Patents Examined by James J Lee
  • Patent number: 11613268
    Abstract: Computer-implemented methods, systems and computer program products for facilitating operationally customized access to smart vehicles are provided. Aspects include receiving request to access a smart vehicle. Aspects also include receiving vehicle operation constraints associated with the smart vehicle using a processor. Aspects also include generating a vehicle policy based at least in part on the request to access the smart vehicle and the vehicle operation constraints using the processor. The vehicle policy includes rules for operation of the smart vehicle. Aspects also include transmitting the vehicle policy to the smart vehicle. Aspects also include moderating the operation of the smart vehicle based on at least in part the vehicle policy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Dain Yap Liffman, John Wagner, Hoang Tam Vo, Josh Andres, Nick Waywood
  • Patent number: 11608086
    Abstract: A display device of a vehicle includes: a display provided inside of the vehicle; an interior lighting device lighting up an inside surface of a passenger compartment of the vehicle at an outside of the display; and a control device controlling the display and the interior lighting device. The control device is configured so that when a condition for moving display stands, the display is made to show a moving display element moving toward an outer circumference of the display, and so that when the moving display element reaches the outer circumference of the display, the interior lighting device lights up an inside surface of a passenger compartment of the vehicle so that a light part lit by the interior lighting device appears to move successively from the moving display element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Arei Rodelys Andriamagnevalonaky, Paula Kusinska, Lorcan O'Shanahan, Shang-Poh Yu, Sabrina Hyewon Lee, Matthew Doell, Thor Lewis
  • Patent number: 11610440
    Abstract: A method is disclosed, which may include determining a distance of movement of a component of a machine; determining a load factor on the component over the distance of movement; estimating a remaining useful life of at least one of the component, or a wear component associated with the component, based on the distance of movement and the load factor; and performing one or more actions based on the estimated remaining useful life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Michael C. Gentle, Nathaniel Harshman
  • Patent number: 11608056
    Abstract: A first obstacle colliding with the ADV is detected. A minimum deceleration that is required for the ADV to avoid colliding with a second obstacle within a predetermined proximity of a moving direction is determined. A brake command is generated based on the minimum deceleration. Then, the brake command is applied to the ADV, such that the ADV avoids collision with the second obstacle and softens an impact of the collision with the first obstacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: BAIDU USA LLC
    Inventor: Fan Zhu
  • Patent number: 11605248
    Abstract: Methods and systems for managing events in a vehicle network are provided. The method includes receiving an event signal indicative of an event from one or more first nodes operably coupled to a first onboard controller of a first vehicle. The event signal is generated in response to a user-based instruction or based on output from one or more sensors. The method determines event information associated with the event and the first vehicle. The event information includes sensed parameter data or image data. The method communicates an event alert containing the event information to one or more second vehicles operating in a designated range of the first vehicle and one or more offboard control systems that control movement of at least the first vehicle and the one or more second vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: WESTINGHOUSE AIR BRAKE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: James A. Oswald
  • Patent number: 11603086
    Abstract: An apparatus for an aircraft having one or more aircraft wheel brakes, and a brake wear sensor configured to measure a wear state of a brake of the one or more aircraft wheel brakes, is disclosed. The apparatus includes a processor configured to determine a wear relationship between a wear state of the brake and a number of use cycles of the brake, determine a predicted wear state of the brake based on the wear relationship; determine a number of future use cycles of the brake based on a predicted condition of the brake, the predicted condition comprising the predicted wear state of the brake; and provide an indication of the determined number of the future use cycles to ground crew and/or a pilot of the aircraft, wherein the number of future use cycles is the number of use cycles for which the brake is allowed to be used, and a use cycle comprises all uses of the brake relating to a flight undertaken by the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignees: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITED, AIRBUS OPERATIONS (SAS), AIRBUS (SAS)
    Inventors: Utsav Oza, Andrew Bill, Kurt Bruggemann, Rodrigo Jimenez, Brice Cheray, Maud Consola
  • Patent number: 11600183
    Abstract: A dispatch device includes an information acquisition unit that acquires, for each of a plurality of vehicles, location information indicating a location of the vehicle and loaded object information indicating a status of an object of transportation loaded on the vehicle and a vehicle dispatching unit that dispatches an unfilled vehicle that can carry an object of transportation so that a predetermined number or higher number of unfilled vehicles, are present around an operating vehicle that is carrying an object of transportation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuo Uehara, Nobuhide Kamata, Nozomu Hatta, Shunsuke Tanimori
  • Patent number: 11597401
    Abstract: A driving assistance apparatus makes a drive force of a vehicle equal to an erroneous operation coping drive force which is smaller than an ordinary drive force in a period from a satisfaction of an erroneous operation start condition which is satisfied when an accelerator pedal is operated erroneously to a satisfaction of an erroneous operation end condition which is satisfied when the erroneous operation has ended. The erroneous operation coping drive force is set to a first drive force if the erroneous operation start condition becomes satisfied after a reoperation determination time point at which a time threshold elapses from when the erroneous operation end condition became last satisfied. Meanwhile, the erroneous operation coping drive force is set to a second drive force which is greater than the first drive force if the erroneous operation start condition becomes satisfied before the reoperation determination time point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takuya kaminade, Masashi Oishi, Takashi Unigame, Yuhi Kishimoto, Yoichi Iwata, Asuka Sato
  • Patent number: 11597370
    Abstract: An electrical device controller includes a processor, and a memory for storing a program executed by the processor. The processor controls the electrical device in multiple operation modes including an automatic mode which automatically changes the operation state of the electrical device and a stop mode which stops the electrical device, controls the electrical device in an operation mode specified with an operating member operated by an occupant when the vehicle is manually driven, controls the operation state of the electrical device in the automatic mode regardless of the operation mode specified with the operating member when the vehicle is autonomously driven, and sets the operation mode of the electrical device at least temporarily to the stop mode when the operation mode specified with the operation member is switched to the stop mode from an operation mode other than the stop mode, when the vehicle is autonomously driven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Ueda, Ryo Masutani
  • Patent number: 11591075
    Abstract: Provided are embodiments for a system for offloading non-thrust loads. The system includes one or more thrust loads, and one or more non-thrust loads, and a controller that is operably coupled to the one or more thrust loads and the one or more non-thrust loads. The controller is configured to control the thrust loads and non-thrust loads, receive input from one or more sources, and identify a phase of flight based at least in part on the received input. The controller is also configured to offload one or more non-thrust loads during the phase of flight, and restore the one or more non-thrust loads. Also provided are embodiments for method for offloading non-thrust loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brian St. Rock, Stephen E. Tongue, Matthew Robert Pearson, Juan de Bedout
  • Patent number: 11584396
    Abstract: A driver assistance method for a vehicle includes the steps of establishing an energy prediction for a route on the basis of an anticipated driver behavior, determining a driving behavior which is optimized with regard to the energy prediction, and outputting an action recommendation on the basis of the optimized driving behavior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Maximilian Cussigh, Harald Hofmeier, Tobias Straub, Mark Van Gelikum
  • Patent number: 11587365
    Abstract: Data transmission method between an on-board device adapted to acquire data relating to motion and/or driving parameters of a vehicle and a remote processing center, comprising the steps of: acquiring said data through the on-board device and storing it in a log memory of the on-board device; assessing by means of the on-board device if a logical condition is satisfied; sending, if said logical condition is satisfied, by means of the on-board device, a data connection request message requesting connection to a mobile cellular radio network to request the establishment of a GPRS connection between the on-board device and the remote processing center; receiving the data connection request at the remote processing center, by means of the mobile cellular radio network; processing the data connection request message at the remote processing center to accept or reject the connection request based on said identifying data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: OCTO TELEMATICS S.P.A.
    Inventors: Paolo Zucconelli, Giuseppe Zuco
  • Patent number: 11584230
    Abstract: An interface device to be mounted on an autonomous vehicle includes: a right operation switch and a left operation switch provided on a steering wheel; a display device disposed ahead of the steering wheel; and an IF controller configured to control the display device, the controller being configured to cause the display device to display an intention confirmation image when it is necessary to confirm a driver's intention regarding autonomous travel. The intention confirmation image includes an inquiry image, a right guide image displayed on the right side of a horizontal center of the inquiry image, the right guide image indicating a choice selectable with the right operation switch, and a left guide image displayed on the left side of the horizontal center of the inquiry image, the left guide image indicating a choice selectable with the left operation switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hitoshi Kumon
  • Patent number: 11584399
    Abstract: A driving handover control device includes a memory and a processor coupled to the memory. In a case in which driving is handed over from a first state in which a vehicle is traveling by remote driving by a first driver from outside the vehicle or by occupant driving by the first driver in the vehicle, to a second state in which the vehicle travels by the remote driving or the occupant driving by a second driver who is different from the first driver, the processor is configured to cause transition from the first state to a third state in which the vehicle is caused to travel by automatic driving, and then cause transition from the third state to the second state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshiki Kindo, Yuji Suzuki, Mutsumi Matsuura, Tomoaki Miyazawa, Shunsuke Tanimori, Kuniaki Jinnai, Kohta Tarao, Yoshihiro Maekawa, Hiroki Awano, Tae Sugimura, Tomoyuki Kuriyama, Yusuke Yokota, Makoto Matsushita, Yasuki Nakagawa, Atsushi Hanawa
  • Patent number: 11577754
    Abstract: Techniques are provided for autonomous vehicle operation using linear temporal logic. The techniques include using one or more processors of a vehicle to store a linear temporal logic expression defining an operating constraint for operating the vehicle. The vehicle is located at a first spatiotemporal location. The one or more processors are used to receive a second spatiotemporal location for the vehicle. The one or more processors are used to identify a motion segment for operating the vehicle from the first spatiotemporal location to the second spatiotemporal location. The one or more processors are used to determine a value of the linear temporal logic expression based on the motion segment. The one or more processors are used to generate an operational metric for operating the vehicle in accordance with the motion segment based on the determined value of the linear temporal logic expression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: MOTIONAL AD LLC
    Inventor: Tichakorn Wongpiromsarn
  • Patent number: 11572077
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to techniques to implement a vehicle action using a distributed model distributed across the vehicle and a remote node. A local portion of the distributed model at the vehicle may generate a local output model based on vehicle event data collected at the vehicle. The local output model may be sent from the vehicle at a first location to the remote node at a second location. The remote node may generate a remote output model based on the local output model using the remote portion of the distributed model. The vehicle action may be determined based on inspecting a reconstructed version of the vehicle event data included in the remote output model. The determined vehicle action may be implemented at the vehicle. The distributed model may facilitate the transmission of vehicle event data across multiple locations while securing the transmission of personally-identifiable information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Nauto, Inc.
    Inventors: Ming Li, Suchitra Sathyanarayana
  • Patent number: 11568687
    Abstract: Described herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer readable media for evaluating vibrational characteristics of a vehicle such as an autonomous vehicle and vibrational characteristics of a road surface in conjunction with one another to identify anomalous vehicle vibrational characteristics that may be indicative of potential damage to the structure of a vehicle. A baseline vibrational signature may be generated for a road segment based on sensor data received from multiple vehicles traversing the road segment. A vibrational signature may also be generated for a particular vehicle being evaluated based on real-time sensor data. If the vibrational signature for the vehicle deviates from the baseline vibrational signature for the road segment by more than a threshold amount, the vehicle may be deemed to be exhibiting anomalous vibrational characteristics indicative of potential vehicular damage. One or more actions in response thereto may then be taken such as automatically halting the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Pony AI Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Dingli, Peter G. Diehl, Chen Yue Li
  • Patent number: 11560908
    Abstract: A machine control system can store model weights determined via machine learning using a training dataset correlating preset hydraulic valve displacements to measured movement parameters of a machine component. The machine control system can receive an input command for the component and machine state data from machine sensors. A control mapping model can use the model weights to map a combination of the input command and the machine state data into a predicted displacement of the hydraulic valve that causes movement of the component in response to the input command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin John Hodel, Nicholas Anthony Payne, Russell Aaron Schloss, Corey Lee Gorman
  • Patent number: 11560157
    Abstract: A driving control device receives power supply from an accessory battery to operate, controls automatic driving, and outputs a control signal. A steering ECU, a power ECU and a brake ECU instruct a steering mechanism, a PCU and a brake to operate based on the control signal, respectively. An emergency stop switch is operated by an operator. In a case where the emergency stop switch is operated, an interface processing device cuts off a switch to stop the power supply, shuts down the driving control device, and outputs a control signal that causes the steering mechanism, the PCU and the brake to perform an emergency stop operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hirohito Ide, Yuchi Yamanouchi, Masaki Shitara, Ryo Hattori, Satoshi Koganemaru, Takeshi Uraki, Shogo Nakata, Yasunori Imada
  • Patent number: 11554794
    Abstract: Methods of determining which kinematic model an autonomous vehicle (AV) should use to predict motion of a detected moving actor are disclosed. One or more sensors of the AV sensors will detect a moving actor. The AV will assign one or more probable classes to the actor, and it will process the information to determine a kinematic state of the actor. The system will query a library of kinematic models to return one or more kinematic models that are associated with each of the probable classes. The system will apply each of the returned kinematic models to predict trajectories of the actor. The system will then evaluate each of the forecasted trajectories of the actor against the kinematic state of the actor to select one of the returned kinematic models to predict a path for the actor. The system will then use the predicted path to plan motion of the AV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Argo AI, LLC
    Inventors: Randall Schur, Constantin Savtchenko