Patents Examined by Daniel L Greene
  • Patent number: 11130521
    Abstract: A steering angle calculation circuit of an ECU includes a neutral point calculation circuit, a correction amount calculation circuit, an adder, and an absolute angle calculation circuit. When started, the neutral point calculation circuit calculates a motor neutral point from a steering angle detected through a steering sensor and a motor rotation angle detected through a relative angle sensor. The correction amount calculation circuit calculates a correction angle that is a difference between a conversion value and an actual value of the motor rotation angle with respect to the steering angle. The conversion value is obtained by converting the steering angle in terms of the motor rotation angle by taking into account a theoretical specific stroke. The adder calculates a final motor neutral point by adding the correction angle calculated by the correction amount calculation circuit to the motor neutral point calculated by the neutral point calculation circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Hosono, Akira Nambu
  • Patent number: 11117174
    Abstract: The invention relates to a positionable robotic cell for placement at a bending machine. The robotic cell comprises a frame for receiving the robot and a receiving device for a workpiece as well as a positioning device for repositioning the robotic cell. Moreover, a first sensor device is provided for recognizing the position of the robotic cell relative to the manufacturing device. The invention furthermore relates to a production facility with a bending machine and with such a robotic cell as well as a method for operating such a robotic cell at a bending machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: BYSTRONIC LASER AG
    Inventor: Christian Stein
  • Patent number: 11117549
    Abstract: In embodiments, Bluetooth® proximity sensors installed in a vehicle are configured to pair with a user mobile device and estimate distances to the user mobile device based on signal strength of the Bluetooth® emissions of the user mobile device. Each sensor, communicates its distance estimates to a vehicle control system (VCS) of the vehicle, using Bluetooth® communications. In response to the distance acre tying above a predetermined distance departure limit, the VCS causes predetermined departure actions to be performed, for example, locking the doors, turning off headlights, and activating the vehicle's security system. In response to the distance decreasing below a predetermined distance arrival limit, the VCS causes predetermined arrival actions to be performed, for example, unlocking the doors, flashing the headlights, beeping the horn, and deactivating the security system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: VOXX INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventor: James S. Turner
  • Patent number: 11104327
    Abstract: A method for automated parking of a vehicle includes providing image data captured by at least one vision sensor of the vehicle to an electronic control unit (ECU), and providing a parking scene map to the ECU. A free parking space present in the parking scene map is selected as a target parking space, and a parking path from a current vehicle location to the target parking space is formulated. The vehicle is autonomously maneuvered along the parking path towards the target parking space. Responsive to detection of a pedestrian in the target parking space or along the parking path, the vehicle is stopped until the detected pedestrian moves out of the target parking space or out of the parking path. After the detected pedestrian has moved out of the target parking space or out of the parking path, the vehicle continues autonomous maneuvering along the parking path towards the target parking space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Ralph Latotzki
  • Patent number: 11104298
    Abstract: The invention relates to an assembly module (20) for a motor vehicle (1), comprising an optical sensor system (30) which is suitable a) for monitoring a detection area (21) located outside of the vehicle (1), b) if a user (10) is detected in the detection area (21), for triggering a signal to commence an authentication check between an ID transponder (13) and the motor vehicle (1), c) for monitoring an actuation area (22) which is located outside of the vehicle (1) and which is different from the detection area (21), d) if a user (10) is detected in the actuation area (22), for providing a working signal for the vehicle (1), wherein an emergency actuation means (90) is provided for additionally triggering the working signal, which emergency actuation means is suitable e) for providing a working signal for the vehicle (1) via an activation of the emergency actuation means (90) by a body part (11, 12) of the user (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Huf Hülsbeck & Fürst GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Iko Lindic, Helmut Schumacher, Norbert Heller, Oliver Müller, Bernd Ette, Nadine Sticherling, Alexander Ziegler, Jean Malabo Yomkil, Stefan Mönig, Mirko Schindler, Christof Hache
  • Patent number: 11104228
    Abstract: An in-vehicle equipment control system includes a ceiling side controller installed in a ceiling of a vehicle and configured to control equipment installed at least in the ceiling; and a vehicle internal communication device configured to enable the ceiling side controller and a lower side controller to transmit and receive information signals to and from each other, the lower side controller having been installed in a part lower than the ceiling. The ceiling side controller is capable of receiving ceiling side detection signals regarding pieces of ceiling side detection information detected by at least one ceiling side detection device in the ceiling, as ceiling side information signals regarding pieces of ceiling side information, from the at least one ceiling side detection device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shuichi Ishibashi, Jun Goto
  • Patent number: 11099570
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for automatically adjusting a vehicle feature of a vehicle, where the system includes a first sensor, an onboard computer, a camera, a mirror, a controller; an actuator; and an algorithm. The algorithm instructs the onboard computer in steps for adjusting one or more vehicle features. The first sensor and the controller are in electronic communication with the onboard computer and the controller is in electronic communication with one or more actuators that connect to and adjust the various vehicle features. The onboard computer includes or accesses a database that correlates users, features, and vehicle feature settings. Such vehicle features include seat position and camera viewing angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Inventor: Michael H Gurin
  • Patent number: 11097689
    Abstract: A system includes a communication module configured to establish a first secure communications link with a portable device and a second secure communications link with a contactless smartcard. The contactless smartcard includes a unique identification (ID). A memory module configured to store information associated with the portable device and the contactless smartcard. A temporary key module configured to store the ID of the contactless smartcard and vehicle operation limitations associated with the ID of the contactless smartcard in the memory module. An authentication module configured to (i) authenticate the portable device and (ii) authenticate the contactless smartcard. A passive entry/passive start (PEPS) module configured to receive authentication of at least (i) the portable device or (ii) the contactless smartcard from the authentication module, and perform a vehicle operation based on at least (i) the received authentication and (ii) the vehicle operation limitations stored in the memory module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignees: DENSO International America, Inc., DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kyle Golsch
  • Patent number: 11099025
    Abstract: An interactive two-dimensional digital map is provided via a user interface. A request to obtain travel directions to a destination is received. An indication of a ride from a pick-up location to a drop-off location to traverse at least a portion of the route is obtained from a third-party provider of a ride service. Street-level imagery for the pick-up location is obtained and displayed on the digital map. In response to detecting a selection of the street-level imagery via the user interface, the two-dimensional digital map is transitioned to an interactive three-dimensional panoramic display of street-level imagery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: GOOGLE LLC
    Inventors: Jon Øvrebø Dubielzyk, Scott Ogden
  • Patent number: 11097720
    Abstract: A control device for a hybrid vehicle includes: an engine; an output shaft connected to a drive wheel; a first motor generator generating electric power using a drive force from the engine; a second motor generator connected to the output shaft; a planetary gear mechanism mechanically connected to the engine, the first motor generator, and the output shaft; a battery charging the electric power generated by the first motor generator; and controllers controlling the engine, the first motor generator, and the second motor generator. Further, when a requested drive force for the hybrid vehicle is greater than a maximum drive force without battery charging, which represents a drive force which can be output when an output of the second motor generator is maximized and the battery is not charged, the controllers cause the hybrid vehicle to travel while charging the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Satoshi Tsuda
  • Patent number: 11091132
    Abstract: A method and controller are provided for delaying activation of autonomous emergency braking of a host vehicle, based on a determination that autonomous emergency braking is not needed because a forward vehicle in front of the host vehicle is turning out of the path of the host vehicle. The controller receives inputs from sensors arranged on the host vehicle and includes a processor for determining whether and when to activate autonomous emergency braking. The processor includes control logic that determines whether a forward vehicle is present in front of the host vehicle and whether the forward vehicle is expected to turn out of a path of the host vehicle prior to the host vehicle reaching a current position of the forward vehicle. Based on the inputs from the sensors, the control logic determines whether to delay activation of the autonomous emergency braking of the host vehicle for a time value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew L. Kennedy, Jeffrey M. Carbaugh, Nicholas A. Broyles
  • Patent number: 11092444
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for recording landmarks in a traffic environment of a mobile unit, in which data sets are recorded by a laser scanner, wherein the data sets comprise data points. Data points from a certain number of data sets are saved as output data and, based on the output data, segments are determined by means of segmentation, wherein data points are assigned to each of the segments. For each of the determined segments, landmark parameters of the respective segment are determined by means of a principle component analysis and an object class is assigned to the segments based on the landmark parameters respectively determined for them. Landmark observations are determined, wherein landmark parameters and an object class are assigned to each landmark observation, and the landmark observations are output. The invention relates further to a system for recording landmarks in a traffic environment of a mobile unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Marek Stess
  • Patent number: 11090817
    Abstract: A robot hand capable of rotating and inserting a workpiece into a hole, while preventing a workpiece from being damaged when the workpiece is gripped. The robot hand includes a first hand section, a second hand section provided with a workpiece gripping section capable of gripping a workpiece, an elastic member configured to connect the first hand section and the second hand section in an elastically displaceable manner, and a movement restricting mechanism configured to releasably restrict a rotation movement of an elastic displacement of the second hand section with respect to the first hand section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Fanuc Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshio Motowaki
  • Patent number: 11091280
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is a system (and concomitant methods and computer software embodied in non-transitory computer readable media) providing formations of satellites and a method of modeling and analyzing inter-satellite relative motion of more than one satellites. These extensions include factoring in spacecraft flight dynamics for achieving real-life and/or simulated objectives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of NASA
    Inventors: Tracie Renea Conn, Laura Plice
  • Patent number: 11084485
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle and method for operating such a hybrid vehicle. The hybrid vehicle includes an internal combustion engine, an electric machine, an electric storage device, and a control system. The method includes determining a power currently available of the electric storage device by the control system when a current state of charge of the electric storage device is less than a charge threshold value; activating the internal combustion engine when the determined power currently available from the electric storage device exceeds a first power threshold; and determining the power currently available from the electric storage device by the control system when the determined power currently available from the electric storage device is less than the first power threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: MAGNA STEYR Fahrzeugtechnik AG & Co KG
    Inventors: Markus Passath, Christian Pongratz, Manfred Posch
  • Patent number: 11087566
    Abstract: A device receives vehicle data from a vehicle telematics device or a client device. The vehicle data includes information relating to a vehicle, a vehicle component, and a sensor associated with the vehicle. The device determines a vehicle profile, and one or more of a driving behavior and a driving location based on the vehicle data. The vehicle profile includes information relating to a condition of the vehicle component. The device determines a wear rate for the vehicle component based on the vehicle profile, and one or more of the driving behavior or the driving location. The device determines a service timeframe for the vehicle component based on the wear rate, the condition of the vehicle component, and a wear threshold. The device generates a recommendation based on the service timeframe, and transmits the recommendation to the client device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Seth Allyn Johnston, Diego Mondragon, Thomas James Lodato
  • Patent number: 11077908
    Abstract: A highly adaptable user interface for gearing based bicycle power transmission devices powered by a linear servo actuator slaved to an electronic control system serving to automatically shift into desirable gearing ratios under user predefined shifting criteria adaptable in real time to rider conditioning, comfort level and road conditions thereby alleviating manual shifting tasks and achieving optimal pedal rate and effort settings for the rider. Ability to switch to manual mode augments rider total control of disclosed device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Inventor: Hazem Nihad Hamed
  • Patent number: 11073835
    Abstract: Autonomously driven vehicles operate in rain, snow and other adverse weather conditions. An on-board vehicle sensor has a beam with a diameter that is only intermittently blocked by rain, snow, dust or other obscurant particles. This allows an obstacle detection processor is to tell the difference between obstacles, terrain variations and obscurant particles, thereby enabling the vehicle driving control unit to disregard the presence of obscurant particles along the route taken by the vehicle. The sensor may form part of a LADAR or RADAR system or a video camera. The obstacle detection processor may receive time-spaced frames divided into cells or pixels, whereby groups of connected cells or pixels and/or cells or pixels that persist over longer periods of time are interpreted to be obstacles or terrain variations. The system may further including an input for receiving weather-specific configuration parameters to adjust the operation of the obstacle detection processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Inventors: Charles J. Jacobus, Douglas Haanpaa
  • Patent number: 11072321
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing load shedding in a vehicle are provided. Particularly, the vehicle may be an electric vehicle and the loads that are shed may be HVAC or refrigeration loads. The load shedding methods and systems may include a predictive model of energy consumption, determining a predicted energy consumption and comparing it to a stored energy at the vehicle. If the predicted energy consumption exceeds the stored energy, load shedding operations may be performed at a transport climate control system, such as adjusting a set point, adjusting an operating mode of the transport climate control system, increasing a dead band of a compressor of the transport climate control system, utilizing free cooling such as ambient air to provide climate control in the vehicle, or increasing cooling provided by the transport climate control system to an energy storage of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Thermo King Corporation
    Inventors: Scott Wenger, Katherine Holmstrom
  • Patent number: 11060880
    Abstract: A navigation system may be provided. The navigation system may obtain an image comprising displayable content. The navigation system may receive a trigger instruction to plan a route based on the image. The navigation system may recognize, by an image recognition system, in response to receipt of the trigger instruction, feature content included in the displayable content. The feature content may be indicative of a target geographic location. The system may generate, in response to recognition of the feature content, at least one route from a current geographic location of a terminal to the target geographic location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: TENCENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventor: Xue Li