Patents Issued in October 18, 2016
  • Patent number: 9469248
    Abstract: A method and system for providing situational awareness in a vehicle. The method and system include receiving environmental sensor data and vehicle performance sensor data. The method and system also include compiling the environmental sensor data and the vehicle performance data. The method and system additionally include determining one or more situational risks that are posed to the vehicle that occur within a surrounding environment of the vehicle based on the compiled environmental sensor data and the vehicle performance data. The method and system further include generating one or more projected graphical objects that represent the one or more situational risks that are determined to be posed to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Victor Ng-Thow-Hing, Karlin Bark, Cuong Tran
  • Patent number: 9469249
    Abstract: An imaging system includes a digital camera having a sensor (such as a charge coupled device), a first lens directing a first image onto a first region of the sensor, a second lens directing a second image onto a second region of the sensor, and a third lens directing a third image onto a third region of the sensor. A display screen displays to a driver of the vehicle the first image, and a processing unit performs stereoscopic image analysis on data originating from the second and third regions. A fourth lens may be used to direct a fourth image onto a fourth region of the sensor, and the processing unit performs calculations on data from the fourth region for the detection of movement of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Christoph Arndt, Urs Christen, Heike Kleinschmidt
  • Patent number: 9469250
    Abstract: A vision display system for a vehicle includes at least a rear backup camera and a display system having a display screen disposed in the interior cabin of the vehicle and viewable by a driver of the vehicle. A tow check function includes a video zoom feature for use when reversing the vehicle towards a trailer so the driver of the vehicle can more readily align a trailer hitch of the vehicle with a tongue of the trailer the driver of the vehicle desires to hitch the vehicle to. The tow check function is actuatable by the driver of the vehicle prior to or during a reversing maneuver. Actuation of the tow check function zooms what is shown on the display screen from a broad view of where the trailer hitch is located to a narrower view of where the trailer hitch is located.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Niall R. Lynam
  • Patent number: 9469251
    Abstract: A system for capturing image data for gestures from a passenger or a driver in a vehicle with a dynamic illumination level comprises a low-lux sensor equipped to capture image data in an environment with an illumination level below an illumination threshold, a high-lux sensor equipped to capture image data in the environment with the illumination level above the illumination threshold, and an object recognition module for activating the sensors. The object recognition module determines the illumination level of the environment and activates the low-lux sensor if the illumination level is below the illumination threshold. If the illumination level is above the threshold, the object recognition module activates the high-lux sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignees: Honda Motor Co., Ltd., Edge 3 Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Pedram Vaghefinazari, Stuart Masakazu Yamamoto, Ritchie Winson Huang, Josh Tyler King, Tarek El Doker
  • Patent number: 9469252
    Abstract: A mirror element sub-assembly for a vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror reflective element, a mirror back plate and an indicator. The front side of the mirror back plate includes a reflective element attaching portion and the rear side of the mirror back plate includes (i) an actuator attaching portion and (ii) an indicator attaching portion, all of which are integrally formed during injection molding of the mirror back plate. The indicator attaching portion includes structure extending from the rear side of the mirror back plate and having a passageway therethrough. The indicator is attached at the structure, and light emitted by the indicator passes through the passageway and through an opening of the mirror back plate and through the mirror reflective element so as to exit from the mirror reflective element at an angle relative to the reflective element attaching portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: DONNELLY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael J. Baur, Ian A. McCabe, Hamid Habibi, Niall R. Lynam
  • Patent number: 9469253
    Abstract: A holder device for a portable electronic apparatus for a motor vehicle. The device includes a stationary frame, secured to a structural element of the vehicle, and a drawer connected to the frame. The connection of the drawer to the frame is arranged such that the drawer is movable relative to the frame between a storage position and a usage position of the electronic apparatus. The connection provides a sliding movement between the storage and usage positions. In the usage position, a usage volume is at least partially delimited by the frame and the drawer. The portable electronic apparatus cam be maintained in the usage volume by a first and a second stop member coming into contact with the apparatus in at least two opposite points thereof and biased toward one another by at least one elastic member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Faurecia Interieur Industrie
    Inventors: Christophe Brunard, Bruno Dinant, Daniel Rodriques
  • Patent number: 9469254
    Abstract: Speaker systems are provided, particularly for mounting in off-road vehicles, ATVs, UTVs, watercraft and motorcycles. The speaker systems may include a linear array of speakers and a housing encasing a backside thereof. In some cases, the housing includes sliding track mounts along its top and bottom surfaces. In addition or alternatively, the speaker systems may include nut and bolt fasteners arranged on top of the housing and/or mounting brackets arranged along opposing lateral sides of the housing. In some embodiments, a speaker system may be suspended in proximity to an upper bar of a windshield frame, front roll bar, and/or front edge of a roof of a vehicle and adjustable mounting brackets may be used to direct the speakers toward the driver and passenger seats of the vehicle. In some cases, a speaker system may be operationally independent from a stereo of a vehicle in which it is mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Wet Sounds, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy John White, Brett A. Triola
  • Patent number: 9469255
    Abstract: A monitor-mounting system for a headrest of a land vehicle includes a bushing subsystem constructed to be coupled to the headrest; and a monitor-mounting plate constructed to be coupled to the bushing subsystem. The monitor-mounting region extends outwardly of the headrest and is constructed for fixedly receiving a monitor. The headrest is constructed with dual posts and dual post guides, and the bushing system is constructed with dual bushings, each being constructed to couple to a corresponding one of the dual post guides, or to a corresponding one of the posts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: ROSEN ELECTRONICS, LLC
    Inventor: Curtis C. Kucera
  • Patent number: 9469256
    Abstract: The application provides a thermo-acoustic protection structure for a rotating machine. The thermo-acoustic protection structure includes an upper wall and a parallel lower wall, and between them is placed at least one acoustic absorbent material. The upper wall and the lower wall being connected with at least one connecting element of an extended form. The connecting element presenting, in transverse section, at least one portion, curved or rectilinear, that is non-orthogonal to the two walls. A length of the connecting element between the upper wall and the lower wall is greater than a distance between the upper wall and the lower wall. The connecting element further presents in transverse section at least one edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: GE Energy Products France SNC
    Inventor: Frédéric Billy
  • Patent number: 9469257
    Abstract: A wire harness includes one or more electrically-conducting paths, and a tubular exterior member configured to cover the electrically-conducting paths. The exterior member is a resin member including a flexible tubular part having flexibility and a less-flexible tubular part having less flexibility than that of the flexible tubular part. The exterior member is integrally formed to have a linear shape as a whole in a state where the flexible tubular part is not deflected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinichi Inao, Hideomi Adachi, Yoshiaki Ozaki
  • Patent number: 9469258
    Abstract: A wire retention feature for an airbag module is provided where the airbag module has an inflator, a wire harness, and at least one of a cover, a wrapper, and a cushion. The wire retention feature has a tab extending from at least one of the cover, the wrapper, and the cushion, and a fastener securely attached to the wire harness. The fastener is securely connectable to the tab such that a pulling force being applied to the wire harness is distributed among the fastener, the tab, and at least one of the cover, the wrapper, and the cushion without negatively affecting the transmission of electrical signals through the wire harness to the inflator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Incorporated
    Inventors: Roger Rickenbach, Terry Wheelwright, Megan Donahue, Don Parker, Andrew Holiday
  • Patent number: 9469259
    Abstract: The present disclosure to systems for integration and communication of aftermarket vehicle components with existing vehicle components through an apparatus comprising a processor and a computer-readable medium including computer-executable instructions. The apparatus is configured to be integrated into a vehicle comprising an existing motion-control system having existing motion-control-system components. The instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising (i) receiving, from an aftermarket motion-control-system, an input data signal containing a raw data set, (ii) processing the raw data set, yielding a processed data set, and (iii) transmitting the processed data set to one or more of the existing motion-control system components within the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Donald K. Grimm, Wende Zhang
  • Patent number: 9469260
    Abstract: A vehicle occupancy key locking safety device prevents shutting off a vehicle while persons are detected as occupying rear seats of the vehicle. The device includes a vehicle having a non-driver seat and an ignition dependent on a key to shut of the vehicle. A sensor is coupled to the vehicle such that the sensor detects occupancy of the non-driver seat. A key locking mechanism is coupled to the ignition of the vehicle The key locking mechanism is operationally coupled to the sensor such that the key locking mechanism is actuated preventing shutting the vehicle off while the non-driver seat is occupied as detected by the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Inventor: Patricia Conklin
  • Patent number: 9469261
    Abstract: A system which allows an aftermarket ECM to control/alter vehicle behavior by only sending special network messages when no provision for doing so was originally designed into the original equipment manufactured system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Intermotive, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith S. Thomas, Dan C. Mower, Ryan B. Ebuen
  • Patent number: 9469262
    Abstract: A vehicle power-supply control device has a battery charger that converts an externally-supplied AC voltage into a DC voltage used to charge a vehicle high-voltage battery, a low-voltage power generator that converts the DC voltage output from the battery charger into a DC voltage used to drive a vehicle auxiliary machine, and a controller that controls the battery charger and the low-voltage power generator. The battery charger includes a power factor correction circuit that corrects a power factor of the AC voltage and a first DC/DC converter that generates a predetermined DC voltage based on an output of the power factor correction circuit. The low-voltage power generator includes a second DC/DC converter that steps down the DC voltage output from the battery charger and a synchronous rectifier that rectifies an output of the second DC/DC converter in synchronization with a switching operation of the second DC/DC converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: OMRON AUTOMOTIVE ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yusaku Ido, Takashi Yamada, Tadao Nishiguchi, Masayuki Hanatani, Hideyuki Yasugi
  • Patent number: 9469263
    Abstract: A fluid fill system includes a fill nozzle having a head configured to be received in a reservoir of a vehicle component for filling the reservoir with a fluid and a fluid fill sensor system having an air hose coupled to the head. The fluid fill sensor system has a pressure sensor pneumatically sensing when the fill nozzle is properly seated with the vehicle component by sensing an increase in a pressure of the fluid fill sensor system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Benjamin MacArthur, David Robert Winning
  • Patent number: 9469264
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a rail extension comprises: an energy absorber comprising a polymer body, wherein the energy absorber comprises cells formed by cell walls extending a length of the energy absorber and forming cavities therethrough; each side of the energy absorber comprises an open channel wherein the channel is defined by walls of adjacent cells; a vehicle attachment tab extending from at least one of the cell walls at one end of the energy absorber; and a first vehicle attachment tab gusset extending between the vehicle attachment tab and the cell wall on one side of an opening in the vehicle attachment; wherein the energy absorber and the vehicle attachment tab were formed as one-piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: SABIC GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES B.V.
    Inventors: Dhanendra Kumar Nagwanshi, Arunachala Parameshwara, Shingo Imai, Matthew D. Marks
  • Patent number: 9469265
    Abstract: A crush box, which has a tubular body having a plurality of flat plate-shape sidewalls and having a polygonal shape in section, which is disposed in such an attitude that an axial direction of the tubular body matches a longitudinal direction of a vehicle, and which, when subjected to a compressive load in the axial direction, is crushed like an accordion in the axial direction to absorb impact energy, the crush box being configured such that a plurality of flanges projecting outward from the tubular body are provided along only a plurality of outer ridges located on an outer side in a lateral direction of the vehicle out of a plurality of ridges located along a boundary between the plurality of sidewalls, such that the plurality of flanges extend along an entire axial length of the tubular body, the tubular body is formed by a pair of body halves divided by a pair of upper and lower outer ridges located at upper and lower positions on the outer side in the lateral direction of the vehicle out of the pluralit
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Toyoda Iron Works Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Keisuke Kamiya
  • Patent number: 9469266
    Abstract: An inflator attachment structure for attaching an inflator of an airbag apparatus to a retaining member of the airbag apparatus includes a first flange member including a first cylindrical part having a shape matching a substantially cylindrical projecting part provided on a lateral surface of the inflator, and including a first flange part extending outwardly in a radial direction from the first cylindrical part, the first flange member being pressed onto and engaged with the inflator from one side of the projecting part in an axial direction, and a second flange member including a second cylindrical part having a shape matching the projecting part, and including a second flange part extending outwardly in a radial direction from the second cylindrical part, the second flange member being pressed onto and engaged with the inflator from another side of the projecting part in the axial direction, wherein the first flange member includes a securing part for use in bolt securement to the retaining member, and wh
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignees: Takata Corporation, DAICEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Abe, Kazutaka Sugimoto, Masayuki Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 9469267
    Abstract: An airbag device has an airbag housing that is provided in inward lateral faces of a driver's seat backrest and a passenger seat backrest in a vehicle width direction. An upper portion of the airbag housing is provided with a cover portion through which the airbag supplied with gas moves upward from the airbag housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: FUJI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Isamu Nagasawa, Masaaki Kobayashi, Kousuke Yamada, Junichi Oorai, Takeru Shoji
  • Patent number: 9469268
    Abstract: An air-bag device includes an air bag stored in an inner side of a backrest in a vehicle width direction, and an inflator that inflates and expands the air bag. The air bag includes a first chamber that houses the inflator such that the longitudinal direction of the inflator matches the vertical direction of the air bag, and a second chamber that is located above the first chamber and is inflated and expanded by a gas ejected from an upper end of the inflator to form a tubular shape extending upward above the first chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Takata Corporation
    Inventor: Shinichi Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 9469269
    Abstract: A passenger retaining apparatus includes a driver seat airbag and a curtain airbag. The curtain airbag includes first and second inflation portions and a recess portion. The first inflation portion is inflated at a passenger side with respect to the inflated driver seat airbag in a vehicle body longitudinal direction. The second inflation portion is inflated at a wind shield side with respect to the inflated driver seat airbag in the vehicle body longitudinal direction. The recess portion is formed between the first and second inflation portions to engage with the inflated driver seat airbag. The driver seat airbag retains a front surface of a head of the passenger and the first inflation portion retains a side surface of the head of the passenger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: TAKATA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Teruhiko Hiruta, Hiroo Kawaguchi, Makoto Ogawa, Yoshitake Kitaguchi, Toshiro Koyanagi
  • Patent number: 9469270
    Abstract: A leg airbag apparatus can restrain occupant legs from moving obliquely forward in an offset collision and in the leg airbag apparatus, an airbag inflates and deploys early without using a high-output inflator, and an automobile includes the leg airbag apparatus. An airbag includes a body part that inflates in front of an occupant, and a projecting part that projects only outward in a vehicle body width direction from at least an upper portion of the body part. In an inflated state of the airbag, a length from an occupant center line of the airbag to an outer end of the projecting part in the vehicle body width direction is longer than a length to an inner end in the vehicle body width direction. The projecting part is protruded to the vehicle body rear side by being pulled by an outer tether.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: TAKATA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Abe
  • Patent number: 9469271
    Abstract: A knee airbag having an inlet opening (6) for deployment gas from a gas generator (4) for flowing into a first chamber (10), at least one second chamber (20, 30) adjacent to the first chamber (10), which second chamber (20, 30) is separated from the first chamber by at least one dividing wall (25), wherein between the first chamber (10) and the second chamber (20, 30) at least one closable overflow opening (40) is provided, through which deployment gas can flow from the first chamber (10) into the second chamber (20, 30), wherein at least one closing device (50 for the overflow opening (40), or the overflow opening (40), is associated with the penetration region of the knees (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: AUTOLIV DEVELOPMENT AB
    Inventors: Karl-Heinz Sommer, Marc Schock
  • Patent number: 9469272
    Abstract: A motor vehicle seat belt retractor having load limiting features for controlling seat belt restraint loads for a retractor having a spool for storing belt webbing and rotatable with respect to a retractor frame, and a locking mechanism for locking the spool to provide vehicle occupant restraint. A load limiting element coupled with the spool limits restraint loading of the seat belt webbing upon locking of the spool. A rotational displacement limiting mechanism limits the displacement of the load limiting element, the limiting mechanism having a cam forming a spiral flight rotatable with the load limiting element and a cam follower engaging the spiral flight. The cam and the cam follower interengage to reach an end position preventing further relative angular displacement beyond a predetermined angular displacement of the load limiting element. Embodiments provide various configurations for the cam and cam follower elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: AUTOLIV ASP, INC.
    Inventors: Kenneth Kohlndorfer, Kurt Schulz
  • Patent number: 9469273
    Abstract: A belt buckle arrangement for a seat belt system includes a belt buckle (1) with a spring-loaded locking mechanism for locking a belt tongue in a buckle housing (2). A spring-loaded push button (3) is displaceably guided on the buckle housing (2) for acting on the locking mechanism. A belt buckle status sensor (4) is connected with a data cable (5) directed out from the belt buckle (1). The buckle housing (2) is pivotably connected with a holder (6). Pivoting of the belt buckle (1) to the holder (6) is delimited by a stop (8) on the holder (6) abutting a stop surface (7) on the belt buckle (1). A sound-absorbing element (9) between the stop (8) and the stop surface (7) has a guide section (10) ensuring that the data cable (5) in the belt buckle (1) does not come in contact with the holder (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: AUTOLIV DEVELOPMENT AB
    Inventors: Göran Carlsson, Mikael Jansson
  • Patent number: 9469274
    Abstract: An example base station assembly includes a transmitter configured to communicate a challenge signal and at least one timing signal to a plurality of fobs. The base station initiates a vehicle operation in response to at least one return signal. The return signal is communicated to the base station from at least one of the fobs in response to the timing signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Farrell, Patricia Kachouh, Sanjaya K. Dash, Brian Marlett, Douglas J. King, Stephanie Adi Zarrabi
  • Patent number: 9469275
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for actuating a wiper system. The device comprises a drive unit (2) for driving at least one wiper arm (4), and a control unit (6), wherein the control unit (6) is designed to set a wiping frequency of the wiper arm (4) as a function of a load variable which is dependent on the torque which is to be applied by the drive unit (2) during a wiping operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Braun, Norbert Wegner, Harald Retsch
  • Patent number: 9469276
    Abstract: A windscreen wiper device for cleaning a windshield of a vehicle is provided. The windscreen wiper device includes a wiper strip of a flexible material for sealing against the windshield to drive rain, snow, ice and other elements away therefrom. The windscreen wiper device also includes at least one carrier element extending between opposite and, at a minimum, downwardly curved end portions and in engagement with the wiper strip to bias it into a predetermined configuration. A frame structure includes a plurality of claws in engagement with the carrier elements between the end portions. The frame structure also includes a pair of end caps that are pivotably coupled to at least an adjacent portion of the frame structure and engage the end portions of the carrier elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Oslizlo, Dennis E. Cox
  • Patent number: 9469277
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wiping device, in particular a wiping device for a motor vehicle pane, comprising a retaining element (10a-10f) with at least one longitudinal guide channel (18a-18f) for guiding at least one spring element (20a-20f). According to the invention, the retaining element (10a-10f) has at least three fixing cavities (26a-26f, 28a-28f, 30a-30f, 32a) that are offset in the longitudinal direction (22a-22f) and that are provided in order to interlock with a wiper blade adapter (12a-12f).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Koen Bex, Helmut Depondt, Dirk Herinckx
  • Patent number: 9469278
    Abstract: A device for applying a cleaning fluid to a wheel of a vehicle in a vehicle washing installation using a spray nozzle and a wheel washing brush that is driven in rotation and can be moved by a guide between a rest position remote from a wheel and a cleaning position on the wheel. The device, an associated vehicle washing installation and method each permit economical application of the cleaning fluid matched to the size of the wheels to be cleaned. The method includes the steps of: a) determining the position of the wheel in the washing direction, b) determining the distance of the wheel from the device, c) moving the spray nozzle to the spraying position at the spraying distance from the wheel, d) spraying cleaning fluid onto the wheel using the spray nozzle (4) and moving the spray nozzle along the wheel in the washing direction and e) terminating the spraying operation when the front end of the wheel in the washing direction has been reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: WASHTEC HOLDING GMBH
    Inventor: Georg Wimmer
  • Patent number: 9469279
    Abstract: The invention relates to a support (2) for supporting and compensating a shift in the position of a parked semi-trailer (1), which support consists of an outer support tube (21) and an inner support (22), which can be telescopically slid into the outer support tube (21) and consists of a support upper part (221) and a support lower part (222), said parts being hinged together by a pivot bearing (23), wherein the lower end of the support lower part (222) is rigidly connected to a rolling segment (24) and the outer surface of the outer support tube (21) is fully closed at least along the edge facing the inner support (22), and wherein the rolling segment (24) has a dished shape and in the retracted state of the support (2) the outer support tube (21) protrudes into the rolling segment (24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Inventor: Hubert Koschinat
  • Patent number: 9469280
    Abstract: Disclosed is a gearbox for a powered leg assembly for trailers. The gearbox includes a plurality of gears mounted in a cage, the cage being displaceable from a first low speed position through a neutral position to a second high speed position, and a lever coupled to an eccentric whereby movement of the lever causes displacement of the cage causing the gears to mesh to assume a low speed, neutral and high speed configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Razor International Pty Limited
    Inventor: Darryl Baird
  • Patent number: 9469281
    Abstract: An external mount travel limiter for landing gear extension legs which employs a pair of mechanically-operable cross-port valves fluidly coupled to the hydraulic circuit that are operably synchronized for actuation based on movement of the telescoping upper and lower leg assemblies of the landing gear between respective extend and retract travel stop limit positions. The valves are connected to the leg assemblies via an external drive shaft which synchronously drives a valve actuator that actuates one of the valves upon the lower leg assembly reaching a travel stop limit position in either direction. When actuated, each valve cross-ports the system's fluid flow from the valve's inlet port to the system's return line, thereby permitting all fluid flow and power to bypass the power drive motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Inventor: Paul L. Klassy
  • Patent number: 9469282
    Abstract: Disclosed are a clutch operating system and a driving method of a clutch operating system. The system may include a clutch master cylinder connected to a clutch pedal and generating hydraulic pressure by operation of the clutch pedal, a piston provided in the clutch master cylinder and reciprocally moving according to the operation of the clutch pedal, and an integrated sensor detecting a stroke of the piston, selectively supplying power to a starting motor according to the stroke of the piston, and providing the stroke of the piston to an ECU (electronic control unit) to control a transmission and an EPB (electronic parking brake).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Bum Jun Kim, Eun Sik Kim
  • Patent number: 9469283
    Abstract: A braking apparatus 1 of a vehicle includes: a hydraulic brake device 4 that brakes the vehicle via friction in response to operation of a brake pedal; a regenerative brake device 5 that performs regenerative braking using, as an electricity generator, a motor 3 for running the vehicle; and a collision avoidance device 20 that performs automatic braking of the vehicle by controlling operation of the hydraulic brake device 4 in accordance with obstacle detection information detected by an obstacle detection device 21, to avoid collision of the vehicle with an obstacle, wherein an electric servo brake controller 10 of the collision avoidance device 20 terminates activation of the regenerative braking, if activated, before the automatic braking is started by the collision avoidance device 20.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI JIDOSHA KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Nakaso, Kazufumi Hayashikawa
  • Patent number: 9469284
    Abstract: A vehicle anti-lock braking system includes at least one automatic hydraulic brake adjuster (AHBA) coupled in flow communication with at least one braking mechanism configured to interact with a vehicle wheel. The system also includes at least one pressure regulating device coupled in flow communication with the at least one AHBA. The system further includes at least one wheel speed sensor coupled to the vehicle wheel. The system also includes a control unit communicatively coupled to the at least one pressure regulating device and the at least one wheel speed sensor. The control unit is configured to actuate the at least one pressure regulating device at least partially as a function of the rotational speed of the vehicle wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Donelson Brake Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Damian Paul Kubick, Terrence Christopher Donelson, Michael James Donelson
  • Patent number: 9469285
    Abstract: A brake arrangement for a vehicle having a cardan brake and separate left and right brakes. The left brake activated by movement of a first lever and the right brake is activated by movement of a second lever. The left brake, right brake and the cardan brake are activated together by movement of both levers together, characterized in that the cardan brake is connected to a fluid supply in a circuit which comprises a first and a second brake valve arranged in series and the first brake valve is operable by the first lever and the second brake valve is operable by the second lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: AGCO INternational GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Peter Zeiler, Klaus Brugger
  • Patent number: 9469286
    Abstract: A system and method for automatically calibrating the flow measurement device of a locomotive air brake control system. The air brake control computer controls activates a magnet valve to create a predetermined flow from the brake pipe through an orifice to exhaust, thereby creating a reference flow value to enable the calibration of the flow measurement device. The system reduces the likelihood of human error and variability by automating the steps necessary for flow measurement calibration under computer control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: New York Air Brake, LLC
    Inventor: John M Reynolds
  • Patent number: 9469287
    Abstract: An air dryer system for a locomotive having optimized purge air control over a twin tower desiccant-type air dryer. The computer controlled locomotive brake system is used to determine when the air dryer is being used and approximately how much air flow has actually passed through the active tower of the dryer using the air consumption state, the change of pressure in the second main reservoir, the air compressor on/off state, the total accumulated time of air flow since last purge cycle, and/or the calculated air flow through the air dryer since the last purge cycle. When the actual air flow reaches the capacity of the active tower of the air dryer, the computer controlled locomotive brake system commands the air dryer to perform a purge cycle. The system thus maximizes the use of each tower in the air dryer rather than switching according to a preset time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: New York Air Brake, LLC
    Inventor: Eric C. Wright
  • Patent number: 9469288
    Abstract: A method for determining a triggering condition for recalibration in an automatic parking brake includes determining a motor current which is expected at a predetermined time during a release process of the automatic parking brake. The method includes identifying motor current for a brake motor in the automatic parking brake that generates an electromechanical braking force during operation and releases the electromechanical braking force during the release process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Ullrich Sussek
  • Patent number: 9469289
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes a controller configured to, in response to an anticipated vehicle route for a current drive cycle including at least two preferred electric drive (“EV”) zones, control an engine to charge a battery in response to a battery SOC falling below various thresholds at various portions of the vehicle route. The controller controls the engine to charge the battery in response to the battery SOC falling below a first threshold and the vehicle not having entered the first EV zone, in response to the battery SOC falling below a second threshold and the vehicle having entered the first EV zone but not the second EV zone, and in response to the battery SOC falling below a third threshold and the vehicle having entered the second EV zone. The first threshold is greater than the second threshold, and the second threshold is greater than the third threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Hai Yu
  • Patent number: 9469290
    Abstract: An agricultural vehicle includes a chassis and an engine, transmission and operator station which are each carried by the chassis. The engine has a maximum operating speed. The transmission includes a continuously variable output. A power/economy switch which is positioned within the operator station provides a first output signal indicative of a power mode and a second output signal indicative of an economy mode. A controller is coupled with each of the engine, the transmission and the power/economy switch. The controller receives the second output signal from the power/economy switch and controls each of the engine and the transmission to be in an economy mode, whereby an operating speed of the engine is limited to a reduced maximum speed which is below the maximum operating speed, and the continuously variable output of the transmission is increased to offset for the reduction in engine operating speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Bruce E. Anderson, Jeffrey D. Frego, Edmund N. Holt, II
  • Patent number: 9469291
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, a first MG, a second MG, a main battery which can be charged and discharged, and a heating device. The heating device includes an exhaust heater which uses an exhaust heat of the engine, and a heat pump system which uses an electric power of the main battery. A hybrid control device determines a start timing of the heating device, based on a coolant temperature and a SOC. Specifically, the start timing of the heating device is determined such that a timing that the coolant temperature reaches a target temperature matches a timing that the SOC reaches a target value. After a warming-up operation is completed, an EV travelling of the vehicle can be executed according to the electric power of the main battery charged in the warming-up operation, and a fuel consumption of the engine is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Okamoto, Noriaki Ikemoto, Youhei Morimoto, Yuutarou Itou
  • Patent number: 9469292
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle according to the present invention includes an engine, a power storage device, a motor generator, and an ECU. The motor generator receives electric power from the power storage device and generates travel driving force. The ECU selects one of a CD mode and a CS mode to cause the vehicle to travel, in the CD mode an SOC of the power storage device being consumed, in the CS mode the SOC being maintained within a prescribed range. The CS mode includes a first CS mode and a second CS mode, the first CS mode being selected when the SOC decreases to a prescribed amount, the second CS mode being selected based on a user's intention. A second prescribed range corresponding to the second CS mode is set to be wider than a first prescribed range corresponding to the first CS mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Taishi Hisano
  • Patent number: 9469293
    Abstract: In a vehicle capable of performing regenerative braking by a motor, when regenerative power is supplied to both of a battery and an electric heating catalyst device (EHC), and it is predicted that the battery is overcharged at the time of turning-off of EHC (a supply of power to the EHC is stopped), ECU temporarily delays turning-off of EHC. ECU determines whether or not a condition for turning off the EHC is met during the EHC turning-off delay. When the condition for turning off the EHC is met, the regenerative brake torque is lowered so that the regenerative power becomes less than the battery acceptable power, and the hydraulic brake torque is increased depending on lowering of the regenerative brake torque, and thereafter the EHC turning-off delay is cancelled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroshi Katsuta
  • Patent number: 9469294
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a hybrid vehicle comprising a dual clutch transmission having six forward speed stages, wherein arranged between a first input shaft and a first output shaft of the transmission are: a first gear train for a first speed stage; a third gear train corresponding for a third speed stage; a fifth gear train for a fifth speed stage; and a sixth gear train for a sixth speed stage. A second gear train for a second speed stage and a fourth gear train for a fourth speed stage are arranged between a second input shaft and a second output shaft. A first sleeve is provided between the first gear train and the third gear train; a second sleeve is provided between the fifth gear train and the sixth gear train; and a third sleeve is provided between the second gear train and the fourth gear train. A second MG is provided so as to output drive power to the second input shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomoya Takahashi, Mitsuhiro Tabata, Takaaki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9469295
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for controlling mode change of a hybrid electric vehicle. For a system having an engine as a power source, a motor selectively connected to the engine via an engine clutch, and a transmission connected to the motor, a method includes determining whether coupling of the engine clutch during a mode change from EV to HEV mode and shifting of the transmission are required, comparing an input speed of a current gear of the transmission with an engine speed in an idle state when the coupling of the engine clutch and the shifting are required, determining whether a kick down shift is required when the input speed of the current gear of the transmission is greater than or equal to the engine speed in the idle state and simultaneously coupling the engine clutch and performing the kick down shift when the kick down shift is required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Sangjoon Kim
  • Patent number: 9469296
    Abstract: A method and arrangement are described for manoeuvre generation for automated driving on a one-way road of a vehicle (e) hosting the arrangement, the host vehicle (e) further including one or more advanced driver assistance systems. A collision free reference trajectory for longitudinal and lateral movement of the host vehicle (e) is determined repeatedly, with a fix time interval, for allowing the host vehicle (e) to retain a desired velocity and maintain the host vehicle (e) in a preferred lane utilizing model predictive control and quadratic program formulation. A control scheme where the structured environment of the one-way road is exploited in order to linearly formulate collision avoidance constraints is utilized. Manoeuvre generation is performed through solving the quadratic program. The one or more advanced driver assistance systems are controlled to perform the generated manoeuvre.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventors: Julia Nilsson, Mohammad Ali
  • Patent number: 9469297
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a technology that enables avoidance of situations in which the driver's own vehicle enters the course of a vehicle behind with a change in the course of the driver's own vehicle without relying upon a device for detecting the vehicle running diagonally behind the driver's own vehicle in a driving assistance apparatus that causes the driver's own vehicle to change its course to avoid a collision with a solid object existing in the course of the vehicle. To achieve the object, according to the present invention, a change of the course of the driver's own vehicle is forbidden when a dividing line indicating a lane boundary is not detected on the road between the driver's own vehicle and a solid object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tomonori Akiyama