Patents Examined by Yufeng Zhang
  • Patent number: 11946219
    Abstract: A work machine includes work equipment. A control device of the work machine includes a trajectory generation unit, and an operation signal output unit. The trajectory generation unit generates a target trajectory of the work equipment according to an excavation curve ratio determined in advance. The excavation curve ratio is expressed as a ratio of an excavation depth to an excavation length. The operation signal output unit outputs an operation signal for the work equipment according to the target trajectory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoki Konda, Takeshi Oi, Atsunori Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 11938779
    Abstract: A behavior control device for a vehicle includes: a first actuator configured to apply a vertical control force to a left wheel on a first axle, the first axle being a front axle or a rear axle of the vehicle; a second actuator configured to operate independently of the first actuator and to apply a vertical control force to a right wheel on the first axle; and a controller. The controller is configured to calculate a required value of a behavior parameter representing a behavior of the vehicle, convert the required value of the behavior parameter to a first required force for the first actuator and a second required force for the second actuator, and control the first actuator such that the vertical control force applied to the left wheel on the first axle becomes the first required force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroki Furuta
  • Patent number: 11939748
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide systems and methods for generating a three-dimensional virtual track model. This track model may be used, for example, in collision prevention and mitigation systems and methods, such as those described herein, and in other collision prevention and mitigation systems and other mining systems using virtual track models. In some embodiments, the systems and methods described herein provide a simplified modeling process that enables quick, accurate modeling of tracks of a mining machine that can account for custom tracks that vary in size depending on the particular mining machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: JOY GLOBAL SURFACE MINING INC
    Inventors: Wesley P. Taylor, Megan M. Scheppa
  • Patent number: 11921504
    Abstract: Techniques for generating simulations to evaluate an update to a controller. The controller may be configured to control one or more functionalities of an autonomous and/or a semi-autonomous vehicle. A simulation computing system may receive a request to evaluate a first controller. The simulation computing system may generate a simulation based on data associated with a previous operation of the vehicle in an environment, the previous operation being controlled by a second controller (e.g., standard for evaluation, control version, etc.). The simulation computing device may cause the first controller to control a simulated vehicle in the simulation and may determine whether to validate the update to the controller based on a difference between first metrics associated with a control of the simulated vehicle by the first controller and second metrics associated with a control of the vehicle by the second controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Yan Tin Chu, Robert Jonathan Crane, John Connelly Kegelman, Deepan Subrahmanian Palguna, Prateek Chandresh Shah, Xiaosi Zeng, Wentao Zhong
  • Patent number: 11924723
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein provide for a method including configuring a self-learning safety sign to: establish vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communications with a two-wheeler equipped with a V2X transceiver and positioned at a ride point and/or ridden along a common and divergent route according to a setup stage for the safety sign; receive ride parameters in the V2X communications from the two-wheeler associated with the positioning and/or riding of the two-wheeler; and analyze the received ride parameters to create a ride model for determining a future route to be taken by any two-wheeler in V2X communication with the safety sign.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: AUTOTALKS LTD.
    Inventor: Onn Haran
  • Patent number: 11912550
    Abstract: A materials handling vehicle includes a power unit, a load handling assembly and a positioning assistance system that provides assistance to an operator that is driving the vehicle. The assistance provided by the positioning assistance system includes at least one of an audible, tactile, or visual cue to indicate at least one of: a distance from the vehicle to a boundary object; or a heading of the vehicle with respect to the boundary object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Crown Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Sebastian Theos, Andreas Simon, Juergen Buchmann, René Konzack, Christian Molnar, Alfonso Costas
  • Patent number: 11905679
    Abstract: A machine operating on a work surface includes a boom member, a feed assembly, a work device, a movable carrier including a lower structure and an upper structure movably coupled with the lower structure, and an actuator assembly adapted to move the upper structure relative to the lower structure. The machine also includes a sensor module configured to generate a first signal indicative of a first pitch angle. The machine further includes a control module configured to receive the first signal indicative of the first pitch angle. The control module is also configured to generate a second signal for controlling a movement of the actuator assembly based on the first signal. The control module is further configured to transmit the second signal to the actuator assembly in order to move the upper structure by a second pitch angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Caterpillar Global Mining Equipment LLC
    Inventors: Saravanan S. Mathivanan, Sridhar Thondikulam Raveendran
  • Patent number: 11891023
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an interface and a processor. The interface may be configured to receive video frames comprising at least one of a vehicle or an outdoor environment near the vehicle and a correction signal. The processor may be configured to perform video operations on the video frames to detect objects, predict a state of the vehicle based on the objects detected in the video frames and generate the correction signal. The correction signal may be configured to apply a corrective measure based on the predicted state of the vehicle. The state of the vehicle may be predicted when the vehicle is parked in the outdoor environment. The state of the vehicle may comprise factors that prevent driving the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Ambarella International LP
    Inventors: Greg Hedman, Shimon Pertsel
  • Patent number: 11866045
    Abstract: The present invention is intended to make it possible to automatically drive a test object without performing pre-learning for a running performance map for each vehicle. There is provided an automatic test object driving device that automatically drives a test vehicle based on a command vehicle speed, and that includes a driving actuator for performing driving operation of the test vehicle, and a driving control unit for controlling the driving actuator. The driving control unit includes a first accelerator map and a second accelerator map each of which indicates a relationship among a vehicle-speed-related value, an acceleration-related value, and an accelerator-depression-amount-related value. The driving control unit uses the first accelerator map to determine an accelerator depression amount corresponding to the command vehicle speed, and uses the second accelerator map to correct the accelerator depression amount by feeding back a vehicle speed and an acceleration of the test vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Inventors: Yoshitake Ando, Takashi Saito
  • Patent number: 11858794
    Abstract: A control device includes a route acquisition unit configured to acquire routes of a movable body for moving target objects to or from a target position at which the target objects are to be picked up or dropped, a reference position/posture acquisition unit configured to acquire information on a position at which the movable body picks up or drops a first target object of the target objects at the target position, and an information output unit configured to output information acquired by the route acquisition unit to the movable body. The route acquisition unit is configured to acquire the routes of the movable body for moving second and subsequent target objects of the target objects, based on the information acquired by the reference position/posture acquisition unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Kenji Takao, Yusuke Kinouchi, Noriyuki Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 11852480
    Abstract: Methods and systems for operating a system that includes an array of sensors are described. In one example, output of sensors included in the array is characterized as being in one of a plurality of states. Diagnostics may be performed on sensors in the array of sensors based on sensors being in one of the plurality of states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: VOCIS LIMITED
    Inventors: James M. Richardson, Richard Barnbrook
  • Patent number: 11851853
    Abstract: A local operator-controlled work machine receives a wake-up call when it is not running. The wake-up call turns on a user interface in the machine. A remote machine configuration system loads a job file onto the machine and the machine turns off again.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Lance R. Sherlock
  • Patent number: 11851310
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an autonomous forklift truck capable of recognizing a location of the autonomous forklift truck and a location of an obstacle in a work area, and the truck includes a location recognition sensor to detect the location of the autonomous forklift truck through a laser emitted and reflected from a reflective marking equipped in a structure, a first sensor to detect an obstacle near a work area floor, a second sensor to detect an obstacle at a predetermined height from the floor, a fork laser sensor to measure a distance from a rack where a pallet is loaded or a distance from the pallet, a first fork photoelectric sensor and a second fork photoelectric sensor, and a control unit to process sensing signals inputted from all the sensors and control the driving and attachments of the autonomous forklift truck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: HD Hyundai Xitesolution Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Joon Hyeok Yeo, Jong Hyun Hwang, Moon Su Park, Young Rae Cho, Su Hyeon Gim
  • Patent number: 11840435
    Abstract: A simulation system for telehandlers that are equipped with a movable operating arm designed to lift and move loads, and stabilisers that include a plurality of movable stabilising arms. An acquisition module is configured to receive at least functional parameters relating to operating conditions of the stabilising arms. A calculation module is configured to determine a potential stability condition as a function of the operating parameters. And an output module is configured to provide an operator with information representing the condition of potential stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: MANITOU ITALIA S.R.L.
    Inventor: Marco Iotti
  • Patent number: 11835349
    Abstract: A driving support apparatus that includes a communication device configured to communicate with a vehicle-mounted device installed in a vehicle that is under automatic driving control and a mobile terminal of a user of the vehicle, and a processor configured to send, upon receiving a return request for moving the vehicle to an exit location at which the user has exited the vehicle, from the mobile terminal through the communication device, a return command for moving the vehicle to the exit location to the vehicle-mounted device through the communication device, when a return time required to move the vehicle to the exit location is less than an available return time, the available return time being calculated based on an expected arrival time at which the vehicle is expected to arrive at a destination of a passenger different from the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takahiro Shiga, Mami Kato, Masato Endo
  • Patent number: 11827231
    Abstract: A system according to the present disclosure includes an actuator control module and a damping ratio module. The actuator control module is configured to control an actuator of a vehicle to cause the vehicle to perform a yaw maneuver by rotating about its yaw axis. The damping ratio module is configured to determine a damping ratio based on an operating parameter measured during the yaw maneuver. The operating parameter includes at least one of a yaw rate of the vehicle, a yaw rate of a trailer connected to the vehicle, a lateral acceleration of the vehicle, a lateral acceleration of the trailer, a heading angle of the vehicle, and a hitch angle between a longitudinal axis of the vehicle and a longitudinal axis of the trailer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Wen-Chiao Lin, Bo Yu
  • Patent number: 11814032
    Abstract: An electrified vehicle having an electric machine coupled to a traction battery to selectively propel the vehicle and associated method for the electrified vehicle include receiving trip data from an external server, the trip data including a plurality of road segments of a selected route from a starting location to a destination, each road segment having an associated energy consumption and distance, calculating a distance-to-empty (DTE) based on a remaining trip distance to the destination, available energy of the traction battery, an estimated traction battery energy required for the remaining trip distance, and an overall vehicle efficiency, the estimated traction battery energy being based on a combination of the received segment energy consumption and distance of each remaining segment in the trip, and communicating the DTE to a display within the electrified vehicle to reduce fluctuations in displayed DTE during travel along routes with nonlinear energy consumption (changing energy efficiency).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Poll, Erik Biberstein, Ryan Hunt, Jacob Doan, John William Schmotzer
  • Patent number: 11817562
    Abstract: A vehicle includes: a battery pack including a secondary battery, a battery sensor that detects a state of the secondary battery, and a first control device; a second control device provided separately from the battery pack; and a converter. The first control device is configured to use a detection value of the battery sensor to obtain a current upper limit value indicating an upper limit value of an output current of the secondary battery. The second control device is configured to use a power upper limit value indicating an upper limit value of an output power of the secondary battery to control the output power of the secondary battery. The converter is configured to perform conversion of the current upper limit value into the power upper limit value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Kikuchi, Junichi Matsumoto, Akio Uotani
  • Patent number: 11808009
    Abstract: Described is an operator vehicle, comprising: a platform (2), equipped with a seat (3); a tower (T), coupled to the seat (3) in a rotatable fashion about a main rotation axis; motor means, arranged to rotate the tower (T) about the main axis; a detector, arranged to detect the movement of the angular position of the tower towards a reference angular position relative to the main axis, and to emit a corresponding proximity signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: MANITOU ITALIA S.R.L.
    Inventor: Marco Iotti
  • Patent number: 11794672
    Abstract: An apparatus of controlling a vehicle may include a sensor that obtains state information of the vehicle, a plurality of controllers that operate in at least one communication domain, and a processor that detects a first controller that wakes up first among the plurality of controllers, wherein the processor is configured to determine whether to cut off power of the first controller according to whether the first controller is in a normal wake-up state based on the state information of the vehicle and whether the first controller is in a normal sleep state based on a sleep entry time of a communication domain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hae Yun Kwon