advisory maximum wading speed according to the current wading depth of the vehicle. The advisory speed is in one embodiment displayed on the vehicle speedometer. The display may also include an elevation of a vehicle on which is indicated one or more of maximum wading depth, current wading depth and vehicle inclination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Limited
    Inventors: Thuy-Yung Tran, Edward Hoare, Anthony Jones, Simon Thomson, Ashutosh Tomar, Sebastian Paszkowicz
  • Patent number: 9828106
    Abstract: A control system for an aircraft gas turbine propulsion engine includes an engine control that is adapted to receive at least engine inlet temperature data and aircraft altitude data. The engine control is configured to determine the availability of the engine inlet temperature data and implements a measured temperature engine thrust setting schedule when the engine inlet temperature data is available, and a default temperature engine thrust setting schedule when the engine inlet temperature data is unavailable. The default temperature engine thrust setting schedule ensures that the gas turbine propulsion engine will generate at least 90% of rated engine thrust at all actual engine inlet temperatures at the sensed aircraft altitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Yufei Xiong, Dave Faymon, Scot Coffey
  • Patent number: 9791017
    Abstract: A device for connecting the elastic elements and dissipaters of variable type of a mechanical suspension interposed between two vibrating or tilting mechanical systems, the source body and the receiving body, respectively, in order to reduce the forces acting on the receiving body, and/or the displacement thereof, and/or the speed thereof, or combinations of the previous physical magnitudes and/or of any other ones, which are produced on the receiving body due to the motion or forces to which the source is subjected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Universita' Degli Studi Di Roma “La Sapienza”
    Inventors: Antonio Carcaterra, Gianluca Pepe
  • Patent number: 9767693
    Abstract: A transparent display apparatus which is used in a transportation apparatus includes: a communication unit which receives surrounding situation information, a controller which recognizes surrounding objects using the surrounding situation information, and determines a danger element that is likely to collide with the transportation apparatus using characteristics of the surrounding objects and a movement characteristic of the transportation apparatus, and a transparent display which displays information for informing a user of the danger element. Accordingly, a surrounding situation can be effectively presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Han-sung Lee, Chang-soo Lee, Geun-ho Lee
  • Patent number: 9764689
    Abstract: A vehicle computing system for a vehicle includes a radar system, a microphone, and at least one controller. The radar system is configured to measure a distance to a frontward-vehicle. The microphone is configured to measure vehicle cabin noise. The controller is configured to output a tailgating event when the measured distance to the frontward-vehicle is less than a predefined threshold value. The controller may be further configured to request cabin noise from the microphone based on the tailgating event. If the noise is greater than a threshold value, the controller may output an alert message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Livio, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Burke
  • Patent number: 9751422
    Abstract: A device for switching a mode of a vehicle is provided. The device includes a connector that is configured to interface with an on-board diagnostic system of the vehicle; a switch that is configured to indicate a transport mode or an application mode; a memory; and a processor coupled to the memory. The processor includes determination logic that determines the mode of the vehicle based on a state of the switch; and activation logic that activates the mode of the vehicle by sending a first message to the vehicle according to a first protocol, and sending a second message to the vehicle according to a second protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Gunther Buecherl
  • Patent number: 9739628
    Abstract: Intersection guide systems, methods, and programs acquire information on a path of a vehicle and acquire a travel direction of the vehicle at a guide intersection ahead of the vehicle on the basis of the information on the path. The systems, methods, and programs display a guide image that represents the travel direction superimposed on a portion of a forward scene ahead of the vehicle other than an image of the guide intersection, and a connection line image as superimposed on the forward scene, the connection line image connecting between the image of the guide intersection in the forward scene and the guide image. The connection line image is superimposed on the forward scene such that a length of the connection line image becomes shorter as a degree of approach of the vehicle to the guide intersection becomes larger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: AISIN AW CO., LTD
    Inventors: Ken Ishikawa, Kosei Mino, Yoshito Kondo, Saki Osoko, Yumie Arai
  • Patent number: 9726577
    Abstract: A system method for predicting vehicle mission capability for a vehicle that is propelled by an engine includes collecting engine degradation data for the engine. Location independent engine degradation data are generated from the collected engine degradation data. The location independent engine degradation data are representative of engine degradation that is independent of locations associated with the mission. Predictions of location dependent engine degradation are calculated from the collected engine degradation data and the location independent engine degradation data. The location dependent engine degradation is representative of engine degradation due to movement through locations associated with the mission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATAIONL INC.
    Inventors: Grant Gordon, Richard Ling, Michael James, Kevin Moeckly
  • Patent number: 9713302
    Abstract: An autonomous coverage robot system includes an active boundary responder comprising a wire powered with a modulated current placed along a perimeter of a property, at least one passive boundary responder placed on a property interior circumscribed by the active boundary responder, and an autonomous coverage robot. The robot includes a drive system carried by a body and configured to maneuver the robot across the property interior. The robot includes a signal emitter emitting a signal, where the passive boundary responder is responsive to the signal and a boundary responder detection system carried by the body. The boundary responder detector is configured to redirect the robot both in response to the responder detection system detecting an active boundary responder and in response to detecting a passive boundary responder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Paul E. Sandin, Joseph L. Jones, Daniel N. Ozick, David A. Cohen, David M. Lewis, Jr., Clara Vu, Zivthan A. Dubrovsky, Joshua B. Preneta, Jeffrey W. Mammen, Duane L. Gilbert, Jr., Tony L. Campbell, John Bergman, Mark J. Chiappetta
  • Patent number: 9701398
    Abstract: A system for augmented pilot operations is provided to perform checks and balances between navigable systems and a plurality of controlling parties of a Fly-By-Wire vehicle. A ground based control system having at least one of manual controls and an autonomous piloting system, an electronic communication system including at least one of an onboard communication system, a ground based communication system, and a programmable interface for inter party communication. An on board flight control system including at least one of a primary power unit, manual flight controls, and a programmable flight management system may be provided. An onboard auxiliary navigation system including at least one of an auxiliary power control unit, a ground operated control/navigation unit, a physical barrier may prevent manual override from within the plane or cockpit, and an assignment device. A disagreement detection system may be configured to detect unauthorized use of the Fly-By-Wire vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Inventor: Douglas Allen Schultz
  • Patent number: 9694827
    Abstract: An on-board vehicle computing system stores values in a memory of a first engine control unit (ECU) and stores corresponding backup values in a memory of a second ECU. In this way, the second ECU provides data backup functionality for the first ECU's data. The system may retrieve a backup value from the first ECU and restore the corresponding value in the second ECU using the backup value. In one illustrative scenario, if an original engine ECU (EECU) fails and a replacement EECU is installed, the system can retrieve backup values for vehicle speed limiter (VSL) parameters from memory in a cab ECU (CECU) and update the corresponding data in the replacement EECU with the backup values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: PACCAR Inc
    Inventors: Phu Tran, David Randall Wrigley, Suresh Kumar, Zachary Slaton, Michael T. Russell