Patents Examined by Thomas Black
  • 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
  • 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: 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: 8818677
    Abstract: If a condition for finishing speed limit control is satisfied, a gradient of a slope of the road is estimated based on a steady component of the longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle, and a correction factor is computed based on the slope gradient of the road, while a target acceleration of the vehicle is computed based on the vehicle speed. Then, a target vehicle speed is computed by adding the target vehicle speed of the last cycle to the product of the correction factor, target acceleration and the cycle time of the control, and the braking or driving force of each wheel is controlled so that the vehicle speed becomes equal to the target vehicle speed. In this manner, a passenger of the vehicle is prevented from feeling uncomfortable about the speed increase after the completion of the vehicle speed limit control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Advics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Gen Inoue, Hiroshi Omine, Yasuhito Ishida
  • Patent number: 8812227
    Abstract: A collision avoidance system (CAS) is described that includes one or more sensor technologies, including, for example, an Ultra Wideband (UWB) sensing technology. The collision avoidance system is designed to reliably track the location and speed of vehicles and the distance between vehicles over a wide variety of track and terrain. The collision avoidance system may utilize information from a variety of sensor technologies to determine whether one or more vehicles violate speed and/or separation criteria, and may generate a warning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Metrom Rail, LLC
    Inventors: Richard C. Carlson, Kurt A. Gunther, Marc W. Cygnus
  • Patent number: 8812226
    Abstract: A method for controlling a vehicle operating during a dynamic vehicle event includes monitoring a first input image, monitoring a first tracked object within the first input image in a first tracking cycle, monitoring a second input image, monitoring a second tracked object within the second input image in a second tracking cycle, and determining a dissimilarity measure comparing the first tracked object to the second tracked object. The dissimilarity measure estimates whether the first tracked object and the second tracked object represent a single tracked object proximate to the vehicle. The method further includes associating the first tracked object and the second tracked object based upon the dissimilarity measure, and utilizing the associated objects in a collision preparation system to control operation of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Shuqing Zeng
  • Patent number: 8812196
    Abstract: A payload estimation system for a work machine is provided. The system includes a power source, a payload carrier, an actuator and a controller. The payload carrier is configured to contain a payload of material. The actuator is configured to effectuate movement of the payload carrier. The controller is configured to control an operation of the actuator. The controller is also configured to receive one or more parameters associated with the power source of the work machine, during an operation of the payload carrier. Further, the controller is configured to compare the one or more parameters with a pre-determined dataset to estimate a weight of the payload on the work machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Zheng Hu, Jason D. Bell
  • Patent number: 8812213
    Abstract: A vehicle speed control apparatus including a driving force characteristic map section configured to have a previously recorded driving force characteristic map, to input a target driving force and a target vehicle speed, and to output an accelerator opening angle in accordance with the driving force characteristic map, a vehicle sensitivity calculating section configured to calculate an inverse number of a vehicle sensitivity in accordance with the driving force characteristic map, a vehicle speed feedback section configured to input a vehicle speed deviation and the inverse number of the vehicle sensitivity and to output an accelerator opening angle according to the inverse number of the vehicle sensitivity, and an addition section configured to add the accelerator opening angle from the driving force characteristic map section to the accelerator opening angle from the vehicle speed feedback section to provide an accelerator opening angle command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Meidensha Corporation
    Inventor: Masayasu Kanke
  • Patent number: 8812176
    Abstract: A balloon is provided having a balloon envelope having a top portion and a bottom portion, a payload positioned beneath the balloon envelope, a moveable plate positioned atop the balloon envelope, a line attached to the moveable plate, and a control system configured to cause the line to be pulled to cause the moveable plate to be pulled towards the bottom portion of the balloon envelope such that the top portion of the balloon envelope is moved towards the bottom portion of the balloon envelope forcing gas out of the balloon envelope such that the balloon envelope is collapsed. The balloon may further include a drag plate positioned beneath the balloon envelope that serves to slow the descent of the payload to the earth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Clifford Biffle, Richard Wayne DeVaul, Joshua Weaver, Anton Valdemar Staaf, Eric Teller
  • Patent number: 8798882
    Abstract: A method of controlling a hydraulic CVT of a vehicle comprises: determining a speed of rotation of a driving shaft; determining a speed of rotation of a driven shaft; determining a ratio of the speed of rotation of the driving shaft versus the speed of rotation of the driven shaft; determining an engine torque; determining a base clamping force to be applied by the driving pulley onto the belt based on the ratio and the engine torque; determining a desired speed of rotation of the driving shaft; determining a corrective clamping force by comparing the speed of rotation of the driving shaft to the desired speed of rotation of the driving shaft; and controlling a hydraulic pressure applied to a movable sheave to apply a sum of the base and corrective clamping forces onto the belt. A vehicle having a CVT controlled by the method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Consortium de Recherche BRP—Universite de Sherbrooke S.E.N.C.
    Inventors: David Monfette, Jean-Philippe Desbiens, Roger Rioux
  • Patent number: 8798835
    Abstract: A hybrid diesel-electric powertrain includes a diesel engine in power flow communication with an electric motor and a controller. The diesel engine and electric motor are each configured to generate a respective torque in response to a provided torque command. The controller is in communication with the electric motor, the diesel engine, and an accelerator pedal, and configured to receive a driver torque request from the accelerator pedal. In response to the driver torque request, the controller is further configured to command the diesel engine to generate an output torque that is less than a smoke limit torque, and command the electric motor to generate an output torque equal to the difference between the driver torque request and the output torque of the diesel engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Christopher E. Whitney, Luca Scavone, Anthony H. Heap
  • Patent number: 8798855
    Abstract: A system and method for self-detecting vehicle theft is provided that includes a first antenna and a second antenna, both located on a vehicle. The first antenna transmits the signal and the second antenna receives the signal. A monitoring module in communication with the second antenna is configured to determine whether the signal has changed. A vehicle security system is configured to activate based on a change in the signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc
    Inventors: Shafer Seymour, Peter Saladin
  • Patent number: 8798861
    Abstract: An electric power steering system includes: a shaft angle sensor that outputs a signal indicating a rotation angle of a shaft through which a turning operation force is transmitted to a steering mechanism; a motor angle sensor that outputs a signal indicating a rotation angle of a motor; and a control section that determines the number of turns of the steering wheel based on both outputs of the shaft angle sensor and the motor angle sensor, wherein when it is required to determine the number of turns, the control section detects an angle error between the outputs of the shaft angle sensor and the motor angle sensor based on the outputs thereof and when the angle error falls within a predetermined allowable range, the control section determines the number of turns, and when the angle error is out of this range, the control section avoids determining the number of turns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi Mitsuhara
  • Patent number: 8798834
    Abstract: The movable component for a network system may communicate with another component. The movable component includes a body, a battery, a control unit, and a communication unit. The body includes a wheel for moving, and a motor driving the wheel. The battery supplies a power to the motor. The communication unit communicates with the other component to receive information related to energy. The control unit determines whether to charge the battery based on the information related to energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Wonchul Jeong, Yanghwan Kim, Donghun Youn, Koonseok Lee, Junho Ahn, Hoonbong Lee
  • Patent number: 8798925
    Abstract: An unambiguous heading direction is calculated to determine the forward/reverse state of a vehicle. A heading alignment error is determined at step 100, being the difference between a GNSS direction of motion and the unresolved IMU heading of the vehicle. The heading alignment error is adjusted by 180° to be within a predetermined range at step 200. The unresolved IMU heading of the vehicle 10 is adjusted using the heading alignment error to determine an ambiguous error corrected IMU heading at step 300. Step 400 determines whether the ambiguous error corrected IMU heading is substantially in the true direction of the nose of the vehicle. The unambiguous heading direction is calculated at step 500 by offsetting the ambiguous error corrected IMU heading by 180 degrees if the ambiguous error corrected IMU heading is substantially opposite the true direction of the nose the vehicle of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Leica Geosystems AG
    Inventor: William James Kellar
  • Patent number: 8798878
    Abstract: A speed change system for work vehicle having a continuously variable transmission device selects a first change gear ratio which is set larger than a smallest change gear ratio, when an engine rotational speed is a first set rotational speed which is set equal or close to an idling rotational speed of an engine; retains the change gear ratio of the continuously variable transmission device at the smallest change gear ratio, when the engine rotational speed is equal to or above a second set rotational speed set on a high-speed side relative to the first set rotational speed; and makes the change gear ratio of the continuously variable transmission device larger between the first change gear ratio and the smallest change gear ratio, as the engine rotational speed at that moment becomes lower, when the engine rotational speed is between the first and second set rotational speeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Susumu Umemoto, Hisao Mukai, Nobushige Ichikawa, Takuya Inamori, Yushi Matsuzaki
  • Patent number: 8798794
    Abstract: An object is highly precisely moved by an industrial robot to an end position by the following steps, which are repeated until the end position is reached within a specified tolerance: Recording a three-dimensional image by means of a 3-D image recording device. Determining the present position of the object in the spatial coordinate system from the position of the 3-D image recording device the angular orientation of the 3-D image recording device detected by an angle measuring unit, the three-dimensional image, and the knowledge of features on the object. Calculating the position difference between the present position of the object and the end position. Calculating a new target position of the industrial robot while taking into consideration the compensation value from the present position of the industrial robot and a value linked to the position difference. Moving the industrial robot to the new target position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Leica Geosystems AG
    Inventors: Bernd Walser, Bernhard Metzler, Beat Aebischer, Knut Siercks, Bo Pettersson
  • Patent number: 8793069
    Abstract: The present invention provides an object recognition system for an autonomous mobile body. The object recognition system includes a sensor unit for detecting an obstacle in a target field of view and measuring the position of the obstacle, and an electronic control unit for controlling movement of the autonomous mobile body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mitsuhide Kuroda
  • Patent number: 8793035
    Abstract: A vehicle and vehicle system are provided with a controller that is configured to generate output indicative of a vehicle mass estimation. The vehicle mass estimation is based on a longitudinal acceleration and a wheel torque when at least one of the longitudinal acceleration, a vehicle speed and a yaw rate indicate an occurrence of a qualified event. The controller is further configured to generate output indicative of a dynamic road gradient estimation based on the vehicle speed, the wheel torque and the vehicle mass estimation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Hai Yu, Matthew Alan Boesch, Ryan Abraham McGee
  • Patent number: 8788154
    Abstract: A construction machine control system comprises a laser surveying instrument for projecting N-shaped beams in rotary irradiation, a construction machine operated within a predetermined range of the N-shaped beams, and an elevation angle detecting unit. The construction machine comprises a working mechanical unit for carrying out construction operation, a machine control device for controlling the working mechanical unit, and at least three beam detectors disposed at known positions with respect to reference position of the construction machine. The beam detectors detect the three fan beams and output result of photodetection. The elevation angle detecting unit obtains elevation angles of each of the beam detectors with respect to the laser surveying instrument based on result of photodetection of three fan beams from the beam detectors. The machine control device is configured to control tilting of the working mechanical unit based on the elevation angle obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha TOPCON
    Inventors: Raymond M. O'Connor, Kaoru Kumagai, Jun-ichi Kodaira