Patents Examined by Isaac G Smith
  • Patent number: 10625759
    Abstract: A method for controlling a train (10) of railway working vehicles (11) comprising at least two railway working vehicles (11) forming a railway train (10); each of said at least two railway working vehicles (11) comprises a multifunction vehicle bus MVB (20), and a wired train bus WTB (12), which enables connection of said multifunction vehicle buses MVB (20) of said at least two railway working vehicles (11); said multifunction vehicle bus MVB (20) comprises: a train-communication-network TCN port (14)7 which connects said wired train bus WTB (12) to said multifunction vehicle bus MVB (20); a traction control (22) of the means; and a translator (21), which connects said TCN port (14) to said traction control (22); said method being characterized in that: each vehicle of the train writes its own maximum speed on its own TCN port (14); the maximum speed of the train is defined as the lowest of the maximum speeds defined on the TCN ports (14) by the individual vehicles; the master vehicle activates the traction
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: TESMEC S.P.A.
    Inventor: Antonio Nitti
  • Patent number: 10625732
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for controlling autonomous driving of a vehicle, and a vehicle system are provided. The apparatus monitors a stress state of a driver using biometric information of the driver and calculates an allowable jerk of the driver based on a jerk at a time point at which the stress state of the driver exceeds a preset reference value. A predicted jerk is calculated based on location and movement information of the vehicle and a preceding vehicle measured while the vehicle travels, and lane information. Additionally, a driving state of the vehicle is determined when the predicted jerk exceeds an allowable jerk of the driver and an alarm is output based on the driving state of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Jin Kwon Kim, Sam Yong Kim, Yu Jin Yun, Seong Sook Ryu, Hwal Ly Lee, Byoung Joon Lee
  • Patent number: 10620622
    Abstract: A self-propelled device is disclosed that includes a center of mass drive system. The self-propelled device includes a substantially cylindrical body and wheels, with each wheel having a diameter substantially equivalent to the body. The self-propelled device may further include an internal drive system with a center of mass below a rotational axis of the wheels. Operation and maneuvering of the self-propelled device may be performed via active displacement of the center of mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Sphero, Inc.
    Inventors: Ross MacGregor, Ian H. Bernstein, Adam Wilson
  • Patent number: 10611400
    Abstract: Provided is an electric power steering device capable of continuing control while ensuring a satisfactory level of a steering feeling of a driver at a time of occurrence of failure of one motor winding set. A control part is configured to detect a failure of each component of the electric power steering device, and when control is continued with field-weakening control by a normal motor winding and an inverter circuit depending on the detected failure, restrict a d-axis current based on a torque ripple that occurs in a steering wheel of a vehicle with respect to the field-weakening control of a state in which the failure has not occurred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Furukawa, Yu Kawano
  • Patent number: 10607296
    Abstract: A method and system for processing requests for vehicular data, including receiving a vehicle request for a vehicle parameter from a client system (e.g., third party application); verifying client access to the vehicle parameter; determining one or more parameter values for the requested vehicle parameter; and transmitting the one or more parameter values to the client system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Smartcar, Inc.
    Inventors: Sanketh Suresh Katta, Sahas Suresh Katta
  • Patent number: 10607364
    Abstract: A method of determining at least one of position and attitude in relation to an object is provided. The method includes capturing at least two images of the object with at least one camera. Each image is captured at a different position in relation to the object. The images are converted to edge images. The edge images of the object are converted into three-dimensional edge images of the object using positions of where the at least two images were captured. Overlap edge pixels in the at least two three-dimensional edge images are located to identify overlap points. A three dimensional edge candidate point image of the identified overlapped points in an evidence grid is built. The three dimensional candidate edge image in the evidence grid is compared with a model of the object to determine at least one of a then current position and attitude in relation to the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Ray Elgersma, Benjamin Mohr
  • Patent number: 10584979
    Abstract: An interactive speed profile bar that enables crew awareness of the overall planned flight trajectory speed profile. The speed profile bar will have a graphical depiction (e.g., virtual buttons having alphanumeric symbology) of some or all of the speed segments of the speed profile. Each graphical element (e.g., virtual button) includes symbology identifying the applicable speed mode and corresponding target speed change. Each speed segment will start at the inflection point where the speed change will occur in the flight plan, and will continue until the next trajectory speed change. The speed profile bar will be interactive, allowing the flight crew to select the speed segment to change, in response to which selection the system displays graphical user interface elements showing a menu of the available speed segment options. Each individual speed segment is represented by an individual virtual button that can be selected by touching the screen or other input device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Peter D. Gunn, John Wiedemann, Alireza Majd, Robert J. Myers, Brian D. Gilbert
  • Patent number: 10564000
    Abstract: An information display device includes a display unit that displays a point guidance image in which information relevant to event points included in a route to a destination is arranged in an order from a current position to the destination, and a display control unit that reduces information relevant to the event points when automatic driving for automatically controlling at least one of acceleration and deceleration, and steering of the vehicle is executed, as compared with a case in which the automatic driving is not executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yusuke Nakamura
  • Patent number: 10520947
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for automatic event detection and classification for autonomous vehicles. One example method includes obtaining, by one or more computing devices, vehicle data descriptive of vehicle conditions associated with an autonomous vehicle during an autonomous driving session. The method includes extracting, by the one or more computing devices, a plurality of features from the vehicle data. The method includes determining, by the one or more computing devices using a machine-learned classifier, a classification for each of one or more candidate events based at least in part on one or more of the plurality of features that are respectively associated with the one or more candidate events. The method includes associating, by the one or more computing devices, the classification determined for each of the one or more candidate events with the vehicle data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: UATC, LLC
    Inventors: Chenggang Liu, John Evan Bares
  • Patent number: 10507841
    Abstract: A method of controlling a ground vehicle includes providing the vehicle with a first sensor configured to detect a vehicle position, a second sensor configured to detect a driven path of the vehicle, and a controller. The method also includes obtaining, via the first sensor, a plurality of vehicle position coordinates during a time interval of a drive cycle, and calculating, via the controller, a first path curvature parameter based on the plurality of vehicle position coordinates. The method additionally includes obtaining, via the second sensor, a second path curvature parameter based on the driven path during the time interval. The method further includes comparing, via the controller, the first path curvature parameter to the second path curvature parameter, and in response to a difference between the second path curvature and the first path curvature exceeding a threshold, automatically operating the controller according to a diagnostic mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Gurhari Singh, Andrew M. Zettel, Crystal Nassouri, Henry R. Wright
  • Patent number: 10501071
    Abstract: In a control device of a hybrid vehicle including an engine and an electric motor serving as drive power sources and a damper device disposed between the engine and the electric motor and having rotational characteristics related to an input torque, the control device comprises: a damper rotational characteristic detecting portion configured to measure a rotational characteristic value of the damper device by allowing the electric motor to input a torque to the damper device while rotation of a crankshaft of the engine is stopped; and an output torque correction control portion configured to control an output torque of the engine or the electric motor to suppress occurrence of vibration based on a difference between the rotational characteristic value of the damper device detected by the damper rotational characteristic detecting portion and a preset initial setting value of the rotational characteristic value of the damper device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yusuke Takasu, Kenji Gotoda, Hiroki Kuwamoto, Taku Harada, Akira Nakata, Tomoya Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 10495468
    Abstract: A network system uses Wi-Fi signals or other types of short-range transmissions to determine navigation to pickup locations for users receiving services provided via the network system. In an embodiment, the network system builds a database of reference signatures of short-range transmissions previously detected by client devices of users at a geographical region, where the reference signatures are mapped to corresponding locations of the geographical region. By comparing a signature detected by a particular user's client device to the reference signatures, the network system may check for similarities between the short-range transmissions. Responsive to finding a match, the network system determines a current location of the particular user at the geographical region. Accordingly, by leveraging the database, the network system may determine a route for travel by the particular user from the current location to a pickup location without having to use GPS signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Siddharth Kar
  • Patent number: 10467906
    Abstract: A system that provides a safety rating for a driver or a vehicle to a rider of the vehicle. Information including diagnostic information such as sensor information and location information is used to determine the safety rating. By having a high safety rating, the rider of the vehicle has some level of assurance that the vehicle will arrive at a designated location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Bosch Automotive Service Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: James Fish, Meghan E. Chamberlain, Michael Muller
  • Patent number: 10453361
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of providing location-based information with respect to a topological map. A method may include (a) receiving a query for location-related information, (b) optionally generating data representing the topological map, (c) accessing the location-related information in a map-to-scale, (d) optionally determining an association between one or more points (or links) in the map-to-scale and one or more corresponding points (or links) in a topological map, (e) identifying one or more points (or links) in the map-to-scale that relate to the location-related information and that correspond to one or more points (or links) in the topological map, (f) optionally determining a relative position of the location-related information with respect to the identified one or more map-to-scale points (or links), and (g) displaying the location-related information with respect to the corresponding one or more points (or links) in the topological map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: HERE Global B.V.
    Inventors: William N. Gale, Joseph P. Mays, Frank J. Kozak
  • Patent number: 10449939
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are a brake fluid pressure sensor validity determination device and a determination method thereof. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the brake fluid pressure sensor validity determination device and the determination method thereof includes an inputter configured to receive a brake fluid pressure sensor value sensed by a brake fluid pressure sensor and receive a motor position sensor value sensed by a motor position sensor, an estimator configured to estimate a brake fluid pressure value on the basis of the motor position sensor value when the motor position sensor has not failed; and a determiner configured to determine whether the brake fluid pressure sensor has failed, determine whether the motor position sensor has failed when the brake fluid pressure sensor has not failed, and determine a validity of the brake fluid pressure sensor by comparing the estimated brake fluid pressure value with a brake fluid pressure sensor value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Sam-Hyun Jung
  • Patent number: 10446022
    Abstract: In an example embodiment, a plurality of sequences of instances of probe data are received. Each sequence of instances of probe data is captured and provided by a probe apparatus comprising a plurality of sensors and is onboard a vehicle. An instance of probe data comprises location information indicating a location of the corresponding probe apparatus and the instances are ordered by capture time to form the sequence of instances. A travel direction of each probe apparatus is determined based on the corresponding sequence. Each probe apparatus is matched to a lane of a road segment based on the determined travel direction and a predetermined vehicle lane pattern. The vehicle lane pattern comprises at least one reversible lane. Probe apparatuses matched to the at least one reversible lane are identified. An active direction is determined based on the number of identified probe apparatuses corresponding to each travel direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: HERE GLOBAL B.V.
    Inventors: James Fowe, Filippo Pellolio, Sam Radomy
  • Patent number: 10445348
    Abstract: A video monitor layout method and device are provided in the present disclosure. The method includes: determining a plurality of sample points on a map and determining a spatial range to be analyzed based on distribution regions of the plurality of sample points; obtaining grid units of the spatial range by rasterizing the spatial range to be analyzed; assigning a weight to each of the sample points, wherein the weight represents a level of monitor requirement at the sample point; and acquiring a weight value of each of the grid units according to the weight value of each of the sample points and a positional relationship between each of the sample points and each of the grid units and generating camera distribution position data of the spatial range based on the weight value of each of the grid units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: ZHEJIANG UNIVIEW TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD
    Inventors: Weiwei He, Changji Liu, Qianyan Ye, Yaqin Chai
  • Patent number: 10442254
    Abstract: A controller for a motor vehicle central tire inflation system. The controller causes the system to operate in a selected one of a plurality of operating modes that include a leakage assist mode in which the controller causes the system to inflate the tires to predetermined leakage assist pressure value. The controller is configured automatically to cause the system to assume the leakage assist mode in dependence at least in part on a first pressure signal indicative of the pressure of one or more tires, wherein when the system determines that a tire is suffering leakage the system is configured to establish a gas flow path between the tire and a remote pressure sensor and to measure a pressure of gas in the tire by means of the remote pressure sensor by reference to a second pressure signal indicative of a pressure measured by the remote pressure sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Limited
    Inventor: Jonathan Woodley
  • Patent number: 10427665
    Abstract: A method for fault detection and accommodation for a controller and actuator system is provided. The method includes receiving, from a controller, a flag at an actuator in response to an excitation voltage and current falling below a threshold value, engaging a sensor in the actuator in response to receiving the flag, receiving, using the sensor a first load cell signal and a second load cell signal in response to the sensor being engaged, determining how actuator is operating brake based on the received flag, first load cell signal, and second load cell signal, adjusting a state of the actuator based on the determination, and reporting the state of the actuator by transmitting a report signal to the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: SIMMONDS PRECISION PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: Naison E. Mastrocola, Michael Abbott, Brian L. Richardson
  • Patent number: 10422654
    Abstract: Devices, methods, and machine-readable media to facilitate intuitive comparison and selection of calculated navigation routes are disclosed. An electronic device for navigation includes a touch-sensitive screen and a processing module for displaying a map, calculating a number or navigation routes simultaneously on the touch-sensitive screen, and receiving a selection of a route. Callouts, or markers for presenting key information about each route, are also displayed discretely on the map. Navigation tiles including key route information and route pictorials can also be created and displayed for each calculated route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Bradford Moore, Christopher Blumenberg, Marcel Van Os, Graham Gyatt