Patents Examined by Cuong H. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 11274926
    Abstract: A method of assisting navigation of a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of: at predetermined instants, determining first positions and second positions of the vehicle by different positioning means and calculating the discrepancy between each pair of first and second positions; comparing the discrepancy with a warning threshold; defining a reference frame on a screen, the reference frame being centered on a reference point corresponding to the most recent first position; and symbolizing the discrepancies on the screen by allocating a symbol to each discrepancy and by positioning each symbol on the screen, relative to the reference point, while taking account both of the value of the discrepancy and also of the path travelled by the vehicle since calculating the discrepancy, the first symbols being provided with respective chronological indicators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: SAFRAN ELECTRONICS & DEFENSE
    Inventors: Isabelle Ollagnier, Philippe Elie
  • Patent number: 11260864
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle path generating apparatus at an intersection and an apparatus and method for controlling a vehicle at an intersection that are capable of providing safe autonomous driving at an intersection by calculating the accurate position of an intersection point, which is a cut position of a lane or a crossing position of lanes, in an intersection area using map information and/or image information, precisely calculating a vehicle movement path in the intersection on the basis of the calculated position of the intersection point, and automatically controlling a travel of the vehicle according to the calculated vehicle travel path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Mando Mobility Solutions Corporation
    Inventor: Sangkyun Sim
  • Patent number: 11254328
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for using components of a vehicle. The apparatus includes a computing device and a memory for instructions and an interface for components of the vehicle. The computing device is designed to control the components of the vehicle when the instructions are executed by the computing device. A first component is required for an automated driving mode of the vehicle and a second component are designed in a redundant manner with respect to one another. At least one load of the second component for an automated driving mode is either switched on or at least partially switched off depending on a condition. The condition characterizes the need for redundant operation of the first component and of the second component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Inventors: Ralf Eichele, Malte Baumann
  • Patent number: 11250713
    Abstract: A fixed wing unmanned aircraft and a method for operating the same are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Yang Liu, Alan Bruce Hickman, Xiaodong Chen, Shuai Chen, Wenwan Feng, Lei Zhang, Yunfei Zou
  • Patent number: 11230199
    Abstract: A motor-driven vehicle includes a power storage device, a charging inlet, a voltage conversion device, a first power line connected the charging inlet and a first node, a second power line connected the charging inlet and a second node, and a switching relay configured to switch between a first state and a second state. The first state is a state in which the charging inlet is connected to the power storage device via the first power line without passing through the second power line is connected to the power storage device via the second power line without passing through the first power line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshihiko Hiroe
  • Patent number: 11209821
    Abstract: Sensor data collected from an autonomous vehicle data can be labeled using sensor data collected from an additional vehicle. The additional vehicle can include a non-autonomous vehicle mounted with a removable hardware pod. In many implementations, removable hardware pods can be vehicle agnostic. In many implementations, generated labels can be utilized to train a machine learning model which can generate one or more control signals for the autonomous vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Aurora Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Jean-Sebastien Valois, Ethan Eade
  • Patent number: 11203356
    Abstract: A method for setting a driving mode of a vehicle which is driven by at least one electric machine, wherein several levels of a recuperation mode and a coasting mode are provided for the vehicle mode, wherein a first operating step or a second operating step is carried out with an operating element, wherein a level of the recuperation mode is raised upon a one-time carrying out of the first operating step with the operating element, wherein a level of the recuperation mode is set by one-time carrying out of the first operating step with the operating element which level is higher than a lowest level of the recuperation mode, wherein the coasting mode is directly set up when carrying out the second operating step with the operating element starting from the set, in particular higher level of the recuperation mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventor: Bernd Ritter
  • Patent number: 11203287
    Abstract: In some embodiments of the present disclosure, techniques are provided for automatic turn signal deactivation in a vehicle with a trailer. The vehicle includes a camera monitoring system that provides video images for display devices that replace traditional side view mirrors. In some embodiments, video information is obtained from the camera monitoring system and is used to determine an angle of the trailer. Upon activation of a turn signal indicator, the video information is used to detect departure of the trailer angle from a centered region and the subsequent return of the trailer angle to the centered region in order to automatically deactivate the turn signal indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: PACCAR Inc
    Inventor: Josef Lotz
  • Patent number: 11195419
    Abstract: A method includes: extracting Time to Closest Point of Approach included in a predetermined time from “risk value information” that stores a “Closest Point of Approach”, the “Time to Closest Point of Approach” and a “risk value” for “a first vessel and a second vessel”, the risk value being a value indicating a possibility of collision between the first vessel and the second vessel at the Closest Point of Approach and the Time to Closest Point of Approach; acquiring the Closest. Point of Approach and the risk value corresponding to the extracted Time to Closest Point of Approach from the risk value information; determining to which sea area the acquired Closest. Point of Approach belongs to; and executing calculation processing that includes calculating a sum of risk values corresponding to the Closest Point of Approach for each of sea areas to which the determined Closest Point of Approach belongs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Hiroko Suzuki, Takahiro Saito, Isamu Watanabe
  • Patent number: 11175656
    Abstract: Among other things, a command is received expressing an objective for operation of a vehicle within a denominated travel segment of a planned travel route. The objective spans a time series of (for example, is expressed at a higher or more abstract level than) control inputs that are to be delivered to one or more of the brake, accelerator, steering, or other operational actuator of the vehicle. The command is expressed to cause operation of the vehicle along a selected man-made travel structure of the denominated travel segment. A feasible manner of operation of the vehicle is determined to effect the command. A succession of control inputs is generated to one or more of the brake, accelerator, steering or other operational actuator of the vehicle in accordance with the determined feasible manner of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Motional AD LLC
    Inventor: Karl Iagnemma
  • Patent number: 11167788
    Abstract: Even in the case that the steered wheels are turned by an actual turning angle due to a disturbance from the road surface, and the steering shaft, which is mechanically connected to the steered wheels, attempts to rotate, a command current to an assist motor is set so that the actual turning angle becomes a corrected target turning angle. The force (torque) that attempts to cause rotation of the steering shaft due to the disturbance input from the road surface is instantaneously canceled by the assist motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Soichiro Ito, Norio Yamazaki, Toshihiro Yoda
  • Patent number: 11169533
    Abstract: A robotic cleaning device and a method at the robotic cleaning device of performing cliff detection along a surface over which the robotic cleaning device moves. The method includes illuminating the surface with at least one light source, capturing an image of the surface, detecting at least one illuminated section in the captured image, and determining distance to objects in the at least one illuminated section of the captured image. The method further comprises comparing at least two of the determined distances and detecting an object in the captured image as a cliff when cliff when a relation between the at least two compared determined distances complies with a predetermined increase criterion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget Electrolux
    Inventors: Anders Haegermarck, Petter Forsberg, Magnus Lindhé
  • Patent number: 11161519
    Abstract: A method and system for impaired driving detection, monitoring and accident prevention with driving habits. An impairment test method is provided with an impairment test determining in real-time whether a driver of vehicle is impaired (e.g., has used drugs, alcohol, is distracted, talking, texting, eating, etc. or is drowsy, etc.). The impairment test determines plural assigned probability impairment values over a pre-determined time interval to compare a frequency of received plural event signals from a passenger compartment of the vehicle and from an environment detected outside the vehicle and external to the vehicle for one or more of the plural driver performance actions completed by a driver of a vehicle to those previously stored in a unique driver profile for the driver to determine with a statistical probability whether the driver operating the vehicle may be impaired based on the unique behavior patterns for the driver of the vehicle stored in the unique driver profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: FUTURE TECHNOLOGY PARTNERS, LLC
    Inventors: Brian K. Phillips, Geoffrey A. Wilson, Brian K. Phillips, II
  • Patent number: 11155236
    Abstract: A method of controlling and monitoring operation of a device is disclosed. The method includes communicating an authorization code via a management source to a processor having a memory. The processor is configured for regulating operation of the device, and is operatively connected to a keyless start arrangement configured to activate the device. The method additionally includes receiving the authorization code by the processor and storing the authorization code within the controller memory. Furthermore, the method includes entering an access code via a selective input, receiving the access code by the processor, and authorizing operation of the device if the access code matches the authorization code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: AHERN RENTALS, INC.
    Inventor: Daniel Joseph Abshire
  • Patent number: 11148826
    Abstract: Controlling and reconfiguring a display system that includes at least two screens that are installed in a cockpit of an aircraft in case of a failure of one of the screens. For example, a control unit of the display system may detect occurrence of a screen failure. In response to detecting the screen failure, the control unit may determine whether a critical flight relevant information has not been displayed on an operational screen during a predetermined period of time, and in response to determining that the critical flight relevant information has not been displayed on the operational screen during the predetermined period of time, command display of a message on the operational screen that suggests displaying the critical flight relevant information on the operational screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignees: AIRBUS HELICOPTERS, AIRBUS HELICOPTERS DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventors: Valerie Juppet, Fanny Stutzmann, Marie Charbonneau, Jorrit Van Der Spek, Olga Gonzalez-Valbuena
  • Patent number: 11150667
    Abstract: A street sign authentication arrangement for a motor vehicle includes an RFID tag reader for reading information encrypted on a street sign encountered by the motor vehicle. An electronic processor is communicatively coupled to the RFID tag reader, and verifies, based on the information read from the street sign, that the information was encrypted by an authorized entity. The processor controls movement of the motor vehicle based on the information read from the street sign if the processor is able to verify that the information was encrypted by the authorized entity. The processor refrains from controlling movement of the motor vehicle based on the information read from the street sign if the processor is not able to verify that the information was encrypted by the authorized entity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America, Division of Panasonic Corporation of North America
    Inventor: Eric Shufro
  • Patent number: 11150354
    Abstract: Systems and methods for modifying a fitness plan are disclosed. The method may include providing a user input; receiving a user selection; identifying electronic plan data stored in a database; receiving the electronic plan data on a portable electronic device; generating an electronic schedule of fitness activities based on the electronic plan data; receiving a second user selection related to the electronic schedule; and modifying the electronic schedule based on the second user selection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: adidas AG
    Inventors: Andrew J. Graham, Alan R. Lee, Jon H. Werner
  • Patent number: 11142088
    Abstract: A vehicle control system controls operation of motors of a vehicle and determines whether there is sufficient stored electric energy to power the vehicle through an unpowered segment of a route. The controller changes operation of the vehicle to ensure that the vehicle can travel completely through the unpowered segment by switching which energy storage device provides energy, changing vehicle speed, changing motor torque, changing which route is traveled on, selecting fewer motors to power the vehicle, requesting rendezvous with a recharging vehicle, running the energy storage devices in a degraded mode, initiating a motor to generate power to aid in propulsion and/or recharge the energy storage devices, selecting a different route, controlling the vehicle to draft or mechanically couple to another vehicle, and/or controlling the vehicle to gain momentum or to generate an overcharge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: TRANSPORTATION IP HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventors: Sharath Srinivas Deshpande, Vishram Vinayak Nandedkar, Ajith Kuttannair Kumar, Wolfgang Daum, Glenn Robert Shaffer
  • Patent number: 11143522
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for estimating travel time are provided. A request, via interface circuitry of the apparatus, is obtained to estimate the travel time of a target travel route from a starting point to an end point. The apparatus subsequently obtains, via the interface circuitry, road traffic information along the target travel route at a current time. The estimated travel time of the target travel route is calculated by processing circuitry of the apparatus according to the obtained road traffic information and historical travel data. The historical travel data includes a plurality of historical travel routes, respective road traffic information for each of the plurality of historical travel routes, and a respective actual travel time of each of the plurality of historical travel routes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Tencent Technology (Shenzhen) Company Limited
    Inventor: Gangwei Wang
  • Patent number: 11142203
    Abstract: A computer is programmed to determine a trajectory of a first vehicle. The computer is programmed to determine whether a second vehicle blocks the trajectory. Upon such determination, the computer sends an instruction to the second vehicle to adjust the second vehicle speed. The computer is programmed to determine the instruction based on the determined trajectory of the first vehicle, a second vehicle location, and a second vehicle speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Jan Bremkens, Joseph Park, Lodewijk Wijffels