Patents Examined by Michael D Lang
  • Patent number: 11299162
    Abstract: A vehicle control device includes a display control unit configured to display a preceding vehicle image corresponding to a preceding vehicle and an overtaking proposal activation image based on a relative situation of the preceding vehicle with respect to the host vehicle and a surrounding environment of the host vehicle and configured to control display such that the overtaking proposal activation image and the preceding vehicle image approach each other in response to approaching of the host vehicle and the preceding vehicle, an automatic overtaking proposal unit configured to propose the automatic overtaking to a driver when the overtaking proposal activation image reaches the preceding vehicle image on the display screen, and a vehicle control unit configured to execute the automatic overtaking of the preceding vehicle by the host vehicle when the approval determination unit determines that the driver has approved the automatic overtaking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Atsuki Kinoshita, Ko Igarashi, Yuki Mori
  • Patent number: 11292340
    Abstract: The present invention ascertains an action schedule of an automatic driving system when a host vehicle is travelling in an automatic driving mode, and uses an indirect weak expression to convey the action schedule to a driver, at an action schedule presentation start location (P2) which has more leeway with respect to a scheduled action location (P1) (steps S16, S18). In the case of an acceleration/deceleration action schedule, an illuminance distribution of the speedometer dial plate, a virtual pointer or the like is used to express the action schedule such that the driver is able to intuitively ascertain the acceleration or deceleration. In the case of a steering action schedule, the steering direction is expressed using a change in illumination near the steering wheel representing the direction of steering or the like is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yukio Suzuki, Kenichi Nagahashi, Harutoshi Nakajima
  • Patent number: 11287525
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for identifying a short cut-in vehicle, and a vehicle using the same are disclosed. The apparatus includes a signal conversion unit configured to receive and signal-process a plurality of sensing signals, a computation unit configured to compute state information of a surrounding vehicle detected from the signal-processed signal, a sensor fusion track output unit configured to output a sensor fusion track based on the computed state information of the surrounding vehicle, an occupancy distance map (ODM) output unit configured to output ODM information including a grid map corresponding to a vehicle detection region and an ODM object including a plurality of detection points based on the computed state information of the surrounding vehicle, and a cut-in vehicle identification unit configured to identify a cut-in vehicle based on the output sensor fusion track and ODM information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION, APTIV KOREA LLC
    Inventors: Hoon Lee, Ji Eun Won, Dong Gu Lee, Sang Bok Won, Min Kyun Yoo, Jae Pil Hwang, Hyung Sun Jang, Uk Il Yang, Hyok Jin Chong, Kyoung Jun Lee, Woo Young Lee, Seul Ki Han, Bo Young Yun, Su Min Jo, Seung Joon Lee, Byung Gi Hong, Soo Bin Jeon, Min Ho Park, Gi Hyun Seo, Kyu Ho Park, Jun Kwon Jee
  • Patent number: 11279347
    Abstract: A method for determining an emergency stop point for a motor vehicle includes steps of determining a driving state of the motor vehicle and determining an emergency stop point in the area of the motor vehicle on the basis of the driving state. The stop point is determined in such a way that a risk of stopping at the determined emergency stop point does not exceed a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Holger Mielenz
  • Patent number: 11260865
    Abstract: A vehicle control device includes a control instruction unit (ALC switch) that gives an instruction to perform one of lane change assistance control in which guidance of lane change is provided to a vehicle occupant through a notification unit (HMI) and automated lane change control in which travel control required for movement from a travel lane to a target lane is automatically performed as lane change control performed in the lane change in accordance with vehicle occupant's operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Ishioka, Kanta Tsuji
  • Patent number: 11242059
    Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a method in a data processing system comprising at least one processor and at least one memory, the at least one memory comprising instructions executed by the at least one processor to implement a vehicle overtaking monitoring system. The method comprises receiving, from a first plurality of sensors coupled to an ego vehicle, lead vehicle data about a lead vehicle, inferring an estimated intention of the lead vehicle based on the lead vehicle data, selecting an intention model from a plurality of intention models based on the estimated intention, calculating a set of permissible driving inputs of the ego vehicle based on the intention model, calculating at least one driver input range based on the set of permissible driving inputs, and causing the at least one driver input range to be displayed to a driver of the ego vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignees: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIV. OF MICHIGAN, AZ BRD REGENTS ON BEHALF OF AZ STATE UNIV.
    Inventors: Necmiye Ozay, Yunus E. Sahin, Zexiang Liu, Kwesi Rutledge, Sze Zheng Yong, Dimitra Panagou
  • Patent number: 11237560
    Abstract: 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: June 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    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: 11235631
    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: September 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Scott Hartshorn, Keith Daniel Humfeld
  • Patent number: 11238727
    Abstract: An aerial vehicle can proceed to a target location upon receiving a message based on a ground vehicle being at an aerial vehicle deploy location. A user can be identified from an image captured at the target location. The aerial vehicle can be navigated to lead the user to a rendezvous with the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Oswaldo Perez Barrera, Alvaro Jimenez Hernandez
  • Patent number: 11230157
    Abstract: A method comprises the steps of using microcomputer circuitry and logic generating data format providing activation and deactivation of a portable air cooling unit and operating the blower fan at differing speeds optimizing and conserving the rate of expending pre-cooled refrigerant. First, deactivating the unit during periods when cooling is unnecessary. Using sensors, including proximity sensors, for sensing the data format of individuals. The logic upon detecting an individual within the predefined range generates data format activating the chilled air output and deactivating the unit upon not sensing objects. The data format associated with the objects, dimensional aspect of range and operations of the portable air cooling unit are stored in the memory. Additionally, the active coupling of the temperature sensors operates the fan at lower speeds when the outside temperature is within the cooler temperature setting spectrum. Alternatively, switches are provided for operating the portable air cooling units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Inventor: Sivathanu B. Kumar
  • Patent number: 11214263
    Abstract: A management assistance system can include: an imaging device; a first monitoring device; a second monitoring device; an instruction terminal; and a server. The instructing terminal can be configured to determine whether or not the caution determination condition is satisfied based on first monitoring information transmitted from the first monitoring device and second monitoring information transmitted from the second monitoring device, and transmit a dashcam video cut instruction signal to the imaging device when determining that the caution determination condition is satisfied. The imaging device can extract information of a predetermined time width including a reception time of the dashcam video cut instruction signal from the continuous dashcam video information to create dashcam footage information, associates the dashcam footage information with date and time information and identification information, and transmits the dashcam footage information to the server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Hitachi Transport System, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiminori Sato, Yuhi Shinohara
  • Patent number: 11209537
    Abstract: A radar circuit for use with a host system such as a vehicle includes a radio frequency (RF) signal generator configured to generate a predetermined RF waveform, an RF antenna connected to the RF signal generator, and an ECU which executes a method. As part of such a method, a signal generator transmits the RF waveform toward different radar target types, and receives return signatures reflected therefrom. The ECU receives the return signatures from the antenna, processes the return signatures via parallel constant false-alarm rate (CFAR) subdetectors each with defined cells under test to detect the target types as a set of detection events, merges the detection events into a merged set, and executes a control action aboard the host system responsive to the merged set. Each subdetector detects a corresponding one or more of the radar target types via corresponding detection parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Oren Longman, Gaston Solodky, Shahar Villeval, Igai Bilik
  • Patent number: 11198979
    Abstract: A line marking device (1) comprising a cart (2) with at least one steerable wheel (3) and at least two moving elements (4, 5). The steerable wheel (3) is rotatable around its axle (13) and pivotable such that the cart (2) is steered in a desired direction. The line marking device (1) comprises a GNSS receiver (7) or a robotic total station mounted on the cart (2). The line marking device (1) also comprises at least one spray nozzle (8), for marking a line, which is mounted on the cart and directed towards the ground below the line marking device (1). The device (1) comprises an interface mounted on the cart for a comparator to compare a detected location by the GNSS receiver (7) to a predetermined pattern. The cart (2) may comprise a motor (14) which is adapted to pivot the steerable wheel (3) towards an intended movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: SWOZI AG
    Inventors: Mario Hutter, Peter James Roberts, Aleksander Valdis Velde, Mathias Wäckerlin, Patrick Specker
  • Patent number: 11195346
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an articulated self-propelled robotic tool 1 with first and second platforms 3, 7, each comprising a wheel set 5, 9 driven by motors. A link arrangement connects the first platform to the second platform at a turning axis 11. A driving error is determined by recording a driving input to the motors and a resulting movement parameter, comparing the resulting movement with an estimated resulting movement which is based on the driving input. Slip is detected using the driving error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Husqvarna AB
    Inventors: Magnus Bergenholm, Johan Rogö, Lars Ederfors
  • Patent number: 11183069
    Abstract: A display control device includes a display that is configured to display information and a display controller that is configured to cause the display to display a plurality of partition lines for partitioning a host lane in which a vehicle is present and an adjacent lane adjacent to the host lane, and the display controller is configured to cause the display to display a partition line of the adjacent lane in a case where the adjacent lane is a lane in which a lane change from the host lane is possible, and restrict causing the display to display the partition line of the adjacent lane in a case where the adjacent lane is not a lane in which a lane change from the host lane is possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaya Ikeda, Yasuharu Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 11183073
    Abstract: In accordance with at least one aspect of this disclosure, a computer implemented method includes receiving imaging data from an imaging system of an aircraft, and creating a new flight plan or a modified flight plan of the aircraft based on the imaging data. The method can include transmitting the new flight plan or the modified flight plan to a control system of the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: American Robotics
    Inventor: Reese Alexander Mozer
  • Patent number: 11173914
    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: July 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Deok-Ju Kim
  • Patent number: 11169541
    Abstract: A distance from an aerial vehicle to a terrain feature located forward and lower with respect to the aerial vehicle is measured. An orientation of the aerial vehicle with respect to a reference orientation is detected. At least the measured distance and the orientation of the aerial vehicle is utilized to determine a relative vertical difference between a vertical location of the aerial vehicle and a vertical location of the terrain feature. The determined relative vertical difference is utilized to automatically adjust a flight altitude of the aerial vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Inventors: Han-Shue Tan, Jihua Huang
  • Patent number: 11162805
    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: July 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Philomena F. Lobo, Saurabh V. Pendse, Dennis Schieferdecker, Daniel R. Delling
  • Patent number: 11157010
    Abstract: A system for deterministic trajectory selection based on uncertainty estimation includes a set of one or more computing systems. A method for deterministic trajectory selection includes receiving a set of inputs; determining a set of outputs; determining uncertainty parameters associated with any or all of the set of inputs and/or any or all of the set of outputs; and evaluating the uncertainty parameters and optionally triggering a process and/or action in response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Gatik AI Inc.
    Inventors: Gautam Narang, Apeksha Kumavat, Arjun Narang, Kinh Tieu, Michael Smart, Marko Ilievski