Patents Examined by Edward J. Pipala
  • Patent number: 9827873
    Abstract: Provided is an electric vehicle control system capable of securing good response and slip stopping property with respect to changes in a road surface condition. The system includes a vehicle controller configured to calculate a driver's demand torque command value according to a driver's accelerating or braking operation, a first communication device capable of communicating between a hydraulic controller and a motor controller, and a second communication device capable of communicating between the vehicle controller and the motor controller. The system includes a control system in which the hydraulic controller transmits a motor torque command value to the motor controller through the first communication device; the vehicle controller transmits the driver's demand torque command value to the motor controller through the second communication device; and the motor controller selects either one of the received motor torque command value and the received driver's demand torque command value as the command value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Keisuke Suzuki, Hitoshi Kobayashi, Tatsuyuki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 9829329
    Abstract: A method for monitoring and navigating a vehicle with electric drive towards a target with an off-line navigation device, in which a table is prepared and stored with data related to the vehicle when moving with a predetermined speed and under a predetermined load; storing in the memory the consumption of the vehicle when it takes a unity distance along a horizontal road with the predetermined speed; then storing corrected consumption values as a function of positive or negative angles of inclination of a road section of unity length that represents the ratio of experimentally determined consumption values of the vehicle at any given angle of inclination to the consumption along the horizontal road of unity length; storing map data also including the altitude and/or steepness information; then after the start of the vehicle monitoring in given time intervals the momentary storage capacity of the battery of the vehicle; dividing the remaining route leading to the target into a plurality of road sections so tha
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: GPS TUNER KFT.
    Inventors: Tamas Nagy, Gabor Tarnok
  • Patent number: 9827996
    Abstract: Steering wheel sensor systems are described in which a sensor array is attached to or integrated with a steering wheel and provides information about the forces exerted on the steering wheel for interacting with or controlling other vehicle systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: BeBop Sensors, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith A. McMillen, Conner Lacy, Brent Allen, Kyle Lobedan, Gregory Wille
  • Patent number: 9827867
    Abstract: An electric powered vehicle includes: a motor; an inverter configured to convert electric power from a battery to drive the motor; a transmission configured to shift the rotation output of the motor at a variable transmission gear ratio; and a controller configured to control the inverter to control the driving of the motor and to control a change in the shift gear stage, and to perform high surge region avoidance control for changing the gear ratio of the transmission to change a motor rotation speed while maintaining a vehicle speed and changing an operation point outside a high surge region, when the operation point of the motor enters the high surge region where the inverter is controlled by a PWM overmodulation control system, and the high surge region is defined to be equal to or higher than a predetermined rotation speed and equal to or less than predetermined torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomohiko Miyamoto, Masaya Yamamoto, Toshinori Okochi, Takeshi Ishida
  • Patent number: 9826684
    Abstract: There is provided a remote server that receives a machine type, an operating day, a position, a load factor, an engine rotational speed, a traveling speed, and a fuel consumption amount. The remote server identifies a working position based on the position, selects past operating days of an operation status corresponding to a current load factor of the same machine at the same working position, identifies a minimum fuel consumption amount out of fuel consumption amounts corresponding to the selected past operating days, and compares a current fuel consumption amount with the past minimum fuel consumption amount. If the current fuel consumption amount is larger than the past minimum fuel consumption amount, the remote server transmits an engine rotational speed and a traveling speed during a working period of the minimum fuel consumption amount, to a predetermined communication terminal corresponding to information for machine identification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: YANMAR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takeshi Ouchida, Shingo Eguchi, Naoki Kawakami
  • Patent number: 9828013
    Abstract: A method for managing train assets increases the time between required maintenance of the train assets, improves the future availability of the train assets, or increases the likelihood that the train assets will successfully complete future missions. A controller may receive from a sensor on a train asset a real-time signal indicative of at least one of a measured operational characteristic or a maintenance activity associated with the train asset, receive from a memory prognostic data providing information on a likelihood the train asset will complete a mission, and simulate a hypothetical operational scenario (HOS) based at least in part on the prognostic data and involving one or more train assets. Predictive data associated with the HOS may provide information on a likely benefit to a train asset from a change in at least one of an operational parameter, designated operational configuration for the train assets, or maintenance-related activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Electro-Motive Diesel, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander Shubs, Jr., James David Seaton, David Matthew Roenspies
  • Patent number: 9828111
    Abstract: Estimating the speed of an aircraft estimates three components of the speed vector (TAS, AOA, SSA) of an aircraft relative to the surrounding air. The static pressure is estimated on the basis of measurements of geographical altitude. A first intermediate variation of a linear combination of the three components of the speed vector of the aircraft relative to the surrounding air is estimated using explicitly the fact that the pressure measured by the static probe is falsified by a known quantity under the effect of the three components of this speed vector of the aircraft relative to the surrounding air. The process then estimates the three components of the speed vector of the aircraft relative to the air by likening the latter to the speed vector of the aircraft relative to an inertial reference frame and by using inertial measurements. The various estimates are fused to provide a final result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Thales
    Inventors: Christian Mehlen, Jacques Coatantiec
  • Patent number: 9828747
    Abstract: A display system for an excavating machine allowing an upper swing body including a work implement to swing about a predetermined swing central axis. The display system includes a processing unit that obtains target swing information indicating an amount of swing of the upper swing body, based on information including a direction of a tooth edge of the bucket, information including a direction orthogonal to a target plane indicating a target shape of a work object, and information including a direction of the swing central axis, and displays an image corresponding to the obtained target swing information, the amount of swing being required for the tooth edge of the bucket to face the target plane, and the direction of the tooth edge of the bucket being determined based on information about a current position and posture of the excavating machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Daiki Arimatsu, Masao Yamamura, Takashi Kurihara, Azumi Nomura
  • Patent number: 9821908
    Abstract: A method of assisting in rotor speed control in a rotorcraft can include measuring a rotor speed with a sensor; detecting a droop in the rotor speed beyond a lower droop limit; and commanding a decrease in collective in response to the rotor speed drooping beyond the lower droop limit. A system of assisting in rotor speed control in a rotorcraft, the system can include: a computer having a control law, the control law operable to generate a decrease collective command to an actuator in response to a rotor speed decreasing below a lower droop limit; wherein the lower droop limit is below a normal lower rotor speed range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph M. Schaeffer, Jignesh Patel, Eric O'Neill
  • Patent number: 9823147
    Abstract: A method and adapted electronic systems for determining a value representative for or an estimate of the load on a plunger of a baler for harvested agricultural material includes obtaining the speed of movement of a drive element for the plunger, followed by determining the estimate of or value representative for the load on the plunger based upon the obtained speed of movement of the drive element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Didier Verhaeghe, Kenny Nona, Tom Coen
  • Patent number: 9797735
    Abstract: Disclosed is a feature for a vehicle that enables taking precautionary actions in response to conditions on the road network around or ahead of the vehicle, in particular, a blind intersection along a section of road. A database that represents the road network is used to determine locations where a blind intersection is located along a section of road. Then, precautionary action data is added to the database to indicate a location at which a precautionary action is to be taken about the blind intersection located along the section of road. A precautionary action system installed in a vehicle uses this database, or a database derived therefrom, in combination with a positioning system to determine when the vehicle is at a location that corresponds to the location of a precautionary action. When the vehicle is at such a location, a precautionary action is taken by a vehicle system as the vehicle is approaching a blind intersection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: HERE Global B.V.
    Inventor: Robert Denaro
  • Patent number: 9792736
    Abstract: Described herein are devices, systems, and methods for managing the power consumption of an automotive vehicle, and thereby for optimizing the power consumption of the vehicle. The devices and systems for managing the power consumption of the vehicle typically include power management logic that can calculate an applied power for the vehicle engine based on information provided from the external environment of the vehicle, the operational status of the vehicle, one or more command inputs from a driver, and one or more operational parameters of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Invently Automotive Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Koebler, Nicole G. Goldstein, Stephen J. Brown, Jason H. Harper
  • Patent number: 9779557
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed to monitoring vehicle operations. If sensor information based on sensor data captured by a sensor computer installed in a vehicle is provided to a server by a client computer. An analysis engine may compare the sensor information to vehicle models associated with the vehicle. One or more reports based on the comparison may be distributed registered subscribers. A modeling engine may be employed to update the vehicle models based on the sensor information. The one or more updated vehicle models may be communicated to one or more client computers that may be associated with one or more users. The sensor information may be obtained from the sensor computer. Sensor information may include metrics associated with the operation of the vehicle. Metrics may include timestamps, road shocks, straight line driving, harshness, acceleration, deceleration, trip length, travel speeds, or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Carfit Corp.
    Inventors: Peter Edmund Heinrich Hauser, Henri-Nicolas Olivier
  • Patent number: 9777661
    Abstract: At least an embodiment may provide a remote server that can predict overheating of an engine. A remote server may receives an engine rotational speed, an engine load factor, and a cooling-water temperature. The remote server calculates a moving average of the engine load factor during a predetermine time, and calculates a correlation between the moving average of the engine load factor and the cooling-water temperature. If the correlation during a predetermined period is in the status of a predetermined difference from the correlation up to the predetermined period, the remote server predicts occurrence of overheating in a swing working vehicle that is used by a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: YANMAR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takeshi Ouchida, Shingo Eguchi, Naoki Kawakami
  • Patent number: 9726496
    Abstract: A navigation method includes receiving additional information satisfying a condition based on a current position of the user terminal, and indicating a position corresponding to the additional information on a navigation map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Young-ho Rhee, Young-shil Jang
  • Patent number: 9714051
    Abstract: A control system for a vehicle includes an input including a rotatable rotary element and a controller. The controller executes a trailer backup assist mode including interpreting a first instantaneous position of the rotary element as a trailer control commanding position and generating a vehicle steering command based thereon. The controller also executes a parking assist mode including implementing a parking assist action corresponding to a second instantaneous position of the rotary element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Erick Michael Lavoie
  • Patent number: 9714839
    Abstract: A method for announcing content information in a navigation system, wherein the content information relates to non guidance direction instructions. The method comprises the step of receiving route information, the route information comprising a plurality of route segments that constitute a route from a start point to an end point, each route segment having an estimated time period for completion. The method also comprises the step of receiving content information which is to be announced. It is determined whether one or more of the route segments comprises an estimated time period for completion which is above a threshold value, and, if so, allocating such route segments as silent route segments. Content information is announced in one or more of the determined silent route segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)
    Inventor: Giulio Bottari
  • Patent number: 9708001
    Abstract: An automatic steering system for a working vehicle, for automatic maneuvering of the working vehicle running on a working ground surface along a desired running path, in which the influences of various ground surface environments and of any aging degradation and/or individual variation of the working vehicle may be minimized, and the automatic steering operation may be conducted with improved stability. The automatic steering system includes a measurement section for acquiring measurements including those of the position, velocity, heading direction, and attitude of the vehicle and a data processing section. The data processing section includes a vehicle related parameter estimator for determining a value of a vehicle related parameter and a ground surface related parameter estimator for determining a value of a ground surface related parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: TOKYO KEIKI INC.
    Inventors: Hiroomi Arakane, Takao Sagawa, Nobuyuki Okamura, Yasuharu Hashimoto, Shioto Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9707856
    Abstract: A vehicle power management device managing: a vehicle path information generation device generating a vehicle travel path; a drive assembly consuming power to drive the vehicle; a power generator; an electrical load device group; a high-voltage storage device storing power for driving the vehicle; a low-voltage storage device storing power for operating the electrical load device group; and a DC voltage conversion and output device converting voltage of power stored in the high-voltage storage device to generate DC voltage for operating the electrical load device group, and outputting the DC voltage, and controlling electric energy flow in the vehicle. The vehicle power management device controls output of the DC voltage conversion and output device so that a filling rate of the low-voltage storage device is between lower and upper limits of a range in which a charge and discharge speed is equal to or higher than a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yuji Igarashi, Katsuya Kawai, Yukio Goto, Masahiko Tanimoto, Yoshito Nishita, Kazushi Shirasawa, Takanori Matsunaga, Akinobu Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 9706706
    Abstract: The invention relates to a control device (2) for controlling a vehicle having an electric motor (1), the control device comprising a control system (21, 22, 23) provided with one or more levers movable between a minimum control position and a maximum control position, and a control unit (3) for controlling the motor. Said control unit (3) includes acquisition means (31) for acquiring a signal representative of the position of said control system, determination means (32) for determining a setpoint speed value corresponding to said acquired signal, as a function of a maximum setpoint speed value associated with the maximum control position, and control means (33) for controlling the motor as a function of the determined setpoint speed. Said control device has adjustment means (34) arranged with the lever(s) of the system to enable the maximum setpoint speed value to be adjusted without taking a hand away from the lever(s). The invention also provides a corresponding vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: FRANCE REDUCTEURS
    Inventor: Wouter Barendrecht