Patents Examined by Charles J Han
  • Patent number: 10432194
    Abstract: A method of operating a sensor system having at least one proximity sensor, with regard to generating a trigger signal indicative of an occurrence of an operator-intended event in the presence of noise. The method includes repetitive steps of: acquiring the sensor signal at specified sampling times, comparing a value obtained as a presently sampled sensor signal with a presently valid first threshold value, generating a trigger signal if the value obtained as the presently sampled sensor signal is as large as or exceeds the presently valid first threshold value, omitting to generate a trigger signal if the value obtained as the presently sampled sensor signal is less than or equal to the presently valid first threshold value, forming a subset out of the sampled sensor signals, determining an update value for the first threshold value, and replacing the presently valid first threshold value by the update value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: IEE INTERNATIONAL ELECTRONICS & ENGINEERING S.A.
    Inventors: Johann Bar, Baptiste Anti, Hans Peter Beise, Thomas Stifter
  • Patent number: 10427926
    Abstract: A boom monitoring system includes at least one sensor for monitoring information about a boom in real time, and a controller that performs the steps of determining an effective load applied to the boom based on the information from the at least one sensor and determining whether the effective load exceeds a predetermined limit. The system further includes an alert indicator communicatively coupled to the controller for producing an alert when the effective load exceeds the predetermined limit. A boom monitoring method includes determining a current boom geometry based on at least one sensor, determining a load limit based on the current boom geometry and predetermined load values, determining an effective load based on a hydraulic fluid pressure of a boom hydraulic cylinder, determining whether the effective load exceeds the load limit, and producing an alert when the effective load exceeds the load limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Altec Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy J. Mourlam
  • Patent number: 10414401
    Abstract: A motor vehicle controller comprising data processing apparatus, the data processing apparatus configured to carry out the steps of: receiving a surface friction signal indicative of a coefficient of friction between a road wheel and a driving surface; receiving an accelerator position signal indicative of a position of an accelerator control with respect to an allowable range of positions; determining a powertrain torque limit value corresponding to an amount of powertrain torque at which slip of a driving wheel is expected to exceed a predetermined amount, the powertrain torque limit value being determined at least in part in dependence on the surface friction signal; and determining and outputting a powertrain torque demand signal corresponding to an instant amount of torque to be developed by a powertrain, the powertrain torque demand signal being determined in dependence at least in part on the accelerator position signal according to a predetermined relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Limited
    Inventors: Andrew Fairgrieve, Jan Prins, Paul Beever, Nick Brockley, Charlotte Cook, Jon Parr
  • Patent number: 10414388
    Abstract: A system includes a controller configured to individually control brake force applied to steered wheels of a vehicle. The controller is configured to release a braking force from a first brake associated with a first steered wheel of the vehicle when the vehicle is stationary, and the controller is further configured to subsequently release a braking force from a second brake of a second steered wheel when the vehicle remains stationary after braking force is released from the first wheel. Methods relate to distributing braking force of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Jason Soungjin Wou, Timothy Gerard Offerle
  • Patent number: 10407022
    Abstract: A method for monitoring a vehicle, the method may include detecting, by a vehicle monitor that is associated with a vehicle, a failure to communicate with a first communication network; storing failure information about a time of the failure and a location of the vehicle in proximity to a detection of the failure; attempting, after the detecting of the failure and by the vehicle monitor, to establish communication with at least one communication network out of the first communication network and a second communication network; wherein the second communication network is a long range wide area network (LoRaWAN) and the first communication network is not a LoRaWAN; and after succeeding to establish communication with a given communication network out of the first and second communication networks, transmitting the failure information over the given communication network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Traffilog Ltd
    Inventors: Robert Izraeli, Assi Bitton, Arik Greenberger
  • Patent number: 10393534
    Abstract: A method is presented, which comprises: obtaining or holding available map data representing, at least in part, a travel network, determining, for at least one selected link of the travel network represented by the map data, a plurality of potential travel paths, wherein each potential travel path of the plurality of potential travel paths for the at least one selected link is at least partially defined by an incoming link of the travel network and an outgoing link of the travel network that are linked by the selected link and a direction of travel from the incoming link to the outgoing link on the selected link, for each potential travel path of the plurality of potential travel paths, determining whether the respective potential travel path is at least partially defined by a short incoming link and, if it is determined that the respective potential travel path of the potential travel paths is at least partially defined by a short incoming link, replacing the respective potential travel path of the plural
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: HERE Global B.V.
    Inventors: Gavril Giurgiu, Anton Anastassov, Dongwook Jang
  • Patent number: 10392128
    Abstract: A rotorcraft and an automatic landing system and method thereof are provided in the present disclosure. The automatic landing system of the rotorcraft includes a controller, a laser emitter, a camera, an electronic governor and a motor configured to drive a propeller of the rotorcraft to rotate. The laser emitter and the camera are both locate in a bottom portion of an airframe of the rotorcraft. The laser emitter has two emission heads, laser beams emitted from the two emission heads respectively are symmetrical about a central axis, the central axis is perpendicular to a horizontal plane of a ground, and an angle between each laser beam and the central axis is an acute angle. Simply with an operation of the laser emitter, the camera and the controller, the flight speed and displacement of the rotorcraft can be controlled to realize automatic landing in the present disclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: GUANGZHOU XAIRCRAFT TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Bin Peng, Yousheng Chen
  • Patent number: 10384678
    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. A first autonomous vehicle may receive a communication from a second autonomous vehicle travelling on the same road as the first autonomous vehicle, where the communication includes an indication of a maneuver which will be performed by the second autonomous vehicle. The first autonomous vehicle may then analyze the communication to identify a first maneuver for the first autonomous vehicle in response to the second maneuver performed by the second autonomous vehicle. Thus, the first autonomous vehicle may move in accordance with the first maneuver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Blake Konrardy, Scott T. Christensen, Gregory Hayward, Scott Farris
  • Patent number: 10369967
    Abstract: A vehicle that even a person whose information for authentication is not registered can use includes: a first storing means for storing information for authentication of a passenger; a first authenticating means for carrying out authentication for a user who tries to use own vehicle using the information for authentication stored in the first storing means; a communicating means for carrying out communication with a destination; a second storing means for storing information for communication with a registered destination through the communicating means; a second authenticating means for carrying out authentication for the user by connecting to the registered destination using the information stored in the second storing means by means of the communicating means; and a determining means for determining whether the user is allowed to use the own vehicle in accordance with an authentication result of the first authenticating means and/or the second authenticating means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: MICO LATTA INC.
    Inventors: Yoichiro Sako, Masahiro Suzuki
  • Patent number: 10366460
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes identifying a first traveler profile and additional traveler profiles. Each traveler profile is associated with a mobile device. The method further includes, for the first traveler profile, determining a first travel pattern, based on geographically tracking the first traveler mobile device, and determining an additional travel patterns, based on geographically tracking the additional travelers' mobile devices. The method further includes determining a compatible route between the first traveler profile and a compatible traveler profile, based on optimizing the first travel pattern with the additional travel patterns, wherein the first traveler profile includes an optimal driver for the at least one compatible route. The computer-implemented method further includes presenting to the first traveler profile, via its mobile device, a suggestion that the first traveler profile become a driver profile for at least one travel application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kulvir S. Bhogal, Gregory J. Boss, Rick A. Hamilton, II, Agueda Martinez Hernandez Magro
  • Patent number: 10343682
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicle computing system (VCS) and an adaptive cruise control module, a lane departure warning (LDW) module, a navigation system, or an alert mechanism (e.g., audible, visual or tactile). The VCS communicates with an activity tracking device worn by a vehicle driver. The activity tracking device detects and records biometric characteristics of the driver, and is capable of exchanging data with the VCS. The VCS generates at least one output signal based on data from the activity tracking device. An adaptive cruise control module may increase the distance between the vehicle and a tracking vehicle based on the signal. A navigation system may generate a recommended parking location based on a difference between step goals and current steps detected by the activity tracking device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Aiswarya Kolisetty, Johannes Geir Kristinsson, Joseph Wisniewski
  • Patent number: 10347140
    Abstract: A flight planning system for navigation of an aircraft utilizes a touch screen display device mounted in an aircraft cockpit spanning the width and height of the instrument panel. The system provides navigational views, an interactive map, charts, a radio frequency component, a weather component, and a virtual flight plan. A flight planning method uses an interactive map on a touch screen device in an aircraft cockpit. The method accepts user inputs and displays a desired flight plan on the map. A method for providing a chart on a touch screen device includes presenting a list of menu options on a touch screen mounted in an aircraft cockpit. The method provides the flight crew with heads-up operation, providing greater situational awareness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy Joseph Kneuper, John Robert Lanier, Jason Michael Decker
  • Patent number: 10336354
    Abstract: A method of locating train events on a railway network is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: HITACHI, LTD.
    Inventor: Toshiaki Kono
  • Patent number: 10339729
    Abstract: A method for detecting an increase in the rotor speed of a low-pressure turbine of a detection of an increase in the rating of a low-pressure turbine of a reactor of an aircraft reactor during a cruising flight phase, is provided. The method includes: measuring the rotor speed of the low-pressure turbine via a sensor; determining a rotor speed gradient of the low-pressure turbine from the measured rotor speed; comparing the determined rotor speed gradient to a reference rotor speed gradient; determining a positive or negative indication that the aircraft is under cruising phase conditions from flight parameters of the aircraft; and activating an alarm if the determined rotor speed gradient is higher than the reference rotor speed gradient and if the received indication is positive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Alexandre Patrick Jacques Roger Everwyn, Arnaud Rodhain
  • Patent number: 10328853
    Abstract: Methods and systems of an electrical vehicle are provided that detect a power system fault, determine a presence of at least one occupant in the vehicle, and determine an escape route from the vehicle for the at least one occupant. In determining the escape route, the vehicle determines an environment around the vehicle, a location of the power system fault in the vehicle, and a location of the at least one occupant in the vehicle. Based on this information, the vehicle provides an escape route from the vehicle to direct the at least one occupant to a safe area outside of the vehicle. The escape route is provided to the user via at least one display device associated with the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: NIO USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Yadunandana Yellambalase, Austin L. Newman
  • Patent number: 10328814
    Abstract: Example systems and methods to determine electric vehicle range based on environmental factors are disclosed. An example disclosed vehicle includes a battery pack, a HVAC control module, and an electronic control unit that includes a range calculator. The example range calculator determine a base power load, determines an auxiliary power load based on a sun load, an ambient temperature, a cabin temperature, and a temperature setting, and calculates a range of the vehicle based on the base power load, the auxiliary power load and a charge of the battery pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth James Miller, William Paul Perkins, Jimmy Kapadia
  • Patent number: 10322712
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a hybrid powertrain that includes an engine and a motor/generator are described. The systems and methods provide different ways to transition engine operating conditions between two low engine fuel consumption operating regions that are separated by a higher engine fuel consumption operating region. In one example, engine torque is increased at a higher rate in a fuel economy mode to increase an amount of time an engine operates in one of the two low fuel consumption operating regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth James Miller, Douglas Raymond Martin, Ted Haladyna
  • Patent number: 10317225
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to computer-implemented methods and systems for intelligent route planning. An example method may include receiving, by a computation system comprising one or more processors, one or more tasks. The one or more tasks may be associated with one or more locations. The method may further include storing, by the computation system, the one or more tasks. The method may further include receiving, by the computation system, current location information associated with a user. The method may further include generating, by the computation system, based upon the one or more tasks and the current location information, one or more notifications associated with at least one task for presentation to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Jennifer A. Healey, Alexandra C. Zafiroglu, Tim Plowman, Helen A. Gould, Philip J. Corriveau
  • Patent number: 10293664
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a vision system configured to output a signal indicative of exterior conditions in a vicinity of the vehicle and a temperature sensor configured to output a signal indicative of an interior temperature of the vehicle. The vehicle also includes a plurality of articulable openings arranged to allow fluid flow communication between an interior and an exterior of the vehicle. The vehicle further includes a controller programmed to adjust at least one articulable opening toward an open position in response to the interior temperature exceeding a temperature threshold. The controller is also programmed to adjust at least one articulable opening toward a closed position in response to detection via the vision system of a threat condition in the vicinity of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Xiujie Gao, Jinsong Wang, Wende Zhang, Xinhua Xiao, Jie Yin, Donald K. Grimm, Jeffrey A. Bozeman
  • Patent number: 10281293
    Abstract: A navigation system comprises a processor, a geographic database and a guidance application executable on the processor. The guidance application obtains data from the geographic database and obtains a photographic image. The guidance application overlays an advertisement route highlight on said photographic image. The advertisement route highlight graphically illustrates a path corresponding to a route and a direction of travel for the route. The advertisement route highlight includes a series of advertisement decals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: HERE Global B.V.
    Inventors: Adil M. Musabji, Jason Borak, James D. Lynch, Narayanan Alwar, Jon D. Shutter