Patents by Inventor Nathan C. Westover

Nathan C. Westover 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).

  • Publication number: 20200062203
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods generally including detecting, using a sensor, an impact at a vehicle; before, during, or after detecting the impact, storing a first data set associated with the vehicle in a first memory; in response to detecting the impact, retrieving the first data set from the first memory; transmitting, using a first short range communication device, the first data set via a first wireless signal; receiving, using a second short range communication device, the first data set via the first wireless signal; and storing the first data set in a second memory; and after storing the first data set in the second memory, retrieving the first data set from the second memory; wherein the first short range communication device is part of the vehicle; and wherein the second short range communication device is part of an infrastructure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2018
    Publication date: February 27, 2020
    Inventor: Nathan C. Westover
  • Publication number: 20200066149
    Abstract: Methods and systems of the present disclosure allow vehicle participants to issue vehicle statistical challenges to other vehicle participants using V2V communications. Accepted challenges are initiated and vehicle statistics relevant to the challenge are then recorded by the system in both vehicles. Once the challenge is complete, the system calculates and/or compares the results of the challenge, then communicates the results to the challenge participants. The system may also provide options for drivers to communicate via V2V messages, directions, routes, places of interest, or emergency locations in lieu of stopping and inquiring other vehicle participants in person.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Publication date: February 27, 2020
    Inventors: Abril A. Galang, Nathan C. Westover, Joshua D. Payne
  • Patent number: 10391872
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and device for charging and/or moving a vehicle. The charging and force movement system includes a high voltage battery for providing an electrical charge. The charging and force movement system includes an inductive loop configured to charge or move a second vehicle. The charging and force movement system includes an electronic control unit that is connected to at least one of the high voltage battery or the inductive loop. The electronic control unit is configured to determine whether the first vehicle is in a charging mode or in a force movement mode and control the high voltage battery and the inductive loop to receive from or provide a charge to the second vehicle when in the charging mode and repel or attract the second vehicle when in the force movement mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Geoffrey David Gaither, Joshua D. Payne, Nathan C. Westover
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20190049959
    Abstract: A system for adjusting acceleration of a vehicle based on user preference includes a memory designed to store first and second base vehicle acceleration modes each corresponding to a different pre-selected acceleration profile of the vehicle, and a power source for generating power. The system also includes an input device designed to receive a selected base acceleration mode and a user acceleration adjustment indicating a desired adjustment to the selected base acceleration mode. The system also includes an ECU designed to control the power source to accelerate the vehicle using the selected base acceleration mode during an initial trip of the vehicle, create a first user acceleration profile that corresponds to the desired adjustment to the selected base acceleration mode when the user acceleration adjustment is received, and control the power source to accelerate the vehicle using the first user acceleration profile during a second trip of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2017
    Publication date: February 14, 2019
    Inventors: Geoffrey D. Gaither, Nathan C. Westover
  • 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: 20190009679
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and device for charging and/or moving a vehicle. The charging and force movement system includes a high voltage battery for providing an electrical charge. The charging and force movement system includes an inductive loop configured to charge or move a second vehicle. The charging and force movement system includes an electronic control unit that is connected to at least one of the high voltage battery or the inductive loop. The electronic control unit is configured to determine whether the first vehicle is in a charging mode or in a force movement mode and control the high voltage battery and the inductive loop to receive from or provide a charge to the second vehicle when in the charging mode and repel or attract the second vehicle when in the force movement mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2017
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventors: Geoffrey David Gaither, Joshua D. Payne, Nathan C. Westover
  • Patent number: 10144427
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for predicting the braking or acceleration of a vehicle. The pedal change prediction system includes a braking sensor for providing braking data or an acceleration sensor pedal for providing acceleration data. The pedal change prediction system includes an electronic control unit that is configured to determine a rate of depression of the brake pedal or the acceleration pedal that is associated with a first braking force or a first acceleration force. The electronic control unit is configured to predict a triggering event that is either a braking event or an acceleration event. The electronic control unit predicts the triggering event based on the rate of depression of the brake pedal or the acceleration pedal and causes the vehicle to apply a second braking force or a second acceleration force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Nathan C. Westover
  • Patent number: 10118612
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a sensor system outputting one or more signals and an electronic control unit communicatively coupled to the sensor system. The electronic control unit may be configured to detect a target vehicle external to the vehicle based on the one or more signals output by the sensor system, identify the detected target vehicle, determine rating information for at least one of the target vehicle and a driver of the target vehicle, predict at least one action of the target vehicle based on the rating information, and effect one or more changes to the vehicle based on the predicted at least one action of the target vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan C. Westover, Geoffrey D. Gaither, Justin J. Chow
  • Publication number: 20180257655
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for predicting the braking or acceleration of a vehicle. The pedal change prediction system includes a braking sensor for providing braking data or an acceleration sensor pedal for providing acceleration data. The pedal change prediction system includes an electronic control unit that is configured to determine a rate of depression of the brake pedal or the acceleration pedal that is associated with a first braking force or a first acceleration force. The electronic control unit is configured to predict a triggering event that is either a braking event or an acceleration event. The electronic control unit predicts the triggering event based on the rate of depression of the brake pedal or the acceleration pedal and causes the vehicle to apply a second braking force or a second acceleration force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Inventor: Nathan C. Westover
  • Publication number: 20180251124
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a sensor system outputting one or more signals and an electronic control unit communicatively coupled to the sensor system. The electronic control unit may be configured to detect a target vehicle external to the vehicle based on the one or more signals output by the sensor system, identify the detected target vehicle, determine rating information for at least one of the target vehicle and a driver of the target vehicle, predict at least one action of the target vehicle based on the rating information, and effect one or more changes to the vehicle based on the predicted at least one action of the target vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan C. Westover, Geoffrey D. Gaither, Justin J. Chow