Patents Issued in August 30, 2016
  • Patent number: 9428158
    Abstract: A carriage acted-on by a control system controlled by a part of the gearbox, so as to be moved sideways in relation to a locking rod able to interoperate with a toothed crown built into the said gearbox, with the said carriage being coupled to means operated by an actuator so as to be moved, if necessary, into a fixed position of the control system, characterized by the fact that the means consist of two superimposed compact levers and mounted so as to pivot on an axis against a torsion spring, with one of the levers being coupled to the carriage while the other lever is coupled to the control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Dura Automotive Systems SAS
    Inventor: Sebastien Maitre
  • Patent number: 9428159
    Abstract: An electronic controller for a brake system of a motor vehicle, having at least one interface to a control element, in particular a parking brake control switch, and at least two drive circuits for electric parking brake actuators. The electronic controller at least two independent arithmetic units, which are directly connected to each other via a data bus. A motor vehicle equipped with a controller according to the invention requires no transmission lock in an automatic gearbox.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL TEVES AG & CO. OHG
    Inventors: Andreas Heise, Kai Schade
  • Patent number: 9428160
    Abstract: An appropriate deceleration is achieved. A brake control apparatus is a brake control apparatus which performs a brake assist control for assisting a brake operation by a driver of a vehicle, the brake control apparatus is provided with: a calculating device which calculates a contact possibility of the vehicle contacting the obstacle; and a changing device which changes, on the basis of the contact possibility, a decreasing rate of a deceleration of the vehicle caused by the brake assist control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoshi Udaka, Koji Yotsuya
  • Patent number: 9428161
    Abstract: In various embodiments, a method for utilizing a determined coefficient of friction along a portion of a runway is disclosed. The method may include receiving, by a brake control unit, friction estimation map data for a specific runway. The method may include setting, by the brake control unit, a condition of the braking control algorithm based on the received friction estimation map data. The method may include initiating, by the brake control unit, a brake control system to slow a wheel of an aircraft based on the braking control algorithm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Goodrich Corporation
    Inventor: Richard Paul Metzger, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9428162
    Abstract: Systems and methods of controlling a brake system are provided. The system may include the step of detecting, by a controller, a failure of a first load cell of a first electromechanical brake actuator (EBA). The method may further comprise estimating, by the controller, a force of the first EBA using a force output from a second load cell, and commanding, by the controller, the first EBA in response to the estimated force of the first EBA.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Goodrich Corporation
    Inventors: Richard A. Poisson, Haftay Hailu, Michael Abbott
  • Patent number: 9428163
    Abstract: A method for autonomous emergency braking in a road vehicle to avoid or reduce the severity of an accident includes measuring the speed of the vehicle during autonomous emergency braking and additionally determining vehicle speed independent of the wheel rotational speeds of the vehicle. In this way, the vehicle speed can be determined sufficiently accurately even in the cases in which, as a result of sharp autonomous braking, the vehicle speed is higher than the wheel rotational speeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: WABCO GmbH
    Inventors: Karsten Breuer, Thomas Dieckmann, Guido Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 9428164
    Abstract: A valve assembly includes a plate defining a wall of a housing and a valve component included in the housing. A position of the valve component sets a state of the valve assembly. A channel is defined through the wall of the housing. A channel groove is defined along a wall of the channel. A sensor housing includes a sensor detecting a state of the valve assembly. A sensor groove is along the sensor housing. A seal cooperates with both the channel groove and the sensor groove when the sensor housing is seated in the channel to both create a pneumatic seal between the sensor housing and the wall of the channel and retain the sensor housing in the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC
    Inventors: Thanh Ho, Robert J. Herbst, David J. Taneyhill
  • Patent number: 9428165
    Abstract: A hydraulic unit of an electronic control brake system including a modulator block; a pair of master cylinder connection portions; a first valve row having a plurality of first valve accommodation bores; a second valve row having a plurality of second valve accommodation bores; a pair of low-pressure accumulator bores arranged in a bottom side of the modulator block in the lateral direction; pump accommodation bores; a pair of shuttle valve ESV accommodation bores arranged between the first valve row and the second valve row; a pair of driving force control valve TC accommodation bores arranged between wheel cylinder connection portions formed in the modulator block and the first valve row; and a pair of high-pressure accumulator bores arranged in the modulator block in a longitudinal direction, wherein the pair of high-pressure accumulator bores are formed to have an arrangement parallel to the motor accommodation bores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Eun-Mi Kim
  • Patent number: 9428166
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a master cylinder assembly in a brake system and a piston stop. The master cylinder assembly comprises one or more piston assemblies. At least one of the piston assemblies comprises a piston (1), a piston stop (2) and a spring (3), wherein the piston stop (2) snaps into the piston (1), and the spring is retained between the piston (1) and the piston stop (2) and placed outside the piston stop (2). According to the present invention, on a circumferential wall of the piston stop (2) are provided deep slots (4) extending axially and running through the thickness of the circumferential wall, and these deep slots open towards one side of the piston stop where it snaps into the piston (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: BWI (Shanghai) Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Dongqiang Luo
  • Patent number: 9428167
    Abstract: A vehicle brake device includes a failure detection means for driving the master piston only by the operation force of the brake operation member along with the operation of the brake operation member, thereby to detect a failure of a master system, when a master cylinder pressure correlation value correlated to the master cylinder pressure is less than a predetermined value, in a case where an operation amount of the brake operation member is a predetermined amount or in a case where the operation force of the brake operation member is a predetermined force; and a driving control means for driving the master piston by force corresponding to the servo pressure in the servo chamber generated by the servo pressure generation portion, when the operation amount of the brake operation member is greater than a predetermined amount, or when the operation force of the brake operation member is greater than a predetermined force, in the operation of the brake operation member in which the failure detection means detec
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: ADVICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yasunori Sakata
  • Patent number: 9428168
    Abstract: Provided is a brake device that can increase energy efficiency. The present invention is provided with: a master cylinder (5) that generates fluid pressure alongside the operation of a brake by a driver; and a booster device that reduces the force of operation of the brake by the driver by means of an energy source (fluid pressure unit 86)). In a predetermined brake operation region, the operation of the booster device is suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryohei Maruo, Masayuki Saito, Chiharu Nakazawa
  • Patent number: 9428169
    Abstract: An electric brake booster for a vehicle brake system includes a push bar configured to be driven by a brake pedal to move forwards in an axial direction; a brake force outputting element configured to be pushed forwards by the push bar to output a brake force from the brake pedal; a booster force outputting element for outputting a booster force; a motor for driving the booster force outputting element to create the booster force; a poppet configured to be pushed forwards in the axial direction by the push bar with a spring force, wherein the poppet forms a boost switch, through which an electrical current can pass, with the brake force outputting element and forms a release switch, through which another electrical current can pass, with the booster force outputting element; and an electronic control unit for controlling the operation of the motor in responsive to the on-off states of the boost switch and the release switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignees: Bosch Automotive Products (Suzhou) Co., Ltd., Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Qiusheng Zhang
  • Patent number: 9428170
    Abstract: A vehicle driving device includes: a clutch that is provided between a driving shaft of an engine and an input shaft of a manual transmission and that connects the driving shaft and the input shaft to each other or disconnects the driving shaft and the input shaft from each other; a detection unit that detects an obstacle that is an obstacle to traveling of a host vehicle; a collision possibility determination unit that determines a possibility of collision between the obstacle and the host vehicle based on obstacle detection information detected by the detection unit; and a collision avoidance unit that, when the collision possibility determination unit determines that there is a possibility of collision with the obstacle, performs a fuel cut of the engine even if a rotation speed of the engine is less than an idling rotation speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Daisuke Tamaru
  • Patent number: 9428171
    Abstract: A control system of a hybrid vehicle includes: an engine that generates power by burning fuel; a driving motor that assists the power from the engine by generating power using electricity supplied from a battery; an integrated starter-generator that starts the engine and charges the battery by operating selectively as a power generator; an atmospheric sensor that measures the atmospheric pressure; a temperature sensor that measures the temperature of intake air flowing into the engine; and a controller that calculates a control factor, using the atmospheric pressure measured by the atmospheric sensor and the temperature of intake air measured by the temperature sensor, and adjusts a State of Charge (SOC) charge band between an SOC where charging the battery is started and an SOC where a hybrid vehicle runs in a charge mode, in accordance with the magnitude of the control mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Giyoung Kwon, Seunghan Lee, Seongik Park, Jongbum Oh, Woo-Suk Choi, Ilkwon Park
  • Patent number: 9428172
    Abstract: An appropriate motor control in accordance with a pedal operation of a driver is to be achieved. A motor drive control device according to the present invention is a motor drive control device for an electric power-assisted vehicle that has one-way clutches respectively provided for a motor drive system and for a pedal drive system. The motor drive control device according to the present invention includes: a first calculating part that calculates a pedal rotation conversion speed that is converted from a pedal rotation; and a second calculating part that calculates a second target torque for a motor based on the pedal rotation conversion speed, during a period in which a first target torque derived from a pedal torque is not detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignees: MICROSPACE CORPORATION, TAIYO YUDEN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masato Tanaka, Kazuo Asanuma, Yasuo Hosaka, Kuniaki Kawagoe
  • Patent number: 9428173
    Abstract: A system and a method for a hybrid vehicle for pre-charging the battery. A hybrid vehicle includes a battery having a state of charge (SOC), an engine configured to charge the battery, an actuation device having an on state and an off state, and a processor configured to activate the engine to charge the battery when the actuation device is switched to the on state until the SOC reaches a required SOC. The required SOC may be input by a driver and may exceed a normal maximum SOC utilized by the hybrid vehicle. The pre-charge feature can override the normal hybrid vehicle battery management logic. The required SOC allows the driver to perform reverse maneuvers without running out of battery power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Heraldo F. Stefanon, Kiyoshiro Ueoka
  • Patent number: 9428174
    Abstract: A method of forcibly charging a high-voltage battery using a motor and a Hybrid Starter Generator (HSG) is provided. The method forcibly charges the high-voltage battery with maximum charging power using the motor and the HSG simultaneously. Particularly, the method includes calculating maximum chargeable power for the high-voltage battery using three dimensional (3D) maximum charging power maps of the motor and the HSG and adjusting maximum charging power using energy integration during forced charging using the motor and the HSG simultaneously. Additionally, excessive temperature prevention logics are applied for protecting the motor and the HSG from an excessive temperature in a forced charging mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Jae Sang Lim, Gu Bae Kang, Young Un Kim, Kil Young Youn, Jeong Won Roh, Ji Wan Cha, Jin Ho Kim, Seong Yeop Lim
  • Patent number: 9428175
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide control means for a hybrid electric vehicle, the control means comprising an energy management portion (EMP) configured to determine a required torque split between each of a first and at least a second actuator in dependence on a first set of one or more vehicle parameters, the required torque split being an amount of torque required to be provided to drive the vehicle by each actuator, the control means being configured to provide an actuator request control output whereby each actuator is controlled to provide an amount of torque according to the required torque split, the control means further comprising a powertrain mode manager (PMM) portion, the PMM portion being arranged to override the control output of the EMP in dependence on a value of a second set of one or more vehicle parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Limited
    Inventor: Clement Dextreit
  • Patent number: 9428176
    Abstract: A control device that controls a vehicle drive device in which a first rotating electrical machine and a speed change mechanism are provided on a power transmission path connecting an internal combustion engine and wheels. The control device includes a first pump that is driven by the first rotating electrical machine and a second pump that is driven by a second rotating electrical machine provided independently of the power transmission path. The control device is configured with an auxiliary drive control section that, when a main power supply of a vehicle is turned on, executes auxiliary drive control of driving the first pump for a set drive time by the first rotating electrical machine before driving the second pump by the second rotating electrical machine, and starting the second pump after elapse of the set drive time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Satoru Kasuya, Masashi Kito, Shigeru Sugisaka
  • Patent number: 9428177
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an electric storage apparatus that outputs an electric power to be converted into a kinetic energy for use in running of the vehicle, an engine that generates a kinetic energy for use in running of the vehicle, a generator that receives an output from the engine to generate an electric power, and a controller that controls charge and discharge of the electric storage apparatus. In performing charge of the electric storage apparatus using an electric power from an external power source and in performing charge of the electric storage apparatus using the electric power output from the generator in response to a signal produced through operation by a user, the controller calculate a full charge capacity of the electric storage apparatus based on an SOC of the electric storage apparatus at each of start and end of the charge and a current sum amount during the charge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yuki Mori
  • Patent number: 9428178
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a powertrain including an electric machine and a traction battery. The vehicle also includes at least one controller programmed to, during a transmission shift event, cause the electric machine to absorb torque. The torque absorption causes current generated by the electric machine to charge the battery according to a predetermined power transfer schedule defining a charge limit. The controller is further programmed to permit the current to exceed the charge limit for a predetermined duration of time in certain instances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Rajit Johri, Mark Steven Yamazaki, Scott James Thompson, Chen Zhang
  • Patent number: 9428179
    Abstract: A power transmission device for a hybrid vehicle includes a transmission device that includes a carrier to which an engine rotation shaft is connected; a differential device that includes a plurality of rotation components individually connected to a ring gear of the transmission device, an MG1 rotation shaft, an MG2 rotation shaft, and a drive wheel; a gear shift adjustment device that includes an engagement portion capable of controlling the transmission device to a neutral state where transmission of power between the carrier and the ring gear is not allowed or to a state where the transmission of power is allowed; and an HVECU that includes a first step of decreasing a rotating speed of a first rotating electric machine at the time an engine is started up during an EV travel mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shunya Kato, Atsushi Tabata, Tatsuya Imamura, Tooru Matsubara, Takeshi Kitahata, Kenta Kumazaki, Yasuhiro Hiasa, Hiroyuki Shioiri, Hiroyuki Shibata
  • Patent number: 9428180
    Abstract: A failure diagnosis apparatus comprises a controller that is configured to execute a failure diagnosis process of the internal combustion engine based on a predetermined diagnosis requirement. The diagnosis requirement in a case where engine-operation-electric-power supply is executed is made different from the diagnosis requirement in a case where engine-normal-operation is executed such that a failure of the internal combustion engine in the case where the engine-operation-electric-power supply is executed is less likely to be detected or the failure of the internal combustion engine is less likely to be recognized by a driver than in the case where the engine-normal operation is executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shunsuke Fushiki, Makoto Yamazaki, Keita Fukui
  • Patent number: 9428181
    Abstract: A neutral determination device is provided with an inhibitor switch and a controller. The inhibitor switch outputs an inhibitor switch signal that indicates a vehicle running range of a vehicle. The controller is programmed to execute a neutral determination process upon determining the vehicle running range exists based on the inhibitor switch signal and a rotational speed control is being performed on a motor that is configured to output a force that drives the vehicle. The controller is programmed to determine existence of a neutral state of a control valve that is configured to selectively supply a control hydraulic pressure to a hydraulic pressure chamber of the clutch upon determining that a motor torque during the rotational speed control is smaller than an estimated motor torque based on a target transmission torque capacity of a clutch that selectively connects and disconnects the motor to and from a drive wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroki Matsui, Haruhisa Tsuchikawa, Katsuhiro Matsuo, Masami Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9428182
    Abstract: An object is to allow for the move of a vehicle even in the event of an abnormality in a lid sensor. A control method of a vehicle with a fuel cell mounted thereon comprises: (a) if a signal of a lid sensor that is configured to detect opening and closing of a lid door for a gas filler port of the vehicle indicates that the lid door is open, then prohibiting move of the vehicle; and (b) if it is judged that the lid sensor has a defect or if a predetermined special operation is performed, then eliminating prohibition of the move of the vehicle despite that the signal of the lid sensor indicates that the lid door is open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigeto Kajiwara, Mitsuhiro Nada
  • Patent number: 9428183
    Abstract: A method for apprising a driver to a change in automation level of an automated self-drive system for a vehicle includes identifying an expected automation level change and communicating a required engagement level. The driver is thereby apprised of an appropriate level of engagement with each of a multiple of manual vehicle controls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: James Peter Foley
  • Patent number: 9428184
    Abstract: A vehicle control device includes a friction brake orientation control device, a damping force control device, a state quantity detection device, and an orientation control device. The damping force control device calculates a brake orientation control amount for a friction brake to change the orientation of a vehicle body to a target orientation. The damping force control device calculates a shock absorber orientation control amount for a variable-damping-force shock absorber to change the orientation of the vehicle body to the target orientation. The state quantity detection device detects a state quantity indicating vehicle body orientation. The orientation control device controls vehicle body orientation when the value of the detected state quantity is less than a predetermined value, and controls vehicle body orientation via the friction brake orientation control device when the value of the detected state quantity is equal to or greater than the predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hironobu Kikuchi, Katsuhiko Hirayama
  • Patent number: 9428185
    Abstract: A method is provided for automatically activating a car's cross traffic camera system when turning a corner and displaying the camera feed on a dashboard mounted display, thereby enhancing cross traffic visibility and making the maneuver safer. The system can be configured to anticipate an upcoming turn based on use of the turn signal alone, or the turn signal in combination with vehicle speed. The display of the camera's data feed is terminated after completion of the turn, where turn completion is typically based on (i) deactivation of the turn signal, (ii) the position of the steering wheel, or (iii) vehicle speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: ATIEVA, INC.
    Inventors: Yadunandana Yellambalase, Philip R. Graham
  • Patent number: 9428186
    Abstract: Vehicular arrangement for obtaining information about objects exterior to the vehicle includes distance measuring systems fixed to the vehicle along the windshield, an edge or side of the vehicle, each including a camera that obtains images of objects exterior of the vehicle and a processor that determines a distance between the vehicle and objects included in images obtained by the camera and a speed of the objects based on the successive distance determinations. A reactive system is arranged on the vehicle and coupled to the distance measuring systems, and considers distance between the objects and the vehicle and the speed of the objects and reacts accordingly. A position of the distance measuring systems is selected to encompass an area in front of the vehicle, an area behind the vehicle and an area on each side of the vehicle in the fixed fields of view of the distance measuring systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Intelligent Technologies International, Inc.
    Inventor: David S. Breed
  • Patent number: 9428187
    Abstract: A system and method for providing path planning and generation for automated lane centering and/or lane changing purposes for a vehicle traveling on a roadway, where the method employs roadway measurement values from a vision camera within an effective range of the camera and roadway measurement values from a map database beyond the range of the camera. The method uses the roadway measurement values from the camera to determine a desired path along a first segment of the roadway and identifies an end of the first segment based on how accurately the camera defines the roadway. The method then uses the roadway measurement values from the map database to determine the desired path along a second segment of the roadway that begins at the end of the first segment, where a transition from the first segment to the second segment is smooth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Jin-Woo Lee
  • Patent number: 9428188
    Abstract: A system is provided for supporting lane assist functions for a vehicle towing a trailer. The system includes performing lane departure warning and lane centering assist functions that operate differently when the presence of a trailer is detected. The system warns the driver if either the vehicle or trailer will depart the lane, using different warnings for the vehicle and trailer. The system further provides lane centering assist functions that operate to center the vehicle and trailer together. Corresponding methods are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Oliver Schwindt, Xavier Zhu
  • Patent number: 9428189
    Abstract: A vehicle running control apparatus includes a following distance control unit for maintaining a following distance between an own vehicle on which the vehicle running control apparatus is mounted and a preceding vehicle, an accelerating unit for accelerating the own vehicle at a set acceleration so that a speed of the own vehicle reaches a set speed when the preceding vehicle is lost, and an acceleration suppressing unit configured to suppress acceleration of the own vehicle by the accelerating unit on condition that the preceding vehicle and the own vehicle are under an acceleration suppression condition that an allowance time to collision is smaller than a predetermine lower limit at a moment of loss of the preceding vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takaomi Kinugawa, Toyohito Nozawa, Jin Kurumisawa
  • Patent number: 9428190
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a powertrain, a cruise control system, and a controller. The controller, in response to a brake temperature being greater than a threshold while the cruise control system is active and the vehicle being coupled to a trailer, operates the powertrain such that a speed of the vehicle decreases to decrease the brake temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Keith Weston
  • Patent number: 9428191
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a generation section configured to generate, from a state of a mobile vehicle in each position obtained by discretizing a traveling route along which the mobile vehicle travels, a state of the mobile vehicle in a next position for each use state of drive means contained in the mobile vehicle; and an optimization section configured to optimize the use state of the drive means in each position based on at least one of states of the mobile vehicle in each position generated by the generation section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takayuki Yoshizumi
  • Patent number: 9428192
    Abstract: A vision system for a vehicle includes a forward facing camera configured to be disposed at a windshield of a vehicle so as to have a forward field of view through the windshield of the vehicle. The forward facing camera is operable to capture image data for an adaptive speed control system of the vehicle. An image processor is operable to process captured image data. Responsive at least in part to processing by the image processor of captured image data, lane markers of the road along which the vehicle is traveling are detected. Responsive at least in part to processing by the image processor of captured image data, road curvature of the road along which the vehicle is traveling is determined. The speed of the vehicle may be automatically reduced the responsive to determination of a driving condition or situation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Kenneth Schofield, Niall R. Lynam
  • Patent number: 9428193
    Abstract: A method comprising: applying a brake force to all four wheels of a motor vehicle to stop the vehicle while torque continues to be applied to its driven wheels; and preventing wheel slippage of the driven wheels by reducing the applied torque when the vehicle is stopped or nearly stopped from moving in a forward direction. In this way, unintentional lateral movement of the vehicle due to creep torque applied to the driven wheels on slippery surfaces can be prevented or corrected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Ralph Wayne Cunningham
  • Patent number: 9428194
    Abstract: Arrangements relate to the operation of a vehicle, which can be an autonomous vehicle. A splash condition in a surrounding environment of the vehicle can be detected. An object near the vehicle can be detected. Further, it can be determined whether the detected object is passing the vehicle. Responsive to detecting a splash condition and determining that the object is passing the vehicle, a warning can be presented to an occupant of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Danil V. Prokhorov, Junya Watanabe
  • Patent number: 9428195
    Abstract: A system for transferring data comprises an input interface and a processor. The input interface is configured to receive event information from a vehicle event recorder including an event type for each event associated with the event information. The processor is configured to determine a historical coachable profile for event types associated with the event information and select a group of events to transfer based at least in part on the historical coachable profile for the event types.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Lytx, Inc.
    Inventor: Gabriela Surpi
  • Patent number: 9428196
    Abstract: A vehicle driving behavior predicting device that predicts a driving behavior of a vehicle at a prediction target point based on speed information or acceleration information of the vehicle includes: a storage unit storing a reference template indicating a transition of the speed information or the acceleration information corresponding to the driving behavior being a prediction target in a predetermined prediction section to the prediction target point; a converting unit converting the reference template to a converted template indicating a transition of a speed or acceleration from an entry speed to a case in which the driving behavior being the prediction target is exhibited based on the entry speed of the vehicle into the prediction section; and a predicting unit predicting the driving behavior at the prediction target point by comparing the converted template with a current transition of the speed information or the acceleration information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Sayaka Ono
  • Patent number: 9428197
    Abstract: A system includes a processor configured to receive a user request to edit vehicle feature settings from a computer remote from a vehicle. The processor is also configured to retrieve saved vehicle feature setting configurations associated with a vehicle associated with an identified user account. The processor is further configured to build a current feature setting configuration display. Also, the processor is configured to present a user-configurable version of the display on a user interface. The processor is additionally configured to receive changes to current features setting configurations. The processor is also configured to save the changes and upload the changes to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Yifan Chen, Chad Evert Esselink, Basavaraj Tonshal, Tricia Tobolski, Jeffrey Lee Hentschel, Jason Brown, Pramita Mitra
  • Patent number: 9428198
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for gravity-augmented preload of drive wheels in a monorail vehicle travelling along a guide rail with bearing and contact surfaces that are non-parallel with the gravity vector. The vehicle defines a pivot location against the bearing surface and a constraint point on the contact surface for engaging the rail on the bearing and contact surfaces, respectively. The vehicle is mounted so its center of gravity is at a rear longitudinal offset rrl from the pivot location and a vertical offset rvert from the guide rail. A force and moment balance thus created result in a normal load on a drive wheel engaged with the bearing surface at the pivot location, where the load value exceeds a standard normal load generated by the mass of the monorail vehicle alone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: SolarCity Corporation
    Inventors: John S. Camp, Benjamin D. Sumers, Ryan P. Feeley
  • Patent number: 9428199
    Abstract: A railcar bogie plate spring of the present invention includes: an upper surface member constituted by fiber reinforced plastic in which reinforced fibers are stacked so as to extend in a longitudinal direction; a lower surface member constituted by fiber reinforced plastic in which reinforced fibers are stacked so as to extend in the longitudinal direction; and a core member arranged between the upper surface member and the lower surface member. The core member is constituted by fiber reinforced plastic in which: reinforced fibers are stacked in a width direction perpendicular to a stack direction of the upper surface member and the lower surface member; and in a side view of the core member, the reinforced fibers are inclined relative to a bending neutral axis so as to intersect with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignees: GH CRAFT LTD., KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Gaku Kimura, Mitsuhiro Furuya, Shunichi Nakao, Takehiro Nishimura
  • Patent number: 9428200
    Abstract: A device for coupling the roof area of two articulated vehicle parts, for limiting the roll and/or pitch movements of the vehicle parts relative to each other. The device includes at least two consoles. At least one console is disposed on the roof area of a first vehicle part. The at least two consoles are connected to each other by a coupling arm. At least one of the consoles includes a leaf spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Hübner GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Olaf Richter
  • Patent number: 9428201
    Abstract: A locomotive blue light reverser key has a handle portion and a shaft portion that is connected to the handle portion. The handle portion includes a Light Emitting Diode (LED), a switch, a battery that powers the LED, and a blue tinted lens. The shaft portion is insertable into a reverser of a locomotive. During a blue signal procedure when the train is not permitted to move, a train operator uses the blue light reverser key to indicate the blue signal procedure is in effect. The train operator activates the LED on the handle portion and inserts the blue light reverser key into the reverser. The shaft portion does not engage any locking mechanism within the reverser, and the reverser key prevents the locomotive from moving forward or backward. The blue light emitted from the blue light reverser key also notifies other train operators of the blue signal procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Jurislabs, LLC
    Inventor: Cecil A. Samora
  • Patent number: 9428202
    Abstract: A method and system for assisting the safe operation of a train adapted to be operated by a locomotive operating crew comprises generating GPS-located critical information at a central location, the GPS-located critical information being based at least in part on one or more railroad maps and one or more train dispatcher information systems; monitoring the real-time location of the train with a GPS device on-board the train; and generating alerts for the locomotive operating crew based on the GPS-located critical information and the real time location of the train, so that the crew is alerted as to upcoming changes to be implemented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Via Rail Canada Inc.
    Inventors: Claude Perras, Leigh Thorpe, Francois Blouin
  • Patent number: 9428203
    Abstract: A device for receiving, processing and generating signals for automatically controlling a rail vehicle with a receiving module; a transmitting module; a speedometer module; an RFID module; and a braking module. The controller comprises a programmable logic controller and wherein said controller is connected to the receiving module, the transmitting module, the speedometer module, the RFID module; and the braking module. The receiving module is in the form of a GPS receiver wherein said transmitting module is in the form of a GSM modem wherein said transmitting module receives signals from a traffic dispatch server. The speedometer module comprises a speedometer wherein said RFID module comprises an RFID aerial. The braking module receives signals from the brake in the rail vehicle and transmits same to the controller as well as receives signals from the controller to the braking system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Inventor: Wojciech Szprynger
  • Patent number: 9428204
    Abstract: A method and cart for handling spacers used for spacing the wire mesh reinforcing cages used in the production of concrete pipe, The spacers are placed and shipped on hollow tubes laid in layers in a shipping container. The spacers are shipped to the user stored on these hollow tubes together with a mobile cart that has a vertical support containing a plurality of outwardly extending arms. When ready to be installed at the concrete pipe production site, a tube containing the spacers is removed from the shipping container and slipped over each arm. The cart can then easily be moved around the production location where the spacers for readily available for use in making the concrete product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Hawkeye Concrete Products Co.
    Inventor: Steven A. Nunnikhoven
  • Patent number: 9428205
    Abstract: A security cart includes a rear wall, a wheeled base frame connected to the rear wall and a base shelf pivotable between a horizontal position and a raised position. A first sidewall and a first door pivotally connected to the first sidewall are movable from locked positions with the base shelf to a folded position forwardly of the rear wall. A second sidewall and a second door pivotally connected to the second sidewall are movable from locked positions to a folded position forwardly of the folded first sidewall and first door. The base shelf is movable from the horizontal position to the raised position, and retained against the folded first sidewall and the first door and the folded second sidewall and second door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Cannon Equipment LLC
    Inventors: Keith Edward Jackson, Paul Larie
  • Patent number: 9428206
    Abstract: A ball cart for holding sporting equipment is disclosed. The cart may be capable of opening for use and closing into a shape that is more convenient for storage and transportation purposes. The cart consists of multiple folding parts and a dropstep pedal to efficiently collapse a sporting equipment cart. First springs bias the cart toward an open position. Second springs bias a handle that releases the cart from a closed position and allows the bias of the first springs to open the cart. The dropstep may be operated with a user's foot and does not require the use of hands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: TACHIKARA U.S.A., INC.
    Inventor: Christopher Morton
  • Patent number: 9428207
    Abstract: A cup holder module is detachably mounted on a mount of a stroller and includes a cup holder, a mounting arm formed from the cup holder, and a first mounting latch. The mount has an engaging groove. The first mounting latch is disposed on the mounting arm and has a first button movably disposed on the mounting arm, a clamping base connected to the first button and disposed in the mounting arm, and an elastic member. The elastic member is disposed on the clamping base for biasing the clamping base to clamp the mount cooperatively with the mounting arm when the mounting arm is mounted on the mount and the first button is engaged with the engaging groove. When the first button is pressed to move the clamping base to an unlatched position, the clamping base is separate from the mount to make the mounting arm detachable from the mount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Wonderland Nurserygoods Company Limited
    Inventors: Curtis M. Hartenstine, Andrew J. Taylor, Anthony V. Ruggiero