Patents Examined by Demetra Smith-Stewart
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Patent number: 8909396Abstract: A blocked rail crossing detection and notification system is described. The system includes a processing device, a communications interface communicatively coupled to the processing device and operable for facilitating communications between the processing device and at least one external device, and at least one vehicle detection mechanism placed proximate to a rail grade crossing. The at least one vehicle detection mechanism is communicatively coupled to the processing device and operable to provide signals to the processing device indicative of the presence or non-presence of a vehicle within a defined area surrounding an intersection of a roadway and one or more railroad tracks. The processing device is further programmed to communicate the presence or non-presence of a vehicle along with supporting correlative visual data within the defined area to the at least one external device via the communications interface.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2012Date of Patent: December 9, 2014Assignee: The Island Radar CompanyInventor: Thomas N. Hilleary
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Patent number: 8903588Abstract: A method for computationally predicting future movement behaviors of at least one target object can have the steps of producing sensor data by at least one sensor physically sensing the environment of a host vehicle, and computing a plurality of movement behavior alternatives of a target object sensed by the sensor(s). The context based prediction step uses a set of classifiers, each classifier estimating a probability that said sensed target object will execute a movement behavior at a time. The method can also include validating the movement behavior alternatives by a physical prediction comparing measured points with trajectories of situation models and determining at least one trajectory indicating at least one possible behavior of the traffic participant, estimating at least one future position of the traffic participant based on the at least one trajectory, and outputting a signal representing the estimate future position.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2012Date of Patent: December 2, 2014Assignee: Honda Research Institute Europe GmbHInventors: Jens Schmüdderich, Sven Rebhan
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Patent number: 8880252Abstract: An electricity storage control device for a hybrid vehicle that includes: an internal combustion engine; a battery that is charged by a power generator driven by the internal combustion engine; and a motor that is driven upon receiving an electric power from the battery, the hybrid vehicle conducting travel in an EV mode for traveling with only the motor, includes: a planned traveling distance setting unit that sets a planned traveling distance in the EV mode; and a residual control unit that calculates a traveling enable distance in the EV mode according to an electricity storage state of the battery and that, when the planned traveling distance is longer than the traveling enable distance, operates the internal combustion engine to cause the power generator to charge the battery so that amount of storage in the battery reaches amount of storage corresponding to the planned traveling distance.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2011Date of Patent: November 4, 2014Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Jun Saito
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Patent number: 8874365Abstract: A system for and method of establishing a communication link between mobile vehicles is presented. The method may include acquiring first information associated with a first mobile vehicle. The method may also include determining whether to update the first information associated with the first mobile vehicle. The method may further include transmitting, via a transceiver module, the first information associated with the first mobile vehicle based at least in part on the determination of not to update the first information associated with the first mobile vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2010Date of Patent: October 28, 2014Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.Inventors: Devin Moore, Wade Thompson
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Patent number: 8874286Abstract: An alternative system for damping the dutch roll mode in an aircraft is provided using roll control surfaces. Classical yaw dampers for the dutch roll mode utilize the yaw control surfaces such as a rudder to dampen the dutch roll mode oscillations. An alternative damper is described that utilizes roll control surfaces such as spoilers or ailerons to dampen the dutch roll mode.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2013Date of Patent: October 28, 2014Assignee: Textron Innovations, Inc.Inventors: Steven G. Hagerott, Steven Klausmeyer, Gonzalo E. Mendoza
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Patent number: 8868253Abstract: A bicycle communication adapter is provided with a voltage converting component, a signal converting component and a superimposing component. The voltage converting component is configured to convert a received voltage supplied from a bicycle electrical management system to a converted voltage suitable for at least one of a plurality of electric devices of a bicycle electrical system. The signal converting component is configured to convert a received signal outputted from a bicycle electrical management system into a converted signal compliant with a standard for power line communication. The superimposing component is configured to superimpose the converted signal converted by the signal converting component onto the converted voltage converted by the voltage converting component.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2012Date of Patent: October 21, 2014Assignee: Shimano Inc.Inventors: Akinori Hashimoto, Tetsuya Matsumoto
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Patent number: 8855853Abstract: Techniques for operating, testing, and generating a testing report for the electrical and air subsystems of a vehicular trailer, without the use of an associated truck tractor are disclosed. The system includes a portable testing unit with self-powered electrical and air subsystems which are interconnected to the corresponding subsystems of the vehicular trailer under test. The portable testing unit can be rolled about on a stand and functions as a mini-truck tractor, in the sense that it selectively provides electrical power and air to the VUT. The testing unit is controlled by a small, portable hand held radio frequency remote control that communicates test and data signals to a radio receiver in the portable testing unit. The system acquires testing data from both automatic and manual means from disparate sources. The system stores the testing data and automatically generates testing reports. The system manages the testing data and generated reports.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2014Date of Patent: October 7, 2014Assignee: LITE-CHECK Fleet Solutions, Inc.Inventor: Robert Marion Blair
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Patent number: 8855916Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 28, 2013Date of Patent: October 7, 2014Assignee: AT&T Mobility II, LLCInventors: Sheldon Meredith, Mark Pack, John Pastore
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Patent number: 8849497Abstract: A method includes collecting state of health (SOH) data and usage data from a plurality of vehicles. A peer group is identified among the vehicles. A vehicle health prognosis is generated for each vehicle of the peer based on the collected SOH and usage data. The vehicles of the peer group are ranked based on the generated vehicle health prognosis and the rank is reported to an output device that is associated with each vehicle or with a user of each vehicle. If evaluation of the ranking indicates that the health prognosis of a vehicle of the peer group is improvable by modifying vehicle usage, an alert is issued to a user of that vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2012Date of Patent: September 30, 2014Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Yilu Zhang, Mutasim A. Salman, Xiaofeng Mao, Fan Bai, Xinyu Du, Bo Yu, Pulak Bandyopadhyay
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Patent number: 8843265Abstract: A method for testing the evaporative emission system of a vehicle. The method provides for testing the evaporative emission system of a vehicle having a forced induction engine. The method includes controlling a vacuum bypass valve and a purge flow control valve to create the necessary conditions to perform the testing of the evaporative emission system.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2012Date of Patent: September 23, 2014Assignee: Chrysler Group LLCInventors: Roger C. Sager, Joshua P. Macchiavello, Paul J. Gregor, Christopher G. Hadre, Thomas H. Pruett
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Patent number: 8825324Abstract: A four-wheel-drive vehicle includes: a drive source which generates torque forming a driving force of the vehicle; a driving force transmission system which transmits the torque of the drive source to main driven wheels and auxiliary driven wheels; and a dog clutch provided in the driving force transmission system and capable of transmitting the torque to an auxiliary driven wheel side by engagement of a recess portion and a protruding portion. The vehicle further includes: a determination unit which determines whether a friction coefficient of a road surface is lower than a predetermined value based on an index value relating to the friction coefficient of the road surface; and a control unit which generates a control signal which causes engagement of the dog clutch before the vehicle starts when the determination unit determines that the friction coefficient of the road surface is lower than the predetermined value.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2011Date of Patent: September 2, 2014Assignee: JTEKT CorporationInventors: Masahiro Horaguchi, Akihiro Ohno, Masaki Mita
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Patent number: 8825328Abstract: A vehicle comprises a trailer angle detection apparatus and a trailer backup control system coupled to the trailer angle detection apparatus. The trailer angle detection apparatus is configured for outputting a signal generated as a function of an angle between the vehicle and a trailer towably attached to the vehicle. The trailer backup control system includes a jackknife enabling condition detector and a jackknife counter-measures controller. The jackknife counter-measures controller alters a setting of at least one vehicle operating parameter for alleviating an adverse jackknife condition during backing of the trailer by the vehicle when the jackknife enabling condition detector determines that a jackknife enabling condition has been attained at a particular point in time during backing of the trailer by the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2012Date of Patent: September 2, 2014Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, The Regents of The University of MichiganInventors: Matt Y. Rupp, Taehyun Shim, David Dean Smit, Erick Michael Lavoie, Roger Amold Trombley, Thomas Edward Pilutti
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Patent number: 8825227Abstract: A device for a motorized aircraft includes at least one avionic component positioned in the aircraft, at least one engine interface positioned in the aircraft and at least one engine controller positioned in or near an engine of the aircraft. The at least one engine interface is designed to exchange data between the at least one avionic component and the at least one engine controller. The at least one engine interface is generic and able to communicate with engine controllers of various types that may be mounted on the aircraft. The at least one engine controller is specific to a particular engine.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2008Date of Patent: September 2, 2014Assignee: Airbus Operations S.A.S.Inventors: Laurent Saint-Marc, Luc Brunel, Patrick Zaccaria, Matthieu Alexandre, Julien Feau, Frédéric Leborgne, Thierry Immordino, Jean-François Belkadi, Nathalie Durand
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Patent number: 8793044Abstract: A vehicle control system includes: a power unit including an engine and a rotating electrical machine; a power supply apparatus connected to the rotating electrical machine; an oil pump unit including a mechanical oil pump and an electric oil pump for cooling the rotating electrical machine; and a control apparatus. The control apparatus is constituted by an EOP idling determination unit that determines an idling state of the electric oil pump, and an engine starting processing unit that performs processing to drive the mechanical oil pump by starting the engine in accordance with the determination of the EOP idling determination unit.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2012Date of Patent: July 29, 2014Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin Seiki Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tomohiko Miyamoto, Kenjiro Nagata
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Patent number: 8775019Abstract: In an active anti-vibration supporting device (301), an ACM_ECU (200) for estimating an engine vibration state by using output data from a crank pulse sensor (Sa) and a TDC sensor (Sb) drives a driving unit (41) so as to extend and contract and thereby suppresses the transmission of vibration. The ACM_ECU (200) calculates the number of STGs (S1F) that is a quotient obtained when dividing the phase delay (P1F) of a target current value waveform by an average STG time ((T1)/4) in a first cycle (C1) of engine vibration and the remaining time (P?1F) of the phase delay (P1F), wherein the target current value waveform is used for suppressing the transmission of the engine vibration calculated using the output data from the crank pulse sensor (Sa) and the TDC sensor (Sb). The timing at which the elapse of the STG time equivalent to the number of STGs (S1F) in a third cycle (C3) of the engine vibration in the driving timing of the driving unit has been detected is set as a phase delay reference.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 2010Date of Patent: July 8, 2014Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hideyuki Okamoto, Tetsuya Ishiguro
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Patent number: 8768566Abstract: In order to provide better monitoring for the side environment of a vehicle a lighting unit to light up a vehicle environment and a detection unit for detecting an object in the vehicle environment are provided. The lighting unit is automatically switched on if the detection unit has detected an object in the vehicle environment.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2010Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: Daimler AGInventors: Andreas Schwarzhaupt, Istvan Vegh, Urs Wiesel, Jan Wirnitzer
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Patent number: 8761961Abstract: A method for controlling an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) using an electronic device obtains movement data of the electronic device detected by an accelerometer of the electronic device, and converts the movement data of the electronic device to control signals. The method further sends the control signals to the UAV, and changes a flight status of the UAV according to the control signals.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2010Date of Patent: June 24, 2014Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hou-Hsien Lee, Chang-Jung Lee, Chih-Ping Lo
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Patent number: 8755984Abstract: A vehicle comprises a trailer angle detection apparatus and a trailer backup control system. The trailer angle detection apparatus is configured for outputting hitch angle information generated as a function of an angle between the vehicle and a trailer towably attached thereto. The trailer backup control system includes a jackknife enabling condition detector and a jackknife counter-measures controller coupled to the trailer angle detection apparatus. The jackknife enabling condition detector is coupled to the trailer angle detection apparatus for receiving the hitch angle information therefrom and for determining if a jackknife enabling condition has been attained at a particular point in time during backing of the trailer by the vehicle. The jackknife counter-measures controller implements a vehicle speed reducing action in response to the jackknife enabling condition detector determining that the jackknife enabling condition has been attained at the particular point in time during backing of the trailer.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2012Date of Patent: June 17, 2014Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, The Regents of the University of MichiganInventors: Matt Y. Rupp, David Dean Smit, Roger Arnold Trombley, Thomas Edward Pilutti, Erick Michael Lavoie, Taehyun Shim
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Patent number: 8751099Abstract: Techniques for operating, testing, and generating a testing report for the electrical and air subsystems of a vehicular trailer, without the use of an associated truck tractor are disclosed. The system includes a portable testing unit with self-powered electrical and air subsystems which are interconnected to the corresponding subsystems of the vehicular trailer under test. The portable testing unit can be rolled about on a stand and functions as a mini-truck tractor, in the sense that it selectively provides electrical power and air to the VUT. The testing unit is controlled by a small, portable hand held radio frequency remote control that communicates test and data signals to a radio receiver in the portable testing unit. The system acquires testing data from both automatic and manual means from disparate sources. The system stores the testing data and automatically generates testing reports. The system manages the testing data and generated reports.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2013Date of Patent: June 10, 2014Assignee: Lite-Check Fleet Solutions, Inc.Inventor: Robert Marion Blair
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Patent number: 8744752Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus for detecting locations of a vehicle and an obstacle. The apparatus for detecting locations of a vehicle and an obstacle includes at least one distance measurement unit and a data processing unit. The distance measurement unit measures distance data relevant to a vehicle and an obstacle within a measurement area. The data processing unit maps the distance data on a grid layer, detects the location of the vehicle based on the result of the mapping, detects the location of the obstacle based on the detected location of the vehicle, and modifies the detected location of the vehicle using the distance data.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2011Date of Patent: June 3, 2014Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research InstituteInventors: Kyung-Bok Sung, Dong-Yong Kwak, Dong-Sun Lim