Patents Examined by Richard Camby
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Patent number: 9711054Abstract: Systems and methods for UAV safety are provided. An authentication system may be used to confirm UAV and/or user identity and provide secured communications between users and UAVs. The UAVs may operate in accordance with a set of flight regulations. The set of flight regulations may be associated with a geo-fencing device in the vicinity of the UAV.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2016Date of Patent: July 18, 2017Assignee: SZ DJI Technology Co., Ltd.Inventors: Ming Gong, Jin Dai, Hao Cui, Xiaodong Wang, Han Huang, Jun Wu, Wei Fan, Ning Ma, Xinhua Rong, Xingsen Lin
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Patent number: 9707863Abstract: An occupant detection method includes detecting a load applied to a seat for a vehicle, determining whether or not an occupant is seated at the seat, calculating a load deviation value indicating deviation of the load, determining whether or not the deviation exists at the seat on the basis of the load deviation value, and estimating that a seating posture of the occupant is inclined in a direction in which the load is deviated in a case where it is determined that the deviation exists and that a stable state is established, the stable state corresponding to a state in which a difference between a first change amount in a first cycle and a second change amount in a second cycle is within a predetermined range.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2016Date of Patent: July 18, 2017Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hiroyuki Fujii, Isao Honda, Takahiro Izuno
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Patent number: 9707959Abstract: A driving assistance apparatus includes a proximity detection section that detects an obstacle within a set distance, a behavior regulation section that performs a forced braking of a vehicle when the obstacle is detected by the proximity detection section, an arrangement memory that stores a past captured image around a target parking region, a captured image acquisition section that acquires a present captured image around the target parking region at parking or departing with respect to the target parking region, and an obstacle specification section that specifies a non-stationary obstacle around the target parking region, based on a difference between the past captured image stored in the arrangement memory and the present captured image acquired by the arrangement acquisition section. The proximity detection section assigns a stationary object with the set distance that is smaller than the set distance assigned to a non-stationary object.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2015Date of Patent: July 18, 2017Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Takamitsu Suzuki, Takahira Katoh, Takeshi Yamamoto, Yuuko Nakamura
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Patent number: 9709991Abstract: A method implemented by computer for calculating a lateral approach trajectory of an aircraft, comprises the steps of receiving selection of a landing runway; determining a zone Z1, the zone defining trajectory limits to carry out a last turn with a view to landing on the indicated runway; receiving indication of a trajectory point FF defining a point of alignment of the aircraft; determining a joining trajectory bound for a point FAF2, the joining trajectory going from the aircraft to the point FAF2 and then to the point FF and then to the indicated landing runway without passing through the zone Z1. Developments describe the use of a zone Z2 associated with visibility conditions, the calculation of the energy to be dissipated, the use of a predefined descent profile, the emission of alerts and trajectory adaptations by increasing the length of the joining trajectory or use of the airbrakes.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2015Date of Patent: July 18, 2017Assignee: THALESInventors: Valérie Bataillon, Sonia Vautier, Emmanuel Dewas
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Patent number: 9702892Abstract: Embodiments relate to a system and vehicle for controlling the flight of a vehicle without the need to use pressure sensors. The system includes a plurality of pairwise thermal air data (TAD) sensors being controlled to have a constant temperature during heat dissipation into the atmosphere by each sensor. The system includes at least one processor configured to measure power for maintaining the constant temperature to calculate an angle of attack, a sideslip and a free stream vehicle velocity at infinity to control flight of a vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2014Date of Patent: July 11, 2017Assignee: LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATIONInventor: Nathan R. Richardson
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Patent number: 9696163Abstract: A wearable electronic device utilizes indicators on a display screen, such as tick marks positioned around the perimeter of the display, to point to the bearing of a desired location such as a nearest airport when GPS is enabled. The electronic device may be implemented as an aviation watch that comprises a display device having a screen including a plurality of indicators arranged proximal to a perimeter of the screen. The aviation watch determines a direction of an airport that is nearest in proximity to the location of the aviation watch and activates a subset of the plurality of indicators of the screen, the subset of the plurality of indicators providing a directional bearing to the airport determined to be nearest in proximity to the location of the aviation watch.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2016Date of Patent: July 4, 2017Assignee: Garmin Switzerland GmbHInventors: Joseph E. Gepner, Thomas I. Loschen, Matthew C. Burch
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Patent number: 9694766Abstract: Disclosures teach providing data over a vehicle bus, data providing values for a road attribute indexed to points anticipated to be traversed by a vehicle. To compress the data, a server may fit a regression function to the data with coefficients applied to kernels in the function. The server may limit the number of coefficients to reflect a limitation on rate of change imposed on data by the road on which it reports. Similarly, the server may limit one or more numbers of bits encoding the coefficients in a message transmitted on the vehicle bus, reflective of a limited range of potential amplitudes for data imposed by the road. A client may maintain a copy of the kernels and retrieve the coefficients from the message. The client may estimate future values of the road attribute by evaluating the coefficients applied to the kernels, which may, in some examples, be Gaussian.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2015Date of Patent: July 4, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Jonathan Thomas Mullen, Anthony Mario D'Amato
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Patent number: 9696719Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for autonomously navigating a vehicle along a road segment. In one implementation, a system includes at least one processor programmed to receive from a camera at least one image representative of an environment of the vehicle. The at least one image may be analyzed to identify at least one recognized landmark based upon one or more landmark group characteristics associated with a group of recognized landmarks. The current location of the vehicle relative to a predetermined road model trajectory associated with the road segment may be determined based, at least in part, on a predetermined location of the recognized landmark. An autonomous steering action for the vehicle may be determined based on a direction of the predetermined road model trajectory at the determined current location of the vehicle relative to the predetermined road model trajectory.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2016Date of Patent: July 4, 2017Assignee: Mobileye Vision Technologies Ltd.Inventor: Yuval Aviel
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Patent number: 9688194Abstract: A vehicle may include particulate sensors configured to generate particulate data indicative of size and quantity of ambient particulates. The vehicle may also include a computing device configured to receive the particulate data from the at least one particulate sensor, compare the particulate data to a signature data identifying a particulate condition, and adjust a vehicle setting to address the particulate condition or alert the user of the particulate condition. A server may receive a route request from a vehicle over a communications network, the route request specifying a destination location for a vehicle and an indication of signature data descriptive of particulate to avoid; construct a route avoiding the particulate according to particulate data received from a plurality of vehicles and including location metadata and time metadata; and send the route to the vehicle responsive to the request.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2015Date of Patent: June 27, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Perry Robinson MacNeille, Oleg Yurievitch Gusikhin
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Patent number: 9683848Abstract: A system for determining a hitch angle between a vehicle and trailer is provided. The system includes an imaging device disposed on the trailer. A first navigation system is disposed on-board the vehicle. A second navigation system is integrated with the imaging device. A controller determines the hitch angle based on data received from the first navigation system and the second navigation system.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2014Date of Patent: June 20, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Erick Michael Lavoie, Christos Kyrtsos
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Patent number: 9684307Abstract: An autopilot system, comprising: an auto-pilot unit adapted to provide one or more controlling parameters to control one or more control components of an aircraft; an override unit operatively coupled to said auto-pilot unit; at least one sensor adapted to capture data associated with at least one external parameter; and a Control value generation unit (CGU) operatively coupled to said override unit, said CGU comprising at least one processor and a database, said database stores information pertaining to at least one flight data; characterized in that said CGU configured to generate one or more predictive control values based on the flight data and the external parameters and provide the generated control values to override unit; and the override unit is configured to accept or ignore the predicted control values based on the pilot's selection.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2016Date of Patent: June 20, 2017Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.Inventor: Avanindra Singh
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Patent number: 9672748Abstract: An aircraft defining an upright orientation and an inverted orientation, a ground station; and a control system for remotely controlling the flight of the aircraft. The ground station has an auto-land function that causes the aircraft to invert, stall, and controllably land in the inverted orientation to protect a payload and a rudder extending down from the aircraft. In the upright orientation, the ground station depicts the view from a first aircraft camera. When switching to the inverted orientation: (1) the ground station depicts the view from a second aircraft camera, (2) the aircraft switches the colors of red and green wing lights, extends the ailerons to act as inverted flaps, and (3) the control system adapts a ground station controller for the inverted orientation. The aircraft landing gear is an expanded polypropylene pad located above the wing when the aircraft is in the upright orientation.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2015Date of Patent: June 6, 2017Assignee: AeroVironment, Inc.Inventors: Christopher E. Fisher, Thomas Robert Szarek, Justin B. McAllister, Pavel Belik
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Patent number: 9663117Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate switching between autonomous and manual driving modes. In order to do so, the vehicle's computer may conduct a series of environmental, system, and driver checks to identify certain conditions. The computer may correct some of these conditions and also provide a driver with a checklist of tasks for completion. Once the tasks have been completed and the conditions are changed, the computer may allow the driver to switch from the manual to the autonomous driving mode. The computer may also make a determination, under certain conditions, that it would be detrimental to the driver's safety or comfort to make a switch from the autonomous driving mode to the manual driving mode.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2016Date of Patent: May 30, 2017Assignee: Google Inc.Inventors: Brian Douglas Cullinane, Philip Nemec, Manuel Christian Clement, Robertus Christianus Elisabeth Mariet, Lilli Ing-Marie Jonsson
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Patent number: 9663104Abstract: In a method for automated driving operation of a motor vehicle, the following are performed: a standard trajectory is ascertained, which implements a vehicle control according to the destination setting predefined by the driver and the current vehicle environment; a safety trajectory is ascertained, which implements safe stopping of the vehicle in the event of an emergency as a function of the current vehicle environment; the standard trajectory is supplied to a first control device, by which signals are forwarded to vehicle actuator devices for control of the vehicle on the basis of the standard trajectory; and the safety trajectory is supplied to a second control device, by which signals are able to be forwarded to vehicle actuator devices for the vehicle control on the basis of the safety trajectory in the safety case when the automated driving operation is not ensured.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2014Date of Patent: May 30, 2017Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBHInventors: Florian Hauler, Stefan Nordbruch
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Patent number: 9656633Abstract: A smartwatch having at least one controller in communication with an user interface and a transceiver. The transceiver configured to communicate with a nomadic device. The at least one controller configured to, in response to a wireless signal having a unique user identifier received at the nomadic device, receive a control function from an application corresponding to the unique user identifier. The at least one controller may be further configured to configure the user interface based on the control function.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2014Date of Patent: May 23, 2017Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Thomas Nelson, David Anthony Hatton, Hussein F. Nasrallah
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Patent number: 9658043Abstract: An optical test apparatus includes a three-dimensional dome, light sources and a control unit. The three-dimensional dome covers a field of view of an image acquisition device. The image acquisition device is a test target device. The light sources are dispersedly arranged on the three-dimensional dome and generate a predetermined image on the three-dimensional dome. The first control unit controls the light sources.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2015Date of Patent: May 23, 2017Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: Mariko Sato, Shojiro Furuya, Daichi Miyoshi, Yukito Hata
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Patent number: 9646502Abstract: This disclosure is directed to an automated unmanned aerial vehicle (“UAV”) self-identification system, devices, and techniques pertaining to the automated identification of individual UAVs operating within an airspace via a mesh communication network, individual UAVs and a central authority representing nodes of the mesh network. The system may detect nearby UAVs present within a UAV's airspace. Nearby UAVs may self-identify or be identified via correlation with one or more features detected by the UAV. The UAV may validate identifying information using a dynamic validation policy. Data collected by the UAV may be stored in a local mesh database and distributed to individual nodes of the mesh network and merged into a common central mesh database for distribution to individual nodes of the mesh network. UAVs on the mesh network utilize local and central mesh database information for self-identification and to maintain a dynamic flight plan.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2015Date of Patent: May 9, 2017Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Nicholas Kristofer Gentry
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Patent number: 9643497Abstract: A bicycle control apparatus is basically provided with a memory device and a control device. The control device is programmed with an automatic switching function and a manual switching function. The automatic switching function automatically switches an assist ratio, which is a ratio of a manual drive force to a drag force of an electric assist motor, based on a relationship between a threshold value that is stored and a reference value that is indicative of one of a bicycle traveling environment and a bicycle traveling state. The manual switching function switches the assist ratio based on a manual operation. The control device is further programmed to update the threshold value is updated based on the reference value when switching the assist ratio by the manual switching function.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2015Date of Patent: May 9, 2017Assignee: Shimano Inc.Inventors: Junya Fujita, Makoto Usui, Taihei Nishihara
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Patent number: 9640082Abstract: An electric taxi motive control system of a first aircraft comprises a first aircraft position determining system configured to generate a first aircraft position signal, a first aircraft receiver, configured to receive transmissions of a second aircraft position signal, a first aircraft pilot interface configured to accept an input indicative of a first aircraft desired speed, and a first aircraft electronic controller configured to; determine a aircraft separation distance indicative of the distance between the first aircraft and the second aircraft, compare the aircraft separation distance with a safe distance value; and generate a modified first aircraft commanded speed signal when the aircraft separation distance is less than the safe distance value.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2014Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.Inventors: Subash Samuthirapandian, Markus A. Johnson
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Patent number: 9634892Abstract: A communication system and methods of using the communication system is described. One method includes configuring a telematics unit in a vehicle with at least one access point name (APN). The steps of the method include: configuring the telematics unit with a default APN prior to a legal transfer of possession of the vehicle; and thereafter, activating the telematics unit for the provision of content data in connection with the legal transfer of possession of the vehicle, wherein the activating includes replacing the default APN of the telematics unit with a geographically-specific APN.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2015Date of Patent: April 25, 2017Assignee: General Motors LLCInventor: Swapan Das