Patents Examined by Michael Kerrigan
  • Patent number: 9139194
    Abstract: A method for controlling a hybrid powertrain includes monitoring input torque of an input member and may include determining an oscillation torque. The method monitors critical vehicle characteristics, including at least a transmission operating mode and an input speed, and operates the powertrain at the input torque. The method compares input torque to a minimum threshold or oscillation torque to a fatigue threshold and identifies a first critical event, which occurs when input torque exceeds the minimum threshold or oscillation torque exceeds the fatigue threshold. The method identifies a first peak with the on-board controller during the first critical event. Peak events occur when the monitored input torque or oscillation torque changes between positive and negative slope. The method identifies a first CVC set occurring with the first peak and may record the first CVC set and the first peak in a look-up table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Allen J Lehmen, Houchun Xia, R. Anthony Hansen
  • Patent number: 9126649
    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: October 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    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: 9120431
    Abstract: An in-vehicle electronic control unit is fed via a power supply relay energized when a power supply switch is closed while the vehicle is in motion. When a filler lid open command switch is closed in a vehicle stop state in which the power supply switch is opened, the power supply relay is energized and a microprocessor starts to operate and continues to energize the power supply relay by generating a self-hold command output, and opens a filler lid as a safety door after performing decompression processing control of a fuel tank. Then, the filler cap is opened and a refuel operation is performed manually. Thereafter, the microprocessor stops the self-hold command output when the filler cap and the filler lid are closed or a predetermined time has elapsed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Michihiro Takata
  • Patent number: 9102299
    Abstract: A driver identification system for a vehicle is provided. The vehicle has a driver's side front door. The driver identification system includes at least one remote device, and a control module. The remote device is activated to send an authentication signal. The control module is in selective communication with the at least one remote device. The control module receives a signal indicating that the driver's side front door of the vehicle is opened. The control module includes control logic for sending an inquiry signal if the signal indicating the driver's side front door is opened is received by the control module. The inquiry signal is configured for activating the at least one remote device to send the authentication signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Aaron P. Creguer, David T. Proefke, Roy Y. Asmar, Thomas E. Utter
  • Patent number: 9097535
    Abstract: A public transportation journey planning system and method provides transit graph data from which routes can be selected using a route searching technique, for vehicle schedules that are not defined in terms of actual arrival and departure times at stations but rather in terms of a repeat schedule having common repeat period (P) for successive vehicles between start and end times of the day.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Albert Graells, Lucien Pech
  • Patent number: 9090270
    Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a method of detecting an object beneath a train. The method may include receiving a first signal indicative of a speed of the train, receiving a second signal indicative of a three generated by impact of the object with an impact element, and selecting a threshold value based on the speed of the train. The method may also include processing the second signal in accordance with a first procedure if the first signal indicates a speed of the train less than the threshold level, and processing the second signal in accordance with a second procedure different from the first procedure if the first signal is equal to or greater than the threshold level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Progress Rail Services Corporation
    Inventor: Mark Joseph Bartonek
  • Patent number: 9090271
    Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a method and apparatus for characterizing an object protruding beneath a train traveling along a rail. The method may include receiving one or more signals indicative of a detected horizontal force component and a detected vertical force component generated by impact of the object with a stationary impact element. The method may also characterize the object based on the detected horizontal and vertical force components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Progress Rail Services Corporation
    Inventor: Mark Joseph Bartonek
  • Patent number: 9079496
    Abstract: A device distributing engine torque between first and second wheel sets of a vehicle, including a mode switch movable between a first stable position and a second unstable position, activating first and second engine torque distribution modes. When the vehicle stops while the second distribution mode is activated and then restarts after a stop duration, the second distribution mode is activated if the stop duration is less than a time delay, otherwise the first distribution mode is activated. It is determined, in the second distribution mode, whether the vehicle exceeds a predetermined maximum speed threshold. If so, a transition is made to an on-road mode. In the off-road mode, it is determined whether the vehicle exceeds a predetermined intermediate speed threshold, strictly less than maximum speed threshold in an off-road mode, during a time greater than a predetermined duration, to transition back to the on-road mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: RENAULT S.A.S.
    Inventors: Olivier Boutron, Pascal Febrer, Francois Foussard, Nicolas Romani
  • Patent number: 9061567
    Abstract: An air-conditioning control method for dividing an indoor space of a vehicle into a plurality of zones to perform individual air-conditioning for each zone, may include selecting boarding zones occupied by passengers from the plurality of zones, checking whether the number of the boarding zones occupied by the passengers may be one, correcting a detection temperature of an incar sensor into a temperature of the boarding zone using a mixing ratio of air for air-conditioning discharged from the corresponding boarding zone with air existing in the boarding zone when the number of the boarding zones occupied by the passengers may be one, and performing individual air-conditioning on the selected boarding zones by determining a target discharge temperature based on the corrected temperature of the boarding zone and using the determined target discharge temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Jung Ho Kwon, Chun Kyu Kwon, Young Rok Lee, Dong Hyun Kong, Tae Woong Lim, Chang Won Lee
  • Patent number: 9050952
    Abstract: In a device and method for controlling the driving dynamics of a vehicle having a driver's cab spring mounted with respect to the vehicle frame, the yaw rate and deflection of the driver's cab are detected. A yaw rate sensor is arranged in the driver's cab, and the yaw rate of the vehicle frame is estimated or calculated from the yaw rate and deflection of the driver's cab. If the difference between the estimated or calculated yaw rate of the vehicle frame and a desired yaw rate exceeds a limit value, the brake system and/or the drive are actuated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: WABCO GmbH
    Inventors: Jens Groger, Wolfgang Strache
  • Patent number: 9046175
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of selecting and implementing a shift schedule for a transmission in a vehicle that includes an output speed sensor and a controller. The method includes measuring output speed with the output speed sensor and comparing the measured output speed to an output speed threshold. The controller receives throttle percentage and compares the throttle percentage to a throttle threshold. The method also includes calculating output acceleration and transmission gear ratio with the controller. The shift schedule is selected based on the measured output speed, calculated output acceleration, calculated transmission gear ratio, and throttle percentage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Allison Transmission, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey E. Shultz, Jared S. Shattuck
  • Patent number: 9043142
    Abstract: A navigation system may calculate a route to a destination and output guidance information with an output device to guide a user of the navigation system along the calculated route. If it is determined that a navigation device has left the calculated route, the navigation system may prompt the user asking whether output of guidance information should be suspended. If the output of guidance information should be suspended, the navigation system may suspend the output of guidance information and calculate a new route to the destination while the output of guidance information is suspended. The navigation system may calculate an estimated arrival time at the destination based on the calculated new route and output the estimated arrival time while the output of guidance information is suspended.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: HARMAN BECKER AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS GMBH
    Inventor: Daniel Hünig
  • Patent number: 9031771
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for determining at least one of a position and an orientation of a movable load. The present invention also relates to a position and orientation determining system for a group which includes a towing vehicle and at least one load which can be moved by the towing vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignees: Peiker Acustic GmbH & Co., Beyo GmbH
    Inventors: Lutz Richter, Andreas Peiker, Peter Kitzenmaier, Cüneyt Göktekin, Oliver Tenchio
  • Patent number: 9026350
    Abstract: A Center of Gravity Determination Apparatus for Fixed Wing Aerial Systems (NC#102046) comprising a lifting support structure designed to support a fixed wing aerial system (FWAS) wherein the lifting support structure allows the FWAS to freely pitch, a 3-D translation mechanism, operatively coupled to the lifting support structure, designed to precisely position the lifting support structure in the x-axis, y-axis and z-axis, a base support structure, operatively coupled to the 3-D translation mechanism, designed to support other components, at least one resting support structure, operatively coupled to the base support structure, designed to support the FWAS when the lifting support structure is not providing support to the FWAS and wherein the at least one resting support structure is designed to prevent the FWAS from pitching, rolling, or yawing when the lifting support structure is not providing support to the FWAS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Bradley Tecumseh Knaus
  • Patent number: 9020693
    Abstract: A hydraulic shovel calibration device includes an input unit, a first calibration computation unit, and a second calibration computation unit. The input unit is a unit where working point position information and antenna position information are input. The working point position information indicates coordinates of the working point at a plurality of positions which are measured by an external measurement device. The antenna position information indicates coordinates of the position of the antenna which are measured by the external measurement device. The first calibration computation unit computes calibration values of the work implement parameters by numerical analysis based on the working point position information input into the input unit. The second calibration computation unit calibrates the antenna parameters based on the antenna position information input into the input unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventor: Masanobu Seki
  • Patent number: 9002546
    Abstract: A vehicle management system for automatic vehicles running on a guideway independent of wayside signals or interlocking devices includes intelligent on-board controllers on each vehicle for controlling operation of the vehicle. The on-board controllers communicate with each other as well as individual wayside devices and a data storage system to identify available assets needed to move along the guideway and to reserve these assets for their associated vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Thales Canada Inc.
    Inventors: Firth Whitwam, Abe Kanner
  • Patent number: 8996296
    Abstract: A navigational system generates audio cues that are perceived in a three-dimensional space, allowing users to aurally perceive the locations of mapped objects such as landmarks. The audio cues can be produced alone, or in some applications, produced in conjunction with a visual navigational map display to improve the overall efficacy of the system. The audio navigation system includes a positioning system to determine the location of a user, a memory to store hierarchically-organized information about one or more objects, and a processor to render an audio signal based on the hierarchically-organized information. The audio signal is rendered into an audio space corresponding to the user, so as to allow user perception of the location of at least one of the objects relative to the location of the user. The objects may be landmarks in the vicinity of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventor: Pei Xiang
  • Patent number: 8983759
    Abstract: A method for communicating includes transmitting a command message from a lead vehicle to remote vehicles in a vehicle consist. Reply messages are transmitted from the remote vehicles to the lead vehicle. The reply messages include statuses of the remote vehicles that transmitted the reply messages. The status of a first remote vehicle but not of the second remote vehicle is received at the lead vehicle and the status of a second remote vehicle is received at the first remote vehicle. The status of the second remote vehicle is stored at the first remote vehicle a retry message is transmitted from the lead vehicle to the remote vehicles. The retry message is received at the first remote vehicle and a repeat message is transmitted from the first remote vehicle to the lead vehicle that includes the status of the second remote vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Eugene A. Smith, Robert Carmen Palanti, Robert Edwin Havicon, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8983716
    Abstract: A slip angle estimation includes a tire having one or more first and second strain sensor(s) affixed to opposite respective first and second tire sidewalls. The sensors measure a tire strain in their respective sidewalls and generate a sidewall strain signal indicative of strain present within the tire sidewalls. A slip angle estimation is made by estimating the difference in the signal slope of the sensors in the opposite sidewalls. A load estimation is further made for the tire from the inner and outer sidewall strain signals and the load estimation is used in the slip angle estimation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Kanwar Bharat Singh, Anthony William Parsons, Marc Engel
  • Patent number: 8977492
    Abstract: Present novel and non-trivial system, device, and method for generating a temporary, pop-up, location-dependent clock to the pilot of an aircraft. A clock generator may be configured to retrieve approach procedure data representative of waypoint location such as the location of a final approach fix; receive navigation data representative aircraft location information; determine the passing of the waypoint inbound to the applicable airport; and perform one repetitive clock operation of a plurality of repetitive clock operations upon the passing of the waypoint, wherein an image data set is generated and provided to one or more display units. The image data set could be representative of (1) a pop-up timer displaying a counting down of time from the manually-initialized, estimated time, or (2) a pop-up stopwatch displaying a counting up of time when the estimated time is not manually initialized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Roy L. Rosser, Michael A. Jimenez