Patents Examined by Fadey Jabr
  • Patent number: 9488481
    Abstract: Example systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for displaying a map of a multi-floor building are presented. In one example, a first view may be presented for display. The first view may include a floor map of each of multiple floors of a building. The floor maps may be arranged in parallel according to position within the building and displayed at an angle between perpendicular to the floor maps and parallel to the floor maps. During the presenting for display of the first view, a user selection of a first one of the floor maps may be received. In response to the user selection, an animation from the first view to a second view may be presented for display. The second view may display the first one of the floor maps at an angle perpendicular to the first one of the floor maps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Waqas Javed, Alexander Kaber Carroll
  • Patent number: 9481360
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an electric machine, a torque converter and damper, and a controller. The controller is programmed to operate the electric machine to apply a regenerative torque according to a deflection of the damper and a difference between a speed of the electric machine and an output speed of the torque converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alexander O'Connor Gibson, Steven Anatole Frait, Felix Nedorezov, Walter Joseph Ortmann
  • Patent number: 9481365
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the disclosure, a collision prevention control apparatus is provided which includes an image sensor that detects an object near the vehicle; a radar sensor that detects the object near the vehicle; and a controller that, if only one of the sensors, among the image sensor and the radar sensor, detects the object, determines reliability of the other sensor, and changes, based on the determined reliability, a way of performing a collision prevention control for preventing a collision with the object detected by the one of the sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Setsuo Tokoro
  • Patent number: 9477225
    Abstract: A method for autonomously driving a motor vehicle in a car wash to enhance comfort and safety includes detecting a passageway of the car wash and determine with vehicle sensors the vehicle position and the vehicle orientation of the vehicle relative to the passageway. The vehicle is subsequently automatically driven into the car wash based on the vehicle position and the vehicle orientation, and automatically stopped in a washing position. After washing is complete, a completion signal signaling completion of a working step of the car wash is received or detected by the motor vehicle. Finally, the motor vehicle is automatically driven out of the car wash in response to the completion signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventor: Michael Stadler
  • Patent number: 9479907
    Abstract: A smart device interface for a vehicle. The smart device interface includes a transmitter/receiver and a controller. The transmitter/receiver is configured to communicate with a first smart device of a driver and a second smart device of a passenger. The controller is configured to permit the passenger to perform tasks on behalf of the driver using the second smart device. The tasks include responding to messages received by the first smart device of the driver, entertainment system operation, and navigation system operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Denso International America, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Nespolo, Kyle Golsch, Sibu Varughese, Vikas Upmanue, Yu Zhang, Justin McBride, Laith Daman, Cary Horvath, Thomas Krzyzak, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9478135
    Abstract: To improve traveling safety of a vehicle by continuing an alarm after the end of a crash prevention control for preventing a crash between an own vehicle and a target object, a drive support apparatus of the invention detects the target object which exists in a predetermined detection area ahead of the own vehicle, starts to issue an alarm with an alarm generating part to a driver of the own vehicle if probability of a crash between the own vehicle and the target object is greater than a predetermined value, start a crash prevention control in which an automatic driving operation is performed for preventing the crash with the target object, and continues to issue the alarm until a predetermined timing (timing when the driver of the own vehicle performs a predetermined driving operation, for example) after the crash prevention control by the crash prevention controlling part has been ended.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Ryo Fujishiro
  • Patent number: 9469967
    Abstract: A system for automated control of a machine includes a position sensor and a controller. The controller is configured to determine a position of a work surface along a first slot and along a second slot. The work surface along the first slot and the second slot define at least a portion of a berm. The controller is further configured to determine a physical characteristic of the first slot and the second slot and generate a berm reduction command if the physical characteristic of the first slot and the second slot is less than the characteristic threshold of the first slot and the second slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Thandava K. Edara, Michael Taylor, Troy K. Becicka, Jean-Jacques Clar, Kyle Edwards, Mo Wei
  • Patent number: 9469293
    Abstract: In a vehicle capable of performing regenerative braking by a motor, when regenerative power is supplied to both of a battery and an electric heating catalyst device (EHC), and it is predicted that the battery is overcharged at the time of turning-off of EHC (a supply of power to the EHC is stopped), ECU temporarily delays turning-off of EHC. ECU determines whether or not a condition for turning off the EHC is met during the EHC turning-off delay. When the condition for turning off the EHC is met, the regenerative brake torque is lowered so that the regenerative power becomes less than the battery acceptable power, and the hydraulic brake torque is increased depending on lowering of the regenerative brake torque, and thereafter the EHC turning-off delay is cancelled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroshi Katsuta
  • Patent number: 9466215
    Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting a vehicle. One system includes a controller. The controller is configured to receive images from a camera mounted on a first vehicle, identify a surface of a second vehicle located around the first vehicle based on the images, and generate a three-dimensional model associated with the second vehicle. The model includes a first plane and a second plane approximately perpendicular to the first plane. The first plane of the model is associated with the identified surface of the second vehicle. The controller is further configured to track a position of the second vehicle using the three-dimensional model after the identified surface falls at least partially outside of a field-of-view of the at least one camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Yun Luo, Xavier Zhu
  • Patent number: 9463873
    Abstract: Methods and means for reducing wear in electric or electro-hydraulic braking systems utilizing an adjustable (adaptive) filter, wherein the adaptive filter provides for rapid response during anti-skid operation and a smooth and filtered response during non-anti-skid operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Bruce Van Deventer, Erik L. Godo
  • Patent number: 9459102
    Abstract: In accordance with some embodiments, multiple navigation changes to a navigation system may be managed. The navigation system may receive and first set of navigation changes. Then, the navigation system may establish communication with a user device. The navigation system may then receive a second set of navigation changes associated with the user device. As a result, the navigation system may merge the first set of navigation changes with the second set of navigation changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Somya Rathi, Anand P. Rangarajan, Xingang Guo, Vijay Sarathi Kesavan, Victor B. Lortz
  • Patent number: 9457793
    Abstract: There is provided a vehicle information processing system for assisting a driver in a specified assistance area. The vehicle information processing system includes an operation pattern setting part for setting an operation pattern in the assistance area on the basis of driving operation information of the driver when the driver enters the assistance area and an assistance information determining part for determining assistance information for assisting the driver in the assistance area on the basis of the operation pattern in the assistance area which is set by the operation pattern setting part. According to this structure, it is possible to assist the driver using high-accuracy assistance information corresponding to the operation pattern and thus perform assistance suitable for the driver with high accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Satoshi Uno
  • Patent number: 9457814
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling driving a vehicle based on driver's fatigue includes a first information collector to collect biological information of a driver, a second information collector collect road condition information, a route calculator configured to calculate a desired route from a current position of the vehicle to a destination, a fatigue index calculator to divide a route, and to calculate a fatigue index for each section, a predicted fatigue index calculator to calculate a predicted fatigue index corresponding to the desired route, and a function provider configured to calculate a compensation value according to the predicted fatigue index, and to calculate a final operation value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Seon Su Kim, Seung-Chang Park
  • Patent number: 9452653
    Abstract: A vehicle controlling apparatus includes: a vertical acceleration sensor configured to detect a vertical acceleration of a sprung mass; a power-source attitude controller configured to compute a power-source attitude control amount for a driving force outputted from a power source, the control amount making the acceleration detected by the vertical acceleration sensor an appropriate acceleration for attaining a target sprung-mass state, and to control the power source based on the power-source attitude control amount; a stroke sensor configured to detect a stroke speed of a shock absorber; and a friction-brake attitude controller configured to compute a brake attitude control amount for a braking force outputted from a friction brake, the control amount making the stroke speed detected by the stroke sensor an appropriate stroke speed for attaining a target sprung-mass state, and to control the friction brake based on the brake attitude control amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hironobu Kikuchi, Katsuhiko Hirayama
  • Patent number: 9454155
    Abstract: Efficient towed implement guidance to a desired path is achieved by guiding a towing vehicle toward a path on the opposite side of a desired path, then guiding the vehicle back to the desired path. Efficient forward implement guidance to a desired path is achieved by guiding a pushing vehicle along a tractrix. A vehicle leaves a straight line along a tractrix to keep a rear implement on the line as long as possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: John W Peake, Stephan Pleines
  • Patent number: 9454156
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for extracting a curb of a road using a laser range finder and a method for localizing of a mobile robot using curb information of a road. The method for extracting the curb of the road using the laser range finder includes extracting a road surface and line segments from scan data of the laser range finder, extracting a plurality of curb candidate line segments among the line segments on the basis of an angle between the road surface and the line segment, extracting a plurality of curb candidates having a plurality of curb properties, wherein each of the plurality of curb candidates is generated by combining the couple of the curb candidate line segments, and applying the plurality of the curb candidates to a Kernel Fisher Discriminant Analysis to extract a final curb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Korea University Research And Business Foundation
    Inventors: Woojin Chung, Hyunsuk Lee
  • Patent number: 9453734
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for displaying a portion of a map on a mobile device of a user while the user is traveling along a route. The mobile device can use a selected route and a current location of the device to load map tiles for parts of the map that are upcoming along the route. In this manner, the user can have quick access to the portions of the map that the user likely will want to view. For example, the map tiles can be loaded for the next 50 Km, and then when the stored tiles reaches only 25 Km ahead, another 25 Km of tiles can be retrieved. The amount of tiles loaded (e.g., minimum and maximum amounts) can vary based on a variety of factors, such as network state, distance traveled along the route, and whether the mobile device is charging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Seejo K. Pylappan, James A. Howard, Bradford A. Moore, Christopher Blumenberg
  • Patent number: 9435654
    Abstract: DSRC (Dedicated short range communication) is expected to play a significant role in Transportation applications for Public Safety and Traffic Management. Some of the key applications especially safety and mobility application requires an accurate representation of the road segments. Accordingly, here, in one example, we describe a method and infrastructure for DSRC V2X (vehicle to infrastructure plus vehicle) system. This presentation, e.g., adds the following improvements on the existing technologies, as some of the examples: (a) Using Speed-Profiles for identifying Intersections/mandatory-stops/Speed-limits, etc. Also, the extension of the map coverage using speed profile data. (b) Vehicular density identification for determining confidence of generated MAP. (c) Mechanisms for identifying Lane Attributes, like Lane-Width, Lane-Connections, Possible Movement states, average travel-time on the lane, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Savari, Inc.
    Inventors: Faroog Ibrahim, Katta Vidya Sagar
  • Patent number: 9429657
    Abstract: The functionality described herein allows a user device to determine an appropriate juncture at which to initiate processing within a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) dead zone in an energy-efficient manner. In one implementation, the functionality employs a sensor management module for determining when to activate a device movement sensor module provided by a user device. When activated, the user device uses the device movement sensor module to perform any environment-specific processing, such as a dead-reckoning process for determining incremental positions within the venue. Further, in a crowd-sourcing application, the user device may report the incremental positions together with beacon information to remote processing functionality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Gursharan S. Sidhu, Sharad Agarwal
  • Patent number: 9428884
    Abstract: An controller uses one of several transfer curves to map steering angle of an articulated machine to articulation angle. Because an articulated machine may have a range of steering angles that is much greater than the range of articulation angles, the controller uses one of several techniques to map the full range of steering angles to the full range of articulation angles. One technique involves multiple non-zero slope regions, another technique uses a less than one-to-one linear transfer function of steering angle to articulation angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Amit Sharma, Steven C. Budde, Curtis Maas, Matt I. Moul