Patents Examined by Imran K Mustafa
  • Patent number: 10476962
    Abstract: A receiving unit receives a signal in a frequency band used in vehicle-to-vehicle communications or shared by vehicle-to-vehicle communications and road-to-vehicle communications. A demodulation unit demodulates the signal received with the receiving unit. A received signal strength detection unit detects a received signal strength of the signal received with the receiving unit. A demodulation state determination unit determines whether the signal, which is received with the receiving unit, is demodulated successfully. A notification processing unit notifies a driver of a possibility of existence of another vehicle in a condition where the demodulation state determination unit determines that the signal is not demodulated successfully and where the received signal strength is greater than or equal to a predetermined strength threshold, which is for determining whether signals sent from multiple other vehicles collide against each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tadao Suzuki, Motonori Ando
  • Patent number: 10465552
    Abstract: In a method for the control and protection of a gas turbine a gas turbine performance and lifetime indicative process quantity is estimated from a set of available process signals. The gas turbine performance and lifetime indicative process quantity is simultaneously evaluated by two different estimation methods, whereby a first estimation method has a high prediction accuracy, and a second estimation method has a high availability, a continuous adaptation of the second estimation method is conducted in order to align the output signals of the two estimation methods, and in case of a failure detected in the supervision of the first estimation method the adaptation of the second estimation method is stopped, and the output of the first estimation method is switched to the output of the second estimation method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: ANSALDO ENERGIA SWITZERLAND AG
    Inventors: Eric Andre Mueller, Andreas Belzner
  • Patent number: 10467828
    Abstract: An electronic logging device dongle. In one example, dongle includes a housing and a circuit board located within the housing. The housing includes circuitry configured to perform at least part of a driver compliance determination and to wirelessly communicate with a portable device. The dongle also includes a connector electrically connected to the circuit board. The connector includes a plurality of pins, and is configured to be mated to a plurality of adaptors. Each of the plurality of adaptors is structured to mechanically map pins of a vehicle OBD port to the plurality of pins of the connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: J. J. KELLER & ASSOCIATES, INC.
    Inventors: Bruce D. Lightner, Michael K. Kuphal
  • Patent number: 10464408
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for identifying degradation of active engine mounts coupled to a vehicle engine. By correlating the monitored vibrational pattern to a selected active mounts operating mode, the conditions of active engine mounts may be distinguished. Timely diagnosis of active engine mounts may improve active engine mount health and prevent noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) issues.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Aed M. Dudar
  • Patent number: 10467913
    Abstract: A system and apparatus assists pilots and flight crews in determining the best course of action at any particular point inflight for any category of emergency. The system monitors a plurality of static and dynamic flight parameters including atmospheric conditions along the flight path, ground conditions and terrain, conditions aboard the aircraft, and pilot/crew data. Based on these parameters, the system may provide continually updated information to the pilot or crew about the best available landing sites or recommend solutions to aircraft configuration errors. In case of emergency, the system may provide the pilot with procedure sets associated with a hierarchy of available emergency landing sites (or execute these procedure sets via the autopilot system) depending on the specific nature of the emergency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Inventors: Sean Patrick Suiter, Richard Andrew Kruse
  • Patent number: 10464653
    Abstract: A control system for a steerable thrusting device is disclosed comprising a mobile device and application which interface with an electronic controller to command the output power and directional heading of the steerable thrusting device. In at least one embodiment, the mobile device serves the functions of a mapping and input device that communicates bi-directionally with a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) and direction device-equipped electronic controller, which in turn controls the power and heading of the thrusting device on a marine vessel. Data can be stored on the mobile device or procured in real-time via network access to a dedicated database and communicated to the electronic controller in order to execute specific functions of the thrusting device control system. The data created in the control system is capable of being shared amongst similar devices via the use of a cloud network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Inventors: Neil D. Anderson, Nels E. Benda, Travis M. White
  • Patent number: 10460609
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for planning refueling. In one advantageous embodiment, the apparatus includes an air refueling plug-in application capable of calculating air refueling routes for a formation of aircraft and a plurality of plug-in applications. A framework capable of providing framework services to the air refueling plug-in application and the plurality of plug-in applications is present. The apparatus also includes a first interface for the air refueling plug-in application and the plurality of plug-in applications to receive the framework services from the framework. The apparatus also has a second interface for the air refueling plug-in application and plurality of plug-in applications to provide services from one plug-in application to another plug-in application. The first interface and the second interface are independent of the air refueling plug-in application and plurality of plug-in applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Larry Wayne Bush, Sven David Aspen, Luther Boorn, Randall E. Thieme
  • Patent number: 10458796
    Abstract: A navigation system is disclosed. The navigation system includes an image capturing device, a positioning device, and a processing device. The image capturing device is configured to capture an image of an object fed by a user. The positioning device is configured to obtain positioning information of the navigation system. The processing device is configured to: calculate a feature code based on features of a logo in the image; retrieve a piece of address information of a location corresponding to the feature code from a database; and calculate a route from the current location to the location corresponding to the piece of address using the positioning information and the piece of address information. A navigation method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: HARMAN INTERNATIONAL INDUSTRIES, INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Jianjun Ma
  • Patent number: 10453096
    Abstract: A movement controller includes a search unit, a determination unit and an instruction unit. The search unit searches for locations of information provision target candidate. The determination unit determines a movement form that causes a visual recognition rate of the moving object, which provides the information, to be higher on the basis of a search result. An instruction unit instructs the moving object to move in accordance with the movement form determined by the determination unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: YAHOO JAPAN CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ikuo Kitagishi
  • Patent number: 10421471
    Abstract: A power assignment system and method determine a needed amount of power for propelling a vehicle system along a route and identify propulsion-generating vehicles for inclusion in the vehicle system based on power capabilities of the one or more propulsion-generating vehicles. Handling parameters of the vehicle system are determined for different groups of the propulsion-generating vehicles, and the propulsion-generating vehicles in at least one of the groups are selected based on the handling parameters. The selected propulsion-generating vehicles are included in the vehicle system during actual travel of the vehicle system along the route during the trip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: GE GLOBAL SOURCING LLC
    Inventors: Srinivas Bollapragada, Vinayak Tilak, Vinaykanth Mudiam, Rajeev Namboothiri
  • Patent number: 10414640
    Abstract: A forklift includes a vehicle body 30, a fork 22 mounted on the vehicle body, a controller configured to adjust a position and an orientation of the vehicle body, a laser sensor 20 configured to measure distance data from the laser sensor to an object existing in a space set forward of the fork, and a control commander configured to, when the distance data measured by the laser sensor includes a load or a pallet 100 to be lifted, generate track data for moving the vehicle body to a loading position of the load or the pallet based on the distance data, and provide a command to the controller using the generated track data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Minoru Tanaka, Akinobu Fujii, Mitsuo Koide, Yuuji Tsusaka, Makoto Ichinose, Makoto Hayakawa
  • Patent number: 10407077
    Abstract: In a method for ascertaining a degree of attentiveness of a vehicle driver during travel with his vehicle, e.g., a motor vehicle, using a sensor of the vehicle, a direction of vision of the vehicle driver toward a region of a surrounding environment visible to the driver is recognized, and the region visible to the vehicle driver is assigned a probability distribution through which, on the basis of the recognized direction of vision of the vehicle driver, a degree of attentiveness of the vehicle driver is ascertained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Offenhaeuser, Erik Lesser, Felix Trautwein
  • Patent number: 10410529
    Abstract: The invention relates to an automatic assistance method for landing an aircraft on a landing runway, from a return point (A) to a completion point (PA) at which the aircraft comes into contact with the landing runway, implemented by a data-processing device on-board said aircraft and configured to be linked to an inertial unit, an altimeter and a deviation meter, said method comprising: —guidance, based on position and attitude data provided by the inertia unit and altitude data provided by the altimeter, of the aircraft along a predefined trajectory from the return point (A) to a predetermined holding point (C) approximately aligned with the axis of the landing runway, the guidance been performed over at least one part of said predefined trajectory on the basis of corrected position data calculated using position data of the aircraft provided by the inertia unit and measurements transmitted by the deviation meter, —guidance from the holding point (C) to the completion point (PA).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: SAFRAN ELECTRONICS & DEFENSE
    Inventors: Alain Chiodini, Sylvain Pouillard
  • Patent number: 10399568
    Abstract: Automatically controlling the longitudinal dynamics of a vehicle includes ascertaining a state variable dependent on the state of at least one wheel brake, detecting overshoots and/or undershoots of a limiting value of the state variable, ascertaining information about a vehicle traveling ahead, setting at least one control of a feedback control system, and controlling the longitudinal dynamics of the vehicle as a function of the at least one control parameter. A sensing device used to ascertain the state of the at least one wheel brake, another sensing device is used to ascertain information about the vehicle traveling ahead, and an evaluating, setting and controlling unit is used to evaluate the state of the at least one wheel brake and the information about the vehicle traveling ahead for setting the at least one control parameter and for controlling the longitudinal dynamics of the vehicle as a function thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: WABCO GMBH
    Inventors: Mathias Baum, Karsten Breuer, Stephan Kallenbach
  • Patent number: 10392045
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a steering column assembly including a steering column. A steering wheel apparatus is connected to the steering column. The steering wheel apparatus includes a steering wheel hub that is connected to the steering column and a steering wheel rim that is connected to the steering wheel hub. A clutch mechanism selectively decouples the steering wheel rim from the steering wheel hub thereby allowing rotation of the steering wheel hub within the steering wheel rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Jason J. Hallman
  • Patent number: 10386195
    Abstract: A system receives an indication from a first vehicle that the first vehicle is traveling on a drive associated with an emergency to a destination that is associable with the emergency, updates map data to include a representation of the emergency at the location of the first vehicle, and provides the updated map data to a plurality of vehicles executing a navigation application providing route guidance to the plurality of vehicles to respective destinations, so that the instances of the application running for the plurality of vehicles each includes a representation, such as an icon, that represents the indicated emergency at a map location corresponding to the real space location of the first vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Inventors: Faith Chana Grunberger, Aaron Grunberger
  • Patent number: 10377382
    Abstract: A vehicle controller applies a braking force to wheels using a hydraulic braking force generating mechanism and sets a vehicle driving torque, which is generated by an engine, to a second torque which is smaller than a first torque in a normal state, when a switch is switched to an ON state in a state in which a vehicle is traveling and an accelerator is turned on. Then vehicle stops, the vehicle controller implements an EPB mechanical operating state using a mechanical parking brake mechanism. When the switch is switched to an OFF state, the vehicle controller maintains the EPB mechanical operating state until an accelerator pedal operating level reaches “0,” and maintains the vehicle driving torque at the second torque. Then the accelerator pedal operating level reaches “0”, the EPB mechanical operating state is released and the vehicle driving torque is returned to the first torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Senba, Yoji Mizoguchi, Masashi Oishi, Satoaki Haruyama, Yoshikatsu Oda
  • Patent number: 10362733
    Abstract: An agricultural harvester (100) has a control system (166) that is configured to control a biomass harvesting rate based upon electronically calculated soil effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignees: Deere & Company, IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.
    Inventors: Stuart Birrell, Aaron J Bruns, Stephen Michael Patton
  • Patent number: 10358998
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine air intake having a humidity sensor, and a system having a nozzle positioned in the air intake and fluidly connected to a reservoir. The vehicle has a controller configured to activate the system to deliver fluid from the nozzle into the intake while the engine is inoperative and generate a diagnostic code in response to a change in humidity measured by the sensor being less than a threshold value. A method of controlling a vehicle includes measuring a baseline humidity (H1) using a humidity sensor in an air intake of an engine, and controlling a misting system to mist fluid from a reservoir into the air intake and adjacent to the humidity sensor while the engine is inoperative. The method measures a post-fluid delivery humidity (H2) using the humidity sensor, and generates a diagnostic code based on a comparison of H1 and H2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Aed M. Dudar, Kenneth James Miller, Douglas Raymond Martin
  • Patent number: 10358126
    Abstract: A driving support apparatus for a hybrid vehicle including an engine and a motor, in which the engine starts running when any one of parameters indicating a state of the hybrid vehicle reaches an engine start threshold set for the parameters, the driving support apparatus includes a current value acquiring section that acquires current values of the parameters, a margin calculation section that calculates margin levels for the current values of the parameters for keeping the engine stopping using the current values of the parameters and the engine start thresholds, and an output section that outputs the smallest margin level of the calculated margin levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI JIDOSHA KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masahiro Murase, Jun Saito