Patents Examined by David A. Testardi
  • Patent number: 10075935
    Abstract: A method and system for detecting a transition in positioning state of a mobile device relative to an indoor facility. The method, executed in a processor of the mobile device, comprises monitoring, based at least in part on global positioning system (GPS) data, for a positioning state of the mobile device as one of an indoor and an outside location relative to an indoor facility, determining a set of probabilistic weightings for respective ones of ambient data and the GPS data, the ambient data including one or more of received signal strength data, signal connectivity data, magnetic data, ambient lighting data and barometric data, and detecting a transition in positioning state of the mobile device from one of the indoor and the outside locations to another of the indoor and the outside locations when a weighted sum value based at least in part on the set of probabilistic weightings is one of above and below a predetermined state transition value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: MAPSTED CORP.
    Inventors: Majid Bavand, Sean Huberman, Eros Gulo
  • Patent number: 10071744
    Abstract: A method for operating a vehicle including at least one assistance function or at least a partially automated driving function, including: ascertaining at least one safe driving state; capturing the current driving state; determining a permissible range for the current driving state of the vehicle from which at least one of the at least one safe driving state is attainable; operating the vehicle using an activable or active assistance function or an at least partially automated driving function within the specified permissible range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Oliver Pink, Christoph Schroeder, Stefan Nordbruch
  • Patent number: 10071820
    Abstract: Methods and systems for detecting inclement weather in the vicinity of an aircraft engine are described. Vibration levels of the engine are monitored. Upon detection of an increase in the vibration levels beyond a threshold, an alert mode is triggered. At least one predetermined performance parameter is monitored while in the alert mode, and inclement weather is detected when the at least one predetermined performance parameter meets at least one inclement weather condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Ninad Joshi, Andrea Lindsay Henning, Faran Hafeez
  • Patent number: 10066346
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for filtering point cloud data obtained using a plurality of sensors generates data representative of a surface and for use with a specific type of sensor. The filtering allows certain machines and sensor types to be used to acquire point cloud data and different sensor types to be used during surface construction and modification. The method can be utilized with various types of machine controls and surface construction methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Topcon Positioning Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jan Mennink, Vernon Joseph Brabec
  • Patent number: 10017176
    Abstract: A power supply system of a motor vehicle includes a first electric system having a first motor vehicle battery and a first consumer. A second electric system includes a second motor vehicle battery and a second consumer. An autonomous switch is configured to connect and separate the first electric system and the second electric system. The autonomous switch connects the first electric system and the second electric system to one another by closing the autonomous switch if a failure or impending failure of the energy supply of the first electric system or the second electric system is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Markus Demmerle, Reiner Zerjeski
  • Patent number: 10017159
    Abstract: An electric motor is subjected to PWM duty control based on a target speed (tgt spd) set according to a position of a wiper blade. After a deceleration start position of wiping operation, the electric motor is driven at a PWM duty value (sld sta duty×Ksd) obtained by multiplying a PWM duty value (sld sta duty) at the deceleration start position by a predetermined deceleration coefficient (Ksd) set according to the blade position. The deceleration coefficient (Ksd) is set according to the position of the wiper blade based on a ratio (tgt spd/pek tgt spd) between the target speed (pek tgt spd) of the wiper blade at the start of deceleration and the target speed (tgt spd) of the wiper blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: MITSUBA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toshiyuki Amagasa
  • Patent number: 10019008
    Abstract: A set of driving scenarios are determined for different types of vehicles. Each driving scenario corresponds to a specific movement of a particular type of autonomous vehicles. For each of the driving scenarios of each type of autonomous vehicles, a set of driving statistics is obtained, including driving parameters used to control and drive the vehicle, a driving condition at the point in time, and a sideslip caused by the driving parameters and the driving condition under the driving scenario. A driving scenario/sideslip mapping table or database is constructed. The scenario/sideslip mapping table includes a number of mapping entries. Each mapping entry maps a particular driving scenario to a sideslip that is calculated based on the driving statistics. The scenario/sideslip mapping table is utilized subsequently to predict the sideslip under the similar driving environment, such that the driving planning and control can be compensated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: BAIDU USA LLC
    Inventors: Qi Kong, Fan Zhu, Guang Yang, Jingao Wang
  • Patent number: 10017142
    Abstract: A vehicle includes: an audio system, local sensors including a crash sensor, a fuel pump, and processor(s) configured to: (a) select filter(s) based on a determined audio system state; (b) decontaminate present crash sensor data via the filter(s); (c) determine whether to deactivate the fuel pump based on the decontaminated data. The processor(s) are configured to map prior crash sensor data to prior determined audio system states and select the filter(s) by selecting some of the mapped prior crash sensor data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John W. Jensen, Mahmoud Yousef Ghannam, Howard Churchwell, John Vincent Fazio, Lirjon Llusho
  • Patent number: 10017076
    Abstract: A motor control apparatus for a vehicle includes a data detector detecting driving data and a vehicle controller controlling a drive motor according to the driving data. The vehicle controller includes an acceleration generator determining a request torque and a request speed using the driving data and generating a request acceleration using the request torque and the request speed; a driving point determinator selecting an inductance control current map or a motor efficiency control current map according to the request acceleration and determining a current driving point according to the request torque and the request speed using the selected current map; and a motor controller controlling the drive motor using the current driving point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: SangHwa Do, Sangjin Park, Young Jin Seo, Kyoungbum Kim
  • Patent number: 10000183
    Abstract: In a belt retractor (10) for a seat belt comprising a belt reel (12) onto which webbing (14) can be wound while being spring-loaded and comprising a tensioning device (16) which is adapted to act on the belt reel (12) in a winding direction (A), a control (18) is provided which is adapted to activate the tensioning device (16) when the seat belt is unloaded and not fastened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Mark Mages
  • Patent number: 9994221
    Abstract: Arrangements described herein provide adaptive cruise control systems that present travel settings for one or more nearby vehicles. Location information for one or more nearby vehicles can be acquired. Travel settings for the one or more nearby vehicles can be acquired. The travel settings can include a set speed and a set distance for each of the one or more nearby vehicles. Arrangements described herein can present within the vehicle the travel settings for the one or more nearby vehicles. A vehicle to follow from the one or more nearby vehicles can be selected based on the displayed travel settings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: John-Michael McNew
  • Patent number: 9984565
    Abstract: First probe data for a first probe type and second probe data for a second probe type are received and stored. A relationship between the first probe type and the second probe type is determined based on at least a portion of the first probe data and at least a portion of the second probe data. The relationship is categorized based on a property of the travel conditions under which the at least a portion of the first probe data and the at least a portion of the second probe data were collected. First real-time probe data for the first probe type is received. The first real-time probe data is converted into second real-time probe data based on the relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: HERE Global B.V.
    Inventor: Leon Stenneth
  • Patent number: 9982415
    Abstract: Provided is a remote control system which controls a work machine from a remote place in order to improve safety and workability and to reduce fatigue of an operator. In the remote control system which controls the work machine from a remote place, a seat where the operator sits is driven to be inclined in conjunction with the machine, so that inclination information of the machine at the time of traveling is provided to the operator to be sensible and the safety and the workability are improved. On the other hand, a large inclined vibration caused by the work of the machine is not transferred to the operator since an inclination amount of the seat is kept when the machine is not traveling, so that the fatigue of the operator is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Yamada, Takamasa Kai
  • Patent number: 9975056
    Abstract: An electronic system for stabilizing steering of a model vehicle may provide a curvature steering control of an RC vehicle. The approximate curvature control of the RC vehicle determined using error integration to achieve full steering. Application of a leaky integrator may be used to minimize steering memory. The leak factor may be based off gain scheduling of the steering input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: TRAXXAS LP
    Inventors: Thomas Michael Kawamura, Wesley Ronald Erhart, Scott Rollin Michael Schmitz
  • Patent number: 9969486
    Abstract: This disclosure describes systems, methods, and apparatus for automating the verification of aerial vehicle sensors as part of a pre-flight, flight departure, in-transit flight, and/or delivery destination calibration verification process. At different stages, aerial vehicle sensors may obtain sensor measurements about objects within an environment, the obtained measurements may be processed to determine information about the object, as presented in the measurements, and the processed information may be compared with the actual information about the object to determine a variation or difference between the information. If the variation is within a tolerance range, the sensor may be auto adjusted and operation of the aerial vehicle may continue. If the variation exceeds a correction range, flight of the aerial vehicle may be aborted and the aerial vehicle routed for a full sensor calibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Barry James O'Brien, Scott Michael Wilcox, Joshua John Watson
  • Patent number: 9968033
    Abstract: In a crop harvesting machine there is provided a pair of hydraulic float cylinders for a header relative to a vehicle, where a float pressure to the cylinders is directly controlled by an electronic control supplying a variable control signal to a PPRR valve arrangement to maintain the float pressure at a predetermined value. At the set pressure a predetermined lifting force is provided to the header. A position sensor is used to generate an indication of movement and/or acceleration. The electronic control is arranged, in response to changes in the sensor signal, to temporarily change the control signal to vary the lifting force and thus change the dynamic response of the hydraulic float cylinder. In order to reduce static friction so that the system can react quickly, an arrangement is provided for causing relative reciprocating movement in an alternating wave pattern between the piston and cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: MacDon Industries Ltd.
    Inventors: James Thomas Dunn, Graham Michael Leverick, Russell George Lyons, Bruce Robert Shearer
  • Patent number: 9972896
    Abstract: An engine monitoring system for an aircraft engine having a nacelle extending annularly thereabout and a sensor positioned radially inward therefrom. The system includes an engine control device coupled communicatively to the sensor and configured to receive engine data from the sensor and/or receive instruction data from a transmitter device positioned radially outward from a nacelle radially outward surface. The system also includes a composite panel including at least a portion of the nacelle and a ground plane positioned radially inward from the nacelle radially outward surface, the composite panel including an antenna coupled communicatively to engine control device and a radome positioned radially outward from ground plane. The antenna is configured to at least one of receive engine data from the engine control device and transmit engine data to a receiver device, and receive instruction data from the transmitter device and transmit instruction data to the engine control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Selaka Bandara Bulumulla, David Patrick Calder, Michael Joseph Dell'Anno, Andrew Michael Roach
  • Patent number: 9963100
    Abstract: A controller for a vehicle includes a processor and a memory storing processor-executable instructions. The processor of the controller is programmed to receive a side-impact signal representing a collision to a side of the vehicle, receive an occupancy signal indicating that a first rear seat of the vehicle is occupied, and send an output control signal to deploy an airbag between a front seat adjacent the side of the vehicle and a second rear seat adjacent the side of the vehicle in response to the side-impact signal and the occupancy signal only when the second rear seat is unoccupied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Manoharprasad K. Rao, Jialiang Le, Robert William McCoy, Hubert Szawarski
  • Patent number: 9950695
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and vehicles are provided for controlling rear wiper units and rear washer units for a rear windshield of a vehicle. In accordance with one embodiment, the vehicle includes, in addition to the rear windshield, the rear washer unit, and the rear windshield, a control system. The control system includes a detection unit and a processor. The detection unit is coupled to a single input device onboard the vehicle. The detection unit is configured to detect a user's engagement of the single input device. The processor is coupled to the detection unit. The processor is configured to at least facilitate automatically controlling the rear wiper unit and the rear washer unit based on the detecting of the user's engagement of the single input device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Daniel P. Carlesimo, Marcelo V. Lazarini
  • Patent number: 9953528
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a communication unit for the communication with an event management server, a navigation system for the output of at least one route, and a planning system. The planning system is configured to: a) retrieve a list, for a plurality of devices, particularly traffic light systems and/or signal groups of traffic light systems, the list including one identification respectively of the respective device and at least one position indication respectively of the respective device, b) compare the list with the route, in order to select at least one device from the list, c) for the subscription of events with respect to the selected device, send at least one subscription message to the event management server, the subscription message including the identifications of the selected devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Andreas Winckler