Patents Examined by Yuen Wong
  • Patent number: 10882555
    Abstract: A method for operating a control device for a transportation vehicle to assist a driver maneuvering the transportation vehicle up to a trailer to couple the transportation vehicle to the trailer, wherein target coordinates of a coupling position provided for the transportation vehicle for coupling are determined by the control device and the process repeated, while a graphical distance display element is displayed to the driver by a display apparatus, a current distance value of a distance of the transportation vehicle from the coupling position is determined, and a size parameter of the graphical distance display element is adjusted based on the current distance value. A non-linear scaling function brings about a higher position resolution in a near region around the coupling position than outside the near region is used for a conversion from the respectively current distance value into a value of the size parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Philipp Hüger, Sascha Ziebart
  • Patent number: 10875533
    Abstract: A method for automatically detecting a coupling maneuver of a transportation vehicle to a trailer including sensing a change in position of a trailer coupling of the trailer within a reversing camera image of the reversing transportation vehicle; making available a data set which includes respective position profiles for coupling maneuvers carried out during reversing of a reference transportation vehicle to a trailer coupling of a reference trailer; comparing the change in position of the trailer coupling with the position profiles of the data set or making available a calculation formula based on the data set and comparing the change in position of the trailer coupling with the calculation formula; outputting an inquiry as to whether a driver of the transportation vehicle desires automatic activation of a trailer coupling assistant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Simon Kraftschik, Philipp Hüger, Sascha Ziebart
  • Patent number: 10875574
    Abstract: A method for operating a trailer maneuvering assistance system of a transportation vehicle which includes maneuvering a transportation vehicle combination formed by the transportation vehicle and a trailer into a target position assisted by the trailer maneuvering assistance system. The system includes detecting the trailer by a sensor device of the transportation vehicle when the trailer) is coupled to the transportation vehicle, transmitting sensor data relating to the detected trailer to an analysis device of the trailer maneuvering assistance system, determining dimensions of the trailer in the longitudinal direction, the lateral direction and the vertical direction of the trailer based on the transmitted sensor data by the analysis device, and assisting the process of maneuvering the transportation vehicle combination into the target position while taking into account the determined dimensions of the trailer. Also disclosed is a trailer maneuvering assistance system for a transportation vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Sascha Ziebart, Philipp Hüger
  • Patent number: 10875531
    Abstract: A lane curvature, a vehicle position offset relative to a lane center line, and a vehicle heading are determined based on image data received from a vehicle camera sensor. An adjusted lane curvature and an adjusted vehicle heading are computed based on a vehicle speed, a vehicle yaw rate and the position offset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Vladimir Ivanovic, Hongtei Eric Tseng, Nitendra Nath, Pavithra Madhavan
  • Patent number: 10878642
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for repairing vehicles. A particular vehicle can be repaired during a repair session using a computing device. The repair session can include the computing device: receiving a functional task setup with first and second identifiers, the first identifier identifying the particular vehicle, and the second identifier identifying a particular functional task for the computing device to perform on the particular vehicle; determining whether the computing device is available to perform the particular functional task; after determining the computing device is available to perform the particular functional task, receiving an input to initiate performance of the particular functional task on the particular vehicle; after receiving the input, sending a message to the particular vehicle to initiate performance of the particular functional task on the particular vehicle; and after sending the message, displaying a notification indicative of performing the particular functional task.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Snap-on Incorporated
    Inventors: Patrick S. Merg, Roy Steven Brozovich
  • Patent number: 10874278
    Abstract: A ground working system has at least one self-driving ground working device, wherein the operating region (A) of the ground working device is determined by an edge boundary. The ground working device travels automatically within the operating region (A) along a traveling path (W), wherein the ground working device has a drive, a control unit and an in-device battery for supplying energy to the ground working device. A charging station for charging the battery of the ground working device is also provided. The charging station is set up on the edge boundary without interrupting the edge boundary. The ground working device goes to the charging station for charging the battery as required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Sebastian Matt, Samuel Zoettl
  • Patent number: 10870331
    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: February 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventor: Jennifer K. Light-Holets
  • Patent number: 10867455
    Abstract: Machine learning based methods for vehicle maintenance are disclosed. In one aspect, there is a method that includes uploading a flight dataset. The flight dataset includes timestamped vectors of kinematic and behavioral sensor data elements acquired by on-board sensors. The method further includes assigning each timestamped vector of the flight dataset to a kinematic cluster. The method further includes identifying behavioral sensor data that is anomalous for the assigned kinematic cluster of the timestamped vector. The method further includes generating an alert criticality score for each combination of kinematic cluster and behavioral sensor with anomalous sensor data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: AppliedEA, Inc.
    Inventors: Yehoshua Mordechai Segal, Ryan Conrad Kohl
  • Patent number: 10864915
    Abstract: A passing assist device includes a detection unit, a passing control unit, a speed setting unit, and a suspending unit. When the speed of an own vehicle set by the speed setting unit is lower than a preset speed when the own vehicle is traveling in a passing lane, the suspending unit suspends a lane change from the passing lane to a traveling lane by the passing control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koji Fujiki, Hiroaki Niino, Shotaro Fukuda
  • Patent number: 10859391
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer program product are provided for predicting range of an electric vehicle. The system may comprise at least one memory configured to store computer program code and at least one processor configured to execute the computer program code to at least determine future location prediction data for the electric vehicle based on a mobility profile, wherein the mobility profile comprises with historical usage data for the electric vehicle. The computer program code further comprises code to retrieve weather data from a weather service provider, wherein the weather data is associated with the future location prediction data of the electric vehicle and the weather data includes at least temperature data associated with the future location prediction data of the electric vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: HERE Global B.V.
    Inventors: Jerome Beaurepaire, Stephan Kosmella
  • Patent number: 10856463
    Abstract: A method for operating a harvesting machine for harvesting a crop in a field, at least one operating value for a working part of the harvesting machine being determined in dependence on at least one plant property of the crop. The plant property is mapped in a plant growth model, the plant growth model modelling a development over time of the plant property and determining a predictive value or a predictive characteristic of the plant property for the time of the harvest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: BASF AGRO TRADEMARKS GMBH
    Inventor: Ole Peters
  • Patent number: 10859682
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are provided for calibrating a light ranging system and using the system to track environmental objects. In embodiments, the approach involves installing light ranging devices, such as lidar devices, on the vehicle exterior. The light ranging system may be calibrated using a calibration device to scan the vehicle exterior and construct a three-dimensional model of the vehicle exterior comprising the positions of the installed light ranging devices on the vehicle exterior. The calibrated light ranging system may use the model in conjunction with ranging data collected by the installed light ranging devices to track objects in the environment. In this way, the light ranging system may detect a proximity of environmental objects and help a driver of the vehicle avoid potential collisions. The light ranging system may further measure the vehicle exterior and thereby detect changes to the vehicle exterior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Ouster, Inc.
    Inventors: Angus Pacala, Dmitri Garbuzov, Daniel Lu
  • Patent number: 10853644
    Abstract: A sensor surveillance system (100) and a method for determining possible geographic positions of at least one assumed undetected target (1a-n) within a geographic volume of interest (200) is provided, wherein for a first point in time ti the following steps are performed: dividing the geographic volume of interest (200) into sections (10); assuming the existence of an assumed undetected target (1a-n) at a geographic position within each section (10); and initiating the creation of a pattern (2) defining at least one possible geographic position of the assumed undetected target, said pattern extends at least partially around the geographic position of the assumed undetected target (1a-n); wherein the geographic extension of said pattern is determined based on: the category of the assumed undetected target (1a-n); and the amount of time that has passed from the first point in time t1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: SAAB AB
    Inventor: Fredrik Dicander
  • Patent number: 10839616
    Abstract: A dual-stage, separated gas/fluid shock strut arrangement includes a dual-stage, separated gas/fluid shock strut, a pressure/temperature sensor mounted to the primary gas chamber, a stroke sensor, and a monitoring system, comprising a recorder configured to receive a plurality of sensor readings from at least one of the pressure/temperature sensor and the stroke sensor, a landing detector configured to detect a landing event based upon a stroke sensor reading received from the stroke sensor, and a health monitor configured to determine a volume of oil in the oil chamber, a volume of gas in the primary gas chamber, and a volume of gas in the secondary gas chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Goodrich Corporation
    Inventors: Amir M. Fazeli, Adnan Cepic, Susanne M. Reber
  • Patent number: 10827675
    Abstract: A drive system of a utility vehicle comprises a drive motor, a load drive train to drive a load, a propulsion drive train to driver propulsion means of the utility vehicle, and a control unit, which is connected to an actuator for setting the transmission ratio of the propulsion drive train, can be provided with a signal concerning the power consumption of the load, and generates the correction value sent to the actuator on the basis of the signal, so that the propulsion speed of the utility vehicle remains at least approximately constant even if there is a change of the power consumption of the load and/or a pitching motion of the utility vehicle caused by a change of the power consumption of the load is minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Valentin Gresch, Norbert Fritz, Martin Kremmer
  • Patent number: 10829213
    Abstract: A dual-stage, stroke activated, mixed fluid gas shock strut arrangement includes a dual-stage, stroke activated, mixed fluid gas shock strut (shock strut) and a monitoring system. The shock strut includes a strut cylinder, a strut piston, a primary chamber comprising an oil chamber and a primary gas chamber, and a secondary gas chamber. The monitoring system includes a first pressure/temperature sensor, a second pressure/temperature sensor, a stroke sensor, a recorder configured to receive a plurality of sensor readings from the first pressure/temperature sensor, the second pressure/temperature sensor, and/or the stroke sensor, a landing detector configured to detect a landing event based upon a stroke sensor reading received from the stroke sensor, and a health monitor configured to determine an oil volume in the primary chamber, wherein the health monitor calculates a compression factor to determine the oil volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Goodrich Corporation
    Inventors: Amir Fazeli, Adnan Cepic, Susanne M. Reber
  • Patent number: 10821795
    Abstract: A method for controlling vehicle motion is described. The method includes accessing a set of control signals including a measured vehicle speed value associated with a movement of a vehicle. A control signal associated with user-induced input is also accessed. The method compares the measured vehicle speed value with a predetermined vehicle speed threshold value to achieve a speed value threshold approach status, and then compares the set of values to achieve a user-induced input threshold value approach status. The method monitors a state of a valve within the vehicle suspension damper, and determines a control mode for the vehicle suspension damper. The method also regulates damping forces within the vehicle suspension damper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventors: Everet Owen Ericksen, Christopher Paul Cox, Philip Tsiaras, Mark Larson, Mario Galasso, Matt McLellan
  • Patent number: 10825265
    Abstract: A dual-stage, separated gas/fluid shock strut arrangement includes a dual-stage, separated gas/fluid shock strut and a monitoring system. The shock strut includes a strut cylinder, a strut piston operatively coupled to the strut cylinder, an oil chamber, a primary gas chamber, and a secondary gas chamber. The monitoring system includes a first pressure/temperature sensor, a second pressure/temperature sensor, a stroke sensor, a recorder configured to receive a plurality of sensor readings from the first pressure/temperature sensor, the second pressure/temperature sensor, and/or the stroke sensor, a landing detector configured to detect a landing event based upon a stroke sensor reading received from the stroke sensor, and a health monitor configured to determine a volume of oil in the oil chamber, a primary chamber gas volume in the primary gas chamber, and a secondary chamber gas volume in the secondary gas chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Goodrich Corporation
    Inventors: Amir Fazeli, Adnan Cepic, Susanne M. Reber
  • Patent number: 10820493
    Abstract: A ground working system includes at least one self-driving ground working device, which has a drive and a control unit. An operating region (A) is bounded by a wire, wherein the ground working device travels along a traveling path (W) determined by the control unit in the operating region (A). A base station has a transmission unit, which is electrically connected to the wire and by which a wire signal is transmitted. The wire signal transmitted on the wire is electrically received by a reception unit of the base station, compared with a predetermined setpoint signal and, in the event of a deviation of the electrically received wire signal from the predetermined setpoint signal, the transmitted wire signal is changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Peter Ritzer, Sebastian Matt, Samuel Zoettl
  • Patent number: 10814689
    Abstract: A method for controlling vehicle motion is described. The method includes accessing a set of control signals including a measured vehicle speed value associated with a movement of a vehicle. A control signal associated with user-induced input is also accessed. The method compares the measured vehicle speed value with a predetermined vehicle speed threshold value to achieve a speed value threshold approach status, and then compares the set of values to achieve a user-induced input threshold value approach status. The method monitors a state of a valve within the vehicle suspension damper, and determines a control mode for the vehicle suspension damper. The method also regulates damping forces within the vehicle suspension damper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventors: Everet Owen Ericksen, Christopher Paul Cox, Philip Tsiaras, Mark Larson, Mario Galasso, Matt McLellan