Patents Examined by Michael D Lang
  • Patent number: 10509127
    Abstract: A method for controlling a first sensor configured to sense an environment through which a vehicle is moving includes receiving sensor data generated by one or more sensors of the vehicle as the vehicle moves through the environment, identifying, by one or more processors and based on at least a portion of the received sensor data, one or more road portions along which the vehicle is expected to travel, and determining, by one or more processors, a configuration of the identified road portions, at least in part by determining a slope of at least one of the identified road portions. The method also includes determining, by one or more processors analyzing at least the determined configuration, an elevation of a field of regard of the first sensor that satisfies one or more visibility criteria, and causing the first sensor to be adjusted in accordance with the determined elevation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Luminar Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Englard, Eric C. Danziger, Joseph Augenbraun, Austin K. Russell
  • Patent number: 10486736
    Abstract: [Problem] An object of the present invention is to provide a motor control unit that driving-controls a motor having the dual-system windings, even in a case that one driving control system is an abnormality (including a failure), turns-ON of one common reverse-connection protection-FET by a driving signal of the other normal driving control system, and achieves a miniaturization and a reduction in costs, an electric power steering apparatus that is equipped with the motor control unit, and a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: NSK LTD.
    Inventors: Kyosho Uryu, Shin Kumagai
  • Patent number: 10485164
    Abstract: A system and method for monitoring and controlling operation of an autonomous robot. In one aspect, the autonomous robot is a lawnmower and the system comprises: an autonomous robot lawnmower comprising a housing, a transceiver, and a central processing unit; an external device in operable communication with the autonomous robot lawnmower, the external device having a transceiver for sending signals to the autonomous robot lawnmower and a display; and wherein in response to user input, the external device is configured to modify settings related to operation of the autonomous robot lawnmower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Inventor: Michael Todd Letsky
  • Patent number: 10464604
    Abstract: Each of a plurality of autonomous driving vehicles configuring an autonomous driving system executes lane selection determination processing of acquiring information concerning an empty space situation in an adjacent lane that is adjacent to a lane where an own vehicle is traveling, and determining whether or not to select the adjacent lane as an own vehicle travel lane in accordance with an empty space situation in the adjacent lane. When the adjacent lane is selected as the own vehicle travel lane by the lane selection determination processing, lane change to the adjacent lane is performed autonomously, or lane change to the adjacent lane is proposed to a driver. The autonomous driving system gives variation to an execution interval of the lane selection determination processing among the plurality of autonomous driving vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryuta Hashimoto, Yoshinori Watanabe, Kenichiro Aoki, Tomoyuki Kuriyama
  • Patent number: 10450789
    Abstract: A vehicle operation detecting device includes: a plurality of sensors that are arranged side by side in a vehicle and individually output a plurality of detection signals changing as a detection target touches or approaches the sensors; a peak position detector that detects a plurality of peak positions of the plurality of detection signals; an operation direction detector that detects a moving direction of the detection target in an arrangement direction of the plurality of sensors, based on an order of the plurality of peak positions; and a driving controller that controls a driving of an opening/closing member according to the detected moving direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hitoshi Takayanagi
  • Patent number: 10446037
    Abstract: Various embodiments relate generally to autonomous vehicles and associated mechanical, electrical and electronic hardware, computer software and systems, and wired and wireless network communications to provide an autonomous vehicle fleet as a service. In particular, a method may include receiving, from a user device, a ride request to transport a user to a destination from an origin location through an autonomous vehicle system service. Based on the origin location associated with the request, an autonomous vehicle system may be selected from a fleet of autonomous vehicles to execute the ride request. The fleet may be managed by the autonomous vehicle system service. The ride request may then be provided to the autonomous vehicle system, and information about the autonomous vehicle system may also be provided to the user device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy David Kentley-Klay, Rachad Youssef Gamara, Gary Linscott
  • Patent number: 10446029
    Abstract: A method and device of a parking system includes, for example, a computer program configured for operating a parking lot, including the steps of ascertaining a route to a target position in the parking lot for autonomous travel of a vehicle in the parking lot to the target position, and blocking at least one section of the route to other vehicles before the vehicle travels through the section, so that the vehicle is able to drive autonomously through the blocked-off section of the route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Hoffmann, Rolf Nicodemus, Stefan Nordbruch
  • Patent number: 10433646
    Abstract: A method and system for temperature control of a microclimate device are disclosed. The temperature control can be integrated into a reservation system for the microclimate device. A user interface can receive a user input of a temperature control setting. The user interface can be integrated into the microclimate device. A processor can receive the user input and control a heating and/or cooling device to execute the temperature control setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Steelcaase Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan Schmidt, Caroline Kelly, Mark McKenna, Christopher Norman, Rob Scheper, Timothy Swieter
  • Patent number: 10437250
    Abstract: A method for operating a vehicle, whereby the vehicle, parked at a parking position in a parking facility, is guided autonomously from the parking position to a loading station and parked autonomously at the loading station, so that the vehicle can be loaded at the loading station. Also described is a related vehicle and computer program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Holger Mielenz, Stefan Nordbruch
  • Patent number: 10423161
    Abstract: A predicted course estimating apparatus for estimating a predicted course of the own vehicle, includes: a data acquiring means for acquiring turning data that indicates a turning direction of the own vehicle; a filtering means for removing a high-frequency component that is included in the turning data; a course predicting means for calculating an estimated value for course prediction of the own vehicle, based on the turning data that has been filtered and a speed of the own vehicle; a determining means for determining whether the own vehicle is traveling a part of a road where the shape changes; and a characteristics changing means for changing the extent of removing of the high-frequency component by the filtering means when it is determined that the own vehicle is traveling a part of the road where the shape changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignees: DENSO CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Taku Sakima, Youhei Masui, Toyoharu Katsukura, Takeshi Nanami, Takashi Nishida
  • Patent number: 10414362
    Abstract: Systems and methods for human scanning for interior preference setup are disclosed. An example disclosed vehicle includes a target lamp on a side view mirror of the vehicle. The example vehicle also includes a scanning module. Additionally, the example vehicle includes an active scanning system configured to instruct the target lamp to project a position indicator a known distance from the vehicle, determine a joint structure based on an image of a person standing at the position indicator received from the scanning module, and adjust interior preference settings based on the detected joint structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jesus Alejandro Pena Casimiro, Jorge Guillermo Barrios Albert
  • Patent number: 10414361
    Abstract: Systems and methods for human scanning for interior preference setup are disclosed. An example disclosed vehicle includes a target lamp on a side view mirror of the vehicle. The example vehicle also includes a scanning module. Additionally, the example vehicle includes an active scanning system configured to instruct the target lamp to project a position indicator a known distance from the vehicle, determine a joint structure based on an image of a person standing at the position indicator received from the scanning module, and adjust interior preference settings based on the detected joint structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jesus Alejandro Pena Casimiro, Jorge Guillermo Barrios Albert
  • Patent number: 10399400
    Abstract: Autonomous craft capable of extended duration operations as lighter-than-air craft, having the ability to alight on the surface of a body of water and generate hydrogen gas for lift via electrolysis using power derived from a photovoltaic system, as well as methods of launching an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) having a deployable envelope from a surface of a body of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Scott Hartshorn, Keith Daniel Humfeld
  • Patent number: 10399563
    Abstract: A driving support apparatus according the embodiment includes: a determination unit that determines driving support control having a driving support resource amount that is capable of assuring required resources with respect to a resource amount that is capable of being assured by a level of a vehicle driver's concentration on driving, the required resources being assumed to be required for safe driving; and a driving support unit that changes the driving support control to be performed to driving support control that is determined by the determination unit to be capable of assuring the required resources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Wataru Nogimori
  • Patent number: 10401857
    Abstract: A method and system operable to perform the method is provided for control of an autonomous or unmanned system. The method includes obtaining a mission model, wherein the mission model comprises a goal and one or more assets that are used to accomplish the goal; producing, by a first hardware processor, a plan goal graph (PGG) model based on the mission model; transforming, by a second hardware processor, the PGG model into a Bayesian Network (BN) model; computing a feasibility to execute a plan and an achievability of accomplishing the goal; and providing control instructions to the one or more assets to be used to accomplish the goal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Guijun Wang, Changzhou Wang
  • Patent number: 10394242
    Abstract: An autonomous navigation system and method for a maneuverable platform are provided herein. The method may include: obtaining a plurality of objectives relating to a maneuverable platform; determining a plurality of options of direction and speed for the platform; autonomously selecting, one option of the plurality of options, in order to achieve said objectives, by calculating a weighted grade of each option based on the weights of the objectives and said grading scheme; and periodically repeating: the receiving with updated platform and obstacles data and the autonomously selecting with the updated platform and obstacles data, wherein the autonomously selecting is executed by a computer processor and includes, for each obstacle, calculating projected positions of the platform and of that obstacle to determine the distance between the platform and the obstacle at the closest point of approach and estimated time to arrive to the closest point of approach.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: ELBIT SYSTEMS LTD.
    Inventors: Yam Myriam Kaspi, Gilad Steiner, Inon Ben Zur
  • Patent number: 10386194
    Abstract: A route-biased search in a mobile navigation system locates points of interest (POI) on or convenient to a mobile user's current travel. The route-biased search operates in two modes, navigation and non-navigation. The navigation mode identifies the most convenient POIs that honor the mobile user's route to their destination. The non-navigation mode identifies the most convenient POIs that are located ahead of the user based on the user's inferred direction of travel. The route-biased search determines the best possible routes to the identified POIs taking into account the impact of the detour costs of traveling to the POI along with other ranking factors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Philomena F. Lobo, Saurabh V. Pendse, Dennis Schieferdecker, Daniel R. Delling
  • Patent number: 10372133
    Abstract: [Object] To provide a control device that can make more efficient an inspection performed by a flying body capable of performing imaging. [Solution] Provided is a control device including an acquisition unit configured to acquire information related to an overview of a structure, and a flight information generating unit configured to generate flight information of a flying body being caused to fly over a periphery of the structure to image the structure on the basis of the information acquired by the acquisition unit. The control device generates information used to cause the flying body to image the structure, and thereby makes it possible to make more efficient the inspection performed by the flying body capable of performing imaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kayoko Tanaka, Kohtaro Sabe, Miki Shibuya, Tsutomu Sawada, Satoru Shimizu, Kousuke Suzuki, Haruto Takeda, Peter Duerr, Masaomi Nabeta, Takekazu Kakinuma, Hironari Mizumura
  • Patent number: 10363936
    Abstract: Vehicle control apparatus and method are disclosed. A method for controlling a vehicle control apparatus includes: measuring a vehicle speed to measure a first vehicle speed and a second vehicle speed of a vehicle, calculating an error rate to calculate an error rate of a vehicle speed using the first vehicle speed and the second vehicle speed measured in the measuring of the vehicle speed, and correcting a vehicle speed to correct a speed of the vehicle by calculating a third vehicle speed of the vehicle based on the error rate calculated in the calculating of the error rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Deok-Ju Kim
  • Patent number: 10354536
    Abstract: Provided is an airspace controller for creating and managing dynamic airspace for different users. The airspace controller may produce different dynamic airspace for each user by continually updating static controlled airspace maps with user-specific flight information including user-planned flights, authorization status of the user's flights, waivers, controlled airspace restrictions, and real-time flight telemetry. The airspace controller may generate a static airspace map for all users with different airspace user interface (“UI”) elements at different regions that correspond to different airspace restrictions in effect at those regions. The airspace controller may create dynamic airspace for each user by modifying the static airspace map to include flight UE elements over regions of the static airspace map where user-defined flights are to occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Kittyhawk.io, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Hegranes, Andrew Elefant, Michael Curry, Joshua Ziering