Patents Examined by Todd Melton
  • Patent number: 12043137
    Abstract: A power supply system includes a plurality of charging stations accommodatable under a ground surface. The power supply system comprises a determination unit that determines a power supply facility available for supplying power to a target vehicle, and a transmission unit that transmits, to the target vehicle, guidance information for guiding the target vehicle to the determined charging station by automatic driving. The target vehicle is guided to the available charging station by automatic driving. The user can reach the available charging station without searching for it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shigeki Kinomura
  • Patent number: 12043088
    Abstract: A method for monitoring and displaying energy use and energy cost of a transport vehicle climate control system is provided. The method includes a controller monitoring and measuring energy parameters of the transport vehicle climate control system. The method also includes calculating energy utilization of the transport vehicle climate control system based on the energy parameters. Also, the method includes calculating energy costs of the transport vehicle climate control system based on the calculated energy utilization. Further, the method includes displaying the calculated energy utilization and the calculated energy costs of the transport climate control system on a user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: THERMO KING LLC
    Inventors: Scott Wenger, Katherine Holmstrom
  • Patent number: 12044783
    Abstract: The approach presented here relates to a method for detecting a group runtime variation for a navigation sensor for a navigation system for a vehicle. The method comprises a step of reading and a step of determining. In the reading step, at least one first GNSS simulator signal is read from a virtual satellite of a virtual global navigation satellite system at a first time and a second GNSS simulator signal is read from the virtual satellite or from at least one second virtual satellite of the virtual navigation satellite system at a second time different to the first time by means of a read device. The group runtime variation is determined using the first GNSS simulator signal and the second GNSS simulator signal in the determining step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Henry Conrad, Safwat Irteza Butt
  • Patent number: 12037004
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method, system, and/or computer program product controls a driving mode of a self-driving vehicle (SDV). One or more processors compare a control processor competence level of an on-board SDV control processor in controlling the SDV to a human driver competence level of a human driver in controlling the SDV while the SDV encounters a current roadway condition which is a result of current weather conditions of the roadway on which the SDV is currently traveling. One or more processors then selectively assign control of the SDV to the SDV control processor or to the human driver while the SDV encounters the current roadway condition based on which of the control processor competence level and the human driver competence level is relatively higher to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: Granite Vehicle Ventures LLC
    Inventors: Michael S. Gordon, James R. Kozloski, Ashish Kundu, Peter K. Malkin, Clifford A. Pickover
  • Patent number: 12039860
    Abstract: One aspect herein provides a method of analysing driving behaviour in a data processing computer system, the method comprising: receiving at the data processing computer system driving behaviour data to be analysed, wherein the driving behaviour data records vehicle movements within a monitored driving area; analysing the driving behaviour data to determine a normal driving behaviour model for the monitored driving area; using object tracking to determine driving trajectories of vehicles driving in the monitored driving area; comparing the driving trajectories with the normal driving behaviour model to identify at least one abnormal driving trajectory; and extracting a portion of the driving behaviour data corresponding to a time interval associated with the abnormal driving trajectory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: Five AI Limited
    Inventors: Subramanian Ramamoorthy, Majd Hawasly, Francisco Eiras, Morris Antonello, Simon Lyons, Rik Sarkar
  • Patent number: 12030388
    Abstract: A method is provided for controlling regenerative braking for a vehicle having a propulsion system, a motor, a transmission, and a clutch selectively coupling the motor to the transmission. The method includes estimating a future time at which the clutch disengages from the transmission. A rotational speed at which the clutch disengages from the transmission is calculated based on an idle speed of the propulsion system. A difference between a speed of the motor and the clutch disengage speed is monitored. A ramp down of regenerative torque on the motor is initiated when the difference is below a predetermined value and before the future clutch disengage time elapses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: ZF Active Safety US Inc.
    Inventors: Wenbo Yu, Tobias Kranepuhl
  • Patent number: 12030469
    Abstract: A regenerative braking system for a vehicle includes a means 13 for storing details of one or more deceleration profiles for the vehicle; means for comparing 13, arranged to compare a current braking manoeuvre with the or a selected stored deceleration profile which generates an output signal, during the manoeuvre, representative of any deviation of the deceleration profile of the current braking manoeuvre from the ideal deceleration profile with which it is compared. This output can be used to drive a display 14 to provide feedback to a driver as to the efficiency of a braking manoeuvre. Multiple ideal deceleration profiles may be stored and the system arranged to compare a current braking manoeuvre with the most relevant stored profile. Profiles may be stored in association with spatial, temporal and/or environmental information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: Bentley Motors Limited
    Inventors: Deaglan O'Meachair, Matthew Crumpton
  • Patent number: 12026988
    Abstract: In estimation of a future state of a first product (an estimation-target individual), a first estimated extrapolation value is calculated from data on a past side of data relevant to the first product, and a second estimated extrapolation value is calculated from data relevant to a second product (a same-type different-individual of the estimation-target individual) that is different from the first product. A synthesis ratio between the first estimated extrapolation value and the second estimated extrapolation value is decided from data on a present side of the data relevant to the first product, and an estimation value is calculated by performing synthesis between the first estimated extrapolation value and the second estimated extrapolation value based on the decided synthesis ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keiji Kishida, Michito Norimoto, Kanji Inoko, Ayuka Ohta
  • Patent number: 12024038
    Abstract: A parking aid system 1 includes: a plurality of power supply devices installed at every parking space, and a parking aid device 5 which is built into a vehicle 2. The parking aid device 5 includes an on-board communication device 21 which acquires a first positional information sent from a power supply device, and an alignment aid unit 23 which aids in alignment to a power supply unit of the power supply device based on the first positional information. The alignment aid unit 23 calculates a path of the vehicle 2, specifies a power supply unit on the path of the vehicle 2from among the power supply units of the plurality of power supply devices based on the first positional information, and executes authentication which permits transmission of electrical power with the power supply device of this specified power supply unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Naoya Sakakibara
  • Patent number: 12014583
    Abstract: A vehicle operational diagnostics and condition response system includes at least an axle supporting a cargo transport unit frame, a suspension disposed between and secured to each the cargo transport unit frame and the axle, a load detection device interacting with the suspension and communicating with a system controller, wherein the system controller is supported by the cargo transport unit frame, and a cargo transport unit health status system supported by the cargo transport unit and configured to communicate with the system controller. The cargo transport unit health status system provides state status information for monitored operational elements of the cargo transport unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: Airgo IP, LLC
    Inventor: Peter Jankowski
  • Patent number: 12005901
    Abstract: A method of controlling a brake lamp of a vehicle including an electric motor as a power source includes determining whether gear shifting is required and whether there is a forward section with a suddenly changing slope when regenerative braking is performed through the electric motor without manipulation of an accelerator pedal or a brake pedal, delaying the gear shifting until the gear shifting exceeds a gear-shifting limit when the gear shifting is required and when there is the forward section with the suddenly changing slope, calculating acceleration based on regenerative braking torque while the gear shifting is delayed, and controlling the brake lamp based on the calculated acceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hui Un Son, Seong Wook Moon, Song Il Park, Sung Bae Jeon, Sung Hoon Yu, Joon Young Park, Chan Ho Lee
  • Patent number: 12005804
    Abstract: A power supply system includes a plurality of charging stations accommodatable under a ground surface. The power supply system comprises a determination unit that determines a power supply facility available for supplying power to a target vehicle, and a transmission unit that transmits, to the target vehicle, guidance information for guiding the target vehicle to the determined charging station by automatic driving. The target vehicle is guided to the available charging station by automatic driving. The user can reach the available charging station without searching for it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shigeki Kinomura
  • Patent number: 11993380
    Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems for picking up, transporting, and lowering a payload coupled to a tether of a winch system arranged on an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). For example, the winch system may include a motor for winding and unwinding the tether from a spool, and the UAV's control system may operate the motor to lower the tether toward the ground so a payload may be attached to the tether. The control system may monitor an electric current supplied to the motor to determine whether the payload has been attached to the tether. In another example, when lowering a payload, the control system may monitor the motor current to determine that the payload has reached the ground and responsively operate the motor to detach the payload from the tether. The control system may then monitor the motor current to determine whether the payload has detached from the tether.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: WING AVIATION LLC
    Inventors: Trevor Shannon, Andre Prager
  • Patent number: 11987092
    Abstract: A vehicle integrated control method includes determining a road surface status, determining a vehicle status, determining an integrated control mode by determining a control status of an electronic control suspension and a motion of a sprung mass and an unsprung mass based on the determination results of the road surface status and the vehicle status, and controlling the electronic control suspension and an in-wheel system by determining a control amount based on the determined integrated control mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Sung Wook Hwang
  • Patent number: 11984525
    Abstract: An apparatus wherein, in plane view, a first semiconductor region of a first conductivity type overlaps at least a portion of a third semiconductor region, a second semiconductor region overlaps at least a portion of a fourth semiconductor region of a second conductivity type, a height of a potential of the third semiconductor region with respect to an electric charge of the first conductivity type is lower than that of the fourth semiconductor region, and a difference between a height of a potential of the first semiconductor region and that of the third semiconductor region is larger than a difference between a height of a potential of the second semiconductor region and that of the fourth semiconductor region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Morimoto, Mahito Shinohara
  • Patent number: 11981214
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a vehicle motion management system as well as an actuator control system of a vehicle. The vehicle motion management system and actuator control system are arranged to control operation of at least one actuator configured to apply a torque to at least one wheel of the vehicle. The vehicle motion management system is configured to transmit a control signal to the actuator control system, wherein the actuator control system is configured to, based on the control signal, generate an operating torque to be executed subject to the torque limit and the desired wheel speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Volvo Truck Corporation
    Inventors: Adithya Arikere, Leon Henderson, Leo Laine, Ray Sidhant
  • Patent number: 11981203
    Abstract: A system comprises a computer having a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to monitor conditions of a roadway as a vehicle travels the roadway while an adaptive cruise control feature of the vehicle is active, identify an expected condition change based on the monitoring the conditions of the roadway, determine a preferred power state for an engine of the vehicle based on the expected condition change, determine that an engine power state transition is planned for the engine, the engine power state transition including transitioning the engine from a current power state to a planned power state, and resolve the engine power state transition based on the preferred power state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jordan Barrett, Keith Weston, Brendan Francis Diamond, Andrew Denis Lewandowski
  • Patent number: 11978345
    Abstract: A moving object behavior prediction device improves prediction accuracy and includes: an input map generation unit that generates a single input map in which a region capable of containing a plurality of the moving objects is divided into a plurality of cells, in which each of the cells stores related information of a static object and related information of the moving object; a movement amount estimation unit that estimates a movement amount as a feature amount of each cell from the input map, using a trained convolutional neural network; a movement amount acquisition unit that acquires a movement amount at a current position of the moving object from a movement amount stored in a peripheral cell the moving object; and a future position prediction unit that predicts a future position of the moving object based on a feature amount at a current position of the moving object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.
    Inventors: Masayoshi Ishikawa, Hideaki Suzuki, Hidehiro Toyoda
  • Patent number: 11975720
    Abstract: An electric delivery truck control system is disclosed. Sensors detect operation parameters associated with the electric delivery truck as the electric delivery truck maneuvers along the roadway. An electric delivery truck control unit detects electric delivery truck control inputs associated with an operation of the electric delivery truck. The electric delivery truck control inputs are generated from an operation of the electric delivery truck. An operation parameter controller automatically adjusts the operation of the electric delivery truck as the electric delivery truck maneuvers along the roadway to maintain the operation of the electric delivery truck within an operation threshold based on the detected driving parameters and the electric delivery truck control inputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Workhorse Group Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Willison, Donald L. Wires, Richard E. Bastien
  • Patent number: 11970039
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining a parameter indicative of a road capability of a road segment supporting a vehicle. The vehicle comprises a plurality of ground engaging members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Leo Laine, Mats Jonasson