Patents Examined by Yuen H Wong
  • Patent number: 10216187
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a frame, drive elements configured to drive movements of the frame, and a computer configured to receive mission planning and manual commands and to control operations of the drive elements to operate in a safe mode in which mission commands are accepted but manual commands are refused, a manual mode in which mission commands are refused but manual commands are accepted and an enroute mode. The computer is further configured to only allow mode transitions directly between the safe mode and the manual mode and directly between the safe mode and the enroute mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: SIKORSKY AIRCRAFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Thomas Zygmant, Jesse J. Lesperance, Ira E. Zoock, James A. Kelly
  • Patent number: 10217055
    Abstract: A system for collecting vehicle data includes a mobile device comprising a plurality of sensors, a memory, and a processor coupled to the memory. The processor is configured to perform operations including obtaining a plurality of movement measurements from at least one of the plurality of sensors in the mobile device, determining a plurality of transportation modes using the plurality of movement measurements, and determining a mode transition using the plurality of transportation modes. The operations also include determining a transition probability using the mode transition. The operations further include creating a transition model using the transition probabilities, determining that the transition model indicates that a probability that the second transportation mode comprises driving is above a threshold, obtaining a plurality of driving movement measurements from at least one of the plurality of sensors, and determining the vehicle data using the driving movement measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: TRUEMOTION, INC.
    Inventors: Brad Cordova, Joe Adelmann
  • Patent number: 10216194
    Abstract: A computer system configured to use emergency response system (EMS) vehicle telematics data to reduce risk of accidents may be configured to (1) receive, when the EMS vehicle is en route to an emergency location, the EMS vehicle telematics data associated with the EMS vehicle and including GPS location, speed, route, heading, acceleration, and/or lane data; (2) determine that a current route of an autonomous vehicle will interfere with the route of the EMS vehicle; (3) determine an alternate route for the autonomous vehicle to avoid interfering with the route of the EMS vehicle; and (4) direct the autonomous vehicle to (i) travel along the alternate route or (ii) pull over to a side of a road on the current route to allow the EMS vehicle to pass unimpeded. Insurance discounts may be generated based upon the risk mitigation or prevention functionality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventor: Gregory Hayward
  • Patent number: 10214076
    Abstract: Systems and methods for managing an environment comfort system includes a control system. The control system is communicatively coupled to a location positioning system. The control system is structured to determine a first time parameter corresponding to a vehicle proximate to a path location, determine a second time parameter corresponding to a path schedule, determine a stop duration corresponding to the vehicle based, at least in part, on the first time parameter and the second time parameter, and generate a command structured to manage an environment comfort system in response to movement of the one or more vehicle components between a current performance level and an adjusted performance level based on the stop duration determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventor: Jennifer K. Light-Holets
  • Patent number: 10215573
    Abstract: A computer system configured to use train telematics data may be mounted on or within an autonomous vehicle, and which may be configured to (1) receive train telematics data associated with a train that includes GPS location, speed, route, heading, acceleration, and/or track data; (2) determine, based upon the train telematics data, when, or a time period of when, the train will pass through, be passing through, and/or be within a predetermined distance of a railroad crossing; (3) determine an alternate route for the autonomous vehicle to take to avoid waiting at the railroad crossing; and (4) direct the autonomous vehicle to automatically travel along the alternate route or automatically stop at the railroad crossing to allow the train to pass unimpeded and to facilitate avoidance of train-vehicle collisions. Insurance discounts may be generated based upon the risk mitigation or prevention functionality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventor: Gregory Hayward
  • Patent number: 10209086
    Abstract: Route search systems, methods, and programs acquire movement paths of a plurality of users, and acquire difference values for a plurality of characteristics. The difference values each indicate a difference between a characteristic of a reference route and a characteristic of the movement paths of the plurality of users. Systems, methods, and programs classify the movement paths of each of the users into a plurality of types such that movement paths with a plurality of similar difference values belong to a same type, set a cost of a road for each of the types; and search for a route on the basis of the set cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Mutsuga, Atsushi Mochizuki
  • Patent number: 10202133
    Abstract: Systems and methods for synchronizing two or more vehicles operating on an electric transportation line to optimize energy consumption. A controller is provided having a computer memory component storing a set of computer-executable instructions, a list of braking intervals, and a list of acceleration intervals for the vehicles. The controller also has a processing component configured to execute the set of computer-executable instructions to operate on the list of braking intervals and the list of acceleration intervals to minimize an energy consumption of the electric transportation line over a determined period of time by shifting acceleration intervals to synchronize with braking intervals. A dedicated heuristic greedy algorithm and an energy model are implemented in the controller as part of the computer-executable instructions to achieve the improved energy consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: ALSTOM TRANSPORT TECHNOLOGIES
    Inventors: David Fournier, Denis Mulard
  • Patent number: 10190559
    Abstract: A system includes an electric machine coupled to an engine and configured to start the engine from an inactive state. A controller executes a first control algorithm while output speed of the electric machine is less than a first speed threshold, and also executes a second control algorithm while the output speed is greater than the first speed threshold and less than a second speed threshold. Additionally, the controller is programmed to execute a third control algorithm while the output speed is greater than the second speed threshold. The first control algorithm includes operating the electric machine using trapezoidal current control with pulse width modulation. The second control algorithm includes operating the electric machine using six-step voltage control with a variable phase advance angle. The third control algorithm includes operating the electric machine using six-step voltage control with a predetermined fixed phase advance angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Lei Hao, Chandra S. Namuduri, Thomas W. Nehl
  • Patent number: 10185318
    Abstract: Disclosed is a configuration to control automatic return of an aerial vehicle. The configuration stores a return location in a storage device of the aerial vehicle. The return location may correspond to a location where the aerial vehicle is to return. One or more sensors of the aerial vehicle are monitored during flight for detection of a predefined condition. When a predetermined condition is met a return path program may be loaded for execution to provide a return flight path for the aerial vehicle to automatically navigate to the return location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph Anthony Enke
  • Patent number: 10183398
    Abstract: A point cloud system having two separate sets of points, each of these sets having different points of view, creating data with potentially occluded points in the point cloud. An accelerated approach of close sister points is used to determine which occluded points can be removed by looking out from an assumed non-occluded point, then finding the closest point in the next set of points, then looking back into the first set of points, or jumping to the closest not occluded point and looking back, and if this second sister is close to initial point, it is a close sister.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: SKUR, Inc.
    Inventors: Adam Cohen, James Creasy, Alan Gushurst
  • Patent number: 10178337
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for providing vehicles with video feed for making a turn. In one example, a vehicle includes sensors, a transceiver, a processor, and a display device. The sensors are configured to generate sensor data pertaining to operation of the vehicle. The processor is configured to determine when the vehicle is about to make a turn at an intersection, based at least in part on the sensor data. The transceiver is configured to receive a video feed from one or more cameras of a second vehicle, the second vehicle disposed proximate the intersection, when the vehicle is about to make a turn, for use in assistance with making the turn of the vehicle at the intersection. The display device is configured to display the video feed in accordance with instructions provided by the processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Ephraim C. Yuen, Shiv G. Patel, Akram Abdel-Rahman
  • Patent number: 10175056
    Abstract: Route search systems, methods, and programs acquire movement paths of a plurality of users, and classify, on the basis of a plurality of characteristics of the movement paths of the plurality of users, the movement paths of each of the users into a plurality of types such that movement paths with a plurality of similar characteristics belong to a same type. The systems, methods, and programs set a cost for each of the types and each attribute of a road on the basis of the plurality of movement paths of each of the types, classify, on the basis of a plurality of characteristics of a movement path of a route searcher, the route searcher into one of the types, and search for a route on the basis of the cost which is set for the type of the route searcher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Mutsuga, Atsushi Mochizuki
  • Patent number: 10160450
    Abstract: A travel control device for a vehicle includes a forward information acquirer, a following travel controller, and a preceding-vehicle start detector. The forward information acquirer acquires information ahead of the vehicle. The following travel controller causes the vehicle to travel following a preceding vehicle when capturing the preceding vehicle travelling immediately ahead of the vehicle. The preceding-vehicle start detector detects a start of the preceding vehicle. The following travel controller includes a turning following controller that controls a stop and a start of the vehicle when the vehicle follows the preceding vehicle and enters an intersection to turn toward an opposite lane. The turning following controller includes an oncoming vehicle approach estimator and a stop controller. The oncoming vehicle approach estimator obtains an acceleration after the preceding vehicle starts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Subaru Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Kojo
  • Patent number: 10155506
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for detecting an object and causing a vehicle to brake based on the detection. In one implementation, an object detecting and braking system for a vehicle includes at least one image capture device configured to acquire a plurality of images of an area including an object in front of the vehicle. The system includes at least one processing device programmed to perform a first image analysis to determine a first estimated time-to-collision of the vehicle with the object, and to perform a second image analysis to determine a second estimated time-to-collision of the vehicle with the object. The processing device is also programmed to calculate a difference between the first estimated time-to-collision and the second estimated time-to-collision, to determine that the difference does not exceed a predetermined threshold, and to cause the vehicle to brake based on the determination that the difference does not exceed the predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: Mobileye Vision Technologies Ltd.
    Inventor: Erez Dagan
  • Patent number: 10155521
    Abstract: This vehicle control device is provided with: a control unit for executing one-pedal control, that is, the control for accelerating a vehicle when a single pedal is depressed from a predetermined reference point of a pedal stroke, and for decelerating the vehicle when the pedal is released from the reference point; and a determination unit for determining whether or not a rate of change in a pedal operation amount when the pedal is released is equal to or greater than a first threshold value. The control unit performs control for increasing a braking force when the rate of change is equal to or greater than the first threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: ADVICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yusuke Takeya, Toshihisa Kato
  • Patent number: 10151078
    Abstract: A method of controlling a blade of an earthmoving system is disclosed. The method includes enabling independent blade control so that the blade is controllable independent of the terrain contour design while a cutting edge of the blade is beneath the terrain contour design, and receiving first sensor signals from one or more first sensors of the earthmoving system, where the sensor signals indicate that the cutting edge of the blade is within a threshold distance from the terrain contour design. In response to receiving the first sensor signals, the method automatically controls the cutting edge of the blade to the terrain contour design, where the movement of the blade is dependent on the terrain contour design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignees: Caterpillar Trimble Control Technologies LLC, Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Tony R. Metzger, Bruce J. Wiewel, Robert L. Powers, Richard R. Evenson
  • Patent number: 10146223
    Abstract: The technology relates to identifying sensor occlusions due to the limits of the ranges of a vehicle's sensors and using this information to maneuver the vehicle. As an example, the vehicle is maneuvered along a route that includes traveling on a first roadway and crossing over a lane of a second roadway. A trajectory is identified from the lane that will cross with the route during the crossing at a first point. A second point beyond a range of the vehicle's sensors is selected. The second point corresponds to a hypothetical vehicle moving towards the route along the lane. A distance between the first point and the second point is determined. An amount of time that it would take the hypothetical vehicle to travel the distance is determined and compared to a threshold amount of time. The vehicle is maneuvered based on the comparison to complete the crossing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Brandon Douglas Luders, Vadim Furman, Nathaniel Fairfield
  • Patent number: 10145703
    Abstract: Provided herein is a control method of an electronic apparatus. The control method of an electronic apparatus includes: determining a position of a vehicle that is being operated; detecting information of a guidance point positioned in front of the determined position of the vehicle by a predetermined distance using a map data; generating an object indicating the guidance point using the information of the guidance point; and outputting the generated object through augmented reality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: THINKWARE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ho Hyung Cho, Suk Pil Ko
  • Patent number: 10136591
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for the lateral levelling equipment of a timber working head at a forestry machine with a hydraulic system for the driving and regulation of the functions of the forestry machine, which forestry machine comprises a chassis with a driver's cabin and an arm to which a timber working head is fixed jointed and in a manner that allows rotation, the working head comprising levelling equipment and a regulator for the control and regulation of the lateral angle of the working head relative to the vertical direction, an arrangement for the execution of the method, and a forestry machine for the use of the arrangement during the execution of the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Komatsu Forest AB
    Inventors: Daniel Linder, Erik Nilsson
  • Patent number: 10138618
    Abstract: An excavator comprises a control architecture having one or more linkage assembly actuators and one or more controllers. The one or more controllers are programmed to execute instructions. The instructions determine if there is a request to operate the excavator boom and the excavating implement in automatics mode. The instructions also receive target design surface data representing a target design surface of an excavating operation. The instructions further receive an implement position representing a position of the excavating implement relative to the target design surface. The instructions still further receive an implement angle representing an operating angle of the excavating implement relative to the target design surface. The instructions also determine whether the implement position is within an automatics region of the target design surface, wherein the automatics region represents a region on one or both sides of the target design surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Caterpillar Trimble Control Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Kyle Davis, Richard Weinel