Patents Issued in February 7, 2017
  • Patent number: 9561781
    Abstract: A method and a system for displaying efficiency of regenerative braking for an environmentally-friendly vehicle to better educate drivers in regards to their braking habits and hopefully teach them how to improve the fuel efficiency of the vehicle through adjustment of their braking habits while improving the quality of a vehicle by displaying the regenerative braking efficiency in comparison to a total amount of braking during the braking of the environmentally-friendly vehicle on a cluster. In particular, a total amount of braking while the vehicle is braking, and a ratio of the amount of regenerative braking included in the total amount of braking is calculated by a controller. Then the controller determines whether the vehicle is stopped due to braking. Once the vehicle has stopped due to braking, the calculated ratio of the amount of regenerative braking is displayed on a cluster in the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Chun Hyuk Lee
  • Patent number: 9561782
    Abstract: The vehicle includes a seating section provided in a main body and configured such that a driver is able to take a seat by straddling the same, foot placement sections located beneath the seating section to be respectively provided at left and right positions of sides of the main body with the seating section interposed therebetween, feet of the seated driver being placed on the foot placement sections, and a grip section located in front of the seating section and disposed above the seating section, the grip section being gripped with a hand of the driver so as to be operated, an acceleration operation being performed by tilting the grip section in a forward direction, a deceleration operation being performed by tilting the grip section in a rearward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kohshi Katoh, Kuniaki Gotou, Eishi Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 9561783
    Abstract: A braking apparatus for a vehicle is provided which includes a hydraulic booster to make wheels of the vehicle produce frictional braking force, a solenoid valve, and a collision avoidance controller. The solenoid valve selectively exerts the hydraulic pressure of brake fluid stored in an accumulator on a spool valve in the booster. When determining that there is a risk of a collision with an obstacle, the collision avoidance controller opens the solenoid valve to achieve emergency braking to minimize the risk of the collision. Basically, emergency braking is achieved by installing the solenoid valve to selectively exert the hydraulic pressure on the spool valve, thus allowing an emergency avoidance braking system to be constructed with a minimum of equipment and facilitating the mountability of the braking apparatus in the vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignees: DENSO CORPORATION, ADVICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hironobu Yamashita, Takahiro Yamaguchi, Kiyohito Takeuchi, Yasuhiro Sasaki, Junji Ishimura, Atsushi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9561784
    Abstract: A control apparatus is configured to control a brake of a unit hauled by a vehicle. The vehicle includes a plurality of brakes for braking the wheels of the vehicle, a trailer brake for braking the hauled unit, and a parking brake for keeping the vehicle braked while it is stationary. The control apparatus includes a line for sending a fluid to the trailer brake through a control valve in order to brake the hauled unit in certain working conditions, a further line for sending a further fluid to the trailer brake in order to activate the trailer brake in other working conditions, and a valve device for controlling flow of the further fluid in the further line, the valve device being responsive to a signal indicative of the status of the parking brake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Paolo Casali, Gabriele Ferola
  • Patent number: 9561785
    Abstract: A vehicle rear wheel lift tendency judgment device: includes a first deceleration obtaining device for obtaining a first deceleration along a first straight line, being a component in a first direction of an acceleration on a center of gravity, and a second deceleration obtaining device for obtaining a second deceleration along a second straight line, being a component in a second direction of the acceleration; judges that a rear wheel tends to be lifted, when the first deceleration is greater in the first direction than a first threshold, or when the second deceleration is greater in the second direction than a second threshold; and performs at least one of setting for shifting the first threshold in a direction opposite to the first direction and setting for shifting the second threshold in a direction opposite to the second direction, when a second-deceleration change rate being a change amount in the second deceleration per unit time becomes greater in the second direction than a change-rate threshold, en
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignees: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD., NISSIN KOGYO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chikashi Iizuka, Makoto Toda, Hiroki Kitagawa, Tetsuya Hasegawa, Nobuyuki Kodaira, Tomoharu Tsuchiya
  • Patent number: 9561786
    Abstract: A method according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, adjusting the feel of a brake pedal based on a comparison between a predetermined level of resistance to an input braking force and a measured input braking force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC.
    Inventors: Mark Allen Shand, Daniel A. Gabor
  • Patent number: 9561787
    Abstract: A hydraulic braking system is provided as well as a method, relating to a master brake cylinder, a first brake pressure generator, as well as a wheel brake cylinder. The braking system includes a second brake pressure generator which is connected to the at least one wheel brake cylinder. The master brake cylinder is hydraulically connectable to the at least one wheel brake cylinder via the second brake pressure generator. This has the advantage that a secure braking system may be provided including one additional fallback level, hydraulically via the driver as well as by providing a second, additional brake pressure generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Werner Quirant, Karl-Heinz Willmann, Urs Bauer
  • Patent number: 9561788
    Abstract: A hybrid work vehicle includes: a work device; a traveling drive device; a lever operation quantity detection unit that detects a lever operation quantity of a control lever operated to control the work device; an engagement state detection unit that detects an engaged state and a non-engaged state of the work device; a pedal operation quantity detection unit that detects a pedal operation quantity of an accelerator pedal; a travel state detection unit that detects a traveling state and a non-traveling state of the traveling drive; and an engine control unit that controls an engine rotation rate based upon at least either the lever operation quantity or the pedal operation quantity in correspondence to either the engaged state or the non-engaged state and either the traveling state or the non-traveling state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: KCM Corporation
    Inventor: Noritaka Ito
  • Patent number: 9561789
    Abstract: A hybrid work vehicle is provided with an internal combustion engine for supplying driving force to a running device and a work implement via a transmission shaft, a motor generator for assisting the internal combustion engine by outputting power to the transmission shaft, and a battery for receiving charging electricity from the motor generator and giving driving electricity to the motor generator. A load information generation unit generates load information indicating a rotational load received by the internal combustion engine when in a constant-speed control mode for maintaining a constant number of revolutions of the internal combustion engine, based on an input parameter, and an assistance calculation unit calculates an amount of assistance for internal combustion engine by the motor generator, based on the load information when in the constant-speed control mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Keishiro Nishi, Hidetoshi Hana, Atsushi Shinkai, Hisao Mukai, Michita Kono, Yushi Matsuzaki, Yoshitomo Fujimoto, Susumu Umemoto, Shigeki Hayashi, Norio Obata, Toshikazu Kawamoto, Nobushige Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 9561790
    Abstract: A control device is configured to select one of a CD (Charge Depleting) mode in which an SOC of a power storage device is consumed and a CS (Charge Sustaining) mode in which the SOC is maintained within a predetermined range. The CS mode includes a first CS mode selected based on an intention of a driver, and a second CS mode selected when the SOC decreases to a predetermined amount. The predetermined range in the first CS mode is narrower than the predetermined range in the second CS mode. As a result, a distance for which a vehicle can travel using only the drive force of a rotating electric machine after mode switching from the CS mode to the CD mode based on the intention of the driver can be ensured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masato Kanehara
  • Patent number: 9561791
    Abstract: A system and method for optimizing the consumption of fuel in a hybrid electric vehicle is disclosed. A Hybrid Efficiency Index (HEI) is used to quantify a relative efficiency advantage achievable with the expenditure of electrical energy at a given power level. Also disclosed is a minimum efficiency threshold useful for determining which HEI values will result in the optimum use of electrical energy throughout the operation of the vehicle. Methods for adjusting the minimum efficiency threshold with respect to regenerative braking events, storage capacity in the energy storage system, along with other aspects are disclosed as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Allison Transmission, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey K. Runde, Stephen T. West, William J. Hynes
  • Patent number: 9561792
    Abstract: A control system for a plug-in hybrid vehicle includes a drive system including a starter motor, a transverse engine, and a motor/generator, and a power supply system including a high voltage battery, a capacitor, and a hybrid control module that controls charging and discharging of the capacitor. In the control system for an FF plug-in hybrid vehicle in which an external charging of the high-power battery is available, the hybrid control module starts the starter, performs mode selection control and charge/discharge control, maintains a capacitor voltage at or below a deterioration free voltage when the CS mode is selected during ignition on, and recharges the capacitor to a starter start-up permission voltage that allows the starter to start when a pre-forecast of the reverse transition from the CS mode to the CD mode is established.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Kodawara
  • Patent number: 9561793
    Abstract: An ECU executes control processing including a step of executing engagement control on a K0 clutch when a D?N operation is performed, a step of keeping the K0 clutch engaged until an N?D operation is performed, a step of executing engagement control on a C1 clutch when the N?D operation is performed, a step of keeping the K0 clutch engaged when a request to operate an engine is issued following the elapse of a predetermined time ?, and a step of executing disengagement control on the K0 clutch when a request to operate the engine has not been issued.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Seiji Kuwahara, Yukihiko Ideshio
  • Patent number: 9561794
    Abstract: Example systems and methods are disclosed for implementing vehicle operation limits to prevent vehicle load failure during vehicle teleoperation. The method may include receiving sensor data from sensors on a vehicle that carries a load. The vehicle may be controlled by a remote control system. The load weight and dimensions may be determined based on the sensor data. In order to prevent a vehicle load failure, a forward velocity limit and an angular velocity limit may be calculated. Vehicle load failures may include the vehicle tipping over, the load tipping over, the load sliding off of the vehicle, or collisions. The vehicle carrying the load may be restricted from exceeding the forward velocity limit and/or the angular velocity limit during vehicle operation. The remote control system may display a user interface indicating to a remote operator the forward velocity limit and the angular velocity limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: X Development LLC
    Inventor: Kevin William Watts
  • Patent number: 9561795
    Abstract: A vehicle collision avoidance apparatus and method are provided. The method includes identifying, by a controller, whether an obstacle is a vehicle or a pedestrian and collecting information required for calculating a minimum braking time and a minimum steering time. The controller is configured to calculate the minimum braking time to avoid a collision with the obstacle and the minimum steering time to avoid a collision with an obstacle. In addition, the a controller is configured to sequentially operating braking and steering of a traveling vehicle based on the minimum steering time depending on a type of identified obstacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Dae Seok Jeon, Suk Ki Min, Dong Hyun Sung
  • Patent number: 9561796
    Abstract: A method for controlling a motor vehicle includes steps of controlling a longitudinal speed of the motor vehicle to a predetermined value and scanning an upcoming driving route with the aid of a sensor on board the motor vehicle. One end of a section of the driving route which is visible with the aid of the sensor is determined. Assuming that there is an obstacle on the driving route beyond the visible section, it is determined that a deceleration which would be required to maintain a predetermined minimum distance from the assumed obstacle exceeds a predetermined threshold value, and a signal is output to a driver of the motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventor: Holger Mielenz
  • Patent number: 9561797
    Abstract: Methods and systems for predictive reasoning for controlling speed of a vehicle are described. A computing device may be configured to identify a first and second vehicle travelling ahead of an autonomous vehicle and in a same lane as the autonomous vehicle. The computing device may also be configured to determine a first buffer distance behind the first vehicle at which the autonomous vehicle will substantially reach a speed of the first vehicle and a second buffer distance behind the second vehicle at which the first vehicle will substantially reach a speed of the second vehicle. The computing device may further be configured to determine a distance at which to adjust a speed of the autonomous vehicle based on the first and second buffer distances and the speed of the autonomous vehicle, and then provide instructions to adjust the speed of the autonomous vehicle based on the distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Dmitri Dolgov, Dave Ferguson
  • Patent number: 9561798
    Abstract: A method for heating a catalyst includes maintaining engine speed at a high rpm when the engine is started. The high rpm is maintained even if the driver shifts the transmission out of neutral. Engine speed is lowered when there is an indication that the driver wishes to drive off, such as the driver releasing the brake pedal. Maintaining the high rpm during the time between shifting the transmission out of neutral and providing an indication that drive off is desired contributes to additional catalyst warm up. The high rpm may be disabled if the catalyst temperature is sufficiently high or if the vehicle is parked on a slope, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Limited
    Inventors: Rob Jerger, David Hayden, Simon Jarvis, Nick Wicks
  • Patent number: 9561799
    Abstract: A controller is capable of controlling a coupled engine running mode, in which an engine is coupled to wheels and an engine brake is activated by driven rotation of the engine, and a coasting mode, in which an engine brake force is reduced with respect to that in the coupled engine running mode with mode with the engine brake on, and starts the coasting mode on the basis of the steering angle of a steering member. The controller starts the execution of a first coasting mode when the steering angle is equal to or less than a preset upper limit value and starts the execution of a second coasting mode when the steering angle is greater than the upper limit value. In the first coasting mode, the engine rotation is stopped, and in the second coasting mode, the engine remains rotating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takeaki Suzuki, Masaki Matsunaga, Yasunari Kido, Takayuki Kogure, Yukari Okamura, Rentaro Kuroki, Takuya Hirai, Masaki Mitsuyasu, Jonggap Kim, Akihiro Sato, Yusuke Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 9561801
    Abstract: A vehicle control system is configured to decrease a value of the index upon reduction in an absolute value of acceleration detected continuously during propulsion of the vehicle to fall below a predetermined value toward zero, as compared to that of a case in which the absolute value of the instant acceleration is larger than the predetermined value (steps S1 to 5). The acceleration includes at least any of an instant forward acceleration established by operating an accelerator, an instant longitudinal acceleration established by operating the accelerator or a brake, and an instant synthesized acceleration of the instant longitudinal acceleration and an instant lateral acceleration established by operating a steering wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keisuke Takeuchi, Masaki Suzuki, Toshio Tanahashi
  • Patent number: 9561802
    Abstract: If operation mode of an engine is transitioned from natural aspiration lean-burn operation mode to supercharged lean-burn operation mode, an engine control portion temporarily changes an air-fuel ratio from a lean air-fuel ratio to a stoichiometric air-fuel ratio or a rich air-fuel ratio. When the air-fuel ratio is changed from the lean air-fuel ratio to the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio or the rich air-fuel ratio by the engine control portion, a transmission control portion switches a gear ratio of the automatic transmission to a gear ratio that provides an engine rotational speed at which the engine output becomes equal to an engine output before the air-fuel ratio is changed and also at which an intake pipe pressure becomes equal to or closest to an intake pipe pressure before the air-fuel ratio is changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shintaro Hotta
  • Patent number: 9561803
    Abstract: A method is provided for calculating a driver's desired yaw rate of a vehicle for use in a vehicle movement control system and includes determining the current yaw rate of the vehicle, determining the rate of the vehicle's steering wheel rotation. The method further includes calculating a first desired yaw rate of the vehicle based on the determined current yaw rate of the vehicle and the determined rate of the vehicle's steering wheel rotation, the desired yaw rate being further calculated based on the assumption that the driver applies a rate of steering wheel rotation as function of the driver's perceived error in yaw rate, and finally the step of providing the first desired yaw rate as an input to the vehicle movement control system for controlling the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Volvo Truck Corporation
    Inventor: Gustav Markkula
  • Patent number: 9561804
    Abstract: A vehicle is provided which may include an energy conversion device, an energy source to supply power to the energy conversion device, and at least one controller in communication with an interface. The controller may be programmed to output a distance to empty (DTE) to the interface based on conditions of vehicle components and the energy source compensated by a distance correction factor. The controller may further include a DTE prediction architecture including a feed-forward energy consumption estimator, an energy consumption learning filter, a distance compensator, and a DTE calculator. A method for estimating distance to empty for a vehicle is also provided which may output a DTE modified by a predicted DTE range loss selected to include a distance correction factor corresponding to and correcting for the noise factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jason Meyer, Sangeetha Sangameswaran
  • Patent number: 9561805
    Abstract: A chassis front assembly, a chassis rear assembly and a chassis intermediate assembly are disclosed. The chassis front assembly and the chassis rear assembly are connected to the chassis intermediate assembly for forming a chassis. A kit is also disclosed. A method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Android Industries LLC
    Inventors: Keith Masserang, Joshua J. Hicks, Lawrence J. Lawson, Barry A. Clark
  • Patent number: 9561806
    Abstract: A vision control system for controlling a vision of a glass surface of a locomotive. The vision control system includes a sensing module for detecting at least one parameter related to the glass surface. The sensing module includes a moisture sensing device configured to detect a presence of moisture on the glass surface and a photo sensor configured to detect an opacity of the glass surface. The vision control system also includes a cleaning system configured to perform a cleaning operation on the glass surface. The vision control system further includes a controller communicably coupled to the sensing module and the cleaning system. The controller is configured to receive a signal indicative of the at least one parameter related to the glass surface from the sensing module and communicate with the cleaning system to control the cleaning operation based on the received signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Electro-Motive Diesel, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis Melas, Isaac Traylor
  • Patent number: 9561807
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an elastic coupling (1) between rail vehicle wagons, comprising: an end support (2) or curved head (8) in turn comprising a screwed straight area (5), an intermediate deformation area (6) and an end coupling area (7), the end (8) of the coupling area (7) being curved, an end support (3) or straight head (8?) in turn comprising a screwed straight area (5?), an intermediate deformation area (6?) and an end coupling area (7?), the end (8?) of the coupling area (7?) being straight, and an enclosing case (4) covering the end coupling area (7) of the support (2) and the end coupling area (7?) of the support (3), such that the supports (2) and (3) are attached to one another by draw connection means and by elastic elements. The walls of the intermediate area 6 of the support 2 are curved inwards, and the walls of the intermediate area 6? of the support 3 are curved outwards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: PATENTES TALGO, S.L.
    Inventors: Maria Teresa Vicente Corral, Andres Lopez Bonaque, Miguel Angel Moñino
  • Patent number: 9561808
    Abstract: A method for controlling a magnetic rail brake device of a rail vehicle, wherein the device contains at least one solenoid of a magnet rail brake, said solenoid being fed from a source of electrical energy via an electrical connection, wherein upon a magnet rail brake activation signal the electrical connection between the source of electrical energy and the at least one solenoid of the magnet rail brake is established and upon a magnet rail brake de-activation signal same is disconnected, in order to excite the at least one solenoid to generate a magnetic force or de-excite said at least one solenoid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: KNORR-BREMSE GESELLSCHAFT MIT BESCHRÄNKTER HAFTUNG
    Inventors: Henry Lehmann, Peter Schlager, Bernhard Gross
  • Patent number: 9561809
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for applying lubricant to a rail road track. The apparatus comprising a control module; a housing; a lubricant distribution block; and a plurality of tubes for connecting the control module to the housing wherein the housing houses the lubricant distribution block. The control module is positionable in close proximity to the rail road track and the housing is positionable adjacent to and along a section of rail road track to be lubricated. The lubricant is stored in a vessel in the control module and pumped from the control module to a lubricant distribution nozzle connected to the housing and wherein sliding the lubricant distribution nozzle along the section of rail road track in a first or second direction distributes lubricant along the section of rail road track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: RBL, INC.
    Inventors: Roy L Nelson, Robert G Pieper
  • Patent number: 9561810
    Abstract: Predicting operational changes in a multi-detector environment includes generating, via a computer processing device, a factor matrix for each univariate time series data in a set of sparse time series data collected from data sources, identifying a subset of the time series data as a feature selection based on application of a loss function, and generating a predictive model from the subset of the time series data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Arun Hampapur, Qing He, Hongfei Li, Zhiguo Li, Dhaivat P. Parikh
  • Patent number: 9561811
    Abstract: A railroad control system is disclosed for a network of trains. The system may include a centralized control system configured to transmit trip parameters for each train in the network. The system may include an energy manager in communication with the centralized control system and located onboard each train. The energy manager may be configured to determine an energy profile for a consist of the train based on the trip parameters. The system may further include a consist manager located onboard the consist and configured to determine a distribution of the energy profile for each locomotive of the consist. The system may also include one or more locomotive managers, each associated with a locomotive of the consist, and configured to determine a power configuration of the one locomotive based on the distribution of the energy profile and known parameters of the locomotive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: PROGRESS RAIL LOCOMOTIVE INC.
    Inventors: Isaac Traylor, James David Seaton, David Matthew Roenspies, Alexander Shubs, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9561812
    Abstract: The present invention relates to conditions monitoring of structures forming part of a transport network, e.g. structural health monitoring of structures, especially tunnels by performing distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) on at least one optical fiber (104) deployed so as to monitor the structure (206) and detecting and analyzing the acoustic response to movement of traffic (205) on the network in the vicinity of the structure to detect the acoustic response (303, 304) of the structure. The acoustic response of the structure is then analyzed to detect any change in condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: OPTASENSE HOLDINGS LIMITED
    Inventor: Alastair Godfrey
  • Patent number: 9561813
    Abstract: A method for locating a rail vehicle with a rail vehicle position determination device on a route includes reading positions of reference marks, passed by the rail vehicle, along the route of the rail vehicle and evaluating additional distance information. In order to locate a rail vehicle with little expenditure and with comparatively high accuracy, in the case of a route with at least one track section bounded by axle counting sensor units and having an axle counting evaluator, information on the number of axles from the axle counting evaluator is transferred to the rail vehicle position determination device for determining the position of a rail vehicle. In the rail vehicle position determination device, the position of an axle of the rail vehicle corresponding to the information on the number of axles is determined using route topology data present there, and this position is used as a further reference mark.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Hartwig Ohmstede
  • Patent number: 9561814
    Abstract: A method operates an automatic train control system which has an electronic signal box, a balize and a frequency track circuit. To configure the train control system so as to be constructed from components of the European train control system and of the frequency track circuit without substantial additional development effort, the balize is acted upon by indicator messages of a first type of the electronic signal box via an actuation module for modular elements having an addressable memory for the number of currently free block route segments. Indicator messages of a third type are created from indicator messages of a second type. A functional relationship between the addresses of the memory and code information of the frequency track circuit is taken into account during the creation of the third indicator messages. A transmitter of the frequency track circuit is acted upon as a result of the third indicator messages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Norbert Geduhn, Zhenxiang Yang
  • Patent number: 9561815
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a cart with easy accommodation of a handle by a spring, comprising: a loading plate in which articles are loaded at the upper portion, a cut groove is vertically penetrated to be formed at the front end, the front end is opened at the lower portion so as to be horizontally penetrated to the back end, and a space part is formed to communicate with the cut groove; driving wheels provided at the lower part of the loading plate; a cover to be coupled to the lower part of the space part; a handle member accommodated in the space part so as to be moved to the front end of the loading plate, and rotated toward the cut groove so as to be exposed to the upper part of the loading plate; a stopper formed at the cut groove side in the space portion and preventing the separation of the handle member; and a spring unit comprising a fixture provided in the back of the space part, a rotation shaft provided at the fixture, and a spring wound to the rotation shaft and of which an end is connect
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Sejin Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Young Yong Choi
  • Patent number: 9561816
    Abstract: A compact collapsible stroller in accordance with the present disclosure includes a mobile cart and a seat coupled to the mobile cart. The mobile cart includes a rolling base and a foldable frame that fold inwardly and outwardly from the rolling base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Dorel Juvenile Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Dowd, Christopher D Miller, Joseph F Brewin
  • Patent number: 9561817
    Abstract: A stroller for carrying a child or child restraint system, that may comprise an additional storage area or child support system when expanded. The frames include a mechanism whereby the base of the frame is expanded rearward to create a storage space roughly behind the baby seat, and optionally where a top to the storage area folds up from the rear of the frame to complete the storage area. The stroller may include detachable wheels. The stroller may also include handles or push bars that may optionally include mechanisms to assist in expanding or contracting the storage area. The stroller may also be constructed so as to be collapsible for storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Austlen Baby Co.
    Inventors: Patrick William Laffan, Leslie Stiba, Hao Tian
  • Patent number: 9561818
    Abstract: A suspension apparatus for steered wheel includes a knuckle as a supporting member for rotatably supporting the steered wheel, two lower arms separately connected to joints as two lower-part connecting points equipped on lower part of the knuckle respectively, and two upper arms separately connected to joints as two upper-part connecting points equipped on an upper part of the knuckle respectively, and, connecting points of the two lower arms and the two upper arms to the knuckle are configured such that a rate of moving amount toward the vehicle inside to moving amount toward the vehicle front of a second extended line AP2 connecting the two joints straightly is more than the rate of a first extended line AP1 connecting the two joints straightly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takeshi Uchihara
  • Patent number: 9561819
    Abstract: A method for actively determining a steering stop angle for tires associated with a front axle of a work vehicle may generally include receiving an input associated with a tire parameter for the tires, monitoring a suspension travel distance of the front axle and monitoring an oscillation angle of the front axle. In addition, the method may include determining a maximum allowable steering angle for the tires based on both the suspension travel distance and the oscillation angle of the front axle, wherein the maximum allowable steering angle corresponds to a steering angle at which clearance is maintained between the tires and at least one hood-related component of the work vehicle when the tires are moved to the maximum steering angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventor: Thomas Tuttle
  • Patent number: 9561820
    Abstract: Uncommanded steering detection in a machine can be performed by comparing commanded and actual steering positions of an electro-hydraulic steering cylinder along with a velocity of movement of the cylinder to understand a steering error and whether the actual steering position is moving toward the commanded steering position. A steering error, when above a predetermined threshold, may be cumulatively summed and, if the cumulative sum exceeds a predetermined limit, an alarm may be triggered and the machine may be forced to a safe state (slowed or stopped). The steering error for the actual steering position may be increased if the velocity of movement is not toward the commanded steering position so that the alarm will be triggered sooner. In either case, the response of the machine to steering uncommanded motion will be swifter when the uncommanded motion is more severe (greater error and/or steering in the wrong direction).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventor: Carl Moberg
  • Patent number: 9561821
    Abstract: The subject matter disclosed herein includes, inter alia, a method and system which enables to determine the steering-angle between the longitudinal axis of a tractor and the longitudinal axis of an aircraft which is being led by the tractor (referred to herein as “steering-angle” in short). While an aircraft is being led, the steering-angle can be repeatedly calculated and compared to a threshold value defining a mechanical steering limit. In case the comparison complies with one or more predefined conditions (e.g. the steering-angle is equal or smaller the threshold value) a warning can be generated indicating to an operator that the steering-angle has reached (or is about to reach) its limit and should be adjusted accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: ISRAEL AEROSPACE INDUSTRIES LTD.
    Inventor: Avitzur Oren
  • Patent number: 9561822
    Abstract: An in-lane drive assist device controls a turning amount of a turning unit that is mechanically detached from a steering unit-based on a steering amount of a steering unit when a lane deviation is determined to be absent. The in-lane drive assist device controls the turning amount based on a drive assist turning amount for generating a yaw moment to return a vehicle into a lane while the steering reaction force applied to the steering unit is controlled based on a target steering reaction force corresponding to a steering reaction force characteristic that is set so that a self-aligning torque increases as the steering reaction force increases when a lane deviation is determined to be present, and the steering reaction force characteristic is offset in a direction in which an absolute value of the steering reaction force increases as a lateral position of the vehicle approaches a white line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: NIssan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroki Taniguchi
  • Patent number: 9561823
    Abstract: A motor vehicle rear end has left and right longitudinal beams (12, 14) forming load-bearing structures of the vehicle, and a receiving housing (18) is between the left and right longitudinal beams (12, 14) for accommodating a traction battery. The receiving housing (18) has left and right side walls (22, 24) and a central wall (26) running in a forward direction of travel. An impact profile (26) is connected to the longitudinal beams (12, 14) at the level of the receiving housing (18) and absorbs impact energy in the event of a rear-end crash. The impact profile (26) has a left and right predetermined buckling points (36, 38) that enable the impact profile (26) to buckle toward the receiving housing (18) in a rear-end crash. The impact profile (26) that buckles in a rear-end crash strikes the receiving housing (18) along the longitudinal extent of the central wall (25).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: DR. ING. H.C.F. PORSCHE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Wilfried Eberle, Herbert Klamser, Franz-Rudolf Wierschem, Gerald Hekmann, Daniel Haag
  • Patent number: 9561824
    Abstract: A vehicle-body front structure that is able to secure collision performance for a collision with a small overlap amount of a collision object with respect to a bumper frame portion is obtained. A vehicle-body front structure includes: paired frame members elongated in a vehicle front-rear direction and arranged side by side in a vehicle width direction; a bumper frame portion elongated in the vehicle width direction and provided over front ends of the paired frame members in the vehicle front-rear direction; and a load transmission member. The load transmission member is placed on an inner side in the vehicle width direction relative to at least one of the frame members so as to be opposed to a load receiving portion placed between the paired frame members from at least one of a front side in the vehicle front-rear direction and an outer side in the vehicle width direction within a range where the load transmission member overlaps with the frame member in a vehicle up-down direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akihiro Tamaoki, Kosuke Sakakibara, Masanobu Omi, Tomoyuki Kuriyama, Wataru Kawashima, Motoyuki Tanaka, Nobuaki Kitaura
  • Patent number: 9561825
    Abstract: This provides a vehicle body structure including: a lower panel made of resin, which has a lower wall that forms a lower portion of a floor portion, an outer front wall that is placed to extend from a vehicle body front end of the lower wall to an upper direction of a vehicle body, and an outer back wall that is placed to extend from a vehicle body backside end of the lower wall to the upper direction of the vehicle body; and an upper panel made of resin, which has upper walls that form an upper portion of the floor portion opposite to the lower wall, an inner front wall that is placed to extend from the vehicle body front ends of the upper walls to the upper direction of the vehicle body and joined to the outer front wall and consequently forms a closed cross-section shape that extends in a vehicle width direction while including both of left and right ends at an upper portion of the outer front wall, and an inner back wall that is placed to extend from the vehicle body backside ends of the upper walls and t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Sho Maeda, Yoshitaka Sotoyama, Koki Ikeda
  • Patent number: 9561826
    Abstract: An apparatus for opening and closing an engine hood for a construction machine is disclosed that can open an engine hood at an angle desired by an operator. The apparatus for opening and closing an engine hood includes a frame having one side fixed to an upper swing structure and the other side fixed to a cowl frame, a guide rail having a guide groove formed in a length direction and a plurality of seat portions formed to be cut so as to communicate in a downward direction with respect to the guide groove and maintaining an opening angle that is set to open the engine hood in multiple stages, and a stay rod having a free end slidably formed along the guide rail and a fixed end rotatably fixed to the engine hood.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: VOLVO CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT AB
    Inventor: Seok-Won Kim
  • Patent number: 9561827
    Abstract: A vehicle comprising a flap that is attached to the vehicle in such a way as to permit movement of the flap from a first position to a second position, wherein the flap is configured to alter the downforce generated by the vehicle when the vehicle is in motion by affecting the airflow underneath the vehicle, the effect of the flap on the airflow being dependent upon the second position of the flap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: McLaren Technology Centre
    Inventors: Dan Parry-Williams, Arthur Slight
  • Bus
    Patent number: 9561828
    Abstract: A bus is provided, including: a frame assembly including a front frame, a rear frame and a hinge turntable therebetween; carriages including a front carriage having a front carriage body and a front carriage floor, and a rear carriage having a rear carriage body and a rear carriage floor; a front axle and a middle axle disposed at a bottom of the front frame; a rear axle disposed at a bottom of the rear frame; a first group of battery packs including a first battery pack disposed within a rear cabin in the rear of the rear carriage body and a second battery pack disposed on the rear frame; a second group of battery packs disposed on upper surfaces of top roof of the front and rear carriage bodies; a third group of battery packs disposed on the front carriage floor and between the front axle and the hinge turntable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignees: BYD COMPANY LIMITED, SHENZHEN BYD AUTO R&D COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Yuecong Niu, Wang Peng, Yichao Wu, Peng Yu
  • Patent number: 9561829
    Abstract: Disclosed are robotic systems, methods, bipedal robot devices, and computer-readable mediums. For example, a robotic system may include a robotic body, a robotic hip connected to the robotic body, a robotic leg connected to the robotic hip. Further, the robotic system may include a first robotic foot that is connected to one end of the robotic leg and a second robotic foot is connected to an opposite end of the robotic leg. Yet further, the robotic leg may be fully rotatable around an axis of rotation defined by the robotic hip. In addition, the robotic hip may be linearly movable along the robotic leg to one or more positions between the one end of the robotic leg and the opposite end of the robotic leg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: X Development LLC
    Inventors: Junichi Urata, Masaki Hamafuji
  • Patent number: 9561830
    Abstract: A kit for assembling a backrest on a saddle-type vehicle seat selectively connected to the frame and including at least one seat passage extending therethrough. A mounting plate is adapted to be disposed between the seat and the frame. An adapter, adapted to be connected to the mounting plate or integrally formed therewith, includes at least one adapter passage having an open end facing away from the mounting plate. An inverted U-shaped seat mount includes two posts and a connection member connected between their respective first end portions. A second end portion is adapted to be selectively received in the at least one adapter passage through the open end thereof. A back support is adapted to be pivotally connected to the seat mount. At least one fastener for attaching the mounting plate to the seat. Methods for assembling the backrest onto the seat are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: BOMBARDIER RECREATIONAL PRODUCTS INC.
    Inventors: Patrick Grondin, David Labbe
  • Patent number: 9561831
    Abstract: A motorcycle fairing support member and assembly and method of supporting a motorcycle fairing are disclosed. The fairing support member includes a central portion extending laterally when mounted on a motorcycle and having a first end, a second end, and a central coupling portion configured to couple the fairing support member to a fairing bracket of the motorcycle. A first support portion is disposed at the first end of the central portion and extends to support a motorcycle fairing. A second support portion is disposed at the second end of the central portion and extends to support the motorcycle fairing. The central portion, first support portion, and second support portion are configured to be concealed by the motorcycle fairing when the motorcycle fairing support member is mounted on the motorcycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Inventor: Paul Yaffe