Patents Examined by Demetra Smith-Stewart
  • Patent number: 9669940
    Abstract: A present novel and non-trivial system, device, and method for reducing image generating latency of an image presented on a display unit are disclosed. An image processing unit (“IPU”) may receive the image data set; receive (1) first navigation data of a first time from which second navigation data of the second time is determined or (2) second navigation data of a second time; receive third navigation data of the second time; compare the second navigation data with the third navigation data; and select a subset of the image data set in response to the comparison. Differences arising from the comparison, if any, may be used in determining the location and/or rotation of a cropping frame that selects the subset and forms a cropped image which is then provided to a display system, whereby the image represented in the subset is presented to the viewer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Carlo L. Tiana, Weston J. Lahr
  • Patent number: 9659491
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for referencing road strands. Speed data for a set of adjoining road segments is identified. Using at least one of the adjoining road segments, a strand database for is accessed to retrieve a predetermined strand of road segments. An aggregate speed value for the predetermined strand of road segments is calculated based on the speed data for the set of adjoining road segments represented by the predetermined strand of road segments. The aggregate speed value is provided as a representative of traffic on the set of adjoining road segments represented by the predetermined strand of road segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: HERE Global B.V.
    Inventor: James Fowe
  • Patent number: 9659494
    Abstract: Technologies for reporting and predicting emergency vehicle routes include a cloud server to receive emergency vehicle route data from an emergency vehicle, the emergency vehicle route data indicating a travel route of the emergency vehicle. The cloud server determines a scope of disclosure of the travel route to other vehicles based on the emergency vehicle route data and which other vehicles different from the emergency vehicle to which to convey the travel route of the emergency vehicle. The cloud server transmits a portion of the travel route of the emergency vehicle to the other vehicles based on the scope of disclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Tomer Rider, Shahar Taite
  • Patent number: 9656722
    Abstract: A bicycle control apparatus is basically provided with a manual drive force detecting device, a rotation state detection device and a controller. The manual drive force detecting device detects a manual drive force. The rotation state detection device detects a parameter relating to crankshaft rotation of a crankshaft. The controller is programmed to control at least one of a driving unit that generates an auxiliary drive force and an electric transmission unit so that the manual drive force and the parameter relating to the crankshaft rotation will be within a prescribed range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Mitsuru Tauchi, Takashi Toyoshima, Jun Gao
  • Patent number: 9643599
    Abstract: A vehicle control device includes a sensor and a controller. The sensor detects wheel speed. The controller estimates sprung mass state based on detected information in a prescribed frequency range. The controller controls a variable-damping force shock absorber to bring the estimated sprung mass state to a target sprung mass state. The controller estimates wheel rim braking/drive torque acting on a wheel. The controller determines the estimation accuracy of the sprung mass state has deteriorated when a rate of change of a stationary component extracted from components of wheel rim braking/drive torque acting on a wheel is detected to equal or exceed a prescribed value. The controller controls the variable-damping force shock absorber to a more limited extent than when the estimation accuracy has not deteriorated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hironobu Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 9646503
    Abstract: Cockpit display systems and methods for generating navigation displays including landing diversion symbology are provided. In one embodiment, the cockpit display system includes a cockpit monitor and a controller coupled to the cockpit monitor. The controller is configured to assess the current feasibility of landing at one or more diversion airports in a range of an aircraft on which the cockpit display system is deployed. The controller is further configured to assign each diversion airport to one of a plurality of predetermined landing feasibility categories, and generate a horizontal navigation display on the cockpit monitor including symbology representative of the feasibility category assigned to one or more of the diversion airports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Amit Nishikant Kawalkar, Rajesh Chaubey, Rajeev Mohan
  • Patent number: 9610941
    Abstract: A drive control device for a hybrid vehicle is provided with a differential device including four rotary elements; and an engine, first and second electric motors and an output rotary member which are respectively connected to the four rotary elements. One of the four rotary elements is constituted by a rotary component of a first differential mechanism and a rotary component of a second differential mechanism selectively connected through a clutch, and one of the rotary components is selectively fixed to a stationary member through a brake. The hybrid vehicle is selectively placed in a plurality of drive modes according to respective combinations of engaged and released states of the clutch and the brake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroki Kuwamoto, Yoshiteru Hagino, Tomohito Ono
  • Patent number: 9594374
    Abstract: Various implementations described herein are directed to a non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions which, when executed by a computer, may cause the computer to receive an autopilot option selection for piloting a marine vessel. The computer may determine a first message corresponding to the autopilot option selection for a first autopilot. The computer may determine a second message corresponding to the autopilot option selection for a second autopilot. The computer may transmit the first message to the first autopilot. The computer may also transmit the second message to the second autopilot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: NAVICO HOLDING AS
    Inventor: Robert Langford-Wood
  • Patent number: 9578456
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses for comparing multi-dimensional datasets are provided. A multi-dimensional dataset comparison includes receiving a plurality of datasets, each including a plurality of coordinates, wherein a subset of coordinates defines a geo-fence. For a coordinate within a geo-fence of one of the plurality of datasets, determining analogous coordinates in each of the other datasets, the analogous coordinates defining a coordinate input set, and performing in parallel an operation on the coordinate input set to determine whether an entry is present at a coordinate of the coordinate input set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC
    Inventors: Sheldon Meredith, Mark Pack, John Pastore
  • Patent number: 9568097
    Abstract: Disclosed are device and method for driving a shift lever. The device may include a control unit that sets a travel distance of the shift lever when the shift lever is manipulated to a predetermined shift stage to be different than a reference travel distance of the shift lever, which is a travel distance of the shift lever when the shift lever is manipulated to shift stages other than the predetermined shift stage. The device may further include a driving unit which restricts a travel of the shift lever or moves the shift lever depending on a setting of the control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation, SL Corporation
    Inventors: Jae Sung Heo, Ki Young Song, Joon Young Park, Chang Hyun Lee, Han Gil Park, Ean Soo Cho, Nam Sik Baek
  • Patent number: 9561788
    Abstract: A hybrid work vehicle includes: a work device; a traveling drive device; a lever operation quantity detection unit that detects a lever operation quantity of a control lever operated to control the work device; an engagement state detection unit that detects an engaged state and a non-engaged state of the work device; a pedal operation quantity detection unit that detects a pedal operation quantity of an accelerator pedal; a travel state detection unit that detects a traveling state and a non-traveling state of the traveling drive; and an engine control unit that controls an engine rotation rate based upon at least either the lever operation quantity or the pedal operation quantity in correspondence to either the engaged state or the non-engaged state and either the traveling state or the non-traveling state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: KCM Corporation
    Inventor: Noritaka Ito
  • Patent number: 9550491
    Abstract: Disclosed is a vehicle control apparatus which can execute a start-up control for improving acceleration performance at the time of starting an internal combustion engine during the running of a hybrid vehicle. When a hybrid ECU determines that a predetermined time has not yet elapsed after termination of the start-up control of the engine, and that the hybrid vehicle is in a high speed, high load condition, but not in a warming-up state, the hybrid ECU sets a value Nupest2 larger than a value Nupest1, that is usually set as a maximum value Krmx of a rise rate of an engine rotational speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hideki Kamatani, Takeshi Kotani
  • Patent number: 9541629
    Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and method associated with a location based service, and an apparatus for integrated positioning that may sense positioning-associated information that is in proximity to a user. The apparatus may hierarchically classify the sensed positioning-associated information into multiple categories of accuracy based on a predetermined criterion, and estimate the location of the user in order of low accuracy information to more precise accuracy information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eung Sun Kim, Do Hyung Park, Yoon Chae Cheong, Ki Ho Kim
  • Patent number: 9540122
    Abstract: A computing device may detect that a space object has undergone a maneuver and may attempt to calculate a solution to that maneuver based in part on start and stop times and thrust uncertainties associated with the detected maneuver. However, the computing device may sometimes be unable to calculate an acceptable solution for a detected maneuver given these initial start and stop times and thrust uncertainties. Thus, the various embodiments provide for a computing device and methods implemented by a processor executing on the device for identifying and calculating a recovery maneuver of a space object when an acceptable solution for a detected maneuver cannot be determined. In the various embodiments, a computing device processor may generate a recovery maneuver based on the detected maneuver, and the processor may adjust the start and stop times and the uncertainty values of the recovery maneuver until an acceptable solution is found.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: ANALYTICAL GRAPHICS INC.
    Inventors: Matthew M. Berry, Douglas E. Cather
  • Patent number: 9527388
    Abstract: A regenerative control capable of realizing a comfortable operation, along with an efficient collection of a regenerative energy of a motor generator and an effective regenerative braking control. A regenerative control device for a motor generator generates a regenerative braking power for decelerating a motor vehicle at a time of collecting regenerative energy generated by driving of the motor vehicle. The arrangement includes a driving state detection unit for detecting a driving state and a deceleration level acquisition unit for acquiring a deceleration level. A braking force setting unit sets the regenerative braking force of the motor generator at a time of detection of a deceleration operation by the driving state detection unit. A braking force adjustment unit adjusts and suppresses the regenerative braking force set by the braking force setting unit, according to acquired deceleration level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masakazu Saito, Yoshiki Ito, Masaaki Tagawa, Hitoshi Ohkuma
  • Patent number: 9517668
    Abstract: A hitch angle warning system includes a camera-based hitch angle sensor that senses a hitch angle between a vehicle and a trailer. The hitch angle warning system also includes a controller that estimates an amount of time for the hitch angle to reach a threshold angle based on a rate of change of the hitch angle. The threshold angle may be set to a maximum hitch angle controllable by the vehicle based on a length of the trailer. The controller thereby generates a warning signal when the amount of time is less than a threshold time, which is configured to be greater or equal to than a response time of a driver of the vehicle to make a corrective action. The warning signal may be deactivated when the amount of time is greater than a second time that is greater than the threshold time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Erick Michael Lavoie
  • Patent number: 9517760
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention has: an internal combustion engine including an in-cylinder fuel injection valve and a crank ventilation system; a motor; a power transmission mechanism connecting a drive shaft of the vehicle and the engine to allow torque transmission therebetween and connecting the drive shaft and the motor to allow torque transmission therebetween; and a control device. The control device controls output torques of the engine and the motor so as to exert an equal torque to a user requiring torque on the drive shaft. Furthermore, the control device stops the engine when an engine stop condition that included a condition that a coolant water temperature is equal to or higher than an intermittency allowance temperature, and start the engine when an engine start condition is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Daigo Ando
  • Patent number: 9489852
    Abstract: An Unmanned Aerial System configured to receive a request from a user and fulfill that request using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle. The Unmanned Aerial System selects a distribution center that is within range of the user, and deploys a suitable Unmanned Aerial Vehicle to fulfill the request from that distribution center. The Unmanned Aerial System is configured to provide real-time information about the flight route to the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle during its flight, and the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle is configured to dynamically update its mission based on information received from the Unmanned Aerial System.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Zipline International Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Chambers, Bryan Wade, Catalin Drula, David Halley, Igor Napolskikh, Keenan Wyrobek, Keller Rinaudo, Nicholas Brake, Ryan Oksenhorn, Ryan Patterson, William Hetzler
  • Patent number: 9489777
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for detecting the impact of an object on a vehicle, which comprises a hose filled with a filling medium. The device also comprises a first pressure sensor which is connected with a first end of the hose and a second pressure sensor connected with a second end of the hose. An electronic control unit is connected with the first and the second pressure sensor and is designed for the processing of the signals received by the first and the second pressure sensor. The hose is sealed off with respect to the environment and the first and the second pressure sensor, so that the internal pressure of the filling medium is independent of an ambient pressure. The electronic control unit is designed for processing temperature-caused changes of the internal pressure as a criterion for the diagnosis of the operability of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Frank Meir, Lutz Eisenmann
  • Patent number: 9478073
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are devices, systems, and methods for providing friendly maintenance and recall notifications. Drivers can have personalized online driver profiles that indicate preferences for one or more notification classes, each notification class having a consistent theme or style. When a maintenance or recall condition arises, the driver can be presented with a notification that is both specific to the particular maintenance condition and associated with the notification class for which the driver has indicated a preference. Maintenance conditions can be detected by one or more sensors. Notifications for recall conditions can be sent from a remote server and received at the vehicle. A plurality of notifications related to a particular condition can be stored in a notification database, and the driver can be presented with a random notification, consistent with the driver's preferences, from the plurality of available notifications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
    Inventor: Cynthia Ann Knight