Patents Examined by Paul A Castro
  • Patent number: 10741062
    Abstract: A method comprising determining speed-time cluster application histogram data set for a link segment that comprises a plurality of speed-time cluster application histogram data elements, each speed-time cluster application histogram data element identifying a speed-time cluster and an applicable duration of the speed-time cluster for the link segment throughout a histogram duration, for each speed-time cluster application histogram data element, determining a free-flow speed that is representative of a non-congestion speed indicated by the speed-time cluster, determining a historically normalized free-flow speed for the link segment that is a weighted average of the free-flow speed determined for each speed-time cluster application histogram data element weighted by the applicable duration of the speed-time cluster application histogram data element, and identifying a transit speed of the link segment as being the historically normalized free-flow speed is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: HERE Global B.V.
    Inventor: Jane Macfarlane
  • Patent number: 10730516
    Abstract: A saddled vehicle driven by a driver can include a detection device and a cruise control device for judging the other vehicles detected by the detection device and traveling in a same traffic lane as the own vehicle's traffic lane as a preceding vehicle and for automatically controlling travel of the vehicle driven by the driver so that the vehicle driven by the driver follows the preceding vehicle and keeps a preset intervehicular distance relative to the preceding vehicle. The cruise control device can obtain a forward intervehicular distance which is a distance from the vehicle driven by the driver to the preceding vehicle in a traveling direction and a side intervehicular distance which is a distance from the vehicle driven by the driver to the preceding vehicle in a vehicle width direction and can perform the automatic travel control of the vehicle driven by the driver in accordance with the forward intervehicular distance and the side intervehicular distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA F.C.C.
    Inventors: Tatsuyuki Ohashi, Kazuyoshi Miyachi
  • Patent number: 10731990
    Abstract: A navigation device (300) transmits data indicative of an origin and destination of a desired route through a navigable network to a server. The server (310) generates a recommended route and provides data indicative of the route to a system (320) which provides a polyline representative of the route. The polyline is provided to the navigation device (300), which uses the polyline data to reconstruct the route. The navigation device (300) determines a least cost route through the network using the polyline data in order to reconstruct the route in respect to its own electronic map data. This is done by penalising segments depending upon their distance from the polyline, such that segments further from the polyline are less likely to be included in the route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: TOMTOM NAVIGATION B.V.
    Inventor: Ewgenij Gawrilow
  • Patent number: 10710722
    Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is disclosed that includes a retractable payload delivery system. The payload delivery system can lower a payload to the ground using a delivery device that secures the payload during descent and releases the payload upon reaching the ground. The location of the delivery device can be determined as it is lowered to the ground using image tracking. The UAV can include an imaging system that captures image data of the suspended delivery device and identifies image coordinates of the delivery device, and the image coordinates can then be mapped to a location. The UAV may also be configured to account for any deviations from a planned path of descent in real time to effect accurate delivery locations of released payloads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Wing Aviation LLC
    Inventors: James Ryan Burgess, Joanna Cohen
  • Patent number: 10705533
    Abstract: A semi-autonomous or autonomous mowing vehicle with a sensor that detects the boundary between a first, relatively higher surface, such as the un-mowed vegetation and a second, a relatively lower surface, such as the mowed vegetation, and a controller for steering the semi-autonomous or autonomous vehicle along detected boundary. The detected boundary is based on height differential between the two surfaces and two methods are discussed. For one, the boundary between the two surfaces is detected using a plurality of non-contact distance measuring sensors aligned in same direction, and processes these distance measuring sensors for determining the distance sensors that measure said first relatively higher surface and the distance sensors that measure the second relatively lower surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Inventors: Richard Anthony Bishel, G. Gregory Wilson
  • Patent number: 10688982
    Abstract: A method controlling a state of a drivetrain including a set of couplers and reducers between a powertrain of a motor vehicle and one or a plurality of drive wheels of the vehicle, the drivetrain configured to take up a plurality of kinematic states each defined by a diagram of engagements of the couplers and reducers making it possible to link an engine of the powertrain to at least one drive wheel, the method including: calculating, before changing the kinematic state, depending on a current speed of the vehicle, a current kinematic state of the vehicle, and an intended kinematic state that is different from the current state, a change-of-state end speed; and comparing the change-of-state end speed with a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: RENAULT s.a.s.
    Inventors: Gregory Planche, Frederic Roudeau, Aurelien Lefevre
  • Patent number: 10684621
    Abstract: A vehicle control device includes a scene determination unit determining whether or not a current traveling scene is a traveling-restricted scene, an order setting unit setting priorities corresponding to a restriction with respect to driving behaviors previously classified for different purposes in a case where it is determined that the traveling scene is the traveling-restricted scene and setting priorities with respect to the plurality of driving behaviors in a case where it is not determined that the traveling scene is the traveling-restricted scene, a traveling plan generating unit generating traveling plans corresponding to the plurality of priority-set driving behaviors, an executability determination unit determining executability of each of the plurality of generated driving behaviors, a traveling plan selection unit selecting the traveling plan corresponding to the driving behavior with the highest priority, and a traveling control unit controlling the traveling of the host vehicle based on the trav
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Matsubara, Masaki Matsunaga, Kenichiro Aoki, Yoshinori Watanabe, Ryuta Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 10672199
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for reliably prognosing a vehicle component, such as a vehicle battery or an intake air filter. A state of degradation of the component is recursively predicted by updating, based on a sensed vehicle operating parameter, a previously estimated state of degradation of the component, the parameter selected based on the component being diagnosed, as well as based on past driving history and future driving predictions. The predicted state of degradation is then converted into an estimate of time or distance remaining before the component needs to serviced, and displayed to the vehicle operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Fakhreddine Landolsi, Pankaj Kumar, Imad Hassan Makki, Hassene Jammoussi
  • Patent number: 10645855
    Abstract: A lift arm control system can be configured to raise or lower a lift arm assembly of an agricultural machine with variable speed so that the lift arm assembly can optimally perform under varying conditions, including changing a tool connected to the lift arm assembly while stationary and/or moving the lift arm assembly while operating at various speeds in the field. The lift arm assembly can be manually configured to adjust with speeds that are proportional to a user input. The lift arm assembly can also be automatically configured to adjust with speeds that are proportional to sensor(s) input of the machine, such as a vehicle speed sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventor: Nathan P. Brooks
  • Patent number: 10640190
    Abstract: A method for controlling a course of a marine vessel powered by a marine engine as it moves in a body of water includes determining a current global position and a current heading of the vessel and initiating an auto-waypoint mode of a vessel course control system. In response to initiation of the auto-waypoint mode, the method includes setting a course for the vessel based on a current position of a steering wheel of the system and the vessel's current global position. The method thereafter includes automatically rotating a steerable component coupled to the vessel and rotatable to affect a direction of movement of the vessel so as to counteract external forces on the vessel and thereby to maintain the vessel's set course.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventor: Steven J. Gonring
  • Patent number: 10632993
    Abstract: A travel control apparatus for a vehicle includes a travel environment information acquisition unit, a travel information detection unit, and a control unit. The acquisition unit acquires travel environment information of the vehicle, which is on a traveling environment of the vehicle. The detection unit detects travel information of the vehicle. The control unit performs self-driving control, on the basis the information. The control unit detects a relative distance between an oncoming vehicle and the vehicle, and performs turn control to cause the vehicle to make a turn while crossing ahead of the oncoming vehicle, in a case where the relative distance is not smaller than a preset threshold value. When the vehicle makes the turn, in a case where a traction control for preventing tire slippage by decreasing a drive torque is operated, the control unit increasingly corrects the preset threshold value in accordance with at least a tire grip state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Harunobu Horiguchi
  • Patent number: 10604154
    Abstract: A vehicle adjusts a distance between a subject vehicle and a front vehicle according to a height of the front vehicle. The vehicle includes a distance sensor, and a processor which determines data of the front vehicle among data obtained by the distance sensor, and maintains a distance to the front vehicle equal to or more than a predetermined distance when a longitudinal dispersion value of the determined data is a predetermined reference value or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Kicheol Shin, MyungSeon Heo, Youngchul Oh
  • Patent number: 10572465
    Abstract: Aspects of the present invention are directed to system and methods for optimizing identification of locations within a search area using hash values. A hash value represents location information in a single dimension format. Computing points around some location includes calculating an identification boundary that surrounds the location of interest based on the location's hash value. The identification boundary is expanded until it exceeds a search area defined by the location and a distance. Points around the location can be identified based on having associated hash values that fall within the identification boundary. Hashing operations let a system reduce the geometric work (i.e. searching inside boundaries) and processing required, by computing straightforward operations on hash quantities (e.g. searching a linear range of geohashes), instead of, for example, point to point comparisons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: MongoDB, Inc.
    Inventors: Dwight Merriman, Eliot Horowitz
  • Patent number: 10556600
    Abstract: Human driving performance can be assessed using an autonomous vehicle. An autonomous vehicle can have a manual operational mode and one or more autonomous operational modes. While the vehicle is operating in the manual operational mode, driving data relating to a manual driving maneuver can be acquired. The acquired driving data can be evaluated relative to a driving scene model to determine whether the manual driving maneuver is acceptable or unacceptable based on the acquired driving data. Responsive to determining that the manual driving maneuver is unacceptable, feedback can be provided to a user. In some instances, the feedback can be active feedback or passive feedback. In some instance, the user can be the human driver of the vehicle, or some other person related to the driver in some manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael R. James
  • Patent number: 10545023
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to providing pickup or drop off locations for transport services. In one example relating to a pickup location, a preferred location is identified. A plurality of possible locations is determined based on the preferred location and a set of heuristics including identifying at least one point on an opposite side of a roadway as the preferred location. For each given possible location of the plurality of possible locations, a route between a current location of a vehicle and that given possible location is determined. For each given possible location of the plurality of possible locations a cost value for the determined route of that given possible location is determined. A possible location is selected based on the determined cost values and provided as a pickup or drop off location for a passenger or cargo.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: WAYMO LLC
    Inventors: Joshua Seth Herbach, Nathaniel Fairfield
  • Patent number: 10543932
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for modifying the position or shape of a premature descent protection envelope with regard to a runway when an aircraft making an approach to the runway is below the nominal approach path and has a flight path angle greater than the nominal approach path angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Yasuo Ishihara, Steve Johnson, Kevin J Conner
  • Patent number: 10538232
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a vehicle recovery system (1) for a vehicle having at least one driven wheel. The vehicle recovery system (1) is operable to self-recover the vehicle from terrain having a deformable surface affording insufficient traction at the at least one driven wheel to mobilise the vehicle. A recovery controller (2) is provided to maintain at least substantially continuous rotation of said at least one driven wheel at a target recovery speed or within a target recovery speed range to increase the available traction at each driven wheel. The present invention also relates to a vehicle having a vehicle recovery system (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: JAGUAR LAND ROVER LIMITED
    Inventors: Steve Liggins, Paul Darnell, Jason Walters
  • Patent number: 10519627
    Abstract: Operating a tractor with a front ground-engaging implement and a back ground-engaging implement includes calculating an error between a real-time pull-slip ratio and a target pull-slip ratio, and engaging the back ground-engaging implement with material of an underlying substrate to reduce the error. Related hardware and control logic are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Xinyu Ge
  • Patent number: 10501076
    Abstract: A method for operating an off-road speed control system of a vehicle is provided. The method comprises identifying a pattern or change in at least one component of vehicle drag. The method further comprises monitoring vehicle speed to predict where a change in the at least one component of vehicle drag may result in a speed overshoot event or a speed undershoot event. The method still further comprises, in response to the predicted speed overshoot event or speed undershoot event, automatically commanding the application of an appropriate opposing torque to one or more wheels of the vehicle to counteract the predicted speed overshoot or undershoot. An off-road speed control system for a vehicle comprising an electronic control unit (ECU) configured to perform the above-described methodology is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Limited
    Inventors: James Kelly, Andrew Fairgrieve, Daniel Woolliscroft
  • Patent number: 10457257
    Abstract: Disclosed relates to a driving support apparatus including at least: a detection unit that detects a driving lane on which a user's vehicle and a front vehicle located in front of the user's vehicle are driving based on image data output from a camera; a first calculation unit that calculates a second front vehicle width for the front vehicle based on a first front vehicle width for the front vehicle measured on the image data, a first driving lane width for the driving lane measured on the image data, and a second driving lane width predetermined according to a characteristic of the driving lane; and a second calculation unit that calculates a distance from the front vehicle based on a focal length of the camera, the first front vehicle width, and the second front vehicle width, thereby precisely measuring the distance from the front vehicle based on camera image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jae Hyun Han, Oh Cheol Heo