Patents Examined by Thomas E Worden
  • Patent number: 11138892
    Abstract: An enhanced flight control system and method providing a technological improvement over a conventional flight control systems. A control module employs rules to determine whether or not a received traffic collision avoidance system (TCAS) evasive maneuver is automatically implemented. Specifically, the control module effectively couples the TCAS to the FMS, allowing access to the flight plan and to the navigation database and the approach procedures and runway data therein. An algorithm determines when there is a co-occurrence of the conditions (1) a flight plan uploaded in the FMS, (2) autopilot is engaged, (3) VNAV is engaged. Upon co-occurrence of (1) and (2) and (3), and an evasive maneuver is received from a TCAS, the control module determines whether or not to automatically implement the evasive maneuver. Look ahead algorithms may also analyse and modify the flight plan to preclude TCAS alerts and evasive procedures being required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: James Alexander Nicholls, Michael Duane Mead, Erik Ringnes, Ratan Khatwa, Michael McSharry, Jon Bartling
  • Patent number: 11126496
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed herein for reconfiguring reprogrammable hardware in an autonomous vehicle system. According to an embodiment, an autonomous driving system includes sensors and a configurable circuit having physical logic units. The autonomous driving system aggregates data observed from each of the sensors. The autonomous driving system detects a trigger indicative of a defect in the configurable circuit. The defect is identified as a function of the aggregated data. The autonomous driving system performs, in response to the trigger, a reconfiguration action on the configurable circuit to repair the defect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Wei Yee Koay, Rita H. Wouhaybi, Melissa M. Ortiz, Shahrnaz Azizi, Gayathri Jeganmohan, Lady Nataly Pinilla Pico
  • Patent number: 11124136
    Abstract: A system and method of providing an immersive media experience to a user through utilizing one or more vehicle system modules (VSMs) included in a vehicle, wherein the method includes: establishing a connection with a media control device, wherein the media control device includes a display; determining whether the media control device is authorized to control the one or more VSMs as a part of the immersive media experience; receiving an immersive media control request from the media control device, wherein the immersive media control request includes a request from the media control device to perform one or more vehicle functions using the VSMs during playback of immersive media content, and wherein the playback of the immersive media content includes visually perceptible media content that is displayed using the display of the media control device; and controlling the one or more VSMs according to the received VSM control requests.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Aditya S. Kamini, Richard Elswick, Nathaniel H. Williams
  • Patent number: 11124234
    Abstract: A driver assistance system for a vehicle having a hitch includes a trailer detection system, a steering system, and a controller. The controller determines that a trailer is not coupled with the hitch and outputs a reverse hitching path control signal to the steering system and determines that the trailer is coupled with the hitch and outputs a trailer backing path control signal to the steering system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Luke Niewiadomski, Donald Jacob Mattern, Roger Arnold Trombley, Aleksey Shepelev, Chen Zhang
  • Patent number: 11110927
    Abstract: A system variably controls braking energy regeneration in a vehicle by reflecting a compensation torque depending on a difference in deceleration based on a road gradient when the vehicle travels over a downhill section or an uphill section of a road. The system includes a longitudinal sensor to receive the road gradient and compare the road gradient to a specific grade, and then compensate for the road gradient using a grade resistance value and a deceleration based value depending on a difference between deceleration manually set by a driver using a paddle shift and an actual vehicle deceleration. The system may include a controller to output a coasting torque as a correction torque that is a sum of the grade resistance value and the deceleration based value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Soo-Lim Han, Woo-Cheol Cho, Seung-Jae Yoo, Jea-Myoung Youn, Ja-Chun Han
  • Patent number: 11105647
    Abstract: To statistically analyze information on the path of ra movement of a moving body. An information analysis device includes a communication unit that receives position information for a vehicle, a memory unit that stores map information pertaining to roads over which the vehicle can travel and position information concerning facilities, a visit frequency calculator that calculates the frequency at which the vehicle visits a facility on the basis of facility information concerning the facility, and a travel path specification unit that specifies the vehicle that has made a plurality of visits to the facility on the basis of the results of calculations made by the visit frequency calculator and specifies the travel path to the facility for the specified vehicle from the position information and the map information pertaining to the roads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Minoru Fukumori, Shunsuke Kawasaki, Tadashi Kurihara, Yoshiaki Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 11107308
    Abstract: Systems and methods for an automated hardware-in-the-loop tester are disclosed and include a processor configured to execute instructions stored in a nontransitory computer-readable medium. The instructions include executing an executable object, which includes identifying a first circuit from at least one circuit based on the executable object. The instructions include, in response to identifying the first circuit, controlling a first signal transmitted from the first circuit to an electronic control unit (ECU). The first signal represents one of (i) a signal transmitted by a vehicle and (ii) a signal received from a communications system. While transmitting the first signal, the instructions include generating a first set of data that indicates operating characteristics of the ECU in response to receiving the first signal. The instructions include generating a report based on the first set of data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO International America, Inc.
    Inventors: Sorin Mihaltan, Jonathan Swierczynski, Jeffrey Berg
  • Patent number: 11091034
    Abstract: An arrangement for control of the drive speed of a harvester comprises an internal control loop for control of the drive speed of the harvester, to which can be sent a set value and an actual value of a throughput-dependent parameter, and also an external control loop to make available the set value of the throughput-dependent parameter for the internal control loop, to which set and actual values regarding the power output of a drive of the harvester can be sent as input parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Philipp Muench
  • Patent number: 11092446
    Abstract: Among other things, a viability of a route is determined. The route includes a sequence of connected road segments to be traveled by an autonomous vehicle from a starting position to a goal position. The route conforms to stored road network information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Motional AD LLC
    Inventor: Karl Iagnemma
  • Patent number: 11084469
    Abstract: A vehicular control apparatus includes: a drive power control unit that controls drive power from a drive unit that drives drive wheels of a vehicle; a brake switch (a brake action detection unit) that detects a brake action performed on a brake unit, the brake action including decelerating and stopping the vehicle; a wheelspin detection unit that detects spinning of the drive wheels; a time measurement unit that, when the drive wheels being stopped start to rotate, measures time elapsed since the start of the rotation; and a control unit that enables the wheelspin detection unit to perform detection after a preset detection disabled period elapses since the time measurement unit has started measuring the time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Adachi, Hisashi Ishikawa, Takayuki Kishi
  • Patent number: 11066071
    Abstract: A coasting control method based on an overspeed response and an eco-friendly vehicle employing the same are provided. The coasting control method includes performing an active coasting control when an event for a section speed enforcement area is determined while a vehicle is traveling to allow the vehicle to pass through the section speed enforcement area based on a vehicle position at an event occurrence time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Jee-Wook Huh
  • Patent number: 11048273
    Abstract: A method of operating a rotorcraft includes receiving multiple first height data signals from multiple first height sensors on the rotorcraft, wherein the first height sensors measure height using a first technique, receiving multiple second height data signals from multiple second height sensors on the rotorcraft, wherein the second height sensors measure height using a second technique that is different than the first technique, determining a first height signal from the multiple first height data signals based on a selection scheme, determining a second height signal from the multiple second height data signals, selecting the first height signal or the second height signal to determine a selected height signal, and generating a flight control signal and controlling operation of the rotorcraft according to the flight control signal, the flight control signal based on the selected height signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Earl Worsham, II, Christopher Mike Bothwell, Sung Kyun Kim, Morganne Cody Klein
  • Patent number: 11040721
    Abstract: Methods for management of a powertrain system in a vehicle. The methods receive data or signals from multiple sensors associated with the vehicle. Optimum thresholds for classifications of the sensor data can be changed based injecting signals into the powertrain system and receiving responsive signals. Expected priorities for the sensor signals can be altered based upon attributes of the signals and confirming actual priorities for the signals. Look-up tables for engine management can be modified based upon injecting signals into the powertrain system and measuring a utility of the responsive signals. The methods can thus dynamically alter and modify data for powertrain management, such as look-up tables, during vehicle operation under a wide range of conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Gilles J. Benoit, Brian E. Brooks, Ryan C. Shirk, Michael E. Nelson, Craig R. Schardt
  • Patent number: 11037454
    Abstract: An automatic braking system controller automatically decelerates an aircraft on a runway according to a brake-to-exit or a constant deceleration function. The automatic braking system controller determines whether the aircraft can decelerate to a selected velocity prior to reaching a target location along the runway. In response to determining that the aircraft can decelerate to the selected velocity prior to reaching the target location, the automatic braking system controller automatically decelerates the aircraft with a comfortable deceleration profile such that the aircraft reaches the selected velocity at the target location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Joseph Michael Wapenski, Nima Forghani, Thomas Todd Griffith
  • Patent number: 11027724
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a parking assistance system for searching for a parking space and parking a vehicle in the parking space, which includes: a determinator configured to determine whether or not the vehicle is in a stopped state based on movement information of the vehicle; a calculator configured to calculate inclination information, which is an inclination of the vehicle or road surface on which the vehicle is located, using an inclination sensor included in the vehicle; a memory configured to store traveling information including first inclination information when the first inclination information calculated by the calculator is less than predetermined threshold inclination information in a parking space searching step, and configured to maintain the first inclination information or update the traveling information by changing the first inclination information into second inclination information based on at least one of a stopped time during which the vehicle remains stopped and the second i
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jae Suk Kim
  • Patent number: 11014238
    Abstract: Disclosed autonomous mobile robot systems can be used to safely and efficiently navigate through a facility while avoiding objects in the path of the autonomous mobile robot during completion of a task. Specifically, a first bounded area based on first sensor data may be generated around an autonomous mobile robot where the first sensor data is used to identify objects in a travel path for the autonomous mobile robot and determine a speed for navigating the facility. A second bounded area of a size less than the first bounded area may be generated around the autonomous mobile robot based on speed information from propulsion components of the autonomous mobile robot. A new travel path and new speed information may be generated based on identifying an object in the travel path, dimensional measurements of a space around the object, and a current size of the second bounded area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Charles Paschall, II, Justin Croyle, Shilpi Gupta, Anatoly Mitlin, Ashish Shah
  • Patent number: 11014571
    Abstract: A physical quantity measurement device includes a sensor element in which coupling capacitances are formed between a drive electrode and a first detection electrode and between the drive electrode and a second detection electrode; and a circuit device that includes a drive circuit which supplies a drive signal to the drive electrode, a detection circuit which detects physical quantity information corresponding to a physical quantity based on first and second detection signals from the first and second detection electrodes, and a failure diagnosis circuit. The circuit device includes first and second switches that are provided between first and second terminals to which the first and second detection signals are input and the detection circuit. The failure diagnosis circuit performs a failure diagnosis, based on a detection result of the detection circuit when connection states of the first and second switches are changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Inventors: Noriyuki Murashima, Teppei Higuchi
  • Patent number: 11004277
    Abstract: A computing device is connected to a motor vehicle's diagnostic port or communication port to acquire vehicle sensor data, for example from various pressure, temperature, oxygen, fuel and other sensors typically installed on a motor vehicle for other reasons. Acquired sensor data is wirelessly transmitted to a remote server where the acquired sensor data can be compared to a database of stored sensor data to identify the motor vehicle. Additional functionality is described that leverages uploaded sensor data. Sensor data may be uploaded to the server in near-real time, and/or buffered locally and uploaded by periodic or episodic, push or pull communication protocols.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: AIRBIQUITY INC.
    Inventors: Darrin L. Garrett, Darren Mann
  • Patent number: 10983526
    Abstract: A method and system for generating a semantic point cloud map. Voice input is received via a microphone and converted into text via speech-to-text synthesis. The text is decomposed into semantic data comprising a number of words, and it is determined whether keywords of the semantic data are present in an autonomous driving (AD) ontology. In response to the keywords of the semantic data being present in the AD ontology, coordinates of a point cloud map corresponding to the semantic data are determined. An association between a semantic label determined from the words of the semantic data and coordinates in the point cloud map corresponding to the semantic data is generated and stored in a memory of the computer vision system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Keyvan Golestan Irani
  • Patent number: 10974601
    Abstract: A braking control device for a vehicle includes an anti-lock controller and a resonance controller. The anti-lock controller is configured to perform an anti-lock control that includes making an adjustment to the braking torque command, to cause suppression of one or more wheels from being locked during braking of the vehicle. The resonance controller is configured to correct the braking torque command, to control resonance of a power transmitter. The resonance controller includes a resonance generation processor that is configured to generate the resonance while imposing a limitation on magnitude of the resonance. The resonance controller is configured to suppress the resonance except during the anti-lock control, and allow the resonance generation processor to generate the resonance while imposing the limitation on the magnitude of the resonance during the anti-lock control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Fumiyuki Moriya, Hiroshi Ienaga