Patents Examined by Maceeh Anwari
  • Patent number: 11208008
    Abstract: A control device for a vehicle predicts a collision of the vehicle with an object and then actuates a drive assist device. The control device includes a collision predictor, a drive assist controller, an engine controller, a first power supply system, a second power supply system, a switch, and a switch controller. When a possibility that the vehicle will collide with the object exceeds a threshold, the collision predictor outputs a collision alarm signal. When the collision alarm signal is output during driving of the starter motor, the engine controller stops the starter motor to increase an electric potential of the second power supply system, and the switch controller turns on the switch, based on a difference in electric potential between the first and second power supply systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takahiro Uchimura, Yuji Ohori, Yuki Natsume, Shota Inudo
  • Patent number: 11203440
    Abstract: An aircraft control system may include an engine control subsystem, a flight control subsystem, a processor, and a tangible, non-transitory memory. The tangible, non-transitory memory may be configured to communicate with the processor, and the tangible, non-transitory memory may have instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by the processor, cause the aircraft control system to perform various operations. The various operations may include controlling, by the processor, the engine control subsystem and controlling, by the processor, the flight control subsystem. That is, a single processor (or a single set of processors) may control both the engine control subsystem and the flight control subsystem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Leo J. Veilleux, Jr., Richard A. Poisson
  • Patent number: 11194323
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods and systems of tracking a target with an imaging device onboard an unmanned aerial vehicle. The method may comprise identifying one or more targets in a first image captured by the imaging device, receiving a user selection of a target to be tracked from the one or more targets in the one or more images, generating target information for the target to be tracked based on the user selection of the target, detecting a deviation of a detected position and/or a detected size of the target in a second image captured by the imaging device from the selected position and/or the selected size of the target in the first image and adjusting at least one of the UAV and the carrier, to reduce the determined deviation to maintain the target substantially within the field of view of the image device, based on the deviation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: SZ DJI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Bo Zang
  • Patent number: 11188096
    Abstract: Provided is a control apparatus includes, a state information obtainment unit configured for, with respect to each of at least some nodes including an assigned node among a plurality of nodes being mobile nodes, obtaining state information that represents a state related to a predetermined value corresponding to a position of each of the some nodes; a control information generation unit configured for generating control information for controlling movement of the assigned node based on the state information of each of the some nodes; and a control unit configured for controlling movement of the assigned node based on the control information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masatsugu Ogawa, Masafumi Yano
  • Patent number: 11180250
    Abstract: A fact checking system utilizes social networking information and analyzes and determines the factual accuracy of information and/or characterizes the information by comparing the information with source information. The social networking fact checking system automatically monitors information, processes the information, fact checks the information and/or provides a status of the information, including automatically modifying a web page to include the fact check results. The fact checking system is able to be implemented utilizing a drone device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Inventor: Lucas J. Myslinski
  • Patent number: 11175151
    Abstract: Systems and methods of efficient carpooling based on driver risk groups are provided. Vehicle operators may be classified into a carpooling group based on vehicle routes associated with each of the vehicle operators. Vehicle sensor data associated with each vehicle operator of the carpooling group may be analyzed. Based on the analysis of the vehicle sensor data, one or more indicia of safe driving behaviors associated with each vehicle operator of the carpooling group may be identified. The safe driving behaviors associated with each vehicle operator of the carpooling group may be compared. Based on the comparison, a vehicle operator of the carpooling group may be selected as a driver for a carpool. For example, the safest vehicle operator of the carpooling group may be selected as the driver for the carpool. The carpool may include one or more of the other vehicle operators of the carpooling group as passengers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: BLUEOWL, LLC
    Inventors: Micah Wind Russo, Theobolt N. Leung, Gareth Finucane, Eric Dahl
  • Patent number: 11158205
    Abstract: According to various aspects, exemplary embodiments are disclosed of systems, methods and devices related to remote control locomotive training. In an exemplary embodiment, a remote control locomotive training system includes a locomotive control unit coupled to a locomotive and configured to control operation of the locomotive, and a trainee operator control unit in wireless communication with the locomotive control unit. The trainee operator control unit includes a first wireless interface to transmit one or more commands to the locomotive control unit. The system also includes a trainer operator control unit in wireless communication with the trainee operator control unit via a second wireless interface. The trainer operator control unit is configured to monitor the trainee operator control unit by receiving messages from the trainee operator control unit indicative of the one or more commands transmitted from the trainee operator control unit to the locomotive control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Cattron North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy Jovenall, André Brousseau
  • Patent number: 11145144
    Abstract: Disclosed is a work vehicle management system including: a battery work information generation unit that generates battery work information indicating a use state of a battery during work of a work vehicle; a battery deterioration information generation unit that chronologically diagnoses the battery work information to generate battery deterioration information that indicates a deterioration trend of the battery that is unique to the work vehicle; and a notification unit that performs notification of the battery deterioration information to a manager of the work vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Manji, Hirokazu Ito
  • Patent number: 11143523
    Abstract: Provided are systems, methods, and media for tactile map-based navigation on a reconfigurable display surface. An example method includes receiving an input destination for a user, generating a navigational route to the destination based on a current location of the user, and transmitting a control signal to the reconfigurable display surface to cause the mobile display surface to render the navigational route on a map of a geographic area. The rendering of the navigational route includes changing topography of the reconfigurable display surface such that a first three-dimensional (3D) shape is formed on the map at a position of the current location and a second 3D shape is formed on the map at a position of the destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuk L. Chan, Michael D. Essenmacher, David B. Lection, Eric L. Masselle
  • Patent number: 11136138
    Abstract: This invention discloses an aircraft control method, apparatus and an aircraft. The invention relates to the field of aircraft control technologies. The method includes: obtaining ambient luminance data by a luminance sensing apparatus of an aircraft; determining whether the ambient luminance data satisfies a luminance value required for normal running of a vision system of the aircraft; and adjusting, when the ambient luminance data does not satisfy the luminance value required for normal running of the vision system of the aircraft, a working status of a light emitting apparatus on the aircraft to change light emitting luminance of the light emitting apparatus. The foregoing aircraft control method, apparatus and the aircraft can accurately learn a flight environment in which the aircraft is located, thereby effectively implementing vision positioning on the aircraft and more conveniently controlling the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: AUTEL ROBOTICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jian Yang
  • Patent number: 11130542
    Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus are provided through which in some implementations a motorized tricycle includes a lean mechanism and an active system that is operably coupled to the lean mechanism that receives an signal indicative of an interaction with human, that is operable to detect a lean of the body of the human and that is operable to receive a sensed movement on the seat via multisensory devices, and to generate and send a signal to the lean mechanism from the signal, the lean and the sensed movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: TerraCraft Motors Inc.
    Inventors: James Wesley Abbott, Bailey H. Jones
  • Patent number: 11124184
    Abstract: A vehicle and a method for the vehicle to detect a vehicle accident are provided. The method includes accessing at least one accident profile, wherein each accident profile contains information describing, for vehicles involved in a vehicle accident, data indicating vehicle operating parameters during the accident; collecting, in real time, data from the vehicle and at least one nearby vehicle, the data describing current vehicle operating parameters for the vehicles; comparing the data collected in real time with the at least one accident profile to determine a probability of a vehicle crash; and implementing preventive action responsive to the probability of a vehicle crash exceeds a probability threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Emily Lerner
  • Patent number: 11120688
    Abstract: Traversing, by an autonomous vehicle, a vehicle transportation network, may include identifying a policy for a scenario-specific operational control evaluation model of a distinct vehicle operational scenario, receiving a candidate vehicle control action from the policy, wherein, in response to a determination that an uncertainty value for the distinct vehicle operational scenario exceeds a defined uncertainty threshold, the candidate vehicle control action is an orientation-adjust vehicle control action, and traversing a portion of the vehicle transportation network in accordance with the candidate vehicle control action, wherein the portion of the vehicle transportation network includes the distinct vehicle operational scenario.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignees: Nissan North America, Inc., The University of Massachusetts
    Inventors: Kyle Hollins Wray, Stefan Witwicki, Shlomo Zilberstein, Melissa Cefkin
  • Patent number: 11111653
    Abstract: A control system for a work vehicle includes a controller. The controller acquires the travel direction of the work vehicle. The controller acquires current terrain data indicating a current terrain existing in the travel direction of the work vehicle. The controller decides a target profile of a work site based on the current terrain data. The controller generates a command signal to operate a work implement according to the target profile. The controller updates the travel direction of the work vehicle. The controller updates the target profile based on the updated travel direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 11097739
    Abstract: Technical solutions are described for estimating tire-road friction in a vehicle pro-actively, prior to safety systems of the vehicle are engaged. An example method includes computing a slip for the vehicle based on one or more wheel speeds, acceleration, and tire pressure measurement. The method further includes determining a slope (?) as indicator of tire-road friction for the vehicle based on the acceleration and the slip. Further, the method includes sending the slope to an autonomous controller of the vehicle for adjusting vehicle kinematics according to the estimated friction using the slope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Alon Capua, Mario Jodorkovsky
  • Patent number: 11100797
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide a navigation application that uses a novel traffic notification scheme for providing traffic related notifications during a navigation presentation that is provided by a device. While providing a navigation presentation, the application iteratively monitors traffic conditions along the route. When traffic conditions meet a set of one or more threshold criteria, the application identifies a type of traffic notification that it should provide from several possible traffic notifications types. Next, without receiving any input from outside of the device, the application provides a traffic notification that is associated with the selected traffic notification type. In some embodiments, the traffic notification types include a notification (1) relating to traffic congestion along the current route, (2) relating to one or more faster routes that can replace the current route, and (3) regarding a road closure or extreme delay along the current route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Christine B. McGavran, Wesley Yue, Christopher Y. Tremblay, Supratik Maitra, Usama M. Hajj, Brian Andrich, Eric L. Grundstrom, J. Paul McCabe, Eric J. Albert, Ameya A. Limaye, Graydon Armstrong
  • Patent number: 11099567
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure disclose a method and apparatus for exporting a driving property index of an autonomous vehicle. A specific implementation of the method comprises: constructing a driving scenario of an autonomous vehicle by using a preset driving parameter; acquiring a driving state information set of the autonomous vehicle under the driving scenario; fitting a driving curve by using the driving state information set; and acquiring and exporting a driving property index of the autonomous vehicle by analyzing the driving curve. The implementation improves the accuracy of the acquired driving property index of the autonomous vehicle, controls the autonomous vehicle on the basis of the driving property index of high accuracy, and is helpful to realize safe driving of the autonomous vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Baidu Online Network Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mingqin Gu, Zhixin Zhang, Wenda Zeng
  • Patent number: 11084398
    Abstract: A method controlling a battery management system is provided. The method may include commanding by a controller a heat exchanger of a vehicle to pre-cool a traction battery of the vehicle key-off responsive to the vehicle being within a predetermined range of a predicted parking location, a current temperature of the traction battery being less than a temperature threshold, and a predicted parked temperature for the traction battery being greater than the temperature threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: James Matthew Marcicki, Devang Bhalchandra Dave, Xiao Guang Yang, Pratima Addepalli
  • Patent number: 11077861
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a control apparatus for enabling functions, comprising an integrated circuit. The control apparatus has a function register unit for storing at least one entry relating to an enabled state of a respective circuit function and/or of a respective circuit area of the integrated circuit. The integrated circuit is configured to enable the respective circuit function and/or the respective circuit area for use in accordance with the at least one entry in the function register unit. The control apparatus has a function control unit configured to respond to a predetermined actuation signal by changing the at least one entry in the function register unit, wherein the change is made only if a predetermined authenticity check based on a cryptographic method confirms a source of the actuation signal is authorized, so that the function control unit is actuatable only by a trusted source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Jürgen Lerzer, Hans Georg Gruber, Christoph Dalke
  • Patent number: 11072434
    Abstract: A method and system to control a rotor system includes providing a controller communicably coupled to the rotor system, and automatically changing a rotor speed of the rotor system from a first rotor speed in a first flight mode to a second rotor speed in a second flight mode over a time period using the controller in accordance with an acceleration-rate profile that varies over the time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: TEXTRON INNOVATIONS INC.
    Inventors: Brad John Roberts, Jonathan Allen Wasylyszyn