Patents Examined by Gary Chin
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Patent number: 7103478Abstract: Whether or not a radar device detects an object is determined by a detection state determinator. Whether or not a time during which the object is not detected and which is measured by a clocking device becomes a determination threshold value or more, is determined by a non-detection determinator. Based on the determination results, an informing device informs an occupant that the object is not detected for a predetermined time or more. Therefore, a state in which the radar device does not detect an object due to absence of the object on a road in a desert or the like is prevented from being erroneously determined as a state caused by contamination of the radar device. Also, the occupant can easily determine whether the operation of the informing device is actually caused by absence of an object or contamination of the radar device, based on the environment around the road on which the own vehicle is traveling.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2005Date of Patent: September 5, 2006Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventor: Kiichiro Sawamoto
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Patent number: 7103455Abstract: This MCP/FCU interface (30) for control of the automatic pilot (13) and/or flight director (14) is provided with an access port linked to the ATN terminal (2) by a digital information transmission link (4) and furnished with display device displaying the trajectory modification orders originating from the air traffic control authorities and with enabling device imposing on the automatic pilot (13) and/or flight director (14) the operating mode and the directives corresponding to a trajectory modification order having formed the subject of an acceptance by the pilot.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2003Date of Patent: September 5, 2006Assignee: ThalesInventor: Michel Subelet
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Patent number: 7099764Abstract: A braking control device performs a steering and/or avoidance possibility determination based on the state of the vehicle to execute automatic vehicle braking when an obstacle in front of the vehicle cannot be avoided by steering and/or braking. The device determines that the obstacle can be avoided by steering when the correlation value between steering avoidance time and relative velocity is smaller than the distance from the vehicle to the obstacle. The steering avoidance time is set to a shorter value when the suspension characteristic is stiffer and the sideways force generated by the front wheels is larger. The steering avoidance time is set successively shorter for low, high, and medium speed travel regions, respectively, to reflect the behavior response characteristic of the vehicle with respect to steering input. The vehicle deceleration that would occur if the driver released the accelerator pedal is considered in the braking avoidance possibility determination.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2003Date of Patent: August 29, 2006Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yoji Seto, Minoru Tamura, Yoshinori Yamamura, Seiki Takahashi, Masahide Nakamura
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Patent number: 7099757Abstract: An FI/AT/MGECU, in a cylinders deactivation operating state during cruise control where the vehicle speed follows a predetermined target speed, regulates renewal on an addition side of a power plant required torque final value TQPPRQF, and in a case where a flag value of a torque hold flag F_CCKTQS showing to hold the power plant required torque final value TQPPRQF to a predetermined torque value related to a cylinder deactivation upper limit torque TQACS is a “1” (YES side in step S33), when the vehicle speed VP is decreased less than a value obtained by subtracting from a set vehicle speed VC which is the target vehicle speed during cruise control, a predetermined vehicle speed #?V (for example, #?V=3 km/h or the like) (YES side in step S35), the internal-combustion engine E is switched from a cylinders deactivation operation to an all cylinders operation. The fuel consumption efficiency is thus improved while keeping occupants in the vehicle from feeling discomfort with respect to travelling behavior.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2004Date of Patent: August 29, 2006Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Manabu Niki, Masanobu Asakawa, Kohei Hanada, Minoru Suzuki, Teruo Wakashiro, Takahiro Yonekura, Naoto Sen
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Patent number: 7096108Abstract: A brake system for a heavy vehicle includes a control network, a brake component, a central control unit, and a distributed electronic control unit. The central control unit generates central control signals adapted to control the brake component, which control signals are transmitted to the brake component over the control network. The distributed electronic control unit receives the central control signals, controls the brake component in accordance with the central control signals if the central control signals are received during expected time periods, and controls the brake component in accordance with an alternative control scheme if the central control signals are not received during the expected time periods.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2005Date of Patent: August 22, 2006Assignee: Haldex Brake Products ABInventors: Peter Nilsson, Anders Lindqvist
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Patent number: 7092806Abstract: Provided is an activation system for a passenger protection apparatus capable of detecting a collision acceleration accurately and in detail with a simple configuration for appropriately activating apparatus. A satellite sensor unit side converts a detection output from an electronic acceleration sensor into a digital collision acceleration data and sequentially it to a communication line at a predetermined cycle, while an air bag control unit side makes a decision on collision at a front portion of a vehicle on the basis of a central-portion acceleration detected by an acceleration sensor and the collision acceleration data received through the line for the activation of air bags. This configuration enables only the air bag control unit side to make a collision decision without making a collision decision in the satellite sensor unit side, which allows a simple and low-cost system.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2003Date of Patent: August 15, 2006Assignee: Denso CorporationInventors: Hidehiko Kumazawa, Shinichi Kiribayashi
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Patent number: 7092807Abstract: The invention relates to a device for the determination of the inclination of the roadway in a vehicle, with an arrangement (4), for at least the indirect determination of parameters, which at least indirectly characterize the inclination of the roadway. Said arrangement (4), for the at least indirect determination of parameters which at least indirectly characterize the inclination of the roadway, forms a construction unit (5) with a device (1) which may be operated by the driver for setting a driver command which alters or sets the driving state of a gearbox unit.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2001Date of Patent: August 15, 2006Assignee: Voith Turbo GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Richard Bürk, Bernd Dietzel
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Patent number: 7085641Abstract: A method of calculating feed-forward lateral acceleration of a moving vehicle is provided. The method includes the use of a corrected steering angle of the vehicle. The steering angle is corrected by using the Ackerman steer angle of the vehicle. Depending upon the speed at which the vehicle is traveling the steering angle may be corrected using the full Ackerman steer angle, a fraction of the Ackerman steer angle or not at all.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2004Date of Patent: August 1, 2006Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventor: James W. Post, II
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Patent number: 7079930Abstract: A system for monitoring the handling of a vehicle has a plurality of individual systems for influencing the handling of the vehicle, a management device being provided for managing the influence on the handling by the individual systems. A method for monitoring a handling of a vehicle is also described.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2002Date of Patent: July 18, 2006Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventor: Manfred Gerdes
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Patent number: 7079943Abstract: A path planner and a method for determining a path for a vehicle comprises defining a starting point for the vehicle. A termination point is defined. An obstacle detector detects one or more obstacles in a work area between the starting point and the termination point. A boundary zone is defined about each corresponding obstacle. Candidate paths are identified between the starting point and the termination point. Each candidate path only intersects each boundary zone once for each corresponding obstacle. An economic cost is estimated for traversing each candidate path or a portion thereof between the starting point and the termination point. A preferential path is selected from the identified candidate paths based on the preferential path being associated with a lowest estimated economic cost.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2005Date of Patent: July 18, 2006Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: Nicholas Simon Flann, Shane Lynn Hansen, Sarah Ann Gray
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Patent number: 7076349Abstract: A system for detecting and evading vehicle identification means (VIM), comprising: locating means, control means having a plurality of I/O channels, each adapted to receive or transmit serial or parallel data, processing means, electronic storage means comprising at least one database of known VIM coordinates and identification prevention device (IPD) adapted to automatically prevent identification of the vehicle's license plate number, owner or driver.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2003Date of Patent: July 11, 2006Inventors: Ron Yaacov Davidson, Nathaniel Davidson
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Patent number: 7072765Abstract: A method for calculating a route from a starting location to a destination location is described; it is characterized in that the route is calculated after specifying at least one pass-through destination location by way of at least one pass-through destination point, which is situated in a circumscribed area of the at least one pass-through destination location specified by a specified criterion. In contrast with the route calculation method known from the related art, the specified pass-through destinations are not part of the trip route, but instead, except for a specified circumscribed area, they function as vaguely specified interpolation points for influencing the route calculation.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2001Date of Patent: July 4, 2006Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Heinrich Schmidt, Joerg Hoeveling, Ralf Hoffmann
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Patent number: 7072753Abstract: The invention relates to a hazard-prevention system for a vehicle. The vehicle has devices for sensing driving state variables, for sensing ambient data and for sensing the driver's activity, and a data processing device. The data processing device is provided for processing the sensed data and for actuating a safety device in accordance with a predefined control strategy. According to the invention, the vehicle has a device for identifying the driver, and the data processing device derives a driver load factor related specifically to the driver from the driving state variables, the ambient data and the data relating to the activity of the driver, and said driver load factor is used to adapt the control strategy.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2002Date of Patent: July 4, 2006Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AGInventors: Walter Eberle, Markus Hartlieb, Markus Hess, Christian Mayer, Florent Paviot, Siegfried Rothe, Roland Stiegler
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Patent number: 7069144Abstract: The present invention is directed to improve convenience to the user. A path extending from the present location S of a mobile terminal to a destination D via a base station is calculated (S2), distances between base stations on the calculated path and the present location are calculated, and the closest base station is determined as a contents delivery base station (S7). Grace time for the mobile terminal to pass through the contents delivery base station is calculated. Then, scheduled time to deliver the contents to the mobile terminal is calculated (S8). While monitoring a travel state of the mobile terminal (S10 to S12), the contents are delivered to the mobile terminal near the contents delivery base station (S14).Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2003Date of Patent: June 27, 2006Assignees: KDDI Corporation, Communications Research Laboratory Independent Administrative InstitutionInventors: Kiyohito Yoshihara, Shinji Motegi, Hiroki Horiuchi, Masayuki Fujise, Fumihide Kojima, Katsuyoshi Sato
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Patent number: 7065444Abstract: A method for determining an optimized position between the tire and rim of a wheel to improve operation smoothness of the wheel. Measurements are conducted to determine respective effects of wheel imbalance and non-uniformities contributed by the tire and rim at different rotational positions. An index vector representing the respective effects is defined. The optimized position is determined based on an observation of changes of the index vector relative to the changes of respective effects of wheel imbalance and non-uniformities contributed by the tire and rim at different rotational positions. The relative position between the tire and rim is adjusted according to the optimized position to achieve better operation of the wheel.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2004Date of Patent: June 20, 2006Assignee: Snap-on Equipment SRL a Unico SocioInventor: Francesco Braghiroli
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Patent number: 7065447Abstract: A navigation system that searches for a route to a destination based on stored map data and provides navigation guidance to the destination along the route includes a controller that acquires road congestion information associated with the route, searches for the route to the destination based on a calculated search cost and changes a search cost based on predicted secondary congestion that is predicted based on acquired road congestion information, wherein a recommendable route that can avoid congestion is searched based on the search cost that has been changed based on the predicted secondary congestion.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2003Date of Patent: June 20, 2006Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takanori Shimizu, Noboru Ishibashi, Kunihiro Yamada
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Patent number: 7062380Abstract: A navigation system that searches for a route to a destination based on stored map data that provides navigation guidance to the destination along the route, including a controller that searches for a first route to the destination as a route to be recommended based on a calculation of a search cost, detects whether the first route includes a curve, changes the search cost for any detected curve, searches for a second route to the destination based on the search cost that has been changed and employs the second route as the route to be recommended instead of the first route.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2003Date of Patent: June 13, 2006Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kenta Oonishi, Takanori Kaji, Noboru Ishibashi, Kunihiro Yamada
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Patent number: 7058490Abstract: A vehicle speed sensor failure detection apparatus for an electronic control system having a vehicle speed sensor for generating a vehicle speed information signal indicating vehicle speed information includes a vehicle behavior detection portion, a brake sensor and a failure detection portion. If vehicle speed information generated from the vehicle speed sensor is less than or equal to a vehicle speed reference level stored in the failure detection portion, the vehicle behavior information signal generated during a predetermined period of time has a portion exceeding the behavior reference level stored in the failure detection portion and the brake is in the OFF state, the failure detection portion generates a failure signal.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2004Date of Patent: June 6, 2006Assignee: Mando CorporationInventor: Wanil Kim
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Patent number: 7054746Abstract: A navigator receives, through communication with a server, only such map information or locality information as is considered to be necessary, and stores it by overriding with it already used map information and locality information. Thus, the navigator, despite having a small storage capacity, is free from interruption of display. Receiving minimum needed information helps save the communication charge.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2002Date of Patent: May 30, 2006Assignees: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., Tottori Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kiyoshi Kodani, Hiroshi Tanaka, Takashi Sugai, Isao Umezawa, Hidenori Kadono, Yuichi Abe, Kazuhiro Nakashima, Shinji Takuno, Tsutomu Taguchi
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Patent number: 7043365Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention relates a method of monitoring. Position information related to a notification point is received. A mobile client determines a position of the mobile client. The position is compared with an area encompassing the mobile client. A message is transmitted in response to the position being within the area encompassing the notification point.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2005Date of Patent: May 9, 2006Assignee: GeoLogic Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Iris Inbar, William T. Brown, James W. Morton