Patents Examined by David P. Merlino
  • Patent number: 10569765
    Abstract: A PCM (14) for controlling a behavior of a vehicle (1) having steerable front road wheels is configured to perform a control to reduce a driving force for the vehicle (1) according to a yaw rate-related quantity (e.g., steering speed) of the vehicle (1). Specifically, the PCM (14) is configured, after reducing the driving force in response to a change in the yaw rate-related quantity and according to the yaw rate-related quantity being changing, to increase the driving force so as to restore a value of the driving force before the reduction, and the PCM (14) is operable, when increasing the driving force so as to restore a value of the driving force before the reduction, to change a change rate during the increasing of the driving force, according to a magnitude of the yaw rate-related quantity thereduring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Osamu Sunahara, Daisuke Umetsu
  • Patent number: 10562554
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a CPU module for processing railway signals. The CPU module includes a first input unit that receives an input signal from an external apparatus; a second input unit that receives a second input signal and a second instruction signal from a CPU checking module; a first comparison unit that compares the two input signals and outputs a resulting input signal if it is determined that the two signals are identical; a signal processing unit that converts the resulting input signal into a first instruction signal; and a second comparison unit that compares the first instruction signal with the second instruction signal and outputs a resulting instruction signal if it determines the two instruction signals are identical; and a control unit that sends a synchronization signal for controlling operation timing of the two comparison units, the signal processing unit, and the CPU checking module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: LSIS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yong-Gee Cho, Dong-Han Woo, Yung Bang
  • Patent number: 10559209
    Abstract: Described herein is a framework to facilitate vehicle position planning. In accordance with one aspect of the framework, transition information is determined based on the vehicle data, wherein the transition information includes pairs of starting and ending road segments and corresponding passenger states. Short-term demand for vehicles may be calculated based on the transition information and the historical transactional records. The short-term demand may then be used to generate a cruising recommendation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: SAP SE
    Inventors: Qiwei Zhang, Junpeng Hu, Ye Jin
  • Patent number: 10546499
    Abstract: Systems, and methods for notifying an occupant of a determined cause for a deviation in a highly automated vehicle are described herein. The vehicle can detect a plurality of objects located in an external environment of the vehicle. The vehicle can determine a deviation from a current path of travel. The vehicle can follow a modified path of travel based on the determined deviation. The vehicle can determine a cause for the deviation by generating a simulation of the vehicle traveling along the current path of travel. The simulation may not include a first detected object of the plurality of detected objects. The vehicle can determine, using the generated simulation, whether the first detected object was the cause for the determined deviation. Responsive to determining that the first detected object was the cause for the determined deviation, the vehicle can notify an occupant of the cause for the determined deviation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Toyota Research Institute, Inc.
    Inventors: John H. Marcoux, Edwin B. Olson
  • Patent number: 10524406
    Abstract: An agricultural hitch with a system for management and guidance of maneuvers and a method employed by the hitch is provided. The hitch includes a tractor, an agricultural machine hitched by an articulated linkage, and a system for management and guidance of maneuvers, provided with a computing and control unit. The computing and control unit or of the hitched agricultural machine constitutes the master unit of the system for management and guidance of maneuvers, and is adapted to compute a set path for a maneuver to come, by employing an algorithm for prediction of paths and an algorithm for optimization of path settings, and to automatically execute the maneuver or of assisting in semiautomatic execution of the maneuver by steering the tractor and by recording, during maneuvering, the differences between the predefined set path and the real or currently estimated path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: KUHN SA
    Inventors: Philippe Potier, Andrii Yatskul, Jean-Pierre Lemiere
  • Patent number: 10518757
    Abstract: System and method for determining vehicle speed of a wheel. The system including an electronic stability controller, an occupancy restraint controller, and an actuation controller coupled to a communication bus. The electronic stability controller including a wheel speed sensor to determine a first vehicle speed. The occupancy restraint controller including a vertical acceleration sensor to sense a vertical acceleration of the vehicle and a longitudinal acceleration sensor to sense a longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle. The actuation controller configured to determine a second vehicle speed using the vertical acceleration and the longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle. validate the second vehicle speed when the difference between the first vehicle speed and the second vehicle speed is less than a threshold, and use the first vehicle speed when the difference between the first vehicle and the second vehicle speed is greater than a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GbmH
    Inventor: Hirak Chanda
  • Patent number: 10503166
    Abstract: A method for processing data for an automated vehicle, including operating at least two processing units, the at least two processing units being monitored by a monitoring device having at least two self-monitoring monitoring units. Defined monitoring of the processing units is carried out with the aid of the at least two monitoring units. A master functionality of the monitoring units is assumed by a defined monitoring unit. In the event of a fault of the monitoring unit carrying out the master functionality, the master functionality is taken over by a downstream monitoring unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Rainer Baumgaertner
  • Patent number: 10493977
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a start of an engine for a mild hybrid electric vehicle includes: a mild hybrid starter & generator (MHSG) starting an engine; a first battery connected to the MHSG through a first power cable and supplying electric power to the MHSG; a low voltage DC-DC converter (LDC) converting voltage supplied from the first battery into low voltage; a second battery supplying the low voltage to an electric load that uses the low voltage; an ignition switch including a first contact point and a second contact point; a data detector detecting data for controlling the engine start for a mild hybrid electric vehicle; and a controller determining whether a charging condition of the second battery is satisfied based on the data, and charging the second battery with electric power of the first battery when the charging condition of the second battery is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Hwa Young Jang
  • Patent number: 10481603
    Abstract: An apparatus for operating a vehicle, including a control device that is configured to guide the vehicle automatically; and a monitoring device that is configured to monitor the control device for a fault during automatic guidance of the vehicle by the control device, and upon recognition of a fault to take over automated guidance of the vehicle from the control device. A corresponding method and a computer program are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Oliver Pink, Karsten Muehlmann, Armin Ruehle, Michael Helmle, Christoph Schroeder, Rainer Baumgaertner, Jeannine Schwarzkopf, Florian Hauler
  • Patent number: 10473466
    Abstract: A method is provided. The method comprises: initializing a point mass filter; initializing the one or more Bayesian filters; obtaining measurement data associated with a horizontal position on a surface; obtaining measurement data of a horizontal position and a velocity; obtaining geo-mapping data; estimating, with the point mass filter, the horizontal position on the surface based upon the geo-mapping data and the measurement data; estimating, with the one or more Bayesian filters, remaining state parameters based upon an output of the point mass filter and the measurement data; predicting, with the point mass filter, an a priori horizontal position, on a surface for a future time when the next measurement data will be obtained; and predicting, with the one or more Bayesian filters, an a priori remaining state parameters for a future time when the next measurement data will be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Jindrich Dunik, Milos Sotak, Milos Vesely, Wesley J. Hawkinson
  • Patent number: 10472083
    Abstract: A method of selectively operating an ullage passivation system includes receiving at least one of a temperature signal and a vapor composition signal. The method further includes operating an ullage passivation system to provide a fluid to the fuel tank, in response to at least one of a temperature exceeding a temperature threshold and a component of the vapor composition exceeding a threshold composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jonathan Rheaume
  • Patent number: 10464548
    Abstract: An auto cruise control method and system for hybrid electric vehicles are provided. Particularly, a PnG driving pattern in consideration of characteristics of hybrid electric vehicles is applied to maximize improvement in fuel efficiency and to satisfy both drivability and improvement in fuel efficiency. The auto cruise control method includes turning on an auto cruise control mode by receiving a user set target vehicle speed using an engine and a driving motor as vehicle driving sources, and turning on a pulse and glide (PnG) mode. A user interface (UI) device is provided to receive a selection of any one of a PnG coast mode, a PnG glide mode and a PnG constant-speed cruise mode, and, when the driver selects one mode through the UI device, the hybrid electric vehicle is operated in the selected mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Jeong Soo Eo, Young Joon Chang, Ji Won Oh, Youn Kwang Jung, Sung Jae Kim, Ba Ro Hyun
  • Patent number: 10457342
    Abstract: Provided is a traveling apparatus including at least, with respect to a traveling direction, a front wheel and a rear wheel and on which a user rides when travelling. The traveling apparatus includes a front wheel supporting member configured to rotatably support the front wheel, a rear wheel supporting member configured to rotatably support the rear wheel, an adjusting mechanism configured to adjust a wheel base length between the front wheel and the rear wheel by changing a relative position of the front wheel supporting member and the rear wheel supporting member, and a driving unit configured to drive at least one of the front wheel and rear wheel. The wheel base length adjusted by the adjusting mechanism is associated with a speed of the traveling apparatus achieved by driving the driving unit in such a way that the longer the wheel base length, the greater the speed becomes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takeshi Kama, Makoto Kakuchi, Makoto Mori
  • Patent number: 10437257
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an autonomous driving system that can determine whether an interruption of autonomous driving control is required. The autonomous driving system can determine that interruption is required based on an evaluation value dependent upon a target position and a control position, and an evaluation value threshold. The vehicle further includes communication systems that provide interruption information on the autonomous driving control to an occupant of the vehicle and to other vehicles around the vehicle if it is determined that the interruption of the autonomous driving control is required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiromitsu Urano, Koji Taguchi
  • Patent number: 10429854
    Abstract: A method and system for automatically controlling at least one following vehicle, where a scout trajectory is produced for a scout vehicle and the scout vehicle is guided along the scout trajectory. Scout environmental data are captured by scout sensors and a desired trajectory is produced for the following vehicle. Following vehicle environmental data are captured by following vehicle sensors. Reference trajectory data are produced based on the scout trajectory and reference environmental data are produced based on the scout environmental data. The reference trajectory data and the reference environmental data are transmitted to the following vehicle. A trajectory similarity is determined by a trajectory comparison of the desired trajectory produced and the transmitted reference trajectory data, an environment similarity is determined by an environmental data comparison of the captured following vehicle environmental data and the transmitted reference environmental data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Michael Darms, Marc-Michael Meinecke, Arne Bartels, Lutz Junge
  • Patent number: 10406887
    Abstract: A heating control apparatus for a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle utilizing an engine and a drive-motor as power sources includes a temperature detecting device for detecting temperature data used to control indoor heating of the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, where an indoor temperature of the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle may be increased by generating a ratio of required heat based on the temperature data, generating an engine-on reference value and an engine-off reference value based on the ratio of required heat, and driving the engine based on the engine-on reference value and the engine-off reference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Won Young Jeong
  • Patent number: 10398368
    Abstract: An onboard system equipped to a vehicle includes a vehicle control device controlling a switching of a driving mode of the vehicle between a manual driving and a self-driving, and a brain activity sensor capable of detecting an activated portion of a brain of a driver of the vehicle. The vehicle control device determines whether a degree of uneasiness felt by the driver exceeds a threshold or not based on a detection result detected by the brain activity sensor before the switching of the driving mode. When determining that the degree of uneasiness felt by the driver does not exceed the threshold, the vehicle control device switches the driving mode. When determining that the degree of uneasiness felt by the driver exceeds the threshold, the vehicle control device performs a vehicle control corresponding to the degree of uneasiness felt by the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ichiro Yoshida, Kiyohiko Sawada
  • Patent number: 10382256
    Abstract: Apparatus, device, methods and system relating to a vehicular telemetry environment for identifying in real time unpredictable network communication faults based upon pre-processed raw telematics big data logs that may include GPS data and an indication of vehicle status data, and supplemental data that may further include location data and network data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Geotab Inc.
    Inventors: Neil Charles Cawse, Daniel Michael Dodgson, Yi Zhao
  • Patent number: 10351098
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for authenticating a driver (2) in a motor vehicle (1), having a detection device (10) which is arranged in the motor vehicle (1) and has the purpose of detecting actual data (50) of the driver (2) which is transmitted during the authentication to a checking device (20) which is arranged in an external station (3) outside the motor vehicle (1), wherein the checking device (20) compares the actual data (50) with setpoint data (60), and when the actual data (50) corresponds to the setpoint data (60) an enable signal (70) is transmitted from the external station (3) to the motor vehicle (1), as a result of which a starting process of the motor vehicle (1) for the driver (2) is made possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Huf Hülsbeck & Fürst GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Sven Gennermann
  • Patent number: 10351123
    Abstract: A method for controlling a hybrid vehicle includes the steps of: (a) determining whether or not a subject vehicle is running or stopped, when the subject vehicle is in an electric vehicle (EV) mode and is driven by power of a driving motor, and (b) adjusting a target state of charge (SOC) of a battery depending on whether or not the subject vehicle is running or stopped, wherein, when it is determined that the subject vehicle is running in step (a), the target SOC is adjusted to a predetermined running SOC in step (b), and when it is determined that the subject vehicle is stopped in step (a), the target SOC is adjusted to a predetermined stop SOC that is less than the running SOC in step (b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Sang Joon Kim