Patents Examined by Michael F Whalen
  • Patent number: 10234859
    Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed for an example driver assistance system for a vehicle. The example driver assistance system includes a sensor module communicatively coupled to one or more sensors, a processor, and a storage device storing instructions executable by the processor to, responsive to detecting an entry condition, disengage control of the vehicle by a driver of the vehicle, and engage autopilot of the vehicle upon detecting a leading vehicle in front of the vehicle. The instructions are further executable to follow the leading vehicle at a threshold separation until detecting an exit condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Harman International Industries, Incorporated
    Inventor: Chethan Lokesh
  • Patent number: 10227063
    Abstract: A medical device for monitoring biological parameters through an Abreu Brain Thermal Tunnel (ABTT) is provided. By monitoring and analyzing the temperature of the ABTT, it is possible to diagnosis changes in a patient or subject under a variety of conditions, including predicting the course of medical conditions. Furthermore, since the ABTT is predictive, analysis of the ABTT may be used to control mechanisms for safety when an impending medical condition makes such operation hazardous.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Geelux Holdings, Ltd.
    Inventor: Marcio Marc Abreu
  • Patent number: 10207697
    Abstract: A steering wheel position control system for a vehicle comprises a controller for a vehicle. The controller includes a processor and a memory. The memory stores instructions executable by the processor. The controller is programmed to receive values from the sensors. The controller commands a pivot mechanism to bias a steering wheel to a stowed position based on values from the sensors. The controller also deploys an air bag based on values from the sensors, wherein the steering wheel is pivoted out of a space envelope of the deployed airbag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Brown, John P. Joyce, Scott J. Lauffer, Steven R. El Aile, Samer Abbas
  • Patent number: 10204460
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for collecting vehicle data from a vehicle engine computer of a vehicle and a plurality of sensors disposed about the vehicle and generating feedbacks for a driver of the vehicle using at least the vehicle data. One or more validation checks may be performed before the feedbacks are provided to the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventor: Eric Todd Hodges
  • Patent number: 10179625
    Abstract: An electrically assisted bicycle includes a crank shaft, pedals, an electric motor, a pedal effort sensor that detects a pedal effort exerted on the pedals, a propelling detection sensor that detects that the electrically assisted bicycle is starting to be propelled, and a controller that executes a first control in which a command value provided to the electric motor is obtained based on the output of the pedal effort sensor and a second control in which a command value provided to the electric motor is obtained based on the output of the pedal effort sensor and the output of the propelling detection sensor. The controller is configured or programmed to select the first control or the second control as a calculation method of a command value provided to the electric motor during a period of time from a state in which the electrically assisted bicycle is stopped until a detection of the rotation of the crank shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masanori Negoro, Kazuya Matsubara
  • Patent number: 10139233
    Abstract: A method and system for compensating for soft iron magnetic disturbances in multiple heading reference systems, such as aircraft heading reference systems, integrated standby units; or vehicle inertial systems, detects and provides a heading correction signal to the error prone heading reference system when a detected difference in value between a gyro heading relative to magnetic north and a magnetometer reading during a defined measurement period exceeds a predetermined acceptable threshold value of change, such as one based on the expected gyro drift over that period. Upon receipt of the heading correction signal, the gyro heading is adjusted to maintain an accurate heading relative to true magnetic north. If this threshold value is not exceeded, then the magnetometer reading is used for the heading value. This method is periodically repeated in order to continually maintain an accurate heading and may be employed for each heading measurement axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Innovative Solutions & Support, Inc.
    Inventors: Shahram Askarpour, Geoffrey S. M. Hedrick
  • Patent number: 10119819
    Abstract: A method and system for compensating for significant soft iron magnetic disturbances in a heading reference system, such as an aircraft heading reference system, such as an integrated standby unit; or a vehicle inertial system, provides a heading correction signal to the heading reference system when a detected difference in value between a gyro heading relative to magnetic north and a magnetometer reading during a defined measurement period exceeds a predetermined acceptable threshold value of change, such as one based on the expected gyro drift over that period. Upon receipt of the heading correction signal, the gyro heading is adjusted to maintain an accurate heading relative to true magnetic north. If this threshold value is not exceeded, then the magnetometer reading is used for the heading value. This method is iteratively repeated in order to continually maintain an accurate heading and may be employed for each heading measurement axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS & SUPPORT, INC.
    Inventor: Shahram Askarpour
  • Patent number: 10077017
    Abstract: A device for controlling personal protection apparatus in a vehicle includes: at least one sensor unit that acquires at least one physical quantity; and evaluation and control unit which (i) produces, from the at least one acquired physical quantity, at least one signal curve that characterizes an impact, (ii) determines, as a function of an energy dissipation behavior of the vehicle, at least one temporal phase in the produced signal curve, and (iii) evaluates the at least one phase for crash classification and for a triggering decision for the personal protection apparatus. The evaluation and control unit retroactively calculates at least one feature of the energy dissipation based on a characteristic time in the signal curve that represents the end of a first temporal phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Simon Koenig, Werner Nitschke, Dirk John, Gunther Lang, Mustafa Ajanovic
  • Patent number: 10036642
    Abstract: An automated vehicle (AV) can be managed by a backend system and include an acceleration, braking, and steering system, an AV control system to maneuver the AV through road traffic throughout a given region, a memory to store a network resource map indicating locations of base stations and available network types providing coverage from the base stations throughout the given region, a communications array to transmit and receive communications from the backend system, and a communications system. The communications system can utilize the network resource map to dynamically select optimal network types from proximate base stations to communicate data with the backend system, and dynamically configure the communications array to connect with the optimal network types to transmit and receive data with the backend system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: William Ross, Michael Aitken
  • Patent number: 10005465
    Abstract: A moving body control device includes an attitude angle detection section configured to detect ah attitude angle of an inverted moving body, a command value generation section configured to generate an attitude angular speed command value of the inverted moving body according to the attitude angle detected by the attitude angle detection section, a control section configured to control drive of the inverted moving body according to the attitude angular speed command value generated by the command value generation section, a determination section configured to make a determination whether or not the inverted moving body travels in a constant direction for a prescribed time or longer, and an acceleration-deceleration command section configured to increase or decrease the attitude angular speed command value generated by the command value generation section when the determination section makes a determination that travel is performed in the constant direction for the prescribed time or longer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideki Kondo
  • Patent number: 9977243
    Abstract: A method for providing safety-related information of a vehicle using smart glasses includes performing wireless connection with the vehicle, determining whether a driver does not remain focused on the road, requesting the safety-related information from the vehicle upon determination of inattention to the road, and displaying the safety-related information upon reception of the safety-related information from the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Kyong Jo Jung