Patents Examined by Gertrude Arthur
  • Patent number: 11879737
    Abstract: A method of controlling flight of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) includes collecting, while the UAV traverses a flight path, a set of images corresponding to different fields of view of an environment around the UAV using multiple image capture devices, extracting one or more image features from the set of images, constructing a map of the environment using one or more selected image features from the one or more image features, and generating a return path for the UAV using the map of the environment. Each of the multiple image capture devices includes one of the different fields of view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: SZ DJI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Honghui Zhang
  • Patent number: 11878593
    Abstract: There is provided a method of operating an electric device. The method includes receiving one or more operating power levels being used by one or more loads on a given circuit of the electric device, and setting a power threshold based on the one or more operating power levels. The method also includes receiving an output power level being delivered to the given circuit by a power source connected to the given circuit, and comparing the output power level with the power threshold. Furthermore, the method includes, if the output power level exceeds the power threshold, reducing the output power level to less than or equal to the power threshold. A related power regulator is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: ACCELERATED SYSTEMS INC.
    Inventors: Willem Jager, Tim Lambert, Peter Mankowski
  • Patent number: 11873018
    Abstract: A system (10, 99) includes a vehicle (11, 111) and a car (1, 2, 3, 4, 12, 14, 16, 18, 26, 27, 28). The vehicle (11, 111) is configured to move, along a route (33) including at least a station (22, 24, 29, 30), without stopping at the station (22, 24, 29, 30). The car (1, 2, 3, 4, 12, 14, 16, 18, 26, 27, 28) is configured to (i) load an object from the station (22, 24, 29, 30) and move for integrating with the vehicle (11, 111), or (ii) detach from the vehicle (11, 111) and stop at the station (22, 24, 29, 30) for unloading the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: DIRECTRAINS LTD.
    Inventor: Alberto Rodrigo Mandler
  • Patent number: 11872905
    Abstract: A vehicular battery management system (BMS) comprises a battery controller, a set of battery cells, a primary network node coupled to the battery controller, and a secondary network node coupled to the set of battery cells. The primary and secondary network nodes are configured to wirelessly communicate with each other using frames that share a common frame format. The frame format includes one or more bits and a status of the one or more bits indicates whether the secondary network node is to communicate with the primary network node on behalf of another secondary network node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Ariton E. Xhafa, Torbjørn Sørby, Minghua Fu, Jesus Daniel Torres Bardales, Ramanuja Vedantham, Alexis Justine Burnight, Archanaa Santhana Krishnan
  • Patent number: 11865986
    Abstract: There is provided a method and system for vehicle security protection. The method comprises: determining, at a detector, a first sensor signal from a flex sensor in an exterior panel of a vehicle, wherein the flex sensor and detector are powered by a power supply of the vehicle, and wherein a magnitude of the first sensor signal is based on an amount of bending of the flex sensor; determining, at the detector, based on the first sensor signal, that the exterior panel of the vehicle is deformed; and outputting, from the detector, a first alert signal, wherein a first controller of the vehicle is configured to transition from a low-power state to a high-power state based at least in part on the first sensor signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventors: Da Liu, Mackenzie Cunningham, Moritz Boecker
  • Patent number: 11865947
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an electric machine and a controller. The controller is programmed to, in response to releasing an accelerator pedal during a first driving scenario that is based on a first set of navigation data, increase regenerative braking torque of the electric machine to a first value. The controller is further programmed to, in response to releasing the accelerator pedal during a second driving scenario that is based on a second set of navigation data, increase the regenerative braking torque of the electric machine to a second value that is less than the first value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Walter Joseph Ortmann, Ashish Naidu, Colby Jason Buckman, Mark Anthony Tascillo
  • Patent number: 11869376
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method of using telematics data associated with an originating vehicle at a destination vehicle is provided. The method may include receiving telematics data associated with the originating vehicle by (1) a mobile device or (2) a smart vehicle controller associated with a driver or vehicle. The mobile device or smart vehicle controller may analyze the telematics data received to determine that (i) a travel event exists, or (ii) that a travel event message or warning is embedded within the telematics broadcast received. If the travel event exits, the method may include automatically taking a preventive or corrective action, at or via the mobile device or smart vehicle controller, which alleviates a negative impact of the travel event on the driver or vehicle to facilitate safer or more efficient vehicle travel. Insurance discounts may be provided to insureds based upon their usage of the risk mitigation or prevention functionality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventor: Gregory Hayward
  • Patent number: 11866184
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for overcoming the disadvantages of current air transportation systems that might be used for regional travel by providing a more cost effective and convenient regional air transport system. In some embodiments, the inventive air transport system, operational methods, and associated aircraft include a highly efficient plug-in series hybrid-electric powertrain (specifically optimized for aircraft operating in regional ranges), a forward compatible, range-optimized aircraft design, enabling an earlier impact of electric-based air travel services as the overall transportation system and associated technologies are developed, and platforms for the semi-automated optimization and control of the powertrain, and for the semi-automated optimization of determining the flight path for a regional distance hybrid-electric aircraft flight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Zunum Aero, Inc.
    Inventors: Burton Matthew Knapp, Ashish Andrew Kumar
  • Patent number: 11869284
    Abstract: A fault diagnostic device 80 includes an input unit 81 and a generation unit 82. The input unit 81 receives input of observation data of a vehicle operating at a predetermined speed. The generation unit 82 extracts time series features of the observation data as features indicating a normal condition, and generates a feature master indicating the normal condition of the vehicle based on the extracted features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masayuki Sakata
  • Patent number: 11867518
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for determining a public transport route, where the method includes: obtaining a request for route planning; identifying a plurality of road segments included in a first area in a map, and acquiring an identifier of an existing public transport vehicle corresponding to each road segment; determining a first route among the plurality of road segments based on the identifier of the existing public transport vehicle corresponding to each road segment; determining a plurality of stopping locations in the first route, generating a target public transport route based on the first route and the plurality of stopping locations, and outputting the target public transport route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: APOLLO INTELLIGENT CONNECTIVITY (BEIJING) TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Qing Mu
  • Patent number: 11859998
    Abstract: The present application discloses a map data updating method, an apparatus, a device and a readable storage medium. The specific implementation solution is: after receiving road information reported by an electronic device, a server obtains multiple sequences according to the road information, and each road information belonging to the same sequence has the same type and location. After that, the server inputs each road information contained in the sequences to a pre-trained neural network model, so that the neural network model outputs a recognition result according to the sequences. The server updates map data according to the recognition result. With such solution, valid road information is recognized by combining context of each road information in the sequences and the neural network technology, and the map data is updated, which achieves the purpose of accurately updating the map data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: BEIJING BAIDU NETCOM SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Deguo Xia, Liuhui Zhang, Jizhou Huang, Hui Zhao, Zhen Lu, Hongxia Bai, Yuting Liu
  • Patent number: 11860645
    Abstract: Unmanned vehicles can be terrestrial, aerial, nautical, or multi-mode. Unmanned vehicles may be used to survey a property in response to or in anticipation of a threat. For example, an unmanned vehicle may analyze information about the property and based on the information deter theft of items on the property.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: United Services Automobile Association (USAA)
    Inventors: Richard Daniel Graham, Kade Scott, Matthew Flachsbart
  • Patent number: 11858376
    Abstract: In an aspect, a system for monitoring a battery system in-flight. The system includes at least a battery pack and a pack monitoring unit (PMU) communicatively connected with a battery pack. The battery pack includes a plurality of battery packs. The PMU may include at least a sensor and a controller. At least a sensor is configured to detect battery datum. A controller is communicatively connected with at least a sensor. A controller is configured to receive battery datum, detect a significant event as a function of battery datum, and transmit the significant event to a remote device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: BETA AIR, LLC
    Inventors: Braedon Lohe, Cullen Jemison, Andrew Giroux, Tom Michael Hughes
  • Patent number: 11858442
    Abstract: An apparatus for protecting a passenger in a vehicle and a control method thereof. The apparatus includes a collision detection unit that detects a predicted collision state and a collision state of a vehicle; a seat belt driving unit that adjusts tension of a seat belt according to an operation mode; an airbag driving unit that deploys each of a plurality of airbags according to a driving signal; a capturing unit that captures images of an interior of the vehicle; an image processing unit that extracts passenger information by processing images inputted from the capturing unit; and a control unit that recognizes a passenger type and a seating position based on the passenger information, operates the seat belt driving unit by setting the operation mode, adjusts deployment time points of the plurality of airbags, and outputs the driving signal to the airbag driving unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Cheol Woo Lee, Byung Su Kim
  • Patent number: 11850966
    Abstract: A system for estimating a charging time of a vehicle battery includes: a measuring device configured to measure a temperature and a voltage of the battery; an electrical behavior predictor configured to predict, when a charging current according to the measured temperature and voltage of the battery is applied to the battery, at least one of a terminal voltage of the battery after an amount of unit time has changed, a state of charge (SOC), or an amount of heat generated; a thermal behavior predictor configured to predict, when the charging current is applied to the battery, the temperature of the battery after the amount of unit time has changed over time of the battery and coolant using the amount of heat generated predicted by the electrical behavior predictor; and a controller configured to determine an estimated charging time of the vehicle based on at least one of the predicted terminal voltage, the SOC, the amount of heat generated, or the temperature of the battery after the amount of unit time has ch
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Jaeshin Yi
  • Patent number: 11851014
    Abstract: In various examples, systems and methods are disclosed that accurately identify driver and passenger in-cabin activities that may indicate a biomechanical distraction that prevents a driver from being fully engaged in driving a vehicle. In particular, image data representative of an image of an occupant of a vehicle may be applied to one or more deep neural networks (DNNs). Using the DNNs, data indicative of key point locations corresponding to the occupant may be computed, a shape and/or a volume corresponding to the occupant may be reconstructed, a position and size of the occupant may be estimated, hand gesture activities may be classified, and/or body postures or poses may be classified. These determinations may be used to determine operations or settings for the vehicle to increase not only the safety of the occupants, but also of surrounding motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: NVIDIA Corporation
    Inventors: Atousa Torabi, Sakthivel Sivaraman, Niranjan Avadhanam, Shagan Sah
  • Patent number: 11854404
    Abstract: A system computes a timing interval between high-capacity vehicles (HCVs) for each of a plurality of HCV corridors within a geographic region, each respective HCV corridor of the plurality of HCV corridors including a start area. For each respective HCV corridor, the system transmits, via a network communication interface, (i) first data to a first computing device associated with a first HCV, the first data indicating the start area of the respective HCV corridor, and a first start time for the first HCV, and (ii) second data to a second computing device associated with a second HCV, the second data indicating the start area of the respective HCV corridor and a second start time for the second HCV, wherein the first start time for the first HCV and the second start time for the second HCV are based on the computed timing interval for the respective HCV corridor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth Kuhn, Eoin O'Mahony, Miraj Ramhematpura, Mustafa Sahin, Lior Seeman, Philippe Sekine, Vishnu Srinivasan Sundaresan, Meisam Vosoughpour, Danhua Guo, Robert Paine
  • Patent number: 11851015
    Abstract: In various examples, systems and methods are disclosed that accurately identify driver and passenger in-cabin activities that may indicate a biomechanical distraction that prevents a driver from being fully engaged in driving a vehicle. In particular, image data representative of an image of an occupant of a vehicle may be applied to one or more deep neural networks (DNNs). Using the DNNs, data indicative of key point locations corresponding to the occupant may be computed, a shape and/or a volume corresponding to the occupant may be reconstructed, a position and size of the occupant may be estimated, hand gesture activities may be classified, and/or body postures or poses may be classified. These determinations may be used to determine operations or settings for the vehicle to increase not only the safety of the occupants, but also of surrounding motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: NVIDIA Corporation
    Inventors: Atousa Torabi, Sakthivel Sivaraman, Niranjan Avadhanam, Shagan Sah
  • Patent number: 11846750
    Abstract: Improved mechanisms for collecting information from a diverse suite of sensors and systems, calculating the current precipitation, atmospheric water vapor, atmospheric liquid water content, or precipitable water and other atmospheric-based phenomena, for example presence and intensity of fog, based upon these sensor readings, predicting future precipitation and atmospheric-based phenomena, and estimating effects of the atmospheric-based phenomena on visibility, for example by calculating runway visible range (RVR) estimates and forecasts based on the atmospheric-based phenomena.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: The Tomorrow Companies Inc.
    Inventors: Shimon Elkabetz, Jacob Ribnik, Itai Zlotnik, Rei Goffer, Nir Nossenson, Daniel Alexander Rothenberg, Karl Ginter
  • Patent number: 11841702
    Abstract: A device includes a transceiver, a receiver, and a processor. The transceiver is configured to receive feedback data from an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and transmit control data to the UAV via a first communication link. The receiver is configured to receive the control data from a controlling terminal via a second communication link. The second communication link does not interfere with the first communication link. The processor is configured to determine whether the feedback data and the control data are being simultaneously transmitted via the first communication link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: SZ DJI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hong Tao Wang, Zhi Cong Huang