Patents Examined by Michael D Lang
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Patent number: 9969490Abstract: A motor vehicle system includes a motor vehicle including an aircraft landing portion, and an actively propelled unmanned aircraft configured to be supported on the aircraft landing portion. The vehicle and aircraft are configured such that the vehicle can provide at least one of fuel and electrical energy to the aircraft while the aircraft is supported on the aircraft landing portion.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2015Date of Patent: May 15, 2018Assignee: Elwha LLCInventors: William D. Duncan, Roderick A. Hyde, Jordin T. Kare, Stephen L. Malaska, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Robert C. Petroski, Thomas Allan Weaver, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
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Patent number: 9963007Abstract: A method for compensating for an inclination of a vehicle in at least one spatial direction. The vehicle has a vehicle body and an active chassis with a plurality of wheels, which are in contact with the roadway. Each wheel is joined to the vehicle body by way of an actuator, which can be adjusted in terms of its length, at a suspension point associated with the wheel. An inclination of the vehicle body in the at least one spatial direction is determined. For at least two wheels, respectively, a vertical distance to the suspension point of the vehicle body that is associated with the particular wheel is detected. Via the at least two determined distances, an inclination of the chassis in the at least one spatial direction is calculated by transformation of the vertical distance of the at least two wheels to the vehicle body.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2016Date of Patent: May 8, 2018Assignee: AUDI AGInventors: Andreas Unger, Christoph Göhrle
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Patent number: 9956967Abstract: A method is provided for selecting a plurality of program functions for providing repeatedly implemented functions, e.g., in a vehicle, ship or in an aircraft. The method includes determining a first total performance value based on recorded first single performance values and recorded first dependencies, determining a first total performance value based on determined second single performance values and recorded second dependencies, determining a cluster performance from the first total performance value and from the second total performance value, and the cluster performance value or at least one value determined from the cluster performance value is used for selecting the program functions or of other program functions for providing the repeatedly implemented functions.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2014Date of Patent: May 1, 2018Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFTInventors: Michael Armbruster, Andreas Zirkler
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Patent number: 9958874Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for aircraft attitude control. The aircraft attitude control may take physical parameters of the aircraft into account. For example, one or more aircraft configuration parameters, such as moment of inertia, motor lift curve, and/or axial distance may be calculated and/or taken into account based on the aircraft physical parameters. The aircraft configuration parameters may include non-linear parameters. The control systems may include feedback control systems, and may optionally use a feedforward and feedback control for angular acceleration.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2014Date of Patent: May 1, 2018Assignee: SZ DJI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTDInventor: Yun Yu
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Patent number: 9947100Abstract: Embodiments disclosed pertain to the use of user equipment (UE) for the generation of a 3D exterior envelope of a structure based on captured images and a measurement set associated with each captured image. In some embodiments, a sequence of exterior images of a structure is captured and a corresponding measurement set comprising Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) measurements, wireless measurements (including Global Navigation Satellite (GNSS) measurements) and/or other non-wireless sensor measurements may be obtained concurrently. A closed-loop trajectory of the UE in global coordinates may be determined and a 3D structural envelope of the structure may be obtained based on the closed loop trajectory and feature points in a subset of images selected from the sequence of exterior images of the structure.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2016Date of Patent: April 17, 2018Assignee: QUALCOMM IncorporatedInventors: Mark Leo Moeglein, Christopher Brunner, Arvind Ramanandan, Mahesh Ramachandran, Abhishek Tyagi, Murali Ramaswamy Chari
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Patent number: 9937938Abstract: A train control unit may comprise a probe attached to a first rail of a track way, and a sensor device attached to a second rail of the track way configured to determine the position of the probe, whereby the position of the first rail relative to the second rail may be determined. The train control unit is preferably independent of equipment controlling the position of the first and second rails. Some embodiments of the train control unit may be employed as a track monitor, a switch monitor and/or a wayside monitor.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2016Date of Patent: April 10, 2018Assignee: Panasec CorporationInventors: Kevin Kwong-Tai Chung, Albert Han-Ping Chung, Yulin Huang, Dexi Zhu
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Patent number: 9927248Abstract: A system and method for providing navigational routing. The method includes determining, at a controller, a first route from a first location to a second location, the determination of the first route using a first set of routing rules. The method also includes determining, at the controller, a second route from the first location to the second location, the determination of the second route using a second set of routing rules applicable to public safety vehicles, the second set of routing rules different from the first set of routing rules. The method further includes the steps of accessing, at the controller, route information related to the second route; identifying, at the controller, a preferred route based on the first travel duration, the second travel duration, and the route information; and outputting the identified preferred route.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2016Date of Patent: March 27, 2018Assignee: MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS, INC.Inventors: Alexander R. Spiro, Alejandro G. Blanco, Kenneth W. Douros, Randy L. Ekl, Irina Kleyman, Catherine S. Witkin
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Patent number: 9925993Abstract: A train speed profiling system for use in connection with a train management system that can generate a virtual profile of a predetermined route having an estimated time of arrival at a destination based on data specific to the route and the actual train that will travel on the route. The virtual profile may be adjusted for any acceleration and any deceleration required by the train, and then optimized for reduced fuel consumption by reducing braking effort and improving coasting opportunities over the route if the estimated time of arrival is earlier than a desired time of arrival. The virtual profile may further be conformed so that the estimate time of arrival matches the desired time of arrival within a narrow threshold.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2016Date of Patent: March 27, 2018Assignee: New York Air Brake, LLCInventors: Wade Goforth, Roger B. Lewis
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Patent number: 9921072Abstract: Predicting the future location of a user based on predicting the route that the user might take is disclosed. The routes used by the user in the past are indexed to generate a dictionary of routes which can be further augmented with contextual data. The prior routes are encoded within the dictionary such that each term representing a respective one of the prior routes comprises a collection of unique identifiers wherein each of the unique identifiers represents a segment of the respective one of the prior routes. Techniques of text prediction, term frequency for dictionary scores and other language processing techniques are used to predict the further route of the user.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2013Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: Visa International Service AssociationInventors: Joseph Spears, Mark Carlson, Patrick Stan
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Patent number: 9914446Abstract: Provided is a driving assistance apparatus configured to determine whether or not an own vehicle driving lane is a merging lane based on a result of identifying the merging lane from a lane reduction sign detected in a vehicle front image and a result of identifying a merged lane direction with respect to the own vehicle driving lane from separation lines on both sides of the own vehicle driving lane that are detected in the vehicle front image, and to control driving of an own vehicle in accordance with the determination result and vehicle condition information of the own vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2016Date of Patent: March 13, 2018Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventor: Noritaka Kokido
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Patent number: 9915547Abstract: A method of providing enhanced navigation information in a vehicle in response to a finding of driver confusion includes the steps of monitoring behavior of a driver, determining whether the driver is confused based on the behavior of the driver, and providing additional points of interest data to the driver if the driver is determined to be confused.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2016Date of Patent: March 13, 2018Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventor: Alvin Teh Yuan
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Patent number: 9909893Abstract: The present disclosure provides an intelligent blind guiding device, wherein a satellite positioning module is configured to acquire a location information representative of a user's location; an ultrasonic module is configured to acquire an obstacle information by detecting surrounding obstacles; a positioning analysis module is configured to acquire a revised location information; a voice input module is configured to acquire a destination information; a central processing unit is configured to determine a travel solution; and a prompt module is configured to broadcast the travel solution. The present disclosure may realize a precise positioning, and provide an optional travel mode for a blind person.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2016Date of Patent: March 6, 2018Assignees: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD., BEIJING BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.Inventors: Hongjuan Liu, Haisheng Wang, Yingming Liu, Shengji Yang, Weijie Zhao, Wei Liu, Changfeng Li, Xiaoliang Ding, Rui Xu, Lei Wang
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Patent number: 9910441Abstract: 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. More specifically, systems, devices, and methods are configured to generate trajectories to influence navigation of autonomous vehicles. In particular, a method may include receiving path data to navigate from a first geographic location to a second geographic location, generating data representing a trajectory with which to control motion of the autonomous vehicle based on the path data, generating data representing a contingent trajectory, monitoring generation of the trajectory, and implementing the contingent trajectory subsequent to an absence of the trajectory.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2015Date of Patent: March 6, 2018Assignee: Zoox, Inc.Inventors: Jesse Sol Levinson, Gabriel Thurston Sibley, Timothy David Kentley-Klay
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Patent number: 9889721Abstract: A method for operating an air conditioning system of a vehicle includes actuating an operating element of an air vent of the air condition system for a defined first time period, the actuating for the first time period causing activation of a control slider function for adjusting the outflow volume, actuating the operating element for a defined second time period, which is shorter than the first time period, the actuating for the second time period causing a popup menu which optically displays a numerical value of an actual outflow volume of the air vent being displayed on an onboard monitor of the vehicle, and adjusting the outflow volume with a further operating element in the popup menu and simultaneously optically displaying a numerical value of the adjusted outflow volume.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2016Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Assignee: Audi AGInventors: Matthias Wunderlich, Christian Wall
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Patent number: 9889744Abstract: In the case where a virtual vehicle speed selection means selects one of a first virtual vehicle speed and a second virtual vehicle speed so as to perform switching from the other one to said one of the first virtual vehicle speed and the second virtual vehicle speed, the rotation speed of an electric motor is decelerated to a threshold value with which travel of the vehicle stabilizes and the deceleration of the electric motor is stopped when the rotation speed of the electric motor becomes lower than the threshold value, and then traction of the vehicle is controlled based on the selected virtual vehicle speed.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2014Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Kotaro Nakano, Hiroyuki Kobayashi
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Patent number: 9875660Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving flight path data regarding the presence of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) at a location at a future time, detecting the presence of the UAV at the location at the future time, determining radio identity data of the UAV using a radio mode of identification, determining optical identity data of the UAV using an optical mode of identification, and certifying the UAV based on a comparison of the radio identity data and the optical identity data to the flight path data.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2016Date of Patent: January 23, 2018Assignee: CISCO TECHNOLOGY, INC.Inventors: Charles Calvin Byers, Gonzalo Salgueiro, Joseph Michael Clarke
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Patent number: 9869563Abstract: A method of predicting a destination of a user of a mobile device is described, together with a device for performing the same. The method comprises determining a location of the mobile device, and executing a route search algorithm with respect to a trip data-base. The trip database stores information indicative of a personal road network of a user of the mobile device, one or more road segments in the personal road network being associated with a respective destination location, and cost information associated with road segments in the personal network, the cost information being based, at least in part, on traversal information in the trip database.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2014Date of Patent: January 16, 2018Assignee: TOMTOM INTERNATIONAL B.V.Inventors: Samuel Mark Broadbent, Pieter Andreas Geelen, Stéphane Hareau, Jose F. Santiago Nunez
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Patent number: 9862406Abstract: An initial check is executed individually on each group of a plurality of groups constituted by a plurality of multiphase windings (3a, 3b) of a motor (3) and a plurality of inverter circuits (9a, 9b) corresponding respectively thereto, opening/closing control is executed on a plurality of relays (6a, 6b) in accordance with an implementation result of the initial check so that respective timings at which power is supplied to the plurality of inverter circuits are offset, and drive control is executed on the plurality of inverter circuits in accordance with the implementation result of the initial check so that respective currents passed through the plurality of multiphase windings are offset.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2013Date of Patent: January 9, 2018Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Taizo Toda, Jiro Okada
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Patent number: 9862410Abstract: A vehicle steering control apparatus obtains lane information of a traveling lane and performs, based on the lane information, a steering control. The vehicle steering control apparatus includes a first-target-control-amount calculator, a second-target-control-amount calculator, a limit value calculator, and a steering control executing unit. The first-target-control-amount calculator calculates, based on image information, a target control amount of the steering control as a first target control amount. The second-target-control-amount calculator calculates, based on own vehicle position information and map information, a target control amount of the steering control as a second target control amount. The limit value calculator calculates a limit value of the first target control amount, based on the second target control amount as a reference.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2016Date of Patent: January 9, 2018Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATIONInventor: Hajime Oyama
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Patent number: 9857177Abstract: A mapping service can expose a set of APIs or other interfaces that can enable information from third parties to be incorporated into a mapping application executing on various computing devices, as well as to enable the mapping data to be embedded in applications associated with the third parties. This information can relate to points of interest (POI) that can be provided on a map displayed through the mapping application. In some embodiments the POI can be selected based upon information known about the user, in order to personalize the POI displayed and enable the selection of POI to likely be more of interest to the user. In some embodiments, the user can also select to receive types of POI from the third party providers, which can be incorporated with the mapping data and, in at least some embodiments can still be selected based on information known about the user.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2012Date of Patent: January 2, 2018Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Samuel S. Gigliotti, Ronald A. Kornfeld
