Patents Examined by James Trammel
  • Patent number: 9043144
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining a trajectory for a vehicle are disclosed, wherein, the method includes: identifying a starting position (p0) and a desired terminal position (P) for the vehicle; linearly approximating dynamics of the vehicle; and using the starting position (p0), desired terminal position (P), and linear approximation, determining the trajectory for the vehicle. The linear approximation can be constrained by requirements (e.g., specifications) that: (i) an acceleration applied to the vehicle at a point on the trajectory is relatively large when the acceleration acts in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the velocity of the vehicle; and (ii) an acceleration applied to the vehicle at a point on the trajectory is relatively small when the acceleration acts in a direction that is substantially parallel to the velocity of the vehicle. The vehicle may have a curvature limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: BAE SYSTEMS plc
    Inventors: George Morgan Mathews, Markus Deittert, Arthur George Richards
  • Patent number: 8855853
    Abstract: Techniques for operating, testing, and generating a testing report for the electrical and air subsystems of a vehicular trailer, without the use of an associated truck tractor are disclosed. The system includes a portable testing unit with self-powered electrical and air subsystems which are interconnected to the corresponding subsystems of the vehicular trailer under test. The portable testing unit can be rolled about on a stand and functions as a mini-truck tractor, in the sense that it selectively provides electrical power and air to the VUT. The testing unit is controlled by a small, portable hand held radio frequency remote control that communicates test and data signals to a radio receiver in the portable testing unit. The system acquires testing data from both automatic and manual means from disparate sources. The system stores the testing data and automatically generates testing reports. The system manages the testing data and generated reports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: LITE-CHECK Fleet Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Marion Blair
  • Patent number: 8588999
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for improving a balance between engine fuel economy and exhaust emissions in an off-highway vehicle. One example method includes adjusting an engine injection timing based on an ambient NOx level estimated by a NOx sensor in the engine intake. Another example method includes adjusting a trip plan with a time in notch duty cycle based on a deviation from the time in notch duty cycle from a reference duty cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Edward Joseph Hall, Kyle Stott, Ajith Kuttannair Kumar, James Robert Mischler, Christopher Mcnally, Jason Dean
  • Patent number: 8532875
    Abstract: Motor vehicle having a closed ride height control system which contains a control unit in which a switch-off limiting value for at least one operating parameter of at least one component of the ride height control system is monitored, wherein in raising processes the activation of the component is prohibited or aborted when the switch-off limiting value is reached, and upward transgression of the switch-off limiting value of the operating parameter is permitted in the case of lowering processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Marek Engelhardt, Dierk Hein
  • Patent number: 8527192
    Abstract: Watercraft automation and aquatic data utilization for aquatic efforts are utilized for fishing and network communication. In one aspect, an anchor point is obtained and a water craft position maintenance routine is actuated to control the watercraft to maintain association with the anchor point. In another aspect, prior aquatic effort data is obtained in association with an anchor point. In yet another, aspect, current aquatic effort data is generated in association with an anchor point. In still another aspect, current aquatic effort data and prior aquatic effort data are utilized for prediction generation. In yet another aspect, current aquatic effort data and prior aquatic effort data are utilized to obtain another anchor point for a watercraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Inventors: Ted V. Grace, Ryan T. Grace
  • Patent number: 8504244
    Abstract: A method for improving the driving stability of a vehicle, including ascertaining a trajectory to be followed by the vehicle in a situation-specific manner, an active steering system and/or a braking device being set in the vehicle in such a way that at least one transverse dynamic state variable is within an associated limiting value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Rainer Brueggemann, Andreas Reize, Philipp Frueh
  • Patent number: 8483904
    Abstract: The automobile described herein is configured with a system for capturing subjective and objective data related to automobile performance events. The automobile may comprise or be configured with a drivability evaluation system. This drivability evaluation system may be configured to capture subjective driver responses, monitor driver commands, and monitor automobile performance based on the driver commands. Moreover, the system may be employed in real world driving scenarios, where a driver's commands and the associated automobile responses are indicative of actual every day driving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: John Stephen Viggers
  • Patent number: 8407003
    Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, an end-user can input a correction to a map error, directly on the device. The device is then able to use the correction without external processing of the correction. Hence, it is no longer necessary for an end-user to simply report errors to the map vendor over a web link, then wait for that map vendor to verify the error, update its maps and finally supply the end-user with updates—a cycle that can take months and sometimes years to complete. Instead, the navigation device can use the correction immediately. End-users can also share corrections with other end-users and also with a shared remote server that aggregates, validates and distributes corrections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Tomtom International B.V.
    Inventors: Pieter Geelen, Sven Jurgens, Rory Jones, Mareije Roosen, Sergei Kucheiko, Edwin Neef, Karine Hilbrandie
  • Patent number: 8396664
    Abstract: The present invention provides three-dimensional, topographic data (x,y,z) for a golf course navigation device. In an embodiment of the invention, three data sets are acquired for each golf hole: (1) geospatial digital image data, (2) geospatial terrain data including elevation and topographic measurements, and (3) object data pertaining to trees, bushes, water hazards, buildings, and any other objects present. Each hole is mapped using high resolution airborne photogrammetry and in some cases, light detection and ranging acquisition sensors. Geospatial, three-dimensional terrain data is acquired using a photogrammetry and/or stereo photogrammetry compilation. Object data is acquired from measurements taken from ground level. From all of this acquired data, a three-dimensional (x,y,z) geospatial model is built and then integrated into 3-D gaming, visualization and web mapping environments such as Microsoft Bing Maps, Google Earth, and various mobile and golf cart mounted, golf course navigation systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Terra Imaging
    Inventor: Karl Engstrom
  • Patent number: 8229662
    Abstract: The invention notably relates to a method of detecting obstacles on the ground receiving an obstacle clearance sensor and a zone for extracting map data. The method comprises the following steps: extraction from an obstacle database of a list of pointlike obstacles; extraction from an obstacle database of a list of linear obstacles; determination, according to the obstacle clearance sensor, of the risks associated with the extracted pointlike obstacles and generation of a warning; determination, according to the obstacle clearance sensor, of the risks associated with the extracted linear obstacles, and generation of a warning. In particular, the invention applies to the calculation of the warnings relating to the risks of collision with pointlike or linear obstacles taking into account the path of the aircraft and the altitude of the obstacles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Thales
    Inventors: Michel Subelet, Sylvain Fontaine, Carine Moncourt, Bernard Fabre