Patents Examined by Thomas Tarcza
  • Vehicle management system and associated method
    Patent number: 9434332
    Abstract: A vehicle management system including a controller connected to at least one member of the vehicle by a network of the vehicle to exchange at least one item of information with the member, the management system including a symbol generator connected to the controller, the symbol generator issuing a symbol associated with the information held by the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: RENAULT s.a.s.
    Inventors: Jerome Jost, Sann Ung, Hoang-Giang Nguyen
  • Haptic feedback transmission shifting apparatus
    Patent number: 9435425
    Abstract: An automotive transmission that selects a shift position based on various shift patterns without changing the structure of the automotive transmission. The automotive transmission includes a controller configured to input a selection value based on a shift pattern selected from a plurality of shift patterns and operate a shift lever to move through a moving path based on the selected shift pattern when a shift intention is sensed. When the selection value is input, the shift position is set at an initial position based on the selected shift pattern and actuation power is generating according to the movement of the shift lever. The controller is configured to operate the moving path of the shift pattern based on the selected shift pattern and sense a position of the shift lever using a positing sensing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: SL Corporation
    Inventors: Chun Nyung Heo, Jeong Ho Bak, Dae Hyung Kim
  • Charge control device, vehicle control device, vehicle, charge control method and vehicle control method
    Patent number: 9434385
    Abstract: A charge control device for a battery is mounted on a vehicle, the vehicle comprises an engine, a generator driven with power of the engine, the battery configured to be chargeable with electric power generated by the generator, and auxiliary machinery operated with electric power of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Michihiro Miyashita
  • System and methods of detecting an intruding object in a relative navigation system
    Patent number: 9435635
    Abstract: A relative navigation system and methods of intrusion detection for such a relative navigation system where the method includes repeatedly projecting from a grid generator a set of lines defining a grid into three dimensional space to define a field bounded by the grid and encoded with grid data configured to identify predetermined points on the grid and determining a presence of an intruding object within the field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: GE AVIATION SYSTEMS LLC
    Inventors: Michael Steven Feldmann, Frank Saggio, III, Timothy John Paasche, Mark Lawrence Turner, John Andrew Ingersoll
  • Depiction of relative motion of air traffic via an air traffic display
    Patent number: 9437112
    Abstract: Techniques are described that allow an air traffic display of an aircraft to display the relative motion of air traffic proximate to the aircraft. The air traffic display may be switched between a first display mode in which absolute motion of air traffic is displayed (e.g., motion of air traffic targets relative to a fixed point on the earth's surface or relative to an apparently fixed celestial point is displayed) and a second display mode in which motion of air traffic targets is displayed relative to the aircraft. The techniques further facilitate the selection of individual traffic targets from a displayed traffic depiction to activate a third display mode in which additional information about the relative motion of the selected target, such as its estimated closest point of approach (CPA) to the aircraft and the estimated time it will take the selected target to reach the CPA are shown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Garmin International, Inc.
    Inventor: Philip A. Greene
  • Routing with data version stitching
    Patent number: 9435658
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for the determination of routes from, for instance, travel segment network data associated with different data versions. More particularly, a request can be received for a route from an origin to a destination. Graph data modeling a travel segment network for a geographic region associated with the origin and for a geographic region associated the destination can be accessed. The graph data can preserve boundary nodes for visiting during a search (e.g. a contraction hierarchies style search) for a shortest path through the graph data. The reach value of a boundary segment can be considered in identifying boundary segments to be visited during the shortest path search through the graph data. The route can be determined based at least in part on the shortest path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Geisberger, Arno Eigenwillig
  • Method of utilizing image based on location information of the image in electronic device and the electronic device thereof
    Patent number: 9429447
    Abstract: An image utilizing method based on location information of an image is provided. The method includes displaying an image, setting a Region Of Interest (ROI) on the image, obtaining location information associated with the ROI, and storing the obtained location information together with an image of the ROI. The location information is stored together when the ROI is designated and thus, it is possible to provide various services based on the location information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dong-Il Son, Sung-Jun Kim, Jin-Hong Jeong, Kyung-Hee Lee, Ju-Yeong Lee
  • Integrated vehicle cabin with driver or passengers' prior conditions and activities
    Patent number: 9428034
    Abstract: Described herein is a system, apparatus, and method for providing an integrated vehicle cabin experience. A wearable device including one or more bio-physical sensors may be configured to sense bio-physical conditions from a wearer of the wearable device and determine a state of the wearer. The state information may then be referenced by a vehicle computing system in order to control one or more vehicle systems and/or components that create a cabin environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Hsin-hsiang Yang, Kwaku O. Prakah-Asante, Gary Steven Strumolo
  • Flight control for an airborne wind turbine
    Patent number: 9429954
    Abstract: An example method may include receiving data representing an initial position and an initial attitude of an aircraft. The method further includes determining a change to a first attribute and a second attribute of the position or the attitude of the aircraft to achieve a subsequent position and a subsequent attitude. The method also includes determining a priority sequence for changing the first attribute and the second attribute of the position or the attitude of the aircraft based on a first thrust of the actuator to achieve the change to the first attribute and a second thrust of the actuator to achieve the change to the second attribute. The priority sequence is configured to cause changes to the first attribute before causing changes to the second attribute where the actuator is unable to concurrently provide the first thrust and the second thrust.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Erik Christopher Chubb, Damon Vander Lind, Brian Hachtmann
  • Damper control device
    Patent number: 9428026
    Abstract: A damper control device controls vibration of an unsprung member by controlling a damping force of a damper interposed between a sprung member and the unsprung member of a vehicle on the basis of a damping property prepared in advance. The damper control device includes a correction unit that extracts a sprung resonant frequency component of a stroke velocity of the damper, and corrects a damping force target value of the damper on the basis of the extracted above-spring resonant frequency component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: KYB Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoo Kubota, Masatoshi Okumura
  • Reporting traffic conditions on road segments containing a bottleneck
    Patent number: 9424748
    Abstract: Methods for reporting traffic conditions on road segments containing a bottleneck include: (a) calculating an amount of traffic congestion on a segment of a roadway, the segment containing a bottleneck, based on a free-flow speed specific to a subsection of the segment from which a report of an observed speed is received; and (b) communicating, by the computer processor, information indicative of the amount of traffic congestion on the segment to a client. Apparatuses for reporting traffic conditions on road segments containing a bottleneck are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: HERE Global B.V.
    Inventor: Leon Oliver Stenneth
  • Unmanned aerial vehicle motor driving randomization for noise abatement
    Patent number: 9422055
    Abstract: This disclosure is directed to varying a speed of one or more motors in an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to reduce unwanted sound (i.e., noise) of the UAV. A UAV may include motors coupled with propellers to provide lift and propulsion to the UAV in various stages of flight, such as while ascending, descending, hovering, or transiting. The motors and propellers may generate noise, which may include a number of noise components such as tonal noise (e.g., a whining noise such as a whistle of a kettle at full boil) and broadband noise (e.g., a complex mixture of sounds of different frequencies, such as the sound of ocean surf). By varying the controls to the motors, such as by varying the speed or revolutions per minute (RPM) of a motor during operation by providing random or pseudo-random RPM variations, the UAV may generate a noise signature with reduced tonal noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian C. Beckman, Fabian Hensel, Atishkumar Kalyan, Gur Kimchi
  • Vehicle and battery pack
    Patent number: 9421872
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a plurality of detachable battery packs that accommodate a rechargeable battery module and a battery management system (BMS) in a case. In a state where the battery pack is installed in the vehicle, the BMS performs information communication with another BMS, and one BMS is a master and communicates with another BMS which is a slave and combines information of the battery packs. In a state where the battery pack is detached from the vehicle, a control of a charging state is independently performed by the BMS with respect to the rechargeable battery module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinji Tsuji, Masakazu Takano, Junichi Inami, Toshinori Miyazaki
  • Traction control device and traction control method
    Patent number: 9421882
    Abstract: The speed v of a motor driven body, the rotational speed ? and the actual torque value Tm generated by the motor are acquired. Subsequently, unit (741) estimates the slip rate X of the drive wheels based on the movement speed v and the rotation speed ?. Further, unit (742) estimates the drive torque Td based on the rotational speed w and the actual torque value Tm. Next, unit (743) calculates a limit value L for a torque command value Tc based on the slip rate X and the drive torque Td. Further, unit (744) limits the torque command value Tc using the limit value L, generates a torque setting value Ts, which is sent to a motor drive system (900). As a result, it is possible to quickly realize control in accordance with changes in the road surface state, thus allowing safe travel while ensuring the needed drive power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: PIONEER CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masahiro Kato
  • Image capturing apparatus, image capturing method, storage medium, and device control system for controlling vehicle-mounted devices
    Patent number: 9426377
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes a light source to emit first light to a light translucent member, an image sensor to capture an adhering detection frame for acquiring an adhering detection image to detect a substance adhering on the light translucent member by using the first light emitted from the light source, and to capture object recognition frames for acquiring object recognition images for recognizing objects other than the substance by receiving second light, and circuitry to set a frame time of the adhering detection frame shorter than a frame time of each of the object recognition frames, and to set an exposure time of an object recognition frame right after the adhering detection frame to a value that prevents overlapping of an exposure period of the adhering detection frame and an exposure period of the object recognition frame right after the adhering detection frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyoshi Sekiguchi, Shintaroh Kida, Kohji Oshikiri, Izumi Itoh
  • Apparatus and method for protecting vehicle passenger
    Patent number: 9421930
    Abstract: The present specification relates to an apparatus for protecting a vehicle passenger, and the apparatus for protecting a vehicle passenger according to an exemplary embodiment of the present specification includes: a front two-axis sensor; a first side two-axis sensor; a second side two-axis sensor; a control unit which determines whether the vehicle passenger is in a front collision situation, by calculating an average value of acceleration values, or determines whether the vehicle passenger is in a broadside collision situation, by calculating speed and a speed change of the first side two-axis sensor using the acceleration value obtained by the sensor unit and by calculating speed of the second side two-axis sensor; and a protection unit which protects the vehicle passenger based on the determination of the control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: HYUDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tae Won Park
  • Code evaluator tool with urgency indicator
    Patent number: 9424695
    Abstract: A diagnostic tool and method are provided wherein the diagnostic tool can be configured to communicate a message including indicators to indicate the condition of the vehicle using a database and the DTCs present in the vehicle. The message can indicate for each DTC retrieved from the vehicle, the level of repair urgency and whether the vehicle can be driven without damaging the vehicle through one or both of a display and a speaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Bosch Automotive Service Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: William W. Wittliff, Shilpi Biswas, Jennifer Grabowski, Phillip Freshour, Hamid Namaky
  • Apparatus and method for learning an air control valve opening of a hybrid electric vehicle
    Patent number: 9416739
    Abstract: A method for learning an opening of an air control valve of a hybrid electric vehicle includes detecting data for controlling the opening of the air control valve during engine starting, detecting a change of a flap closing of the air control valve, controlling the opening of the air control valve to reduce a vibration based on the data when the engine is turned off, calculating the opening of the air control valve according to the flap closing of the air control valve, setting a reference value based on the change of the flap closing of the air control valve, comparing the calculated value with the reference value and when the calculated value is greater than the reference value, learning the opening of the air control valve as the calculated value after an ignition switch is turned off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventor: HwaYong Jang
  • Navigation system and method to scroll to user selected point of interests (POIs)
    Patent number: 9417088
    Abstract: A navigation system has at least one processor. A memory is coupled to the processor. The memory stores program instructions that when executed by the processor, causes the processor to: display a map; display a cursor showing a present location of a vehicle on the map; display a menu screen to enter user selected point of interest (POI) search criteria; display markings on the map, wherein each marking corresponds to a POI matching the user selected POI search criteria; move the map to a user selected marking; and center the map on the user selected marking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jumpei Ichinokawa, Maja Kurciska
  • Variable pressure limiting for variable displacement pumps
    Patent number: 9416779
    Abstract: Method of controlling multiple variable displacement hydraulic pumps determined relative to operator commands. If non-second-pump-dominated command, a respective adjusted displacement request is determined based upon the lesser of the operator requested torque limited displacement and an adjusted torque limited displacement that calculated based upon and the torque limited displacement of the respective pump and a scaling factor calculated based upon the first relief valve set pressure and respective pump pressure. If second-pump-dominated command, the set pressure of a relief valve associated with one of the pumps is instead utilized in calculating the scaling factor in the above strategy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Corey L. Gorman, Adam Nackers, Jeremiah C. Johnson, John J. Krone