Patents Examined by James J Lee
  • Patent number: 11753013
    Abstract: A method for operating a driving assistance system. The method includes operating at least one sensor device in a host vehicle for monitoring the surroundings of the host vehicle; recognizing a fast-moving vehicle that is traveling in a first lane adjacent to a second lane in which the host vehicle is traveling, and determining a travel speed of the fast-moving vehicle in a travel direction of the host vehicle, based on a travel speed of the host vehicle or of a following vehicle or of a preceding vehicle, by the sensor device and by a control device; identifying a movement of the fast-moving vehicle as a passing operation of the host vehicle or of the following vehicle or of the preceding vehicle; and identifying a change in the movement of the fast-moving vehicle as an abortion of the passing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Bastian Reckziegel, Erich Sonntag, Gian Antonio D' Addetta, Johannes Ludwig Foltin, Sybille Eisele
  • Patent number: 11752867
    Abstract: Revving an engine may be helpful in various contexts, such as when servicing the vehicle. For example, in some types of services, a cleaning agent may be introduced into the intake and surrounding regions of an engine, and the engine may be revved to reduce a likelihood that the cleaning agent might puddle. In some instances, a device can be positioned within a vehicle interior and can be used to automatically rev the vehicle engine by depressing on the vehicle throttle. In other examples, an engine revving device may send a signal to an electronic-controlled throttle actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: BG INTELLECTUALS, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Jason Erwin, Thomas Michael Probus, John Daniel Cheek, Lucas Mitchell Shaw, Bradley Robert Young
  • Patent number: 11753042
    Abstract: Sensors, including time-of-flight sensors, may be used to detect objects in an environment. In an example, a vehicle may include a time-of-flight sensor that images objects around the vehicle, e.g., so the vehicle can navigate relative to the objects. Sensor data generated by the time-of-flight sensor can include saturated pixels, e.g., due to over-exposure, sensing highly-reflective objects, and/or excessive ambient light. In some examples, parameters associated with power of a time-of-flight sensor can be altered based on characteristics of the saturated pixels, as well as information about non-saturated pixels neighboring the saturated pixels. For example, the neighboring pixels may provide information about whether saturation is due to ambient light, e.g., sunlight, or due to emitted light from the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Inventors: Subasingha Shaminda Subasingha, Yongzhe Chen, Mehran Ferdowsi, Samuel Holladay, Turhan Karadeniz, Robert Nicholas Moor, Joseph Patrick Warga, Harrison Thomas Waschura, Silas Kogure Wilkinson
  • Patent number: 11748407
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for monitoring rides in a vehicle in which a driver of the vehicle picks up a rider at a pickup location and drives the rider to a drop-off destination. The system includes at least one sensor arranged in the vehicle and configured to capture sensor data during the rides, a transceiver configured to communicate with a personal electronic device of a driver of the vehicle, a non-volatile memory configured to store data; and a processor. The system captures sensor data during a ride, determines an activity index indicating an activity level within the vehicle during the ride, and stores the sensor data captured during the ride with the activity index as metadata. In response to an upload request, the system uploads sensor data depending on the activity level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Philip Ventimiglia, Stefan Weissert, Christian Stresing, Christian Neumann
  • Patent number: 11745684
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to aggregation of data associated with events related to automotive vehicles. Automotive vehicles may include a variety of sensing devices used in local sensing operations. However, these sensing devices may not be leveraged beyond the local sensing operations. When automotive vehicles are operated, sometimes events occur. As discussed herein, an event-based data aggregation service may aggregate sensing data from one or more sensing devices, such as sensing devices of the automotive vehicles, in response to receiving an event notification associated with one or more of the events and may use the sensing data when responding to the event notification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: United Services Automobile Association
    Inventors: Yevgeniy Viatcheslavovich Khmelev, Oscar Guerra, Jeffrey Neal Pollack, Janelle Denice Dziuk, Ashley Raine Philbrick, Ryan Thomas Russell, David Patrick Dixon
  • Patent number: 11749031
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system which may be used for remote vehicle diagnostic and programming. Such a system may provide a high-speed wireless connection between an OBD-II compliant vehicle's OBD-II port and a remote vehicle diagnostic and programming control interface, with connectivity and feature availability rivaling direct wired connections between vehicle and control interface. Such a system may provide benefits in vehicle repair and tuning, remote diagnosis of vehicle issues, fleet management, and improved availability and access to professional vehicle service in remote locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: EGR Solutions LLC
    Inventor: Emanuel Rusu
  • Patent number: 11738726
    Abstract: A vehicle brake system (1) includes a first control device (10) and a second control device (11) that respectively include a master controller (30), a first sub-controller (40), and a second sub-controller (41) that are connected to one another. Each of the master controller (30), the first sub-controller (40), and the second sub-controller (41) includes a braking force calculation unit that calculates braking force of electric brakes (16a to 16d), and a determination unit that compares braking force calculation results of the controllers to determine whether itself is normal. The determination unit includes an output block section that blocks, when the determination unit determines that any one of the controllers is not normal, an output of the controller that is determined to be not normal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignees: MITSUBISHI JIDOSHA KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, NTN CORPORATION, HITACHI ASTEMO UEDA CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiromasa Satoh, Toshihiro Obika, Yusuke Koga, Yasushi Aoki, Hiromitsu Toyota, Haruo Kotera, Tatsuya Yamasaki, Yui Masuda
  • Patent number: 11738886
    Abstract: An aircraft lifecycle in which digital data for an aircraft part is automatically collected, retained, and utilized to individualize aircraft inspection and maintenance is described. Several types of data, including non-destructive evaluation and measurement data and structural health monitoring data, are used in a feedback loop having various phases which may automatically receive data in digital format from other phases. In this manner the part being designed, fabricated, tested, and maintained for the aircraft is optimized and processes involved in the lifecycle of the part is made more efficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Gary E. Georgeson, Jeong-Beom Ihn, William T. McDowell
  • Patent number: 11740098
    Abstract: A system and method for providing charging options based on electric vehicle operator daily activities that include analyzing data associated with daily activities of an operator of an electric vehicle and determining at least one travel routine and at least one prospective travel plan that is completed by the operator of the electric vehicle based on the daily activities. The system and method also include determining a current geo-location of the electric vehicle. The system and method further include presenting an electric vehicle charging planner user interface that presents at least one prospective travel path to the at least one predicted point of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Eri Izumi Maeda, David Wong Cun
  • Patent number: 11738778
    Abstract: A system for facilitating transfers of control includes an input module configured to acquire a set of user preferences relating control states to contexts, the control states including at least a manual control state, and an autonomous and/or semi-autonomous control state. The system includes a processing device configured to automatically perform, during operation of a semiautonomous system, generating a transfer of control (TOC) policy based on the set of user preferences and a current context state, the TOC policy prescribing transitions between control states in response to actions. The processing device is also configured to perform, based on an action performed by the user or a control system, determining whether to perform a transition from a current control state to a second control state, and in response to the TOC policy prescribing the transition, transitioning from the current control state to the second control state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Zahy Bnaya, Asaf Degani, Claudia Goldman-Shenhar
  • Patent number: 11740092
    Abstract: An apparatus carried by an individual for aiding in directing the individual to a location of a starting point for a path of travel by the individual includes a sensor for determining the individual's initial orientation at the starting point and subsequent changes of orientations during the travel; a processor coupled to the sensor for assigning one of four orthogonal (Erections to each of the orientations as experienced by the individual; a memory coupled to the processor for saving at least the orthogonal orientation of the initial orientation and the last experienced orientation; and a display for presenting at least the last experienced orientation to permit the individual to subsequently reorient himself in the direct of the original orientation. The apparatus has particular utility for firefighters to assist in orienting themselves with respect to an initial point of reference (POR) when inside a active firefighting location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: POR Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Robert Moss, Francis W. Rush, III
  • Patent number: 11738780
    Abstract: Provided is a driving assistance apparatus (a control unit (100)) for a vehicle capable of hands-off driving that lets a driver take his or her hands off the steering wheel. The driving assistance apparatus includes a processor (10) configured to determine, on the basis of sensor information indicating a state of the driver, whether or not the driver is in a state unsuitable for the surrounding monitoring of the vehicle during the hands-off driving, warn the driver through a notification device when it is determined that the driver is in a state unsuitable for the surrounding monitoring, and notify the driver, through the notification device, of a request for holding the steering wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenichiroh Hara, Naruhisa Yoshida, Kazuhiro Tomosue, Shunichiroh Sawai, Naoki Nishimura, Takanori Kusakabe, Tomoyuki Yoshida, Shogo Konishi, Hirofumi Mori
  • Patent number: 11731599
    Abstract: A device for operating a braking system of a motor vehicle, including a first control unit for operating an ABS unit of the braking system and including a second control unit for operating a brake booster unit of the braking system. The control units are designed as application-specific integrated circuits and are connected to a microprocessor for their control, the microprocessor including a separate shut-off path for each of the circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Gotthilf Koerner, Oda Limbach, Ruben Obenland, Simon Riedel, Stefan Hoess
  • Patent number: 11731493
    Abstract: A monitoring system and method are configured to detect a status of a door for a component on a vehicle. The monitoring system includes a sound sensor positioned within an auditory range of the door. The sound sensor detects sound energy generated in relation to a closed position of the door and an open position of the door. The sound sensor outputs a sound signal indicative of the sound energy. A monitoring control unit is in communication with the sound sensor. The monitoring control unit receives the sound signal and analyzes the sound signal to determine the status of the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Eric Lee Nicks, James Ralph Hamilton
  • Patent number: 11731514
    Abstract: An operation device for an autonomous vehicle includes a touch panel configured to display at least one of a start button and a deceleration button, and a notification button on the same screen. The autonomous vehicle is autonomously drivable. The start button is a button for starting driving of the autonomous vehicle in an autonomous drive mode. The deceleration button is a button for decelerating the autonomous vehicle during the autonomous drive mode. The notification button is a button for performing notification to an outside of the autonomous vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuchi Yamanouchi, Masaharu Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 11731662
    Abstract: A system may receive point cloud data that includes one or more data points associated with an object that was detected by sensors of an autonomous vehicle. The system may identify a subset of the point cloud data having data points that are associated with a likelihood of a pedestrian entering a scene with the object, determine a current probability value using a logistic function that is associated with the subset of the point cloud data, determine, based at least in part on the current probability value, a probability value representing a likelihood of the pedestrian actually being present for the subset of the point cloud data, determine whether the probability value exceeds a false alarm threshold value, and in response to the probability value exceeding the false alarm threshold value, assign data points of the subset an attribute value indicative of the pedestrian being present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin Lee Wyffels, G. Peter K. Carr
  • Patent number: 11726492
    Abstract: A collision avoidance system may validate, reject, or replace a trajectory generated to control a vehicle. The collision avoidance system may comprise a secondary perception component that may comprise one or more machine learned models, each of which may be trained to output one or more occupancy maps based at least in part on sensor data of different types. The occupancy maps may include a prediction of whether at least a portion of an environment is occupied at a future time by any one of multiple object types. Occupancy maps associated with a same time may be aggregated into a data structure that may be used to validate, reject, or replace the trajectory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventors: James William Vaisey Philbin, Cooper Stokes Sloan, Noureldin Ehab Hendy, Nicholas George Charchut, Chuang Wang
  • Patent number: 11724598
    Abstract: An operation device for an autonomous vehicle includes a touch panel configured to display at least one of a start button and a deceleration button, and a notification button on the same screen. The autonomous vehicle is autonomously drivable. The start button is a button for starting driving of the autonomous vehicle in an autonomous drive mode. The deceleration button is a button for decelerating the autonomous vehicle during the autonomous drive mode. The notification button is a button for performing notification to an outside of the autonomous vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuchi Yamanouchi, Masaharu Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 11727732
    Abstract: A system and method preserves raw vibration data for a physical event involving a transport vehicle such as a helicopter, plane, boat, car, or truck. The event may involve unexpected mechanical stresses on the vehicle. The system and method preserves raw vibration data for parts of the transport vehicle, such as from multiple points along the drive train. The preserved raw vibration data includes data from time prior to the physical event. In an embodiment, the system and method continuously detects vibration data, and stores the most recent vibration data in a circular memory buffer. The buffer is continually updated with the most current vibration data. When an event is automatically detected or manually triggered, the most recently saved vibration data is transferred from the buffer to permanent storage, along with vibration data obtained subsequent to the event. This allows for a more thorough post-event analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: GE AVIATION SYSTEMS LIMITED
    Inventors: Paul Dunning, Steven Bonnett, Timothy North, Daniel Lee
  • Patent number: 11724718
    Abstract: This document describes techniques, apparatuses, and systems that can implement auction-based cooperative perception for autonomous and semi-autonomous driving systems. The described techniques, apparatuses, and systems cooperatively use perception systems of an autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle (AV) in a fleet of connected AVs to provide perception data to the entire fleet. An AV of the fleet is selected to act as an auction system (e.g., an auctioneer) and sends an announcement offering perception tasks to the fleet for bidding. The AVs of the fleet determine whether they have the communication and computational capabilities to perform the tasks and, if so, submit bids to perform one or more tasks. The auctioneer awards the tasks, and the bid-winning AV(s) perform the tasks and update the fleet. In this way, the described techniques, apparatuses, and systems can provide perception services with increased coverage and quality, which can make autonomous and semi-autonomous driving systems safer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Aptiv Technologies Limited
    Inventor: Kai Zhang