Patents Examined by Michael Berns
  • Patent number: 10176262
    Abstract: A navigation system includes a control unit configured to determine an initial search time associated with an initial search query for commencing a navigation search; determine a further search time associated with a further search query for modifying the navigation search; calculate a hiatus between the further search time and the initial search time; generate a synthesized search query based on the initial search query, the further search query, and the hiatus; and a communication interface, coupled to the control unit, configured to communicate the synthesized search query.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Telenav, Inc.
    Inventors: Naveen Kumar Vandanapu, Gregory Stewart Aist
  • Patent number: 10173661
    Abstract: A brake-by-wire system includes an actuator to initiate a brake for decelerating a vehicle. A brake fade management system of the brake-by-wire system includes an actuator target arbitrator module, a compliance module, and an output loss module. The compliance module calculates and delivers displacement adjusted actuator target data to the actuator target arbitrator module. The output loss module calculates and delivers output adjusted actuator target data to the actuator target arbitrator module. The actuator target arbitrator module processes the displacement adjusted actuator target data and the output adjusted actuator target data, and outputs an actuator target command signal to the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Anthony J. Rifici
  • Patent number: 10175051
    Abstract: A human body positioning method, a human body positioning system, and a positioning server are provided, adapted for positioning a human body in a specific space. Best routing paths between a positioning server and a target wireless device among wireless devices are sought according to communication quality of the wireless devices. A device positioning result is estimated according to the best routing paths. A wireless network topology formed by operating wireless devices is established. Voxels of a 3D space image are transmitted into the wireless network topology, and the human body is detected according to the voxels based on serving the operating wireless devices as a neuron of a neural network architecture associated with a body detecting model. When the human body is detected, the human body is positioned at the device positioning result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Wistron Corporation
    Inventor: Chih-Ming Chen
  • Patent number: 10160451
    Abstract: A driver can intuitively and conveniently perform an operation for instructing passing to a vehicle. In a driving support device 10, an image output unit 14a outputs, to a display unit 31, an image containing an own vehicle object representing an own vehicle and an another vehicle object representing another vehicle in front of the own vehicle object. An operation signal input unit 14b receives an operation of a user for changing the positional relationship between the own vehicle object and the another vehicle object in the image displayed on the display unit 31. A command output unit 14c outputs, to an automatic driving control unit 20, a command for instructing the own vehicle to pass the another vehicle when the positional relationship between the own vehicle object and the another vehicle object is changed such that the own vehicle object is positioned in front of the another vehicle object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazushige Yamada, Osamu Yamaji, Azusa Gojyo, Satoshi Kajita, Toshiaki Mori, Makoto Okada
  • Patent number: 10144397
    Abstract: A driver assistance apparatus includes a sensor unit sensing an obstacle around a vehicle; a memory storing a stopped-vehicle movement range; a brake driving control unit turning on or off a vehicle brake; and a processor controlling the brake driving control unit to turn on or off the vehicle brake according to the obstacle around the vehicle and the stopped-vehicle movement range, wherein the processor provides a stopped-vehicle movement mode in which the vehicle moves, when a user is not in the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Jongjin Lim
  • Patent number: 10146227
    Abstract: An in-vehicle driving assistance apparatus includes an automatic garage leaving control unit that performs automatic garage leaving cooperation control in which the automatic garage leaving control unit cooperates with a shutter control apparatus to cause a vehicle to automatically leave the garage. The automatic garage leaving control unit acquires vehicle surrounding information on presence or absence of abnormality around the vehicle when the automatic garage leaving control unit accepts an automatic garage leaving request signal, transmits an open request signal requesting to open a shutter to the shutter control apparatus when the automatic garage leaving control unit determines based on the vehicle surrounding information that a space around the vehicle is safe, and suspends the automatic garage leaving cooperation control when the automatic garage leaving control unit determines that abnormality is present around the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: FUJITSU TEN Limited
    Inventors: Shinichi Tanaka, Kohichi Tomiyama, Fumiaki Bando, Yusuke Iguchi, Shuhei Shibata, Hironori Ichioka, Kenta Nose
  • Patent number: 10099722
    Abstract: A steering control apparatus is provided which suppresses possible vibration of a steering system resulting from differential steering processing when a steering angle or a steered angle has a large value. A differential steering processing circuit calculates a differential steering correction amount based on a difference value of a target steering angle, and increases or reduces the target steering angle using the calculated amount to obtain a target steered angle. A limiting reaction force setting processing circuit increases a limiting reaction force when a maximum value of the target steering angle and the target steered angle is equal to or larger than a common threshold. When the maximum value approaches the common threshold, an angle-sensitive gain setting processing circuit reduces an angle-sensitive gain so as to correct and reduce the differential steering correction amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Kodera, Naoki Yamano, Hidenori Itamoto, Yoshihiro Yamashita, Koji Anraku
  • Patent number: 10099723
    Abstract: An integrated clutch steering mechanism for an autonomous vehicle (AV) can include a steering clutch coupled to a steering column of the AV, and an AV steering motor coupled to the steering clutch. The AV steering motor can apply torque to the steering column via the steering clutch to control steering of the AV. When a predetermined amount of torque is exceeded on the steering column, the steering clutch slips to enable manual steering of the AV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Meyhofer, David Rice
  • Patent number: 10093300
    Abstract: A vehicle control system to reduce shocks under an autonomous mode is provided. The vehicle control system is configured to select an operating mode of a vehicle from a manual mode in which a driving force and a braking force are controlled manually by a driver, and an autonomous mode in which the driving force and the braking force are controlled autonomously. A controller is configured to execute a fuel cut-off control, and a threshold selected under the autonomous mode is set in such a manner as to terminate the fuel cut-off control earlier than under the manual mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Seiji Kuwahara, Kazumi Hoshiya, Norimi Asahara, Yoshio Ito, Takahito Endo, Tadashi Fujiyoshi
  • Patent number: 10082795
    Abstract: A method for determining a thickness of water on a path of travel. A plurality of images of a surface of the path of travel is captured by an image capture device over a predetermined sampling period. A plurality of wet surface detection techniques are applied to each of the images. A detection rate is determined in real-time for each wet surface detection technique. A detection rate trigger condition is determined as a function of a velocity of the vehicle for each detection rate. The real-time determined detection rate trigger conditions are compared to predetermined detection rate trigger conditions in a classification module to identify matching results pattern. A water film thickness associated with the matching results pattern is identified in the classification module. A water film thickness signal is provided to a control device. The control device applies the water film thickness signal to mitigate the wet surface condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Qingrong Zhao, Qi Zhang, Bakhtiar B. Litkouhi, Jinsong Wang
  • Patent number: 10055909
    Abstract: Systems and methods for crash determination in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. In one embodiment, a vehicle telematics device includes a processor and a memory storing a crash determination application, wherein the processor, on reading the crash determination application, is directed to obtain sensor data from at least one sensor installed in a vehicle, calculate peak resultant data based on the sensor data, where the peak resultant data describes the acceleration of the vehicle over a first time period, generate crash score data based on the peak resultant data and a set of crash curve data for the vehicle, where the crash score data describes the likelihood that the vehicle was involved in a crash based on the characteristics of the vehicle and the sensor data, and provide the obtained sensor data when the crash score data exceeds a crash threshold to a remote server system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: CalAmp Corp.
    Inventors: Jeff Jenkins, Greg Bayley, Peter Byrne, Gallin Chen
  • Patent number: 10046772
    Abstract: A vehicle control device including a manipulating unit that is manipulated by a user and a vehicle having the same are provided. The vehicle control device includes a manipulating unit having an object detecting unit configured to detect an object in a noncontact manner and a pad disposed above the object detecting unit and having elasticity. In addition, a controller is configured to generate a control signal for operating a vehicle based on an output signal of the manipulating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Seung Hwan Lee, Gee Hyuk Lee, Sun Jun Kim, Jae Hyun Han
  • Patent number: 10019012
    Abstract: A system for calculating a desired time of arrival to a target destination for a vehicle includes a device mountable to a first vehicle. The device includes a transmitter, a receiver, and a logic unit configured to receive signals for determining a current position and a current vehicle speed of the first vehicle, the logic unit being further configured to determine an estimated time of arrival at a target destination for the first vehicle based on predetermined route information, the current position of the first vehicle and the target destination of the first vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Volvo Construction Equipment AB
    Inventor: David Rylander
  • Patent number: 10000141
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling a fuel cell vehicle are provided. The method includes determining, by a controller, a driving pattern of a driver based on driving information including acceleration and deceleration information. A condition for activation of an idling-stop of a fuel cell is then set based on the determined driving pattern and the fuel cell is stopped from generating electric energy when the condition for activation of the idling-stop is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Kyu Il Lee, Seon Hak Kim, Seong Pil Ryu
  • Patent number: 9939813
    Abstract: A system is provided for determining a location of a landmark for use in navigation of an autonomous vehicle. The system includes a processor programmed to receive a measured position of the landmark. The processor is also programmed to determine a refined position of the landmark based on the measured position of the landmark and at least one previously acquired position for the landmark. The measured position and the previously acquired position are determined based on acquisition of an environmental image associated with the host vehicle, analysis of the environmental image to identify the landmark, reception of global positioning system (GPS) data representing a location of the host vehicle, analysis of the environmental image to determine a relative position of the identified landmark with respect to the host vehicle, and determination of a globally localized position of the landmark based on the GPS data and the relative position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Mobileye Vision Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Amnon Shashua, Yoram Gdalyahu, Daniel Braunstein
  • Patent number: 9931954
    Abstract: A park assist system may, in response to receiving a signal indicating that a remote inductive charge source is within a vicinity of a vehicle, transition from a park assist mode to a wireless charging mode. During the wireless charging mode, the park assist system generates instructions to assist a driver in positioning the vehicle relative to the inductive charge source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Venkateswa Anand Sankaran, John Paul Gibeau, James A. Lathrop, Christopher W. Bell
  • Patent number: 9904285
    Abstract: A method including, when having completed a task with respect to a first coverage region, selecting a support-target robot from within a robot group, which is a plurality of robots capable of communicating with the first robot, starting to cause the first robot to move toward a second coverage region assigned to the selected second robot, and, when the first robot become newly possible to communicate with a third robot from among the plurality of robots while moving toward the second coverage region, determining whether to alter the support-target robot to the third robot, when the support-target robot is determined to be altered to third robot, starting to cause the first robot to move toward a third coverage region that is assigned to the third robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORPORATION OF AMERICA
    Inventor: Shunsuke Kuhara
  • Patent number: 9873434
    Abstract: A vehicle control system is provided to improve energy efficiency of a vehicle that can be operated not only manually but also autonomously. The vehicle control system is configured to deliver oil to an oil requiring site in a first feeding amount under the manual mode, and to deliver oil to the oil requiring site in a second feeding amount that is smaller than the first feeding amount during propulsion under the autonomous mode in line with a travel plan. When a required amount of oil delivered to the oil requiring site is expected to be increased based on the travel plan under the autonomous mode, the controller increases an oil feeding amount to the oil requiring site from the second feeding amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takahito Endo, Kazumi Hoshiya, Yoshio Ito, Norimi Asahara, Seiji Kuwahara, Tadashi Fujiyoshi, Yuji Iwase
  • Patent number: 9875584
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices are provided herein for recording operation history of a remotely controlled vehicle. The recorded operation history may comprise outgoing operation commands sent from a remote controller of a remotely controlled vehicle, as well as incoming operation commands received by the remotely controlled vehicle. The recorded operation history may further comprise vehicle status data, such as data related to an operation process of the remotely controlled vehicle. The recorded operation history of a vehicle may be used to analyze a behavior of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: SZ DJI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
    Inventors: Ming Gong, Jin Dai, Hao Cui, Xiaodong Wang, Han Huang, Jun Wu, Wei Fan, Ning Ma, Xinhua Rong, Xingsen Lin
  • Patent number: 9864067
    Abstract: Method for determining a current position (5) of a motor vehicle (6) in a geodetic coordinate system from a time series of first geodetic position data (2) recorded particularly by a position sensor (8) associated with a global navigation satellite system, and proper motion data (3) recorded by at least one proper motion sensor (9), wherein the position is determined by applying a transformation into the geodetic coordinate system to the displacement vector of the motor vehicle (6), which is derived from the most current proper motion data (3) starting from a reference time to which the transformation relates, wherein the transformation is determined in the context of a regression analysis as optimal mapping of a progression of displacement vectors determined over a defined time period onto a progression of the position data (2) determined for the same time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventors: Christina Simon, Florian Mickler, Andreas Tollkühn