Patents Examined by Michael Kerrigan
  • Patent number: 9754494
    Abstract: An air traffic control system in which several tactical sectors each control of a respective tactical controller can be amalgamated into a single super-sector under control of a single planning controller. The tactical controllers can collaboratively manage flights in neighboring tactical sectors within the same planning sector and have awareness of selected flights and interactions outside their own tactical sector; the invention assesses and selects which flights to display for each controller (based upon separation responsibility).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: NATS (EN ROUTE) PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY
    Inventors: Melodi Irfan, Michael John Bull, Andrew Trevor Clinch, Stephen James Pember
  • Patent number: 9739630
    Abstract: A method of adjusting a map area displayed on a portable electronic device includes displaying a map of a current location of the portable electronic device on a display of the portable electronic device, calculating a current speed of the portable electronic device, and adjusting data shown on the display by hiding menu information and increasing a size of the displayed map when the current speed of the portable electronic device is greater than a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: MITAC INTERNATIONAL CORP.
    Inventor: Juhang Kuo
  • Patent number: 9731732
    Abstract: A system configured to be disposed onboard a vehicle includes a communication unit and a processing unit. The communication unit is configured to obtain first trip information including first location-based operational information. The first trip information includes commands for a positive train control (PTC) system. The communication unit is also configured to obtain second trip information including second location-based operational information. The second trip information includes trip profile information for performing a mission by the vehicle. The processing unit is configured to obtain the first trip information and the second trip information from the communication unit, and to determine combined trip information using the first trip information and the second trip information. The processing unit is also configured to develop control information using the combined trip information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Samuel William Golden, Kevin Kapp
  • Patent number: 9731715
    Abstract: A method for assisting with the parking of a motor vehicle includes detecting the position of a movement-control member able to indicate a transverse component and a longitudinal component, with respect to the motor vehicle, of a movement instruction, and analyzing the movement instruction. The method also includes classifying the movement instruction in two modes (mode 1, mode 2) according to the angle ? about the transverse axis of the movement-control member with respect to its rest position and the comparison thereof with the angel ?M that brings the steered wheels of the motor vehicle to the angle ?M of maximum steering lock, and moving the vehicle in accordance with the movement instruction mode, with mode 2 corresponding to assisted parking mode and performing a semi-automatic parallel-parking maneuver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignees: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE FRANCE, CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventor: Mariano Sans
  • Patent number: 9718418
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle (1) comprising: a multiplexed communication bus (2); an engine control unit (4) connected to the communication bus (2); a secure element (6) hosted in the vehicle and configured to communicate through the communication bus, the secure element securely storing (64) security data related to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: GEMALTO SA
    Inventors: Yvon Gressus, Pascal Leroy
  • Patent number: 9717978
    Abstract: An electric vehicle may comprise a board including deck portions each configured to receive a foot of a rider, and a wheel assembly disposed between the deck portions. A motor assembly may be mounted to the board and configured to propel the electric vehicle using the wheel assembly. At least one orientation sensor may be configured to measure orientation information of the board, and at least one pressure-sensing transducer may be configured to determine rider presence information. A motor controller may be configured to receive the orientation information and the rider presence information, and to cause the motor assembly to propel the electric vehicle based on the orientation and presence information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Future Motion, Inc.
    Inventors: Kyle Jonathan Doerksen, Daniel Wood, Julian de la Rua
  • Patent number: 9711050
    Abstract: A smart vehicle can be operated by generating a 3D model of a sensor's field of view; receiving information from neighboring vehicles to compensate for blindspots in the sensor's field of view and in a driver's field of view; receiving traffic information, weather information; adjusting one or more characteristics of the plurality of 3D models based on the received traffic and weather information and blindspot information; aggregating the plurality of 3D models to generate a comprehensive 3D model; and combining the comprehensive 3D model with detailed map information; and using the combined comprehensive 3D model with detailed map information to maneuver the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Bao Tran
    Inventor: Arafat M. A. Ansari
  • Patent number: 9701214
    Abstract: An information sharing system including a plurality of on-vehicle diagnosis terminals and one or more of display terminals sharing diagnostic information over wireless communication. The respective terminals store, in a storing unit, data sets, also stored in another terminal with which communication was established, and a stored clock time. The terminals include a communication-establishing unit that includes a searching unit and an establishing unit. The searching unit is configured to search an planned-connection terminal capable of establishing communication with the terminal, and that does not yet have a stored clock time, or the stored clock time that is stored in the on-vehicle diagnosis terminal and from which a predetermined time has passed, and the establishing unit is configured to establish communication with the planned-connection terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Go Yuasa, Michael J. Ramirez, Masashi Tsuzuki
  • Patent number: 9702706
    Abstract: A facility wayfinding system is provided which includes an interactive public display device and a mobile device, running a mobile wayfinding application. The interactive public display device, which is situated at a first location within a facility, displays a facility map showing facility units, receives a user selection of a facility unit as a second location, and displays a route from the first location to the second location on the facility map. The mobile device also displays the facility map, displays a route from a start location to a destination location on the facility map, and updates the start location to the first location and the destination location to the second location by synchronizing with the interactive public display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: MAPPEDIN INC.
    Inventors: Hongwei Liu, Leander Lee, Mitchell Butler
  • Patent number: 9704407
    Abstract: An aircraft system includes a processing unit configured to receive navigation data and notice to airmen (NOTAM) information and to generate display signals based on the navigation data and the NOTAM information. The system further includes a display device coupled to the processing unit and configured to render an image according to the display signals with a first area depicting a navigation display based on the navigation data and a second area depicting a list of NOTAM text messages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Bretislav Passinger, Petr Hornych, Dominik Vahala, Ivan Lacko
  • Patent number: 9694807
    Abstract: A powertrain system for a vehicle is described, and includes an internal combustion engine mechanically coupled to an electric machine to generate propulsion torque and electric power storable on an energy storage device. A method for controlling the powertrain system includes determining a first desired powertrain output power associated with a road load and determining a second desired powertrain output power associated with a feed-forward state-of-charge (SOC) for the energy storage device. The internal combustion engine and the electric machine are controlled responsive to the first and second desired powertrain output powers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Luke David Shepley, Anthony H. Heap, Eric Piper, Kee Yong Kim
  • Patent number: 9695764
    Abstract: A marine drive system includes an engine, a fuel system that provides at least two different fuels to the engine, and a fuel selection means for selecting a fuel type. A control unit accesses a set of fuel-specific operating parameters based on the selected fuel type and controls the engine based on the set of fuel-specific operating parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Erik J. Christiansen, Jason F. Pugh
  • Patent number: 9688342
    Abstract: In a mobile vehicle 1 having a vehicle body 2, a front wheel 3f, and a rear wheel 3r, the steering control wheel 3f can be steered by a steering actuator 8 about a steering axis Csf which is tilted backward. The steering actuator 8 is controlled by a control device 15. The height a, from a ground surface 110, of the intersection point Ef of the steering axis Csf of the steering control wheel 3f and a virtual straight line connecting the ground contact point of the steering control wheel 3f and the center of axle of the steering control wheel 3f in a basic posture state of the mobile vehicle 1 is set to satisfy a prescribed condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toru Takenaka, Hiroshi Gomi, Kazushi Akimoto, Hiroyuki Makino, Yoichi Nishimura, Taihei Setoguchi, Naoyuki Saito, Kenji Muto, Keisuke Koitabashi, Shunichi Nakabayashi
  • Patent number: 9643598
    Abstract: A control device for a vehicle drive device includes performing neutral travel control in which disengagement/engagement elements are disengaged with the wheels rotating so the state of a speed change mechanism is controlled into a neutral state where transfer of a drive force between the input member to the engine and the output member to the wheels is not performed, and the wheels are driven by a rotary electric machine drive force; and comparing an operating state value of each of target actuators that control the state of the disengagement/engagement elements, and a determination value so torque from the speed change mechanism to the wheels because of torque transferred by each of the disengagement/engagement elements, falls within an allowable range during neutral travel control, and determines whether the torque transferred from the speed change mechanism to the wheels falls within the allowable range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takehiko Suzuki, Yoichi Tajima, Masatoshi Taguchi, Minoru Kubokawa, Tomohiro Kusamizu
  • Patent number: 9644970
    Abstract: Implementations of the present invention contemplate obtaining a more accurate estimated horizontal position error (EHPE) under conditions in which the telematics unit of a vehicle cannot receive GNSS signals. In particular, the invention contemplates determining that a vehicle is entering a parking garage and obtaining a more accurate estimated horizontal position error (EHPE) of the vehicle in the parking garage when GNSS signals are unavailable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: GENERAL MOTORS LLC
    Inventors: Debo Sun, Curtis L. Hay
  • Patent number: 9635518
    Abstract: Programmable telematics systems, methods and apparatus for two-way transmission of data and information between fleet vehicles and a fleet management system. The systems and methods employ a programmable telematics communications unit (TCU) configured to connect to the OBD II port of a vehicle, enabling two-way transmission of data and information between a fleet management system and vehicles in the fleet. The TCU device includes cellular data connectivity enabling communication with the management system through existing cellular telephone networks. The programmable TCU may be toggled between multiple operating modes, wherein the TCU provides different functionality, such that a single vehicle may participate in multiple vehicle programs at different points in time, including separate vehicle rental and vehicle sharing programs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Inventors: Sang J. Lee, Syed Naveed Ghalib
  • Patent number: 9630600
    Abstract: A central control entity controls all actuators of a chassis control system of a motor vehicle. To select a combination of actuator operations best suited for influencing the handling of the motor vehicle, the effect of a change of settings of motor vehicle actuators on the handling is predicted by an observer device configured to receive at least one sensor signal from a sensor via a signal input and, depending on the sensor signal, to determine at least one estimated value for a slip resistance of the motor vehicle. The controller is configured by operating the controller in a test motor vehicle that has a sensor for a measured variable, for which the observer device determines an estimated value. The estimated values from the controller are then compared with corresponding measured values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventor: Anron Obermüller
  • Patent number: 9569973
    Abstract: The present disclosure is generally directed to a method of generating and displaying a parachute flare drift vector symbol on a navigation display of the aircraft capable of deploying a flare relative to a real-time navigation map. The flare drift vector symbol includes a flare ignition forward/aft distance relative to the aircraft deploying the flare, a flare ignition left/right distance relative to the aircraft deploying the flare, a flare burn vector distance, and a flare burn vector direction. The flare drift vector symbol is generating based on the flare parameters, the wind parameters, the flare drift distance, the flare drift direction and the aircraft parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Douglas J. Eaton, Jr., Scott T. Dubeck
  • Patent number: 9544047
    Abstract: An avionics system allows aircraft to introduce bogus “ADS-B Out” messages that are recognized as false only by authorized users. The system enables aircrafts flying at low altitudes to prevent misuse of their ADS-B Out information by maliciously operated cyber and physical attack tools. Aspects of the illustrative embodiment include the system architecture, including an Airborne ATC Processor and Ground ATM System Processor; a process employed by aircraft for generating authorized bogus ADS-B Out messages; a process employed by aircraft for transmitting authorized bogus ADS-B Out messages; and a process employed by air traffic control and other aircraft for decoding the authorized bogus ADS-B Out messages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Radhakrishna G Sampigethaya
  • Patent number: 9538696
    Abstract: A vehicle, a tool carriage assembly, and a system are disclosed. The vehicle includes drive wheels and a steering assembly which are responsive to control signal(s) to substantially correct a displacement error of the vehicle relative to an intended travel path. The tool carriage assembly includes a support section operatively mounted to a main body for relative movement. The support section is adapted to have mounted thereto a tool unit comprising a tool head. In response to a displacement error of the tool head relative to the intended travel path, the support section is responsive to one or more control signals to move relative to the main body to substantially correct the displacement error of the tool head. The system includes the vehicle having the tool carriage assembly mounted thereto, and a control system for controlling the correction of the displacement errors of the vehicle and the tool head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Newsouth Innovations Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Jayantha Katupitiya, Raymond Paul Eaton