Patents Examined by Naeem Taslim Alam
  • Patent number: 10995462
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to an autonomous mobile attenuator system for mitigating vehicular collisions. The system includes one or more mobile attenuators that receive data indicating a need for deployment from one or more sensors. The one or more mobile attenuators perform a collision risk assessment on the received data to determine a probability of a potential vehicle collision. The one or more mobile attenuators determine the probability of the potential vehicle collision exceeds a predetermined risk threshold value. The one or more mobile attenuators determine a predicted location for the potential vehicle collision. The one or more mobile attenuators proceed to the predicted location to mitigate the potential vehicle collision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James R. Kozloski, Michael S. Gordon, Ashish Kundu, Clifford A. Pickover
  • Patent number: 10991176
    Abstract: A driverless transportation system includes an autonomous driving vehicle and a management server. A check code includes: a vehicle code unique to the autonomous driving vehicle; and a passcode whose value changes each time it is generated. In deactivation processing, the autonomous driving vehicle newly generates the passcode, stores the check code including the newly-generated passcode, as a first check code, and transmits the first check code to the management server. The management server stores the first check code as a stored check code. In order to activate the autonomous driving vehicle, the management server transmits an activation instruction and the stored check code to the autonomous driving vehicle. In response to that, the autonomous driving vehicle reads the check code from its memory device, as a second check code, and determines whether or not the second check code and the stored check code match.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasunao Yoshizaki, Koji Taguchi, Masaki Wasekura, Nobuhide Kamata
  • Patent number: 10968602
    Abstract: A machine routing and planning system for mobile machines at a work site includes a plurality of haul trucks, at least one loading machine, and a controller. The controller is configured to generate an initial material movement plan based upon an initial number of loading machines and haul trucks and the initial carryback threshold, and generate initial movement command signals to operate the loading machines and haul trucks at the work site based upon the initial material movement plan. The controller is further configured to generate a modified material movement plan based upon a modified number of loading machines and haul trucks and the modified carryback threshold, and generate modified movement command signals to operate the loading machines and haul trucks at the work site based upon the modified material movement plan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Carl F. B. Hendricks
  • Patent number: 10962973
    Abstract: Systems, methods, tangible non-transitory computer-readable media, and devices for operating an autonomous vehicle are provided. For example, the disclosed technology can include receiving state data that includes information associated with states of an autonomous vehicle and an environment external to the autonomous vehicle. Responsive to the state data satisfying vehicle stoppage criteria, vehicle stoppage conditions can be determined to have occurred. A severity level of the vehicle stoppage conditions can be selected from a plurality of available severity levels respectively associated with a plurality of different sets of constraints. A motion plan can be generated based on the state data. The motion plan can include information associated with locations for the autonomous vehicle to traverse at time intervals corresponding to the locations. Further, the locations can include a current location of the autonomous vehicle and a destination location at which the autonomous vehicle stops traveling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: UATC, LLC
    Inventors: Moslem Kazemi, Sameer Bardapurkar
  • Patent number: 10916137
    Abstract: A device may determine driving routes and transit times for vehicles and drivers. The device may include memory and processing to determine one or more indications of desired departure times and routes for a first user and a second user of a group of users, the routes including a road segment used by the first user and the second user. The device may determine a first signal received from a computer of a first vehicle and a second signal received from a computer of a second vehicle, wherein the first signal indicates traffic associated with the first vehicle, and wherein the second signal indicates traffic associated with the second vehicle. The device may determine a first suggested departure time associated with the first user and a second suggested departure time associated with the second user The device may to send indications of the first and second suggested departure times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Hedy H. Morales BolaƱos, Oswaldo Perez Barrera, David Franco Lopez Rubio, Rodrigo Frieventh Cienfuegos
  • Patent number: 10915107
    Abstract: A method for the operation of a cleaning appliance automatically moving within an environment, wherein the cleaning appliance cleans a surface in accordance with a predetermined work schedule, wherein at least one level of contamination of the surface is determined, and a cleaning task is controlled as a function of the level of contamination. In order to make the cleaning operation more flexible and individual, the level of contamination is entered on a map associated with positional information of the environment, wherein a user undertakes editing of the map, that is to say, defines on the map surface zones of the surface and manually assigns a cleaning task of the cleaning appliance to at least one surface zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Vorwerk & Co. Interholding GmbH
    Inventors: Maike Brede, Pia Hahn, Lorenz Hillen, Gerhard Isenberg, Harald Windorfer
  • Patent number: 10889174
    Abstract: A control apparatus sets an upper limit guard value to a base value when the MG provides torque assist to thereby limit the command value for the MG. Then, the control apparatus limits the command value for the MG using the upper limit guard value to limit the output of the MG. If an accelerator opening or the change rate thereof is not less than a predetermined value, the control apparatus corrects the upper limit guard value. The correction is made such that the larger accelerator opening or a larger change rate thereof causes the upper limit guard value to be larger to accomplish higher output. Similarly, if the SOC of the battery is not less than a predetermined value, the control apparatus corrects the upper limit guard value. If the engine speed is not less than a predetermined value, the control apparatus corrects the upper limit guard value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kohei Saito, Shigeru Maeda
  • Patent number: 10889277
    Abstract: A braking control device for a vehicle is provided, which includes an operating amount detecting part configured to detect an operating amount of a brake pedal, a reaction-force giving part configured to generate a reaction force of the brake pedal, a braking-force generating part configured to generate a braking force for wheels according to the brake pedal operating amount, and an electronic control unit (ECU) electrically connected with them. The ECU includes a processor configured to control the giving part and generating part, and set a braking rigidity characteristic based on a braking rigidity that is a ratio of the reaction force to the operating amount, and a vehicle deceleration. The ECU sets a braking rigidity value so that the braking rigidity value increases as the vehicle deceleration becomes larger. The ECU controls the reaction-force giving part based on the braking rigidity value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Shinichi Kaihara, Hirotaka Mochizuki, Noboru Kyuto, Katsuhisa Imai, Kazuhiro Takemura, Naoki Yamada, Yuta Tango, Takanobu Kamura
  • Patent number: 10889161
    Abstract: An electric vehicle includes an electric motor, a power storage device, a control device, and a refrigerant circuit. The refrigerant circuit includes a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, a first indoor heat exchanger, a first expansion valve, a second expansion valve, and a second indoor heat exchanger. The control device repeats an operation of performing the other of a first operation and a second operation after performing one thereof when a remaining capacity of a power storage device is equal to or larger than a predetermined value. In the first operation, the first expansion valve is not decompressed and the second expansion valve is decompressed. In the second operation, the first expansion valve is decompressed and the second expansion valve is not decompressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Takeuchi, Ryoma Taguchi, Takahiro Ohmi, Osamu Ishida
  • Patent number: 10883846
    Abstract: A communication system for multiple vehicles includes a non-vehicle-based communication device operable to receive communications from vehicle-based communication devices of multiple vehicles and to transmit communications to the vehicle-based communication devices of multiple vehicles. Responsive to an occupant of a vehicle of the multiple vehicles rating or classifying an area at which the vehicle is traveling, the vehicle-based communication device of that vehicle communicates the rating or classification to the non-vehicle-based communication device. The vehicle-based communication device of that vehicle also communicates geographical location information pertaining to the area that is rated or classified. The non-vehicle-based communication device communicates the rating or classification for that area to other vehicle-based communication devices of other vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Heinz B. Seifert
  • Patent number: 10857901
    Abstract: A management device manages batteries. The management device includes an obtaining portion that obtains, from batteries, specific information that specifies identification information of a vehicle that has used the batteries. The management device includes an authenticating portion that authenticates a user by using the specific information obtained from the batteries. The management device includes a replacement receiving portion that receives replacement of the batteries if the authenticating portion authenticates the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takumi Shiiyama, Ryo Oshima, Ryuichi Kimata
  • Patent number: 10852720
    Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed for an example vehicle or driver assistance system for a vehicle. The example vehicle or driver assistance system includes an in-vehicle computing system of a vehicle, the in-vehicle computing system comprising an external device interface communicatively connecting the in-vehicle computing system to a mobile device, an inter-vehicle system communication module communicatively connecting the in-vehicle computing system to one or more vehicle systems of the vehicle, a processor, and a storage device storing instructions executable by the processor to receive a first command from the mobile device via the external device interface, perform a series of actions on the vehicle system until receiving a second command from the mobile device, both of the first command and the second command recognized by the mobile device based on one or more of voice commands issued by a user of the mobile device, and biometric analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: HARMAN INTERNATIONAL INDUSTRIES, INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Yogesh Devidas Dusane
  • Patent number: 10839622
    Abstract: A device includes a transceiver, a processor, a network interface, and a display interface. The transceiver is configured to receive health data from an aircraft. The processor is configured to determine whether the health data indicates a maintenance condition. The network interface is configured to send a first query to a maintenance database and to receive a first response to the first query indicating a list of parts associated with the maintenance condition. The network interface is also configured to send a second query to a historical maintenance database based on the list of parts and to receive a second response to the second query indicating failure rates of the parts. The display interface is configured to provide a graphical user interface (GUI) to a display. The processor is configured to generate the GUI indicating the list of parts ordered based on the failure rates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Allan D. Bailey, Thomas G. Valentine, James J. Tusick, Daniel P. Paulat
  • Patent number: 10821988
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle control system based on human face recognition, which relates to vehicles. The vehicle control system includes an image acquisition device, a storage, a processor and an actuator. It acquires current human face image information by the image acquisition device, stores known human face image information and pre-stored vehicle function configuration information corresponding thereto by the storage, computes and determines human face image information matching the current human face image information in the known human face image information by the processor, and configures a vehicle according to corresponding vehicle function configuration information by the actuator. By pre-storing passenger data, the vehicle control system may employ a touch-type manipulation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignees: ZHEJIANG GEELY HOLDING GROUP CO., LTD, ZHEJIANG GEELY AUTOMOBILE RESEARCH INSTITUTE CO., LTD
    Inventor: Shufu Li
  • Patent number: 10816971
    Abstract: An autopilot recoupling system for a rotorcraft having an automatic flight control system with multiple layers of flight augmentation. The autopilot recoupling system includes an autopilot recoupling input operable to generate an autopilot recoupling signal. An autopilot recoupling signal processor is communicably coupled to the autopilot recoupling input. The autopilot recoupling signal processor is configured to receive the autopilot recoupling signal from the autopilot recoupling input and responsive thereto, determine a state of the automatic flight control system, activate a trim systems layer of the automatic flight control system if the trim systems layer is not active, engage an attitude retention systems layer of the automatic flight control system if the attitude retention systems layer is disengaged and recouple an autopilot systems layer of the automatic flight control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Erik John Oltheten, Aaron Thomas Halverson, Eric Gordon Emblin
  • Patent number: 10816345
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure are directed to the use of supplemental information received from Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) capable entities in order to enhance navigation and route selection based on available advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) functionality. A number of potential routes are evaluated by retrieving the V2X capabilities and locations from V2X capable entities along those routes. That information is used to assess traffic density and availability of supplemental information used by ADAS along each route, allowing for an evaluation of each route on travel time and ADAS support. The driver can then select the best route that supports their needs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Akash Kumar, Sai Pradeep Venkatraman, Ankita
  • Patent number: 10793020
    Abstract: A fuel cell vehicle system is provided. The system includes a fuel cell and a first motor that is connected to the fuel cell via a first bus terminal and driven by power supplied from the fuel cell and that provides power to driving wheels of the vehicle. A high voltage battery stores or supplies power by charging or discharging. Additionally, a second motor is connected to the high voltage battery via a second bus terminal and driven by power supplied from the high voltage battery and provides power to the driving wheels of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Seung Hwan Lee, Soon Il Jeon
  • Patent number: 10782688
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of electronic photographing technologies, and provides a method, a control apparatus and a system for tracking and shooting a target. The method includes: in a tracking and shooting process, controlling, by a control apparatus, a photographing apparatus on an unmanned aerial vehicle to collect an image, and obtaining the collected image; selecting a tracked target in the image; calculating a movement speed, a movement direction and a location on the current image that are of the tracked target according to comparison between consecutive neighboring frame images; and controlling, according to the calculated movement speed, movement direction and location on the current image, the unmanned aerial vehicle to track the tracked target, so that the tracked target is always located on the image collected by the photographing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: AUTEL ROBOTICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Zuoguang Li
  • Patent number: 10775809
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for controlling an aircraft and/or a vehicle are described. A vehicle speed and direction are received. A wind-over-vehicle speed and direction of wind at the vehicle are measured. An aircraft ground speed and direction are received. An aircraft-relative-to-vehicle speed and an aircraft-relative-to-vehicle direction are calculated based on the aircraft ground speed and direction and the wind-over-vehicle speed and direction. A wind-over-vehicle envelope is calculated based on system design limits for retrieving the aircraft at the vehicle. The wind-over-vehicle envelope maps limits of wind-over-vehicle speeds over a range of directions that enable retrieval of the aircraft at the vehicle. The aircraft and/or the vehicle are controlled using the wind-over-vehicle envelope, the aircraft-relative-to-vehicle speed, and/or the aircraft-relative-to-vehicle direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Insitu Inc., a Subsidiary of The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Rolf Rysdyk
  • Patent number: 10773718
    Abstract: A tire mount sensor detects a road surface condition such as a type of a road surface and a road surface ?, and transmits road surface data indicating a detection result to a communication center. The communication center collects road surface data more precisely, and the vehicle receives the more precise road surface data from the communication center. Based on received more precise road surface data, the risk of the vehicle is determined. Thus, the road surface condition is detected using the tire mount sensor, so that the road surface condition is detected without braking. Accordingly, it is possible to detect the road surface condition with high frequency, so that the road surface condition is detected in wider area, and it is possible to perform the control more appropriately for avoiding the risk based on the road surface condition during a travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masashi Mori, Hideyuki Ikemoto, Takatoshi Sekizawa