Patents Issued in March 11, 2014
  • Patent number: 8670900
    Abstract: In a rear wheel steering control system for a vehicle, a rear wheel steering control unit (53) forces the toe angle of each rear wheel (3rl, 3rr) to a substantially neutral position or a slightly toe-in position when a road condition estimating unit (63) has detected a rough road surface. Thereby, when the vehicle is traveling over a rough road surface, the actuator is forced to the neutral position, and the rear wheels are brought to a neutral position so that the changes in the wheel geometry (tread and/or alignment) of the rear wheels at the time of a bump or a rebound can be avoided. Therefore, the ride quality of a vehicle equipped with the rear wheel steering control system is favorably maintained even when the vehicle is traveling over a road surface, and the rear wheels undergo large vertical displacements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takashi Nishioka
  • Patent number: 8670901
    Abstract: A brake and steer-by-braking pedal arrangement for tractors includes a right pedal and a left pedal operating synchronously or diachronically; and at least one hydraulic or pneumatic circuit connected to one master cylinder activated by at least one of the pedals. The pedal arrangement also has potentiometers connected electronically to an electronic central control unit and the potentiometers determine the distance between the pedals The electronic central control unit determines, on the basis of data received from the potentiometers, whether or not to activate the steer-by-braking function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: Maurizio Vescovini, Riccardo Morselli
  • Patent number: 8670902
    Abstract: An electric power steering apparatus includes an rotating AC machine which generates an auxiliary torque for assisting a steering torque of a steering system; and a controller which performs control so that the allowed electric current amplitude of the rotating AC machine becomes large if a rotational speed of the rotating AC machine is increased. Accordingly, it is possible to release or lessen the limit on the number of repetitions or continuous time of the “stationary steering” or the “end contact”.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Kimpara, Takayuki Kifuku, Masatsugu Nakano
  • Patent number: 8670903
    Abstract: Method, system and non-transitory computer-readable medium for fail-safe performance of a lane centering system. An electrical power steering (EPS) system of a vehicle is monitored for a failure and operation of the lane centering system is switched to a differential braking controller to output differential braking commands to a differential breaking system upon determining that a failure of the EPS system has occurred, where the output braking commands direct the differential braking system to apply force a brake for a wheel of vehicle, such by the applied braking force the vehicle follows a desired path determined for a lane centering operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Jin-Woo Lee, Nikolai K. Moshchuk, Shih-Ken Chen
  • Patent number: 8670904
    Abstract: A motor control device includes: a rotation angle detection portion that detects a rotation angle of a motor and outputs a rotation angle signal; an abnormal condition detection portion that detects the presence or absence of an abnormal condition of the rotation angle detection portion; a rotation angle estimation portion that estimates the rotation angle of the motor and outputs an estimate rotation angle signal; and a driving control portion that controls driving of the motor on the basis of the rotation angle signal, which is output from the rotation angle detection portion, when the abnormal condition detection portion does not detect an abnormal condition of the rotation angle detection portion, and controls driving of the motor on the basis of the estimate rotation angle signal, which is output from the rotation angle estimation portion, when the abnormal condition detection portion detects an abnormal condition of the rotation angle detection portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsuhiko Yoneda, Yasuo Shimizu
  • Patent number: 8670905
    Abstract: A vehicle stability control method is to be performed by a vehicle stability control system of a motor vehicle, and includes the steps of: detecting an actual yaw rate, and obtaining a plurality of detection values by detecting a vehicle speed and a steering wheel angle, and at least one operation status selected from a lateral acceleration status, a load status and a steering wheel angular speed status; obtaining a plurality of intermediate weight values, from which a steering characteristic value is determined, based on the obtained detection values; obtaining a target yaw rate based on the vehicle speed, the steering wheel angle and the steering characteristic value; and controlling steering of road wheels according to difference between the target and actual yaw rates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Automotive Research & Testing Center
    Inventors: Jin-Yan Hsu, Bo-Ruei Chen, Tsung-Hsien Hu
  • Patent number: 8670906
    Abstract: Provided is an overturn preventing device for a dump vehicle equipped with a body (3) and hoist cylinders (5). The dump vehicle overturn preventing device comprises: a loaded weight estimation unit (32) which estimates loaded weight on the body; a vehicle rotation moment calculation unit (33) which calculates a vehicle rotation moment Mb caused by movement of the dump vehicle's load upon discharging of the load; a reference moment calculation unit (34) which determines a reference moment Ms not greater than an overturn threshold moment MI which is the minimum value of a rotation moment required to lift the front wheels (1) off the ground; a judgment unit (35) which judges whether or not the vehicle rotation moment Mb has exceeded the reference moment Ms; and a display device (37) which notifies the driver that there is a probability of an overturn of the vehicle when the vehicle rotation moment Mb is judged to have exceeded the reference moment Ms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanori Ichinose, Tomohiko Yasuda, Takayuki Sato
  • Patent number: 8670907
    Abstract: A first acceleration gear ratio is acquired for accelerating a host vehicle in a first acceleration zone following a first zone ahead of the host vehicle, and a second acceleration gear ratio is acquired for accelerating the host vehicle in a second acceleration zone following a second zone ahead of the first zone. A control is executed to set the gear ratio of the host vehicle to the first acceleration gear ratio in a first deceleration zone in order to decelerate the host vehicle before entering the first zone. A control is executed to set the gear ratio of the host vehicle to the second acceleration gear ratio when the host vehicle must decelerate with respect to the second zone while traveling in the first acceleration gear ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshito Kondou, Takayuki Miyajima, Atsushi Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 8670908
    Abstract: An automatic transmission including an input shaft connected to a drive source; an output shaft connected to a driving wheel; a one-way clutch; friction engagement elements which establish speeds by changing a transmission path between the input shaft and the output shaft based on the application state of the friction engagement elements and application of the one-way clutch, one of the friction engagement elements being a brake that is applied when coasting in a take-off speed. The automatic transmission also includes a controller that determines whether it is possible to initially establish the take-off speed using the one-way clutch based on a predetermined condition, and, if not possible, then the controller establishes the take-off speed by applying the brake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Shimizu, Kenichi Tsuchida, Akitomo Suzuki, Kazunori Ishikawa, Masamichi Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 8670909
    Abstract: An automotive vehicle may include one or more controllers, a braking system and an electric machine. The one or more controllers may be configured to determine whether the vehicle is about to roll over. The braking system may be configured to apply a braking torque for a time period, under the command of the one or more controllers, to a front traction wheel to cause the front traction wheel to skid or slide relative to a road if the vehicle is about to roll over. The electric machine may be configured to generate a propulsion torque, under the command of the one or more controllers, during the time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: William Paul Perkins, Michael Edward Brewer
  • Patent number: 8670910
    Abstract: A method for controlling a speed difference between speed of wheels of a front axle and speed of wheels of a rear axle of a four-wheel drive vehicle. The method: determines an initial speed difference set point based on the speed of the vehicle; determines one or more intermediate speed difference set points based on one or more operational parameters of the vehicle; modulates the initial speed difference set point based on the intermediate speed difference set points to obtain a final speed difference set point; measures the speed difference and compares the measured speed difference with the final speed difference set point; and controls the measured speed difference, so that the measured speed difference reaches the final speed difference set point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Renault S.A.S.
    Inventors: Francois Foussard, Alessandro Monti, Richard Pothin, Nicolas Romani, Philippe Saint-Loup
  • Patent number: 8670911
    Abstract: A vehicle stop control device is provided. The device is configured to perform a stop control for stopping a vehicle by adjusting a braking force for wheels and includes a target deceleration setting unit which sets a target deceleration as a target for stopping the vehicle so as to have a smaller value as a vehicle body velocity comes closer to zero, a deceleration obtaining unit which obtains a vehicle body deceleration of the vehicle, a control unit which performs the stop control of setting the braking force to have a smaller value as a subtraction value obtained by subtracting the target deceleration from the vehicle body deceleration is greater, and causing the set braking force to be applied to the wheels; and a determining unit which determines that a road surface is an ascent road when the braking force set by the control unit is zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Advics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shotaro Fukuda, Yukio Mori
  • Patent number: 8670912
    Abstract: An attitude change reduction structure, which reduces a vehicle attitude change that occurs during braking due to known left-right asymmetry of a vehicle structure, includes a brake pressure control mechanism that increases a brake pressure at a brake for a wheel (9) on a right side and a brake pressure at a brake for a wheel (9) on a left side to a same target brake pressure; and a brake pressure change rate differentiation structure that makes a rate of change in the brake pressure at the brake for the wheel (9) on the right side with respect to time different from a rate of change in the brake pressure at the brake for the wheel (9) on the left side with respect to time, based on the known left-right asymmetry of the vehicle structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinichi Fujiwara, Kohei Kozono
  • Patent number: 8670913
    Abstract: When an accelerator opening exceeds an opening threshold value, a base pedaling force of an accelerator pedal is increased. An increment to a pedaling force is changed in accordance with the accelerator opening in a manner to make the pedaling force approach a characteristic that the pedaling force increases at a constant rate with respect to increase of the accelerator opening. For example, when a mechanism is employed which has a convex-up characteristic wherein the rate of increase of base pedaling force decreases as the accelerator opening increases, the increment is set to increase as the accelerator opening increases. Conversely, when a mechanism is employed which has a convex-down characteristic wherein the rate of base pedaling force increases as the accelerator opening increases, the increment is set to decrease as the accelerator opening increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeyuki Sakaguchi, Masao Shiomi, Masahiro Omori
  • Patent number: 8670914
    Abstract: A vehicle brake control system has a braking detector and a braking controller. The braking detector determines whether a braking operation in a vehicle is within an initial braking stage based on a control condition of a frictional braking system. The braking controller performs initial braking stage control during the initial braking stage by controlling a regenerative braking system to provide a limited braking torque and the frictional braking system to provide a supplemental braking torque, the combination of which provides a target braking torque. The braking controller performs subsequent braking control when the initial braking stage ends to provide an increased regenerative braking torque and a lower supplemental braking torque as the target braking torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noriaki Fujiki, Keigo Ajiro, Takuya Higuchi
  • Patent number: 8670915
    Abstract: A vehicle driving assist system is provided that calculates a risk potential indicative of a degree of convergence between the host vehicle and the preceding obstacle. A first driving assistance control system controls at least one of an actuation reaction force exerted by a driver-operated driving operation device and a braking/driving force exerted against the host vehicle based on the risk potential calculated. A second driving assistance control system controls the braking/driving force of the host vehicle such that a headway distance is maintained between the host vehicle and the obstacle. A transition detecting section detects a transition of operating states of the first and second driving assistance control systems. The control adjusting section adjusts the control executed by the first and second driving assistance control systems when a transition of operating state is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Kuge, Takayuki Kondoh, Akira Onozuka, Tomohiro Yamamura, Yoshiharu Kamisuki
  • Patent number: 8670916
    Abstract: A fuel injection system for an internal combustion engine is provided which works to correct the pressure of fuel, as measured by a pressure sensor, using a pressure change corresponding to a change in quantity of the fuel in a common rail within a pressure change compensating time Tp to determine a pump discharge pressure Ptop. This compensates for an error in determining the pump discharge pressure Ptop which arises from propagation of the pressure of fuel from a pump to the pressure sensor. The pressure change compensating time Tp is the sum of a time T1 elapsed between sampling the output of the pressure sensor before a calculation start time when the pump discharge pressure is to start to be calculated and the calculation start time and a time T2 required for the pressure to transmit from the outlet of the pump to the pressure sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Masatoshi Maruyama
  • Patent number: 8670917
    Abstract: An inter-cylinder air-fuel-ratio imbalance determination apparatus includes an air-fuel-ratio sensor in an exhaust passage of an engine. The air-fuel-ratio sensor functions as a limiting-current-type wide range air-fuel-ratio sensor when a voltage is applied, and functions as a concentration-cell-type oxygen concentration sensor when no voltage is applied. The determination apparatus causes the air-fuel-ratio sensor to function as the limiting-current-type wide range air-fuel-ratio sensor, and executes air-fuel ratio feedback control on the basis of the output value of the air-fuel-ratio sensor. When an imbalance determination parameter is obtained, the determination apparatus causes the air-fuel-ratio sensor to function as the concentration-cell-type oxygen concentration sensor, and obtains, as the imbalance determination parameter, a value corresponding to the differentiated value of the output value of the air-fuel-ratio sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keiichiro Aoki, Yasushi Iwazaki
  • Patent number: 8670918
    Abstract: This disclosure provides a method of controlling a diesel engine, which includes executing a premix combustion pattern fuel injection containing one or more injections at a first timing, while introducing an amount of EGR gas according to an operating condition of the engine into a cylinder, when an engine load is low, to operate in a premix combustion mode, executing a diffusion combustion pattern fuel injection containing one or more injections at a second timing that is later than the first timing, when the engine load is high, to operate in a diffusion combustion mode, and executing a diffusion combustion pattern fuel injection at a third timing that is later than the second timing, while introducing the amount of EGR gas according to the operating condition of the engine into the cylinder, when shifting from the diffusion combustion mode to the premix combustion mode with a decrease in engine load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Shinichi Morinaga, Daisuke Shimo, Hiroshi Hayashibara, Kenji Tanimura
  • Patent number: 8670919
    Abstract: A method for diagnosing a condition of a system for supplying fuel to a fuel injected controlled-ignition internal combustion engine, of a type including an electric control device that makes use of an oxygen probe for closed-loop regulation of a value of an air/fuel ratio admitted to the combustion chambers of the engine, and according to which a signal delivered by the oxygen probe is analyzed, the method a) deducing from the signal a change in injection time correction factor ALPHACL_MEAN making it possible to regulate richness of exhaust gases leaving the engine; b) comparing ALPHACL_MEAN against predetermined minimum and maximum threshold values THRESHOLD_MIN and THRESHOLD_MAX; c) diagnosing a defective condition when ALPHACL_MEAN is outside of a window included between THRESHOLD_MIN and THRESHOLD_MAX.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Renault S.A.S.
    Inventors: Nicolas Protin, Michel Leporcq
  • Patent number: 8670920
    Abstract: A method of determining an air-fuel ratio of an internal combustion engine in real-time includes: calibrating sensitivity of a universal exhaust gas oxygen sensor to a plurality of gases; inputting to a universal exhaust gas oxygen sensor controller a molecular composition of Hydrogen, Carbon, Oxygen, and Nitrogen which comprise a combustion fuel in use in the internal combustion engine; calculating with the universal exhaust gas oxygen sensor controller an air-to-fuel ratio by performing a chemical balance equation calculation based on the universal exhaust gas oxygen sensor sensitivity calibration and the input combustion fuel molecular composition; and transmitting the calculated air-to-fuel ratio to an engine control unit in real-time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: BG Soflex, LLC
    Inventors: Bruce A. Bowling, Albert C. Grippo
  • Patent number: 8670921
    Abstract: A device for aiding the following of an airport route by an aircraft includes: an onboard system of optical sensors; means providing the current position of the aircraft; a database having topological information for the airport; a recognition system providing, on the basis of the video images arising from the system of optical sensors, data characteristics of the airport route portion, making it possible to identify a simple primitive representative of the route portion followed; and a processing computer. The processing computer extracts, from the database, a succession of simple geometric shapes representing the airport route and of the same nature as the primitives arising from the recognition system, compares the succession of shapes with the primitives, and validates or invalidates the route followed by the aircraft as a function of the result of the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Thales
    Inventors: Eric Lussiez, François Michel, Bernard Dubourg
  • Patent number: 8670922
    Abstract: When a user specifies a road that he/she wants to pass through, a guiding route generation device generates a guiding route that passes through the specified road up to a destination. A guiding route (37) generated based on waypoints specified is stored in a storage device (15) of the guiding route generation device. A display device (11) displays the guiding route (37) along with roads in the periphery. The guiding route generation device specifies a certain road as the specified pass-through road from among the roads displayed along with the guiding route (37), and further, finds and determines whether there are crossings and the number of the crossings between the specified pass-through road and the guiding route (37).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Kenwood
    Inventors: Masaki Kaneda, Masahiro Ueno
  • Patent number: 8670923
    Abstract: Mobile endpoints are provided that enable direction based pointing services including a positional component for receiving positional information as a function of a location of the portable electronic device, a directional component that outputs direction information as a function of an orientation of the portable electronic device and a location based engine that processes the positional information and the direction information to determine a subset of points of interest relative to the portable electronic device as a function of at least the positional information and the direction information. Devices can include compass(es), e.g., magnetic or gyroscopic, to determine a direction and GPS systems for determining location. A component for determining acceleration can also optionally be included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Moe Khosravy, Lev Novik, Darryl E. Rubin
  • Patent number: 8670924
    Abstract: A navigation assistance system and method determines limited access highway entrance points as destinations in a geographic information system. In one aspect, the limited access highway entrance points are stored as destinations in a geographic database within the geographic information system such that a telematics service provider can provide directions to the limited access highway entrance points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: General Motors LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Michalek, Mark Gibb
  • Patent number: 8670925
    Abstract: A non-scaled, linearly compressed pictographic mapping system is provided for the visual display of information in a navigational aid. Unlike today's road maps which use a point-arc-polygon paradigm, the new mapping uses a non-scaled, linearly-compressed pictographic design that shows roads as linear pictograms. The display has a columnar layout, whereby the descriptive elements are grouped together by type, and displayed one above the other in columns. The maps may also contain icons representing points of interest arranged in a cloud fashion. In this manner, the mapping paradigm also serves to increase traveler safety, provide navigation assistance during address-less trips, create valuable advertising space and new promotional opportunities, and dramatically increases the travelers' communications and entertainment options.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Calabrese Holdings L.L.C.
    Inventor: Adrian Gluck
  • Patent number: 8670926
    Abstract: A navigation device and a control method thereof are disclosed. The navigation device control method includes the steps of using a display unit to display at least one road map thereon; using a processing unit to determine whether a moving speed of the navigation device is larger than a speed threshold value; and if the moving speed of the navigation device is larger than the speed threshold value, the processing unit controlling the display unit to adjust a manner in which the road map is displayed on the display unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignees: MiTAC International Corp., MiTAC Research (Shanghai) Ltd.
    Inventor: Hua-En Zhang
  • Patent number: 8670927
    Abstract: A positioning method in a positioning device includes: measuring a current position by receiving positioning signals transmitted from a plurality of positioning satellites and performing first positioning processing using a least square method; determining whether or not a result of the first positioning processing satisfies a positioning change condition set beforehand as a condition for change of positioning processing; and measuring the current position by receiving the positioning signals transmitted from the plurality of positioning satellites and performing second positioning processing using a Kalman filter after stopping the first positioning processing when it is determined that the result of the first positioning processing satisfies the positioning change condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Ken Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8670928
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for optimally recording or transmitting positional data and events of an object, said apparatus including input means to continuously provide positional data to a microprocessor and a memory device to store selected positional data wherein the microprocessor is programmed to compares new positional data from said input means to previously recorded log of positional data and creates a new log if the new positional data differs from the previously recorded log in accordance with pre-determined parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Geotab, Inc.
    Inventor: Neil Charles Cawse
  • Patent number: 8670929
    Abstract: In at least one embodiment a system and a method for tracking locations for one of a primary driver and a secondary driver is provided. The apparatus comprises a communication module configured to receive a driver status signal indicative of the driver being the secondary driver. The communication module is further configured to detect the presence of a memory map device that provides map data for one or more locations capable of being visited by the secondary driver and to receive a location signal having coordinate data that corresponds to one or more locations visited by the secondary driver. The communication module is further configured to store the coordinate data when the memory map device is not detected so that the coordinate data is available for transmission with the map data when the memory map device is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas Lee Miller
  • Patent number: 8670930
    Abstract: Techniques are described for monitoring whether a user is following directions to a destination during electronic navigation to the destination provided by an electronic navigation device. When the electronic navigation device determines that the user is not following directions to the destination (e.g., the user has missed several turns suggested by the electronic navigation device), the electronic navigation device determines that the user appears to be avoiding the route (or a primary component thereof) to the destination. In response to a determination that the user appears to be avoiding the route (or a primary component thereof) to the destination, the electronic navigation device may automatically, without human intervention, perform an operation directed to using an alternative route (or alternative primary component) to the destination despite the current route remaining preferred according to current routing settings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Inventor: Jason Adam Denise
  • Patent number: 8670931
    Abstract: Certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a method of guiding a traveler, comprising the activities of: obtaining a route from a first approach to a destination; selecting a sequential set of way points along said route, said sequential set of way points chosen to assist a traveler in following said route; capturing a visual image of each way point from said sequential set of way points to form a set of visual images; arranging said set of visual images into a static viewable sequential order; and in response to a user's selection of said first approach from a predetermined set of approaches to said destination, providing said set of visual images to said user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Inventor: Michael F. Mays
  • Patent number: 8670932
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for navigating with the use of correlation within a select area are provided. One method includes, storing data required to reconstruct ranges and associated angles to objects along with statistical accuracy information while initially traversing throughout the select area. Measuring then current ranges and associated angles to the objects during a subsequent traversal throughout the select area. Correlating the then current ranges and associated angles to the objects to reconstructed ranges and associated angles to the objects from the stored data. Determining at least one of then current location and heading estimates within the select area based at least in part on the correlation and using the least one of the then current location and heading estimates for navigation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Randolph G. Hartman
  • Patent number: 8670933
    Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatus, and computer program products are provided for automated data collection using geofence-based triggers. In one embodiment, the location of a vehicle can be monitored by a variety of computing entities. By using the vehicle's location, it can be determined when the vehicle enters and/or exits defined geofences. After a determination that a vehicle has entered or exited a defined geofence, one or more events can be automatically triggered/initiated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Inventors: Christopher T. Schenken, Mark J. Davidson
  • Patent number: 8670934
    Abstract: A system and method for establishing a journey destination endpoint is disclosed. The system comprises a communication module, a stop classification module and an endpoint establishment module. The communication module receives a stream of data including a first data element and a second data element from a global positioning system. The communication module receives a set of sensor data from one or more sensors. The stop classification module detects a stop for a traveling vehicle based at least in part on the stream of data and the set of sensor data. The stop classification module applies one or more metric criteria to the first data element and the second data element to determine a type of the stop. The endpoint establishment module establishes a journey destination endpoint based on the type of the stop. The endpoint establishment module associates the journey destination endpoint with retrieval identification data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: David Frank Russell Weir, Roger Melen
  • Patent number: 8670935
    Abstract: A method of tagging a location using a mobile device entails obtaining position data for a current location of the mobile device, detecting a proximity of another device using a short-range wireless interface, and automatically storing the position data for the current location of the mobile device in response to the detecting of the proximity of the other device. The proximity detector may comprise a near field communication (NFC) interface, a Bluetooth® transceiver or another short-range wireless technology that may be employed to detect the proximity of another device. This technology enables two devices to store a current location to facilitate a subsequent rendezvous back at that same location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Jason Tyler Griffin, Scott David Reeve
  • Patent number: 8670936
    Abstract: A method and device for displaying road segments are provided. The method uses a map data base storing information on a road network in a road vector data format. Additional parameter values are stored for a subset of road segments. Information on a direction vector and the parameter value for a road segment are retrieved. Based on the parameter value, it is determined whether the road segment exhibits a variation in shape as a function of position along its direction vector. A graphical representation of the road segment is generated based on the retrieved parameter value and the direction vector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Harman Becker Automotive Systems GmbH
    Inventor: Marek Strassenburg-Kleciak
  • Patent number: 8670937
    Abstract: A computer performs a path search from a departure point to a destination point and a path search from the destination point to the departure point while changing a target from a road type at a level other than the highest level to a road type at a higher level, according to a first grouping of a plurality of road types, and performs a path search for the road type at the highest level in a first process. Next, the computer performs similar path searches in an area to be searched based on a result of the first process, according to a second grouping in which a greater number of road types is classified as the highest level in a second process. Then, the computer generates path information according to a result of the second process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Akio Shinagawa, Kyohei Tamai
  • Patent number: 8670938
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for accurate service life prediction by exposing a test specimen to operating parameters of a multi-variable micro-environment cycle in an accelerated weathering test apparatus including an irradiance source, a temperature adjustment source and a moisture adjustment source connected to a controller to: expose the test specimen to the operating parameters of the multi-variable micro-environment cycle recreated in the test chamber; monitor the exposure of the test specimen to the multi-variable micro-environment cycle to generate run-time variables; and adjust the run-time variables to reconcile to the operating parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Atlas Materials Testing Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Henry K. Hardcastle, III, Richard Schultz
  • Patent number: 8670939
    Abstract: Provided are an apparatus and method of providing facility information that may correct inaccurate information on a facility using site information and provide the corrected information in an augmented reality manner. A facility information providing apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention including: a site information analyzing unit that analyzes site information to identify a site facility; a facility information searching unit that retrieves facility information corresponding to the site information; a facility information mapping unit that maps the facility information with the site facility and corrects the facility information based on a mapped result to generate corrected facility information; and an augmented reality providing unit that synthesizes the corrected facility information with the site information to generate augmented reality information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Chang-Rak Yoon, Kyung-Ok Kim, Jong-Hyun Park, Hak-Cheol Kim, Ki-Jung Lee, Jae-Chul Kim, Yoon-Seop Chang, Sun-Rae Park, Seong-Ho Lee, Jae-Jun Yoo
  • Patent number: 8670940
    Abstract: A plant information management system comprising: a seed identification information input device; an individual plant identification information retrieval device; an individual plant identification information input device; a new seed identification information retrieval device; a storage location information retrieval device; a project database management device; a seed database management device; a project database memory device; and a seed database memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshitsugu Hirose, Shaoyang Lin, Atsushi Sasaki
  • Patent number: 8670941
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods of diagnosing Alzheimer's disease (“AD”) based on characteristic changes of the levels of certain free amino acids or dipeptides (collectively termed as “AD diagnosis markers”) in the body fluid sample of an individual, carnosine synthesis activities in the plasma, and dopamine synthesis activities in the plasma. Also provided are methods of simultaneously determining the levels of at least two free amino acids or dipeptides in the biological fluid sample of an individual.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Huntington Medical Research Institutes
    Inventors: Alfred N. Fonteh, Michael G. Harrington
  • Patent number: 8670942
    Abstract: Generally, a computer implemented remote monitoring system which generates a viewable reduced byte data representation for each one of a plurality of analyzed instrument signals. Specifically, a flow cytometer remote monitoring system which generates a viewable reduced byte data representation for each one of a plurality analyzed flow cytometer signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Inguran, LLC
    Inventors: James J. Salinas, Kenneth M. Evans
  • Patent number: 8670943
    Abstract: Methods are provided for determining flow resistance within at least a portion of a vessel, whereby at least a partial biological tree image is obtained and resistance is calculated therefrom based upon at least the length of a defined vessel portion and a diameter of a stem vessel at a location proximal to a vessel crown. Methods are also provided for determining vessel volume, whereby at least a partial biological tree image is obtained and cumulative crown volume is calculated based on at least the diameter and length of the stem segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: DTherapeutics, LLC
    Inventors: Ghassan S. Kassab, Yunlong Huo
  • Patent number: 8670944
    Abstract: A method is provided for obtaining a quantitative prediction of a magnitude of a maximum horizontal stress (SH/SV) at a point on a horizon within a prospect including the following steps: a) receiving seismic reflection data including a plurality of seismic reflection lines within the prospect; b) interpreting the seismic reflection data to identify at least four horizons produced during a compressional pulse period and at least one anticline and/or syncline; c) mapping in plan the identified anticlines and/or synclines; d) classifying each anticline into one or more predefined stress states based on the length of the anticline and its proximity to adjacent anticlines and/or classifying each syncline into one or more predefined stress states based on the length of the syncline and its proximity to adjacent synclines; wherein each predefined stress state corresponds to a predetermined value for the magnitude of the maximum horizontal stress (SH/SV).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Predrill Stresses International Pty. Ltd.
    Inventor: John Kenneth Davidson
  • Patent number: 8670945
    Abstract: A method includes obtaining information identifying a predicted trajectory of material-based measurements associated with a transfer of material. The method also includes obtaining actual material-based measurements during the transfer of the material and determining whether the actual material-based measurements fall outside of the predicted trajectory. The method further includes identifying a problem with the transfer of the material if at least one of the actual material-based measurements falls outside of the predicted trajectory. The method may also include generating the predicted trajectory of the material-based measurements using historical data associated with one or more prior transfers, such as historical data associated with at least one pump to be used during the transfer of the material. The actual material-based measurements could include measurements of a level and/or a volume of the material in a tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Adrianus Leonardus David van Schie
  • Patent number: 8670946
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for managing utility device operations. In one aspect, a utility apparatus includes a processing apparatus that manages data processing tasks for the utility apparatus. The utility apparatus also includes a communications apparatus, coupled to the processing apparatus, that is configured to transmit and receive data over a network. A metrology apparatus is coupled to the processing apparatus, the metrology apparatus being configured to measure and provide meter data that includes at least a measure of utilized utility services. A network apparatus is also coupled to the processing apparatus, the network apparatus being configured to coordinate communication between devices that belong to a home area network. A utility identification module interface is coupled to the processing apparatus, the utility identification module having an interface that removably receives a utility identification module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Landis+Gyr Innovations, Inc.
    Inventors: Ruben Salazar, Jeffrey B. Shudark, Emmanuel Monnerie, Stephen J. Chasko
  • Patent number: 8670947
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a system and method to measure and represent the measured value of a limit in terms of another measurement, such as clock values or cycles of the system. The system can include, for example, a test and measurement instrument such as an oscilloscope. In another embodiment of the present invention, slew rate de-rated values may be automatically determined through the use of configurable lookup tables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: G. R. N. Prasanth, Pechluck Pongched, Raghavendran N., Mark L. Guenther, Krishna N. H. Sri, Manisha D. Ajgaonkar, Anuradha V.
  • Patent number: 8670948
    Abstract: Provided are techniques for numerically integrating an intensity distribution function over a numerical aperture in a manner dependent on a determination of whether the numerical aperture spans a Rayleigh singularity. Where a singularity exists, Gaussian quadrature (cubature) is performed using a set of weights and points (nodes) that account for the effect of the Wood anomaly present within the aperture space. The numerical aperture may be divided into subregions separated by curves where the Wood anomaly condition is satisfied. Each subregion is then numerically integrated and a weighted sum of the subregion contributions is the estimate of the integral. Alternatively, generalized Gaussian quadrature (cubature) is performed where an analytical polynomial function which accounts for the effect of the Wood anomaly present within the aperture space is integrated. Points and nodes generated from a fit of the analytical polynomial function are then used for integration of the intensity distribution function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignees: Tokyo Electron Limited, KLA-Tencor Corporation
    Inventors: Hanyou Chu, Peilin Jiang
  • Patent number: 8670949
    Abstract: The invention specifically discloses a type of real-time monitoring, feedback, identification and consistent labeling system for quality information of condom and glove products. The system includes a collection module, a processing output module connected to the collection module, an application module connected to the processing output module, and also a query module. This system allows users (consumers) to obtain real-time collected product production data or pre-entered, encryption code or pre-entered information data from each product and to compare these data with pre-entered product performance indexes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Inventors: Victor W. J. Chan, Rulin Chen