Patents Examined by Thomas H. Tarcza
  • Patent number: 8660751
    Abstract: An electric power steering apparatus comprises a charge-discharge circuit capable of configuring a circuit for charging an auxiliary power supply and a circuit for discharging a battery and the auxiliary power supply as well as configuring a discharge-preference circuit which enables only the discharge of the auxiliary power supply while avoiding the charge thereof. In the apparatus, a control circuit performs a power latch operation of carrying on control till the end of a predetermined period of time following an operation of turning off an ignition key, and also causes the charge-discharge circuit to configure the discharge-preference circuit thereby enabling steering assist accompanied by the discharge of the auxiliary power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Keisuke Izutani, Kazuyuki Yoshida
  • Patent number: 8620577
    Abstract: A method and system for searching for points of interest along a route is disclosed. A relation that includes records that associate link identifiers, point of interest identifiers, and distances between the links and the points of interest is generated during the compilation process of a first version of a geographic database. The relation is stored in compiled database products. When a compiled database product is being used by a navigation system, for example, navigation application software programs use the relation to accurately and efficiently find points of interest along a computed route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Navteq B.V.
    Inventors: Martin Pfeifle, Jonghyun Suh, Boris Gumhold
  • Patent number: 8560157
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods and apparatuses for automated control of a moving vehicle. An alarm condition is detected, and in response to the alarm condition, the current radius of curvature of the vehicle is maintained. The radius of curvature may be calculated by using data received from sensors. The alarm condition may be a result of the vehicle becoming unstable or the automated navigation system malfunctioning. In response to operator control input, the vehicle is placed into a manual control state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Topcon Positioning Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Vernon Joseph Brabec
  • Patent number: 8538654
    Abstract: Systems and methods disclosed herein may be useful for braking systems for use in, for example, an aircraft. A method is disclosed comprising determining, at a brake controller, an aircraft reference speed for an aircraft having a first wheel and a second wheel, identifying, at the brake controller, a state comprising the first wheel having a different rotational velocity than the second wheel, wherein the difference in rotational velocity sums to about zero, calculating, at the brake controller, a compensation factor for at least one of the first wheel and the second wheel, and adjusting, at the brake controller, a locked wheel trigger velocity in accordance with the compensation factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Goodrich Corporation
    Inventor: Eric D. Cahill
  • Patent number: 8527156
    Abstract: A tractor comprises a tractor frame, driven ground engaging means, and an electronic tractor controller. A baler comprises a baler frame coupled or connected to the tractor frame, a crop receiving means, a baling chamber, a bale size sensor associated with the baling chamber, and an electronic baler controller. The baler controller is operable to submit a halt signal to the tractor controller when a bale size signal provided by the bale size sensor indicates that a bale has reached a size equal to or exceeding a first predetermined size. A control method includes the baler controller generating a tractor halt signal in response to certain conditions of the baler system and the tractor controller preventing tractor motion in response to the halt signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Michael Jonathan Martin, Timothy Joel Kilworth, Peter Muench, Benjamin Neermann, Bruce Craig Newendorp, Travis James Davis
  • Patent number: 8527178
    Abstract: In apparatus for controlling operation of a four-wheel drive vehicle having a prime mover (engine), drive wheels driven by the prime mover and free wheels, a VC (viscous coupling; torque transferring device) installed between the drive wheels and free wheels to transfer torque generated in response to a difference between inputted and outputted rotation thereof, output of the prime mover is decreased based on a desired rotational speed of the drive wheels driven by the prime mover when calculated difference between inputted and outputted rotation of the VC is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, thereby enabling to control the driving force effectively so as to achieve required vehicle driving performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masatoshi Noguchi, Hirohiko Totsuka, Yuji Okamura
  • Patent number: 8521416
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus includes a first section that recognizes a lane boundary line of a lane in which a vehicle is traveling. A second section recognizes a present position of a predetermined reference point of the vehicle. A third section calculates a predicted position of the reference point, wherein the predicted position is a predetermined interval ahead of the present position. A fourth calculates an imaginary lane boundary line, wherein the imaginary lane boundary line is tangent to the lane boundary line at a point close to the predicted position. A fifth section performs a control of preventing the vehicle from deviating from the lane by controlling the vehicle depending on positional relationship between the vehicle and the lane boundary line. A sixth section selectively permits and suppresses the control depending on positional relationship among the imaginary lane boundary line, the present position, and the predicted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuki Nakada, Toshiya Oosawa, Akira Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8521369
    Abstract: A method and a device for control or regulation of a restraint system in a vehicle having a safety belt and at least one of an operation or convenience function. The operation and convenience functions of the restraint system adapt in a situation-related fashion and set the belt retraction force that acts on the safety belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Thomas Blaas, Walter Eberle, Martin Lanzerath, Jan Schroeder
  • Patent number: 8521362
    Abstract: Stabilizer control devices, methods, and programs obtain information indicating lateral acceleration operating on the vehicle and obtain information indicating a curve section existing in a traveling direction of the vehicle. The devices, methods, and programs control roll stiffness by a stabilizer mounted on the vehicle based on the obtained lateral acceleration information by setting a lateral acceleration threshold at a first value in the curve section and a second value in a section other than the curve section respectively, the first value being smaller than the second value. The devices, methods, and programs control the roll stiffness when the lateral acceleration is equal to or larger than the lateral acceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignees: Aisin AW Co., Ltd., Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takayuki Miyajima, Seiji Hidaka, Hirofumi Nitta
  • Patent number: 8504218
    Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling a vehicle are provided. The system includes a controller configured to generate output signals using input signals received from a plurality of different types of input devices wherein the controller is configured to operate at a predetermined logic level and a universal input module corresponding to each type of the plurality of different types of input devices. The universal input module is configured to receive an input signal from an associated input device of one of the different types, determine an operating range of the input device corresponding to one of the different types of input devices, and transmit an output to the controller at the predetermined logic level wherein the output corresponds to the received input scaled to the determined operating range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Samuel Robert Mollet, Michael Scott Mitchell
  • Patent number: 8489289
    Abstract: Disclosed is a converter (200) for signals between a safety device (300) and a universal safety control device (100) for a vehicle. At the converter (200) the safety control device (100) can be connected at a control device interface (200.1) and at least one type of safety devices (300.2) can be connected at at least one safety device interface (200.2) and wherein the converter (200) converts a signal of the safety control device (100) into a signal, which is suitable for the respectively connected type of safety device (300.2), to the respective safety device interface (200.2). It is proposed to embody the converter (200) such that it detects a condition at the safety device interface (200.2), in particular a diagnostics condition signal and converts it into a condition accordingly predefined at the control device interface (200.1), preferably in a manner which does not require an adaptation of the control device or of its software.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Conti Temic Microelectronic GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Mueller
  • Patent number: 8478502
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for controlling the motor of a hybrid vehicle comprising the steps of detecting states of a plurality of motors and planetary gear sets; deciding total demand torque of the motors in a case that the plurality of motors operates under a predetermined condition; determining whether the total demand torque of the motors is smaller than a sum of continuous rated torque of each motor; deciding torque of each motor by using a torque distribution map according to rotation speed of each motor and the total demand torque in a case that the total demand torque of the motors is smaller than the sum of continuous rated torque of each motor; and controlling each motor based on the decided torque of each motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Joonyoung Park
  • Patent number: 8478528
    Abstract: A method of wirelessly adding navigational content to a personal navigation device includes changing a mode of the personal navigation device to pairing standby mode, adding navigational content to a computing device, and establishing a direct wireless connection between the personal navigation device and the computing device to add navigational content to the personal navigation device from the computing device when the personal navigation device and the computing device are within range of each other for establishing a wireless connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Mitac International Corp.
    Inventor: Simon Dean Morley
  • Patent number: 8473121
    Abstract: A fly-by-wire control system for an aircraft including detection of pilot induced oscillations and a mobile control unit for such a system. According to the invention, provision is made for the pivotings of the mobile control unit to be damped by a controllable damper controlled by a detector that detects oscillations corresponding to pilot induced oscillations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS
    Inventors: Nathalie Raimbault, Jean-Pierre Gautier, Alain Sagansan, Pierre Fabre
  • Patent number: 8467947
    Abstract: A method for operating a hydraulic system of an automatic transmission, in particular in a hybrid drivetrain, in which the hydraulic system comprises a main pump that is powered by an internal combustion engine and/or an electric drive motor, an electric auxiliary pump and a system pressure valve for setting a system pressure, to ensure various operating functions. In addition to the main pump, the electric auxiliary pump also supplies the hydraulic system with a volume flow of an operating medium. The loading of the electric auxiliary pump is determined in an electronic control unit with regard to the value of the system pressure and the loading of the electric auxiliary pump is limited, by the electronic control unit, with regard to the selected operating function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Tobias Zollner, Bernd Allgaier, Christian Schwemer
  • Patent number: 8463484
    Abstract: A theft deterrent apparatus is used in a marine vessel which includes a propulsion device. The theft deterrent apparatus includes an authentication unit, a fault detection unit arranged to detect a fault of the authentication unit, and an operation control unit arranged to control operation of the propulsion device. When the authentication unit is normal, the operation control unit controls the operation of the propulsion device in accordance with an authentication result of the authentication unit. When a fault has occurred in the authentication unit, the operation control unit controls the operation of the propulsion device without referring to the authentication result of the authentication unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takaaki Bamba
  • Patent number: 8463470
    Abstract: A digital mapping display and related system for fishing, and other applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Johnson Outdoors Marine Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Wesley Wood, Jeffrey Earl Smith
  • Patent number: 8401782
    Abstract: A method and system for assessing vehicle paths in a road environment including a vehicle and external objects includes: determining a position and a dynamic state of the host vehicle and of each of the external objects; generating a plurality of paths that may be followed by the vehicle as it moves toward the external objects; and evaluating a cost associated with each of the paths, the cost based on a lateral acceleration experienced by the vehicle. Each path is made up of path segments, including: an initial path segment corresponding to the vehicle continuing along a selected route without consideration of the external objects, and a maneuver pair for each external object, each maneuver pair including a path segment passing to the left of the external object and a path segment passing to the right of the external object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventor: Andreas Eidehall
  • Patent number: 8396656
    Abstract: A device, system and method for latent tracking of vessels via a mesh network is disclosed herein. The device includes a microcontroller, a mesh radio, a memory, a GPS receiver and a power supply. The microcontroller is configured to determine when the device is within range and out of range of a mesh network. The memory is configured for storing latent information about the vessel. The GPS receiver receives GPS signals and provides the GPS signals to determine GPS data for the vessel which is transmitted over the mesh radio when the device is within range of the mesh network and stored as latent GPS data in the memory when the device is out of range of the mesh network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Pdicta Corporation
    Inventor: Clayton R. Karmel
  • Patent number: 8392104
    Abstract: Provided is an avoidance maneuver calculation device that calculates a driving maneuver amount that enables an automotive vehicle to avoid an obstacle within a travelable range of a road. The device includes: a road boundary detector for detecting a road 13 where a vehicle 12 is traveling and a boundary section thereof; an obstacle detector for detecting an obstacle 14 existing on the road 13; an automotive vehicle information detector for detecting information on the vehicle 12; and an avoidance maneuver calculator 28 for calculating a maneuver amount for avoiding the obstacle 14 on the road 13.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hikaru Nishira, Yoshitaka Deguchi