Patents Examined by Tyler Paige
  • Patent number: 9272714
    Abstract: A vehicle computing system may execute a recommendation application to identify driver characteristics descriptive of the driving style of a driver of the vehicle based at least in part on captured vehicle data, determine an application recommendation for a mobile application to be installed by the driver based on the driver characteristics, and to send the application recommendation to the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Manoharprasad K. Rao, Kwaku O. Prakah-Asante
  • Patent number: 9272688
    Abstract: Methods and systems for selecting vehicle operating modes in response to output of remote security token devices are described. In one example, a vehicle operating mode may be determined when two key fobs having different, but valid, security token assignments are present within a vehicle cabin. Further, one mode of a two mode key fob may be selectively deactivated and reactivated to provide system flexibility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Frank J. Desjarlais, Thomas Lee Miller, Daniel M. King, Charles Richard Drake, Eric L. Reed
  • Patent number: 9266530
    Abstract: A control device of a hybrid vehicle including an electric motor and an engine as drive force sources, the hybrid vehicle being configured to execute engine running using the engine as the drive force source for running and motor running using the electric motor as the drive force source for running with the engine stopped, the control device having a predefined running performance oriented running mode such as a sport running mode and a predefined large drive force running mode with a lower requirement degree of start acceleration performance as compared to the running performance oriented running mode, in the predefined running performance oriented running mode, the motor running being inhibited, the engine running being performed in an operation range in which the motor running is normally performed, and the engine being retained in an operating state at the time of vehicle stop, and in the predefined large drive force running mode, the motor running being inhibited, the engine running being performed in t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yukihiko Ideshio, Terufumi Miyazaki, Yuji Inoue, Shingo Eto, Yousuke Michikoshi, Akihiro Sato
  • Patent number: 9266513
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for enhancing the slope-holding capability of an earth-moving machine. The machine includes a plurality of ground-engaging elements and a first parking brake configured to brake a first subset of the plurality of ground-engaging elements. A second parking brake is mounted and is configured to brake a second subset of the plurality of ground-engaging elements. A brake controller is configured to sense engagement of the first parking brake and to engage the second parking brake when the first parking brake is engaged only if one or more machine state criteria are also met. In an embodiment, the one or more machine state criteria include zero machine speed, neutral transmission state, and a machine slope that exceeds a predetermined threshold slope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: John Gates, Biagio Ciarla, Josh Nolke, Nasim Suterwala, Andrew Ellis, Neil Taylor, Ian R A Hawkes
  • Patent number: 9261380
    Abstract: A method of selectively displaying maps on a mobile device. The method sends a map application, which had been displaying a first map, to the background. The method then returns the map application to the foreground. The method then determines whether to redisplay the previous map or display a map surrounding the then current location of the device. The determination is based on various factors including user interaction, time that the map application has been in the background and distance traveled while the map application is in the background.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Bradford A. Moore, Christopher Blumenberg, Catherine A. Edwards, Marcel van Os, Patrice O. Gautier, Sarah G. Barbour
  • Patent number: 9260005
    Abstract: A device for addition of motive force to a vehicle, with rotor-plate, rotor-arms, rotor permanent magnets, stator-plate, stator columns, stator electromagnets, and battery, cell, or other energy storage device. The device is retro-fittable on existing wheel assemblies, and installation coverts an internal combustion vehicle to a hybrid with electric propulsion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Inventors: Charles Hampton Perry, Paul Walter Martin, III
  • Patent number: 9264857
    Abstract: Systems and methods for generating a compact code that accurately identifies the position of a point on the Earth or other body are provided. The compact code can signify the position of a place in a manner that is easy to remember, easy to use, and in a way that allows a person to find the location without having to depend on local directions. The compact code can be generated independent of house numbers, street names, zip codes, local character sets and other current addressing tools. The compact code can be used for a variety of applications. For instance, the compact code can be associated with points of interest in a geographic information system, can be used to geolocate information, and/or can be used to navigate to a particular geographic location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Rinckes, Philipp Bunge
  • Patent number: 9260108
    Abstract: A method for controlling a hybrid powertrain includes the following steps: (a) receiving, via a control module, a torque request; (b) commanding, via the control module, the first clutch of an automatic transmission to shift to a disengaged position in response to the torque request; (c) commanding, via the control module, an electric motor-generator to transmit torque to an internal combustion engine until a speed of a second clutch is substantially synchronized with a speed of the internal combustion engine; and (d) commanding, via the control module, the second clutch to shift to the engaged position after the speed of the second clutch is substantially synchronized with the speed of the internal combustion engine. The automatic transmission shifts a transmission speed ratio from an initial speed ratio to a subsequent speed ratio when the second clutch is in the engaged position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Lan Wang, Min-Joong Kim, Todd Thor
  • Patent number: 9257044
    Abstract: A navigation device is disclosed including a processor; and a store containing map data. In at least one embodiment, the map data includes a temporally-variable feature and the processor is arranged, in a route planning process, to determine a status of the temporally-variable feature according to temporal information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: TomTom International B.V.
    Inventor: Breght Boschker
  • Patent number: 9250063
    Abstract: A method for ascertaining a position of an object in surroundings of a vehicle. The method includes a step of input of a light signal from an optical sensor, the light signal representing a brightness, a degree of reflection of light emitted by a headlight of the vehicle from an object, and/or a sharpness of a boundary line of the object illuminated by light from a headlight. Furthermore, the method includes determining a distance of the object from the vehicle by using the light signal to determine the position of the object in the surroundings of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventor: Johannes Foltin
  • Patent number: 9250080
    Abstract: Navigation solutions for a pedestrian or vehicle user are obtained by determining whether the direction and location of the user obtained from a map at least substantially conform to the direction and location of the user based on one or more measurements obtained from one or more sensors, and if the direction and location of the user obtained from the map at least substantially conform to the direction and location of the user based on one or more measurements obtained from one or more sensors, computing the navigation solutions based, at least in part, on the direction and location of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: William James Morrison, Wyatt Thomas Riley, Yuhua Hu
  • Patent number: 9249877
    Abstract: A position diagnostic test for a shift-by-wire system is provided. The shift-by-wire system includes a shift lever configured to move along a shift path, a first and a second position sensor configured to generate a first and a second position signal, respectively, of the shift lever along the shift path, and a controller configured to receive the first and second position signals. The first position sensor includes a first x-coordinate value and a first y-coordinate value, and the second position sensor includes a second x-coordinate value and a second y-coordinate value. The position diagnostic test includes performing a rationality test on each of the coordinate values. If at least one predetermined condition exists for a particular coordinate value, then it fails the rationality test, and the position signal containing the coordinate value may be disregarded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Daniel A. Bialas, Anne Bliss, Orson S. Wang, Michael J. Abowd, Brian A. MacFarlane
  • Patent number: 9248915
    Abstract: A zero fuel time is determined and presented to an operator of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). Zero fuel time may be determined based on a fuel burn rate and an amount of remaining fuel. A return to base time is determined and presented to an operator of a UAV. Return to base time may be determined based on a location of the UAV and a location of a base. Zero fuel time and return to base time are presented to an operator of a UAV proximate to one another using contrasting and/or varying visual characteristics to ease comparison and identification of this data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Insitu, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew Royds Hayes
  • Patent number: 9248841
    Abstract: A system includes a processor configured to begin an instance of a micro-interaction, requiring a driver response to an issued query for completion. The processor is also configured to receive an occupant-issued wait command instructing delay of the micro-interaction. Further, the processor is configured to wait for a predetermined time period in accordance with the occupant-issued wait command and then re-present the micro-interaction for completion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Perry Robinson MacNeille, Kwaku O. Prakah-Asante, Oleg Yurievitch Gusikhin, Gary Steven Strumolo
  • Patent number: 9242634
    Abstract: The control device of the present invention causes an engine to perform both partial cylinder operation and also all-cylinder operation, and moreover changes the operating point of the engine when the motor torque of a second motor-generator enters into operating point changeover ranges R1 and R2. The operating point changeover range R2 when the engine is performing partial cylinder operation is set to be wider, as compared to the operating point changeover range R1 when the engine is performing all-cylinder operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoru Takahashi, Takeshi Miyagawa, Noritaka Nakajima, Kouki Kawamoto, Daiki Sato, Masato Nakano, Akihiro Sato, Takeshi Kanayama, Shinichiro Suenaga
  • Patent number: 9242577
    Abstract: A distance sensor detects a distance to an object in front of a vehicle. An ECU executes pre-crash control when the detected distance becomes equal to or smaller than a prescribed value. A regeneration level selector selects a regeneration level of a motor in accordance with driver's operation. A motor makes regenerative braking force at the time of turning off an accelerator larger when the selected regeneration level is high than when the selected regeneration level is low. The ECU makes the prescribed value larger when the selected regeneration level is low than when the selected regeneration level is high.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kuniaki Niimi
  • Patent number: 9233315
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for remotely piloting a vehicle. In one aspect, a system includes a transmitter capable to receive vehicle control signals and transmit the vehicle control signals to a vehicle including at least one receiver; one or more modules; and at least one power supply; wherein the at least one receiver receives the transmitted vehicle control signals and transmits the vehicle control signals in a CAN message format to all of the one or more modules; and each of the one or more modules selectively chooses which of the vehicle control signals in a CAN message format the module will respond to.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Inventor: Lars-Berno Fredriksson
  • Patent number: 9234330
    Abstract: When engaged, an articulation controller automatically adjusts an angle of articulation between a front frame and a rear frame of a motor grader based on a steering angle of the front wheels. If a groundspeed of the motor grader exceeds a threshold groundspeed, the articulation controller enters a mode that only allows decreasing the angle of articulation of the motor grader. When the angle of articulation reaches zero, the articulation controller disengages until the groundspeed is reduced below the threshold groundspeed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Amit Sharma, Steven C. Budde, Brad Van De Veer
  • Patent number: 9227479
    Abstract: A vehicle having a system for determining that there is a possibility that the vehicle has or is about to enter water at a vehicle wading depth. In response to determining that there is a possibility that the vehicle has or is about to enter water at a vehicle wading depth, the system is configured to implement one or more vehicle control strategies. The system comprises at least one remote sensor configured to remotely detect the presence of water about or ahead of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Limited
    Inventors: Nigel Clarke, Edward Hoare, Thuy-Yung Tran
  • Patent number: 9229906
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are techniques for implementing vehicle ECU reprogramming, so the ECU programming, which plays a large role in vehicle performance characteristics, is tailored to current operational requirements, which may be different than the operational characteristics selected by the manufacturer when initially programming the vehicle ECU (or ECUs) with specific instruction sets, such as fuel maps. In one embodiment, a controller monitors the current operational characteristics of the vehicle, determines the current ECU programming, and determines if a different programming set would better suited to the current operating conditions. In the event that the current programming set should be replaced, the controller implements the ECU reprogramming. In a related embodiment, users are enabled to specify the ECU programming to change, such as changing speed limiter settings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: ZONAR SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Charles Michael McQuade, Bryan Hunt, Dan Mayer