Patents Examined by Thomas Black
  • Patent number: 8706395
    Abstract: A cam actuated hydraulic brake system and an in plane tensioner pulley belt drive system may be used on autonomous vehicles, such as dynamic motion elements for the evaluation of various crash avoidance technologies. The brake system utilizes a cam driven by a servo to push the piston push rod of a hydraulic master brake cylinder, thus distributing pressurized brake fluid throughout the brake system. The pulley drive system uses an articulating arm for the driven pulley, and that arm may also have connected to it one or two tension pulleys, each of which is in contact with the belt. Because the drive pulley and the tensioner pulleys pivot about the same pivot axis, the needed belt length remains nearly constant across the entire range of the articulating arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Dynamic Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Kelly, Peter Broen, Jordan Silberling, John Zellner
  • Patent number: 8706364
    Abstract: A traction force control section of a wheel loader, when the determination conditions are satisfied during traction force control, increases the maximum traction force. The determination conditions include that the aspect of operation is excavation, that the vehicle speed is less than or equal to a prescribed speed threshold value, that the amount of operation of the accelerator operating member is equal to or more than a prescribed accelerator threshold value, and that the amount of operation of the inching operating member is less than or equal to a prescribed inching operation threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventor: Atsushi Shirao
  • Patent number: 8706366
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for controlling engine using height information capable of preventing an engine from stopping according to a position of a vehicle. An apparatus for controlling an engine of a vehicle using height information includes: a height information management unit storing a plurality of height information; and an idling controller that extracts one or more height information according to a position of the vehicle from the height information management unit to determine a slope of the vehicle and controls the idling of the vehicle according to the determination result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Jae-Chul Kim, Seong-Ho Lee, Yoon-Seop Chang, Jae-Jun Yoo, Sun-Rae Park
  • Patent number: 8706339
    Abstract: A robotic mower boundary sensing system includes a boundary driving circuit on a charging station transmitting an encoded signal on a boundary wire, a boundary sensor on a robotic mower and including an inductor receiving the encoded signal, and a vehicle control unit on the robotic mower receiving the encoded signal from the boundary sensor and decoding the signal and cross correlating the received signal to determine the distance of the boundary sensor from the boundary wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey S. Thompson, Craig E Rupp
  • Patent number: 8706301
    Abstract: Methods of and a system for providing force information for a robotic surgical system. The method includes storing first kinematic position information and first actual position information for a first position of an end effector; moving the end effector via the robotic surgical system from the first position to a second position; storing second kinematic position information and second actual position information for the second position; and providing force information regarding force applied to the end effector at the second position utilizing the first actual position information, the second actual position information, the first kinematic position information, and the second kinematic position information. Visual force feedback is also provided via superimposing an estimated position of an end effector without force over an image of the actual position of the end effector. Similarly, tissue elasticity visual displays may be shown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Wenyi Zhao, Tao Zhao, David Q. Larkin
  • Patent number: 8706378
    Abstract: The vehicle described herein employs a mu logic module. The mu logic module monitors vehicle operating conditions, and based on those operating conditions determines a road surface mu in response to a wheel slip event. The road surface mu is then used to determine a drive force to minimize or control the wheel slip event. The mu logic module continually monitors and adjusts the drive force provided to at least one of the wheels to maximize the applied drive force, while stabilizing and controlling wheel slip events to ensure safe operation of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Jordan Choby
  • Patent number: 8706344
    Abstract: A system for identifying an object impacting a vehicle bumper during a collision. The system receives acceleration values from each of a plurality of sensors and calculates a center strength value based on the acceleration values. The center strength value is indicative of the amount of force that is applied to the center of the vehicle bumper. The system then determines a preliminary impact location on the vehicle bumper based at least in part on the acceleration values. A normalized intrusion value is calculated based on the center strength value, the impact location, and a bumper stiffness factor. The bumper stiffness factor is indicative of the stiffness of the bumper at the impact location. The system then identifies the object impacting the vehicle bumper based at least in part on the normalized intrusion value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Seo-Wook Park
  • Patent number: 8706341
    Abstract: An agricultural vehicle has a steering system providing steering signals and including an imaging device for imaging surroundings of the vehicle and an image processing device, the steering system operates to provide by the imaging device an image of the field, analyze the image to obtain texture information, assign to a plurality of areas of the image probability-values reflecting the likelihood that the respective area relates to a specific structure, assume at least one geometric property of the specific structure, and establish a most possible position parameter of the specific structure taking into account the probability-values and the assumed geometric property; and to provide a steering signal in accordance with the position parameter thus established.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: CLAAS Agrosystems KGaA mbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Tommy Ertbolle Madsen, Morten Rufus Blas, Mogens Blanke
  • Patent number: 8706346
    Abstract: A method to control a powertrain having an electric motor includes monitoring a torque command to the motor, predicting a motor torque for the motor based upon the torque command, monitoring an actual motor torque of the motor, comparing the actual motor torque to the predicted torque, and indicating a motor fault when the actual motor torque and the predicted torque differ by more than a calibratable threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Wei D. Wang, Brian A. Welchko, Kevin P. Houle, Darren Crewes
  • Patent number: 8706402
    Abstract: In a vehicle control, a future travel locus of a vehicle is computed by using an evaluation function, and travel road surface information regarding a travel road surface on which the vehicle travels is stored. According to the travel road surface information stored, a convergence criterion for the evaluation function is variably set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Suzuki, Koji Nakai
  • Patent number: 8706349
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods are disclosed for altering permitted settings of a vehicle according to a driver identified through short range wireless communication. The vehicle captures a unique identifier from a wireless communication device of the driver of the vehicle. This unique identifier is used to reference a database to determine the identity of the driver as well as settings for the driver created by a controlling authority. The controlling authority may be, for instance, a parent or employer of the driver. The settings may limit certain devices within the vehicle and/or the vehicle itself. Speed control settings, radio settings, wireless communication device settings, and various other settings are all possible to limit distractions to the driver. Further, the settings may be influenced by the number or identities of passengers within the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC
    Inventors: Jay Daryl Rector, John Potts Davis, III, Justin Michael Anthony McNamara
  • Patent number: 8700243
    Abstract: It is provided a vehicle control device stopping an engine in operation when an automatic stop request is made and restarting the stopping engine when a restart request is made, wherein when the restart request is made while the engine is in transition to a rotation stop state in association with the automatic stop request, the engine is restarted if a crank position of the engine corresponds to a stroke other than a compression stroke while the engine is continuously stopped if the crank position of the engine corresponds to the compression stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yusuke Kamijo
  • Patent number: 8700310
    Abstract: Mobile device for communicating arrival information at a waypoint, communicating that information to a server, receiving a set of tasks (statically assigned or dynamically assigned) for the user (for example, from the server or from another user), displaying the set of tasks to the user, receiving a completion response (successful or unsuccessful) from the user, and proceeding to the next waypoint along a route/trip plan. In one embodiment, a coordination server facilitates communication of a list of tasks assigned to a user to be performed at a specified location. The list of tasks is delivered to the user of the first mobile device by the coordination server (if such tasks exist) when the coordination server receives notification from the first mobile device indicating arrival at a specific location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Inventor: Madhavi Jayanthi
  • Patent number: 8700237
    Abstract: A system is disclosed for communicating a dataset in a consist, the dataset having a critical data portion. The system includes a first transceiver configured to communicate a first data signal indicative of at least the critical data portion of the dataset over a first communication line, and a second transceiver configured to communicate a second data signal indicative of at least the critical data portion of the dataset over a second communication line. The system includes a processor configured to receive the first data signal and the second data signal, to compare the first data signal with the second data signal to determine whether the first data signal or the second data signal includes a more accurate signal, and to determine at least the critical data portion of the dataset based upon the more accurate signal. The critical data portion is associated with the operability of the consist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Electro-Motive Diesel
    Inventors: Lawrence Stanley Przybylski, Tom Otsubo
  • Patent number: 8700266
    Abstract: A data recording apparatus for a vehicle equipped with an occupant protection device includes main and safing sensors for detecting acceleration of the vehicle, a temporary memory section for storing main and safing calculation values respectively calculated from detection results of the main and safing sensors, a control section for controlling the occupant protection device based on the main and safing calculation values and for determining whether a predetermined condition associated with the acceleration is satisfied, and a recording section for recording the main calculation value upon determination of the control section that the condition is satisfied. The recording section records the main calculation value for a first period before the determination and records the main calculation value for a second period after the determination. The recording section further records the safing calculation value for the second period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Shinichi Kiribayashi
  • Patent number: 8700258
    Abstract: A park assist system for providing guidance to park a vehicle into a parking area is disclosed. The park assist system includes an imaging device, at least one indicator, and a control module. The imaging device acquires image data representative of a field of view (FOV). The indicator provides feedback to guide the vehicle into the parking area. The control module is in communication with the imaging device and the at least one indicator. The control module includes control logic for monitoring image data representative of the viewable area. The control module includes control logic for determining if a specific predetermined object is located within the FOV. The specific predetermined object indicates the presence of the parking area. The control module includes control logic for activating the at least one indicator to provide feedback regarding the parking area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Edward D. Tate, Jr., Alan G. Holmes, Hsiu-Pang Chan, Donald Eng, Fred W. Huntzicker
  • Patent number: 8700244
    Abstract: System for providing information on power consumption amount of electric vehicle includes receiving means for receiving departure point of the electric vehicle and destination of the electric vehicle from a terminal device; a database which stores a plurality of power consumption amounts required to move between respective two sections, corresponding to combinations of two sections, the combinations including a combination of a first section in a predetermined area including the departure point and the destination, and a second section including a second point in the predetermined area; extracting means which retrieves the database to thereby extract a power consumption amount required to travel from the departure point to the destination; and transmitting means for transmitting information on the power consumption amount extracted by the extracting means to the terminal device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuzuru Fukuda, Masaki Hasunuma
  • Patent number: 8700233
    Abstract: A method of controlling wing position and velocity for a flapping wing air vehicle provides six-degrees-of-freedom movement for the aircraft through a split-cycle constant-period frequency modulation with wing bias method that generates time-varying upstroke and downstroke wing position commands for wing planforms to produce nonharmonic wing flapping trajectories that generate non-zero, cycle averaged wing drag and alter the location of the cycle-averaged center of pressure of the wings relative to the center of gravity of the aircraft to cause horizontal translation forces, rolling moments and pitching moments of the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: David B. Doman, Michael W. Oppenheimer
  • Patent number: 8700239
    Abstract: A machine for addition of motive force to a vehicle, with rotor-plate, rotor-arms, rotor permanent magnets, stator-plate, stator columns, stator electromagnets, and battery, cell, or other energy storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Inventors: Charles Hampton Perry, Paul Walter Martin, III
  • Patent number: 8700298
    Abstract: The different advantageous embodiments provide a method for generating an integrated aircraft clearance. Flight information, preference information, environmental information, and constraints are retrieved from a number of sources. The flight information includes at least one of flight plan information, flight scheduling information, flight status information, and environmental information. The flight information is processed against the preference information, the environmental information, and the constraints. A clearance solution is generated for an aircraft based on the flight information, the preference information, the environmental information and the constraints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Suzanne Elise Meador, Robert W. Mead, Ferdinando Dijkstra, Christie Marie Maldonado, Gregory T. Saccone, Bradley David Cornell