Patents Examined by D. Williams
  • Patent number: 11333512
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for determining a transportation direction (TD) for a user, the method comprising: receiving a current location (CL) of the user; receiving a pollution based input value (PIV) related to air pollution in a geographical area (GA) including the current location (CL); determining the transportation direction (TD) using the pollution based input value such that the user is subjected to a lowest level of pollution and/or such that a predefined maximum level of pollution to which the user is subjected is not exceeded; and retrieving a human activity based input value, wherein the human activity based input value is based on activity data from a portable device (100) configured to sense an activity level of the human wearing the portable device (100); and updating the transportation direction (TD) using the human activity based input value (HAIV).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventor: Paul Van Der Sluis
  • Patent number: 11327498
    Abstract: According to various embodiments, systems and methods for smoothing a reference line for an autonomous driving vehicle are described. In an exemplary method, a raw reference line can be generated from a high definition map and routing results, and can be truncated based on a predetermined formula. The truncated raw reference line can include a number of points, each point representing a position of an autonomous driving vehicle in a global coordinate system. The number of points can be converted to points in a local coordinate system, where a polynomial curve that best fits the points are generated. The polynomial curve can subsequently be used to generate a new vertical coordinate for a horizontal coordinate of each of the number of points. The new vertical coordinates and their corresponding horizontal coordinates can be converted back to the global coordinate system. The polynomial curve can be used to derive a heading, a kappa, and a dkappa for each point in the global coordinate system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignees: BAIDU USA LLC, BAIDU.COM TIMES TECHNOLOGY (BEIJING) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Fan Zhu, Lin Ma, Xin Xu
  • Patent number: 11318812
    Abstract: A temperature environment regulating system includes an in-vehicle temperature conditioner, a thermal sensation estimating section, a preference estimating section, a preference memory section, and a control section. The in-vehicle temperature conditioner regulates passenger-compartment temperature environment in a vehicle. The thermal sensation estimating section estimates thermal sensation, which is an indicator representing how the user senses in-vehicle temperature environment. The preference estimating section estimates temperature preference of the user based on a temporal change in the thermal sensation. The control section controls the in-vehicle temperature conditioner based on the temperature preference memorized by the preference memory section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Saeki, Hiroyuki Bandai, Tomoya Yamaguchi, Kenichi Yanagida
  • Patent number: 11302204
    Abstract: A flight management system and method of updating flight calculations includes flying an aircraft along a current flight path, collecting real-time weather data from a network of aircraft operating in a nearby region, and predicting a trajectory for completion of the flight. The prediction can be based on the collected real-time weather data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: GE Aviation Systems LLC
    Inventors: Joachim Karl Ulf Hochwarth, Christian Reynolds Decker, David Michael Lax
  • Patent number: 11299011
    Abstract: A controller performs a prior determination by determining whether air cooling of a passenger compartment by free cooling control is possible based on a target value of a temperature in the passenger compartment that is set in advance, an outdoor air temperature, and an indoor temperature. The controller also performs a free cooling execution determination by determining whether to perform the free cooling control by comparing (i) a free cooling performance value that depends on a temperature difference between the outdoor air temperature and the indoor temperature and indicates a capacity of air cooling by the free cooling control, and (ii) an indoor heat load value that depends on a vehicle occupancy rate of passengers in the passenger compartment and indicates a difficulty of a temperature decrease in the passenger compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroaki Tone, Masatoshi Urakawa
  • Patent number: 11299143
    Abstract: An operating method for a power train of a hybrid vehicle having an internal combustion engine, an electric drive machine and a rechargeable electric energy storage unit configured to supply the electric drive machine with energy, includes controlling the power train in a zero emission mode in which the internal combustion engine is deactivated and in which the electric drive machine serves to drive the hybrid vehicle, and in an emission mode in which the internal combustion engine is operated in a fired operation. The method also includes determining, for a system initiated change of operating mode from the zero emission mode into the emission mode, a starting command for the internal combustion engine. The change of operating mode from the zero emission mode into the emission mode is blocked for one of a predefinable delay time, a predefinable quantity of energy extracted from the electric energy storage unit, or a predefinable travel distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Eric Berger, Arthur Huelsmann, Daniel Mau, Ferdinand Wiesbeck
  • Patent number: 11279374
    Abstract: A driving force control apparatus including an ECU configured to detect a specific state of a vehicle, wherein the vehicle is not traveling even though an accelerator pedal of the vehicle is operated. The ECU of the driving force control apparatus being configured to acquire, when the specific state is detected, a travel distance of the vehicle from a time point when the specific state last ended. The ECU of the driving force control apparatus being configured to start driving-force-limitation mitigation control without requiring the specific state currently detected to continue for a predetermined period or longer, when the travel distance is a distance corresponding to a wheelbase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masashi Oishi
  • Patent number: 11279373
    Abstract: During automated driving of a vehicle, an automated driving system searches for a driver's acceptable range being a range of an automated driving parameter accepted by a driver of the vehicle. A positive response is the driver's response when the automated driving parameter is within the driver's acceptable range. A negative response is the driver's response when the automated driving parameter is beyond the driver's acceptable range. The automated driving system executes: parameter change processing that actively changes the automated driving parameter; response determination processing that determines whether the driver's response to the parameter change processing is the positive response or the negative response based on a result of detection by a driver response detection device; and search processing that repeatedly executes the parameter change processing and the response determination processing to search for the driver's acceptable range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoki Matsushita, Koji Taguchi
  • Patent number: 11276325
    Abstract: A method includes receiving, at a display device, simulated flight data from a flight control system on-board an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) when the UAV is in a simulation mode; and displaying, on a visual display of the display device, simulated flight state information of the UAV in response to the simulated flight data. The display device is configured to display real flight data when the UAV is in a flight mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: SZ DJI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Liutao Zhang, Xuyang Pan, Shunnian Li, Chaobin Chen
  • Patent number: 11269323
    Abstract: A system and method for a vehicle including a communication gateway in a vehicle configured to establish a wireless communication connection with a portable device; a plurality of object sensors that detects objects surrounding the vehicle; a remote park assist system configured to (i) identify at least one parking space based on data received from the plurality of object sensors; (iv) determine a movement trajectory for the vehicle; (v) transmit a vehicle maneuver request to the portable device; (vi) receive a plurality of responses from the portable device in response to transmitting the vehicle maneuver request; and (vii) maneuver the vehicle based on the plurality of object sensors, the plurality of responses, and the movement trajectory; and the portable device, in response to receiving a request from the remote park assist system, is configured to transmit the plurality of responses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignees: DENSO International America, Inc., DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kyle Golsch
  • Patent number: 11269335
    Abstract: An autonomous cart includes an obstacle detecting member, a driving member, a storing section, and a control section. The obstacle detecting member outputs detection information including an obstacle position and obstacle luminance within a planar obstacle-detection region. The storing section stores designated area map information indicating a position of an obstacle within a designated area. At least one command member to which a command for the control section is assigned is included in the obstacle and is disposed within the designated area at a position where execution of the command is desired. The control section controls the driving member based on the designated area map information and a current position of the autonomous cart to cause the autonomous cart to autonomously travel while avoiding the obstacle within the designated area. The control section follows the command detected by the control section based on the obstacle luminance in the detection information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventor: Makoto Murai
  • Patent number: 11269347
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for operating a partially autonomous or autonomous motor vehicle. A digital three-dimensional height model of an infrastructure interior which has at least one aisle that can be traversed by the motor vehicle can be provided by a data server device of the infrastructure for example. The height model describes a spatial situation within the infrastructure, and the topography of at least one section of a surface of a region of the infrastructure, said motor vehicle being located in the section, is detected by means of a sensor device of the motor vehicle. A controller of the motor vehicle generates a three-dimensional topographical map of the region by means of the height model using the ascertained topography. The controller ascertains the current position of the motor vehicle within the infrastructure using the result of the comparison, and the controller ascertains a route along the at least one aisle using the ascertained current position and the height model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventor: Thomas Wiacker
  • Patent number: 11260852
    Abstract: Embodiments include methods, systems and computer readable storage medium for a method for collision avoidance by a vehicle is disclosed. The method includes installing a vehicle system into a vehicle, wherein the vehicle system provides collision avoidance guidance based on training data using movement information from one or more agents and behaviors associated with one or more individuals associated with the one or more agents or the vehicle. The method further includes detecting, by a processor, a collision course between the vehicle and the one or more mobile agents and/or one or more stationary agents. The method further includes calculating, by the processor, one or more decisions that avoid a collision in response to detecting a collision course. The method further includes selecting, by the processor, a decision from the one or more decisions and controlling, by the processor, operation of the vehicle based on the selected decision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Amir M. Rahimi, Aashish N. Patel, Rajan Bhattacharyya, Srinivas Nedunuri
  • Patent number: 11243089
    Abstract: A navigation system may obtain a current location of the mobile terminal in a navigation session. The navigation system may determine a remaining navigation route based on the current location and a navigation end-point. The navigation system may obtain respective locations of key points in the remaining navigation route. The navigation system may obtain a map representative of a geographic area comprising the respective locations of the key points of the navigation route. The navigation system may display, in a navigation interface, the map. The navigation system may display the remaining navigation route and the key points on the displayed map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: TENCENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Zhixuan Geng, Yuanyuan Li
  • Patent number: 11220157
    Abstract: A controller for an engine includes processing circuitry configured to perform fuel cut-off for regenerating the filter by burning fine particulate matter collected in the filter. The processing circuitry is configured to perform an interruption process for interrupting the fuel cut-off in a case in which warming of the passenger compartment is requested when the fuel cut-off is being performed and an engine coolant temperature, which is a temperature of the engine coolant, becomes lower than or equal to a predetermined temperature after the fuel cut-off is started.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keisuke Shibamoto, Toshikazu Kato, Shunichi Hara
  • Patent number: 11222299
    Abstract: Customized navigation maps of an area are generated for autonomous vehicles based on a baseline map of the area, transportation systems within the area, and attributes of the autonomous vehicles. The customized navigation maps include a plurality of paths, and two or more of the paths may form an optimal route for performing a task by an autonomous vehicle. Customized navigation maps may be generated for outdoor spaces or indoor spaces, and include specific infrastructure or features on which a specific autonomous vehicle may be configured for travel. Routes may be determined based on access points at destinations such as buildings, and the access points may be manually selected by a user or automatically selected on any basis. The autonomous vehicles may be guided by GPS systems when traveling outdoors, and by imaging devices or other systems when traveling indoors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Uriah John Baalke, Stav Braun, Sonia Jin, Jia Hao Lim
  • Patent number: 11209282
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a camera configured to capture an image; and a controller programmed to analyze quality of the image to calculate a lens cleanliness, responsive to detect the lens cleanliness being below a predefined threshold, identify a carwash station within a predefined distance from a navigation route, indicate the carwash station to a vehicle user, and responsive to receiving user input selecting the carwash station, set the carwash station as a navigation destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jason Joseph Woo, Jae Hyung Lim, James Issac, Jeremy Lerner
  • Patent number: 11209815
    Abstract: A drone includes technology for tracking controllers. A controller registration module (CRM) in the drone enables the drone to receive a first controller identifier from a first remote device. In response to receiving the first controller identifier, the CRM registers the first remote device as the current controller for the drone. Registering comprises adding the first controller identifier to a drone control registration record (DCRR) in the drone. Also, the DCRR is added to a block chain in remote storage. The CRM then receives a second controller identifier from a second remote device. In response, the CRM registers the second remote device as the current controller. Registering comprises creating an updated DCRR that identifies the second controller as the current controller. The updated DCRR is then added to the block chain. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: INTEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Rajesh Poornachandran, Ned M. Smith
  • Patent number: 11199420
    Abstract: A method for adapting an operating device in a motor vehicle. The operating device is provided for operating at least one vehicle function of the motor vehicle. In at least one driving situation, observation data which describe the current driving situation and usage data which describe which of the vehicle functions is currently activated via the operating device are in each case detected by the operating device, and an assignment rule is generated on the basis of the observation data and the usage data by a procedure of automatic learning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Nicky Jahn, Thomas Schien
  • Patent number: 11173919
    Abstract: A control device for a vehicle for determining a comfort level of a driver, the control device being configured to: receive sensor output of a physiological sensor and a behavioral sensor, the physiological sensor measuring at least one physiological feature of the driver and the behavioral sensor measuring at least one behavioral feature of the driver, receive driving context information from a driving context detection unit, create a reference data set by recording the sensor output and the driving context information over a predetermined reference time period, determine a reference index for the comfort level of the driver based on the reference data set, and determine a comfort level index value of the driver, the index value being determined as a function of a current sensor output, current driving context information and the reference index. Further relates to a system and a method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignees: TOYOTA MOTOR EUROPE, INSTITUT FRANCAIS DES SCIENCES ET TECHNOLOGIES DES TRANSPORTS, DE L'AMÉNAGEMENT ET DES RÉSEAUX
    Inventors: Marleen De Weser, Hugo Loeches De La Fuente, Catherine Berthelon, Christophe Jallais, Alexandra Fort, Virginie Etienne