Patents Examined by Y. Beaulieu
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Patent number: 7228231Abstract: A vehicle (12) including a control system (18) is used for controlling vehicle attitude or angular velocity (38). The processor (24) is coupled to a star sensor or tracker (22) and a memory (30) that may include a star catalog (32), and an exclusion list (36). The exclusion list (36), a list of stars to be temporarily excluded from consideration when determining attitude or angular velocity or relative alignment of star sensors or trackers, is calculated on board. Such a calculation prevents the necessity for a costly, periodic, ground calculation and upload of such data. By manipulating the star catalog, or sub-catalogs derived from said catalog, based upon the exclusion list (36), measurements of such excluded stars are prevented from corrupting the attitude or angular velocity or alignment estimates formulated on board. The system uses multiple stayout zones for excluding stars from the exclusion list.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2004Date of Patent: June 5, 2007Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: David D. Needelman, Richard A. Fowell, Peter C. Lai, Yeong-Wei A. Wu, Rongsheng Li
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Patent number: 7225073Abstract: The present invention relates to a motor vehicle comprising an internal combustion engine and a first electronic control unit (48) for controlling the engine depending on the setting of a manual throttle, an electronic control unit (45) for controlling the transmission, depending on a set position of a manual gear selector (46). The invention is characterized in that one of the control units is disposed, with fed-in parameters and thus at least knowledge of the target speed of the vehicle, the surrounding topology and the throttle opening position, to reduce the throttle opening, in those cases where the vehicle, relative to the target speed, has a speed below target speed and gravity can subsequently accelerate the vehicle. In a similar manner, the kinetic energy of the vehicle is used, in those cases where the vehicle has an above target speed and gravity can subsequently retard the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2002Date of Patent: May 29, 2007Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar ABInventors: Anders Hedman, Marcus Steen, Anders Eriksson
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Patent number: 7225061Abstract: A method and device for detecting pilot induced oscillations in an aircraft may detect signals having frequencies of between 0.3 Hz and 0.6 Hz within commands signals generated by a pilot for controlling an aerodynamic surface of the aircraft. The energy of the detected signals is analyzed to determine whether significant pilot induced oscillations are present within the command signals, and an indication of the degree of the oscillations is generated for use by the pilot.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2003Date of Patent: May 29, 2007Assignee: Airbus FranceInventors: Nathalie Raimbault, Pierre Fabre
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Patent number: 7225060Abstract: A vehicle control system with user-guided calibration is presented. In one embodiment, a vehicle control system is presented comprising an output device and circuitry operative to provide an output, via the output device, that guides a user through a plurality of calibration steps in a particular order. The circuitry can additionally or alternatively be operative to determine which of the calibration steps, if any, to present as a next calibration step based on whether a given calibration step is successful. Other embodiments are provided, and each of the embodiments can be used alone or in combination with one another.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2004Date of Patent: May 29, 2007Assignee: Novariant, Inc.Inventors: Michael L. O′Connor, Michael L. Eglington, Lars G. Leckie, Robert C Melhorn, Jr., Qinghe Chang, Brian G. Walter, Glen Sapilewski
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Patent number: 7225065Abstract: An embodiment provides a wiring harness that connects a telematics device to a host vehicle. One embodiment of the wiring harness may include: 1) a cable featuring a plurality of wires; 2) a first connector featuring a snap-on adaptor that attaches to a connector core with a pin configuration that mates with a diagnostic scan tool; 3) a second connector that connects to an in-vehicle diagnostic system; and 4) a third connector that connects to the telematics device. A wiring kit embodiment and method embodiments for coupling a telematics device to a host vehicle are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2004Date of Patent: May 29, 2007Assignee: HTI IP, LLCInventors: Robert Hunt, Paul L. Washicko
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Patent number: 7225067Abstract: A vehicle occupant sensing system including at least one transmitter operable to create a transmitted magnetic field and at least one receiver operatively fixed relative to the transmitter. Additionally, the vehicle occupant sensing system includes at least one conductive object operable to create a resultant magnetic field due to interaction with the transmitted magnetic field. The receiver is operable to detect changes in relative distance between the conductive object and the receiver, in response to a load, as a function of the strength of the resultant magnetic field experienced by the receiver. Furthermore, the vehicle occupant sensing system may be employed in a vehicle seat assembly for detecting a condition of the same. A method of operating the vehicle occupant sensing system is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2004Date of Patent: May 29, 2007Assignee: Lear CorporationInventors: Pawel W. Sleboda, David A. Hein
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Patent number: 7222011Abstract: A starting clutch control includes an engine control state and a slip control state. The engine and slip control states include feedforward and driveline damping control terms. The engine state control may further include an engine speed control term. The slip control state further includes a clutch slip control term. Changes to clutch engagement commands are frozen upon throttle tip-in events.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2004Date of Patent: May 22, 2007Assignee: General Motors CorporationInventors: Anthony L. Smith, Patrick B. Usoro, Chi-Kuan Kao
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Patent number: 7222009Abstract: A driving assist system for vehicle calculates risk potential from the traveling environment of vehicle surroundings, and calculates a reference speed Vt while the vehicle is traveling. Accelerator pedal reaction force control amount is then calculated based on the risk potential RP and the reference speed Vt. The accelerator pedal reaction force is controlled so as to generate the calculated reaction force control amount, and information relating to the risk potential RP and the reference speed Vt is conveyed to the driver through sense of touch.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2004Date of Patent: May 22, 2007Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Shunsuke Hijikata, Masahiro Egami
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Patent number: 7219014Abstract: A vehicle (12) including a control system (18) is used for controlling vehicle attitude or angular velocity (38). The processor (24) is coupled to a star sensor or tracker (22) and a memory (30) that may include a star catalog (32), and an exclusion list (36). The exclusion list (36), a list of stars to be temporarily excluded from consideration when determining attitude or angular velocity or relative alignment of star sensors or trackers, is calculated on-board. Such a calculation prevents the necessity for a costly, periodic, ground calculation and upload of such data. By manipulating the star catalog, or sub-catalogs derived from said catalog, based upon the exclusion list (36), measurements of such excluded stars are prevented from corrupting the attitude or angular velocity or alignment estimates formulated on board.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2004Date of Patent: May 15, 2007Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: David D. Needelman, Rongsheng Li, Richard A. Fowell, Peter C. Lai, Yeong-Wei A. Wu, Bruce N. Eyerly, Jonathan French
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Patent number: 7216035Abstract: According to the invention, navigational information for a vehicle is displayed intuitively and in an easily comprehensible manner in the form of a virtual pilot vehicle, superimposed on an image of the vehicle environment. The display mode and/or position and/or orientation and/or size of the virtual pilot vehicle are determined for example in accordance with the route information, speed, reference points for a recommended route, position and orientation of the vehicle or the camera that records the vehicle environment.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2003Date of Patent: May 8, 2007Assignee: Siemens AktiengeselschaftInventors: Horst Hörtner, Dieter Kolb, Gustav Pomberger, Jan Wieghardt
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Patent number: 7216027Abstract: A running control system of the present invention includes a follow-up intention detection device for detecting an operation of requesting a follow-running control by the driver, and a running control device for aborting the follow-running control with respect to the preceding vehicle based on a signal from the braking operation detection device. If an operation by the driver for requesting the follow-running control is detected by the driver while the braking operation by the driver is detected by the braking operation detection device, the running control device starts the follow-running control after the end of the driver's braking operation.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2005Date of Patent: May 8, 2007Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Toshiaki Arai, Tadayoshi Okada
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Patent number: 7216032Abstract: A data storage system for a motor vehicle has at least two control units (1) for controlling one or several vehicle components each, at least two memories (2) for storing data that characterize the route to be traveled on in future, and an interface (3) to a data source (4). Every control unit (1) inquires with the data source (4) a subset of the route data contained therein via the interface (3) and stores the route data transmitted in response in the memory (2) associated with the respective control unit (1).Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2003Date of Patent: May 8, 2007Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Friedrich Graf, Martin Lachmayr, Martin Manz, Oliver Nelles, Gregor Probst, Tanja Roy
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Patent number: 7212889Abstract: A portable data exchange device including a data input, a data output, and a memory is incorporated into a mechanical or electronic key that is required for operating a motor vehicle. The data exchange device can exchange data bi-directionally or uni-directionally with a data processing device in the vehicle and with an external input/output terminal. The data may include vehicle-specific and/or driver-specific data relating to various systems of the vehicle. The data are transmitted to and from the device in the key in a wireless or direct-contacting manner. This device incorporated in the key avoids the need for carrying a separate data unit for exchanging data between the on-board data processing device of the vehicle and the external input/output terminal.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2004Date of Patent: May 1, 2007Assignee: Atmel Germany GmbHInventors: Torsten Mann, Martin Reimann
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Patent number: 7209807Abstract: A method and system for providing information to an individual using an electronic sign in which the sign displays information in response to the identity of the tag or an account associated with the tag. The information is displayed when the tag, which may be carried by the individual or in a vehicle, approaches the sign. A user can preselect from among various information types he wishes to receive, such as news, weather, sports and personal messages. The user can also select a priority for each information type.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2003Date of Patent: April 24, 2007Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Gordon James Smith, George Willard Van Leeuwen
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Patent number: 7209808Abstract: A License Sanction Enforcement System™ technology that includes at least one sensor worn by an individual to be monitored and a data storage unit. The sensor can detect directional angle and acceleration motion. The data storage unit is coupled with the sensor and stores the angle kinematic data detected by the sensor. The device determines whether the individual is operating or has operated a motor vehicle based upon analysis of the angle and acceleration data, and creates a record in the data storage unit of each occurrence that operation of a motor vehicle is detected. Alternatively, the data storage unit may be used to store the raw detection data, which can be transferred to an external data processing device for analysis.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2004Date of Patent: April 24, 2007Assignee: The Titan CorporationInventors: Paul A. Chase, Richard P. Dexter, Nancy F. Wolejsza, Michael C. Wolejsza, Douglas S. Cameron, Hanson C. Gaugler, Debra A. Gross, Judith A. Pine, Wayne K. Murphy, David S. Powell, Edward J. Ohlert, Darren S. McKnight, Stephen P. Chase
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Patent number: 7209829Abstract: In a navigation assistance system, information is received via the Internet from a user pertaining to a water trip contemplated by the user. The system includes a database storing waterway data. The database is accessed in response to the information from the user. At least one recommended over-water route is derived in response to the user information and in accordance with waterway data in the database, the recommended route being communicated to the user via the computer network. The deriving of the route preferably comprises including only route segments extending through operatively navigable areas.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2004Date of Patent: April 24, 2007Assignee: NavQuest, Inc.Inventors: Kenneth Litvack, Harpreet Sangha
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Patent number: 7209812Abstract: A system which operates a digitally controlled model railroad transmitting a first command from a first client program to a resident external controlling interface through a first communications transport. A second command is transmitted from a second client program to the resident external controlling interface through a second communications transport. The first command and the second command are received by the resident external controlling interface which queues the first and second commands. The resident external controlling interface sends third and fourth commands representative of the first and second commands, respectively, to a digital command station for execution on the digitally controlled model railroad.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2006Date of Patent: April 24, 2007Inventor: Matthew A. Katzer
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Patent number: 7206680Abstract: A method of determining a triggering decision for restraint devices in a vehicle, a triggering decision being determined as a function of a float angle, a vehicle sliding velocity and the vehicle tilt angle. The vehicle tilt angle is characterized here by a vehicle lateral acceleration and/or a vehicle sliding velocity. A passenger detection system may be used in addition.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2002Date of Patent: April 17, 2007Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventor: Michael Roelleke
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Patent number: 7206693Abstract: At least one magnetic field sensing device and GPS receiver integrated in a discrete, single-chip package, and a method of manufacture for the same. Rather than requiring at least two separate chips to be used to realize GPS positioning and compassing capabilities in a single device, an integrated, single chip solution can be used. A single chip integration of a GPS receiver and at least one magnetic field sensing device can reduce the physical space required to provide positioning and electronic compassing capabilities in a single device, and therefore allow such devices to be smaller, lighter, and possibly more portable.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2004Date of Patent: April 17, 2007Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.Inventors: William F. Witcraft, Hong Wan, Cheisan J. Yue, Tamara K. Bratland
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Patent number: 7206685Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle control apparatus which makes it possible to share information by a plurality of devices and which can improve controllability. An OS switching means (OS-CH) switches a plurality of operating system (OS1, OS2). A shared object (CO) has a memory resource which can be referred to from the plurality of operating systems. The shared object (CO) shares at least road information, and the road information registered by the application of one of the operating systems can be referred to from the application of the other operating system.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2006Date of Patent: April 17, 2007Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Satoru Kuragaki, Jiro Takezaki, Kimio Nishino, Toshimichi Minowa, Tokuji Yoshikawa, Yoshinori Endo