Patents Examined by Michael Berns
  • Patent number: 11670169
    Abstract: Systems and methods for distributed cooperative localization in a connected vehicular platform are disclosed herein. At a first sensor-rich vehicle, one embodiment receives, from a second sensor-rich vehicle via direct vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication, an estimated location of the first sensor-rich vehicle and an associated confidence level; estimates a location of the second sensor-rich vehicle based on first sensor data and assigns a confidence level to the estimated location; transmits to the second sensor-rich vehicle via direct V2V communication, the estimated location of the second sensor-rich vehicle and the assigned confidence level; accepts, based on communication between the first and second sensor-rich vehicles and predetermined acceptance criteria, an assignment to perform localization for a legacy vehicle; estimates a location of the legacy vehicle based on second sensor data; and transmits, to the legacy vehicle, the estimated location of the legacy vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Mahmoud Ashour, Rui Guo, Ahmed H. Sakr, Prashant Tiwari
  • Patent number: 11667280
    Abstract: An autonomous driving control system and a method thereof are provided. The autonomous driving control system includes a strategy performing device that generates and performs a stop strategy of a vehicle on the basis of a target stop location, when a critical situation occurs during autonomous driving, a behavior controller that controls a behavior of the vehicle depending on the stop strategy, and an emergency module controller that runs a predetermined emergency module, when the critical situation occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Dong Hwi Lee, Keon Chang Lee, Su Jung Yoo
  • Patent number: 11669103
    Abstract: The disclosure is related to a system for obstacle detection adapted to a self-guiding machine. The system includes a controller for driving the system, a light emitter, and a light sensor. The light emitter and the light sensor are set apart at a distance. When the light emitter emits an indicator light being a vertical linear light projected onto a path the self-guiding machine travels toward, the light sensor senses the indicator light. The vertical linear light is segmented into a first segment projected to a ground and a second segment projected to a floating obstacle when the self-guiding machine approaches the floating obstacle with a height from the ground and the indicator light is projected to the floating obstacle, in which the second segment of the light sensed by the light sensor is determined as the floating obstacle in front of the self-guiding machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: PIXART IMAGING INC.
    Inventors: Kai-Shun Chen, Wei-Chung Wang
  • Patent number: 11654900
    Abstract: A control system includes a transmission and a controller configured to receive a vehicle stop command; determine a ground speed; compare the ground speed to first and second predetermined speed thresholds; generate, when the ground speed exceeds the second predetermined speed threshold, a downshift command; generate, when the ground speed is greater than the first predetermined speed threshold and less than or equal to the second predetermined speed threshold, a shuttle shift command; determine, when the ground speed is less than or equal to the first predetermined speed threshold, if the transmission is operating in the first or second mode; select, upon determining the operating mode, a four-square clutch; and at least partially engage the selected four-square clutch to slow or stop the work vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Kyle K. McKinzie, Benjamin J. Hertel, Clayton G. Janasek
  • Patent number: 11657086
    Abstract: A monitored space is monitored including the production of a first audio signal from received acoustic energy. The first audio signal is then processed against a whitelist of acoustic profiles and, based on lack of substantial correspondence with any of the acoustic profiles, a drone is navigated toward an apparent position of an apparent source. While in-flight, additional acoustic energy is received and a second audio signal is produced from the additional acoustic energy. The second audio signal is processed against the whitelist and, based on lack of substantial correspondence with any of the acoustic profiles of the whitelist, an investigate mode of the drone is initiated. The investigate mode includes notifying a remote monitor and supplying the remote monitor with an audiovisual feed. Responsive to a characterization by the remote monitor, an entry of the whitelist may be updated, added or replaced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: James H. Pratt, Gregory Edwards
  • Patent number: 11650068
    Abstract: In some implementations, a computing device can proactively determine a destination and request traffic information for routes from a starting location to the destination. In some implementations, a computing device can identify some routes between a starting location and a destination as non-recommended routes and recommend other routes. In some implementations, a computing device can rank routes between a starting location and a destination based on automatically-determined user interest. In some implementations, a computing device can determine a user is familiar with a route and adjust the information presented to the user about the route accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick J. Coleman, Brian J. Andrich, Daniel R. Delling, Dennis Schieferdecker, Ethan T. Bold, Hengbin Luo, Michael Wegner, Rami Khawandi, Lili Cao, Hyo Jeong Shin, Richard B. Warren, Ronald K. Huang
  • Patent number: 11648947
    Abstract: A vehicle body side system has a second data communication unit that receives road surface data transmitted from a first data communication unit, a storage unit that stores teacher data, a road surface determination unit that determines a road surface state on a traveling road surface of a vehicle based on the road surface data and the teacher data, and a tire identification unit that identifies a predetermined type as an identification target and identifies which content the tire corresponds to in the type. The tire identification unit identifies the tire based on the identification data transmitted from the tire side device, and the road surface determination unit determines the road surface state using a teacher data corresponding to the tire identification result, when the road surface determination unit determines the road surface state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masashi Mori
  • Patent number: 11643091
    Abstract: To reduce the man-hours of software development when vehicle types are deployed, an in-vehicle equipment control device has a control unit that outputs, to actuators, control signals based on the outputs from sensor devices. The control unit includes a middleware layer and a device driver layer as software components. The middleware layer includes a routing module that selects whether the communication data output from the sensor devices is output as is or the communication data is subjected to predetermined processing and then output according to the type of the communication data, and a treatment module that performs the predetermined processing on the communication data. The routing module has a function of outputting the communication data to the device driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yusuke Nakaya
  • Patent number: 11634937
    Abstract: A bus includes a vehicle body, a plurality of doors, a nosing seal, at least one sensor disposed inside the nosing seal, wherein the at least one sensor capacitively couples to an electrically conductive moving object proximal to the nosing seal such that the capacitance of the at least one sensor changes, and a controller coupled to the at least one sensor, the controller analyzing the sensing by the at least one sensor and senses a non-smooth signal from the at least one sensor and determines that an obstruction is present, senses signal fluctuation from the at least one sensor is not monotonic and determines that an obstruction is present, senses that the one of the doors has not closed after a predetermined time period and determines that the obstruction is present, senses that one of the doors has stalled and determines that the obstruction is present, the controller being configured to alert an operator of the bus when the obstruction is present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: UUSI, LLC
    Inventors: John Washeleski, Todd R. Newman, Andrew E. Blank, David W. Shank, Edward J. Cox, Douglas M. Warnke, John M. Taylor, Bradley D. Looy
  • Patent number: 11636492
    Abstract: Systems and methods for selecting a worst service first optimized test path are provided. Such systems and methods can include using previously collected RF results that are relevant to a target building to calculate predictive RF results for a plurality of test points in the target building, using the predictive RF results to calculate the optimized test path through the target building, measuring a respective actual RF signal value of each of the plurality of test points in succession along the optimized test path, counting failing ones of the plurality of test points, and stopping measurements of the respective actual RF signal value of each of the plurality test points when a counted number of the failing ones of the plurality of test points exceeds a failure threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: PCTEL, INC.
    Inventors: Sumeet Singh Paul, Stephen V. Saliga
  • Patent number: 11634136
    Abstract: A vehicular trailer hitching assist system includes a camera disposed at a rear portion of a vehicle and viewing at least rearward of the vehicle. An electronic control unit (ECU) includes an image processor operable to process image data captured by the camera. The ECU, via image processing of image data captured by the camera, detects a trailer rearward of the vehicle and determines a first path of travel for the vehicle to follow to maneuver the vehicle toward the trailer and to align the tow ball of the vehicle with a trailer hitch of the trailer. The ECU generates an output to maneuver the vehicle along the determined first path of travel. Responsive to detection of an object entering the first path of travel, the ECU determines a second path of travel for the vehicle to follow that avoids the detected object entering the determined path of travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Nikhil Gupta, Horst D. Diessner, Richard Bozich, Jyothi P. Gali, Aleksandar Stefanovic, Hilda Faraji, Miad Moarref, Xai Phan, Galina Okouneva, Brijendra Kumar Bharti
  • Patent number: 11635523
    Abstract: Aircraft anti-collision systems, anti-collision methods, and aircraft with anti-collision systems and methods are provided. A method including transmitting, by a light emitter, a first light pulse proximate to a wing edge at a first time, detecting, by a light detector, a reflection of the first light pulse at a second time, determining, by a processor, a distance from a first object to the wing edge in response to the first time and the second time, calculating, by the processor, a possible contact occurrence in response to the distance and an aircraft velocity, and controlling a user interface with the processor to generate a user alert in response to the possible contact occurrence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation
    Inventor: Brian Toler
  • Patent number: 11630186
    Abstract: A target device, which allows a sufficient amount of reflected light to be obtained from an end portion, is provided and includes a measurement section. In the target device, a retroreflective layer in which a plurality of retroreflective elements are arranged on the entire circumference in a circumferential direction about an axis is formed on at least part of the outer peripheral surface of the measurement section. The retroreflective layer is formed into an uneven shape in which a distance from the axis changes along the entire circumference in the circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: TOPCON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Nobuyuki Nishita
  • Patent number: 11623648
    Abstract: An information processing system includes a vehicle and a server that is communicatively connected to the vehicle. The vehicle is configured to acquire position information of the vehicle, to acquire driving information of a driver of the vehicle, and to detect occurrence of a traffic accident associated with the vehicle. When a notification of occurrence of a traffic accident is received from the vehicle, the server is configured to calculate a driving skill level of the driver based on the driving information, to store provision information in which the position information of a point at which the traffic accident has occurred is correlated with the driving skill level and the number of times of occurrence of a traffic accident at the point, and to provide the provision information to an insurance company.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kana Hamagami, Takuya Maekawa, Yosuke Nakayama, Akitoshi Jikumaru, Tae Sugimura, Takao Hishikawa, Shinichi Adachi
  • Patent number: 11623653
    Abstract: A method includes receiving a service request from a vehicle within a geographic area, receiving a first set of data from the vehicle comprising a position of the vehicle within the geographic area, a direction that the vehicle is facing, and a field of view for an augmented reality display associated with the vehicle, obtaining historical traffic data associated with the geographic area, identifying one or more traffic infrastructures within the field of view of the augmented reality display based on a map associated with the geographic area, the historical traffic data, the position of the vehicle, and the direction the vehicle is facing, generating an augmented reality image for the one or more traffic infrastructures based on the historical traffic data and the field of view of the augmented reality display, and sending the augmented reality image to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Yin-Chen Liu, BaekGyu Kim
  • Patent number: 11626024
    Abstract: An avionics system in an aircraft for providing flight data from an onboard flight management computer (FMC) to requesting applications is disclosed. The system includes a flight management system (FMS) service layer executing on the FMC on a thread separate from a thread that executes FMS core functions. The FMS service layer provides a FMC networked node server for responding to queries from a plurality of external applications for data generated from the FMS core functions without interrupting the FMS core functions. The FMC networked node server is configured to: receive a request from a client application using a server specified API for data elements from a specified input flight plan; retrieve the specified input flight plan from the FMS core functions; extract the requested data elements; and output the requested data elements to the client application without affecting the active thread that executes FMS core functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Raghu Shamasundar, Mohan Chandrashekarappa, Philip Toews, Robert Brownlee, Srihari Jayathirtha, Kalimullah Khan, Kiran Venkataramana
  • Patent number: 11625957
    Abstract: Methods, systems, apparatuses, and computer readable media for monitoring and maintaining vehicle condition. An apparatus of an example embodiment includes means for receiving a partial dataset indicator for a certain type of dataset. Said apparatus also includes means for providing at least one complete dataset indicator. The partial dataset indicator and the at least one complete dataset indicators provides an indication of one or more terms in their respective dataset. Said apparatus further includes means for determining at least one of the one or more terms of the partial dataset. Said apparatus still further includes means for causing the transmission of at least one of the one or more determined terms of the partial dataset for use by a mobile application. Corresponding systems, methods, and computer readable media are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Assurant, Inc.
    Inventors: Dan Gronsbell, Angel Garcia, Ronnie Blake Perkna
  • Patent number: 11614317
    Abstract: Methods of measuring a thickness of a material are disclosed. An oscillating signal at a measurement frequency is applied to a circuit including an inductive component and a capacitive component provided using a pair of capacitive sensor electrodes adjacent the material. The measurement frequency is less than a resonant frequency of the circuit, and the resonant frequency is based on the inductive component and the capacitive component. Information regarding a value of a measured parameter is generated based on applying the oscillating signal at the measurement frequency to the circuit. A value of the measured parameter is related to the thickness of the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignees: Tyrata, Inc., Duke University
    Inventors: Steven Cummer, Joseph Batton Andrews, Aaron Daniel Franklin, David Alan Koester, James Barton Summers, III
  • Patent number: 11604470
    Abstract: In various examples, a current claimed set of points representative of a volume in an environment occupied by a vehicle at a time may be determined. A vehicle-occupied trajectory and at least one object-occupied trajectory may be generated at the time. An intersection between the vehicle-occupied trajectory and an object-occupied trajectory may be determined based at least in part on comparing the vehicle-occupied trajectory to the object-occupied trajectory. Based on the intersection, the vehicle may then execute the first safety procedure or an alternative procedure that, when implemented by the vehicle when the object implements the second safety procedure, is determined to have a lesser likelihood of incurring a collision between the vehicle and the object than the first safety procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: NVIDIA Corporation
    Inventors: David Nister, Hon-Leung Lee, Julia Ng, Yizhou Wang
  • Patent number: 11597384
    Abstract: Method, apparatus, and computer-readable medium for performing a braking operation of a vehicle when an object is detected in front of the vehicle. The method includes acquiring at least one image of an external environment of the vehicle, determining a road condition of a road of the external environment of the vehicle based on the acquired at least one image, obtaining, based on the determined road condition and from memory, a braking table of one or more braking tables including distances and corresponding vehicle speeds at which the braking operation is performed, acquiring a speed of the vehicle and a distance between a preceding object and the vehicle, comparing the acquired speed of the vehicle and the acquired distance between the preceding object and the vehicle to the braking table, and sending, based on the comparison, an instruction to perform the braking operation of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: VALEO NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Mirian Rodriguez Romero, Ovidiu Buzdugan-Romcea