Patents Examined by Laura E Linhardt
  • Patent number: 12785420
    Abstract: A system and method for deterring the theft of a marine battery pack used to power a marine propulsion system, such as an outboard motor. The marine battery pack includes an internal communication system that allows the battery pack to communicate with an authentication device. The battery pack communicates an authentication request to the authentication device. If the battery pack is associated with the authentication device, a confirmation is communicated to the marine battery pack and the marine battery pack operates in a normal manner. If confirmation is not received from an authentication device, the operation of the marine battery pack is modified from the normal condition. The modification of the operation of the battery pack renders the battery pack unusable to deter theft. Each battery pack may be associated with more than one authentication device and each authentication device may be associated with more than one battery pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2026
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: David W. Dochterman, Brad E. Taylor, Scott M. Westpfahl
  • Patent number: 12771569
    Abstract: The disclosure is generally directed to systems and methods for detecting that the vehicle is in a reverse mode, receiving a road surface topology, determining a feature of interest is within a collected image and outside a displayed field of view (FOV) for a rear-facing camera due to the road surface topology, adjusting the displayed FOV for the rear-facing camera to place the feature of interest within the displayed FOV. Receiving a reverse mode indication may be over a controller area network (CAN) bus in the vehicle. Receiving a road surface topology includes receiving an estimate of the road surface topology via at least one of monocular depth estimation, photogrammetric range imaging using structure from motion (SFM), multi-view stereo, imaging radar, lidar and a sensor system on the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2026
    Inventors: Catherine Marie Amodeo, David Michael Herman
  • Patent number: 12759519
    Abstract: Steering a vehicle may include applying a net brake-steering force to a steered wheel sufficient to affect a steering moment upon the steered wheel sufficient to move the steered wheel away from a zero steering angle, and resisting movement of the steered wheel back toward the zero steering angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2024
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2026
    Assignees: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation, Continental Automotive Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Clinton L. Schumann, Scott T. Sanford
  • Patent number: 12752814
    Abstract: Disclosed are techniques for operating a driver-in-the-loop (DIL) component of a vehicle. In an aspect, the DIL component receives a first input signal generated based on a first interaction of a driver with a component of the vehicle operating in an autonomous driving mode, applies an attack-sustain-release (ASR) envelope to an amplitude of the first input signal to generate a first output signal representing at least a ramp-in of driver control over the component from no driver control to full driver control, and wherein the ramp-in of the driver control is limited by application of the ASR envelope to the amplitude of the first input signal, and transmits the first output signal to a controller module for the component of the vehicle to enable the controller module to reduce control over the component of the vehicle based on the ramp-in of the driver control represented by the first output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2026
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Mazen Medhat Mohamed El-Sayed Nassar, Jan Veen, Sibylle Tanja Reber, Ahmed Ehab Sadek Sayed Kamal, Benjamin Gaudszun
  • Patent number: 12733563
    Abstract: A map is obtained by an agricultural system. The map maps values of a characteristic to different geographic locations in a field. A control system generates a control signal to control operation of one or more end dividers on an agricultural harvester based on the map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2026
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Nathan R. Vandike, Duane M. Bomleny
  • Patent number: 12735093
    Abstract: A method controls a power steering motor of a power steering system. The power steering system includes at least one steering wheel configured to receive a steering torque applied by a driver, the power steering motor being configured to apply a motor torque to a rack, at least one wheel connected to the rack, and at least one steering computer implementing a main control algorithm. The main control algorithm includes a step of determining a main engine torque according to at least the steering wheel torque, characterised in that the steering computer also includes an algorithm for compensating for an oscillation of the steering wheel implementing a step of determining a compensating engine torque such that the steering wheel torque is equal to a reference steering wheel torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2026
    Assignee: JTEKT EUROPE
    Inventors: Hervé Peltier, Christophe Gauthier
  • Patent number: 12728748
    Abstract: A driver assistance system for the automatic maneuvering of a motor vehicle is designed to determine a driving trajectory in a recording process based on a route which is manually driven by the driver with the motor vehicle, and on the basis of the previously determined driving trajectory, to maneuver the motor vehicle with at least automatic lateral guidance. The driver assistance system is configured to detect, during the recording process, the existence of a desired target position and/or a desired target orientation of the motor vehicle. Alternatively, the driver assistance system receives information about a desired target position and/or a desired target orientation of the motor vehicle, via a user interface. During the repetition process, the motor vehicle is maneuvered with at least automatic lateral guidance such that the motor vehicle assumes the desired target position or desired target orientation by the end of the repetition process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2026
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Sonja de Castro Bonfim, Joachim Fleig, Elisabeth Orthuber
  • Patent number: 12715498
    Abstract: A turning control device includes: a terminal position learning unit configured to learn a terminal position of the turning mechanism, based on a steered position of a turning mechanism detected by the position detection unit; and a relearning determination unit configured to determine necessity of relearning of the terminal position. The relearning determination unit includes: an end-abutting detection unit configured to detect occurrence of end-abutting, and acquire an end-abutting steering angle that is a steering angle when end-abutting is occurred; an end-abutting steering angle range determination unit configured to determine whether or not variation in the end-abutting steering angles acquired multiple times is less than or equal to a predetermined threshold value; and a relearning unit configured to, when the variation is less than or equal to the predetermined threshold value, reset the learned terminal position to an initial value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2024
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2026
    Assignee: NSK STEERING & CONTROL, INC.
    Inventors: Atsushi Iwatani, Tetsuya Kitazume, Shoya Maruyama
  • Patent number: 12685243
    Abstract: In one aspect, a system for monitoring disc conditions of an agricultural implement includes a disc configured to penetrate through a soil surface during the performance of an agricultural operation, and a distance sensor configured to generate data associated with a distance defined between the distance sensor and a portion of the disc. In addition, the system includes a computing system communicatively coupled with the distance sensor. The computing system is configured to monitor the distance defined between the distance sensor and the disc based on the data received from the distance sensor, and detect a pattern in the monitored distance over time that is associated with at least one of a damage pattern or a missing disc pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2026
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventor: Brittany Schroeder
  • Patent number: 12686373
    Abstract: A method for adjusting brake pressures of a motor vehicle. The method includes actuating, by a control unit, while taking into account determined dynamic state variables of wheels that are to be braked, a pressure control valve with an inlet valve for ventilating and with an outlet valve for venting a brake pressure line that is controlled by the pressure control valve. The control times of the outlet valve are determined depending on control of the inlet valve. In an external braking mode provided for a case where an external braking demand is received that is independent of a driver's braking demand, the control unit adjusts the brake pressure in the brake pressure line according to the external braking demand by determining control times of the outlet valve depending on control of the inlet valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2026
    Assignee: ZF CV SYSTEMS EUROPE BV
    Inventor: Horst Eckert
  • Patent number: 12663793
    Abstract: A method for remote control of a robot includes specifying a target robot for which a boarding event with respect to a movement means has occurred; controlling driving of the target robot in response to the movement means stopping at a specific area where the target robot is located so that the target robot boards the movement means; on the basis of an occupation state of a reception space provided in the movement means, determining a target occupation position of the target robot in the reception space; and transmitting a control command related to the target occupation position to the target robot so that the target robot moves to the target occupation position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2026
    Assignee: NAVER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Su Won Chae, Ka Hyeon Kim
  • Patent number: 12606056
    Abstract: A method of controlling power of a vehicle includes an individual device provided on each seat of the vehicle to be independently operated by an occupant of a corresponding seat, for detecting whether the occupant is present in each seat of the vehicle and turning off the individual device provided on the corresponding seat when a vacant seat in which no occupant is present is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2026
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventor: Heegun Yang
  • Patent number: 12586463
    Abstract: To effectively increase determination accuracy for road rage, provided is a determination device including: a close state determination unit (12) configured to determine whether a first vehicle (V1) and a second vehicle (V2) are in a predetermined close state; a third vehicle determination unit (11) configured to determine whether a third vehicle (V3) traveling in front of the second vehicle (V2) exists; and a road rage determination unit (16) configured to avoid determining that the road rage is being executed when at least one condition of a first condition that the close state determination unit (12) determines that the close state exists and a second condition that the third vehicle determination unit (11) determines that the third vehicle does not exist is not satisfied, and to determine that the road rage is being executed when the first condition and the second condition are satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2026
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takahiro Kohara
  • Patent number: 12578197
    Abstract: In particular embodiments, a computing system may collect, for each ride of a plurality of rides, first ride data associated with a user riding a personal mobility vehicle during a certain time period. The system may calculate, for each ride, an approximate load on the personal mobility vehicle based on at least the first ride data. The system may calculate a user profile of the user based on the approximate loads. The system may collect, for a subsequent ride, second ride data associated with the user riding a current personal mobility vehicle after the certain time period. The system may calculate, for the subsequent ride, a second approximate load on the current personal mobility vehicle based on at least the second ride data. The system may compare the second approximate load to the user profile and classify the subsequent ride as individual or tandem based on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2026
    Assignee: Lyft, Inc.
    Inventors: Jennifer Uang, Paul Young Durkee, Sachith Anurudde Dunatunga, Jens Paul Windau, Garrett Korda Drayna
  • Patent number: 12540822
    Abstract: A water area object detection system includes a first imager to image an object around a hull, a second imager provided on the hull such that an imaging direction of the second imager is the same or substantially the same as an imaging direction of the first imager and operable to image the object around the hull, and a controller configured or programmed to perform a control to create a water area map around the hull based on images captured by the first imager and the second imager. The second imager is spaced apart in an upward-downward direction of the hull from the first imager, and the first imager is spaced apart in the imaging direction from the second imager so as not to overlap the second imager in the upward-downward direction perpendicular to the imaging direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2026
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takahiro Ishii
  • Patent number: 12517275
    Abstract: The invention concerns a submarine exploration system (1) comprising: a master submarine drone (2) designed to move autonomously according to a predetermined flight plan (E) and comprising a communication module (C) for transmitting communication signals; a plurality of follower submarine drones (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36), each comprising at least one magnetic field detection system (D), each follower drone further comprising a communication module (C) for receiving communication signals from the master drone; the master drone being designed to transmit navigation instructions (I) to the follower drones and each follower drone being designed to move autonomously depending on the movement instruction such that its movement is slaved to the movement of the master drone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2026
    Assignee: ABYSSA
    Inventors: Morgane Eliane Aline Ravilly, Michel Philippe Colinet
  • Patent number: 12459564
    Abstract: An electronic steering apparatus of a vehicle may include a reaction torque generator configured to generate command reaction torque based on a steering condition, and a reaction torque controller configured to receive a rack force and vehicle speed, to tune road sensitivity according to the vehicle speed, to set road sensitive torque by applying a gain according to a reaction sensitivity, to reflect the road sensitive torque into the command reaction torque to generate a final reaction torque, and to output the final reaction torque to a driving motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2025
    Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young Hwan Do, Hyung Ju Kwon, Woo Hyung Kim
  • Patent number: 12441379
    Abstract: A controller for a vehicle includes a processor configured to repeatedly perform operations, at each control iteration among a plurality of control iterations along a path of the vehicle from a start location to a target location. The operations include, based on a current state of the vehicle, generating a travel plan for a remainder of the path from a current position of the vehicle to the target location, by solving an optimization problem. The operations further include controlling a motoring and braking system of the vehicle to execute the generated travel plan until a next control iteration among the plurality of control iterations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2025
    Assignee: Hitachi Rail GTS Canada Inc.
    Inventors: Alon Green, Dennis Yazhemsky, Shahin Sirouspour
  • Patent number: 12422850
    Abstract: Provided is an information processing apparatus that processes information regarding a path of a mobile robot. The information processing apparatus includes a management section that manages path information for each path, the path information including postural stability information acquired when the mobile robot traverses the path. The postural stability information includes at least one of a variance of a position of center of gravity or a postural variance acquired during travel of the mobile robot in the path. Also, the postural stability information includes a CoP control quantity that includes a deviation between a target CoP and an actual measured value of the mobile robot whose walking is controlled based on ZMP. Also, the postural stability information further includes a landing position correction quantity that includes an error between a planned floor touching point and an actual measured value of the mobile robot that walks with multiple legs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2025
    Assignee: SONY GROUP CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masaya Kinoshiata
  • Patent number: 12386357
    Abstract: A rail environment monitoring device using a traveling vehicle, the rail environment monitoring device includes a sensing unit connected to a traveling vehicle transporting a conveyed object along a travel rail, the sensing unit configured to sense a travel rail positioned on a path of travel of the traveling vehicle and a travel rail peripheral portion, and a map production unit configured to generate a map for the travel rail or the travel rail peripheral portion using data acquired by the sensing unit according to the path of travel of the traveling vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2025
    Assignee: SEMES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jung Woo Kim, Jong Won Jung, Yoon Je Oh, Hyo Joo Jeoun