Patents Issued in July 10, 2014
  • Publication number: 20140195077
    Abstract: Systems and methods for runway condition alert and warning. The system can include a first measurement system disposed on a first aircraft, the first measurement system adapted to gather telemetry inputs associated with a braking action value of the first aircraft on an airport runway. The system can also include a second measurement system disposed on a second aircraft, the second measurement system adapted to gather telemetry inputs associated with a braking action value of the second aircraft on the airport runway. The system can also include a computer adapted to receive and sort the telemetry inputs from the first and second aircraft. The computer can be adapted to utilize the telemetry inputs to predict an expected future braking action value for a third aircraft scheduled to utilize the airport runway.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Inventor: Trond Are Johnsen
  • Publication number: 20140195078
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle comprises an internal combustion engine, a traction motor, a starter motor, and a battery bank, all controlled by a microprocessor in accordance with the vehicle's instantaneous torque demands so that the engine is run only under conditions of high efficiency, typically only when the load is at least equal to 30% of the engine's maximum torque output. In some embodiments, a turbocharger may be provided, activated only when the load exceeds the engine's maximum torque output for an extended period; a two-speed transmission may further be provided, to further broaden the vehicle's load range. A hybrid brake system provides regenerative braking, with mechanical braking available in the event the battery bank is fully charged, in emergencies, or at rest; a control mechanism is provided to control the brake system to provide linear brake feel under varying circumstances.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Inventor: Alex J. Severinsky
  • Publication number: 20140195079
    Abstract: A method for controlling an electric vehicle drivetrain having least two drive units with wheels located on opposite axles are driven by respective drive units, includes in a first operating mode, the ratio of the torques provided by the drive units in each case for a given torque requirement is set taking into account the efficiency applicable to each drive unit under the given operating conditions, and in a second operating mode, the ratio of the torques provided by the drive units in each case for a given torque requirement is set independently of the efficiency applicable to each drive unit under the given operating conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Monika Derflinger, Arnulf Sponheimer, Roger Graaf, Marc Simon
  • Publication number: 20140195080
    Abstract: A method for controlling a hybrid powertrain includes monitoring input torque of an input member and may include determining an oscillation torque. The method monitors critical vehicle characteristics, including at least a transmission operating mode and an input speed, and operates the powertrain at the input torque. The method compares input torque to a minimum threshold or oscillation torque to a fatigue threshold and identifies a first critical event, which occurs when input torque exceeds the minimum threshold or oscillation torque exceeds the fatigue threshold. The method identifies a first peak with the on-board controller during the first critical event. Peak events occur when the monitored input torque or oscillation torque changes between positive and negative slope. The method identifies a first CVC set occurring with the first peak and may record the first CVC set and the first peak in a look-up table.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Allen J. Lehmen, Houchun Xia, R. Anthony Hansen
  • Publication number: 20140195081
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system and method for incipient drive of a slow charger for a vehicle. Specifically, an incipient drive entry of the slow charger used when a battery is charged in an electric vehicle (EV) or a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) may be performed. The method includes operating, by a controller, a regulator by outputting a control pilot (CP) signal from electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE). Additionally, the method includes operating, by the controller, a flip-flop by outputting a driving signal from the regulator and operating a switching mode power supply (SMPS) by outputting a driving signal from the flip-flop. The method further includes resetting, by the controller, the flip-flop by outputting a reset signal from a central processing unit (CPU) turned on by the SMPS.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventor: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
  • Publication number: 20140195082
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle control device is provided that is capable of achieving stable input torque control and torque capacity control of the clutch. When transitioning between a slip drive mode, in which the vehicle travels by controlling the rotation speed of the drive source and controlling the slip state of a starting clutch, and an engagement drive mode, in which the vehicle travels by controlling the torque of the drive source and completely engaging the starting clutch, the torque of the inertia component of the drive source side is deducted from the target drive torque set on the basis of the acceleration opening degree set as the starting clutch transfer torque capacity in the slip state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yutaka Takamura, Hiroyuki Ashizawa, Haruhisa Tsuchikawa
  • Publication number: 20140195083
    Abstract: This electromotive-vehicular motor control apparatus includes: a motor; a power drive unit; a torque control unit that controls an output torque of the motor; an electric current control unit; a number-of-revolutions detection unit; a target number-of-revolutions setting unit; a number-of-revolutions deviation calculation unit; and a removal unit that outputs a signal of a second number-of-revolutions deviation, in which the torque control unit controls the output torque based on the second number-of-revolutions deviation that has been output from the removal unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2012
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinya Kobayashi, Dai Saitoh
  • Publication number: 20140195084
    Abstract: An engine operation control device for a hybrid vehicle, including: an engine provided in a vehicle; a power generator that is driven by the engine to generate electric power; a driving battery that is chargeable with electric power supplied from the power generator; and a front motor and a rear motor that drive drive wheels with electric power supplied from the driving battery or the power generator, and allowing a series mode in which the front motor drives front wheels and the rear motor drives rear wheels while the engine is operated at a predetermined set rotational speed to drive the power generator to generate electric power, wherein the set rotational speed is set to increase with decreasing of the atmospheric pressure in a present position of the vehicle in the series mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsunori UEDA, Sumio TANAKA, Shigetoshi HIRANO
  • Publication number: 20140195085
    Abstract: A mobile working machine includes an energy source (101), a storage circuit (103) for storing electrical energy, a first electronic power converter stage (104) between the storage circuit and the energy source, an electrical machine (106) for driving actuators, a second electronic power converter stage (107) between the storage circuit and the electrical machine, and a control system (108) for controlling the first electronic power converter stage responsive to the power taken by the second electronic power converter stage from the storage circuit, the control system providing a control signal path from the storage circuit to the first electronic power converter stage. The signal processing properties of the control signal path are dependent on the electrical energy stored by the storage circuit in order to allow the electrical energy to vary, but within desired limits, so as to reduce the peak power taken from the energy source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2014
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: Visedo Oy
    Inventors: Kimmo RAUMA, Antti TARKIAINEN
  • Publication number: 20140195086
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle is provided with an engine, an electric motor, a clutch disposed in a power transmitting path between the engine and the electric motor, and a transmission of a step-variable type disposed in a power transmitting path between said electric motor and drive wheels, a shift position of said transmission to be established after a shift-down action thereof performed in a vehicle drive mode using said electric motor as a drive power source being selected on the basis of an output-related value after starting of said engine, and according to a predetermined relationship, when the starting of said engine is required together with said shift-down action.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2014
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Inventors: Masato YOSHIKAWA, Shintaro MATSUTANI
  • Publication number: 20140195087
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle is provided with an engine, an electric motor, and a clutch disposed in a power transmitting path between the engine and the electric motor, a drive mode of the hybrid vehicle being switched on the basis of a required drive force of the hybrid vehicle, between a first drive mode in which said engine is placed in an operated state while said clutch is placed in an engaged state, and a second drive mode in which said electric motor is exclusively used as a drive power source to run the hybrid vehicle while said engine is placed in a rest state and while said clutch is placed in a released state; and a range in which said second drive mode is established being narrower when a temperature of said clutch is comparatively high, than when said temperature is comparatively low.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2014
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yukihiko IDESHIO, Koji MIYAZAKI, Yuji INOUE, Shintaro MATSUTANI, Yousuke MICHIKOSHI
  • Publication number: 20140195088
    Abstract: A method provides information relating to the operational state of a motor vehicle to a driver. The motor vehicle has at least one electric motor operating with a fixed gear ratio for driving the motor vehicle. During operation of the electric motor a virtual speed and a virtual gear-shift stage are continuously determined from at least one first operating parameter describing the operational state of the motor vehicle and an acoustic output, in particular an output of an engine noise, takes place on the basis of the virtual speed and the virtual gear-shift stage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2012
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Inventor: Martin Schuessler
  • Publication number: 20140195089
    Abstract: A control device of a hybrid vehicle has an engine and an electric motor, the hybrid vehicle being configured to perform motor running using only the electric motor for running and engine running using at least the engine for running, the control device comprising: a first starting portion starting the engine by using the electric motor; and a second starting portion starting the engine without using the electric motor, the control device being configured to expand a range of performing the motor running when the engine is started by the second starting portion as compared to when the engine is started by the first starting portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2011
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nobufusa Kobayashi, Masato Yoshikawa, Toshio Sugimura
  • Publication number: 20140195090
    Abstract: A driving force control system for vehicle for controlling a target speed of an engine serving as a prime mover by selecting a control mode based on an index representing a driving preference of a driver. The control mode is selected from a first mode for operating the engine to achieve the target speed while optimizing a fuel economy, and a second mode for operating the engine to achieve the target speed at a speed lower than that achieved while optimizing the fuel economy. The driving force control system is configured to determine a lower limit speed of the engine based on the index provided that the second mode is selected, and to restrict a lower limit value of the target speed of the engine to the lower limit speed in case the target speed of the engine exceeds the lower limit speed under the second mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keisuke Takeuchi, Kazuo Tsuruoka, Toshio Tanahashi, Yoshimitsu Agata, Hiroki Kaneko, Koji Tsurumura
  • Publication number: 20140195091
    Abstract: In the present invention, a control device 200 which is formed of a vehicle control device 50, a controller 100, an inverter control device 30 and a steering control device 32 executes control to give a yaw moment to a vehicle 1 so that the vehicle 1 travels while tracing a first trolley wire 3R1/3L1 in a first traveling section before the vehicle 1 reaches a trolley wire linkage section C and the vehicle 1 travels while tracing a second trolley wire 3R2/3L2 in a second traveling section after the vehicle 1 passed through the trolley wire linkage section. In the trolley wire linkage section, a prescribed path is set from a representative point to a second target point and the control device 200 executes control to give a yaw moment to the vehicle 1 so that the vehicle 1 travels along the prescribed path and eventually tracing the second trolley wire 3R2/3L2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shinjiro Saito
  • Publication number: 20140195092
    Abstract: A switching vehicle speed determination section (21) judges a traveling mode requested by a driver on the basis of switch position information of a traveling mode switch operated by the driver and determines a switching vehicle speed for switching a hybrid type from a series mode to a parallel mode. A series/parallel modes switching determination section (22) determines switching between the series mode and the parallel mode on the basis of the switching vehicle speed set for the traveling mode determined by the switching vehicle speed determination section (21) and a vehicle speed detected by a vehicle speed sensor. A clutch control section (23) controls engagement/disengagement of a clutch on the basis of a determination result of the series/parallel modes switching determination section (22).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2012
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI JIDOSHA KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Jun Saito
  • Publication number: 20140195093
    Abstract: An autonomous driving merge management system includes an autonomous driving control device and an intention decision management system. The management system includes a candidate strategy subsystem generating a plurality of candidate driving strategies, a merging vehicle behavior recognition subsystem predicting a merging intention of a merging vehicle; an intention-based interactive prediction subsystem predicting future merging scenarios between the host vehicle and merging vehicle as a function of inputs by the merging vehicle behavior recognition subsystem and inputs by the candidate strategy subsystem, and a cost function-based evaluation subsystem determining a cost for each future merging scenario generated by the intention-based interactive prediction subsystem. A processor selects a merge strategy of the host vehicle based on intention-based prediction results and cost function-based evaluation results.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicants: CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY, GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: BAKHTIAR BRIAN LITKOUHI, JUNQING WEI, JOHN M. DOLAN
  • Publication number: 20140195094
    Abstract: Robots, controllers, systems, and methods for microcrawler robots (e.g., with stick-slip gaited locomotion and/or with power multiplexing between actuators).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: The Board of Regents of the University of Texas System
    Inventor: The Board of Regents of the University of Texas System
  • Publication number: 20140195095
    Abstract: An autonomous navigation system and method for a maneuverable platform are provided herein. The method may include: obtaining a plurality of objectives relating to a maneuverable platform; determining a plurality of options of direction and speed for the platform; autonomously selecting, one option of the plurality of options, in order to achieve said objectives, by calculating a weighted grade of each option based on the weights of the objectives and said grading scheme; and periodically repeating: the receiving with updated platform and obstacles data and the autonomously selecting with the updated platform and obstacles data, wherein the autonomously selecting is executed by a computer processor and includes, for each obstacle, calculating projected positions of the platform and of that obstacle to determine the distance between the platform and the obstacle at the closest point of approach and estimated time to arrive to the closest point of approach.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: ELBIT SYSTEMS LTD.
    Inventors: Myriam FLOHR, Gilad STEINER, Inon BEN ZUR
  • Publication number: 20140195096
    Abstract: An apparatus for contactlessly detecting objects and/or persons and gestures and/or operating procedures made and/or carried out thereby, is arranged in a vehicle interior and includes at least one lighting unit, a display unit and an optical detection unit. The lighting unit is formed from at least one infrared laser diode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Inventors: Frank Schliep, Oliver Kirsch, Yanning Zhao
  • Publication number: 20140195097
    Abstract: An abnormality diagnostic apparatus for a vehicle, which can accurately determine whether or not there is an abnormality in a voltage detection unit, while curtailing a cost increase, is provided. Output voltages Va, Vb, Vc outputted from voltage detection units are acquired, and differences |Va?Vb|, |Vb?Vc|, |Vc?Va| between the acquired output values are calculated. If any of the calculation results is greater than a determination threshold value, it is determined that there is an abnormality in any of the voltage detection units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2014
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhiro YAMANAKA, Takashi NONAKA
  • Publication number: 20140195098
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for translating diagnostic trouble codes which are generated in response to faults in the performance of motor vehicles are characterized by the use of a diagnostic code translator which receives diagnostic trouble codes and other information relating to the operating parameters of the vehicle at the time of a fault and analyzes the information to generate messages relating to the fault. The messages are transmitted to the vehicle driver so that corrective action may be taken.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: AMERICAN AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION, INC.
    Inventors: Frederick Lorenz, John Nielsen, Dwayne Shumate
  • Publication number: 20140195099
    Abstract: A system and method of diagnosing a vehicle using a smart phone to collect symptomatic data from the user/driver. The symptomatic data is received by the user in response to symptomatic questions displayed on the user's smart phone. The symptomatic questions are generated in response to deriving vehicle characteristic information (i.e., year, make, model, engine) from vehicle identification information (i.e., the vehicle identification number (VIN) or license plate information). In this regard, vehicle-specific symptomatic questions may be presented to the user so as to ask pertinent questions based on a history of diagnoses of vehicles sharing similar vehicle characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: INNOVA ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventor: Ieon C. Chen
  • Publication number: 20140195100
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for monitoring a vehicle. Some embodiments include: capturing and securely storing OBD and location data from the vehicle, maintaining the data on storage in control of a user for a user-specified amount of time, securely transmitting the stored data to an internet-based server, storing the data on the internet server and processing the data for retrieval, retrieving the data from the internet server for display via a web server or specialized application, and performing remote diagnostics in the vehicle based on the VIN. Some embodiments include extracting a make and model of the vehicle from the VIN; wirelessly transmitting the make and model to a server; wirelessly receiving, from the server, a particular set of on-board-diagnostic (OBD) queries to perform to determine whether any abnormal measurements exist for this make and model; and executing a plurality of queries from the particular set of OBD queries.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2014
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Inventors: Soren K. Lundsgaard, John Hefferan, Niels Lundsgaard
  • Publication number: 20140195101
    Abstract: A multi-stage diagnostic system and related method which seeks diagnostic information from a secondary information source when a first information source does not yield sufficient data for producing a diagnostic result. In particular, diagnostic process includes a first stage of communicating with an onboard vehicle computer to retrieve diagnostic trouble codes therefrom. If diagnostic trouble codes are received from the onboard computer, the diagnostic trouble codes are used to produce a diagnostic result. On the other hand, if no diagnostic trouble codes are retrieved from the onboard computer, the diagnostic process proceeds to a second stage wherein symptomatic diagnostic information is solicited from the user. A series of symptomatic questions may be presented to the user on a smartphone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: Innova Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Ieon C. Chen, Robert Madison, Michael Nguyen
  • Publication number: 20140195102
    Abstract: Vehicle Communications using IEEE 802.11p WAVE functionality includes structure and method whereby a smart phone (SP) linked to an On Board Unit (OBU) having WAVE functionality, and incorporating Automotive Telemetry Protocol (ATP), has at least one processor to configure the SP as a GUI for the OBU, and to enable WAVE authentication of the SP through a networked Road Side Unit. Preferably, the OBU opens, after a command from an ATP Client, a virtual connection for streaming data between the vehicle data bus and a remote server providing an automotive scan tool. Also preferably, the SP may use either cellular or IEEE 802.11 control signals to trialaterate its geographic position with greater accuracy than GPS, and to hand off the geo-position fixes to the OBU. Accumulated geo-location information may be reported to a remote server, providing a centralized geographic trend analysis of plural SPs operating with OBUs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2014
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Inventor: MARTIN D. NATHANSON
  • Publication number: 20140195103
    Abstract: The present teachings provide apparatus and methods for measuring the power output of a person, such as a cyclist. According to various embodiments, while measuring the power output, the present teachings provide for the harvesting of the input energy to provide electrical power to the apparatus. Among others, embodiments are described wherein power measurements are obtained from the drive train of a bicycle by making use of piezoelectric element(s) capable of producing electricity when deformed by applied forces. In addition, telemetry information of the applied forces can be obtained with the use of an inertial measurement unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2014
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Inventor: Hany Ramez Nassef
  • Publication number: 20140195104
    Abstract: The present disclosure relate to an indirect tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS). In some embodiments, the indirect TPMS has magnetic field sensor that detects a modulated magnetic field indicative of one or more resonance parameters of an automobile tire. The magnetic field sensor generates a modulated sensor signal based upon the modulated magnetic field. An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) converts the modulated sensor signal to a digital sensor signal, which is provided to a digital signal processing unit that perform analysis of the digital sensor signal to determine the one or more resonance parameters. A communication interface transmit data corresponding to the one or more resonance parameters to an electronic control unit (ECU).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Dirk Hammerschmidt
  • Publication number: 20140195105
    Abstract: A system for receiving a driving event comprises an interface and a processor. An interface is configured to receive a portion of data regarding a driving event. A processor is configured to determine whether more data regarding the driving event should be requested and, in the event that more data regarding the driving event should be requested, request more data regarding the driving event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: Lytx, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Lambert, Joshua Donald Botnen
  • Publication number: 20140195106
    Abstract: A method of providing visual feedback to a driver based on data collected during vehicle operation. A processor at the vehicle analyzes vehicle data, and determines when predetermined threshold values have been reached for particular parameters. Whenever such a threshold is reached, a visual alert is presented to the driver. Certain parameters have at least two threshold values. When a first threshold value is reached, an alert is presented to the driver, but no data is recorded or reported. When a second threshold value is reached, another alert is presented to the driver, and data is recorded for reporting to a driver manager or supervisor. The tiered threshold approach provides a warning to a driver, such that if they correct the behavior triggering the warning, their supervisor is never notified of that behavior. However, if the behavior escalates, and the second threshold is breached, the behavior is recorded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: ZONAR SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: CHARLES MICHAEL MCQUADE, MICHAEL CHARLES KING
  • Publication number: 20140195107
    Abstract: Embodiments can provide a system, a wheel localizer, a wheel localization device, a method or a computer program for locating a position of wheel and/or for determining an acceleration of a wheel of a vehicle. The system for locating a position of at least one out of a plurality of wheels of a vehicle includes a detector configured to obtain information related to a tangential acceleration of the at least one wheel of the vehicle and an antilock braking system unit configured to obtain information related to angular rotations of the plurality of wheels. The system further includes a locator configured to determine the position of the at least one wheel based on the information related to the tangential acceleration of the at least one wheel and the information related to the angular rotations of the plurality of wheels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Joo Il Park, Thomas Lange, Karine Pillet, Myungkil Kim
  • Publication number: 20140195108
    Abstract: The present invention is directed a system including a vehicle monitoring device coupled to a vehicle configured to retrieve vehicle information from a vehicle diagnostic system of the vehicle and transmit the vehicle information to an off-board device via a communication relay device to receive the vehicle information and display the received vehicle information based at least in part on information of the one or more recipients.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: SERVICE SOLUTIONS U.S. LLC
    Inventor: Darren Schumacher
  • Publication number: 20140195109
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for door latches for vehicles. The system includes an electric door latch mechanism movable between a latched position and an unlatched position. Exterior and interior open switches are disposed a door for receiving an unlatch request from an outside or an inside of the vehicle. A controller is in communication with the exterior open switch, the interior open switch, and the electric door latch mechanism. The controller is configured to assign either a locked state or an unlocked state for each of the open switches. The controller is also configured to control operation of the electric door latch mechanism such that the electric door latch mechanism is commanded to move from the closed position to the open position in response to the unlatch request from the open switches when the respective open switch is in the unlocked state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: RICHARD J. LANGE, FRANK J. ARABIA, JR.
  • Publication number: 20140195110
    Abstract: A vehicle terminal installed in a vehicle and communicating with an external server, and a location-based content sharing system including the same are provided. The vehicle terminal includes a GPS receiving unit configured to receive location information regarding a location at which the vehicle is positioned, a wireless communication unit configured to receive information regarding a predetermined region and content corresponding to the predetermined region from the external server, a controller configured to determine whether the vehicle enters the predetermined region by using the location information, and reproduce the content corresponding to the predetermined region when the vehicle enters the predetermined region, and an output unit configured to output the reproduced content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2014
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Taejun KIM, Junsic PARK, Hyungnam LEE, Hyejin YU, Byunghun LEE
  • Publication number: 20140195111
    Abstract: A method operates a sensor device in a vehicle. In the method, signals from at least a sensor designed to register an outside temperature are processed. In addition, data that relates to a track located in front of the vehicle is processed. An evaluation of the signals is changed as a function of the data relating to the track. Herewith, it is possible to quickly display an abrupt fall in temperature, such as can be the case when travelling out of a tunnel, on a display belonging to the vehicle and to thus warn the driver of the vehicle in time. A vehicle has a control device that is designed to process signals from a temperature sensor and data that relates to the track located in front of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: Audi AG
    Inventor: Michael Klimesch
  • Publication number: 20140195112
    Abstract: A method for controlling an active suspension includes steps of determining a dimension of a road abnormality ahead of the vehicle and comparing the dimension with a vehicle dimension. Responsive to the comparison, the abnormality is classified as one type of a plurality of predetermined types. Responsive to a height dimension of the abnormality, the abnormality is further classified as having one of a small, medium, or large severity. The suspension is controlled responsive to the type and severity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jianbo Lu, Dimitar P. Filev, Davor Hrovat, Eruc Hongtei Tseng, Uwe Hoffmann, Simon Baales, Micheal Seemann
  • Publication number: 20140195113
    Abstract: A vehicle crash safety system includes a pre-crash sensing system configured for gathering and/or receiving target vehicle ride-height data, and at least one actuator operatively coupled to the sensing system and configured for adjusting a height of a portion of a host vehicle responsive to a command from the sensing system. A timing of the command is responsive to an estimated dynamic response time of the at least one actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jianbo Lu, Davor Hrovat, Thomas E. Pilutti, Jerry H. Engleman, Eric H. Tseng, Dimitar P. Filev
  • Publication number: 20140195114
    Abstract: A method for controlling a vehicle includes the step of determining if a curb parking operation is feasible for the vehicle. If a curb parking operation is deemed infeasible, an operator of the vehicle is notified that curb parking is infeasible. If a curb parking operation is deemed feasible, actuatable elements of the vehicle are controlled to facilitate the curb parking operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Eric H. Tseng, Davor Hrovat, Jianbo Lu, Mitch McConnell, Matthias Dehmel, Michael Seemann, Fredrick V. Owens
  • Publication number: 20140195115
    Abstract: A method for controlling a vertical control system of a vehicle with at least two vertical control devices that influence the driving stability of the vehicle, includes monitoring the functionality of the at least two vertical control devices, detecting a fault condition of a first vertical control device of the at least two vertical control devices, and adjusting the control parameters of at least a second vertical control device of the at least two vertical control devices for at least partially compensating of the fault condition of the first vertical control device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2014
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: Audi AG
    Inventors: Rolf Müller, Jens Kaltofen, Tilo Koch, Paul Milbredt
  • Publication number: 20140195116
    Abstract: A method is described comprising modulating vehicle speed about a target speed by operating a vehicle with an engine at high output and then operating the vehicle with the engine off, and adjusting operation of a suspension system based on the vehicle operation with the engine at high output and the engine off to control vehicle pitch during the modulating of vehicle speed about the target speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Davor Hrovat, Dimitar Petrov Filev, Jianbo Lu
  • Publication number: 20140195117
    Abstract: There is provided a torque detecting device for providing a highly accurate torque signal, and an electric power steering device using the torque detecting device. A torque sensor is provided with a first coil pair and a second coil pair, which detect a relative displacement between an input shaft and an output shaft by corresponding the relative displacement to a change in impedance. Magnetization signal generating units supply exciting currents with different magnetization frequencies to the first coil pair and a second coil pair, respectively. The magnetization frequency difference is set to 3.5 kHz or higher. Moreover, low-pass filters for intercepting passage of a frequency equivalent to the magnetization frequency difference are deployed in signal processing circuits respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaki Kuwahara, Takayuki Kobayashi, Kazuhiro Yoshida, Toshiyuki Onizuka, Takayoshi Sugawara, Nobuhiko Andou
  • Publication number: 20140195118
    Abstract: A vehicle control device is provided with an adjusting device and a control device. The adjusting device is capable of individually adjusting a rotary phase of each wheel of a vehicle. The control device is capable of executing control to individually adjust the rotary phase of each wheel by controlling the adjusting device based on a correlation between the rotary phase of the wheel and hydroplaning characteristics, which indicates resistance to occurrence of a hydroplaning phenomenon, when the hydroplaning phenomenon occurs in the vehicle. Therefore, the vehicle control device has an effect of stabilizing behavior of the vehicle when the hydroplaning phenomenon occurs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ryosuke Okubo
  • Publication number: 20140195119
    Abstract: An electric power steering apparatus for generating a PWM signal based on a calculated steering assist command value, PWM-controlling a motor via a motor drive circuit including switching elements, and assist-controlling a steering system that a motor relay is inserted between the motor drive circuit and the motor, includes a steering status detecting section that detects a steering status of a steering wheel, outputs a longtime steering holding signal when detecting that the steering status is a longtime steering holding status, and outputs a normal steering signal when detecting that the steering status is a normal steering status, and a motor current control section that determines a motor current control value for controlling a motor current flowing in the motor relay in accordance with the longtime steering holding signal or the normal steering signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2012
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: NSK LTD.
    Inventors: Satoh Kouichi, Keiji Kashimoto, Haruhiko Kamiguchi
  • Publication number: 20140195120
    Abstract: An automotive vehicle includes a driver analyzer and a driver assistance system, both of which are coupled to a controller. The controller includes a non-transitory storage medium storing instructions for causing the controller to determine a level of attentiveness of a driver of the automotive vehicle and to adapt a response of the driver assistance system in response to the determined level of attentiveness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2014
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy Jason McClain, Zachary Joseph Bolton
  • Publication number: 20140195121
    Abstract: A materials handling vehicle implements a steer maneuver to hug an object. A controller on the vehicle receives sensor data from at least one sensing device and detects that a selected object is in an environment proximate the vehicle using the received sensor data. The controller performs a steer maneuver by causing the vehicle to steer such that the vehicle is substantially maintained at a desired distance from the selected object as the vehicle travels on a desired heading.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: CROWN EQUIPMENT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Anthony T. Castaneda, William W. McCroskey, James F. Schloemer, Mark E. Schumacher, Vernon W. Siefring, Timothy A. Wellman
  • Publication number: 20140195122
    Abstract: Provided is an electric power steering device in which the operation feeling is improved without a decrease in commercial value. A phase compensation unit performs a frequency shift on a compensation frequency band compensated by the phase compensation unit. The phase compensation unit performs phase-shift in the compensation frequency band through a frequency shift process, instead of an increase in compensation gain. Therefore, it is possible to minimize occurrences of minute vibrations and abnormal noise in the steering system including the motor that accompany an increase in gain, and to improve the operation feeling and commercial value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Oniwa, Yasuo Shimizu, Atsuhiko Yoneda
  • Publication number: 20140195123
    Abstract: A vehicle turning efficiency improving apparatus is applicable to an automotive vehicle (20) of a type equipped with either a braking system (4L, 4R, etc.) or a driving train (6), which is capable of performing a braking force control or a driving force control separately on vehicle wheels (1L and 1R) and a steering unit (3) capable of steering the left and right vehicle wheels (1L and 1R) separately. A control unit (9) is provided for performing a turn assist control, in which a time difference is generated in steering operation of the left and right vehicle wheels (1L, 1R) and a braking/driving force difference is generated in the left and right vehicle wheels (1L, 1R) to thereby generate a yaw moment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2012
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akiyoshi Nishikawa, Akio Nakajima
  • Publication number: 20140195124
    Abstract: An assembly is described for coupling a towing vehicle to a trailer having a towing vehicle-side coupling unit and a trailer-side coupling unit. A measuring device, which records and analyzes the force acting on the towing vehicle-side coupling unit in at least one direction, is assigned to the towing vehicle-side coupling unit. The measuring device is coupled to a vehicle immobilizer that prevents the towing vehicle from starting and/or being set in motion in response to the force recorded by the measuring device and/or a physical quantity derived therefrom exceeding a predefined threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Inventors: Matthias Marcus Wellhoefer, Stefanie Siefke
  • Publication number: 20140195125
    Abstract: A motor vehicle has a position detection device and a control device. The position detection device detects a piece of position information that describes the position of at least one occupant of the motor vehicle and/or of a mobile terminal, particularly a mobile telephone, that is associable or associated with the occupant within the motor vehicle by taking account of a position of the mobile terminal and/or of a piece of registration information delivered by the mobile terminal. The control device is designed to set at least one operating parameter of a vehicle system by taking account of a piece of control information delivered by the mobile terminal and of the position information and/or to transmit at least one piece of operating information that influences at least one function of the mobile terminal to the mobile terminal on the basis of the position information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2012
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Andreas Siegel, Michael Reichel
  • Publication number: 20140195126
    Abstract: A setup wizard is executable on a controller for a tractor and configured to interact with configuration modules of each implement operable with the tractor. The implements connected to the tractor may be auto detected or manually indicated by an operator. The setup wizard generates an initial series of questions intended to determine the intended use of the implements. The series of questions may be limited to one that requires one of two answers, such as yes/no. Based on the answers to the initial series of questions, the setup wizard may generate still additional questions or begin execution of each of the configuration modules as a function of these answers. The setup wizard may preload settings of an implement, select a portion of the setup screens that need to be reviewed, or provide a visual indication to the operator on the status of each configuration module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: CNH Canada, Ltd.
    Inventors: Marvin Prickel, John Stratton, Paul Weisberg