Patents Examined by Martin A Weeks
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Patent number: 10107631Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for calculating a position of a vehicle on a road segment and updating a calibration of a heading sensor based on a lane change status of the vehicle. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving vehicle characteristic data from at least one vehicle sensor; receiving map data corresponding to a vehicle location; determining a lane change status of the vehicle; calculating the vehicle position using the map data if the vehicle has not executed a lane change maneuver and calculating the vehicle position using the vehicle characteristic data if the vehicle has executed a lane change maneuver, and calibrating a heading sensor based on one or more of the map data and the vehicle characteristic data.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2016Date of Patent: October 23, 2018Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventor: Steven R. Croyle
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Patent number: 10106170Abstract: A vehicle ramp control system may include a system controller configured to interface with a power ramp system for a vehicle and with an OEM vehicle control system. A service tool configured to interface with the system controller is programmed to exchange with the system controller data relating to at least one operational aspect of the power ramp system. A diagnostic tool configured to interface with the system controller is programmed to exchange with the system controller data relating to at least one diagnostic aspect of the power ramp system. A preventative maintenance indicator operatively associated with the system controller is activated by the system controller when a preventative maintenance operation is required.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2016Date of Patent: October 23, 2018Assignee: Vantage Mobility International, LLCInventors: Steven P. Ungetheim, Mark C. Miller
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Patent number: 10106193Abstract: A trailer backup assist system for a vehicle reversing a trailer includes a sensor module adapted to attach to the trailer and generate a trailer yaw rate or a trailer speed. The trailer backup assist system also includes a vehicle sensor system that generates a vehicle yaw rate and a vehicle speed. Further, the trailer backup assist system includes a controller that estimates a hitch angle based on the trailer yaw rate or the trailer speed and the vehicle yaw rate and the vehicle speed in view of a kinematic relationship between the trailer and the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2016Date of Patent: October 23, 2018Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Erick Michael Lavoie, Donald Jacob Mattern
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Patent number: 10086830Abstract: Example accident attenuation systems and methods are described. In one implementation, a method determines a speed of a second vehicle approaching from behind a first vehicle and determines a distance between the first and second vehicles. The method also determines whether the second vehicle can stop before colliding with the first vehicle. If the second vehicle cannot stop before colliding with the first vehicle, the method takes action to attenuate the potential collision by applying full brake force, tightening seat belts, and/or turning the front wheels of the first vehicle to direct the first vehicle away from oncoming traffic.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2016Date of Patent: October 2, 2018Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Scott Vincent Myers, Alexandru Mihai Gurghian, Mohamed Ahmad, Nikhil Nagraj Rao
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Patent number: 10082398Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method and a device for intelligently guiding a user to ride an elevator/escalator in a building complex such as a shopping mall. Based on a current location and floor level of a user in the building complex and a target floor and location, and a 3D model of the building complex, either an elevator path or escalator path may be automatically and intelligently selected from possible paths.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2016Date of Patent: September 25, 2018Assignee: Xiaomi Inc.Inventors: Fei Long, Zhijun Chen, Tao Zhang
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Patent number: 10083613Abstract: A method of calculating a commonly driven velocity recommendation, comprising: gathering a plurality of data messages from a plurality of client devices located in a plurality of different vehicles, each data message comprises a current location value, a current bearing value, and a current velocity value estimated for a hosting vehicle; clustering the plurality of data messages in a plurality of clusters by matching the respective location values and bearing values; calculating a commonly driven velocity per cluster of the plurality of clusters by combining data from respective cluster members; and retrieving the commonly driven velocity in response to an indication of a current location and a current bearing thereof which matches location and bearing of members of the respective cluster.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2014Date of Patent: September 25, 2018Assignee: iOnRoad Technologies Ltd.Inventors: Alon Atsmon, Dan Atsmon, Ohad Akiva, Shani Koresh, Ram Dayan
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Patent number: 10065476Abstract: A device for controlling a lighting and/or signaling system of a vehicle that includes a controller adapted to determine a dew point temperature value inside the system from at least one value of the temperature inside the system and at least one value of the relative humidity inside the system.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2016Date of Patent: September 4, 2018Assignee: Valeo VisionInventors: Fabien Bonneau, Erwan Faoucher, Michel Hermitte
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Patent number: 10068477Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting and communicating slipping of non-connected vehicles are disclosed. An example disclosed vehicle includes a wireless communication module and a vehicle marker. The example wireless communication module is configured to determine whether a second vehicle in the vicinity of the vehicle is wireless communication enabled. The example vehicle marker is configured to, in response to detecting that the second vehicle is slipping, when the second vehicle is not wireless communication enabled, broadcast an alert including a location of the second vehicle. Additionally, the example vehicle marker is configured to, in response to detecting that the second vehicle is slipping, display a visual cue visible behind the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2016Date of Patent: September 4, 2018Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Kenneth James Miller, Charles James Miller
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Patent number: 10053149Abstract: A vehicle includes a steering system. The steering system pivots a wheel of a vehicle to a first road wheel angle relative to a starting position. The steering system pivots the vehicle wheel to a second road wheel angle calculated to reduce a tire windup upon determining that the vehicle is stationary. The steering system pivots the vehicle wheel to a final road wheel angle upon determining that a vehicle motion is either incipient or initiated.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2017Date of Patent: August 21, 2018Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventor: Jens Christiansen
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Patent number: 10053110Abstract: A system and associated methodology that controls a vehicle component as a function of a user input. The system stores a plurality of functions associated with a plurality of touching gestures, receives the user input, determines, based on the user input, a user gesture wherein the user gesture corresponds to one of the plurality of touching gestures, determines a function associated with the user gesture, determines a feature of the user gesture, determines an operational parameter of the function based on the feature. Then, the system controls the vehicle component associated with the function as a function of the operational parameter.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2016Date of Patent: August 21, 2018Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Yi Li, Miles J. Johnson, Kristofer D. Kusano, Danil V. Prokhorov
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Patent number: 10049081Abstract: A system for documenting the state of a component, for example a component present on board a transport device; the use of such a system in a transport device; a transport device having such a system; an associated method for documenting the state of a component; and a computer program for executing the method. The transport device may be an aircraft. The system comprises a central logbook equipment and at least one mobile recording device, the mobile recording device comprising a recording unit for recording items of multimedia information relating to the state of the component, and a transmitting unit for transmitting the recorded items of multimedia information to the central logbook equipment. The central logbook equipment is configured to generate a multimedia logbook entry on the basis of the transmitted items of multimedia information, and to store the generated multimedia logbook entry.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2013Date of Patent: August 14, 2018Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBHInventor: Wolfram Henkel
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Patent number: 10048692Abstract: Disclosed are a vehicle travel system and vehicle travel control method for guiding a haulage vehicle to a loading point without interference with obstacles. The vehicle travel system is provided with a direction input device (102), travel route calculating unit (1507) and vehicle control unit (205). Through the direction input device, an operator of a loading machine (10) inputs the direction of a body of a haulage vehicle (20-1) at a loading point (LP-L or LP-R). The travel route calculating unit calculates a travel route on which the haulage vehicle (20-1) is to be stopped in the inputted direction at the loading point (LP-L or LP-R). The vehicle control unit performs vehicle control to allow the haulage vehicle (20-1) to travel along and stop on the travel route.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2013Date of Patent: August 14, 2018Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.Inventors: Tomoyuki Hamada, Kazuhiro Sugawara, Katsuaki Tanaka
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Patent number: 10048084Abstract: Methods and apparatus automatically determine a location, such as of an aircraft or spacecraft, by matching images of terrain below the craft, as captured by a camera, radar, etc. in the craft, with known or predicted terrain landmark data stored in an electronic data store. A star tracker measures attitude of the camera. Optionally, a rangefinder measures altitude of the camera above the terrain. A navigation filter uses the attitude, and optionally the altitude, to resolve attitude, and optionally altitude, ambiguities and thereby avoid location solution errors common in prior art terrain matching navigation systems.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2016Date of Patent: August 14, 2018Assignee: The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.Inventors: Juha-Pekka J. Laine, Gregory P. Blasche, Matthew T. Jamula, Paul A. Bohn, Robin Mark Adrian Dawson, Benjamin F. Lane, Eric T. Hoke, Daniel M. Meiser, Joseph M. Kinast, Stephen P. Smith
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Patent number: 10040450Abstract: Method of controlling an autonomous vehicle and a collision avoidance device thereof are disclosed. The method includes gathering obstacle information associated with an obstacle around a current navigation path of the autonomous vehicle and vehicle information associated with the autonomous vehicle. The method further includes determining a relative velocity and a collision distance between the obstacle and the autonomous vehicle and an obstacle state of the obstacle based on an analysis of the obstacle information and the vehicle information. The method includes computing a collision factor based on the relative velocity and the obstacle state. When the collision factor is above a collision threshold, the method further includes stopping the autonomous vehicle before exhausting the collision distance, when at least one alternate navigation path is not available and modifying the current navigation path of the autonomous vehicle, when the at least one alternate navigation path is available.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2017Date of Patent: August 7, 2018Assignee: WIPRO LIMITEDInventor: Shyam Sundar Pal
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Patent number: 10022639Abstract: A model vehicle control device and method to realize section block control with high extensibility, which can flexibly support various layouts. A section determination unit determines whether a preceding vehicle exists in a section that a vehicle is about to enter. An entry condition determination unit determines, when the vehicle is about to enter a section with constraint, whether a current state in the section satisfies an entry condition. When the current state of the section with constraint does not satisfy the entry condition, a section control unit does not allow entry of a target vehicle to the section, regardless of a determination result of the section determination unit, until the section becomes a state that satisfies the entry condition.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2016Date of Patent: July 17, 2018Assignee: TOMY TEC CO., LTD.Inventor: Morio Sato
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Patent number: 10023142Abstract: A vehicle equipped with an operator presence detector comprises an optional first detector located and configured to detect an object positioned over a threshold to the operator compartment; a second detector located and configured to detect an operator's left lower extremity when the left lower extremity is located in the operator compartment; and a third detector located and configured to detect an operator's right lower extremity when the right lower extremity is located in the operator compartment. The second detector and the third detector are positioned such that (i) an operator cannot use the left lower extremity to trigger both the second detector and the third detector and (ii) an operator cannot use the right lower extremity to trigger both the second detector and the third detector.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2016Date of Patent: July 17, 2018Assignee: HYSTER-YALE GROUP, INC.Inventors: Kevin J. McGoldrick, William Eugene James, Robert Stephen Adcox, Christopher J. Goodwin, Matthew Wavrek, Ken Schreiber
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Patent number: 10024978Abstract: Systems and methods for collecting travel data include a mobile application capable of being executed on a mobile computing device and configured to monitor and log travel data related to travel of the mobile computing device, and to communicate the travel data over a network. A networked data processing device may be coupled to receive the travel-related data from the network and analyze the travel-related data to identify a mode of travel of the mobile computing device. A graphical user interface allows a user of the mobile computing device to verify accuracy of the identified means of travel.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2015Date of Patent: July 17, 2018Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Moshe E. Ben-Akiva, Francisco C. Pereira, Pericles C. Zegras, Fang Zhao
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Patent number: 10026239Abstract: An apparatus for failure diagnosis and calibration of sensors for advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) includes a measuring unit including two or more sensors mounted in a vehicle a storage for storing characteristic data of each of the two or more sensors, and a processor for selecting one of the two or more sensors as a reference sensor and for determining whether or not a failure of the other sensor to be diagnosed is detected and whether calibration thereof is required, on the basis of error covariance information of the reference sensor.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2016Date of Patent: July 17, 2018Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANYInventors: Jun Soo Kim, Min Wook Seo, Joo Woong Yang, Sung Yun Kim, Dong Hun Yang, Bong Chul Ko, Gil Won Seo
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Patent number: 10001776Abstract: An onboard system for controlling flight of an unmanned aerial vehicle. The system comprises: a flight management system configured for controlling flight of the unmanned aerial vehicle; a mission control module configured to send commands to the flight management system for guiding the unmanned aerial vehicle to perform a mission; a safety module configured to communicate commands to the flight management system for guiding the unmanned aerial vehicle to fly in a safe mode; a communication control component which is switchable between a mission state in which the flight management system receives commands from the mission control module and a safety state in which the flight management system receives commands from the safety module; and a monitor module configured to determine whether a trigger condition warranting a change in mode is present or not and to cause the communication control component to switch from the mission state to the safety state when the trigger condition is present.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2016Date of Patent: June 19, 2018Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventor: Murali Rangarajan
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Patent number: 9997080Abstract: An unmanned aircraft system includes an aircraft control system that enables the safe operation of multiple unmanned aerial vehicles in the same airspace, through the use of a decentralized air traffic management system. The decentralized air traffic management system is robust against loss of communication between the unmanned aerial vehicle and does not require a centralized ground control system to coordinate the vehicles.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2015Date of Patent: June 12, 2018Assignee: ZIPLINE INTERNATIONAL INC.Inventors: Andrew Chambers, Ryan Oksenhorn, Jeremy Schwartz, Keenan Wyrobek