Patents Examined by Tamara Weber
-
Patent number: 9719795Abstract: A navigation device includes a travel road specification portion acquiring a current location of a vehicle and specifying a travel road actually traveled by the vehicle, a continuity determination portion determining an existence of a continuity between the travel road and a first road connected to an end point of the travel road, and an extension road designation portion. The end point of the travel road is defined as a reference end point, the travel road is defined as a reference road, and the first road is defined as a determination target road. The extension road designation portion designates the first road as a first extension road when the continuity determination portion determines that the continuity exists between the first road and the travel road.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2015Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventor: Noriko Kato
-
Patent number: 9719794Abstract: A route display method for display on a terminal apparatus comprises: acquiring starting point information indicating a starting point and destination information indicating a destination; generating route information indicating a route from the starting point to the destination, wherein the route information includes a plurality of passing points; extracting captured images corresponding to the plurality of the passing points from a database which stores the captured images in relation to corresponding image capturing locations respectively, wherein each of the image capturing locations is within a range from the each of the plurality of the passing points; and displaying the extracted captured images in association with a map image sequentially in an order from a first captured image corresponding to a first passing point closest to the starting point to a second captured image corresponding to a second passing point closest to the destination.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2015Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORPORATION OF AMERICAInventors: Toshihisa Nakano, Tohru Wakabayashi, Yuko Yamamoto, Masahiro Ito, Kimio Minami, Kazuo Okamura
-
Patent number: 9708003Abstract: When performing automatic control of a steering device that assists a host vehicle to be pulled into or out of a parking space, an electronic control unit performs the following procedure. When there is, as a path for pulling the vehicle into or out of the parking space, a path in which a predicted temperature of the steering device for when the automatic control is performed to move the vehicle along the path would be lower than an allowable upper limit value, the electronic control unit starts the automatic control to move the vehicle along the path. In contrast, when there is no path in which the predicted temperature is lower than the allowable upper limit value, the electronic control unit prohibits the automatic control.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2013Date of Patent: July 18, 2017Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hironobu Ishijima, Eriko Yamazaki, Keisuke Oyama, Hisashi Satonaka, Hidehiko Miyoshi, Keisuke Hata
-
Patent number: 9702704Abstract: A vehicle location tracking device may include: a GPS (Global Positioning System) module configured to detect location information and time information of an owner vehicle using a GPS satellite; a transmitter/receiver configured to transmit/receive a tracking message required for vehicle tracking; a main processor configured to generate a tracking message of the owner vehicle using the location information and time information of the owner vehicle, detected through the GPS module, transmit the tracking message of the owner vehicle through the transmitter/receiver, analyze a tracking message of a tracked vehicle, received through the transmitter/receiver, and generate tracking information on the tracked vehicle; and a navigation terminal configured to output the tracking information on the tracked vehicle, generated through the main processor.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2014Date of Patent: July 11, 2017Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.Inventor: Eun Tai Jung
-
Patent number: 9695022Abstract: A method for selecting a trajectory for container locking uses at least one twistlock sensor on a machine to sense a location of a twist lock hole on an object. The sensed location is transmitted to a processor to calculate a sensed trajectory for a twistlock to engage the twist lock hole. At least one operator input sensor is used to sense an input from an operator moving the twist lock to engage the twist lock hole. The sensed operator input is transmitted to the processor to calculate an operator trajectory for the twist lock to engage the twist lock hole. The sensed trajectory is compared with the operator trajectory to determine which should be used.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2014Date of Patent: July 4, 2017Assignee: Dana LimitedInventors: Mark R. J. Versteyhe, Evrim Taskiran
-
Patent number: 9689697Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a navigation system of a motor vehicle by receiving an input by means of an input device of the navigation system, a destination being indicated by way of the input; as well as by determining at least one conceivable route from a starting position to the destination by an arithmetic device of the navigation system by means of filed map data, wherein, for at least one route section of the at least one conceivable route, at least one parameter of at least one wireless communication network is determined by the arithmetic device.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2014Date of Patent: June 27, 2017Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AktiengesellschaftInventors: Lenja Sorokin, Gunnar Franz, Christopher Roelle
-
Patent number: 9688245Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus for disabling and/or enabling a vehicle. In one embodiment, the invention can be a method including transmitting a disable command to an electronic apparatus that is operably coupled to a vehicle. The electronic apparatus may be configured to transition the vehicle between an enabled state wherein operation of the vehicle is permitted and a disabled state wherein operation of the vehicle is prohibited. The method may further include, after the electronic apparatus receives the disable command, sending a test signal from the electronic apparatus to a remote server over a wireless network upon the vehicle being parked. When the test signal is not successfully sent to the remote server, the vehicle may remain in or be returned to the enabled state. When the test signal is successfully sent to the remote server, the vehicle may remain in or be returned to the disabled state.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2015Date of Patent: June 27, 2017Inventor: Meir Schwartz
-
Patent number: 9681920Abstract: Robotic system and method for positioning an energy applicator extending from a surgical instrument. The robotic system includes a surgical manipulator operable in a manual mode or a semi-autonomous mode. The surgical manipulator moves the energy applicator along a tool path in the semi-autonomous mode, monitors output of a force/torque sensor as the energy applicator moves along the tool path, and reorients the surgical instrument based on the output in response to a user applying reorienting forces and torques to the surgical instrument.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2015Date of Patent: June 20, 2017Assignee: STRYKER CORPORATIONInventors: David Gene Bowling, John Michael Stuart, Jerry A. Culp, Donald W. Malackowski, José Luis Moctezuma de la Barrera, Patrick Roessler, Joel N. Beer, John S. Ketchel
-
Patent number: 9669830Abstract: The invention regards to a method for assisting a driver in driving a vehicle, comprising the steps of producing sensor data by at least one sensor physically sensing the environment of a host vehicle and/or obtaining data conveying information about the environment of a host vehicle, generating a plurality of representation segments each segment being a portion of an entire area of representation of the environment of the host vehicle at a particular point in time wherein a relative position of the portion of such representation segment with respect to a current position of the host vehicle corresponds to a possible position of the host vehicle at that particular point in time, combining the representation segments to a spatio-temporal representation of the environment of the host vehicle; evaluating the spatio-temporal representation and outputting an assistance signal on the basis of an evaluation result.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2015Date of Patent: June 6, 2017Assignee: HONDA RESEARCH INSTITUTE EUROPE GMBHInventor: Thomas H. Weisswange
-
Patent number: 9669676Abstract: A method for operating an actuator of a torsion bar system of a wheel suspension of a motor vehicle is disclosed. The actuator is mounted on a carrier structure of the vehicle and actuation of the actuator changes a pre-tension acting on a wheel guide element of the wheel suspension. The method includes controlling an active aggregate support so as to reduce a vibration of a drive aggregate supported on the carrier structure via the active aggregate support adjacent to the actuator; and controlling the active aggregate support for reducing an operational vibration of the actuator.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2014Date of Patent: June 6, 2017Assignee: AUDI AGInventor: Joachim Schmitt
-
Patent number: 9669678Abstract: An unsprung state detection part (140) calculates a variation amount X (=|????|), which is a magnitude of a difference between a detected angle ? output from a resolver rotational angle sensor (40) for detecting a rotational angle of an in-wheel motor (30) and an estimated angle ?? of a motor rotational angle (S11 to S13). The estimated angle ?? can be calculated by adding an estimated angle of the rotation of the motor (30) in one calculation cycle to a detected angle ?n?1 of the previous calculation cycle. When the variation amount X is more than a road surface determination threshold Xref, the unsprung state detection part (140) determines that the travel road on which a vehicle (1) is traveling is a rough road (S14, S15). As a result, the road surface determination can be made by using the rotational angle sensor (40).Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2012Date of Patent: June 6, 2017Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Fumito Kurata, Takashi Suzuki
-
Patent number: 9662978Abstract: A method for reproducing information in a motor vehicle (1), said information being assigned to classes of information and being presented on a display (2, 7), wherein the information is reproduced on a base display (9) arranged at the base of the windshield, Wherein each class of information is assigned a sub-area of the base display (9), and the information is reproduced in the sub-area (18, 19, 20) corresponding to the class of information assigned to the information to be displayed.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2013Date of Patent: May 30, 2017Assignees: AUDI AG, VOLKSWAGEN AGInventors: Paul Sprickmann Kerkernick, Lennart Bendewald, Armin Sebbesse, Michael Mischke, Philip Rigley, Stefan Mayer, Carl Aron Carls, Michael Wittkämper
-
Patent number: 9664522Abstract: A method provides information relating to a parking space. Reliable information is transmitted relative to one or more parking spaces, to provide the information to a driver of a vehicle. A detection device detects feature-related data of a parking space which describe an environmental influence to which a first vehicle parked in the parking space was exposed, and/or which describe an event that has taken place in the parking space and/or that describe a geographical location of the parking space. The feature-related data are stored by an information unit outside the vehicle. An information device then transmits the feature-related data to a navigation device by which the driver of a second vehicle searches for a parking space for the second vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2014Date of Patent: May 30, 2017Assignee: AUDI AGInventor: Michael Stadler
-
Patent number: 9663012Abstract: System and methods for managing operations of one or more machines are disclosed. One method includes receiving first information relating to an operation of a dump body of a hauling machine operating in at least a partially autonomous manner, determining a failure condition of the operation based at least on the received first information, transmitting a notification relating to the failure condition, and causing a boost pressure to be applied to the dump body of the hauling machine.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2015Date of Patent: May 30, 2017Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Andrew Vitale, Jeffery McCullough, Thomas Brooks, Michael Hudson
-
Patent number: 9650024Abstract: A control system for a vehicle having a drive system, the drive system having a forward drive mode, a reverse drive mode, and a neutral mode. The control system may include an operator control operable by the vehicle user to control whether the vehicle is in a drive mode or a neutral mode. The control system may be configured, based on whether the vehicle operator is actively controlling the operator control, to automatically engage/disengage a vehicle brake, detect operator presence or absence and provide neutral lockout for preventing starting of the vehicle engine.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2015Date of Patent: May 16, 2017Assignee: Hurricane, Inc.Inventor: Ricky A. Weihl
-
Patent number: 9645579Abstract: Systems and methods for coordinating and controlling vehicles, for example heavy trucks, to follow closely behind each other, or linking, in a convenient, safe manner and thus to save significant amounts of fuel while increasing safety. In an embodiment, on-board controllers in each vehicle interact with vehicular sensors to monitor and control, for example, relative distance, relative acceleration/deceleration, and speed. Additional safety features in at least some embodiments include providing each driver with one or more visual displays of forward and rearward looking cameras. Long-range communications are provided for coordinating vehicles for linking, and for communicating analytics to fleet managers or others.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2014Date of Patent: May 9, 2017Assignee: PELOTON TECHNOLOGY, INC.Inventors: Joshua P Switkes, Joseph Christian Gerdes, David Frederick Lyons, Stephen Norris Boyd, Eugene Berdichevsky
-
Patent number: 9610950Abstract: Provided is a vehicle travel control apparatus, mounted on a host vehicle, which performs travel control of the host vehicle on the basis of a positional relationship between the host vehicle and a preceding vehicle traveling ahead of the host vehicle, the vehicle travel control apparatus including a millimeter wave sensor that acquires target data of the preceding vehicle by receiving a reflected wave of an emitted electromagnetic wave; and an ECU that determines the presence or absence of a preceding vehicle traveling directly ahead of the host vehicle on the basis of the target data acquired by the millimeter wave sensor and that performs acceleration and deceleration control of the host vehicle on the basis of the presence or absence of the preceding vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2012Date of Patent: April 4, 2017Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Hiroki Goto
-
Patent number: 9613527Abstract: An approach is provided for determining at least one first cluster set associated with at least one database of one or more navigable links at a first time period and at least one second cluster set associated with the at least one database at a second time period, wherein the at least one first cluster set and the at least one second cluster set include one or more clusters of the one or more navigable links. The approach involves causing, at least in part, a computation of a minimal matching between at least one first cluster set and the at least one second cluster set. The approach also involves causing, at least in part, a renaming of the one or more clusters in the at least one first cluster set, the at least one second cluster set, or a combination thereof based, at least in part, on the minimal matching, wherein the one or more clusters organize the one or more navigable links based, at least in part, on traffic pattern information.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2014Date of Patent: April 4, 2017Assignee: HERE GLOBAL B.V.Inventor: Martin Pfeifle
-
Patent number: 9598006Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a turn signal includes a turn signal switch configured to include at least one of operation modes of a lane change mode and a turn mode. A steering angle sensor is configured to detect a steering angle of a vehicle. A controller is configured to control the turn signal switch to turn on and off a turn signal lamp according to an operation mode and to turn off the turn signal lamp in at least one of a case in which the steering angle, which returns in a reverse direction to a course change direction detected by the steering angle sensor, reaches a preset angle and a case in which an operation time of the turn signal switch exceeds a preset time.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2015Date of Patent: March 21, 2017Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION, DAESUNG ELECTRIC CO., LTD.Inventors: Sung Eun Kim, Bong Gi Song, Seag Woo Lee
-
Patent number: 9594502Abstract: A method and system for remote control and remote-controlled user interface. A remote control method of target terminal by a mobile communication terminal comprises: displaying a plurality of control methods for remote control of the target terminal; when one of the plurality of control methods is selected, displaying a control screen corresponding to the selected control method; and when a control attribute value displayed in the control screen is set, transmitting a control message comprising the set control attribute value to the target terminal, wherein the control methods include at least one of a directional touch, a tilt and a pattern input by continuous touch.Type: GrantFiled: February 29, 2012Date of Patent: March 14, 2017Assignee: KT CORPORATIONInventors: Young Hoon Lee, Chan Hui Kang, Jong Cheol Kim, Hyun Ho Kim