Patents Examined by Thomas Black
  • Patent number: 9043130
    Abstract: Methods and systems for a complete vehicle ecosystem are provided. Specifically, systems that when taken alone, or together, provide an individual or group of individuals with an intuitive and comfortable vehicular environment. The present disclosure builds on integrating existing technology with new devices, methods, and systems to provide a complete vehicle ecosystem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Flextronics AP, LLC
    Inventor: Christopher P. Ricci
  • Patent number: 8996277
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine control apparatus comprises a controller 34, a memory 36 associated with the controller 34 and inputs 38 for measurement data from an engine. The controller 34 determines the start of a monitoring cycle at 73, receives measurement data at the inputs 38 during the monitoring cycle, manipulates the measurement data to provide an incremental deterioration value representing deterioration occurring within the engine and during the monitoring cycle, and uses the incremental deterioration value at 72 to update a deterioration value 74 stored in the memory 36, and determines the start of a further monitoring cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventors: Peter Beecroft, Leo Vivian Lewis, Marko Bacic
  • Patent number: 8886404
    Abstract: The invention relates to a control system for a motor vehicle, especially for a commercial vehicle that has a box body supportable on a chassis, with at least one detection means generating detection data for detecting the road profile in front of the vehicle in the direction of travel and a control device for controlling at least one controllable spring and/or damper unit depending on the detected data, wherein the at least one spring and/or damper unit for suspension and damping of the box body in the direction of a vertical axis of the vehicle can be connected to the box body and the chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Bodo Hanisch, Martin Schumacher, Georg Hoppe
  • Patent number: 8862299
    Abstract: The present disclosure is related to a perceptible output control system for a vehicle that can perform a number of different operations that are particularly useful for electric vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Flextronics AP, LLC
    Inventor: Christopher P. Ricci
  • Patent number: 8843308
    Abstract: A system for displaying a map, the system including: a map database maintaining map data associated with a route; a map data identification unit identifying map data corresponding to a driving route of a vehicle from the map database; an information receiving unit receiving weather information associated with a current seasonal weather from a background service server in real time; a background data generation unit generating background data according to an actual environment based on the received weather information; and a route guidance unit guiding a route by associating the map data with the generated background data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Thinkware Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Sang Hun Chang
  • Patent number: 8838335
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed that assist a user in performing proper setup of a vehicle suspension. A user may utilize a device equipped with an image sensor to assist the user in proper setup of a vehicle suspension. The device executes an application that prompts the user for input and instructs the user to perform a number of steps for adjusting the suspension components. In one embodiment, the application does not communicate with sensors on the vehicle. In another embodiment, the application may communicate with various sensors located on the vehicle to provide feedback to the device during the setup routine. In one embodiment, the device may analyze a digital image of a suspension component to provide feedback about a physical characteristic of the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventors: Mario Galasso, Joseph Franklin, Andrew Laird, Charles Bass, Ryan Bavetta
  • Patent number: 8838381
    Abstract: Described is a system for conveying the spatial location of an object with respect to a user's current location utilizing a video rendering following an automatically generated path from the user's location to the location of the object of interest initiated from the user's current perspective. The system comprises a display device; a virtual three-dimensional model of the user's environment; a visualization creation module; a route planner; and a video rendering following an automatically generated path from the user's location to the location of the object of interest utilizing the visualization creation module, wherein the video rendering displayed on the display device is from a first-person view. Also described is a method of utilizing the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Daily, Ronald Azuma
  • Patent number: 8831811
    Abstract: A control unit for a series hybrid vehicle includes a basic required output calculator for calculating a basic required output for driving the vehicle based on a vehicle speed and an accelerator pedal opening, a gradient calculator for calculating a rising gradient of a road surface on which the vehicle runs, a correction output calculator for calculating a correction output which is added to the basic required torque based on the rising gradient, and a target output calculator for calculating, when a required output which results from adding the correction output to the basic required output is larger than a predetermined value, based on the required output, a battery target electric power by which the battery is required to output part of the required output and an engine target output by which the engine is required to output the remaining of the required output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuichiro Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 8825244
    Abstract: In a method and an apparatus (9) for operating a hybrid vehicle with an internal combustion engine (4) and an electric motor (5), the internal combustion engine (4) is started automatically in a readiness to drive mode of the hybrid vehicle (1) as soon as it is no longer detected reliably that the driver is present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Jörg Rieling, Andreas Boy, Marko Wollenberg
  • Patent number: 8825239
    Abstract: A method for communicating data in a rail vehicle consist includes transmitting first data at a first rail vehicle of the consist over a power supply conductor to a second, different rail vehicle in the consist, where at least one rail vehicle of the consist receives direct electrical power from the power supply conductor. The method also includes monitoring the power supply conductor for second data at the first rail vehicle and receiving the second data over the power supply conductor at the first rail vehicle for use by a first system onboard the first rail vehicle. In one aspect, the transmitting step comprises transmitting the first data over one or more of a catenary line or a third rail that supplies the electrical power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jared Cooper, Todd Goodermuth, David Peltz, David McKay, Scott C. Sherin, John Brand, Eugene Smith, David Teeter, Robert Bryant, Mark Kraeling
  • Patent number: 8825238
    Abstract: A system is provided for monitoring an energy height of an aircraft during landing. The system includes a database including landing distance data; a processing unit configured to receive the landing distance data from the database and to calculate a landing distance of the aircraft based on a velocity and a height of the aircraft, the processing unit further configured to provide display signals based on the landing distance; and a visual display coupled to the processing unit and configured to provide a visual image based on the display signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Dave Peptione, Blake Wilson, Roger W. Burgin
  • Patent number: 8825278
    Abstract: A method and a system for detecting the first signs of malfunction of an aircraft engine valve, including an acquisition device to acquire the output pressure measurements of the valve, and contextual and command data of the valve, a processor to define a set of indicators of the first signs of malfunction, according to the output pressure measurements and the contextual and command data. A set of estimators corresponding to the set of indicators of the first signs of a malfunction, is determined using a previously produced regression model. At least one distance between the set of indicators and the set of estimators is computed. The distance is compared to a threshold of the first signs of a malfunction, in order to detect the first signs of malfunction of the said valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: William Bense, Jean-Yves Picart
  • Patent number: 8825280
    Abstract: A vehicle data storage system, in which vehicle data obtained from a vehicle-mounted device is stored, includes a vehicle data storage portion in which the vehicle data is stored; a country determination portion that determines a country in which a vehicle exists, based on position data of the vehicle; a selection table storage portion in which a type of the vehicle data that should be stored in the vehicle data storage portion is stored in association with country data; a data determination portion that determines the type of the vehicle data that should be stored in the vehicle data storage portion, based on the country determined by the country determination portion, by referring to the selection table storage portion; and a data processing portion that stores, in the vehicle data storage portion, the vehicle data determined by the data determination portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Keiichi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8825400
    Abstract: When a navigation apparatus generates, in the course of learning a new road, shape points information of the new road as well as new road information and connecting road information which respectively specify a road name, road attributes and other features of the new road and connecting roads, the generated information regarding the new road is examined if a corresponding road that corresponds to the new road is registered in case that a map database used by the navigation apparatus is updated. If the corresponding road is found in the updated map database, the generated information of the new road such as the shape points information is deleted, thereby securely invalidating the generated information that became unnecessary due to the update of the map database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Osamu Kanematsu, Takeshi Shikimachi
  • Patent number: 8825357
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a method of determining speed information for one or more road segments in map data by receiving probe data relating to the one or more road segments, determining a speed formula for the one or more road segments based on the probe data, and determining the speed information for the one or more road segments according to the speed formula.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: TomTom North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Tom Van de Velde
  • Patent number: 8825240
    Abstract: In order to minimize a calculation load and surely obtain a maximum adhesion torque, estimated adhesion torques are always stored, an maximum value is obtained from the stored plural estimated adhesion torques immediately before slip/skid is detected when detecting the slip/skid, and the maximum value is set as a maximum adhesion torque. The maximum adhesion torque immediately before the slip/skid is detected is compared with a value of the estimated adhesion torque when the slip/skid is detected. When the calculated value exceeds a threshold value, it is determined as a condition where an adhesion coefficient drastically drops, and a suppression/return ratio of the torque is switched to a lower value than that under a condition where the adhesion coefficient does not drastically drop. The value of the torque at the time of suppression or return is set to a smaller value to surely suppress the slip/skid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Watanabe, Motomi Shimada, Toshihiro Aono, Shuichi Tachihara
  • Patent number: 8818583
    Abstract: A train classification information interface receives train classification information, an ATS interface obtains ATS control information transmitted by an ATS system, a memory unit stores therein the train classification information, an operation determining unit determines the door opening-closing side based on a door opening information table stored in the memory unit, and door opening-closing-signal outputting units output a door opening-closing signal to door opening-closing devices, respectively, based on a door opening-closing operation performed by a crew member and based on a signal output by the operation determining unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Iga, Seisaku Tate
  • Patent number: 8818628
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for controlling an integrated network of a vehicle, and more particularly, to a system and method, which separately identifies a malfunction of a plurality of communication networks applied to a vehicle and integrally controls power off and power on of the communication networks using a communication gateway. The integrated network system includes: a gateway configured to connect a plurality of networks; a plurality of vehicle networks connected to the gateway and connectable to each other by the gateway; and an Ethernet configured to transmit a signal processed in the gateway to the exterior of the gateway to analyze communication states of the plurality of vehicle networks connected to the gateway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Jung Duck Son
  • Patent number: 8818559
    Abstract: A robot apparatus includes a robot mechanism having a plurality of joints, and actuators that drive joint axes of the robot mechanism. The robot apparatus includes a robot controller that controls the driving of the actuators based on a cost function that is a function of torque reference inputs for the actuators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Fukashi Andoh
  • Patent number: 8818721
    Abstract: A system for exchanging data. A first mobile device configured to generate a first set of data related to a plurality of geographic positions where the first mobile device has been located and configured to exchange the first set of data with a second mobile device wherein the first mobile device receives a second set of data related to a plurality of geographic positions where the second mobile device has been located. A mapping system configured to receive the first set of data and the second set of data and to generate a map based on the first set of data and the second set of data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Hamilton, Edward F. Jones, John F. Cameron