Patents Examined by Tamara Weber
  • Patent number: 9925892
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a seat bottom and a seat back coupled to the seat bottom to extend upwardly away from the seat bottom. The vehicle seat further includes a seat-bottom foundation arranged to interconnect the seat bottom and seat back to translate back and forth relative to a vehicle floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Faurecia Automotive Seating, LLC
    Inventors: Dale J Frye, Jeffery T Bonk, Christopher L Hogg, Adam M Deck
  • Patent number: 9891628
    Abstract: A system for generating mapping data includes a host vehicle and at least one sensor coupled to the host vehicle. The sensor is capable of detecting a traffic control device and capable of detecting motion of a vehicle. The system additionally includes non-transient data storage and a processor. The processor is in communication with the sensor and the data storage. The processor is configured to, in response to the at least one sensor detecting a traffic control device and detecting motion of a vehicle during a drive cycle, identify a lane of traffic associated with the vehicle, associate the lane of traffic with the traffic control device, and store the association of the lane of traffic with the traffic control device in the data storage for subsequent access by an automated driving system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: James N. Nickolaou
  • Patent number: 9884620
    Abstract: A method for determining the position of a motor vehicle on a traffic area of a parking facility includes the steps of scanning a camera image of the traffic area including the motor vehicle, determining a position of the motor vehicle based on the camera image, scanning the motor vehicle with the aid of a stationary sensor on the traffic area, and validating or correcting the determined position based on the scanning with the aid of the stationary sensor. The stationary sensor is configured like a parking facility sensor, which is configured to determine the presence of a motor vehicle parked in a parking space of the parking facility, the parking space being reachable with the aid of the motor vehicle via the traffic area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventor: Felix Hess
  • Patent number: 9873352
    Abstract: A control system for a vehicle including a three-phase AC motor, a first switching device, a second switching device, and a power converter, is provided. The control system includes a short-circuit detector, and an ECU. The ECU is configured to: (a) control the power converter, when it is determined that the vehicle is stopped, so as to place, the power converter in a predetermined condition in which one of the first switching device and the second switching device for all of the three phases is in an OFF state, and (b) control the power converter when the short-circuit detector detects a short circuit in one of the first switching devices and the second switching devices, so that said one of the first and second switching devices in which the short circuit is detected provides the ON state in the predetermined condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Niimi, Masaki Okamura, Shintaro Tsujii, Wanleng Ang
  • Patent number: 9856829
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling engine operation in a hybrid vehicle, where the vehicle engine comprises one or more cylinders dedicated to recirculating exhaust to the intake manifold. In one example, if an engine load decreases below a level where dedicated exhaust gas recirculation may lead to combustion stability issues, engine load may be increased above the demanded load and the excess power used to charge a system battery, or if the battery state of charge is above a threshold, the engine may be shut down and the vehicle propelled via battery power. In this way, fuel economy and combustion stability issues may be improved, NOx emissions reduced, and costs for implementation of dedicated exhaust gas recirculation decreased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas G. Leone, Kenneth James Miller, Douglas Raymond Martin
  • Patent number: 9855950
    Abstract: A vehicle position detecting apparatus includes: a position measurement unit that obtains first position information of a first vehicle; an autonomous sensor that obtains relative position information of a second vehicle; a receiver that receives communication data containing second position information of the second vehicle; an identification unit that performs identification on the second vehicle specified based on the relative position information and the second vehicle from which the communication data is sent; a position error calculator that calculates a position error between a position of the second vehicle specified based on the relative position information and that of the second vehicle specified based on the second position information; and a position corrector that performs, based on the position error, a correction on the position of the second vehicle specified based on the second position information, on a condition that the identified second vehicle is no longer detected by the autonomous sen
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shunsuke Tezuka
  • Patent number: 9848529
    Abstract: The invention relates to an autonomous lawn mower comprising a control unit in electrical connection with electrical connection means, and at least one replaceable part. The electrical connection means is located such that connection and disconnection of the electrical connection means and its counterpart of the replaceable part can be performed when replacing the replaceable part. The module for such autonomous lawn mower can replace the replaceable part of the lawn mower and comprises a signal generation unit and a counterpart for the electrical connection means of the lawn mower for transmitting electrical signals to a control unit of the autonomous lawn mower. The autonomous lawn mower forms an autonomous lawn mower system together with the module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA RESEARCH INSTITUTE EUROPE GMBH
    Inventors: Mathias Franzius, Nils Einecke, Roman Dirnberger, Ronny Borsdorf
  • Patent number: 9840251
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a hybrid electric vehicle, a drive control method and a drive control device of a hybrid electric vehicle. The drive control method includes: obtaining a current gear position of the hybrid electric vehicle and a current electric charge level of a power battery; obtaining a slope of a road on which the hybrid electric vehicle is driving, if the current gear position of the hybrid electric vehicle and the current electric charge level of the power battery meet a preset requirement; and causing a working state of an engine and/or a motor of the hybrid electric vehicle according to the slope of the road on which the hybrid electric vehicle is driving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: BYD COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Yubo Lian, Heping Ling, Changjiu Liu, Guorui Liu, Dongyue Huang
  • Patent number: 9836057
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to arranging a pickup between a driverless vehicle and a passenger. For instance, dispatch instructions dispatching the vehicle to a predetermined pickup area in order to pick up the passenger are received by the vehicle which begins maneuvering to the predetermined pickup area. While doing so, the vehicle receives from the passenger's client computing device the device's location. An indication that the passenger is interested in a fly-by pickup is identified. The fly-by pickup allows the passenger to safely enter the vehicle at a location outside of the predetermined pickup area and prior to the one or more processors have maneuvered the vehicle to the predetermined pickup area. The vehicle determines that the fly-by pickup is appropriate based on at least the location of the client computing device and the indication, and based on the determination, maneuvers itself in order to attempt the fly-by pickup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Nathaniel Fairfield, Joshua Seth Herbach, Christopher Kennedy Ludwick, Matthew Paul McNaughton, Renaud-Roland Hubert, Jennifer Arden, Min Li Chan
  • Patent number: 9824593
    Abstract: A distributed system for flight and route management (FARM) of one or more aircraft of the system may include onboard processing devices for combining sensor data local to an aircraft with cloud-based data received through the system from other aircraft or from ground-based processing devices, thereby generating situation models of each aircraft relative to its flight path and in the context of current and predictive conditions (weather, traffic, terrain, threats, etc.). The FARM system may evaluate situation models against prioritized constraint sets of business rules or policies associated with each aircraft's flight plan to determine, crosscheck, and implement possible modifications to the flight plan. Localized aircraft data and flight plan modifications may be propagated through the system via a variety of communications networks to provide synchronized, holistic airspace data portraits to aircraft and ground control alike.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin M. Kronfeld, Kevin Delaney, Scott J. Zogg, James P. Mitchell, Jennifer A. Davis, Geoffrey A. Shapiro
  • Patent number: 9820818
    Abstract: System and method for controlling a surgical manipulator to apply an energy applicator to a patient. The surgical manipulator cooperates with a navigation system to position the energy applicator with respect to a boundary so that the energy applicator is constrained from moving outside the boundary. The boundary is generated based on implant parameters measured after manufacture of the implant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: STRYKER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Donald W. Malackowski, John Michael Stuart, Jerry A. Culp, David Gene Bowling, José Luis Moctezuma de la Barrera, Patrick Roessler, Joel N. Beer
  • Patent number: 9815387
    Abstract: A vehicle seat may be adjusted to reposition the vehicle seat within a vehicle or a seat back with respect to a seat bottom of the vehicle seat. The vehicle seat may slide longitudinally relative to a floor of the vehicle. The seats back may fold toward or away from the seat bottom and the seat bottom may fold toward or away from the vehicle floor. Adjustments may be initiated electronically or manually.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Faurecia Autmotive Seating, LLC
    Inventors: Dale J Frye, Jeffery T Bonk, Jared A Judson, Timothy L Moulton
  • Patent number: 9802509
    Abstract: A control device includes a torque setting section for setting a target output torque of an electric motor based on a driving state including an accelerator operation amount; a non-transmission state determiner section for determining whether a driving power transmission path is in a non-transmission state in which driving power is not permitted to be transmitted from the electric motor to a drive wheel or in a transmission state in which the driving power is permitted; and a torque compensation section for compensating the target output torque, when the non-transmission state determiner section determines that the driving power transmission path is in the non-transmission state. The torque compensation section compensates the target output torque by using a slowness characteristic in which a change in the motor rotational speed which occurs with time is slower when in the non-transmission state than when in the transmission state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hirohide Matsushima, Yoshimoto Matsuda
  • Patent number: 9795445
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling a manipulator are provided. A manipulator controller measures an actual torque and calculates an expected torque for at least one joint motor of the manipulator. The manipulator controller computes a backdrive force for the at least one joint motor based on the actual torque and expected torque. A surgical tool of the manipulator is modeled as a virtual rigid body. The manipulator controller computes a total force or torque to apply to the virtual rigid body based on the backdrive force. The manipulator controller determines a target position of the surgical instrument based on the total force or torque and commands positioning of the joint motors to advance the surgical instrument to the target position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: STRYKER CORPORATION
    Inventor: David Gene Bowling
  • Patent number: 9778043
    Abstract: Microchip assemblies, such as self-contained, aided, INS microchip assemblies configured for being coupled with a circuit board or another electrical component. In some embodiments, two inertial navigation sensors may be provided, along with a receiver configured to receive an external signal comprising location data or another aiding sensor, such as a barometric pressure sensor, magnetometer, or WIFI receiver. The assembly may further comprise a processor configured to receive inertial parameter data from inertial navigation sensors and location data from the receiver, and may be configured to process the inertial parameter data and location data to output inertial navigation information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: INERTIAL SENSE, LLC
    Inventor: Walter H. Johnson
  • Patent number: 9771069
    Abstract: A method and a device for the forward parking of a motor vehicle into a perpendicular parking space, wherein the motor vehicle includes an apparatus for detecting objects in the environment of the motor vehicle. The method includes detecting an object in the environment of the motor vehicle; determining the position of the object in relation to the motor vehicle; selecting a situation-dependent parking strategy as a function of the combination of the position of the object in relation to the motor vehicle and the turn signal position “left”, “right”, or “neutral” under the assumption of a perpendicular parking space next to the detected object; and performing a parking process on the basis of the situation-dependent parking strategy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Hermann Gebert, Mehmet Terkes, Torsten Wendler
  • Patent number: 9758246
    Abstract: A first pattern associated with a performer may be recognized based upon visual information. A sensor carried by an unmanned aerial vehicle may be configured to generate output signals conveying the visual information. A first distance may be determined between the first pattern and the unmanned aerial vehicle. A second pattern associated with a performee may be recognized based upon the visual information. A second distance may be determined between the second pattern and the unmanned aerial vehicle. Flight control may be adjusted based upon the first distance and the second distance. A flight control subsystem may be configured to provide the flight control for the unmanned aerial vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
    Inventors: Pablo Lema, Shu Ching Ip
  • Patent number: 9751614
    Abstract: An aircraft has wings configured to twist during flight. Inboard and outboard propulsion devices, such as turbofans or other propulsors, are connected to each wing, and are spaced along the wing span. A flight controller independently controls thrust of the inboard and outboard propulsion devices to significantly change flight dynamics, including changing thrust of outboard propulsion devices to twist the wing, and to differentially apply thrust on each wing to change yaw and other aspects of the aircraft during various stages of a flight mission. One or more generators can be positioned upon the wing to provide power for propulsion devices on the same wing, and on an opposite wing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of NASA
    Inventors: Nhan T. Nguyen, Kevin Wayne Reynolds, Eric B. Ting
  • Patent number: 9744875
    Abstract: A battery comprises a number n of battery module strings, wherein n is a natural number greater than or equal to two. The battery module strings have several battery modules, and one battery module has a coupling unit. The coupling unit is configured as a voltage transformer and couples the battery modules to each other. A method of controlling the battery includes supplying a load connected to the battery with a predefined and substantially constant total power. The total power corresponds to a sum of n individual powers of the n battery module strings. The method further includes setting n?1 string voltages, which are each present at the n?1 battery module strings, according to the total power, the load, and by defining a string voltage present at an nth battery module string with amplitude and phase position. At least two of the n individual powers are asymmetrical to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Ralph Schmidt, Dirk Hasenkopf, Stefan Butzmann, Holger Fink
  • Patent number: 9736667
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a terminal connection unit configured to access portable terminals, a terminal communication unit configured to receive signals from the accessed portable terminals according to types of the terminals and generate normalized data, and a control unit configured to generate a control signal for controlling a corresponding component in the vehicle based on the normalized data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Yong Kim