Patents by Inventor Benjamin M. Geller

Benjamin M. Geller has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11142175
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for a brake assist control system. The brake assist control system is for a vehicle. The brake assist control system includes a first sensor configured to detect driver awareness. The brake assist control system includes an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is coupled to the first sensor. The electronic control unit is configured to determine that a brake pedal and an accelerator pedal are in a released position. The electronic control unit is configured to determine that there is vehicle movement. The electronic control unit is configured to determine that a driver of the vehicle is unaware of the vehicle movement based on the driver awareness. The electronic control unit is configured to reduce or eliminate the vehicle movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Justin J. Chow, Benjamin M. Geller, Abril A. Galang
  • Patent number: 11104323
    Abstract: A system includes a power source and a memory to store an event that is predicted to occur, an action to be performed by the power source to increase efficiency of the power source during the stored event, and a mis-prediction counter indicating a count of mis-predictions. The system further includes an ECU designed to predict that the stored event will occur and to control the power source to take the action when the stored event is predicted to occur. The ECU is further designed to update the mis-prediction counter and to adjust at least one of the stored event that is predicted to occur, the stored action to be performed by the power source, or a prediction horizon of the prediction when the mis-prediction counter reaches or exceeds a threshold quantity of mis-predictions to increase efficiency of the power source during a subsequent prediction of the stored event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin M. Geller, Joshua D. Payne, Geoffrey David Gaither
  • Patent number: 10710588
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for a lane assist system that prepares the vehicle to move from a current lane to an adjacent lane. The lane assist system includes a sensor for detecting one or more surrounding vehicles in an adjacent lane and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is connected to the sensor. The electronic control unit is configured to predict or determine predict or determine that the vehicle intends to or is moving from a current lane to an adjacent lane. The electronic control unit is configured to determine one or more locations of the one or more surrounding vehicles in the adjacent lane, and control operations of the vehicle to prepare the vehicle for a lane change to a first open space or area in the adjacent lane based on the one or more locations of the one or more surrounding vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Benjamin M. Geller
  • Publication number: 20200216044
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for a brake assist control system. The brake assist control system is for a vehicle. The brake assist control system includes a first sensor configured to detect driver awareness. The brake assist control system includes an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is coupled to the first sensor. The electronic control unit is configured to determine that a brake pedal and an accelerator pedal are in a released position. The electronic control unit is configured to determine that there is vehicle movement. The electronic control unit is configured to determine that a driver of the vehicle is unaware of the vehicle movement based on the driver awareness. The electronic control unit is configured to reduce or eliminate the vehicle movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2019
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Inventors: Justin J. Chow, Benjamin M. Geller, Abril A. Galang
  • Patent number: 10683002
    Abstract: A system for increasing efficiency of a current vehicle includes a power source designed to generate power to propel the current vehicle and a distance sensor designed to detect multiple distance measurements each corresponding to a distance from the current vehicle to a reference vehicle. The system also includes an electronic control unit (ECU) coupled to the power source and the distance sensor and designed to determine an acceleration or deceleration rate of the reference vehicle based on the multiple distance measurements. The ECU is also designed to predict a forthcoming acceleration or deceleration rate of the current vehicle based on the determined acceleration rate or the determined deceleration rate of the reference vehicle. The ECU is also designed to change operation of the power source to increase efficiency of the power source based on the predicted forthcoming acceleration or deceleration rate of the current vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Benjamin M. Geller, Geoffrey D. Gaither
  • Patent number: 10576839
    Abstract: A system for reducing motor drive loss in a vehicle. The system includes a motor designed to convert electrical energy into torque. The system also includes a sensor designed to detect motor data corresponding to at least one of a motor torque or a motor speed of the motor. The system also includes a memory designed to store testing data including optimized current commands for multiple combinations of motor torques that were determined during testing of the motor or a similar motor. The system also includes a speed or torque controller coupled to the motor, the sensor, and the memory and designed to receive a speed or torque command and to determine a current command signal usable to control the motor based on the speed or torque command, the testing data, the detected motor data, and an artificial intelligence algorithm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Benjamin M. Geller
  • Patent number: 10562369
    Abstract: A system includes a power source, a sensor to detect data, and a HVAC system having a compressor to compress vapor refrigerant and a fan to blow conditioned air into a cabin of the vehicle, the compressor and the fan both designed to operate using a portion of the power generated by the power source. The system further includes an ECU to predict that the vehicle will accelerate or decelerate based on the data, to decrease power provided to the compressor and increase power provided to the fan when the ECU predicts the acceleration in order to reduce total power provided to the HVAC system and to reduce variance in total noise and vibration generated by the HVAC system, and to increase power to the compressor when the ECU predicts that the vehicle will decelerate in order to increase the total power provided to the HVAC system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Benjamin M. Geller, Joshua D. Payne, Shannon Alicia Wrobel
  • Publication number: 20200039361
    Abstract: A system for reducing motor drive loss in a vehicle. The system includes a motor designed to convert electrical energy into torque. The system also includes a sensor designed to detect motor data corresponding to at least one of a motor torque or a motor speed of the motor. The system also includes a memory designed to store testing data including optimized current commands for multiple combinations of motor torques that were determined during testing of the motor or a similar motor. The system also includes a speed or torque controller coupled to the motor, the sensor, and the memory and designed to receive a speed or torque command and to determine a current command signal usable to control the motor based on the speed or torque command, the testing data, the detected motor data, and an artificial intelligence algorithm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2018
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventor: Benjamin M. Geller
  • Publication number: 20190217848
    Abstract: A system includes a power source and a memory to store an event that is predicted to occur, an action to be performed by the power source to increase efficiency of the power source during the stored event, and a mis-prediction counter indicating a count of mis-predictions. The system further includes an ECU designed to predict that the stored event will occur and to control the power source to take the action when the stored event is predicted to occur. The ECU is further designed to update the mis-prediction counter and to adjust at least one of the stored event that is predicted to occur, the stored action to be performed by the power source, or a prediction horizon of the prediction when the mis-prediction counter reaches or exceeds a threshold quantity of mis-predictions to increase efficiency of the power source during a subsequent prediction of the stored event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Inventors: Benjamin M. Geller, Joshua D. Payne, Geoffrey David Gaither
  • Patent number: 10343684
    Abstract: A system includes a sensor designed to detect data corresponding to a speed of a vehicle and a motor designed to convert electrical energy into driving torque. The system also includes a first wheel coupled to the motor and designed to propel the vehicle in response to receiving the driving torque along with a second wheel. The system also includes a brake coupled to at least one of the first wheel or the second wheel and designed to apply a braking torque to the at least one of the first wheel or the second wheel. The system also includes an ECU coupled to the sensor and the motor and designed to control the motor to begin controlled braking by applying the driving torque to the first wheel to at least partially offset the braking torque when the speed of the vehicle is at or below a braking threshold speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Benjamin M. Geller
  • Patent number: 10345110
    Abstract: A device and method for autonomous vehicle routing based on chaos assessment are provided. A plurality of route options based on destination objective data relative to current autonomous vehicle position data are generated. For each of the plurality of route options, an associated chaos level may be assessed, and an autonomous cooperability metric may be generated based on the associated chaos level. Autonomous selection of a route option of the plurality of route options is based on a favorable autonomous cooperability metric, and an autonomous mission description data is generated based on the route option that includes the favorable autonomous cooperability metric. The autonomous mission description data may be transmitted for autonomously engaging a destination being defined by the destination objective data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan C. Westover, Benjamin M. Geller, Justin J. Chow
  • Patent number: 10252710
    Abstract: A system includes a power source and a memory to store an event that is predicted to occur, an action to be performed by the power source to increase efficiency of the power source during the stored event, and a mis-prediction counter indicating a count of mis-predictions. The system further includes an ECU designed to predict that the stored event will occur and to control the power source to take the action when the stored event is predicted to occur. The ECU is further designed to update the mis-prediction counter and to adjust at least one of the stored event that is predicted to occur, the stored action to be performed by the power source, or a prediction horizon of the prediction when the mis-prediction counter reaches or exceeds a threshold quantity of mis-predictions to increase efficiency of the power source during a subsequent prediction of the stored event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Benjamin M. Geller, Joshua D. Payne, Geoffrey David Gaither
  • Publication number: 20190049257
    Abstract: A device and method for autonomous vehicle routing based on chaos assessment are provided. A plurality of route options based on destination objective data relative to current autonomous vehicle position data are generated. For each of the plurality of route options, an associated chaos level may be assessed, and an autonomous cooperability metric may be generated based on the associated chaos level. Autonomous selection of a route option of the plurality of route options is based on a favorable autonomous cooperability metric, and an autonomous mission description data is generated based on the route option that includes the favorable autonomous cooperability metric. The autonomous mission description data may be transmitted for autonomously engaging a destination being defined by the destination objective data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2017
    Publication date: February 14, 2019
    Inventors: Nathan C. Westover, Benjamin M. Geller, Justin J. Chow
  • Publication number: 20180370523
    Abstract: A system for increasing efficiency of a current vehicle includes a power source designed to generate power to propel the current vehicle and a distance sensor designed to detect multiple distance measurements each corresponding to a distance from the current vehicle to a reference vehicle. The system also includes an electronic control unit (ECU) coupled to the power source and the distance sensor and designed to determine an acceleration or deceleration rate of the reference vehicle based on the multiple distance measurements. The ECU is also designed to predict a forthcoming acceleration or deceleration rate of the current vehicle based on the determined acceleration rate or the determined deceleration rate of the reference vehicle. The ECU is also designed to change operation of the power source to increase efficiency of the power source based on the predicted forthcoming acceleration or deceleration rate of the current vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2017
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: Benjamin M. Geller, Geoffrey D. Gaither
  • Publication number: 20180339708
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for a lane assist system that prepares the vehicle to move from a current lane to an adjacent lane. The lane assist system includes a sensor for detecting one or more surrounding vehicles in an adjacent lane and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is connected to the sensor. The electronic control unit is configured to predict or determine predict or determine that the vehicle intends to or is moving from a current lane to an adjacent lane. The electronic control unit is configured to determine one or more locations of the one or more surrounding vehicles in the adjacent lane, and control operations of the vehicle to prepare the vehicle for a lane change to a first open space or area in the adjacent lane based on the one or more locations of the one or more surrounding vehicles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2017
    Publication date: November 29, 2018
    Inventor: Benjamin M. Geller
  • Publication number: 20180334012
    Abstract: A system includes a power source, a sensor to detect data, and a HVAC system having a compressor to compress vapor refrigerant and a fan to blow conditioned air into a cabin of the vehicle, the compressor and the fan both designed to operate using a portion of the power generated by the power source. The system further includes an ECU to predict that the vehicle will accelerate or decelerate based on the data, to decrease power provided to the compressor and increase power provided to the fan when the ECU predicts the acceleration in order to reduce total power provided to the HVAC system and to reduce variance in total noise and vibration generated by the HVAC system, and to increase power to the compressor when the ECU predicts that the vehicle will decelerate in order to increase the total power provided to the HVAC system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2017
    Publication date: November 22, 2018
    Inventors: Benjamin M. Geller, Joshua D. Payne, Shannon Alicia Wrobel
  • Publication number: 20180326968
    Abstract: A system includes a power source and a memory to store an event that is predicted to occur, an action to be performed by the power source to increase efficiency of the power source during the stored event, and a mis-prediction counter indicating a count of mis-predictions. The system further includes an ECU designed to predict that the stored event will occur and to control the power source to take the action when the stored event is predicted to occur. The ECU is further designed to update the mis-prediction counter and to adjust at least one of the stored event that is predicted to occur, the stored action to be performed by the power source, or a prediction horizon of the prediction when the mis-prediction counter reaches or exceeds a threshold quantity of mis-predictions to increase efficiency of the power source during a subsequent prediction of the stored event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2017
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Inventors: Benjamin M. Geller, Joshua D. Payne, Geoffrey David Gaither
  • Patent number: 9956948
    Abstract: A system includes an engine, a motor and a transmission coupled to the engine and the motor and that can be shifted from a first gear ratio to a second gear ratio. The system also includes an ECU that may receive or generate a shift command corresponding to an instruction for the transmission to shift from the first gear ratio to the second gear ratio and may determine a target engine speed corresponding to a desired speed of the engine when the transmission shifts from the first gear ratio to the second gear ratio. The ECU may control the motor to adjust the motor torque such that the motor torque causes the engine speed to become close or equal to the target engine speed and may cause the transmission to shift to the second gear ratio when the engine speed is within a threshold of the target engine speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Benjamin M. Geller
  • Patent number: 9809158
    Abstract: A method for notifying a third party or a third party device (e.g., a mobile phone or a second vehicle) as to whether a first vehicle is operating in an autonomous mode or a semi-autonomous mode. The method includes receiving, at a first electronic control unit, notification information including whether the first vehicle is operating in the autonomous mode or the semi-autonomous mode and a description of or details about the first vehicle and transmitting from a transmitter of the first vehicle to a receiver of the third party device, the notification information. The method also includes displaying, using a display screen of the third party device, the notification information including whether the first vehicle is operating in the autonomous mode or the semi-autonomous mode and the description of or the details about the first vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Benjamin M. Geller
  • Publication number: 20170282925
    Abstract: A system includes a sensor designed to detect data corresponding to a speed of a vehicle and a motor designed to convert electrical energy into driving torque. The system also includes a first wheel coupled to the motor and designed to propel the vehicle in response to receiving the driving torque along with a second wheel. The system also includes a brake coupled to at least one of the first wheel or the second wheel and designed to apply a braking torque to the at least one of the first wheel or the second wheel. The system also includes an ECU coupled to the sensor and the motor and designed to control the motor to begin controlled braking by applying the driving torque to the first wheel to at least partially offset the braking torque when the speed of the vehicle is at or below a braking threshold speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventor: Benjamin M. Geller