Patents Examined by Daniel L Greene
  • Patent number: 11690768
    Abstract: Embodiments herein are directed to a vehicle. The vehicle includes a passenger compartment and a master controller. The passenger compartment has a plurality of rear passenger seats disposed on a track. Each seat of the plurality of rear passenger seats is configured to move on the track. The master controller is configured to receive a first data from a wheelchair and to direct a movement of each seat of the plurality of rear passenger seats along the track. In response to receiving the first data, the master controller actuates at least one actuator to move at least one of the plurality of rear passenger seats along the track to provide a transportation space for the wheelchair based on the first data received from the wheelchair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Toyota Motor North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Katsumi Nagata, Stephen McFarland, Jr., Jerry R. Tipper
  • Patent number: 11673268
    Abstract: A cover for an automated robot includes elastic sheets that are adhered to each other in a geometry. The geometry is configured to allow the elastic sheets to expand and contract while the automated robot moves within its range of motion. The elastic sheets are attached to the automated robot by elasticity of the elastic sheets. A first group of the elastic sheets forms an elastic collar configured to grip the automated robot at a distal end and a proximal end of the cover in a non-breakable manner such that during operation of the robot, the elastic sheets hold their elasticity and integrity without breaking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventors: David M.S. Johnson, Justin Rooney, Cody Chu, Anthony Tayoun
  • Patent number: 11670183
    Abstract: Systems and methods for contextual alerts during ground operations are provided. The system generates unique alerts for each type of hot-spot and commands a display system to render an image of the route, the relevant signage features, and the hot-spots. The system receives an assigned runway and references an airport features database to construct a route and travel direction for the aircraft. The system analyzes the signage features associated with the route and identifies the relevant signage features. The system processes the route with external inputs, such as notices to airmen (NOTAM), traffic data, and novel rules and data tables, from which the system identifies various kinds of hot-spots. The hot-spots include those that are aerodrome design based, those that are traffic related, and those that are temporal, based on short term closures or operational scenarios.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Gobinathan Baladhandapani, Narayanan Srinivasan, Hariharan Saptharishi, Raghupathy P
  • Patent number: 11656632
    Abstract: Systems and methods for enabling consistent smooth takeoffs and landings of vertical and/or short-runway takeoff and landing aircraft at sites with gusty conditions. The system includes a network of wind measurement stations deployed around the perimeter of a takeoff/landing site for spatio-temporally characterizing wind fluctuations (e.g., wind gusts) that enter a volume of airspace overlying the site, data processing means for deriving information about the fluctuations from the wind measurements, communication means for transmitting disturbance information to the aircraft, and a flight control system onboard the aircraft that is configured to use the disturbance information to control the aircraft in a manner that compensates for the fluctuations. The wind measurement units may include laser Doppler anemometers, sound detection and ranging systems or other devices capable of simultaneous spatially and temporally resolved wind measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Martin A. Kearney-Fischer
  • Patent number: 11654990
    Abstract: A bicycle includes a frame, a motor, a battery, a key interface, a crank set, and a shell. The frame defines a cavity and an opening providing access to the cavity. The motor is coupled to frame beneath the cavity. The battery extends at least partially into the frame. The battery is configured to power the motor. The key interface is positioned along an exterior of the frame. Turning a key in the key interface releases the battery to facilitate removing the battery from the frame. The crank set is coupled to the motor. The crank set includes crank arms. The shell extends at least partially over the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: SERIAL 1 CYCLE COMPANY, LLC
    Inventors: Benjamin Raymond Bass, Ben M. Lund, Andrew Schmidt
  • Patent number: 11649000
    Abstract: A saddled electric vehicle (1) having a battery (100) that is attachable to and detachable from the vehicle (1) includes a vehicle electronic lock (220) which enables the vehicle (1) to be locked and unlocked, a lock control unit (320) which controls the vehicle electronic lock (220), and a sub battery (327) which supplies electric power to the lock control unit (320), in which the lock control unit (320) enables the vehicle to be unlocked in a state in which the battery (100) is removed from the vehicle (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Akira Kuramochi, Yoshitaka Kobayashi, Hiroki Ichikawa, Takafumi Yamaguchi, Kazuo Tsuji
  • Patent number: 11650061
    Abstract: A device can determine scenario information associated with a plurality of route planning scenarios. The scenario information can include information that describes, for each route planning scenario of the plurality of route planning scenarios, a condition or a configuration based on which a respective route plan is to be generated. The device can calculate, based on a plurality of route plans corresponding to the plurality of route planning scenarios, a set of metrics associated with the plurality of route planning scenarios. The set of metrics can be calculated based on a single user interaction with a user interface. The device can provide information associated with the set of metrics. The providing the information associated with the set of metrics can cause an action, associated with at least one route plan of the plurality of route plans, to be automatically performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Faiza Tajammul, Jefferson Ray Tan Hidayat, Brendan Ryan Bycroft, Hayden Sean White, Johanna Emily Read
  • Patent number: 11648994
    Abstract: Steering is used to augment the CMG-based balance control of a two-wheeled vehicle, e.g., a bicycle, electric bicycle (“ebike”), scooter, electric scooter, moped, or motorcycle. A control architecture enables a two wheeled vehicle with simultaneously or alternating mechatronic attitude control systems to balance autonomously at rest or while dynamically driven with mechatronic command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Lit Motors Corporation
    Inventors: David Arthur Bailey, Daniel Kee Young Kim
  • Patent number: 11650092
    Abstract: A method (100) for estimating a volume of fuel available in a fuel tank (6) of a transport vehicle (1), the tank (6) comprising a tank wall inside which a space is defined for containing fuel, the method (100) comprising, in sequence, the steps of: a) exciting (101) a vibration of the tank (6); b) acquiring (102) a response signal correlated to a frequency response produced by the tank (6) due the excited vibration; c) processing (103) the acquired response signal to obtain an estimate of the initial volume of fuel available in the tank (6); d) gradually taking (104) fuel from the tank (6) with the transport vehicle (1) in use; e) estimating (105) a quantity of fuel taken gradually from the tank (6); f) estimating (106) the volume of fuel available in the tank (6) based on the initial volume and quantity estimate of fuel taken gradually.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: PIAGGIO & C. S.P.A
    Inventors: Mario Santucci, Paolo Badalassi
  • Patent number: 11642970
    Abstract: A trailer to be attached to a cycle such as a bicycle, or a trailer-cycle set includes a device for controlling the steering and speed or deceleration of the trailer according to input control commands, the controlling device being equipped with means for measuring signals representing the longitudinal force and transverse force applied by the cycle to the trailer, the measuring means comprising sensors, including at least one deformation sensor for measuring the signal representing the longitudinal force applied by the cycle to the trailer and two sensors on the wheels of the trailer for measuring the signals representing the transverse force applied by the cycle to the trailer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: K-RYOLE
    Inventors: Gilles Vallier, Nicolas Duvaut, Damien Duvaut
  • Patent number: 11645852
    Abstract: Methods and system are provided for training and using a model to determine states of lanes of interest. For instance, image data including an image and an associated label identifying at least one traffic light, a state of the at least one traffic light, and a lane controlled by the at least one traffic light are received and used to train the model such that the model is configured to, in response to receiving an image and a lane of interest included in the image, output a lane state for the lane of interest. This model is then used by a vehicle in order to determine a state of a lane of interest. This state is then used to control the vehicle in an autonomous driving mode based on the state of the lane of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Maxim Krivokon, Abhijit S. Ogale, Edward Hsiao, Andreas Wendel
  • Patent number: 11634189
    Abstract: Various battery arrangement structures are presented for a saddle-riding type vehicle. An arrangement can be configured to protect a battery from external impact, and can include a pair of left and right rear frames disposed at the rear section of the vehicle with a battery disposed between the pair of left and right rear frames. The pair of left and right rear frames include a pair of left and right first rear frames and a pair of left and right second rear frames. A power unit-supporting portion which swingably supports a power unit is provided at rear portions of the pair of left and right rear extension portions, and the battery is disposed between the pair of left and right second rear frames and above the power unit-supporting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Kobayashi, Katsuyuki Okubo, Akira Kuramochi, Kazuo Tsuji, Toshifumi Shimamura
  • Patent number: 11633994
    Abstract: A method for determining a distance between a camera positioned on a rear portion of a tow vehicle and a trailer coupler supported by a trailer positioned behind the tow vehicle as the tow vehicle approaches the trailer. The method includes identifying the trailer coupler of the trailer within one or more images of a rearward environment of the tow vehicle. The method also includes receiving sensor data from an inertial measurement unit supported by the tow vehicle. The method includes determining a pixel-wise intensity difference between a current received image from the one or more images and a previously received image from the one or more images. The method includes determining the distance based on the identified trailer coupler, the sensor data, and the pixel-wise intensity difference, the distance includes a longitudinal distance, a lateral distance, and a vertical distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTONOMOUS MOBILITY US, LLC.
    Inventors: Xin Yu, Dhiren Verma, Dominik Froehlich
  • Patent number: 11635303
    Abstract: In some implementations, a computing device can provide a map application providing a representation of a physical structure of venues (e.g., shopping centers, airports) identified by the application. The application can provide an inside view of the venue, which is accessible by other applications and programs on the user's device. Thus, whether intended or not, search results that are identified by the map application as having an inside view of the venue are also presented on a graphical user interface along with typical search results from the other applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan D. Shelby, Megan M. Frost, Jae Woo Chang, Brett L. Lareau, Ryan W. Apuy, Sean P. O'Brien, YunJae Kim
  • Patent number: 11630465
    Abstract: A method includes determining that an autonomous vehicle is in a zone associated with one or more zone rules; causing, in response to determining that the autonomous vehicle is in the zone, the autonomous vehicle to operate in a controlled mode of operation associated with the zone rules; determining that the autonomous vehicle has exited the zone; and releasing, in response to determining that the autonomous vehicle has exited the zone, the autonomous vehicle from the controlled mode of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Lyft, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Danaher Harvey
  • Patent number: 11628950
    Abstract: Sensor data is received from an inertial measurement unit on a vehicle. An observed attitude and an observed attitude rate of the vehicle are determined based on the sensor data. Using a model associated with a vehicle failure mode, an expected attitude and an expected attitude rate of the vehicle are determined. A malfunctioning rotor is determined based on the observed attitude, the observed attitude rate, the expected attitude, and the expected attitude rate. In response to identifying the malfunctioning rotor, a responsive action is performed, including by updating a geometry matrix so that at least one non-malfunctioning rotor in the plurality of rotors compensates for the malfunctioning rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Kitty Hawk Corporation
    Inventor: Mark Johnson Cutler
  • Patent number: 11630209
    Abstract: A system includes a light detection and ranging device configured to generate, for each respective point of a plurality of points in an environment, a corresponding waveform that represents physical characteristics of the respective point. The system also includes a signal processor configured to determine, based on the corresponding waveform of each respective point, a map of the environment that includes a representation of a corresponding position of the respective point. The system additionally includes an embedding model configured to determine, for each respective point and based on the corresponding waveform, a corresponding vector comprising a plurality of values representative of the physical characteristics of the respective point. The system further includes a feature detector configured to detect or classify a physical feature based on (i) the corresponding positions of one or more points of the plurality of points and (ii) the corresponding vectors of the one or more points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Mingcheng Chen, Christian Lauterbach, Colin Braley
  • Patent number: 11630179
    Abstract: A heliostat calibration system having a system controller, and a heliostat having a heliostat controller, wherein: the system controller is configured to receive a calibration data point and initial calibration offset angle guess, calculate a tracking error, identify a calibration offset angle, and the heliostat controller configured to transmit a calibration data point, receive adjustment instructions, and execute the adjustment instructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Light Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: William Quinn Marsh
  • Patent number: 11628801
    Abstract: A wheelchair securing structure includes: a securing device provided in a wheelchair securing space inside a vehicle cabin, the securing device being configured to secure a wheelchair; a securing detection portion configured to detect that the wheelchair is secured by the securing device; and a display portion provided at a position where the display portion is visually recognizable by an occupant of the wheelchair from the wheelchair securing space inside the vehicle cabin, the display portion being configured to display a secured state of the wheelchair, the secured state being detected by the securing detection portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Makoto Sekizuka, Mitsuyoshi Ohno
  • Patent number: 11628851
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a control apparatus included in a vehicle in automated vehicle and highway systems, the control apparatus including: a steering wheel having at least one touch screen on which a screen for manipulating at least one of the functions of the vehicle is output In addition, a control unit determines an intention of the user related to a selection of any one of the functions of the vehicle and controls a screen for manipulating a function according to the determined intention of the user to be output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Chan Jaegal