Patents Examined by Dale W Hilgendorf
  • Patent number: 11703570
    Abstract: A sensor assembly includes a housing having a front chamber and a rear chamber fluidly isolated from the front chamber. The rear chamber includes a rear sensor window and the front chamber includes a front sensor window. The rear chamber includes a rear air inlet and a rear air outlet. The rear air outlet is aimed at the rear sensor window. The front chamber includes a front air inlet and a front air outlet. The front air inlet is aimed at the front sensor window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Venkatesh Krishnan, Sunil Reddy Patil, Raghu Raman Surineedi
  • Patent number: 11703852
    Abstract: In a vehicle remote instruction system, a remote commander issues a remote instruction relating to travel of an autonomous driving vehicle based on sensor information from an external sensor that detects an external environment of the autonomous driving vehicle. The vehicle remote instruction system sets a range of information to be transmitted to the remote commander among the sensor information detected by the external sensor, as a limited information range, based on the external situation or an external situation obtained based on map information and a trajectory of the autonomous driving vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Sho Otaki, Takayuki Iwamoto
  • Patent number: 11697369
    Abstract: Disclosed is a Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR)-integrated lamp device configured for a vehicle. In the included LiDAR-integrated lamp device, the position at which a head lamp is applied and the position at which a LiDAR is applied are identical and then, a reduction in layout is achieved. Furthermore, through sharing of constituent elements, the number of constituent elements is reduced and then, manufacturing costs are reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Byoung Suk Ahn, Jung Wook Lim
  • Patent number: 11691640
    Abstract: An in-vehicle apparatus includes: a check direction determination unit determining a check direction for which the driver of an own vehicle needs a checking action for checking the safety based on a traveling direction of a roadway adjacent to a stall and an unparking direction; a direction information acquisition unit acquiring at least one of the line of sight or the facing direction of the face of the driver; a check occurrence determination unit setting a detection range of the line of sight based on the check direction, and determining whether or not at least the one is within the detection range so as to determine occurrence of the checking action; and a notification control unit controlling a display unit, a speaker, or a vibrator to execute a notification action when the check occurrence determination unit determines that the checking action has not occurred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: CLARION CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masashi Akachi, Hiroshi Shojima, Kunio Sasada
  • Patent number: 11694551
    Abstract: An information processing device includes a communication unit and a control unit. The control unit determines a degree of danger of an area based on information on at least one vehicle traveling in the area which is received by the communication unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoki Uenoyama, Koichi Suzuki, Ryo Kamimura, Daisuke Nakata, Yuki Tatsumoto, Yusuke Futakuchi
  • Patent number: 11685401
    Abstract: A control system for an autonomous vehicle is configured to pick up a passenger at a pickup location. The autonomous vehicle includes a self-driving system and one or more computing devices in communication with the self-driving system. The one or more computing devices are configured to receive a trip request including a pickup location and a destination location, the trip request being associated with a client device; cause the self-driving system to navigate the autonomous vehicle to the pickup location; send a prompt to the client device to collect semantic information; determine a specified location based on the semantic information received in response to the prompt; identify one or more semantic markers for the specified location from the semantic information; and send a message to the client device identifying the specified location using the one or more semantic markers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventor: Ashwin Limaye
  • Patent number: 11688281
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to a system, computer program product, and method for determining shelter areas for two-wheeler vehicles, and, more specifically, for dynamically distinguishing the behavior of two-wheeler vehicles and non-two-wheeler vehicles as an indicator of shelter areas from inclement weather. The behavior of the vehicles is distinguished through a plurality of two-wheeler vehicles slowing down and congregating at a particular location as a shelter against inclement weather, while non-two-wheeler vehicles may slow down, however, not stop proximate this location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Vijay Kumar Ananthapur Bache, Manish Anand Bhide, Jhilam Bera, Sowmya V. Kollipara
  • Patent number: 11681297
    Abstract: An autonomous vehicle includes first and second road surface image obtaining devices that are located on a bottom surface of the vehicle body and obtain images of a road surface below the vehicle body, respectively. The autonomous vehicle also includes a memory unit that stores a map image of the road surface, the map image being associated with geographical location information. The autonomous vehicle further includes first and second self-location estimating units that each compare a feature extracted from the image of the road surface obtained by corresponding one of the first and second road surface image obtaining devices with a feature extracted from the map image, thereby estimating a self-location of the autonomous vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignees: SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE, KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Yuki Ueda, Takashi Uno, Daniel D'Souza, Joseph Auchter
  • Patent number: 11673581
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to generating a puddle occupancy grid including a plurality of cells. For instance, a first probability value for a puddle being located at a first location generated using sensor data from a first sensor may be received. A second probability value for a puddle being located at a second location generating using sensor data from a second sensor different from the first sensor may be received. A first cell may be identified from the plurality of cells using the first location. The first cell may also be identified using the second location. A value for the cell may be generated using the first probability value and the second probability value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Yuchi Wang, Michael James, Robert Chen, Derrick Dominic
  • Patent number: 11667275
    Abstract: A control apparatus of a vehicle includes: a steering apparatus (6) including a steering wheel (11) operated in order to turn a vehicle (1) and a steering angle sensor (8) that detects a steering angle of the steering wheel (11), the steering apparatus (6) steering a front wheel (steered wheel) (2) of the vehicle (1) in accordance with operation of the steering wheel (11); and a controller (14) that sets a steering angle acceleration based on the steering angle detected by the steering angle sensor (8) and controls vehicle motion when the steering wheel (11) is operated to be turned. In particular, the controller (14) suppresses a rise of lateral acceleration of the vehicle (1) based on the steering angle acceleration in order to control the vehicle motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignees: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION, IKUTOKU GAKUEN
    Inventors: Takatoshi Tsukano, Masato Abe, Makoto Yamakado, Yoshio Kano, Kazuki Sato
  • Patent number: 11667329
    Abstract: A driving support Electronic Control Unit (ECU) initializes a target trajectory calculation parameter at a start of Lane Change Assist Control (LCA), calculates, based on the target trajectory calculation parameter, a target trajectory function representing a target lateral position in accordance with an elapsed time from the start of LCA; and calculates a target control amount according to the target trajectory function. When it is determined that the own vehicle has crossed a boundary white line, the driving support ECU again initializes the target trajectory calculation parameter, and calculate the target trajectory function based on the target trajectory calculation parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shota Fujii
  • Patent number: 11663918
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an improved way to avoid or clear a traffic jam. In particular, the disclosure relates to a method for the operation of a vehicle in which at least partial intersection by a dynamic object with a first section of the traffic area occupied by the vehicle is predicted, wherein the vehicle is in a waiting situation waiting for a release for onward travel. Then a trajectory of the vehicle is determined, which at least clears or avoids the intersection by the dynamic object with the first section of the traffic area. Further, the disclosure relates to a device for the operation of a vehicle, a program element and a computer-readable medium with such a program element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Holger Mielenz
  • Patent number: 11656626
    Abstract: The present invention encodes this knowledge into a database of preferred loading conditions and creates a set of automated maneuvers that accomplish the loading actions. The invention assumes that the truck has a drive-by-wire kit and that it is capable of moving under computer control. This invention provides a set of tools that allows for the automation of the loading process. The invention is relevant to situations where the truck is autonomous and the excavator is not, or when both are automated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: ROBOTIC RESEARCH OPCO, LLC
    Inventors: Alberto Daniel Lacaze, Karl Nicholas Murphy
  • Patent number: 11651596
    Abstract: A parking assist apparatus comprises an imaging apparatus and a controller configured to extract feature points from captured image where a region a driver desires to register a parking position therein is captured, and register the extracted feature points in association with the parking position, registering this position as registered parking position. When it is determined that a feature point(s) is detectable from captured image, the controller calculates the registered parking position by detecting the feature point(s), and performs parking assist control for parking the vehicle in the registered parking position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yu Hiei
  • Patent number: 11651687
    Abstract: An automated valet parking system performs automated parking in response to a user request for entry or pick-up from a user and causes the self-driving vehicle to perform automated driving along a target route to enter or pick up. The automated valet parking system, when a self-driving vehicle stops in an emergency or experiences a communication interruption and becomes a failed vehicle, sets a restricted area based on parking place map information and a position of the failed vehicle and sets an allowed area in a parking place, including a parking space(s) located outside the restricted area, provides an instruction, based on a position of a subject vehicle that is a self-driving vehicle as a subject of the user request and the set restricted area, to the subject vehicle, and sets a target route such that the subject vehicle parks in the parking space located in the allowed area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tatsuya Sugano
  • Patent number: 11650060
    Abstract: Embodiments describe an approach for coordinating the travel of multiple vehicles traveling to a target destination, the embodiments describe generating a travel group, receiving travel group parameters from travel group members, synced GPS applications, and a weather application, generating a course of travel for the travel group members to reach a destination, and tracking each travel group member according to locations identified by the synced GPS applications. Additionally, embodiments describe determining that a subgroup of the travel group is no longer traveling within a pre-determined range of other travel group members; calculating an optimized course of travel for the subgroup to reunite with the other travel group members, adjusting the course of travel to include the optimized course of action for the subgroup, and causing each GPS application to direct the subgroup to travel according to the optimized course of travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Bei Chen, Adi I. Botea, Akihiro Kishimoto, Beat Buesser
  • Patent number: 11644319
    Abstract: A system can receive a destination change request inputted by a passenger of an autonomous vehicle, where the destination change request comprises a request to change a first destination of the passenger to a second destination. In response to receiving the destination change request, the system determines a feasibility indicator for the autonomous vehicle to travel to the second destination, and based on the feasibility indicator, determines a suggested destination being different from the second destination. The system transmits an instruction to a computing system of the autonomous vehicle, causing the computing system of the autonomous vehicle to reroute the autonomous vehicle to the suggested destination. The system then transmits an instruction to a computing device associated with a non-autonomous vehicle, where the instruction comprises a request or invitation for a driver of the non-autonomous vehicle to transport the passenger from the suggested destination to the second destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Sweeney, Molly Nix, Emily Bartel, Logan Rockmore, Anthony Levandowski
  • Patent number: 11644837
    Abstract: In some examples, systems and methods are described for output biasing maneuvers recommendations provided by at least one machine learning maneuver-recommendation (MLM) engine executing on an aerial vehicle. In some examples, output biasing data can be received that includes at least one risk tuning parameter that can influence which of the maneuver recommendations are selected by a maneuver decision engine executing on the aerial vehicle based on a maneuver confidence threshold for implementation by the aerial vehicle. The maneuver confidence threshold can be updated based on the at least one risk tuning parameter to provide an updated maneuver confidence threshold for the output biasing of the maneuvers recommendation provided by the at least one MLM engine. Vehicle command data for implementing a given maneuver recommendation can be outputted based on an evaluation of the updated maneuver confidence threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nathan D. Plawecki, Aaron R. Ladurini, Daniel W. Plawecki
  • Patent number: 11639173
    Abstract: A future location of a movable object is predicted to intersect a planned path of a host vehicle. A host vehicle component is actuated to output a signal indicating to move the movable object. Then, at least one of the movable object is determined to have moved or the planned path of the host vehicle is updated. Then, the host vehicle is operated along the planned path or the updated planned path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Luke Niewiadomski, Li Xu, Thomas Edward Pilutti, Hamid M. Golgiri, Jens Kotte
  • Patent number: 11640172
    Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for providing obstacle information and reliability information to vehicle based on information received from roadside units. The apparatus includes a communication module that receives obstacle information from multiple roadside units, each roadside unit including multiple sensors for detecting obstacles within a predetermined field of view. A reliability judgement unit in the apparatus determines a reliability of the received obstacle information to output a reliability value based on a number of roadside units detecting a same obstacle, a number of sensor of one roadside unit detecting a same obstacle, and a difference value of detection of the same obstacle between different roadside units or different sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Cornoration
    Inventor: Takatoshi Kakuta