Patents Examined by Isaac Smith
  • Patent number: 9272619
    Abstract: The invention relates to a powertrain for a motor vehicle having a permanently driven primary axle, comprising: a drive unit for the generation of a drive torque; a first clutch for the transfer of a variable portion of the drive torque to a secondary axle of the motor vehicle; a second clutch for the deactuation of a torque transfer section of the powertrain arranged between the first clutch and the second clutch when the first clutch is opened; and a control unit for the automatic control of the first clutch, with the control unit being connected to at least one sensor for the detection of a wheel slip at the primary axle; with the control unit being made, starting from a deactuated state of the torque transfer section, to close the second clutch in dependence on a detected wheel slip at the primary axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Magna Powertrain AG & Co KG
    Inventors: Johannes Quehenberger, Simon Kaimer, Martin Parigger
  • Patent number: 9266562
    Abstract: A parking assist device assists entry or exit of a vehicle with respect to a parking space through an automatic control of a steering device. The parking assist device includes: a calculator that obtains, to perform the automatic control of the steering device, a path for allowing the vehicle to enter or exit the parking space based on the parking space, calculates an amount of temperature rise of the steering device at the execution of the automatic control for allowing the vehicle to move along the obtained path, and calculates a predicted temperature of the steering device at the execution of the automatic control by adding the calculated amount of temperature rise to a current value of the temperature of the steering device; and a controller that inhibits the execution of the automatic control when the predicted temperature is equal to or higher than a determination value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Eriko Yamazaki, Hisashi Satonaka, Michihito Shimada, Hironobu Ishijima, Hidehiko Miyoshi, Keisuke Hata
  • Patent number: 9267561
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a rotor brake control system includes a temperature sensor operable to measure an operating temperature of a rotor brake and a rotor brake control unit operable to instruct a caliper to adjust, based on the measured operating temperature, an amount of friction generated between a brake pad and the rotor brake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventor: Gary S. Conway
  • Patent number: 9262931
    Abstract: A system and method for graphically creating an approach course on a navigation display is provided. A processor operatively coupled to a display and is configured to generate an approach course by (1) generating a graphical representation of at least one terminal area procedure, (2) selecting the at least one terminal area procedure on the display, and (3) displaying the approach course including the at least one terminal area procedure. The approach course is then accepted and inserted into a flight plan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventor: Sudarshan Parthasarathy
  • Patent number: 9260059
    Abstract: A collision warning system for a host vehicle includes a false warning reduction arrangement. A collision sensor senses a presence of a target object within a forward path of a vehicle and a navigation system senses the global position of the vehicle. The collision warning system receives the location information and the target object to provide a collision warning to a vehicle operator. To avoid false alerts, the collision warning system compares target object and location to target objects and locations stored in a false alert database. When the target object is provided in the database, a warning is delayed or suppressed. The collision warning system also senses driver reactions to a warning. When a warning results in no reaction by a vehicle operator, the warning is considered a false alert, and the target object and location are stored in the false alert database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Freddy Rayes, Maria Eugenia Garcia Bordes
  • Patent number: 9254911
    Abstract: Fault-tolerant lateral waypoint sequencing is provided for a system that includes at least a first flight management computer and a second flight management computer. A processing operation associated with lateral leg sequencing of an aircraft flight plan is implemented in the flight management computers. A determination is made in the first flight management computer as to whether the first flight management computer has received, within a predetermined period of time from when the first flight management computer implemented the processing operation, a notification from the second flight management computer that the second flight has also implemented the processing operation. An action is initiated in the first flight management computer when the first flight management computer has not received the notification from the second flight management computer within the predetermined period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Shiraz Sheikh, James Kenneth Haberstock, Daniel E. Lewis, Baptiste Duffourd, Erwan Paricaud
  • Patent number: 9238431
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicle lamp includes a receiver to receive an acceleration signal indicative of an acceleration detected by an acceleration sensor, and a controller to derive an inclination angle of a vehicle relative to a horizontal plane from the acceleration signal. While the vehicle is stopped and if a change in the acceleration exceeds a threshold, the controller outputs an adjustment signal indicative of an instruction to adjust an optical axis of the vehicle lamp in accordance with a difference in the inclination angle before and after the change in the acceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yusuke Kasaba, Masashi Yamazaki, Atsushi Toda
  • Patent number: 9216740
    Abstract: An electronic control unit is provided with a braking device formed of a brake pedal which exerts braking force on a vehicle, a brake actuator, braking units and the like, a vehicle speed change rate setting device which sets a target vehicle speed change rate, and a vehicle speed control device which performs vehicle speed control to realize the target vehicle speed change rate by predetermined operation to the braking device performed by a driver. The vehicle speed change rate setting device sets a target vehicle speed change rate to accelerate the vehicle when the predetermined operation is performed while the vehicle stops, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hideki Kato
  • Patent number: 9212970
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for enabling engine diagnostics, including visual inspections of an engine cylinder, using existing hardware from a laser ignition system. Light pulses from a laser ignition device are received at a photodetector during non-combusting conditions and used to generate images of an inside of the cylinder that can be assessed by a service technician. An electric motor of the vehicle system can be used during a service mode of the vehicle to rotate the engine to, and hold the engine at, specified engine positions that enable the technician to perform selected diagnostic tests.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Douglas Raymond Martin, Kenneth James Miller
  • Patent number: 9182942
    Abstract: A Dynamic Motion Element for use in testing crash avoidance technologies in a subject vehicle is disclosed. The Dynamic Motion Element includes a body comprising an upper surface wherein the upper surface is adapted to support a soft-body having the size and shape of a vehicle. The body has at least one tapered side so as to allow the subject vehicle to drive up to and on the upper surface with minimal to no damage to the subject vehicle or the Dynamic Motion Element. The body is supported by at least two rotational structures, including at least one driven rotational structure coupled with an electronically-controlled power source. The electronically-controlled braking system applies braking force to at least one of the rotational structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Dynamic Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Kelly, Peter Broen, Jordan Silberling, John Zellner
  • Patent number: 9181885
    Abstract: A method for drive control of a motor vehicle in a drive train which comprises a drive engine built as a turbo-charged internal combustion engine, a startup and shifting clutch built as an automated friction clutch, and a transmission built as an automatic stepped transmission. The method overcomes drive engine torque deficiencies while traveling in which such torque deficiencies occur when the driver demands power corresponding to a target torque of the drive engine which is above the spontaneously attainable maximum torque. To avoid downshifting or starting from standstill, initially the clutch is disengaged up to slipping operation, the drive engine is then accelerated to the boost threshold speed or an engine speed which is slightly above the boost threshold speed, and the drive engine is then loaded up to substantially the full load torque with a substantially constant engine speed before the slipping operation of the clutch ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Roland Mair
  • Patent number: 9174635
    Abstract: The present invention describes a method for actuating the cruise control function in a vehicle equipped with hybrid driving, comprising at least a primary driving and an electric driving. The method comprises the steps of: —cyclic check of the possibility of activation of the cruise control function; if positive—activation of the electric driving of the type “electric cruise-control” (ElCC), and deactivation of the primary driving, if a cyclic check of the conditions of activation of the electric driving is positive; otherwise—activation of the primary driving of the type “engine cruise-cruise control” (EnCC), and deactivation of the electric driving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Iveco S.P.A.
    Inventor: Marco Aimo Boot
  • Patent number: 9162684
    Abstract: An electronic control unit includes a threshold acquiring element, a behavior determining element and a storing element. The threshold acquiring element acquires a threshold for defining a determination condition. The threshold is set to correspond to a road condition on which a vehicle travels. The behavior determining element determines whether a vehicle behavior satisfies the determination condition defined by the threshold. The storing element stores predetermined operation data of the vehicle when the behavior determining element determines that the vehicle behavior satisfies the determination condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinichiro Oda, Hiroyuki Enomoto, Takafumi Nishiseko
  • Patent number: 9151089
    Abstract: In a vehicle door assembly, controllers processes signals from an extension force sensor and a retraction force sensor to control a door handle. As a motor retracts the handle, a swing arm in the vehicle door presses against the retraction force sensor causing the handle controller to stop the motor. Pushing on the retracted handle presses the swing arm against the retraction force sensor a second time causing the controllers to operate the motor and extend the handle. As the handle extends, the swing arm presses against the extension force sensor and the handle controller stops the motor as the handle is fully extended. Subsequently, a hand pulling on the door handle presses the swing arm against the extension force sensor a second time causing the controllers to unlatch a latch holding the vehicle door shut, and thereby allow the vehicle door to open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Tesla Motors, Inc.
    Inventors: Joris Aerts, Adam S. Kilgore, Brenda Cucci, Ian Craven
  • Patent number: 9145100
    Abstract: An in-vehicle ECU is provided that minimizes electric power consumption while an internal microcomputer does not need to operate. Furthermore, a power supply IC stops supplying an operation power from a power supply output unit in a pre-OFF mode, and restarts the supply of the operation power to the microcomputer when an OR gate output signal is “H”. A CPU of the microcomputer, if, at the time of the restart of the operation power after the pre-OFF mode was set, a predetermined time has elapsed since the pre-OFF mode was set, without any change in an activation factor, which is to serve as a factor for activating the microcomputer, based on whether or not there is a temporal change in external input information, outputs a power supply control signal of “H” in order to execute a power supply stop operation for stopping supplying electric power to ECUs subjected to power supply control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignees: AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD., SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Akiyo Watanabe
  • Patent number: 9139226
    Abstract: Disclosed is an a method, an apparatus, and a system for getting a peripheral situation to automatically determine a parking mode, and helping recognize an obstacle more accurately by using a camera in addition to an ultrasonic sensor, thereby allowing a safe and accurate parking control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kwan Sun You, Jae Suk Kim
  • Patent number: 9109695
    Abstract: A fluid transmission device includes a fluid transmission section capable of transmitting power transmitted to an input member to an output member via a working fluid, a lock-up clutch section capable of transmitting power transmitted to the input member to the output member via a friction engagement section, and a control unit configured to execute a torque ratio variable control that makes a torque ratio which is a ratio between torque output from the output member and torque input to the input member variable by adjusting a friction engagement state of the friction engagement section, when the fluid transmission section is in an operation state that the fluid transmission section amplifies torque input to the input member and outputs torque from the output member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kiyohito Murata
  • Patent number: 9096106
    Abstract: An unmanned vehicle may include a vehicle body that comprises an enclosed hull. The unmanned vehicle may include a propulsion, a ballast control system, a center of gravity system, a pressurization system, a control surface system, a navigation control system, and an on board master control system. The on board master control system may execute local control over operation of the various systems of the unmanned vehicle. The unmanned vehicle may also include a power supply carried by a portion of the vehicle body to provide power to the various systems. The various systems of the unmanned vehicle may be independently operable to support selective operation of the unmanned vehicle in the air, on the surface of the water, and below the surface of the water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: UNMANNED INNOVATIONS, INC
    Inventors: Bruce Hanson, Mark Everly
  • Patent number: 9091553
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide improved systems and methods for matching scenes. In one embodiment, a processor for implementing robust feature matching between images comprises: a first process for extracting a first feature set from a first image projection and extracting a second feature set from a second image projection; a memory for storing the first feature set and the second feature set; and a second process for feature matching using invariant mutual relations between features of the first feature set and the second feature set; wherein the second feature set is selected from the second image projection based on the identification of similar descriptive subsets between the second image projection and the first image projection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Ondrej Kotaba, Jan Lukas
  • Patent number: 9090235
    Abstract: A braking force control device for a vehicle that performs front and rear wheel distribution control of braking force by controlling individually braking pressures of left and right rear wheels such that, during braking, a wheel speed of a rear wheel takes on a value lying within a target control range that satisfies a predefined relationship with respect to a wheel speed of a front wheel. When a wheel speed of a second rear wheel takes on a value lying outside the target control range, in a situation where a wheel speed of a first rear wheel is a value lying within the target control range and lying outside a sub-target control range that is narrower than the target control range, then braking pressures of the left and right rear wheels are controlled simultaneously in such a manner that the wheel speed of the second rear wheel takes on a value lying within the target control range and the wheel speed of the first rear wheel approaches the sub-target control range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshinori Watanabe