Patents by Inventor Kevin P. Blair
Kevin P. Blair 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).
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Publication number: 20240131892Abstract: Suspension systems for recreational vehicles are disclosed. The suspension systems may include at least one adjustable member coupling a sway bar to respective suspensions. The suspension systems may include a torque actuator associated with a sway bar.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 2, 2024Publication date: April 25, 2024Inventors: Jonathon P. Graus, David D. Helgeson, Kyle W. Olson, Justin T. Anderson, Jacob P. Horky, Kevin P. Blair
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Patent number: 11904648Abstract: Suspension systems for recreational vehicles are disclosed. The suspension systems may include at least one adjustable member coupling a sway bar to respective suspensions. The suspension systems may include a torque actuator associated with a sway bar.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2021Date of Patent: February 20, 2024Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.Inventors: Jonathon P. Graus, David D. Helgeson, Kyle W. Olson, Justin T. Anderson, Jacob P. Horky, Kevin P. Blair
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Publication number: 20230049367Abstract: Techniques for thruster system control for a pontoon boat or other watercraft. A thruster system may comprise a plurality of thrusters used to control movement of the pontoon boat in addition to an outboard prime mover. The thrusters may be fixed and/or steerable thrusters. In examples, the thrusters may be retracted based on identifying a condition in which the thrusters may be damaged. The thrusters may be deployed based on identifying a condition in which the thrusters may be used to recharge an associated energy source. User input to control the thrusters may be adapted to account for external forces acting on the pontoon boat. A user interface is provided with which to control the thruster system, via which an operator manipulates a movement intent line to control the thruster system. The user interface may further comprise obstacle indicators, thereby enabling the operator to maneuver the pontoon boat accordingly.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 8, 2022Publication date: February 16, 2023Applicant: Polaris Industries Inc.Inventors: James J. Endrizzi, Jacob L. Stock, Austin R. Bartz, Michael J. Fuchs, Erik W. Rogers, Michael T. Yobe, Joseph P. Nuxoll, Kevin P. Blair, John E. Kraus
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Publication number: 20220348183Abstract: A system and method for interfacing an autonomous or remote control drive-by-wire controller with a vehicle's control modules. Vehicle functions including steering, braking, starting, etc. are controllable by wire via a control network. A CAN architecture is used as an interface between the remote/autonomous controller and the vehicle's control modules. A CAN module interface provides communication between a vehicle control system and a supervisory, remote, autonomous, or drive-by-wire controller. The interface permits the supervisory control to control vehicle operation within pre-determined bounds and using control algorithms.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 7, 2022Publication date: November 3, 2022Inventors: Amber P. Malone, David J. Koenig, Kevin P. Blair, Patrick D. Weldon, Cole A. Sytsma
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Patent number: 11400914Abstract: A system and method for interfacing an autonomous or remote control drive-by-wire controller with a vehicle's control modules. Vehicle functions including steering, braking, starting, etc. are controllable by wire via a control network. A CAN architecture is used as an interface between the remote/autonomous controller and the vehicle's control modules. A CAN module interface provides communication between a vehicle control system and a supervisory, remote, autonomous, or drive-by-wire controller. The interface permits the supervisory control to control vehicle operation within pre-determined bounds and using control algorithms.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2020Date of Patent: August 2, 2022Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.Inventors: Amber P. Malone, David J. Koenig, Kevin P. Blair, Patrick D. Weldon, Cole A. Sytsma
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Publication number: 20220016949Abstract: Suspension systems for recreational vehicles are disclosed. The suspension systems may include at least one adjustable member coupling a sway bar to respective suspensions. The suspension systems may include a torque actuator associated with a sway bar.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 19, 2021Publication date: January 20, 2022Inventors: Jonathon P. Graus, David D. Helgeson, Kyle W. Olson, Justin T. Anderson, Jacob P. Horky, Kevin P. Blair
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Publication number: 20200298818Abstract: A system and method for interfacing an autonomous or remote control drive-by-wire controller with a vehicle's control modules. Vehicle functions including steering, braking, starting, etc. are controllable by wire via a control network. A CAN architecture is used as an interface between the remote/autonomous controller and the vehicle's control modules. A CAN module interface provides communication between a vehicle control system and a supervisory, remote, autonomous, or drive-by-wire controller. The interface permits the supervisory control to control vehicle operation within pre-determined bounds and using control algorithms.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 22, 2020Publication date: September 24, 2020Inventors: Amber P. Malone, David J. Koenig, Kevin P. Blair, Patrick D. Weldon, Cole A. Sytsma
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Patent number: 10647324Abstract: Vehicles including a plurality of front and rear ground engaging members, a front driveline operatively coupled to a first power source, a rear driveline operatively coupled to a second power source, at least one controller operatively coupled to the first drive system and the second drive system are disclosed. The vehicles may further include a torque request input adapted to be actuatable by an operator of the vehicle. The torque request input may provide an indication of a requested torque to the at least one controller. The at least one controller may, based on the requested torque, command a first output of the first drive system to the at least one front ground engaging member and a second output of the second drive system to the at least one rear ground engaging member. Vehicle drive control systems are also disclosed. Methods of controlling torque and battery management are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2016Date of Patent: May 12, 2020Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.Inventors: Stephen G. Crain, Peter J. Erasmus, David F. Buehler, Markus Hoffet, Kevin P. Blair
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Patent number: 10640101Abstract: A system and method for interfacing an autonomous or remote control drive-by-wire controller with a vehicle's control modules. Vehicle functions including steering, braking, starting, etc. are controllable by wire via a control network. A CAN architecture is used as an interface between the remote/autonomous controller and the vehicle's control modules. A CAN module interface provides communication between a vehicle control system and a supervisory, remote, autonomous, or drive-by-wire controller. The interface permits the supervisory control to control vehicle operation within pre-determined bounds and using control algorithms.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2018Date of Patent: May 5, 2020Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.Inventors: Amber P. Malone, David J. Koenig, Kevin P. Blair, Patrick D. Weldon, Cole A. Sytsma
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Publication number: 20190118792Abstract: A system and method for interfacing an autonomous or remote control drive-by-wire controller with a vehicle's control modules. Vehicle functions including steering, braking, starting, etc. are controllable by wire via a control network. A CAN architecture is used as an interface between the remote/autonomous controller and the vehicle's control modules. A CAN module interface provides communication between a vehicle control system and a supervisory, remote, autonomous, or drive-by-wire controller. The interface permits the supervisory control to control vehicle operation within pre-determined bounds and using control algorithms.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2018Publication date: April 25, 2019Applicant: Polaris Industries Inc.Inventors: Amber P. Malone, David J. Koenig, Kevin P. Blair, Patrick D. Weldon, Cole A. Sytsma
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Patent number: 10160436Abstract: A system and method for interfacing an autonomous or remote control drive-by-wire controller with a vehicle's control modules. Vehicle functions including steering, braking, starting, etc. are controllable by wire via a control network. A CAN architecture is used as an interface between the remote/autonomous controller and the vehicle's control modules. A CAN module interface provides communication between a vehicle control system and a supervisory, remote, autonomous, or drive-by-wire controller. The interface permits the supervisory control to control vehicle operation within pre-determined bounds and using control algorithms.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2015Date of Patent: December 25, 2018Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.Inventors: Amber P. Malone, David J. Koenig, Kevin P. Blair, Patrick D. Weldon, Cole A. Sytsma
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Publication number: 20180086343Abstract: Vehicles including a plurality of front and rear ground engaging members, a front driveline operatively coupled to a first power source, a rear driveline operatively coupled to a second power source, at least one controller operatively coupled to the first drive system and the second drive system are disclosed. The vehicles may further include a torque request input adapted to be actuatable by an operator of the vehicle. The torque request input may provide an indication of a requested torque to the at least one controller. The at least one controller may, based on the requested torque, command a first output of the first drive system to the at least one front ground engaging member and a second output of the second drive system to the at least one rear ground engaging member. Vehicle drive control systems are also disclosed. Methods of controlling torque and battery management are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2016Publication date: March 29, 2018Inventors: Stephen G. Crain, Peter J. Erasmus, David F. Buehler, Markus Hoffet, Kevin P. Blair
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Publication number: 20160167653Abstract: A system and method for interfacing an autonomous or remote control drive-by-wire controller with a vehicle's control modules. Vehicle functions including steering, braking, starting, etc. are controllable by wire via a control network. A CAN architecture is used as an interface between the remote/autonomous controller and the vehicle's control modules. A CAN module interface provides communication between a vehicle control system and a supervisory, remote, autonomous, or drive-by-wire controller. The interface permits the supervisory control to control vehicle operation within pre-determined bounds and using control algorithms.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2015Publication date: June 16, 2016Applicant: Polaris Industries, Inc.Inventors: Amber P. Malone, David J. Koenig, Kevin P. Blair, Patrick D. Weldon, Cole A. Sytsma