Patents Examined by Kevin P Mahne
  • Patent number: 10899350
    Abstract: A method and system include a vehicle system including a plurality of vehicles. The system includes a handling unit comprising a communication device and a controller. The communication device receives first position data for a first vehicle of the vehicle system and second position data for a second vehicle of the vehicle system relative to a route on which the vehicle system is traveling. The controller determines that the first vehicle is entering into a curved portion of the route, and generates a control signal based on the first and second position data. The control signal changes an operating parameter of at least one of the first or second vehicles to control a separation distance between the vehicles or a deviation distance between respective travel paths taken by the first and second vehicles through the curved portion of the route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: GE GLOBAL SOURCING LLC
    Inventor: Scott Alan Schoenly
  • Patent number: 10885794
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an electronic system for providing access to a useable, tailored database of selectable items for a user, e.g., user selectable routes entered by pilot users to utilize for flight planning and aircraft route guidance, and other related information from a remote processing center to a local unit over wireless, wire line, or telecommunications network or combination thereof. The disclosure more particularly relates, for example, to an electronic system including one or more remote processing centers and a plurality of local units, e.g., a desktop computer, laptop, tablet, cellular device, or mobile telephone unit, for providing to a pilot's local unit information of other pilot users from one or more databases, in particular, a pilot user's route with FAA identifiers (such as airports, VORs, NDBs, waypoints, reporting points, airways, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Inventor: Rhett R. Dennerline
  • Patent number: 10875520
    Abstract: The hybrid vehicle performs battery-less drive control to control an engine such that the engine is autonomously operated at an autonomous operation rotation speed, to control a first motor such that a torque based on a driving force required for a run of the hybrid vehicle is output from the first motor, and to control a second motor such that an electric power by subtracting an auxiliary machinery power from an electric power charged or discharged by the first motor is charged or discharged by the second motor. During the battery-less drive control, when a rotation speed of the engine becomes lower than a first predetermined rotation speed that is lower than the autonomous operation rotation speed, the hybrid vehicle performs torque adjustment control to decrease an absolute value of the torque output from the first motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuaki Okabe
  • Patent number: 10859385
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for generating routes in an area covered by an electronic map. The map comprises a plurality of segments representing navigable segments of a navigable network in the area covered by the electronic map. A first route is generated between a first location and a second location in the area. A central portion of the first route is defined, wherein the central portion has an extent along the first route that is determined based on a distance between the first and second locations. The relative extent of the central portion along the first route is inversely related to the distance between the first and second locations. One or more navigable segments forming the defined central portion along the first route are identified, and a cost penalty applied to the identified navigable segment(s) so as to make the segment(s) less favourable when a route is generated through the navigable network. An alternative route is then generated between the first location and second location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: TOMTOM NAVIGATION B.V.
    Inventors: Jan-Ole Sasse, Tetyana Dzyuba
  • Patent number: 10850617
    Abstract: A selector is to choose a target facility from the at least one facility based on a supplier position and a quantity of the energy suppliable. A distance calculator is to calculate a vehicle-facility distance from a current position to a facility position of a target energy supplier. A drivable range calculator is to calculate a drivable range of a vehicle based on a quantity of energy stored in an energy storage. A determining device is to determine whether or not to permit a power supplier to supply an electrical energy to an external device based on the vehicle-facility distance and the drivable range to control electricity supply from the power supplier to the external device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kanazawa, Hakaru Sadano, Hajime Fujita
  • Patent number: 10845198
    Abstract: A navigation system useful for providing speed and heading and other navigational data to a drive system of a moving body, e.g., a vehicle body or a mobile robot, to navigate through a space. The navigation system integrates an inertial navigation system, e.g., a unit or system based on an inertial measurement unit (IMU). with a vision-based navigation system unit or system such that the inertial navigation system can provide real time navigation data and the vision-based navigation can provide periodic, but more accurate, navigation data that is used to correct the inertial navigation system's output. The navigation system was designed with the goal in mind of providing low effort integration of inertial and video data. The methods and devices used in the new navigation system address problems associated with high accuracy dead reckoning systems (such as a typical vision-based navigation system) and enhance performance with low cost IMUs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Trimble Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory C. Best, Peter Van Wyck Loomis
  • Patent number: 10806072
    Abstract: An on-the-go monitor and control means and method for an agriculture machines includes on-the-go soil sensors that can be used to control tillage and seeding depth. On seeder implements, the sensors provide information that affects uniform plant emergence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Ag Leader Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Roger R. Zielke
  • Patent number: 10752238
    Abstract: A parking assistance device includes: an obstacle detection unit that detects an obstacle; a separated distance determination unit that determines a separated distance between the obstacles when a plurality of the obstacles are detected; a target position determination unit that determines a target position in a guidance route; a route calculation unit that calculates the guidance route; and a control unit that guides a vehicle in accordance with the guidance route, wherein, when a second obstacle is detected in a second direction orthogonal to a first direction in which one or plurality of first obstacles extends or are lined up while being separated from each other and at a position separated from the first direction, the separated distance determination unit determines the separated distance between the first and second obstacles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yusuke Kiyokawa
  • Patent number: 10737702
    Abstract: A method of autonomous driving includes evaluating information about an environment surrounding a vehicle, identifying a driving maneuver, and generating a driving plan for performing the driving maneuver based on the evaluation of the information about the environment surrounding the vehicle. Additionally, to apprise a user of a risk of performing the driving maneuver, the method includes visually simulating the driving plan by displaying, on a display, a sequence of actions associated with performing the driving maneuver. Further, the method includes outputting, at at least one interface, a query whether the user confirms the driving maneuver. When, in response to the query, a user response is received, at the at least one interface, that the user confirms the driving maneuver, the method includes operating vehicle systems in the vehicle to perform the driving maneuver according to the driving plan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: John-Michael McNew
  • Patent number: 10625729
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling and operating a hybrid vehicle having a high degree of hybridization are disclosed. A power flow control system predicts vehicle power demand to drive the hybrid vehicle based on changing conditions during operation of the hybrid vehicle. The power flow control system controls the power flow so as to provide power to drive the hybrid vehicle based on the predicted vehicle power demand, wherein the predicted vehicle power demand is greater than a maximum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventors: David E. Schwartz, Sean Garner, Bhaskar Saha, Simon Barber
  • Patent number: 10611613
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for using unique landmarks to position industrial vehicles during start-up. In one embodiment, a method of using pre-positioned objects as landmarks to operate an industrial vehicle is provided. The method comprises identifying a start-up scenario from sensor data, wherein the start-up scenario comprises a unique marker start-up or a pre-positioned object start-up. in response to the identified start-up scenario, either a unique marker or pre-positioned object is identified within a physical environment, wherein the pre-positioned object or unique marker corresponds with a sub-area of the physical environment. The industrial vehicle pose is determined in response to the identity of the pre-positioned object or unique marker and the industrial vehicle is operated based on the determined industrial vehicle pose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Crown Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Lisa Wong, Andrew Evan Graham, Christopher W. Goode, Lucas B. Waltz
  • Patent number: 10589713
    Abstract: A computer that may be programmed to: in response to receiving an indication that a vehicle is approaching a geofence boundary, retract slack in a webbing associated with a seat in the vehicle by actuating a seatbelt retractor; then receive measurement data from one or more sensors associated with the seat; using the data, determine whether an occupant occupies the seat; and when no occupant occupies the seat, then transmit an instruction to stop the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Colm Boran, Mark Crawford, Douglas Scott Rhode
  • Patent number: 10591608
    Abstract: This provides methods and systems for V2X applications, such as forward collision warning, electronic emergency brake light, left turn assist, work zone warning, signal phase timing, and others, mainly relying on a GNSS positioning solution transmitted via the Dedicated Short-Range Communications (DSRC) to/from the roadside units and onboard units in other V2X-enabled vehicles. However, the positioning solution from a GNSS may be deteriorated by noise and/or bias due to various error sources, e.g., time delay, atmospheric effect, ephemeris effect, and multipath effect. This offers a novel quality filter that can detect noise and the onset of drift in GNSS signals by evaluating up to four metrics that compare the qualities of kinematic variables, speed, heading angle change, curvature, and lateral displacement, obtained directly or derived from GNSS and onboard vehicle sensors. This is used for autonomous cars and vehicle safety, with various examples/variations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: SAVARI, INC.
    Inventors: Faroog Ibrahim, Kazutoshi Nobukawa
  • Patent number: 10569831
    Abstract: A transportation device, in particular a foot scooter, for the locomotion of a person, the transportation device including a footboard having a deck for accommodating the person, the transportation device being propellable by a push-off by the person, the transportation device including a motor for supporting the propulsion of the transportation device, the transportation device including a detection device for detecting a push-off state and a control device for controlling the support of the propulsion as a function of the detected push-off state, the detection device including a sensing device (10) for detecting a force exerted by a person on the deck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Brake Force One GmbH
    Inventors: Lars Heber, Stephan Stabrey
  • Patent number: 10563999
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to a fleet management system configured for capturing and evaluating vehicle telematics data, such as data captured from one or more vehicle telematics devices indicative of one or more vehicle dynamics, and service data, such as data captured from one or more portable data acquisition devices indicative of one or more service dynamics. In certain embodiments, the fleet management system is configured to associate captured vehicle telematics data with captured service data based on the contextual attributes of each, such as the time, date, and location of data capture. By synching the vehicle telematics data to the service data, the operational data can be uniquely assessed for various operational efficiencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: UNITED PARCEL SERVICE OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Mark J. Davidson
  • Patent number: 10553040
    Abstract: A system includes a processor configured to wirelessly receive a vehicle system command from a remote source over a first communication channel. The processor is also configured to open a second communication channel with an apparent command-originating source, responsive to receiving the command. The processor is further configured to request, over the second communication channel, verification that the command originated from the apparent command-originating source and execute the command responsive to command-origin verification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Oliver Lei, Allen R. Murray
  • Patent number: 10502577
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, systems, and computer program products are provided. An example method comprises receiving a change trigger; and providing two or more map versions to a plurality of vehicle apparatuses. The map versions may comprise a stable map version and a changed map version. The example method further comprises receiving two or more responses from at least two of the plurality of vehicle apparatuses. A response comprises an indicator of a preferred map version selected by a vehicle apparatus of the plurality of vehicle apparatuses from the two or more map versions. The example method further comprises analyzing the responses to determine a most preferred map version; and when it is determined that the most preferred map version is a changed map version, updating one or more map databases based at least in part on the changed map version.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: HERE Global B.V.
    Inventor: James D. Lynch
  • Patent number: 10487715
    Abstract: Embodiments for regeneration a particulate filter in a motor vehicle having a self-control mode for the autonomous control of a drive mode and having a diesel particulate filter disposed in the exhaust system of a diesel engine of the motor vehicle are provided. In one example, a method for protecting the diesel particulate filter from overheating and premature aging comprises: starting the self-control mode, starting/verifying a regeneration process of the diesel particulate filter with combustion of the soot particles adsorbed on the diesel particulate filter, and monitoring a temperature of the diesel particulate filter and/or of the exhaust gas directed through the diesel particulate filter during the regeneration process. Depending on a monitoring result of the monitoring, a control for the self-control mode of the motor vehicle can be adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Frederik De Smet, Christoph Boerensen, Elmar Riesmeier
  • Patent number: 10490087
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an electronic system for providing access to a useable, tailored database of selectable items for a user, e.g., user selectable routes entered by pilot users to utilize for flight planning and aircraft route guidance, and other related information from a remote processing center to a local unit over wireless, wire line, or telecommunications network or combination thereof. The disclosure more particularly relates, for example, to an electronic system including one or more remote processing centers and a plurality of local units, e.g., a desktop computer, laptop, tablet, cellular device, or mobile telephone unit, for providing to a pilot's local unit information of other pilot users from one or more databases, in particular, a pilot user's route with FAA identifiers (such as airports, VORs, NDBs, waypoints, reporting points, airways, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Inventor: Rhett R. Dennerline
  • Patent number: 10426366
    Abstract: A stochastic Bayesian nonlinear filtering system and method that improves the filtering of noisy signals by providing efficiency, power, speed, and flexibility. The filter only requires the likelihood function p(observation|state) to determine the system state and works in various measurement models. This allows for the processing of noisy signals to be used in real time, such as in a biofeedback device that senses noisy surface electromyography muscle electrical activity, filters the sensed signal using the nonlinear filtering method, and provides vibrations based on the muscular activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: GSACORE, LLC
    Inventors: Terence D. Sanger, Atiyeh Ghoreyshi