Patents Examined by Jonathan M Dager
  • Hybrid vehicle engine start and shift control strategy
    Patent number: 11225244
    Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for engine starting and transmission shifting where a controller may be operable to decrease a torque of a motor and operate a starter-generator (ISG) to start an engine responsive to a command to shift the transmission and start the engine. The controller may disengage a second clutch and subsequently shift the transmission to a target gear ratio speed responsive to the torque of the motor achieving zero. The controller may increase respective torques of the motor, ISG, and engine to drive a speed of the motor, ISG, and engine toward a target speed defined by the target gear speed responsive to completion of the shift. The controller may engage the second clutch responsive to the speed of the motor achieving the target speed and engage a disconnect clutch responsive to the respective speeds of the ISG and engine achieving the target speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jason Meyer, Dushyant Palejiya, Rajit Johri, Yixin Yao
  • Vehicle speed regulation incorporating driver wishes under cornering
    Patent number: 11220178
    Abstract: A method is intended to regulate the speed of an at least partially self-driving vehicle, knowing the radius of curvature of a future position it is preparing to take on a course along which it is travelling. This method comprises a step (10-90) in which the speed is regulated as a function of a speed set point and, if a radius of curvature of the future position which is representative of a curve is detected, a phase of deceleration down to a chosen speed followed by a phase of acceleration until the speed setpoint is obtained are imposed on the vehicle. In this step (10-90), when the driver imposes acceleration on his vehicle during the deceleration phase, this deceleration phase is halted and then another phase of acceleration until the speed set point is obtained is imposed on the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: PSA AUTOMOBILES SA
    Inventors: Claire Belle, Fabrice Perrot, Eric Favreau
  • Adaptive driving mode in semi or fully autonomous vehicles
    Patent number: 11221623
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling a vehicle. The methods comprise: receiving, by a computing device from at least one sensor, first sensor information specifying actions taken by a person while driving the vehicle or another vehicle; performing machine learning operations to learn first driving habits of the person based on at least one of the first sensor information; determining at least one autonomous driving rule for a particular driving style setting of a plurality of driving style setting options based on the machine-learned driving habits of the person; programming the particular driving style setting using the at least one autonomous driving rule; and causing the vehicle to enforce the at least one autonomous driving rule when the particular driving style setting is selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES
    Inventor: Mehrdad Nojoumian
  • Systems and methods for regulating vehicle access
    Patent number: 11220237
    Abstract: A request to access a vehicle is received from an electronic device of a user. The vehicle can be disposed at a designated geographic location. Next, geographic information of the user is received from the electronic device. The geographic information is determined with the aid of the electronic device of the user. The user is then provided access to the vehicle if, based on the received geographic information, a geographic location of the user is within a given distance from the designated geographic location of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Scoot Rides, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Keating, J. Loren Passmore, Peter R. Russo
  • Learn association for multi-object tracking with multi sensory data and missing modalities
    Patent number: 11214261
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for detecting and assigning objects to sensed values. An object detection arrangement includes a processor that is programmed to execute a first branch of instructions and a second branch of instructions. Each branch of instructions includes receiving a modality from at least one sensor of a group of sensors via a respective interface and determining an output value based on the modality. The object detection arrangement includes an association distance matrix. Modalities of different branches of instructions define different modalities of an object external to the object detection arrangement. The object detection arrangement cumulates the output values, and the association distance matrix associates an object to the cumulated output values to thereby detect and track the object external to the object detection arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Max Bluvstein, Shaul Oron, Bat El Shlomo
  • Apparatus and method for controlling lane change in vehicle
    Patent number: 11214256
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a lane change of a vehicle includes: a sensor to sense an external vehicle, an input device to receive a lane change command from a driver of the vehicle, and a control circuit to be electrically connected with the sensor and the input device. The control circuit may receive the lane change command using the input device, calculate a minimum operation speed for lane change control, and determine whether to accelerate the vehicle based on a distance between a preceding vehicle which is traveling on the same lane as the vehicle and the vehicle, when a driving speed of the vehicle is lower than the minimum operation speed when receiving the lane change command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sung Min Park, Na Eun Yang, Jin Su Jeong
  • Vehicle control device
    Patent number: 11214247
    Abstract: The vehicle control device includes a target detection sensor and a control device that controls the operation of actuators. The target detection sensor can detect the relative speed of a target, positioned in a detectable area, with respect to the vehicle but cannot detect the relative speed when the target exists in a short distance area. The control device calculates the change amount of the relative speed per unit time. When the target enters the short-distance region, the control device calculates the estimated relative speed based on the elapsed time from the last acquisition time, which is the time when the relative speed of the target was last acquired from the target detection sensor, to the current time, the last acquired relative speed that is the relative speed of the target at the last acquisition time, and the time rate of change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yusuke Mase, Shoichi Inaba, Kazuki Mori
  • Steering apparatus and method for controlling steering apparatus
    Patent number: 11214293
    Abstract: A steering apparatus includes a steering wheel that rotates about a first rotation axis, a folding mechanism that folds the steering wheel along the first rotation axis, a moving mechanism that moves the steering wheel between a protruding position in which the steering wheel protrudes from a dashboard of the vehicle and a stored position closer to the dashboard than the protruding position, and an electronic control unit that drives the folding mechanism and the moving mechanism. When the folded steering wheel is moved from the protruding position to the stored position, the electronic control unit drives, in advance, a drive member mounted on the vehicle so that the steering wheel is retracted relative to a body of a driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yousuke Nishimura, Norihiro Ochi, Takeshi Watanabe, Yasuyuki Nozawa, Kei Kitahara
  • Planter row unit downforce control with ground view sensor
    Patent number: 11202404
    Abstract: A row unit for a seeding machine includes a ground view sensor coupled to the frame. The ground view sensor is operable to sense the furrow and generate depth signals corresponding to actual sensed depth of the furrow. The row unit also includes a controller configured to receive the signals, and a downforce adjustment mechanism coupled to the frame and to the controller. The controller is configured to activate the downforce adjustment mechanism to adjust a downforce on the frame based on the signals received by the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Jason D. Walter, Michael E. Frasier, Lawrence D. Green, James Z. Liu, Donald K. Landphair
  • Autonomous vehicle controlled based upon a LIDAR data segmentation system
    Patent number: 11204605
    Abstract: An autonomous vehicle is described herein. The autonomous vehicle includes a lidar sensor system. The autonomous vehicle additionally includes a computing system that executes a lidar segmentation system, wherein the lidar segmentation system is configured to identify objects that are in proximity to the autonomous vehicle based upon output of the lidar sensor system. The computing system further includes a deep neural network (DNN), where the lidar segmentation system identifies the objects in proximity to the autonomous vehicle based upon output of the DNN.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Andrea Allais, Micah Christopher Chambers, William Gongshu Xie, Adam Samuel Cadien, Elliot Branson
  • Autonomous vehicle operator performance tracking
    Patent number: 11198447
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a system and method for determining vehicle operator preparedness for vehicles that support both autonomous operation and manual operation. The system includes sensors configured to generate output signals conveying information related to vehicles and their operation. During autonomous vehicle operation, the system gauges the level of responsiveness of an individual vehicle operator through challenges and corresponding responses. Based on the level of responsiveness, a preparedness metric is determined for each vehicle operator individually.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: SmartDrive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Palmer, Mark Freitas, Daniel A. Deninger, David Forney, Slaven Sljivar, Alekh Vaidya, Jeffrey Griswold
  • Systems and devices for autonomous lawn care
    Patent number: 11197414
    Abstract: A system for providing autonomous lawn care services. The system includes a number of autonomous outdoor power devices, and one or more service vehicles. The one or more service vehicles are configured to selectively load and unload one or more of the autonomous outdoor power devices at a jobsite based on instructions received by a controller of the one or more service vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey M. Zeiler, Robert Pjevach, Kyle Harvey, Nicholas Zeidler, Jacob Schmalz, Peter D. Shears, Todd Johnson, Ryan T. Hahn
  • Curvature corrected path sampling system for autonomous driving vehicles
    Patent number: 11199847
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a system determines a first trajectory (e.g., a reference line) based on map and route information of the ADV. The system determines a maximum curvature for a predetermined distance for the first trajectory. The system determines a sampling decay ratio based on the maximum curvature. The system generates one or more sets of sample points for the first trajectory, where each set of sample points include one or more sample points separated by a lateral distance apart based on the sampling decay ratio. The system generates a second trajectory for the ADV based on the sets of sample points to control the ADV, where the second trajectory nudges to a left or a right of the first trajectory based on the maximum curvature of the first trajectory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: BAIDU USA LLC
    Inventor: Fan Zhu
  • Systems and methods for flexible route planning
    Patent number: 11199416
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and non-transitory computer readable media are provided for flexible route planning. Locations for a planned movement may be obtained. The locations may include at least a starting location and an ending location. A route for the planned movement may be determined. The route may include at least the starting location and the ending location. A composite cost of using the route may be determined. The composite cost may include at least a temporal cost component and a non-temporal cost component. An interface through which the composite cost is accessible may be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Palantir Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Wilczynski, Reese Glidden
  • Estimation device, control method, program and storage medium
    Patent number: 11199850
    Abstract: Provided is an estimation device capable of estimating a current position with a high degree of accuracy. A driving support system includes: a vehicle mounted device 1 that is mounted on a vehicle and performs a control concerning vehicle driving support; a LIDAR 2; a gyroscope sensor 3; and a vehicle speed sensor 4. The vehicle mounted device 1 acquires, from the LIDAR 2, a measurement value ztk indicating a positional relationship between a reference landmark Lk of an index k and the own vehicle. The vehicle mounted device 1 calculates a post estimated value x{circumflex over (?)}t by correcting a prior estimated value x?t estimated, on the basis of the measurement value ztk and a position vector mk of the reference landmark Lk included in a map DB 10, from a moving speed measured by the vehicle speed sensor 4 and an angular rate measured by the gyroscope sensor 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: PIONEER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masami Suzuki, Kenji Mito, Hitoshi Kaneko
  • Vehicle control method and control device
    Patent number: 11192539
    Abstract: A vehicle control method for executing a sailing stop control when a drive source stop condition is established while a vehicle is traveling. The sailing stop control stops a drive source of the vehicle and releases an engaging element provided between the drive source and a drive wheel such that the vehicle travels under inertia. The vehicle control method acquires information on a road on which the vehicle will travel, and then determines whether there is a section on a route where the sailing stop control can be executed based on the information. Upon determining a section exist capable of the sailing stop control, the vehicle control method estimates a power shortage amount, which is a shortage amount of power during sailing stop control, based on the information, and charges a battery with power required to cover the power shortage amount prior to starting the sailing stop control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Hirata, Yusuke Nakane, Takanobu Sawada
  • Apparatus and method for controlling vehicle based on redundant architecture
    Patent number: 11190957
    Abstract: Disclosed are an apparatus and a method for controlling a vehicle based on redundant architecture, and more particularly, a technology for monitoring breakdown of communication paths of a vehicle control device based on redundant architecture. The apparatus includes: a plurality of electronic controllers configured to control driving of the vehicle based on sensing information of the vehicle; and a plurality of communication paths configured to exchange data between the plurality of electronic controllers, wherein the plurality of electronic controllers are configured to generate a vehicle control instruction for controlling driving of the vehicle based on vehicle information and are configured to monitor an operational status of at least one of the plurality of electronic controllers through the plurality of communication paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hyun Jung Kim
  • Method and apparatus for generating a pooled route to extend a service area of a shared vehicle
    Patent number: 11187545
    Abstract: An approach is provided for generating a pooled route to extend a service area of a shared vehicle. The approach involves receiving a request from a first user to travel a first route to a destination outside of the service area of the shared vehicle. The approach also comprises determining a second user with a second route that uses the shared vehicle and that is within a threshold proximity, a threshold time, or a combination thereof of the first route, the destination, or a combination thereof. The approach further comprises computing the pooled route for the first user to travel to the destination using the shared vehicle and for the second user to return the shared vehicle to the service area after the first user reaches the destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: HERE Global B.V.
    Inventors: Jerome Beaurepaire, Uwa Okonkwo
  • Methods and system for operating a driveline in a speed control mode
    Patent number: 11186267
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a driveline of a hybrid vehicle are described. In one example, a torque of an engine is adjusted in response to an error between an actual electric machine torque and a minimum electric machine torque plus an offset torque. The reduction of engine torque may be performed when a driveline is operating in a speed control mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Rajit Johri, Fazal Syed
  • Trajectory time reversal
    Patent number: 11187542
    Abstract: An apparatus and methods provide trajectory data for a geographic area. Multiple probe data sets are received or identified from one or more mobile devices. The probe data sets include time values in a first sequence associated with location values in the first sequence. At least one of the probe data sets is modified to reverse the location values such that the modified probe data set includes time values in a first sequence associated with location values in a second sequence. A location clustering algorithm is performed on the plurality of probe data sets and the modified probe data set based on the location values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: HERE Global B.V.
    Inventors: Tessa Berry, Matei Stroila, Onur Derin, Bo Xu