Patents Examined by James J Lee
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Patent number: 11753013Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 14, 2020Date of Patent: September 12, 2023Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBHInventors: Bastian Reckziegel, Erich Sonntag, Gian Antonio D' Addetta, Johannes Ludwig Foltin, Sybille Eisele
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Patent number: 11752867Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 10, 2020Date of Patent: September 12, 2023Assignee: BG INTELLECTUALS, INC.Inventors: Michael Jason Erwin, Thomas Michael Probus, John Daniel Cheek, Lucas Mitchell Shaw, Bradley Robert Young
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Patent number: 11753042Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 29, 2020Date of Patent: September 12, 2023Inventors: Subasingha Shaminda Subasingha, Yongzhe Chen, Mehran Ferdowsi, Samuel Holladay, Turhan Karadeniz, Robert Nicholas Moor, Joseph Patrick Warga, Harrison Thomas Waschura, Silas Kogure Wilkinson
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Patent number: 11748407Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 12, 2020Date of Patent: September 5, 2023Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Philip Ventimiglia, Stefan Weissert, Christian Stresing, Christian Neumann
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Patent number: 11745684Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 27, 2020Date of Patent: September 5, 2023Assignee: United Services Automobile AssociationInventors: Yevgeniy Viatcheslavovich Khmelev, Oscar Guerra, Jeffrey Neal Pollack, Janelle Denice Dziuk, Ashley Raine Philbrick, Ryan Thomas Russell, David Patrick Dixon
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Patent number: 11749031Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 13, 2019Date of Patent: September 5, 2023Assignee: EGR Solutions LLCInventor: Emanuel Rusu
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Patent number: 11738726Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 29, 2018Date of Patent: August 29, 2023Assignees: 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
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Patent number: 11738886Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 1, 2019Date of Patent: August 29, 2023Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Gary E. Georgeson, Jeong-Beom Ihn, William T. McDowell
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Patent number: 11740098Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 16, 2019Date of Patent: August 29, 2023Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Eri Izumi Maeda, David Wong Cun
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Patent number: 11738778Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 21, 2020Date of Patent: August 29, 2023Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Zahy Bnaya, Asaf Degani, Claudia Goldman-Shenhar
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Patent number: 11740092Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 7, 2022Date of Patent: August 29, 2023Assignee: POR Holdings LLCInventors: Jeffrey Robert Moss, Francis W. Rush, III
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Patent number: 11738780Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 17, 2020Date of Patent: August 29, 2023Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kenichiroh Hara, Naruhisa Yoshida, Kazuhiro Tomosue, Shunichiroh Sawai, Naoki Nishimura, Takanori Kusakabe, Tomoyuki Yoshida, Shogo Konishi, Hirofumi Mori
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Patent number: 11731599Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 14, 2018Date of Patent: August 22, 2023Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Gotthilf Koerner, Oda Limbach, Ruben Obenland, Simon Riedel, Stefan Hoess
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Patent number: 11731493Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 1, 2019Date of Patent: August 22, 2023Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: Eric Lee Nicks, James Ralph Hamilton
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Patent number: 11731514Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 27, 2022Date of Patent: August 22, 2023Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yuchi Yamanouchi, Masaharu Kinoshita
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Patent number: 11731662Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 8, 2020Date of Patent: August 22, 2023Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Kevin Lee Wyffels, G. Peter K. Carr
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Patent number: 11726492Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 14, 2020Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Assignee: Zoox, Inc.Inventors: James William Vaisey Philbin, Cooper Stokes Sloan, Noureldin Ehab Hendy, Nicholas George Charchut, Chuang Wang
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Patent number: 11724598Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 29, 2020Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yuchi Yamanouchi, Masaharu Kinoshita
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Patent number: 11727732Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 8, 2022Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Assignee: GE AVIATION SYSTEMS LIMITEDInventors: Paul Dunning, Steven Bonnett, Timothy North, Daniel Lee
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Patent number: 11724718Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 20, 2021Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Assignee: Aptiv Technologies LimitedInventor: Kai Zhang