Patents Examined by David A. Testardi
  • Patent number: 9950740
    Abstract: An automatic driving control device performs an automatic driving control for causing a vehicle to travel along a reference travel trajectory set in a lane in advance. The automatic driving control device reflects the steering by the driver during the automatic driving control in the travelling of the vehicle in a case where the steering by the driver is detected during the automatic driving control by the steering detection unit and when a position of the vehicle in the lane width direction is included in an allowance range, and alerts the driver to the travelling of the vehicle in a case where the steering by the driver is detected and in a case where it is determined that the position of the vehicle in the lane width direction is included in the second range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Jun Sato, Masaki Matsunaga, Yuichi Kumai
  • Patent number: 9931909
    Abstract: A computing system for a vehicle is provided. The computing system includes one or more processors for controlling operation of the computing device, and a memory for storing data and program instructions usable by the one or more processors, wherein the one or more processors are configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to estimate at least one characteristic of emissions from at least one forward vehicle expected to enter a ventilation system of an ego-vehicle within a predetermined travel distance ahead of the ego-vehicle and, responsive to one or more estimated characteristics, control the ego-vehicle ventilation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: John-Michael McNew
  • Patent number: 9931946
    Abstract: A method is provided for controlling charging of an energy storage system in a vehicle including an electric machine which is arranged for propulsion of the vehicle. The method includes initiating the charging upon connection of the energy storage system to an external power supply via connector elements; and transmitting, between the vehicle and the external power supply, a control signal including data related to the charging by a wireless transmission link. The method furthermore includes evaluating whether the control signal is received; and terminating the charging in the event that the control signal is not received. An arrangement for controlling charging of an energy storage system is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Volvo Truck Corporation
    Inventor: Jonas Storm
  • Patent number: 9925994
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling a train may override wayside interface units (WIUs) and/or override wayside devices. An example control system may comprise a transceiver configured to receive a status from a WIU and an on board unit (OBU) coupled to the transceiver. The OBU may be configured to override the command from the WIU and ignore a status from another wayside device associated with the WIU. The OBU may enforce all positive train control commands other than commands from sources associated with the overridden WIU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: SIEMENS INDUSTRY, INC.
    Inventors: Remo Ferrari, Torsten Pannier, James R. Krietemeyer
  • Patent number: 9920797
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for avoiding safety-critical activation of a clutch in a hybrid module of a drivetrain of a motor vehicle, wherein the hybrid module is effective between the internal combustion engine and the transmission and has an electric drive, the clutch and a freewheel, and the clutch is used to start the internal combustion engine by transmitting a torque, supplied by the electric drive or the drivetrain, by a frictionally locking connection to the electric drive or the drivetrain, or for disconnecting the internal combustion engine from the drivetrain for purely electric driving. In a method for avoiding safety-critical activation of a clutch in a hybrid module in which safety-critical driving situations are reliably prevented, a critical interference torque of the clutch is set as a function of ambient conditions of the motor vehicle and/or peripheral conditions of the vehicle, in order to set a safety distance to be maintained by the open clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Volker Kuss, Martin Dilzer
  • Patent number: 9902321
    Abstract: An apparatus (145) for a vehicle (100) having an electric propulsion motor (123), the apparatus (145) being operable to generate an audible sound wherein at least one characteristic of the sound is dependent on a state of the vehicle (100).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Limited
    Inventors: Katy Holloway, Iain Suffield
  • Patent number: 9904283
    Abstract: Precision docking is one of the most important tasks for drones and surface robots to charge themselves and load/unload packages. Without accurate docking, surface robots and drones will miss their charging pad or charging contacts and cannot automatically charge themselves for later tasks. Described is a system using coded light to guide the precision docking process for drones and ground robots. More specifically, the system uses projectors to project temporal identifiers for space partitioned by pixel projections. Different space partition gets a different identifier. By using a simple light sensor on a drone or a ground robot, the drone or the ground robot can know its precise location in the space and therefore knows where to move for a precise docking. Depending on docking precision requirement, the coded light precision may be adjusted by using projectors with different resolutions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Qiong Liu, Shang Ma, Sven Kratz
  • Patent number: 9900747
    Abstract: Among other things, an operation of a computational device in identifying a type of a given trip of a person is improved. Historical information is stored about prior trips of the person or of other people or both. The historical information is based on other than recorded motion data of the trips. Features are derived about the prior trips from the historical information. Features indicative of the type of the given trip are identified by the computational device. The type of the given trip is identified based on the features derived from the historical information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Cambridge Mobile Telematics, Inc.
    Inventor: Jun-geun Park
  • Patent number: 9889944
    Abstract: An aircraft controller includes a memory for storing instructions. The instructions are operable to cause the controller to perform a thrust balancing method and ensure a balanced thrust output from the aircraft. The thrust balancing method includes comparing an aircraft control surface setting in a cruise flight mode with the aircraft control surface setting in a flight idle mode of operations, thereby isolating an asymmetric thrust component of the aircraft control surface settings and determining an asymmetric thrust bias based on the isolated asymmetric thrust component of the aircraft control surface settings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Philip A. Schmidt
  • Patent number: 9884623
    Abstract: A method for image-based vehicle localization includes measuring, at a vehicle, a position and a heading of the vehicle; capturing, at an image capture system of the vehicle, road surface image data of a road surface; processing the road surface image data to correct for distortion in the road surface image data due to pitch and roll of the vehicle; performing feature detection on the processed road surface image data to detect lane markers on the road surface; generating a local map based on the detected lane markers; wherein generating the local map comprises identifying a lane demarcated by the detected lane markers; and controlling the vehicle according to the local map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Juan Fasola, Stuart Glaser, Elliot Branson, Kyle Vogt
  • Patent number: 9878683
    Abstract: An electronic device including a first connector adapted to couple the electronic device to a vehicle diagnostic connector, wherein the first connector includes first electrical contacts arranged according to a first pin arrangement, and the electronic device is configured to obtain operating power for the electronic device via the first connector; a second connector including second electrical contacts arranged according to the first pin arrangement, wherein the second connector is configured to supply operating power for a telematics device coupled to the second connector, and the electronic device is configured to convey a communication signal between one of the first electrical contacts and a respective one of the second electrical contacts; an energy storage unit adapted to provide stored power as operating power for the electronic device and the telematics device; and a first processor configured to detect a loss of power from the first connector, and in response to detecting the loss of power, transmit
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Gyeong S. Kang, Herman Bryant Elliott
  • Patent number: 9874422
    Abstract: A stationary test device for a missile includes a retaining device for an avionics testpiece of the missile, where the retaining device enables a movement of the avionics testpiece in three rotational degrees of freedom, and a display device configured to display information on the missile surroundings, where the display device is configured to be moved inside a virtual plane by a translational carriage system. The display device can be detected by the avionics testpiece if the avionics testpiece is disposed on the retaining device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: MBDA Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Limmer, Thomas Gallhauser, Michael Alois Surauer, Christian Surauer, Franz Geidek
  • Patent number: 9862383
    Abstract: A method for operating a vehicle, whereby a first setpoint trajectory is ascertained at a first point in time, based on which a setpoint trajectory of the vehicle is controlled, wherein, at a second point in time which is subsequent to the first point in time, it is checked whether or not the actual trajectory of the vehicle can continue to be controlled based on the first setpoint trajectory, and if yes, the actual trajectory of the vehicle continues to be controlled based on the first setpoint trajectory, while if no, a second setpoint trajectory is ascertained based on which the actual trajectory of the vehicle is controlled. A driver assistance system and a computer program product are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventor: Charlotte Grinenval
  • Patent number: 9862089
    Abstract: Methods and systems for allocating tasks to robotic devices are provided. An example method includes receiving information associated with task logs for a plurality of robotic devices and in a computing system configured to access a processor and memory, determining information associated with a health level for the plurality of robotic devices based on the information associated with the task logs. A health level for a given robotic device may be proportional to a current level of ability to perform a function, which may change over a lifespan of the given robotic device. Information associated with a plurality of tasks to be performed by one or more or the robotic devices may also be determined. The computing system may optimize an allocation of the plurality of tasks such that a high precision task may be allocated to a robotic device having a greater current health level than another robotic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: X DEVELOPMENT LLC
    Inventors: James J. Kuffner, Jr., Ryan Hickman
  • Patent number: 9852642
    Abstract: One embodiment provides a method comprising receiving a flight plan request for a drone. The flight plan request comprises a drone identity, departure information, and arrival information. The method further comprises constructing a modified flight plan for the drone based on the flight plan request, wherein the modified flight plan represents an approved, congestion reducing, and executable flight plan for the drone, and the modified flight plan comprises a sequence of four-dimensional (4D) cells representing a planned flight path for the drone. For each 4D cell of the modified flight plan, the method further comprises attempting to place an exclusive lock on behalf of the drone on the 4D cell, and in response to a failure to place the exclusive lock on behalf of the drone on the 4D cell, rerouting the modified flight plan around the 4D cell to a random neighboring 4D cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Eric K. Butler, Anca A. Chandra, Pawan R. Chowdhary, Susanne M. Glissmann-Hochstein, Thomas D. Griffin, Divyesh Jadav, Sunhwan Lee, Hovey R. Strong, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9849880
    Abstract: Methods and systems are presented for improving performance of a vehicle operating in a cruise control mode where a controller adjusts torque output from a vehicle to maintain vehicle speed within a desired range. The methods and systems include adapting a vehicle dynamics model and a vehicle fuel consumption model that provide input to nonlinear model predictive controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC, HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Anthony Mario D'Amato, Dimitar Petrov Filev, John Ottavio Michelini, Jaroslav Pekar, Ondrej Santin, Jonathan Thomas Mullen
  • Patent number: 9846860
    Abstract: A processor may determine that a first repair order (RO) of an existing cluster of ROs (e.g. corresponding to first and second vehicle symptoms and to first and second corrective actions) refers to a first vehicle related to a set of vehicles. The processor may identify ROs that refer to vehicles from the set and may determine among these identified ROs (i) a first relationship between the first symptom and the first action without the first symptom relating to the second action and/or (ii) a second relationship between the second symptom and the second action without the second symptom relating to the first action. The processor may (i) if the first relationship exists, add the first RO to a first different cluster corresponding to the first relationship and (ii) if the second relationship exists, add the first RO to a second different cluster corresponding to the second relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Snap-on Incorporated
    Inventors: Patrick S. Merg, Jacob G. Foreman, Bradley R. Lewis
  • Patent number: 9846044
    Abstract: A travel information recording system for associating travel information on a vehicle obtained immediately after travel through a branch location with an appropriate road segment includes: travel segment specifying unit for specifying a travel segment that is a road segment in which a vehicle is traveling; and travel information recorder for recording travel information on the vehicle obtained during travel in the travel segment in association with the travel segment in a storage medium. In the case where there occurs a segment variation in which the travel segment is varied from one of several road segments branched off from a branch location, the travel information recorder acquires the travel information to be recorded in association with a post-variation segment, which is the travel segment after the segment variation, on the basis of the travel information obtained before the segment variation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignees: AISIN AW CO., LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenta Sanami, Satoshi Hirano, Takayuki Miyajima, Tomoki Kodan, Kuniaki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9840274
    Abstract: An electric power steering control device, in which a control response capability in a low speed region can be improved, and a noise and a vibration can be suppressed, is provided. Although a control amount setter of the electric power steering control device performs a PI control computing in accordance with a deviation between a target current and an actual current, the control amount setter includes a gain setter which varies a gain of a proportion term in accordance with the deviation and a vehicle speed, and a control amount is computed in an integration term by using a predetermined constant gain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yuji Takatsuka, Sadaaki Kamei
  • Patent number: 9834197
    Abstract: Section acquisition systems, methods, and programs acquire a scheduled travel route of a vehicle driven by at least one of an internal combustion engine or a motor. The systems, methods, and programs divide the scheduled travel route that is in a range of a predetermined distance from a current location into a plurality of sections such that a difference in traffic congestion degree is distinguished, and divide the scheduled travel route that is not in the range of the predetermined distance from the current location into a plurality of sections such that a difference in travel load is distinguished.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignees: AISIN AW CO., LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoshi Hirano, Takayuki Miyajima, Tomoki Kodan, Kuniaki Tanaka