Patents Examined by Sze-Hon Kong
  • Patent number: 11578989
    Abstract: A parking cruise request is received. A network version starting segment is identified and a route determination algorithm is expended starting at the network version starting segment. When the route determination algorithm is expanded to a new segment, a cost value is determined for the new segment based at least on the likelihood of finding parking on the new segment. Responsive to determining that the likelihood of finding parking along the cruise route does satisfy the threshold probability requirement, map version agnostic identifiers for each segment of the cruise route are generated. Each of the map version agnostic identifiers are coded using at least one coding function to generate coded map version agnostic identifiers. A bloom filter having the coded map version agnostic identifiers as members is generated. A parking cruise route response comprising the bloom filter is provided such that a mobile apparatus receives the parking cruise route response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Here Global B.V.
    Inventors: Raul Cajias, Daniel Rolf
  • Patent number: 11572098
    Abstract: A vehicle trailer detection system includes a radar system and a controller receiving object point location data from the radar system at an increased sensitivity level, storing sequential first and second object point location data sets, and applying a rotational point set registration to the first and second object point location data sets to achieve a match between a subset of persistent point locations within the first and second object point location data sets to output an estimated rotation angle. The persistent point locations in the first and second data sets are determined to correspond with detected points on a trailer coupled with the vehicle. The controller refines the estimated rotation angle by minimizing an error in matching between the persistent point locations in the first and second object point location data sets to output a determined hitch angle between the trailer and the vehicle about a coupling point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Jinhyoung Oh, Daniel R. Fuhrmann, Kunle T. Olutomilayo, Saeid Nooshabadi
  • Patent number: 11562605
    Abstract: Systems and methods for sensing a tire parameter from a rotating wheel are disclosed. In some embodiments, a system includes: a rotatable component configured to rotate; a piezoelectric transducer disposed along a circumference of the rotatable component, where the piezoelectric transducer is configured to generate an offload voltage based on a mechanical deformation of the piezoelectric transducer; and at least one processor in communication with the piezoelectric transducer, the at least one processor configured to determine a temperature value based on the offload voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventor: Rakesh Sethi
  • Patent number: 11560022
    Abstract: This application relates generally to sensor systems and, more particularly, relates to systems and methods for management of smart wheel sensors that collect actionable sensor data from a rotatable component of a vehicle's wheel. In certain embodiments, a system includes a vehicle body; a rotatable component configured to rotate relative to the vehicle body; an energy harvesting component disposed along a circumference of the rotatable component, wherein the energy harvesting component is configured to generate electric power based on a force to the rotatable component; a sensor configured to produce sensor data by using the electric power while disposed on the rotatable component; and at least one processor disposed within the vehicle body, the at least one processor configured to perform an action within the vehicle body based on a parameter value meeting a threshold value, wherein the parameter value is based on the sensor data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventor: Rakesh Sethi
  • Patent number: 11551566
    Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relate to synchronization of a ground support vehicle with a taxiing aircraft, so as to provide ground support services during taxi operation. After landing, a taxiing aircraft obtains a parking destination from a ground traffic controller. A first navigational route from a first location of the taxiing aircraft to the parking destination is determined. The taxiing aircraft transmits a signal indicative of the first navigational route to the ground support vehicle. A second navigational route of the ground support vehicle is determined so as to intercept the taxiing aircraft. The ground support vehicle navigates according to the determined second navigational route, and couples to the taxiing aircraft at a coupling location common to both the first and the second navigational routes. The ground support vehicle provides ground support service during continued navigation according to a coupled portion of the first navigational route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: ROSEMOUNT AEROSPACE INC.
    Inventor: Thomas G. Wiegele
  • Patent number: 11535277
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein disclose systems and methods for a dual buffer zone system to ensure a stable nudge for autonomous driving vehicles. In one embodiment, a system perceives a driving environment surrounding an autonomous driving vehicle (ADV), including perceiving one or more obstacles within a view of the ADV. For each of the one or more obstacles, if a previous planning decision for the obstacle is not a nudge, the system associates a first buffer zone with the obstacle. Otherwise, the system associates a second buffer zone with the obstacle. Based on the associated buffer zone for the obstacle, the system determines a planning decision to nudge the obstacle to ensure a buffer distance between the ADV and the obstacle. The system generates a trajectory for the ADV based on the planning decisions for the one or more obstacles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: BAIDU USA LLC
    Inventor: Fan Zhu
  • Patent number: 11535246
    Abstract: A system for providing an alert to an occupant of a vehicle may include one or more processors and a memory. The memory may store a free space detection module, a target detection module, a path prediction module, an activation threshold module, and an alert module. The modules include instructions that cause the one or more processors to determine one or more dimensions of a free space located adjacent to a side of the vehicle, determine one or more dimensions of one or more targets, determine one or more predicted paths of one or more targets, selectively adjust an activation threshold for providing an alert according to the one or more predicted paths, and activate the alert to inform the occupant of a hazard associated with the one or more targets according to whether the one or more predicted paths satisfies the activation threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nathaniel Sherrit, Ryo Takaki, Joshua Goriesky
  • Patent number: 11537148
    Abstract: An aircraft includes first units each including a first sensor, a rotary wing, a driver, and a first drive controller. The first drive controller is configured to generate a drive signal of the rotary wing on the basis of a flying route of the aircraft and a control law based on a flying state detected by the first sensor, and output the drive signal to the driver configured to drive the rotary wing. The control laws of the respective first drive controllers are equal to each other between the first units. The first drive controllers are each configured to generate the drive signals that correspond to all of the first units. The drivers are each configured to drive the corresponding rotary wing on the basis of corresponding one of the drive signals that correspond to all of the first units and that are generated by the first drive controllers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masahito Hayakawa
  • Patent number: 11535264
    Abstract: A method for operating a motor vehicle having a camera device that records the area ahead of the vehicle and an associated control device for evaluating images taken by the camera device, wherein the control device evaluates the images in order to detect at least one hand gesture performed by a person shown in the images, wherein, when a hand motion describing a calling gesture that indicates a stop request is detected, in the case of a self-driving motor vehicle, the motor vehicle is controlled to stop in the vicinity of the person, or in the case of a non-self-driving motor vehicle, the driver of the motor vehicle is given a signal indicating the stop request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Achim Enthaler, Michael Mürken, Andreas Thanheiser, Johann Krammer
  • Patent number: 11529918
    Abstract: An example operation may include one or more of receiving, by a device, from at least one data source, data related to an occupant of a transport, determining, by the device, a destination of the occupant based on the data related to the occupant, determining, by the device, a departure time of the occupant based on the destination, requesting, by the device, a transport at a location of the occupant at the departure time, and adjusting, by the device, an environment of the transport based on the data related to the occupant and the destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Jaya Bharath R. Goluguri, Felipe G. Salles, Christopher J. Risberg, Joshua C. Batie
  • Patent number: 11524641
    Abstract: A system and method for adjusting seats of different vehicles, wherein the vehicles comprise means for retrieving an identifier of a seat user, wherein the system comprises means for storing data of seat adjustments made by an identified user in a first vehicle which are associated with the user identifier, comprises means for transmitting the seat adjustment data of the first vehicle and user identifier data to a second vehicle of a different type than the first vehicle, and comprises means for converting seat adjustment data of the first vehicle into seat adjustment data of the second vehicle so as to offer the user similar comfort in vehicles of different types.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: FAURECIA Sièges d'Automobile
    Inventors: Samuel Baudu, Laurent Chabert
  • Patent number: 11518375
    Abstract: When a driving assist ECU determines that a mistaken pedal operation has occurred, it starts an automatic brake control, and thereafter, ends the automatic brake control when a steering operation rate ? is greater than a threshold ?f (?>?f). Whereas, when the ECU determines that the mistaken pedal operation has not occurred, it performs a steering override control and does not perform the automatic brake control, when a steering operation amount ? is greater than a threshold ?e or when the steering operation rate ? is greater than the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Wataru Ike, Yuma Hoshikawa, Ryota Murakami, Yuto Shimbo
  • Patent number: 11518372
    Abstract: A vehicle driving assist apparatus has surrounding sensors which detect vehicle surrounding situations and driving assist systems which assist a driving operation of a driver, based on the vehicle surrounding situations. The vehicle driving assist apparatus determine whether the surrounding sensors malfunction. When the at least one electronic control unit determines that at least one of the surrounding sensors malfunctions, the vehicle driving assist apparatus determine operable driving assist systems and inoperable driving assist systems, and causes a display device to display both of a display indicating that at least one of the surrounding sensors malfunctions and a display indicating a list of the operable driving assist systems and the inoperable driving assist systems in a manner that the driver can realize which driving assist systems are operable and which driving assist systems are inoperable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masayuki Ikeda, Toru Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 11511668
    Abstract: A vehicular driver assistance system includes a camera that views through the windshield of the vehicle and a control device having an image processor that processes captured image data. Responsive to processing of captured image data by the image processor, the system adjusts a light beam emitted by a headlamp of the vehicle. The control device, responsive at least in part to image data processing by the image processor, determines when the vehicle is at a construction zone. Responsive to determination that the vehicle is at a construction zone, image processing of image data captured by the camera is adjusted to discriminate construction zone signs from taillights of leading vehicles. Responsive to determination of the vehicle exiting the construction zone, the control device adjusts the light beam emitted by the headlamp of the vehicle responsive to determination of headlamps of approaching vehicles and taillights of leading vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Michael J. Higgins-Luthman
  • Patent number: 11505317
    Abstract: A flying object (drone) has a propeller drive unit provided in a fuselage thereof, and flies through the air by being driven by the propeller drive unit. The drone has a gravitational center movement device which is provided in the upper section of the fuselage and is capable of moving the total gravitational center position of the entire drone. The drone is equipped with a movement controller which moves the total gravitational center position to a target position by acquiring the total gravitational center position and controlling operation of the gravitational center movement device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideo Murakami, Yoshitaka Minagawa, Koji Muraoka, Ayatoshi Yokokawa
  • Patent number: 11498570
    Abstract: A method for determining a road condition is carried out aboard a vehicle driving on the road and comprises the following steps: capturing the noise created by the friction between at least one tire and the road; analyzing the noise signal in the high frequency range to determine whether the road condition is dry or not; and, in case the road condition is not dry, analyzing the noise signal in the low frequency range to determine whether to road condition is wet or damp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN
    Inventors: Guillaume Chazal, Antoine Paturle, Remi Cote
  • Patent number: 11501651
    Abstract: A flight control apparatus includes a detection unit that detects within a predetermined range of an air vehicle another air vehicle. A specifying unit specifies a type of the detected other air vehicle. A determining unit determines a possibility that the air vehicle and the other air vehicle will collide, based on an attribute relating to movement of the other air vehicle. When it is determined that a possibility of collision exists, a flight control unit controls the flight of the air vehicle according to the specified type of the other air vehicle to avoid collision with the other air vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: NTT DOCOMO, INC.
    Inventors: Takefumi Yamada, Ken Koumoto, Youhei Oono, Hidetoshi Ebara, Yuichiro Segawa, Yukiko Nakamura
  • Patent number: 11498554
    Abstract: A computer is programmed to identify a turning center defined by a turning radius of the vehicle and a heading angle of the vehicle, identify a boundary circle having a center defined by the turning center and a radius extending to a location of a detected object, identify coordinates for each of a plurality of vertices of an external contour of the vehicle, the external contour defining a plurality of line segments, each line segment connecting two of the vertices, upon identifying at least one line segment that intersects the boundary circle, identify at least one of an object distance or an intersection time between the object and the vehicle, and actuate at least one of a steering or a brake to avoid the object when the object distance is below a distance threshold or the intersection time is below a time threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Li Xu, Douglas Blue
  • Patent number: 11492111
    Abstract: A replenishment planning device calculates a first route replenishment point on a travel route at which replenishment of a chemical becomes necessary, a second route replenishment point on the travel route which is closer to a replenishment area than the first route replenishment point is, and first and second times necessary for an unmanned helicopter to travel from a travel start point, via the first and the second route replenishment points, to a replenishment area to have the chemical replenished, and to move back to the travel route. Thereafter, a process takes the first and the second route replenishment points as next travel start points, and calculates, for each, next first and second route replenishment points, and first and second times, and is repeated for each replenishment plan pattern until the first route replenishment point reaches a travel end point, such that position information and time information for each replenishment plan pattern are generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hajime Adachi
  • Patent number: 11485516
    Abstract: Disclosed are a precise landing method using a multi-pattern in an unmanned aerial control system and an apparatus therefor. In an aspect of the present invention, a precise landing method using a multi-pattern of an unmanned aerial robot in an unmanned aerial control system includes receiving an image value from an outside and recognizing a multi-pattern in which control information for precise landing control has been coded based on the image value, obtaining control information when an ID value included in the control information indicates a landing point, moving to the landing point based on the control information, and performing landing at the landing point, and recognizing the multi-pattern again if the landing is not completed. A landing area for the landing of the unmanned aerial robot may include the landing point and the multi-pattern. The multi-pattern may include a first multi-pattern and a second multi-pattern. The first multi-pattern may have a greater size than the second multi-pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Seokhee Yi, Nakyeong Kim, Kwangho An