Patents Examined by Wae L Louie
  • Patent number: 11801845
    Abstract: An alcohol interlock control apparatus for a vehicle includes: a sensor configured to acquire a biosignal of an occupant that is seated in a driver's seat; and a controller configured to determine whether or not the occupant seated in the driver's seat has changed based on the biosignal of the occupant, and when changed, to determine whether the occupant is in a drunken state, and may identify a driver based on the biosignal of the occupant seated in the driver's seat without an additional device and cost, and may fundamentally block an improper alcohol measurement of an additional occupant instead of the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Dae Yun An, Gyun Ha Kim, Eung Hwan Kim, Sang Kyung Seo
  • Patent number: 11794789
    Abstract: A road information exchange system includes a plurality of Guided Autonomous Information Network (GAIN) units (102) installed on a road. Each GAIN unit (102) communicates with another GAIN unit (102) of the plurality of GAIN units (102) to divide the road into virtual lanes by formation of microgrids and further communicates with a vehicle passing through the road information exchange system (100).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Inventor: Sandeep Kumar Chintala
  • Patent number: 11780499
    Abstract: A working vehicle includes an inertia detector to measure inertia information of a vehicle body, a rear axle supporting a rear wheel, and a transmission case rotatably supporting the rear wheel. The inertia detector overlaps with at least a portion of the transmission case in a plan view and is capable of accurately measuring inertia information when a vehicle body changes attitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kumiko Kobayashi, Kunihiko Nishino, Yasuaki Morioka, Shunsuke Miyashita, Yuki Kubota, Misako Kawai
  • Patent number: 11780448
    Abstract: A vehicle behavior estimation method includes: detecting a speed of a first preceding vehicle traveling in front of a host vehicle in a first lane where the host vehicle is traveling; detecting a speed of an adjacent vehicle traveling in a second lane adjacent to the first lane; calculating a relative speed between the first preceding vehicle and the adjacent vehicle; predicting whether or not an absolute value of the relative speed will be at or below a speed threshold value within a predetermined time from a point time when a decrease in the absolute value of the relative speed starts to be detected; and estimating that the adjacent vehicle is likely to change lanes into the first lane when the absolute value of the relative speed is predicted to be at or below the speed threshold value within the predetermined time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignees: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Renault S.A.S.
    Inventors: Shinya Tanaka, Shoichi Takei
  • Patent number: 11772646
    Abstract: When a host vehicle enters a roundabout, a travel route of the host vehicle is communicated by a direction indicator to other vehicles surroundings the host vehicle. A controller computes a travel route over which a host vehicle and executes driving assist control so that the host vehicle travels along the travel route. In this driving assist method, whether or not the host vehicle has arrived at a roundabout is assessed. When the host vehicle is assessed to have arrived at a roundabout, a positional relationship between a host vehicle entrance for the host vehicle and a host vehicle exit for the host vehicle in the roundabout is assessed based on the travel route. When the host vehicle enters the roundabout, control of the direction indicator lights is performed in accordance with the positional relationship that was assessed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignees: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Renault S.A.S.
    Inventors: Susumu Fujita, Yoshiro Takamatsu
  • Patent number: 11772489
    Abstract: An object-detection system for an automated vehicle includes an object-detector, a receiver, and a controller. The object-detector detects detectable-objects proximate to a host-vehicle. The receiver receives an indication of an object-presence from other-transmitters proximate to the host-vehicle. The controller is in communication with the object-detector and the receiver. The controller is configured to operate the host-vehicle to avoid interference with a hidden-object when the hidden-object is not detected by the object-detector and the object-presence is indicated by at least two instances of the other-transmitters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Motional AD LLC
    Inventors: Junsung Kim, Gaurav Bhatia
  • Patent number: 11767015
    Abstract: A system, vehicle, method and non-transitory computer readable storage medium for improving driving safety are provided. The system includes: a steering wheel; a paddle attached to the steering wheel; a pressure sensor, which is installed between the paddle and a contact point of the paddle to the steering wheel and is coupled to a control component, wherein the pressure sensor is configured to sense a pressure exerted on the pressure sensor by the paddle and send the sensed pressure to the control component; and the control component, which is configured to, in responsive to receiving the sensed pressure, determine a level of deceleration corresponding to the sensed pressure and send a deceleration command which instructs to decelerate, based on the determined level of deceleration, a vehicle on which the system for improving the driving safety is installed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: GUANGZHOU AUTOMOBILE GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hai Xiao
  • Patent number: 11734968
    Abstract: The present disclosure is generally related to systems and methods for determining an actionable event associated with a vehicle. The systems and methods can determine the event based on vehicle diagnostic data, and can report the event to a user via an appropriate interface. The systems and methods can also determine a recommended action to address the event, and can facilitate completion of the action upon approval by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: GOOGLE LLC
    Inventor: Haris Ramic
  • Patent number: 11731508
    Abstract: An object-detection system for an automated vehicle includes an object-detector, a receiver, and a controller. The object-detector detects detectable-objects proximate to a host-vehicle. The receiver receives an indication of an object-presence from other-transmitters proximate to the host-vehicle. The controller is in communication with the object-detector and the receiver. The controller is configured to operate the host-vehicle to avoid interference with a hidden-object when the hidden-object is not detected by the object-detector and the object-presence is indicated by at least two instances of the other-transmitters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Motional AD LLC
    Inventors: Junsung Kim, Gaurav Bhatia
  • Patent number: 11727341
    Abstract: A network system provides delivery of items using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) or drones. The network system uses an infrastructure of nodes that include landing pads to dock drones, as well as interfaces to provide and receive items from docked drones. Nodes may be stationary (e.g., fixed at a building rooftop or public transit station) or mobile (e.g., mounted to a vehicle). The network system may determine a route for delivery of an item, where a drone transports the item for at least a portion of the route. For example, the route may include multiple waypoints associated with nodes between which drones travel. For other portions of the route, the network system may request a provider to transport the item using a ground-based vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Joby Aero, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Sweeney, Nikhil Goel, Mark Moore, Jeffrey A. Holden
  • Patent number: 11726191
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure involve a vehicle computer system comprising a computer-readable storage medium storing a set of instructions, and a method for light detection and ranging (Lidar) intensity calibration. The method includes collecting a data set comprising a plurality of raw intensity values output by a channel of a Lidar unit at a particular power level from among multiple power levels at which the channel is capable of operating. The method further includes using a linear model to compute a calibration multiplier and a bias value for the particular power level of the channel. During operation of the vehicle, calibrated intensity values are determined by applying the linear model to subsequent raw intensity values output by the channel at the particular power using the determined calibration multiplier and bias value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: UATC, LLC
    Inventors: Gehua Yang, Michael K. Sergi-Curfman
  • Patent number: 11718295
    Abstract: [Problem] To provide an automatic driving robot control device and control method that enable a vehicle to be operated smoothly while also being caused to conform to a command vehicle speed with high accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Meidensha Corporation
    Inventors: Kento Yoshida, Hironobu Fukai
  • Patent number: 11718274
    Abstract: Methods and systems for thermal management of sensors of a vehicle. The system includes a processor and a sensor cleaning subsystem including a cleaning fluid reservoir and a port that is positioned to direct cleaning fluid from the reservoir to a vehicle sensor. The processor is configured to: receive temperature data corresponding to the sensor from a temperature monitor, determine that a current temperature of the sensor is greater than a first threshold temperature, and cause the sensor cleaning subsystem to initiate a cleaning cycle and direct the cleaning fluid to the sensor to cool down the sensor in response to determining that the current temperature of the sensor is greater than the first threshold temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Jackson, Dustin R. Yautz
  • Patent number: 11709065
    Abstract: An information providing device includes an acquirer configured to acquire one or more pieces of orientation information indicating orientations of one or more users, a determiner configured to determine priority item information, which is item information to be preferentially provided, based on reference information in which a specific point and item information for each item of the specific point are associated with each other, and the one or more pieces of orientation information acquired by the acquirer, and a provider configured to allow an information output device associated with at least a part of the one or more users to output the priority item information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Lei Tian, Yuya Ito
  • Patent number: 11702138
    Abstract: A method for providing lane keeping support to enable improved one-hand operation of a vehicle is described. The method includes detecting a one-hand location of a vehicle operator on a steering wheel of the vehicle. The method also includes determining a level of control of the vehicle operator on the steering wheel during the one-hand operation of the vehicle. The method further includes adjusting a level of compensation applied to the steering wheel to facilitate the one-hand operation of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yasuda, Manuel Ludwig Kuehner
  • Patent number: 11693422
    Abstract: A sensor apparatus for an autonomously operated commercial vehicle to allow panoramic capture of surroundings of the commercial vehicle, including: radar units mountable in front corner areas of the vehicle; downwardly directed cameras having a fisheye objective, mountable on front upper corner areas of the vehicle; at least one rearwardly directed sensor mounted on a section of the vehicle to allow rearward image capture; and an evaluation module to evaluate image data from the radar units, the downwardly directed cameras and the at least one rearwardly directed sensor to achieve the panoramic capture of the surroundings of the vehicle; in which the radar units and the at least one rearwardly directed sensor capture all points in a surrounding area of the vehicle, and wherein the downwardly directed cameras capture all points in the surrounding area of the vehicle. Also described are a related commercial vehicle, method and computer readable medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: KNORR-BREMSE SYSTEME FUER NUTZFAHRZEUGE GMBH
    Inventors: Levente Balogh, Huba Nemeth, Csaba Horvath, Viktor Tihanyi
  • Patent number: 11694484
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for helping a user determine whether a vehicle is subject to a safety recall and assisting the user with addressing incomplete safety recalls. A vehicle identification number (VIN) may be extracted from an image of a vehicle captured by a user electronic device and used to request safety recall information from a remote information system, which may provide a list of recalls associated with the vehicle. A list of nearby service centers may be identified based on the physical location of the user electronic device, and service appointments to address any incomplete recalls may be scheduled, either automatically or in response to user input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: United Services Automobile Association (USAA)
    Inventor: Dexter Moon
  • Patent number: 11691636
    Abstract: A system is provided generating a context-dependent experience for a vehicle driver, e.g., to relax or enhance the driver's mental state. A system controller is configured to receive driving context data regarding a driving situation from various driving context data sources. The driving context data may include vehicle operation data, e.g., generated by vehicle-based sensors, and environmental data regarding an environment external to the vehicle, e.g., received wirelessly from a remote server. The system controller may identify content triggering events based on (a) the received driver context data and (b) a set of content triggering rules. For each content triggering event, the system controller may select one or more human-perceivable contents elements (e.g., audio clips, seat massage settings, or air conditioner settings), and control one or more content output devices (e.g., speakers, seat massage system, or vehicle HVAC system) to output the selected content element(s) to the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Morten Troestrup Winther, Josephine Clara Elisabeth Nitschke, Joerg Christian Wolf
  • Patent number: 11685362
    Abstract: A computer for managing the drive train of a hybrid vehicle including an internal combustion engine, an electric machine and a battery. The drive train being capable of operating in a plurality of charging or discharging modes of the battery, the computer determines a set of probabilities of activation of the mode, determines the value of the speed of the electric motor for each mode, determines a set of electrical powers of the electric machine, calculates an energy consumption reduction indicator, determines the torque requested by the driver, the value of the speed of the internal combustion engine and the speed of the vehicle, determines a torque to be applied to the electric machine, and sends a command to the electric machine on the basis of the torque to be applied to the electric machine determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Inventor: Paul Boucharel
  • Patent number: 11667307
    Abstract: A method for controlling autonomous driving for an autonomous driving vehicle, includes collecting sensing information on autonomous driving in an autonomous driving mode, calculating an initial longitudinal control value based on the sensing information on the autonomous driving, correcting the initial longitudinal control value based on the sensing information, and performing a longitudinal driving control by transmitting the corrected longitudinal control value to a lower controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Dong Hoon Kang