Patents Examined by James E Stroud
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Patent number: 9604638Abstract: A parking assist system includes an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to detect an obstacle. The electronic control unit is configured to determine whether a vehicle is allowed to run over the obstacle. The electronic control unit is configured to, when it is determined that the vehicle is allowed to run over the obstacle, set a target position, to which the vehicle moves, to a position at which the vehicle overlaps with the obstacle.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2015Date of Patent: March 28, 2017Assignees: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yusuke Kiyokawa, Masaya Kato, Tomohisa Yamashita, Tomoyuki Matsuba, Hironobu Ishijima, Keisuke Oyama
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Patent number: 9607511Abstract: This vehicle guidance system carries out guidance of vehicles that are traveling on roads making up a road network, the vehicle guidance system being provided with: a flow detection unit that detects the flow of vehicles on each of the roads making up a road network, and generates flow information indicating the detection result; a storage unit that creates associations between the flow information for the roads which has been generated by the flow detection unit, and road-identifying information indicating the corresponding roads, and storing the information; a decision unit that, for each of the roads making up the road network, specifies a candidate road that is a road which vehicles flow from the road in question, acquires the flow information that is stored in association with the road-identifying information indicating the specified candidate road in question, and based on the acquired flow information, decides on a flow increase or decrease policy of vehicles on the candidate road; and a guidance unitType: GrantFiled: May 20, 2014Date of Patent: March 28, 2017Assignee: NEC CORPORATIONInventors: Hisaya Wakayama, Naoki Shiota, Junpei Kamimura, Norihisa Iga
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Patent number: 9604626Abstract: An ECU performs a control process including the steps of: acquiring information about a gear, a vehicle speed, a depression amount of an accelerator pedal, and a transmission mode being selected; calculating a reference value; calculating a restriction value; calculating a target value of the SOC; calculating a required electric power value; and outputting a command value for the engine torque and respective torque command values for a first MG and a second MG.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2015Date of Patent: March 28, 2017Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Shunya Kato
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Patent number: 9597242Abstract: A joint movement detection device and system is presented which is responsive to elbow or wrist movements during use of a manually-propelled wheelchair to enable coordination of assistive motor energization with a user's efforts at self-motivating the manually-propelled wheelchair during driving, steering, and braking of the wheelchair. Several embodiments are provided which help to ensure user-intended assistive motor output that is responsive to movement of the joint over which the device is worn.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2016Date of Patent: March 21, 2017Inventor: Stephen C. Golden, Jr.
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Patent number: 9595097Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a method and a device for monitoring life of automobile oil. The method comprising, receiving, by an oil life indication device, a video from an imaging unit communicatively coupled to the oil life indication device, where the video displays spreading of the automobile oil over a slope surface. The method comprises extracting a plurality of image frames from the video, determining one or more parameter values for at least one quality factors of the automobile oil and comparing the one or more parameter values with predefined threshold values to estimate life of the automobile oil.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2016Date of Patent: March 14, 2017Assignee: WIPRO LIMITEDInventors: Anil Kumar Lenka, Raghavendra Hosabettu
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Patent number: 9592835Abstract: A device for detecting the sleepiness of a driver driving a vehicle is designed to determine if the resetting of threshold values for detection of sleepiness is performed based upon its necessity when an interruption of the driving occurs. The inventive device computes successively an eyelid opening/closing characteristic amount from time intervals between transitions between an opened state and a closed state of an eyelid detected successively; sets threshold values using the eyelid opening/closing characteristic amounts obtained in a predetermined period; and judges the driver feels sleepiness when the eyelid opening/closing characteristic amount deviates from a range defined with the threshold values. In restarting the driving after its interruption, it is judged if the resetting of the threshold values is to be performed based on the driver's condition till then, and the resetting is performed, using eyelid opening/closing characteristic amounts obtained after the restarting of the driving.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2016Date of Patent: March 14, 2017Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Yoshiyuki Hatakeyama
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Patent number: 9592828Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed to assist a driver with a dangerous condition by creating a graph representation where traffic participants and static elements are the vertices and the edges are relations between pairs of vertices; adding attributes to the vertices and edges of the graph based on information obtained on the driving vehicle, the traffic participants and additional information; creating a codebook of dangerous driving situations, each represented as graphs; performing subgraph matching between the graphs in the codebook and the graph representing a current driving situation to select a set of matching graphs from the codebook; determining a distance metric between each selected codebook graphs and the matching subgraph of the current driving situation; from codebook graphs with a low distance, determining potential dangers; and generating an alert if one or more of the codebook dangers are imminent.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2016Date of Patent: March 14, 2017Assignee: NEC CORPORATIONInventor: Eric Cosatto
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Patent number: 9593962Abstract: Systems and methods for attitude fault detection based on integrated GNSS/inertial hybrid filter residuals are provided. In one embodiment, a fault detection system for aircraft attitude measurement system comprises: a sensor monitor coupled to a first inertial measurement unit, the sensor monitor comprising: a navigation error model for the first inertial measurement unit, the model configured to model a plurality of error states including at least an attitude error state vector, an velocity error state vector, and a position error state vector determined from data generated by the first inertial measurement unit; and a propagator-estimator configured to propagate and update error states based on GNSS data; and a residual evaluator configured to input measurement error residual values generated by the propagator-estimator, wherein the residual evaluator outputs an alert signal when the measurement error residual values exceed a threshold.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2014Date of Patent: March 14, 2017Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.Inventors: Mats Anders Brenner, Mark A. Ahlbrecht, John R. Morrison
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Patent number: 9593002Abstract: A work vehicle includes an accelerator operation amount generator receiving an actual accelerator operation amount of an accelerator operator to generate a control accelerator operation amount; an engine controller controlling the engine according to the control accelerator operation amount; and a storage storing a table in which an increasing speed for the control accelerator operation amount is set, wherein the accelerator operation amount generator obtains a difference between a converted accelerator operation amount of the accelerator operator converted from a rotating speed of the engine in a current control cycle and a control accelerator operation amount obtained in the last control cycle, determines an increasing speed of the control accelerator operation amount from the difference by referring to the table, and changes the control accelerator operation amount to an actual operation amount in the current control cycle with the determined increasing speed.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2014Date of Patent: March 14, 2017Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.Inventors: Shinji Kaneko, Yoshitaka Onodera, Yoshifumi Shitara, Taishi Oiwa, Jun Hashimoto
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Patent number: 9587951Abstract: Disclosed are map matching methods and system for tracking and determining an improved position of a reference asset. The method comprising: receiving at least one global navigation satellite system (GNSS) current position probe from the reference asset; requesting and receiving information from a geographical information system (GIS) unit on a plurality of probable road network segments on which the at least one GNSS current position probe is capable of being snapped; computing a weighted cost function for each of the probable road network segments; and snapping and information fusing the current position of the reference asset with a selected road network segment having the minimum weighted cost function out of the probable road network segments.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2014Date of Patent: March 7, 2017Assignee: QATAR UNIVERSITY QSTP-BInventors: Elyes Ben Hamida, Fethi Filali
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Patent number: 9587694Abstract: A method of operating a mechanically operated brake having an electric motor for operating an adjuster mechanism that may include the steps of: a) providing a brake rotor and friction material for selective engagement with the brake rotor, b) providing a target running clearance between the brake rotor and the friction material, c) applying the brake by forcing the friction material into engagement with the brake rotor, d) determining that the friction material is set in a compressed condition, e) releasing the brake, f) operating the electric motor to operate the adjuster mechanism to adjust the instantaneous running clearance towards the target running clearance, g) then applying the brake.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2015Date of Patent: March 7, 2017Assignee: Meritor Heavy Vehicle Braking Systems (UK) LimitedInventors: Peter Gibbens, Prashant Narula
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Patent number: 9581460Abstract: A navigation apparatus for an autonomous vehicle includes circuitry configured to receive at least one route between a start location and a destination, display the at least one route on a first screen that allows selection of a first set of routes from the at least one route, receive a plurality of characteristics corresponding to each of the at least one route. Each characteristic of the plurality of characteristics is associated with a measure and a longest block within which each characteristic can be performed continuously. The circuitry further configured to divide a route of the at least one route to generate a plurality of segments based on the plurality of characteristics, and display the first set of routes, the plurality of characteristics corresponding to the first set of routes, the measure and the longest block corresponding to the plurality of characteristics on a second screen.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2016Date of Patent: February 28, 2017Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.Inventors: John-Michael McNew, Kazutoshi Ebe, Danil V. Prokhorov, Michael J. Delp
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Patent number: 9582003Abstract: Method for maintaining active control of an autonomous vehicle can involve confirming the active presence of a human in a semi-autonomous vehicle. The human's active physical control and monitoring of the semi-autonomous vehicle can be verified by detecting that a throttle pedal on the semi-autonomous vehicle is depressed relative to a non-actuated position. The vehicle can then continue semi-autonomously as long as the active physical control and monitoring by the human is confirmed. Once the throttle pedal is found to no longer be depressed, the vehicle can be returned to normal human control.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2016Date of Patent: February 28, 2017Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Anthony Levandowski, Don Burnette
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Patent number: 9567080Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining actions for entities (4, 6) such that a goal is accomplished constraints are satisfied. The method comprises: determining an initial plan comprising actions that, if performed by the entities (4, 6), the goal would be accomplished; determining that a constraint would not be satisfied if the initial plan was implemented; and iteratively performing steps (i) to (v) until a final plan that accomplishes the goal and satisfies the is determined. Step (i) comprises identifying a constraint that is not satisfied in part of the current plan. Step (ii) comprises determining a remedy that, if implemented, satisfies the identified constraint. Step (iii) comprises updating the goal specification to include the remedy. Step (iv) comprises, using the updated goal specification, determining a further plan that accomplishes the goal and the remedy. Step (v) comprises determining whether or not the further plan satisfies each constraint.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2014Date of Patent: February 14, 2017Assignee: BAE SYSTEMS plcInventors: John Paterson Bookless, Markus Deittert, Richard Norman Herring, Elizabeth Jane Cullen
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Patent number: 9568918Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a balloon system that includes a flexible volume balloon hull configured to contain a lifting gas, a flexible volume ballonet contained within said balloon hull configured to contain a refrigerant gas and a refrigerant gas transfer device in fluid communication with the ballonet to control the balloon's vertical ascent and descent.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2015Date of Patent: February 14, 2017Assignee: SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTEInventor: William D. Perry
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Patent number: 9562775Abstract: A system is provided that manages a geographic space including a route on which a moving object moves, including a plurality of subsystems operable to respectively manage maps of a plurality of regions obtained by dividing the geographic space, and a region manager operable to adjust loads of the subsystems by dynamically changing a boundary of at least one region among the plurality of regions. Also provided is a method and computer program product.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2015Date of Patent: February 7, 2017Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Yasuhisa Gotoh, Tomohiro Miyahira, Taku Sasaki, Makoto Tanibayashi
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Patent number: 9561794Abstract: Example systems and methods are disclosed for implementing vehicle operation limits to prevent vehicle load failure during vehicle teleoperation. The method may include receiving sensor data from sensors on a vehicle that carries a load. The vehicle may be controlled by a remote control system. The load weight and dimensions may be determined based on the sensor data. In order to prevent a vehicle load failure, a forward velocity limit and an angular velocity limit may be calculated. Vehicle load failures may include the vehicle tipping over, the load tipping over, the load sliding off of the vehicle, or collisions. The vehicle carrying the load may be restricted from exceeding the forward velocity limit and/or the angular velocity limit during vehicle operation. The remote control system may display a user interface indicating to a remote operator the forward velocity limit and the angular velocity limit.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2016Date of Patent: February 7, 2017Assignee: X Development LLCInventor: Kevin William Watts
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Patent number: 9561803Abstract: A method is provided for calculating a driver's desired yaw rate of a vehicle for use in a vehicle movement control system and includes determining the current yaw rate of the vehicle, determining the rate of the vehicle's steering wheel rotation. The method further includes calculating a first desired yaw rate of the vehicle based on the determined current yaw rate of the vehicle and the determined rate of the vehicle's steering wheel rotation, the desired yaw rate being further calculated based on the assumption that the driver applies a rate of steering wheel rotation as function of the driver's perceived error in yaw rate, and finally the step of providing the first desired yaw rate as an input to the vehicle movement control system for controlling the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2013Date of Patent: February 7, 2017Assignee: Volvo Truck CorporationInventor: Gustav Markkula
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Patent number: 9561714Abstract: A hybrid electric vehicle drive apparatus has a setting portion for setting a limit value of a driving torque that a motor outputs when driving a hybrid electric vehicle by the power of the motor only, based on a maximum torque that the motor enables to output and a starting torque used to start an internal combustion engine by the motor. The setting portion sets the limit value to a first value and sets the limit value to a second value which is greater than the first value when a vehicle speed of the vehicle does not increase even though an accelerator pedal position degree increases while the vehicle is being driven only by the motor.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2014Date of Patent: February 7, 2017Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Hideharu Takamiya, Akio Futatsudera, Mahito Shikama, Takashi Kon, Toshimi Kaneko
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Patent number: 9558414Abstract: A method for calculating a response time is described. The response time is required in order to direct the attention of a vehicle's driver at the traffic on the road. The driver is monitored by sensors and a state of attentiveness of the driver is ascertained. The state of attentiveness is used to calculate a value, to which an anticipated response time is assigned. Further a method for operating a motor vehicle, a computer program product and a correspondingly equipped motor vehicle are described.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2015Date of Patent: January 31, 2017Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Gerald Schmidt, Thomas Schramm