Patents Examined by Jordan S Fei
  • Patent number: 11002550
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for identifying a paddle region. One of these method includes generating a map of a paddle region for a paddler of an aquatic device based on weather, nautical conditions, experience level of the paddler, and the duration of the trip; and presenting the map to the user on a computer device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Maritime Planning Associates, Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew Ward
  • Patent number: 10978986
    Abstract: A shortening of an initial diagnosis time is achieved, even after an elapse of a predetermined delay time from an ignition switch being switched to an off-state. After the ignition switch is switched to an off-state after an operation of a control device, which drives an electric motor that applies steering assistance force to a steering system, diagnosis of a power supply circuit that supplies power to the control device is carried out, and a diagnosis item to be implemented in a succeeding initial diagnosis is determined based on a result of the diagnosis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Seiichi Imaizumi, Susumu Zeniya, Yuji Takatsuka, Yasushi Takemoto
  • Patent number: 10906662
    Abstract: An electronic speed controller includes an output circuit and one or more processors. The output circuit is configured to control currents to a plurality of motors of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The motors are configured to drive the UAV. The one or more processors are configured to, individually or collectively, determine an operating state of a first motor of the plurality of motors, collect power from the first motor in response to the operating state of the first motor is a decelerating state, and distribute at least a portion of the power collected from the first motor to a second motor of the plurality of motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: SZ DJI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wenlong Xiao, Xiaojian Wan
  • Patent number: 10884407
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture (e.g., physical storage media) to manage deployed drones are disclosed. Example methods disclosed herein include detecting, by a first drone, whether the first drone is in communication with a command center via a first communication network to determine a configuration parameter of a first message to broadcast discovery information associated with the first drone. Disclosed example methods also include, in response to the first drone being in communication with the command center via the first communication network, broadcasting, from the first drone, the first message configured with a first value for the configuration parameter. Disclosed example methods further include, in response to the first drone not being in communication with the command center via the first communication network, broadcasting, from the first drone, the first message configured with a second value for the configuration parameter different from the first value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Sangar Dowlatkhah, Venson Shaw, Zhi Cui
  • Patent number: 10821829
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an autonomous vehicle includes a controller and a control interface disposed in an enclosure on the side of the autonomous vehicle. The control interface includes a display communicatively coupled to the controller. The display is used to at least setup or control operation of an implement attached to the autonomous vehicle, setup or control operation of the autonomous vehicle, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Alan Foster, Frank Zsigmond Asztalos, Eric Michael Jacobsthal, Matthew Huenemann, Dwayne St. George Jackson
  • Patent number: 10800505
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, relating to an autonomous aerial personal assistant device (AAPAD). The AAPAD can include a base unit housing various electronic components, a balloon for providing lift to carry a weight of the base unit, and a positioning unit that maintains a position of the balloon based at least on feedback provided by a plurality of sensors and computers. In some implementations, a request to initiate a communication session can be received on the AAPAD. Data indicating a presence of the user can then be obtained. A preset distance between the user and the AAPAD can be determined. Instructions to one or more components of the AAPAD can then be transmitted to automatically navigate the AAPAD to travel toward a location of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: X Development LLC
    Inventor: Aaron Ladd Edsinger
  • Patent number: 10746552
    Abstract: A navigation assist system having a plurality of navigation assist apparatuses installed on small boats like motorboats each fitted with an outboard motor to be able to navigate in a predetermined water area, and a server placed on land to communicate with the navigation assist apparatuses. Each of the navigation assist apparatuses detects a sharp turn position of the boat, adds the position to a danger level data downloaded from the server unit, and alerts an operator concerned when the boat approaches a region whose danger level is great.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Hashizume, Keiichiro Bungo, Ryuichi Kimata
  • Patent number: 10617071
    Abstract: A modular system includes a hub and a set of modules removably coupled to the hub. The modules are physically coupled to the frame relative to each other so that each module can operate with respect to a different row of a field. An individual module includes a sensor for capturing field measurement data of individual plants along a row as the modular system moves through the geographic region. An individual module further includes a treatment mechanism for applying a treatment to the individual plants of the row based on the field measurement data before the modular system passes by the individual plants. An individual module further includes a computing device that determines the treatment based on the field measurement data and communicates data to the hub. The hub is communicatively coupled to the modules, so that it may exchange data between the modules and with a remote computing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Blue River Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Lee Kamp Redden, James Patrick Ostrowski, Kent Anderson, Edward William Jeffcott Pell
  • Patent number: 10578442
    Abstract: Disclosed is a feature for a vehicle that enables taking precautionary actions in response to conditions on the road network around or ahead of the vehicle. A database that represents the road network is used to determine locations where a potentially hazardous condition exists. Then, precautionary action data is added to the database to indicate a location at which a precautionary action is to be taken relating to the hazardous condition. A precautionary action system installed in a vehicle uses this database, or a database derived therefrom, in combination with a positioning system to determine when the vehicle is at a location that corresponds to the location of a precautionary action. When the vehicle is at such a location, a precautionary action is taken by a vehicle system as the vehicle is approaching the location where the potentially hazardous condition exists.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: HERE Global B.V.
    Inventor: Robert Denaro
  • Patent number: 10556705
    Abstract: A method of redistributing motor power of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) includes determining, with aid of one or more processors, an operating state of a motor of the UAV. The motor is configured to drive a corresponding rotor to generate lift for the UAV. The method further includes determining, with aid of the one or more processors, how to redistribute power from the motor between a plurality of components when the motor has an operating state that is a decelerating state, and redistributing the power in accordance with the determination of how to redistribute the power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: SZ DJI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wenlong Xiao, Xiaojian Wan
  • Patent number: 10540899
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for segmenting a planned route of travel for indicating suggested or recommended diversion destinations with respect to those segments. One exemplary method of presenting diversion airports involves identifying a segmentation criterion for a flight plan, determining one or more diversion suitability distributions along a flight path defined by the flight plan, transforming the one or more diversion suitability distributions from a true distance scale to an effective distance scale based at least in part on meteorological conditions, and identifying a location for a segment boundary along the flight path based on an extrema of the one or more diversion suitability distributions within a portion of the flight path defined by the segmentation criterion on the effective distance scale. The method continues by providing graphical indicia of the flight path segment defined by the segment boundary and a diversion airport associated therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Zdenek Moravek, David Kunes, Katerina Chmelarova
  • Patent number: 10533866
    Abstract: A system and method includes accessing a road network database to identify a tire cost for a plurality of edges in a mining road network, identifying least-cost paths between each of a plurality of nodes on the mining road network using the tire cost for each of the plurality of edges, the nodes including a loading area and a dumping area for a plurality of haul trucks, accessing a distributed objects database to identify constraints for the nodes on the mining road network, determining a production plan using the constraints for the nodes on the mining road network by maximizing a function of the form ?f?(x)-?g?(x), where f?(x) is a normalized measure of productivity, g?(x) is a normalized measure of impact on tire conditioning, and ? and ?, are nonnegative constants with ?+?=1, subject to constraints on resource capacities and production requirements, with the material flow rates between each of the nodes on the mining road network specifying the production plan, determining a task assignment for each of th
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: MODULAR MINING SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Lucas Van Latum, Maria Brenda R. Rayco
  • Patent number: 10486690
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for hybrid electric internal combustion engine applications in which a motor-generator, a narrow switchable coupling and a torque transfer unit therebetween are arranged and positioned in the constrained environment at the front of an engine in applications such as commercial vehicles, off-road vehicles and stationary engine installations. The motor-generator is preferably positioned laterally offset from the switchable coupling, which is co-axially-arranged with the front end of the engine crankshaft. The switchable coupling is an integrated unit in which a crankshaft vibration damper, an engine accessory drive pulley and a disengageable clutch overlap such that the axial depth of the clutch-pulley-damper unit is nearly the same as a conventional belt drive pulley and engine damper. The front end motor-generator system includes an electrical energy store that receives electrical energy generated by the motor-generator when the coupling is engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Bendix Commerical Vehicle Systems, LLC
    Inventors: David Colavincenzo, Fernando Venegas Diaz
  • Patent number: 10479401
    Abstract: A power steering system including a sensor arranged or located in the steering system. The sensor detects an acoustic vibration or an acceleration signal in the steering system during a change in the steering angle and generates a sensor signal representing the vibration or the acceleration signal. A control unit receives the sensor signal and compares the sensor signal with a threshold value to detect a fault state; for example when the sensor signal is larger than the threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Frank Peter Engels
  • Patent number: 10464650
    Abstract: An engine propelling apparatus has power generating transmitting portion provided below a power generating portion, a propelling force generating portion provided adjacent to the power transmitting portion, and height adjustment mechanisms. The power generating portion includes an engine with a crankshaft arranged horizontal and substantially parallel to the front-rear longitudinal direction of a boat. A power transmission mechanism forms a linear power transmission route extending from the vicinity of a front end of the crankshaft to the vicinity of a front end of the propelling force generating portion. The propelling force generating portion includes a propeller shaft extending rearwards from the power transmitting portion, and a propeller at a rear portion of the propeller shaft. The height adjustment mechanisms vary inclination or height of all or a part of the engine propelling apparatus with respect to the boat to thereby vary height of the propeller with respect to the boat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masahiro Komoda, Yoshimitsu Sugiura, Yushiro Isobe
  • Patent number: 10435033
    Abstract: A driving support device includes an image output unit, an operation signal input unit, and a command output unit. The image output unit outputs an image information including a vehicle object representing a vehicle and a peripheral situation of the vehicle, to a display unit. The operation signal input unit receives an operation signal of a user with respect to the vehicle object in an image displayed on the display unit. The command output unit outputs an automatic driving control command corresponding to the received operation signal, to an automatic driving controller that controls automatic driving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazushige Yamada, Osamu Yamaji, Azusa Gojyo, Satoshi Kajita, Toshiaki Mori, Makoto Okada
  • Patent number: 10417920
    Abstract: A method for aiding the landing of an aircraft on a landing runway comprises the following steps implemented automatically by a processing unit: a) acquiring information relating to the runway; b) acquiring information relating to a current situation of the aircraft; i) determining a landing position of the aircraft on a central longitudinal axis of the runway, as a function of a trajectory determined between a current position of the aircraft and this landing position to comply with at least one constraint relating to a roll angle of the aircraft; j) determining a parameter relating to the landing position; k) determining a deviation between this parameter and a reference value; l) comparing this deviation with a predetermined threshold; and m) as a function of the result of the comparison carried out in step l), commanding, if appropriate, the signaling of an alert via the signaling system of the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS
    Inventors: Pierre Scacchi, Matthieu Mayolle, Cécile Puissacq
  • Patent number: 10407848
    Abstract: A machine includes a material working mechanism movable relative to a frame to vary working depth of the material working mechanism. A control system monitors certain parameters, and controls a liquid dispensing mechanism to control application of a liquid such as water or an emulsion to be applied to material being worked by the material working mechanism based upon the parameters. The control system functions to produce a desired proportion of the liquid such as a liquid percent density in worked material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Lee Hogan, Matthew Frantz, Jason Muir, Brian Schlenker, Timothy O'Donnell
  • Patent number: 10386200
    Abstract: A technique for displaying a scale-changed view of a narrow-angle branch intersection in an easily visually recognizable manner through simple processing. A map display system that displays a map on a display section includes: narrow-angle branch intersection determination code for determining whether or not a guide target intersection is a narrow-angle branch intersection at which an intersection angle between roads is smaller than a predetermined threshold; and a scale-changed view display for displaying a scale-changed view, which is obtained by changing a scale of the guide target intersection included in the map such that a value obtained by dividing a horizontal scale change rate by a vertical scale change rate is larger than 1, on the display section in the case where the guide target intersection is the narrow-angle branch intersection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yuichi Osawa
  • Patent number: 10327393
    Abstract: A modular system includes a hub and a set of modules removably coupled to the hub. The modules are physically coupled to the frame relative to each other so that each module can operate with respect to a different row of a field. An individual module includes a sensor for capturing field measurement data of individual plants along a row as the modular system moves through the geographic region. An individual module further includes a treatment mechanism for applying a treatment to the individual plants of the row based on the field measurement data before the modular system passes by the individual plants. An individual module further includes a computing device that determines the treatment based on the field measurement data and communicates data to the hub. The hub is communicatively coupled to the modules, so that it may exchange data between the modules and with a remote computing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: BLUE RIVER TECHNOLOGY INC.
    Inventors: Lee Kamp Redden, James Patrick Ostrowski, Kent Anderson, Edward William Jeffcott Pell