Patents Examined by John Q. Nguyen
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Patent number: 9177425Abstract: A vehicle data analysis apparatus analyzes vehicle data that indicates chronological change of a vehicle state. The vehicle data analysis apparatus is provided with a computing unit and a recognition unit. The computing unit is configured to make obvious data fluctuation accompanying the development, in the vehicle data, of mechanical or control-related fault in a vehicle control system. The recognition unit is configured to recognize the vehicle data to be considered during vehicle fault diagnosis on the basis of a result of computation by the computing unit.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2012Date of Patent: November 3, 2015Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hideaki Suganuma, Takeshi Matsumura, Toshiro Hikita
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Patent number: 9175968Abstract: A method of operation of a navigation system includes: providing a project plan; creating a travel plan having a travel location based on the project plan; navigating to the travel location; and generating a notification at the travel location for displaying on a device.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2010Date of Patent: November 3, 2015Assignee: TELENAV, INCInventor: Ambreen Haleem
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Patent number: 9175966Abstract: A monitoring device receives an aerial image, data relating to a vehicle and a request for an image of the vehicle. The vehicle is located in the image. A portion of the aerial image that includes the vehicle and/or information based thereon is provided.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2013Date of Patent: November 3, 2015Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Douglas R. Martin, Kenneth J. Miller
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Patent number: 9176502Abstract: An automatic guided vehicle and a method for drive control enable setting the vehicle alongside a conveyor with high accuracy in stopping at a task address. An automatic guided vehicle includes photoelectric sensors which detect the presence of an article by projecting light to a reflecting plate arranged on a conveyor and receiving signal light reflected from the reflecting plate and are arranged in one at each of the front and rear portions of the automatic guided vehicle, and a unit for detecting the distance between the vehicle and the conveyor. When both the photoelectric sensors arranged at the front and read portions of the side surface of the vehicle, a steering vehicle is steered toward the conveyor, and the automatic guided vehicle is driven toward the conveyor until the distance between the vehicle and the conveyor becomes within a predetermined distance.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 2011Date of Patent: November 3, 2015Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Hideaki Furuno, Yoshiharu Tomioka, Yutaka Yoshida
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Patent number: 9174633Abstract: Systems and methods for improving operation of a hybrid vehicle are presented. In one example, driveline braking may transition from regenerative braking to engine braking to reduce the possibility of battery degradation.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2013Date of Patent: November 3, 2015Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Seung-Hoon Lee, Gregory Michael Pietron, Jeffrey Allen Doering, Alex O'Connor Gibson, Dennis Craig Reed
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Patent number: 9175961Abstract: There is provided an information processing apparatus including, a track list generation unit that generates a track list that is a list of track groups including at least a movement trajectory track generated from movement trajectory information containing position information and time information corresponding to the position information, and a display control unit that causes a display device to display a list screen including the track list.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2011Date of Patent: November 3, 2015Assignee: SONY CORPORATIONInventor: Takao Terai
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Patent number: 9168924Abstract: A lane controller system installed on a vehicle may include components for self-diagnosing malfunctions on the vehicle. The system may include a desired path generator for generating a desired path that keeps the vehicle within a road lane; a steering controller for providing steering a steering correction to keep the vehicle within the road lane; a vehicle state estimator for estimating the state of the vehicle; a lane marking detector for detecting position of road lane markings; a path predictor for predicting a path actively followed by the vehicle; a virtual dynamics module for modeling the anticipated path of the vehicle following input of the steering controller; a comparer that compares the results of actual steering corrections applied with those predicted by the virtual dynamics module, and a diagnostic system that determines a root cause of malfunctions, based on the comparison by the comparer.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2012Date of Patent: October 27, 2015Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Jin-Woo Lee, Bakhtiar Brian Litkouhi
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Patent number: 9170125Abstract: A method is present for presenting weather information. A number of weather conditions for a geographic region is identified from weather data for the geographic region. A geometry is selected for a weather condition based on a type of the weather condition to form a number of geometries. Each geometry within the number of geometries has a level of transparency within a corresponding border allowing another geometry to be identified when displayed in an overlapping manner. A spatial extension is selected for the each geometry within the number of geometries based on an extent of an associated weather condition to form the number of geometries. The number of geometries is displayed on a map of the geographic region in which the number of geometries is displayed in locations on the map corresponding to locations of the number of weather conditions in the geographic region.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2008Date of Patent: October 27, 2015Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: Christina Schilke, Thomas Grasse
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Patent number: 9168834Abstract: A vehicle includes a mobile communication device that controls in-vehicle devices remotely, a drive controller that controls drive of the vehicle, a communication controller that controls the wireless communication with the mobile communication device, and an auxiliary battery that activates the communication controller and an in-vehicle-device controller controlling the in-vehicle devices. The communication controller includes a stopper that stops the wireless communication if a correlating temperature is lower than or equal to a predetermined temperature, the correlating temperature correlating with the temperature of the auxiliary battery acquired at a first predetermined time after a stop of the drive controller.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2013Date of Patent: October 27, 2015Assignee: MITSUBISHI JIDOSHA KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hiroyuki Yashiro, Naoki Kawashima, Hiroki Fukatsu, Masahide Shiba, Takuma Maeda
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Patent number: 9168901Abstract: A system for substantially minimising sway of a towed vehicle, fitted with electric brakes, hitched to a towing vehicle, the system including an electric stability control (ESC) device adapted for mounting to a portion of the towed vehicle, the ESC device being operably connected to the electric brakes by cable means, the ESC including a sway detecting means for measuring lateral acceleration of the towed vehicle; an actuator means for activating the electric brakes of the towed vehicle, the actuator means being operatively connected to the sway detecting means whereby the sway detecting means activates the actuator means to apply a voltage to the brakes for a period of time when the sway detecting means detects a predetermined lateral acceleration of the towed vehicle relative to the towing vehicle. The system can also be used for controlling dangerous sway and instability of a towed vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2012Date of Patent: October 27, 2015Assignee: AL-KO International Pty Ltd.Inventors: Robert Funder, Simon Cox
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Patent number: 9168900Abstract: An air brake monitoring system for monitoring a pressure of the system and providing various alarms and/or warnings to a user including tire and brake status/alarms and providing for a backup alarm. The air brake monitoring system configurable to function with the existing wiring of the vehicle and including an air brake monitoring device to be positioned in the vicinity of a brake valve. The air brake monitoring system is further provided to monitor the electrical stoplight power transmitted to the ABS brakes as well as the vehicle static/dynamic condition.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2012Date of Patent: October 27, 2015Assignee: Haldex Brake CorporationInventors: James L. Greene, David G. Engelbert, Jerry J. Donovan, Thomas D. Mullikin
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Patent number: 9168937Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a dragger. The dragger may have a plurality of sensors configured to be located adjacent a railroad track. Each of the plurality of sensors may be oriented at an angle relative to a horizontal plane. The dragger may also have a controller in communication with the plurality of sensors. The controller may be configured to receive signals from the plurality of sensors, determine a parameter based on at least one of the received signals, and detect a fault condition when the parameter exceeds a threshold.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2012Date of Patent: October 27, 2015Assignee: Progress Rail Services CorporationInventor: Mark Joseph Bartonek
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Patent number: 9168946Abstract: A computer-implemented method for generating at least one segment of an offset path for a vehicle based on at least one segment of a base path is provided. The at least one segment of the base path is represented by a stored set of data points. The computer-implemented method includes comparing the at least one segment of the base path to a curvature constraint to determine if the at least one segment of the base path violates the curvature constraint. The curvature constraint is based on a characteristic of the vehicle and a desired offset distance from the at least one segment of the base path. The characteristic reflects the vehicle's ability to traverse at least one segment of a path. The method further includes modifying the at least one segment of the base path to satisfy the curvature constraint, if the at least one segment of the base path violates the curvature constraint.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2010Date of Patent: October 27, 2015Assignee: JAVAD GNSS, INC.Inventors: Javad Ashjaee, Alexander V. Pesterev, Lev B. Rapoport
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Patent number: 9169926Abstract: A system and method involves a machine that powertrain including a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and a machine speed sensor to determine a measured machine speed. The machine also includes a controller in communication with the CVT and the speed sensor. The controller may include a table relating the measured machine speed to a plurality of virtual gear ratios associated with the CVT. The controller is configured to determine a calculated virtual gear ratio using the table and, if desired, may display the calculated virtual gear ratio on a visual display.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2012Date of Patent: October 27, 2015Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Adam Nackers, Kevin Davis
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Patent number: 9168896Abstract: A vehicle driving control system and method for selecting a driving pattern using a predetermined program (or application) and for operating vehicle driving via a terminal that provides driving information of the selected driving pattern. The vehicle driving control system may include a terminal configured to transmit a selected driving pattern mode and driving pattern control information on the selected driving pattern mode to a vehicle controller when a predetermined vehicle driving pattern control program is executed. A vehicle controller is configured to operate an object of a vehicle related to driving based on the driving pattern mode and the driving pattern control information transmitted by the terminal. A transceiver is configured to transmit and receive signals between the terminal and the vehicle controller.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2013Date of Patent: October 27, 2015Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors CorporationInventor: Sang Joon Kim
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Patent number: 9169927Abstract: There is provided a shift control apparatus of an automatic transmission in a vehicle including a constant speed traveling apparatus, which has a detecting device detecting a surrounding situation of the vehicle and operates according to the detected situation, and an automatic transmission capable of steplessly changing a transmission ratio, the shift control apparatus controlling the automatic transmission according to a shift map for changing the transmission ratio according to a traveling state. The shift control apparatus includes a plurality of shift maps, and a switching and selecting unit selecting and switching to one of the shift maps based on a shift-down request signal or a requested acceleration, which is outputted by a constant speed traveling control device of the constant speed traveling apparatus, according to the situation detected by the detecting device.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2011Date of Patent: October 27, 2015Assignee: Suzuki Motor CorporationInventors: Yusuke Nakamura, Hiroyuki Sato
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Patent number: 9169615Abstract: A mining shovel includes a dipper assembly comprising a dipper arm coupled to a dipper, a boom assembly configured to support the dipper assembly, and an overcrowd prevention system including one or more sensors configured to monitor an axial force. The mining shovel also includes a swing abuse prevention system, including one or more sensors configured to monitor one or more compound loading forces, and one or more sensors configured to monitor a torsion loading force. The mining shovel also includes a control module configured to receive signals from the sensors, and to control at least the crowding force applied to the dipper.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2013Date of Patent: October 27, 2015Assignee: Caterpillar Global Mining LLCInventors: James Ryan, Van I. Phifer
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Patent number: 9162639Abstract: When a power supply switch is fed with power from a DC power supply and closed, a power supply unit starts power feeding to an opening and closing command generation unit and continues the power feeding by a self-hold command signal from the opening and closing command generation unit. A reverse connection protective element is a field-effect transistor connected in series to the power supply switch and driven to conduct current in an energization direction of an internal parasitic diode when the power supply is connected in proper polarity. Even when a supply fault abnormality is occurring due to fault contact between a positive-side wire of an in-vehicle electrical load connected to the reverse connection protective element and a positive-electrode wire of the DC power supply, the self-hold command signal is cancelled by determining that the power supply switch is opened while the reverse connection protective element is opened.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2013Date of Patent: October 20, 2015Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Shozo Kanzaki, Koji Hashimoto
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Patent number: 9162703Abstract: A steering controller can control steering of a vehicle and is suitable for precision farm controlling. The steering controller can rotate the steering shaft of the vehicle direct the vehicle on a desired path, for example, using a satellite positioning system. Components of the steering controller are environmental protected by a housing that has an opening extending between its front and rear surfaces. The opening is lined by a shaft. A hub located near the front of the opening can be coupled to the steering shaft of the vehicle. A motor has a stator fixed to the housing and a rotor fixed to the hub. When the housing is attached to a fixed location on the vehicle, the motor can rotate the steering shaft by rotating the hub with respect to the housing. A control module drives the motor based on commands from a guidance module.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2013Date of Patent: October 20, 2015Assignee: AgJunction, LLCInventors: Steve Miller, Brian Ganz, James Hutchings, Charles D. Syverson
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Patent number: 9163947Abstract: The present invention relates to a navigation system and to a method for controlling vehicle navigation. The vehicle navigation includes a storage that saves map data, a communication part that receives, from a vehicle black box installed in the vehicle, visual data captured by the black box, and a control part that acquires location data from the map data and saves the data after mapping the captured visual data with the location data.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2011Date of Patent: October 20, 2015Assignee: Intellectual Discovery Ltd. Co.Inventors: Heungwon Kim, Seungwan Woo, Wonkeun Lee, Haeil Lee