Patents Examined by Imran Mustafa
  • Patent number: 9284167
    Abstract: A dynamic jack reference control system may include a tilt sensor operatively associated with the vehicle so that the tilt sensor senses a tilt angle of the vehicle. A processor operatively connected to the tilt sensor produces a jack reference value based on the tilt angle of the vehicle. A speed controller operatively associated with the processor extends the at least one jack on the vehicle at a speed that is related to the jack reference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Flanders Electric Motor Service, Inc.
    Inventor: Edward Curtis Stacy, II
  • Patent number: 9286807
    Abstract: A collision avoidance system including a receiver configured to receive navigational data regarding intruding aerial vehicle and own aircraft. Storage is configured to store a plurality of predefined escape trajectories. A processor is configured to compare at least a subset of the predefined escape trajectories with a presumed trajectory of the intruding aerial vehicle and to select one of the predefined escape trajectories based on the comparison. The predefined escape trajectories are pre-simulated, wherein each escape trajectory is associated to a set of navigational data and to an escape maneuver direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: SAAB AB
    Inventor: Bengt-Göran Sundqvist
  • Patent number: 9274524
    Abstract: A method and system that facilitates operation of autonomous equipment by providing a mission planner to maintain line-of-sight contact between a plurality of coordinated machines, including a method for maintaining line-of-sight (LoS) communication between a plurality of machines that creates a mission plan for a work site that includes a path plan for each of the plurality of machines that maintains the line-of-sight communication between the plurality of machines by taking into account a topography for the work site; and loads the path plan for each respective one of the plurality of machines into each respective one of the plurality of machines, wherein the path plan specifies a machine travel path for each respective one of the plurality of machines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventor: Noel Wayne Anderson
  • Patent number: 9256990
    Abstract: Apparatus 10 for detecting inadequate maintenance of a system 12 of an aircraft or other vehicle is provided. The apparatus comprises: computer readable medium or media 14 configured to store data 18 relating to operation or non-operation of the system 12 over a period of time; and a data processing unit 16 configured to evaluate the data to identify at least one event indicative of the inadequate maintenance of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: David Benjamin Meisels, Peter Andrew Boyd
  • Patent number: 9245452
    Abstract: Systems and methods to accurately display lateral deviation symbology in offset approaches to runways is provided. A system for on-aircraft display of lateral deviation symbology for use in offset approaches comprises means for generating a conformal video display representation of an aircraft's current position, means for notifying a flight crew of the existence of an offset approach, means for displaying an extended runway center line, and means for displaying an approach line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventor: Gang He
  • Patent number: 9238463
    Abstract: In a driving assistance system for a vehicle according to the present invention, when a solid object existing in the traveling direction of the driver's own vehicle is recognized, a target control value setting part sets a target control value pertaining to control for avoiding a collision including turning control of the driver's own vehicle in order to bring a running state of the driver's own vehicle to a target running state that causes the driver's own vehicle to avoid a collision with the solid object. A control part performs collision avoidance control in accordance with the target control value. Moreover, a control value correction part corrects the target control value pertaining to the turning control of the driver's own vehicle based on the value of a state variable relating to the running state of the driver's own vehicle during the time in which the control by said control part is performed and said target control value associated with said state variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tomonori Akiyama
  • Patent number: 9227608
    Abstract: An electric aircraft brake control system has a plurality of wheel and brake assemblies, each having a wheel, wheel speed transducer, brake assembly and a brake actuator. Electromechanical control units are uniquely associated with and connected to certain of the wheel and brake assemblies, and each of the electromechanical control units is provided with an antiskid system as an integral portion thereof. Brake data concentrators are provided for receiving data corresponding to various aircraft operational parameters, including brake pedal position, and provide operational signals to the electromechanical control unit as a function thereof. A controller for emergency and park braking is connected to the electromechanical actuator controllers through one of the brake data concentrators to effect emergency braking action on the brake assemblies, such emergency braking action having incident antiskid control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Meggitt Aircraft Braking Systems
    Inventors: James L. Hill, Kurt Burkhalter
  • Patent number: 9212469
    Abstract: There is provided a hydraulic excavator including a hydraulic pump (6) driven by an engine (7), a boom cylinder (3a) driven by hydraulic fluid delivered from the hydraulic pump (6), a swing motor (16) driven electrically, an operating device (4A) for operating the boom cylinder (3a), an operating device (4B) for operating the swing motor (16), and a vehicle body controller (11) which limits the power of the swing motor (16) in accordance with the operation amount of the operating device (4A) when the two operating devices (4A, 4B) are operated in combination. The power limit value of the swing motor (16) varies depending on the output of the engine (7). This allows a good operational feeling to be retained in combined operation regardless of the operating state of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Udagawa, Kazuo Fujishima, Koji Ishikawa, Hidetoshi Satake, Yuichi Kunitomo
  • Patent number: 9199544
    Abstract: Provided is a method of controlling an electric vehicle capable of preferably performing a regenerative control when a plurality of forward driving ranges are shifted to each other. During travelling on a downhill road, an electric vehicle executes a downhill regenerative control for adjusting the regenerative amount of an electric motor so that acceleration obtained when an accelerator is closed becomes a downhill acceleration according to a road surface slope. The downhill acceleration obtained when a second forward driving range is selected, in which the deceleration of the electric vehicle becomes larger than that in a first forward driving range, is smaller over the entire range of the set road surface slope than the downhill acceleration obtained when the first forward driving range is selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinya Kobayashi, Dai Saitoh
  • Patent number: 9182760
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for calibrating a vehicle model used to autonomously control a machine on a worksite. The method may include measuring a first value indicative of an operating condition of the machine, predicting a second value, using the vehicle model, corresponding to the first value and indicative of the operating condition, and determining a difference between the first value and the second value. The method may also include autonomously directing the machine to a calibration site of the worksite in response to determining that the difference between the first value and the second value is greater than a predetermined threshold, wherein the calibration site is automatically selected from a plurality of locations at the worksite based on a suitability index of the calibration site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Braunstein, Ramadev Hukkeri, Michael Taylor
  • Patent number: 9183179
    Abstract: Stabilization method and system for performing dynamic chassis control in a vehicle. An electronic stability control (ESC) includes an ESC sensor set; at least one chassis actuator; and a dynamic controller operably connected to at the least one chassis actuator. The ESC sensor set generates one or more sensor fault signals. Then, the method employs a dynamic controller to evaluate the signals corresponding to the sensor fault at least after a first fast fault signal, or a second slow fault signal. If the first fast fault signal is detected, the dynamic controller generates a signal for at least one of partially or completely temporarily switching off the at least one chassis actuator, while maintaining ESC in an active state. Conversely, if the second slow fault signal is detected, the dynamic controller generates a signal for temporarily switching off the ESC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Lodewijk Wijffels, Peter Zegelaar, Oliver Nehls, Sergio Codonesu
  • Patent number: 9180883
    Abstract: Described is a method for determining a reference value for a vehicle. The method includes: performing a number of simulation cycles Sj each comprising simulation steps: making a first prediction of the vehicle's speed vpred—cc along the determined horizon with a conventional cruise control; comparing, in a first comparison, the predicted vehicle speed vpred—cc with Vlim1 and Vlim2, which define a motor torque used in a subsequent simulation cycle; making a second prediction of the speed when the engine torque is a value that depends on the result of said comparison in the latest preceding simulation cycle; comparing, in a second comparison, the predicted vehicle speed vpred—Tnew with vmin, and Vmax1 which demarcate a range within which the speed is maintained; determining the reference value based on the second comparison and/or the second predicted speed in that simulation cycle Sj; and controlling the vehicle according to the reference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: SCANIA CV AB
    Inventors: Oskar Johansson, Maria Södergren, Fredrik Roos
  • Patent number: 9174630
    Abstract: A control device for a transmission including m (m?3) solenoid valves and configured to establish a plurality of shift speeds by engaging n1 (2?n1<m) engagement elements using hydraulic pressures of n1 solenoid valves among the m solenoid valves, the control device. The control device having an actual current value detection unit that detects respective values of actual currents flowing through solenoids of the m solenoid valves; and a determination unit that determines whether or not braking torque is generated on an output shaft of the transmission by comparing the detected actual current values for solenoids of n2 (n1<n2?m) solenoid valves and a current threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomomi Ishikawa, Shoji Fushimi, Masaki Nishide, Tsunekazu Inakura, Masatoshi Taguchi
  • Patent number: 9175977
    Abstract: A method for arbitrating between vehicle navigation systems in the event that multiple systems are concurrently activated so that information is provided to a user by only one navigation system at a time. This method of arbitration reduces the possibility of user confusion that could otherwise occur if multiple vehicle navigation systems were simultaneously providing the user with information. According to one embodiment, the arbitration method is used in conjunction with a telematics-based system and a CD-based system that both provide turn-by-turn spoken driving directions. The method can also be used to arbitrate between any vehicle-based sources of electronically-supplied audio speech, particularly where the systems are connected to a common vehicle network that allows software control of the different vehicle systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: General Motors LLC
    Inventors: Jaycee Murlidar, Nathan Ampunan
  • Patent number: 9171473
    Abstract: A dynamic weather route system automatically analyzes routes for in-flight aircraft flying in convective weather regions and attempts to find more time and fuel efficient reroutes around current and predicted weather cells. The dynamic weather route system continuously analyzes all flights and provides reroute advisories that are dynamically updated in real time while the aircraft are in flight. The dynamic weather route system includes a graphical user interface that allows users to visualize, evaluate, modify if necessary, and implement proposed reroutes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA)
    Inventors: B. David McNally, Heinz Erzberger, Kapil Sheth
  • Patent number: 9157216
    Abstract: A hydraulic shovel calibration device is adapted to calibrate parameters in a hydraulic shovel including a current position computation unit configured to compute a current position of a working point included in a work tool of a hydraulic shovel based on a plurality of parameters that indicate dimensions and swing angles of a boom, an arm, and the work tool. The hydraulic shovel calibration device includes an input unit and a calibration computation unit. The input unit is configured and arranged to input working point position information indicating coordinates of a working point included in a work tool of the hydraulic shovel at a plurality of positions which are measured by an external measurement device. The calibration computation unit is configured to compute calibration values of the parameters based on the working point position information input into the input unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventor: Masanobu Seki
  • Patent number: 9145153
    Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products estimate a departure time for a transportation user using a mobile device. A range of departure times, a user location and/or travel time to a station, and a transportation route can be received. Real-time location information for a plurality of transportation units on the transportation route can be received. One or more estimated departure times within the range of departure times can be calculated based on the user location and/or travel distance and the real-time location information of the plurality of transportation units for the transportation route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Nicholas S. Huslak, Edward M. Silver, Terry Silver
  • Patent number: 9132731
    Abstract: A controller (8) controlling a drive force distributed to each wheel (1-4) of a vehicle sets dynamic drive force target values (Fxf**, Fx3**, Fx4**) to the wheels, and determines a variation amount target ratio related to variation amounts (?M, ?Fx, ?Fy) of a vehicle yaw moment (M), a vehicle front/aft force (Fx), and a vehicle lateral force (Fy) such that a vehicle behavior generated by the dynamic drive force target values does not vary. The controller (8) determines sets of the drive forces (Fxf(j, k), Fx3(j, k), Fx4(j, k)) realizing the variation amount target ratio, selects drive force command values from these sets such that each drive force command value is within a drive force limiting range, and controls a drive force regulating mechanism (20, 12, 13, 15,16) according to the selected drive force command values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ichiro Yamaguchi, Yoshitaka Deguchi
  • Patent number: 9126812
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for determining the admissible load capacity of a crane, in which the load capacity is determined in dependence on at least one first and one second parameter and which comprises a first step, in which the load capacity for the value of the first parameter with different values of the second parameter is determined by calculation or by interpolation or extrapolation on the basis of known values of the load capacity with specific values of the first parameter, and which comprises a second step, in which the determination of the load capacity for the second parameter is performed on the basis of the values of the load capacity determined in the first step for different values of the second parameter by calculation or by interpolation or extrapolation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Liebherr-Werk Ehingen GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Abel, Helmut Spaeth
  • Patent number: 9122569
    Abstract: A parking assist system includes: an actuator that drives a back door of a vehicle; an opening degree control unit that controls an opening degree of the back door by controlling the actuator; a storage device that stores an allowable opening degree of the back door at a park position of the vehicle in association with the park position; and a position information acquisition unit that acquires position information of the vehicle. When a position of the vehicle corresponds to the park position stored in the storage device, the opening degree control unit limits the opening degree of the back door on the basis of the allowable opening degree of the back door, stored in the storage device in association with the park position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masahisa Ishibashi, Akiteru Takae, Teruhide Hayashida, Tetsuya Oda, Taisuke Tone, Yusuke Sato