Patents Examined by Richard M. Camby
  • Patent number: 11556139
    Abstract: A method for turning an aerial vehicle such as a drone-type vehicle is provided, according to one embodiment. The method provides for receiving a turning input and detecting a current momentum of the aerial vehicle. The method provides for converting the turning input into a yaw command and calculating a change in yaw associated with the turning input. The method provides for calculating a roll command based on the current momentum of the aerial vehicle and based on the change in yaw associated with the turning input. Further, the method provides for executing the yaw command and the roll command in synchrony, wherein the executing the yaw command and the roll command in synchrony causes the aerial vehicle to perform a turn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Inventor: Ansel Misfeldt
  • Patent number: 11554669
    Abstract: Techniques for communication between modules of a digital experience platform of a vehicle system are described. The vehicle system may be a ridesharing vehicle with a seat display module at each seat and an auxiliary display module that operates at a vehicle level. The seat display modules and the auxiliary display module communicate across a digital experience communication bus of the vehicle system. The seat display modules and the auxiliary display module change states based on conditions within the vehicle and convey system state updates across the communication bus to update a stored state of each display module vehicle-wide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Mahinthan Veluppillai
  • Patent number: 11535347
    Abstract: Wakeboat hull control systems and methods are provided to monitor the orientation of the wakeboat hull in the surrounding water, and to automatically control wakeboat ballast components to achieve or maintain desired hull orientations. Systems and methods are provided to measure, store, and recall hull orientation. Systems and methods are also provided to enable automated action to improve the safety, automation, performance, convenience, and marketing advantage of wakeboat ballast systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Skier's Choice, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard L. Hartman
  • Patent number: 11535090
    Abstract: Systems and methods for mitigating wind throb in vehicles are disclosed herein. An example method includes detecting wind throb in a cabin of a vehicle due to opening of a first window of the vehicle, determining when a seat that is adjacent to a second window of the vehicle is unoccupied, opening the second window when the seat is determined to be unoccupied so as to compensate for the wind throb, determining that the first window has been closed, and closing the second window in response to closing of the first window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: William Dean, Richard A. Kreder, William S. Gulker, Chris Murray, Ibaa Al hayek, Newton A. G. Filho
  • Patent number: 11530015
    Abstract: A bicycle with an electric pedal assist motor capable of driving a chainring independent of cranks includes wheel speed sensors and crank cadence sensors. The wheel speed sensors and the crank cadence sensors measure wheel speed and crank cadence, respectively, and provide the measured wheel speed and crank cadence to controller of the bicycle. The controller activates motor overdrive based on the measured wheel speed and/or the measured crank cadence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: SRAM, LLC
    Inventors: Sage Hahn, Brian Jordan, Kevin Wesling
  • Patent number: 11518279
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to an automatic seat height system that adjusts a seat height. The height of a seat is adjusted only when a calculated seat height is outside of the range of a desired seat height. The seat is adjusted only when a seat height change from the desired seat height is not due to external forces such as vibration or shock. The seat height apparatus comprises a sensor, a height adjustment apparatus, a controller and a controllable actuator all in operable communication. The controller comprises software that calculates a calculated seat height based on a measured raw seat height. The calculated seat height is a time history position value pattern. The controller then compares the calculated seat height to a desired seat height to determine a change factor. If the change factor is outside of a predetermined range, the controller directs the controllable actuator to change the height of the seat to bring it within the range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Sears Manufacturing Co.
    Inventor: Tylor Svitak
  • Patent number: 11518472
    Abstract: A bicycle with an electric pedal assist motor capable of driving a chainring independent of cranks includes wheel speed sensors and crank cadence sensors. The wheel speed sensors and the crank cadence sensors measure wheel speed and crank cadence, respectively, and provide the measured wheel speed and crank cadence to controller of the bicycle. The controller activates motor overdrive based on the measured wheel speed and/or the measured crank cadence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: SRAM, LLC
    Inventors: Sage Hahn, Brian Jordan, Kevin Wesling
  • Patent number: 11518470
    Abstract: There is provided a method comprising receiving at a controller an input comprising a channel output from an input channel of a vehicle. The input is triggered by an operation of the vehicle by an operator. The input channel has a corresponding direct operational manifestation. The method also comprises comparing at the controller the input with a set of input patterns to select from the set of input patterns a target input pattern corresponding to the input, and generating at the controller a control output corresponding to the target input pattern. The control output is configured to cause in the vehicle a target operational manifestation different than the direct operational manifestation. Furthermore, the method comprises sending the control output from the controller to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: ACCELERATED SYSTEMS INC.
    Inventors: Willem Jager, Tim Lambert
  • Patent number: 11521113
    Abstract: In one embodiment, example systems and methods related to a manner of unifying heterogeneous datasets are provided. Multiple heterogeneous datasets containing traffic or driving data are collected. The records of the datasets are combined, and the records in the combined dataset are ordered into a plurality of time series based on timestamps associated with each record. A Bayesian learning method, such as hidden Markov models, is used to identify traffic primitives in the datasets. Each traffic primitive may include several consecutive records in the combined dataset and may correspond to particular driving actions such as turning left or right, stopping, accelerating, etc. The traffic primitives are used to create a traffic primitive index that can be queried by users or researchers for specific records. These records can be used to train or test one or more learning-based algorithms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
    Inventors: Ding Zhao, Jiacheng Zhu, Wenshuo Wang
  • Patent number: 11510545
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a frame, a drive assembly supported by the frame, an electronic system supported by the frame, and a cleaning assembly coupled to the frame. The drive assembly is configured to move the frame along a surface. The cleaning assembly is configured to engage the surface to transfer detritus from the surface to a storage volume supported by the frame. The electronic system has at least a processor and a memory. The processor is configured to define a path along which the drive assembly travels and is configured to redefined a path along which the drive assembly travels based on at least one signal received from at least one sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: AVIDBOTS CORP.
    Inventors: Faizan Sheikh, Pablo Roberto Molina Cabrera, Todd Willick, Julien D'Alessio-Doucet, Kenneth Lee
  • Patent number: 11511886
    Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle's (UAV) take-off and landing platform. It includes a driving device, a bottom plate, a movable plate and a tractor. The tractor is connected to the front end of a bearing platform, and the tractor can drive the bearing platform to move; the bearing platform comprises the bottom plate and the movable plate. The movable plate has a first side plate, a second side plate and a third side plate. The first side plate and the second side plate are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the bottom plate, and the third side plate is arranged at the tail end of the bottom plate. The movable plate movably connects with the bottom plate and can move relative to the bottom plate with the drive of the driving device, so that the bearing platform can switch between the folded state and the unfolded state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Inventor: Yu Tian
  • Patent number: 11514792
    Abstract: Vehicle collisions can be mitigated by cooperative actions by three separate computers: a mobile processor in a vehicle, a workstation in a roadside access point, and a remote supercomputer. By exchanging 5G or 6G messages, the computers can cooperatively test a wide range of mitigation solutions, select the best solution, and rapidly transmit it, thereby enabling the vehicles to avoid the collision—or at least to minimize the harm of the collision. The supercomputer (and potentially the other computers) can use AI-based models to optimize the best avoidance strategy. The vehicle's on-board processor can pre-emptively start implementing its own best solution while the other computers are still calculating. Then, if the access point solution or the supercomputer solution appears to be more effective, it can switch to the better strategy. By exploiting high-speed communication and coordinated processor power, most traffic collisions can be avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: AUTONOMOUS ROADWAY INTELLIGENCE, LLC
    Inventors: David E. Newman, R. Kemp Massengill
  • Patent number: 11497667
    Abstract: An apparatus a and method for networked transportation of patients or people with impaired mobility in a hospital bed, or nursing bed, having the following method features: a) a patient in question or an applicable caregiver is reported by a control centre as in need of transportation from one ward A to another ward B, b) the nursing staff on ward A beds down or puts the person in question into a special transportation bed or a special transportation chair and reports to the control centre when this person is correctly supported, this being able to be checked by means of a pressure sensor (23) in the lying area or sitting area, the identity being ensured by the nursing staff or being able to be checked by means of a patient identity card, c) the patient is automatically moved to ward B, d) the patient is brought to his treatment in ward B and then transported back to ward A by the same route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: GRENZEBACH MASCHINENBAU GMBH
    Inventor: Christian Herfert
  • Patent number: 11493336
    Abstract: An optical navigation device comprising: a processing circuit; a first light source, configured to emit first light; a cover; at least one second light source, configured to emit second light toward the cover; and an first optical sensor, configured to sense first optical data generated according to the first light and to sense second optical data generated according to the second light on the cover. The processing circuit determines a dirtiness level of the cover based on the second optical data sensed by the first optical sensor. The optical navigation device can further comprise a second optical sensor. Also, an optical navigation device which can avoid the interference of another optical navigation device is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: PixArt Imaging Inc.
    Inventor: Guo-Zhen Wang
  • Patent number: 11491891
    Abstract: A presentation device includes an acquirer configured to acquire a usage status of a secondary battery which is the usage status of a secondary battery with which a plurality of vehicles including a target vehicle are equipped and includes one or more items, a deriver configured to derive representative values of items of the secondary battery in a vehicle in a predetermined area, and a presenter configured to present a relationship of items of the usage status of a secondary battery with which the target vehicle is equipped with respect to the representative values derived by the deriver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Taisuke Tsurutani, Taisuke Kurachi
  • Patent number: 11488425
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system for representing vibrations for a vehicle, comprising a vehicle seat with an upper part and a lower part, which are mounted movably relative to each other by means of a vibration device, wherein at least a first sensor, which is adapted to detect at least one first characteristic of a first acceleration of the upper part relative to the lower part, is arranged on the upper part, and wherein at least one second sensor, which is adapted to detect at least one second characteristic of a second acceleration of the lower part relative to a subsurface of the vehicle, is arranged on the lower part, wherein a display device is arranged with a first section and a second section, in each case exhibiting a complete division into at least two, preferably three segments, wherein the size ratios of the at least two segments to one another can be updated depending on a current value of the at least one first characteristic or the at least one second characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: GRAMMER AG
    Inventor: Roland Übelacker
  • Patent number: 11479258
    Abstract: The described systems and methods determine a driver's fitness to safely operate a moving vehicle based at least in part upon observed UVB exposure patterns, where the driver's UVB exposure levels may serve as a proxy for vitamin D levels in that driver's body. A smart ring, wearable on a user's finger, continuously monitors user's exposure to UVB light. This UVB exposure data, representing UVB exposure patterns, can be utilized, in combination with driving data, to train a machine learning model, which will predict the user's level of risk exposure based at least in part upon observed UVB exposure patterns. The user can be warned of this risk to prevent them from driving or to encourage them to get more sunlight exposure before driving. In some instances, the disclosed smart ring system may interact with the user's vehicle to prevent it from starting while exposed to high risk due to deteriorated psychological or physiological conditions stemming from insufficient UVB exposure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: BlueOwl, LLC
    Inventor: Kenneth Jason Sanchez
  • Patent number: 11481528
    Abstract: A virtual track design system for mobile devices and implementation method thereof are disclosed. The virtual track design system includes communication module: which is mainly used for relevant map information, virtual track information, positioning information, and task information transmission, and acts as a bridge; interaction module: which sets fixed track with arbitrary shape and length through graphical editing environment, and supports segmental modification, deletion of tracks and other functions. After editing, sends the virtual track information to the intelligent cruise algorithm processing module; acquisition module: which gets the virtual track information provided by the interaction module, stores relevant data, and sends the information to the key point of track extraction module. The invention does not require additional cost to deploy auxiliary equipment, and is more convenient, flexible and fast to use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: SHANGHAI SLAMTEC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jing Bai, Wenhao He, Benniu Ji, Junchao Lv, Di Zhang, Yuxiang Li, Jueshen Huang, Shikai Chen
  • Patent number: 11474523
    Abstract: One or more information maps are obtained by an agricultural work machine. The one or more information maps map one or more agricultural characteristic values at different geographic locations of a field. An in-situ sensor on the agricultural work machine senses an agricultural characteristic as the agricultural work machine moves through the field. A predictive map generator generates a predictive map that predicts a predictive agricultural characteristic at different locations in the field based on a relationship between the values in the one or more information maps and the agricultural characteristic sensed by the in-situ sensor. The predictive map can be output and used in automated machine control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Nathan R Vandike, Bhanu Kiran Reddy Palla, Noel W. Anderson
  • Patent number: 11472552
    Abstract: Systems and methods include UAVs that serve to assist carrier personnel by reducing the physical demands of the transportation and delivery process. A UAV generally includes a UAV chassis including an upper portion, a plurality of propulsion members configured to provide lift to the UAV chassis, and a parcel carrier configured for being selectively coupled to and removed from the UAV chassis. UAV support mechanisms are utilized to load and unload parcel carriers to the UAV chassis, and the UAV lands on and takes off from the UAV support mechanism to deliver parcels to a serviceable point. The UAV includes computing entities that interface with different systems and computing entities to send and receive various types of information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: UNITED PARCEL SERVICE OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Julio Gil, Jeffrey Cooper, Seth Bruckner, Juan Perez