Patents Examined by James E Stroud
  • Patent number: 9555885
    Abstract: This disclosure generally relates to an automotive drone deployment system that includes at least a vehicle and a deployable drone that is configured to attach and detach from the vehicle. More specifically, the disclosure describes the vehicle and drone remaining in communication with each other to exchange information while the vehicle is being operated in an autonomous driving mode so that the vehicle's performance under the autonomous driving mode is enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph F. Stanek, John A. Lockwood
  • Patent number: 9551990
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an unmanned flying vehicle (UAV) operable in a plurality of operating modes including a normal operations mode, a safe landing mode and an emergency landing mode. The normal operations mode is initiated when no errors are detected in the system. The safe landing mode is initiated when one or more non-critical components of the UAV are in non-responsive mode or do not work as desired. The emergency landing mode is initiated when one or more critical components are in non-responsive mode or do not work as desired. Further, the safe landing mode overrides the normal operations mode and the emergency landing mode overrides both the normal operations mode and the safe landing mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Sharper Shape Oy
    Inventor: Tero Heinonen
  • Patent number: 9540005
    Abstract: A method is provided for controlling speed of a vehicle. The method includes determining an arrival time error (ATE) for a required time of arrival (RTA) and a projected trajectory according to a travel plan with a current speed profile having a plurality of regions, each with a respective speed adjustment parameter (SAP) and a respective SAP value relative to a nominal speed profile. The method further includes selecting, when the ATE is greater than a threshold, one of the regions as a selected region for modification based on a priority order of the regions. The method further includes modifying the current speed profile by adjusting the respective SAP value for the selected region according to the respective SAP in order to decrease the ATE; and implementing the modified speed profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Ryan Howe-Veenstra, Benjamin Bochem, Mike Jackson
  • Patent number: 9540037
    Abstract: A malfunction detection device for a resolver detects malfunction in a resolver with accuracy and stability even if a value of a square sum is varied between inside and outside of a normal range. When the resolver is in malfunction, a sine signal and a cosine signal are read. It is determined whether a malfunction determination of the resolver is prohibited, or not, from read values of the sine signal and the cosine signal, or square values thereof. When it is determined that the malfunction determination of the resolver is prohibited, the count value is accumulated and incremented every time the test value falls outside a normal range. When the count value arrives at a given value or higher, it is determined that the resolver is in malfunction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Shunichi Wada, Takayuki Yamamoto, Ryoichi Yonezawa, Masaki Matsushita, Katsuya Ikemoto
  • Patent number: 9536358
    Abstract: A method of determining parameters that are characteristics of the operation of a vehicle having a power plant with at least one engine and mechanical transmission means, sensors, and display means. During the method, various items of information about the aircraft, its state and/or its operation and/or its environment are measured, and then, for at least one parameter Pi relating to the state and the operation of the aircraft there are determined a first limit value Pi_lim for the parameter Pi, a second value Pi_X for each parameter Pi to enable the aircraft to perform a predetermined maneuver X, and an instantaneous third value Pi_inst for each parameter Pi. Thereafter, each first, second, and third values Pi_lim, Pi_X, Pi_inst is displayed simultaneously in order to show up the relative position of second and third values Pi_X and Pi_inst relative to a first value Pi_lim for each parameter Pi.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Airbus Helicopters
    Inventor: Serge Germanetti
  • Patent number: 9534884
    Abstract: A coded localization system includes a plurality of optical channels arranged to cooperatively image at least one object onto a plurality of detectors. Each of the channels includes a localization code that is different from any other localization code in other channels, to modify electromagnetic energy passing therethrough. Output digital images from the detectors are processable to determine sub-pixel localization of the object onto the detectors, such that a location of the object is determined more accurately than by detector geometry alone. Another coded localization system includes a plurality of optical channels arranged to cooperatively image partially polarized data onto a plurality of pixels. Each of the channels includes a polarization code that is different from any other polarization code in other channels to uniquely polarize electromagnetic energy passing therethrough. Output digital images from the detectors are processable, to determine a polarization pattern for a user of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: ASCENTIA IMAGING, INC.
    Inventors: Edward R. Dowski, Jr., Bradley Sissom, Gregory Johnson
  • Patent number: 9534906
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses and methods for mapping a shopping space are provided. A system for mapping a shopping space includes a plurality of motorized transport units, a store map database, and a central computer system. The central computer system being configured to divide the map of the shopping space into a plurality of sections, assign a unique section identifier to each of the plurality of sections in the shopping space, associate a blocked tag with each section inaccessible to the plurality of motorized transport units, associate an accessible tag with each section accessible by at least one of the plurality of motorized transport units, for each section having an accessible tag, allow an access restriction setting to be configured, and provide navigation instructions to the plurality of motorized transport units based on access restriction settings of each section of the shopping space stored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald R. High, Robert C. Taylor, Michael D. Atchley
  • Patent number: 9534913
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for generating and displaying a comparison of multiple modes of transportation for reaching a destination. One method includes receiving a start location and a destination location, and stops in between, receiving information related to at least one third party operated mode of transportation from a third party determining data related to the at least one third party operated mode of transportation and at least one user operated mode of transportation, generating and displaying determined data for at least one option for each of the plurality of modes of transportation, receiving a selection of a sort category, and determining the option of each mode of transportation to be displayed and an order in which the modes of transportation are displayed based on the selection of the sort category.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: MapQuest, Inc.
    Inventors: Meghan Newlin, Cristian J. Whitney, Austin Brown, Kent Dennis Hollrah, Lindsay E. Moore
  • Patent number: 9533585
    Abstract: A vehicle includes: an electric storage device; a first temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of the electric storage device; a second temperature sensor configured to detect an environmental temperature; a heater configured to warm the electric storage device; and a controller configured to control the heater. The controller is configured to: when end time of the external charging is set, calculate a remaining time period from current time to the end time; identify a temperature increasing time period that corresponds to the calculated remaining time period, the temperature of the electric storage device, and the environmental temperature by using a corresponding relationship among the remaining time period, the temperature of the electric storage device, the environmental temperature, and the temperature increasing time period; and start driving the heater such that the temperature of the electric storage device at the end time reaches the target temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takashi Murata, Yusuke Kuruma
  • Patent number: 9536076
    Abstract: An automatic train operation system includes a first control system configured to run a first software for controlling a first vehicle subsystem and a second control system configured to run a second software for controlling a second vehicle subsystem. The automatic train operation system also includes a software verification controller. The software verification controller is configured to identify a first identifier of the first software and a second identifier of the second software as a software configuration and determine whether the software configuration is preapproved. The software verification controller is also configured to, if the software configuration is preapproved, authorize the first control system and the second control system to run the first and second software.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Electro-Motive Diesel, Inc.
    Inventors: Venkata Swamy Reddy Gajulapalli, Russell Kubycheck, James Seaton, Alexander Shubs, Jr., Ola Tannous
  • Patent number: 9528461
    Abstract: To prevent a decrease in detection accuracy of an obstacle that occurs when an obstacle detection distance of an infrared beam at the center is set longer than an infrared beam of at least one of the left or the right, an obstacle detection device for a vehicle which detects an obstacle in front includes an effective-range control part 19 which controls the maximum effective distance of obstacle detection. The effective-range control part 19 extends the maximum effective distance of the second emitting-and-receiving parts 11b, 11c disposed on at least one of the left or the right from an initial value L1 to an extended value L2, when the first emitting-and-receiving part 11a at the center detects an obstacle 5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI JIDOSHA KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroshi Izumi, Ayaka Kobayashi, Muneyuki Maeda, Yohei Nagakura
  • Patent number: 9527526
    Abstract: A method operates a steering system of a motor vehicle having a steerable wheel controlled using a steering wheel. The method begins by ascertaining a prevailing control angle of the steering wheel of the motor vehicle. A variable steering ratio between the prevailing control angle and a steering angle of the steerable wheel is defined. A static steering ratio from the variable steering ratio to set the steering angle of the steerable wheel is then selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Frank Esser, Joerg Peter Schalz
  • Patent number: 9527502
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle are provided. The includes setting an initial distance until charge (DUC) and calculating a current DUC by subtracting a travel distance of the vehicle from the initial DUC after the initial DUC is set. A current distance to empty (DTE) is calculated based on a current state of charge (SOC) of a battery and the current SOC of the battery is compared with a reference SOC. The current DUC is compared with the current DTE when the current SOC is greater than the reference SOC. Thus, whether a high speed condition or a high load condition is satisfied is determined when the current DUC is greater than the current DTE. A driving mode of the vehicle is then set to be a charge sustaining (CS) mode when the high speed condition or the high load condition is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Joonyoung Park, Sungdeok Kim
  • Patent number: 9527429
    Abstract: A method for controlling a light emission of at least one headlight of a, includes determining structure information which represents the presence of a structure which at least partially encloses a roadway traveled by the vehicle. The method also includes generating a control signal for controlling the light emission, using the structure information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Attila Licsar, Andras Sarosi
  • Patent number: 9527506
    Abstract: A control device for a hybrid vehicle having an engine, a motor, a clutch and an air conditioner, the engine and the motor being connected to each other via the clutch, the air conditioner having a compressor driven by the engine, has a controller. The hybrid vehicle has an EV mode in which the engine is disconnected from the motor by release of the clutch, and an HEV mode in which the engine rotates together with the motor by engagement of the clutch. The controller is configured to execute a diagnosis of whether the clutch is in a released state during selection of the EV mode. When the HEV mode is selected in response to an operation request for the air conditioner, the controller temporality switches the running mode to the EV mode based on a running history of the hybrid vehicle in a stop state of the hybrid vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoyasu Ikeda, Kenichi Saga
  • Patent number: 9527441
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus includes a departure margin time computation unit configured to compute a departure margin time until the vehicle departs from the running lane in a previously set steering control range and vehicle speed control range, a hand-release duration time measurement unit configured to measure a hand-release duration time, a driving return time estimation unit configured to estimate a driving return time until the driver in the hand-release state returns to driving operation, based on the hand-release duration time, and a control unit configured to output an alarm to the driver when a difference resulting from subtracting the driving return time from the departure margin time is a first threshold or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takeshi Matsumura
  • Patent number: 9528840
    Abstract: Disclosed are a method, system, and recording medium for connecting a public transportation route service and a map service. A map providing method includes providing a mode switching function at a first service that provides a public transportation map and a second service that provides a road map, and switching a service mode to the public transportation map or the road map through interconnection between the first service and the second service in response to executing the mode switching function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: NAVER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hyo Jung Kim, Soo-Eui Sung, Hyun-Soo Kim, HeeJeong Son, Rae Na
  • Patent number: 9522680
    Abstract: A control system for a vehicle operable to control a driveline of a vehicle to vary and amount of torque coupling between first and second groups of one or more wheels, the control system being operable automatically to cause application of brake torque to a wheel of the first or second groups of one or more wheels in response to detection of loss of traction of one or more wheels, wherein if the amount of brake torque or brake pressure of a braking system employed to apply the brake torque exceeds a threshold value in response to the detection of loss of traction, the control system is operable to cause the driveline to reduce the amount of torque coupling between the first and second groups of wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Limited
    Inventors: Karl Richards, Simon Owen
  • Patent number: 9523323
    Abstract: A method for assessing the status of an electromechanical actuator device is disclosed. The actuator device is provided for actuating control element apparatuses in an internal combustion engine for a motor vehicle. This actuator device has an activation apparatus and a stator apparatus as well as at least one electrical coil apparatus. The actuator device can be changed over from a first operating state into a second operating state. During the changeover, activation power is fed to the coil apparatus by a control line apparatus. In the method, the activation power is fed to the actuator device, the feeding of the activation power is reduced, and the control line apparatus is monitored and an actuator assessment characteristic variable is determined from the data acquired in the process. Furthermore, the actuator assessment characteristic variable is assessed by a comparison variable which is based on the fed-in activation power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: AVL List GmbH
    Inventor: Max Nestoriuc
  • Patent number: 9517765
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle running control apparatus that is mounted in a hybrid vehicle that has a high-voltage battery and a low-voltage battery, and is selectively controlled to drive in a first running mode in which an electric motor to which power is supplied from the high-voltage battery is used as a drive source, and a second running mode in which an engine is used as the drive source, includes a transport state determining portion that determines whether the hybrid vehicle is in transport; and a battery running inhibiting portion that inhibits the hybrid vehicle from running in the first running mode when it is determined by the transport state determining portion that the hybrid vehicle is in transport.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazuya Kato