Patents Examined by Todd Melton
  • 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: 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: 11970104
    Abstract: One embodiment of an unmanned protective vehicle (UPV) includes a chassis, wheels, an engine, a barrier fixed to the chassis, and an autonomous driving system. The UPV has an opening which enables a manned vehicle to enter a space that is protected by the barrier. And the autonomous driving system is configured to drive the UPV in cooperation with the manned vehicle, while the manned vehicle is located inside the space. Having the manned vehicle inside the space of the UPV improves the survivability of the manned vehicle following a collision, while the manned vehicle is located inside the space, compared to the survivability of the manned vehicle following a collision, while the manned vehicle is not located inside the space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Inventors: Gil Thieberger, Ari M Frank
  • 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
  • Patent number: 11964568
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a controller programmed to generate a command to an electric machine to reduce a torque output rate after an accelerator pedal is tipped out based upon a vehicle speed value and a wheel acceleration torque value. The torque output rate is initially reduced at a first rate, and is then reduced at a second rate slower than the first rate when the wheel acceleration torque value is greater than 0 Nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Bryan Michael Bolger, Sergey Gennadievich Semenov
  • Patent number: 11964709
    Abstract: A steering control device controls a reaction motor that generates a steering reaction force applied to a steering wheel of which power transmission to and from turning wheels is cut off. the steering control device includes: a first processor configured to change a virtual operation range of the steering wheel according to a steering state or a vehicle state by controlling the reaction motor; and a second processor configured to change a degree of change of the virtual operation range of the steering wheel according to the steering state or the vehicle state when an operation position of the steering wheel reaches a position in a vicinity of a limit position of the virtual operation range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignees: JTEKT CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takashi Kodera, Toru Takashima
  • Patent number: 11965752
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a methods and systems for compensating for changes in the absolute position of locations with respect to the Earth's surface which occur over time due to crustal dynamics. The invention is particularly, although not exclusively, concerned with such compensation in the context of methods using digital map data, for example, methods of localization of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: TomTom Global Content B.V.
    Inventors: Peter Foeke de Bakker, Cornelis Pieter Schuerman
  • Patent number: 11951844
    Abstract: An electric vehicle includes: a motor for traveling; an electric power storage device configured to supply and receive electric power to and from the motor; a controller configured to control the motor such that, when an accelerator is off, a braking force based on a traveling position selected from a plurality of traveling positions with different braking forces exhibited when the accelerator is off acts on the electric vehicle; and a notification unit that notifies information. the controller is configured, when the accelerator is off and a first maximum braking force output from the motor is limited more than a second maximum braking force of the traveling position selected when the accelerator is off, among the plurality of traveling positions, to cause the notification unit to notify limitation information indicating that the first maximum braking force is limited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshinori Fujitake, Takatomo Asai
  • Patent number: 11953325
    Abstract: Provided is a technique for more accurately calculating a direction to be presented to a guided person using a force sensation presentation device held by the guided person. In particular, the device uses geomagnetic distortion. A direction calculation apparatus includes a circuitry configured to calculate a direction to guide the guided person. The calculating uses a geomagnetic map that includes a geomagnetic vector and a gravitational acceleration vector of a reference posture of the device in a reference coordinate system at a position included in a predetermined range. The calculating includes calculating a first matrix and a second matrix to calculate an instructed force sensation vector, which indicates a direction to guide the person. The first matrix includes vectors of the reference posture of the force sensation presentation device. The second vector includes vectors at a current posture of the force sensation presentation device in the reference coordinate system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroaki Gomi, Ryoma Tanase
  • Patent number: 11951874
    Abstract: A vehicle driving system that can suppress a difference in effect of vehicle attitude control between the cases where a friction braking force is applied and not applied, is provided. The system includes a rotating electric machine, a battery, a steering apparatus, a steering angle sensor, a brake actuator that applies a friction braking force, a friction braking force sensor, and a controller that sets a deceleration torque based on a steering speed detected by the steering angle sensor and controls the rotating electric machine to apply the deceleration torque to a front wheel of the vehicle, thereby executing a vehicle attitude control. When the friction braking force is applied to the wheels by the brake actuator during the vehicle attitude control, if the friction braking force is large, the controller corrects the deceleration torque to a larger value than when the friction braking force is small.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Daisaku Ogawa, Daisuke Umetsu, Shinya Morishita
  • Patent number: 11945530
    Abstract: A method of implementing an autonomous electric-powered trailer during a towing operation includes sourcing, via the one or more computers, one or more streams of sensing data from one or more sensing sources during a towing event involving an autonomous electric-powered (AEP) trailer and a towing entity, generating, via a towing-assist control algorithm, a plurality of towing-assistance instructions based on an input of the one or more streams of sensing data; operating, via one or more electric motors, each wheel of the AEP trailer at a target propulsion based on the plurality of towing-assistance instructions, wherein the operating of the each wheel enables the AEP trailer to autonomously assist the towing entity during the towing event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Pebble Mobility, Inc.
    Inventors: Bingrui Yang, Stefan Solyom
  • Patent number: 11945335
    Abstract: A method and system for characterizing an energy consumption indicator of an electric vehicle (EV) is provided. The method includes performing a cyclic energy consumption test on the EV to acquire a time-speed curve, a time-direct current (DC) energy consumption curve, and a total alternating current (AC) energy consumption in the test cycle. A DC energy consumption rate and an AC energy consumption rate of the EV is determined in each of test sub-cycles. A driving feature is determined in each of the test sub-cycles and a normalized driving feature is determined in each of the test sub-cycles according to the driving feature in each of the test sub-cycles and a base driving feature. A DC energy consumption indicator and an AC energy consumption indicator of the EV are extracted according to DC energy consumption rates, AC energy consumption rates and normalized driving features of the EV in all test sub-cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: JILIN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Xinmei Yuan, Bo Bao, Dongyu Zhang, Jingfei Jiang, Fanzhuo Meng
  • Patent number: 11942884
    Abstract: A vehicle system vibration suppression control device is provided for a vehicle system in which a vehicle is driven via an elastic shaft by a motor drive device having a torque control function. The vehicle system vibration suppression control device includes: a section containing an approximate model to which an output torque command is inputted; and a feedback control section. The feedback control section is configured to: employ the approximate model; calculate a motor-accelerating torque component by differentiating a measured speed component of a motor rotational speed; produce a compensation torque component by causing the motor-accelerating torque component to pass through a vibration suppression control filter; and calculate the output torque command by subtracting the compensation torque component from an input torque command. The vibration suppression control filter is expressed by a second order mathematical expression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: MEIDENSHA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11938946
    Abstract: To provide a lane shape recognition system and a lane shape recognition method which can determine an effective range of the approximated curve corresponding to the lane shape. A lane shape recognition system and a lane shape recognition method detects relative positions of a series of marks or objects which are continuously arranged in front of an own vehicle, with respect to the own vehicle; calculates a curve which approximates the relative positions of the series of marks or objects with respect to the own vehicle; and when a plurality of curves are calculated, mutually compare shapes of plurality of curves and determines the curves corresponding to the lane shape and the effective range of the curves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Toshihide Satake, Fumiaki Takagi, Yuji Shimizu, Kazuhiro Nishiwaki
  • Patent number: 11932117
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided herein for controlling the speed on each wheel of a vehicle, possibly operating a vehicle in a speed control mode. In response to receiving input to engage speed control mode and receiving an accelerator pedal input, the system determines a target wheel speed based on the accelerator pedal input, monitors wheel speed of each of a plurality of wheels and determines, for each monitored wheel, a difference based on the monitored wheel speed and the target wheel speed. A torque is provided to each of the plurality of wheels based on the respective difference to achieve the target wheel speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Rivian IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Kang Wang, Boru Wang, Chia-Chou Yeh, Brian Harries
  • Patent number: 11926991
    Abstract: A sensibility meter detects biometric information relating to an operator corresponding to an output from a target appliance, and determines a comfort level of the operator based on the biometric information. A first control unit determines a second target value relating to the output based on a difference between a first target value relating to the comfort level and the comfort level. A second control unit determines a control input to the target appliance based on a difference between the second target value and the output. A ? setting unit performs weighting corresponding to an operation level of the operator, for an operation input to the target appliance by the operator, and for the control input. An adder adds the weighted operation input and control input, and inputs the resultant to the target appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignees: KOBELCO CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD., HIROSHIMA UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Toru Yamamoto, Takuya Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 11926245
    Abstract: A system and method for the supplemental generation of energy from operation of a vehicle, and specifically to the generation of energy from a vehicle's disc brakes in combination with generators. The system may include a generator, a rotational coupler such as a sprocket, a shaft connecting the rotational coupler to the generator, a rotational conveyor engaging the disc brake rotor and coupler to transmit rotational energy of a vehicle wheel to the rotational coupler and generator. In an alternate embodiment, the system may be used in connection with a disc brake caliper. A coupler bracket may be used to facilitate placement of the sprocket and rotational conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: ECOLUTION KWH, LLC
    Inventor: Johnny Then-Gautier
  • Patent number: 11919525
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention include a method for updating an occlusion probability map. An occlusion probability map represents the probability that a given portion of the sensor field is occluded from one or more sensors. In some embodiments, a method may include receiving field of view data from a sensor system; producing a probabilistic model of the sensor field of view; and updating an occlusion probability map using the probabilistic model and field of view data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Autonomous Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Taylor C. Bybee, Jeffrey L. Ferrin
  • Patent number: 11919664
    Abstract: A reaction wheel apparatus including a reaction wheel provided in a polyhedral housing, in which respective faces constituting a polyhedron are constituted by frame parts corresponding to the respective faces constituting the polyhedron, and at least two of the frame parts are constituted by at least two rigid circuit board parts of a rigid flexible substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
    Inventors: Shinji Mitani, Shuhei Shigeto
  • Patent number: 11919389
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a navigation device, and a controller electrically connected to the navigation device, wherein the controller is configured to determine a first speed of the vehicle based on a main line speed limit of a road on which the vehicle is traveling, wherein the main line speed limit is included in navigation information output by the navigation device, determine a second speed for decelerating the vehicle to a predetermined speed when the vehicle is positioned at a target point of a curved lane based on an arc length from a branching point of the road to the curved lane, which is determined based on the predetermined speed and a predetermined allowable maximum deceleration amount in the curved lane in route information included in the navigation information and the navigation information, and determine the first speed or the second speed as a control target speed of the vehicle at the branching point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation, MANDO MOBILITY SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sungyoon Yeo, Seunggeon Moon, Young Min Han, Sungwoo Choi, Seo Hyeon Park, Inho Kim