Patents Issued in March 21, 2017
  • Patent number: 9598046
    Abstract: A vehicle assembly comprising a vehicle body panel and hinge means connecting the vehicle body panel to a vehicle structure, spacing means arranged with the hinge means for maintaining at least a part of the vehicle body panel in a predetermined spacing from the vehicle structure when the hinge means is in a first position, the spacing means being configured to suffer substantially brittle failure when a predetermined load is applied thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: ASTON MARTIN LAGONDA LIMITED
    Inventors: Thomas Leavesley, Timothy Cowlam, Violaine Wigham
  • Patent number: 9598047
    Abstract: In a through anchor (10), when an occupant is restrained by webbing (30) in a vehicle emergency, the webbing (30) is moved to the vehicle front side in an insertion hole (22) of a guide piece (18) by movement of the occupant due to inertia, and a vehicle front side end face of the webbing (30) contacts a peripheral face of the insertion hole (22) at high load. A gap is formed between the guide piece (18) and an anchor plate (12). The guide piece (18) is accordingly moved to the vehicle front side with respect to the anchor plate (12) by the webbing (30), thereby enabling occurrence of skewing of the webbing (30) toward the vehicle front side in the insertion hole (20) to be suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Enshu Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Tadao Ito
  • Patent number: 9598048
    Abstract: There is provided a webbing take-up device including (1) a take-up shaft, (2) an attachment and detachment detection unit, (3) a motor, (4) a first transmission unit that transmits rotation of the output shaft in a first direction to the take-up shaft, (5) a second transmission unit that transmits rotation of the output shaft in a second direction to the take-up shaft, and that also transmits the output torque of the output shaft to the take-up shaft such that the take-up torque of the take-up shaft does not reach a preset first torque, and (6) a control unit that, in cases in which engagement between a tongue and a buckle has been detected, controls a drive voltage and a drive current such that the output shaft rotates in the first direction, and the take-up torque of the take-up shaft reaches a second torque higher than the first torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKAI-RIKA-DENKI-SEISAKUSHO
    Inventors: Tomonari Umakoshi, Masato Yatsuhashi, Hisatoshi Ishikawa, Yuya Nagata, Takahiro Osaki, Fumihito Komeno
  • Patent number: 9598049
    Abstract: A method of operating a hands free access system for a vehicle includes authenticating a user of the vehicle, determining whether the authenticated user is burdened, and selectively opening a vehicle closure in response to the determination. A hands free access system for a vehicle includes a user recognition system operable to authenticate a user of the vehicle and a control system operable to determine whether the authenticated user is burdened and to operate the vehicle closure in response to the determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Rini Sherony
  • Patent number: 9598050
    Abstract: A local area security system interfaces with one or more vehicles to provide enhanced security. The vehicles have vehicle sensors which may further help determine a presence of potential threat within a vicinity of the local area security system. The multiple vehicle network may communicate with each other to expand the vicinity of the local area security system, share equipment, computing resources, and information in the determination of the presence of the potential threat. The battery powered vehicle may employ various methods to conserve battery power while coupled to the local area security system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Randall Lee Cogill, Olivier Gallay, Chungmok Lee, Zubair Nabi, Martin M. Rufli, Robert Shorten, Tigran T. Tchrakian, Rudi Verago, Fabian Roger Wirth, Sergiy Zhuk
  • Patent number: 9598051
    Abstract: A power consumption suppression system enables effective reduction of power consumption of an electronic key terminal. A position information acquisition section (210) provided on an electronic key terminal (200) acquires locking location information concerning the locking position of a vehicle (100) and terminal location information concerning the position of the electronic key terminal (200). A power consumption suppression section (220) provided on the electronic key terminal (200) reduces the power consumption when the distance between the locking location of the vehicle (100) indicated by the locking location information and the location of the electronic key terminal (200) indicated by the terminal location information is equal to or longer than a prescribed distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroki Okada
  • Patent number: 9598052
    Abstract: The invention relates to a securing device (11) provided between a blade (1) and a mounting (4) constituting a wiper, wherein said device includes a first portion (12) that can be attached onto the mounting (4) and a second portion (13) that can be attached onto the blade (1), the first portion (12) and the second portion (13) being connected together by a removable attachment means, characterized in that the first portion (12) includes at least one blocking means capable of plugging at least one liquid-feeding device (6) which is a component of the wiper. The invention can be used for motor vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Valeo Systèmes d'Essuyage
    Inventor: Philippe Espinasse
  • Patent number: 9598053
    Abstract: Connector for retaining a wiper (3) on a windscreen wiper arm, including an internal electrical connection device between, on the one hand, an electrical connector connected to the electrical circuit of the vehicle and, on the other hand, at least one heating element (11) deposited on a reinforcement (20) implanted in said wiper, characterized in that said internal connecting device includes at least one metal part (10) extending perpendicularly to the heating element (11) and exerting pressure against it so as to ensure a permanent contact with said heating element (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Valeo Systèmes d'Essuyage
    Inventors: Gérald Caillot, Vincent Izabel, Jean-Michel Jarasson
  • Patent number: 9598054
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wiper lever of a motor vehicle windshield wiper, especially a rear window wiper, comprising a windshield wiper arm, a wiper blade and a cover. According to the invention, the wiper arm is designed as a spring strip on which a slider, which is connected to the wiper blade, is longitudinally adjustable. The cover is connected to the slider such and can be connected to a wiper pin such that an angle of lift of the wiper lever can be compensated. The invention provides a cost-effective wiper lever which has a structurally simple design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: DR. ING. H.C.F. PORSCHE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Sven Auch
  • Patent number: 9598055
    Abstract: An elongated blade has an interior section and an exterior section. The interior section is adapted to be releasably coupled to a wiper arm. The exterior section has a W-shaped configuration with outer walls and inner walls. Two parallel edges are formed by the outer walls and the inner walls. The parallel edges are positioned in sliding contact with an exterior surface of a windshield during operation and use. A coupling assembly releasably couples the elongated blade to the wiper arm. The elongated blade is adapted to oscillate with respect to the wiper arm in response to a reversing of directions by the wiper arm and the elongated blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Inventor: William M. MacKinlay
  • Patent number: 9598056
    Abstract: A wiper adapter detachably coupled between a wiper arm and a wiper having a pivot shaft, the adapter comprises a first coupling element and a second coupling element. The first coupling element has a shaft cavity provided with a notch that is in communication with the shaft cavity; the pivot shaft can be assembled into the shaft cavity radially through the notch and can pivotably fit in the shaft cavity. The second coupling element can snap to the pivot shaft so as to prevent the pivot shaft from leaving the shaft cavity through the notch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Unipoint Electric Mfg. Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Andreas Benner, Sam Lai, Irving Chiu, Hsuhui Huang, Chienhung Lai
  • Patent number: 9598057
    Abstract: A multi-speed landing gear for a trailer includes a housing and a telescoping leg connected with the housing, and a gear assembly for extending and retracting the leg. The gear assembly includes a ring gear arranged to rotate about an axis transverse to the telescopic orientation of the leg member with the gear assembly configured to operate in a high speed setting and a low speed setting and automatically shift between the high and low speed settings, with an actuator selectively preventing or allowing rotation of the ring gear to enable the gear assembly to operate in the low speed setting or the high speed setting. The actuator may be connected to a shift member, with the actuator causing the shift member to selectively prevent or allow rotation of the ring gear by way of engagement of the shift member with the ring gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Jost International Corp.
    Inventors: Brian E. Oestreich, Kyle William Nordling, Ben Madsen, Steven Johns, Minglei Guan
  • Patent number: 9598058
    Abstract: An air-guiding device for cooling the brakes has adjustable air-guiding flaps and an electronic control unit for controlling the air-guiding flaps as a function of the vehicle speed and of the pilot control pressure, triggered by the activation of the brake pedal, in the brake system. A first mode and a second mode for opening the air-guiding flaps are provided in the control unit by a corresponding program module. The first mode is directed to a strong deceleration demand at a relatively high vehicle speed, in particular on freeways and country roads. The second mode is directed to an acceleration prevention demand at a relatively low vehicle speed, in particular when travelling downhill on roads through mountain passes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Neal Cheeseman
  • Patent number: 9598059
    Abstract: A controller for a vehicle includes: an engine controller that outputs a stop request to stop an engine when a stop condition is satisfied, and that outputs a start request to start the engine or resume the engine from a stop preparation state when a start condition is satisfied; a brake controller that, at least in a period between the outputs of the requests by the engine controlling part, automatically generates a braking force for keeping parking regardless of a driver's brake operation and that in a case where an accelerator operation amount is smaller than a predetermined ratio, when the start request has been output and the engine is being resumed from the stop preparation state to a normal rotation state, the brake controller reduces a brake pressure to a first predetermined pressure in a shorter time than when the engine is being started from a stopped state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hirokazu Kato, Hiroaki Seguchi, Jumpei Kakehi
  • Patent number: 9598060
    Abstract: A safety brake system for a trailer comprises a brake unit to brake the trailer. An actuation unit comprises a mount secured to a front end of the trailer. A brake interface is operatively supported by the mount for displacement with respect to the trailer. The brake interface is displaceable toward a deactivation state in which the brake interface releases the brake unit from braking the trailer. A probe is operatively supported by the mount for displacement with respect to the trailer, the probe being displaceable between a hitching state in which the probe is adapted to contact the hitch of a vehicle, and a blocking state in which the probe blocks a hitch coupler of the trailer to prevent hitching of the trailer to a vehicle A biasing unit biases the probe against the hitch of the trailer in the hitching state and toward the blocking state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Inventor: Roger Mercure
  • Patent number: 9598061
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electrohydraulic and/or electromechanical motor vehicle control device (I), in particular for a motor vehicle brake system, including an electronic control unit (4), which is connected to a hydraulic unit (3) or at least to one electrically conductive housing part. The electronic control unit includes at least one first circuit board (5) for accommodating electrical or electronic components and includes at least one connecting plug (8), which electronic control unit is further characterized in that at least one electrically conductive connecting contact (6) is provided, which is connected to at least one electrically conductive fastening means (8) in such a way that there is an electrically conductive connection between the electrically conductive main body of the hydraulic unit (3) and/or the housing part and the reference potential of the circuit board (5) of the electronic control unit (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL TEVES AG & CO. OHG
    Inventor: Andreas Heise
  • Patent number: 9598062
    Abstract: A method for vehicle control comprises determining a braking capability of a braking system of a vehicle, and modifying application of at least one control parameter by a control system of the vehicle based on the determined braking capability. Braking capability may be determined by activating the braking system of the vehicle to apply a braking force on the vehicle, and concurrently, applying a level of tractive effort of the vehicle that is sufficient to overcome the braking force. The braking capability is determined based on the level of tractive effort.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ajith Kuttannair Kumar, David Michael Peltz, Eugene A. Smith, Paul Kenneth Houpt, Glenn Robert Shaffer, Joseph Forrest Noffsinger, Brian J. McManus, Jared Cooper
  • Patent number: 9598063
    Abstract: A motor vehicle braking method wherein the vehicle includes a brake operating unit generating a braking signal based on brake pedal travel. The method includes the step of measuring the vehicle deceleration and pedal position during vehicle braking and determining an actual ratio between the measured deceleration and pedal position. In addition, a target ratio is provided based on vehicle deceleration for a defined pedal position. Wherein the actual ratios compared with the target ratio and a braking adjustment is provided when the actual ratio deviates from the target ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Svensson, Tim Jurkiw
  • Patent number: 9598064
    Abstract: A brake drive control circuit of a servo motor which detects malfunction of a semiconductor circuit at the brake drive control circuit, that is, a brake drive control circuit which connects two semiconductor circuits in series to a brake and uses a voltage detection circuit which detects the presence of voltage which is applied to the brake by brake signals turning the semiconductor circuits on/off so as to detect test pulses in the voltage which is applied to the brake due to test pulses which are included in the brake signals and turn the semiconductor circuits off for instants during an operation for disengaging the brake and detect malfunctions of the semiconductor circuits by the detection of the test pulses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshikiyo Tanabe, Yoshiki Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 9598065
    Abstract: An engine controller for controlling an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders is provided. The engine controller is in signal communication with the internal combustion engine, an automatic transmission, and a displacement adjusting mechanism. The engine controller is configured to determine an operating condition of the internal combustion engine and to communicate with the automatic transmission to shift to one of a plurality of gear configurations, and the displacement adjusting mechanism to one of activate and deactivate at least one cylinder. The engine controller determines that a shift from a first gear configuration to a second gear configuration requires a positive torque when the at least one cylinder is deactivated. The engine controller communicates with the displacement adjusting mechanism to activate the at least one deactivated cylinder such that the plurality of cylinders are activated before the shift between gear configurations and the positive torque are completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignees: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD., ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Ryuichi Mori, Christopher Hopp, Kazuma Sasahara, Brian Flora, Christian Villing
  • Patent number: 9598066
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicle motor is a control apparatus for a vehicle motor configured to control a motor that can realize a plurality of characteristics in which output upper limits of torque are different from each other. The control apparatus for the vehicle motor is provided with: a characteristic switching device configured to switch a characteristic of the motor between a first characteristic in which the output upper limit is first predetermined torque and a second characteristic in which the output upper limit is second predetermined torque, which is lower than the first predetermined torque; a characteristic switching abnormality determining device configured to determine whether or not there is an abnormality in switching of the characteristic of the motor; and a fail-safe performing device configured to perform a fail-safe process according to the characteristic of the motor if it is determined that there is the abnormality in the switching of the characteristic of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takashi Kawai, Takuro Kumada
  • Patent number: 9598067
    Abstract: The invention relates to switching between 2WD and 4WD of a vehicle. It is suggested to increase output power of an engine (106) when changing to 4WD. An AWD coupling (120) is opened, if not already open. To provide 4WD, a PTU clutch (108) is engaged once engine power has increased. The other couplers are sequentially engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Christian Thomas Chimner, John Allen Grogg
  • Patent number: 9598068
    Abstract: In a control system, a transfer is connected to a rotation member between a driving power source and primary driving wheels and distributes dynamic power of the driving power source to secondary drive wheels. A driving power transmission shaft transmits the dynamic power of the driving power source distributed by the transfer to the secondary drive wheels. A connection-disconnection mechanism is disposed between the rotation member and the driving power transmission shaft. First and second clutches are disposed respectively between the driving power transmission shaft and right and left wheels of the secondary drive wheels. The electronic control unit is configured, when switching from a two-wheel-drive running state to a four-wheel-drive running state on the basis of a vehicle running state, to generate a transmission torque in the first clutch or the second clutch after controlling the connection-disconnection mechanism to engage the connection-disconnection mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshinori Maeda, Kunihiro Iwatsuki, Hiroyuki Ishii
  • Patent number: 9598069
    Abstract: In a control device for a limited slip differential that limits a differential operation of front and rear wheels of a four-wheel-drive vehicle having mounted thereon a vehicle behavior control device that controls a braking force, an ECU that controls a torque coupling as the limited slip differential includes: a differential limiting force calculating device that calculates target torque of the torque coupling based on a vehicle traveling state; a differential limiting force correcting device that makes a correction to reduce the target torque based on a command from the vehicle behavior control device; and a thermal load calculating device that calculates a thermal load of the torque coupling. The differential limiting force correcting device limits the correction of the target torque based on the command from the vehicle behavior control device, when the thermal load of the torque coupling is equal to or larger than a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tomoaki Kato
  • Patent number: 9598070
    Abstract: An embodiment an infotainment system for an automobile includes a navigation system, an entertainment system, an audio output device and a control system coupled to the navigation system, the entertainment system and the audio output device. The control system controls access by the navigation system and the entertainment system to the audio output device and includes a conversation recognizer that determines if a conversation is being conducted. The control system of this embodiment varies operation of the audio output device in the event a conversation is being conducted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Bhavna Mathur, Andrew W. Gellatly, Cody R. Hansen, John P. Weiss, Matthew M. Highstrom, Robert D. Sims
  • Patent number: 9598071
    Abstract: A control strategy for a hybrid electric vehicle powertrain having an engine, a motor, and a transmission includes operating the powertrain according to a motor power loss term that is adapted based on battery power supplied to the motor, motor power output, and an estimated motor power loss such that the motor power loss term changes over time and converges to a constant value to thereby be indicative of actual motor power loss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Rajit Johri, Wei Liang, Xiaoyong Wang, Mark Steven Yamazaki, Ming Lang Kuang, Ryan Abraham McGee
  • Patent number: 9598072
    Abstract: An ECU determines whether or not fuel in a fuel tank deteriorates. A heating system is configured to be able to perform heating (engine heating) using heat of an engine which heating uses the engine under operation as a heat source, and heating (heat-pump heating) using a heat pump cycle without using the engine as a heat source. When it is determined that the fuel in the fuel tank deteriorates, the ECU controls the heating system and the engine so as to give priority to the engine heating over the heat-pump heating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takanori Aoki
  • Patent number: 9598073
    Abstract: According to the present invention, if a required power generation signal is supplied while a vehicle is decelerated in a fuel-efficiency-oriented control mode, an electrically-operated waste gate valve is operated so that opening of the electrically-operated waste gate valve is increased as the required power generation amount increases. Then, if it is determined that the vehicle is decelerated on the basis of accelerator opening and a vehicle speed, and fuel is cut off, an electronically controlled throttle valve is operated toward a fully opened side. In addition, if any one of following conditions is satisfied: the fuel-efficiency-oriented control mode is not selected; there is supply of a required output signal; and the vehicle is not decelerated, opening of the electrically-operated waste gate valve is adjusted so that output torque of an engine becomes a required output value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Koygo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Koji Hata
  • Patent number: 9598074
    Abstract: A vehicle stabilization system 1 comprises a VSA device to have a braking device generate a braking force to reduce rotation of wheels and perform an anti-lock braking control when a vehicle is braked and an AS device to cancel a yawing moment applied to the vehicle. A vehicle control device estimates a friction coefficient (pad ? value of the brake pad) of a friction material for braking the wheels, calculates braking forces for the left and right wheels using the estimated friction coefficient, calculates a yawing moment applied to the vehicle based on a braking force difference between a left wheel braking force to reduce rotation of the left wheels and a right wheel braking force to reduce rotation of the right wheels and determines an operation amount on the AS device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigehiro Honda, Susumu Takahashi, Hiroaki Sasaki
  • Patent number: 9598075
    Abstract: A vehicle-behavior control apparatus according to an embodiment includes a collision determining unit that determines whether a vehicle collides with an obstacle when the vehicle is decelerated while going straight based on at least a detection result of the obstacle in front of the vehicle and a detection result of a running state of the vehicle in a condition in which wheels are being braked, and a vehicle-behavior control unit that performs at least one of the control of steering rear wheels and the control of giving a difference in braking conditions between the left and right wheels such that the vehicle is decelerated while detouring around the obstacle without steering front wheels when it is determined to collide with the obstacle by the collision determining unit, as one example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignees: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takafumi Makino, Yoshiaki Tsuchiya
  • Patent number: 9598076
    Abstract: A controller for an autonomous vehicle received audio streams from one or more microphones and one or more image streams from one or more cameras. The audio streams are processed to identify audio features that potentially correspond to a motorcycle. The video streams are likewise processed to identify image objects that have movement and/or visual attributes corresponding to a motorcycle. The audio features and image objects are correlated. If a correlation is identified among the audio features and image objects, then a potentially lane-splitting motorcycle may be determined to be proximate. Actions may be taken to avoid collision with the lane-splitting motorcycle, such as avoiding lane changes, signaling longer, or performing lane changes more slowly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Jinesh J. Jain, Harpreetsingh Banvait, Kyu Jeong Han
  • Patent number: 9598077
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle movement control system which does not cause a discomfort feeling at a normal time and securely assists a driver at the time of emergency avoidance steering. The vehicle movement control system includes: a risk potential estimation unit which estimates a risk potential of a vehicle based on input environmental information and vehicle information; a vehicle longitudinal movement control unit which generates a longitudinal movement control command of the vehicle based on a lateral jerk of the vehicle and a predetermined gain; a vehicle yawing movement control unit which generates a yawing movement control command of the vehicle based on the lateral jerk of the vehicle and the predetermined gain; and a ratio adjustment unit which adjusts a ratio between the longitudinal movement control command of the vehicle and the yawing movement control command of the vehicle, wherein the ratio adjustment unit adjusts the ratio based on the risk potential estimated by the risk potential estimation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Yamakado, Keiichiro Nagatsuka, Mitsuhide Sasaki, Mikio Ueyama
  • Patent number: 9598078
    Abstract: This patent application discloses methods and systems for alerting computerized motor-vehicles about predicted accidents. In an example method, a motor vehicle alerts another motor vehicle about a predicted accident, even though that accident is between the alerting car and a third motor vehicle—for example, the alert is transmitted by non-visual electromagnetic (EM) radiation. When an adjacent motor vehicle receives such accident alert and determines it might itself be hit, it will react so as to minimize its chances of being hit or at least to minimize the damage if it is being hit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Inventors: Dov Moran, Menahem Lasser
  • Patent number: 9598079
    Abstract: The engine control device is applied to a vehicle equipped with a suspension control device for driving stepping motors for changing damping forces of shock absorbers. The suspension control device performs an initializing process for resolving the step-out of the stepping motors by driving the stepping motors when an initialization performing condition is satisfied. The engine control device continues the engine operation when a signal for inhibiting the automatic stop of the operation of the engine is sent to the engine control device and the engine control device judges that no malfunction occurs in the suspension control device even if the engine stop condition is satisfied. The engine control device automatically stops the operation of the engine when the engine stop condition is satisfied and the engine control device judges that a malfunction occurs in the suspension control device even if the signal is sent to the engine control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenichi Ishii, Hiroto Miura, Hideki Ohashi, Yosuke Yamashita, Masataka Okuda
  • Patent number: 9598080
    Abstract: A civil engineering machine and a method of controlling the machine are based on the position of at least one reference point which is relevant to the control of the civil engineering machine being changed, as the civil engineering machine moves, as a function of a relative position of the at least one reference point relative to a desired path of travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Fritz, Martin Dahm, Cyrus Barimani, Günter Hähn
  • Patent number: 9598081
    Abstract: A method of operating a dual-clutch transmission of a vehicle having partial transmissions with respective transmission input shafts. Two friction clutches can couple a corresponding input shaft of the partial transmissions to a drive shaft. Both partial transmissions drive a common output shaft. In a process for starting the motor vehicle, a gear in each of the two partial transmissions is engaged and, if the starting speed of the vehicle in a primary direction is lower than a limit value, the gears in the two partial transmissions are kept engaged. If, however, the starting speed is higher than the limit value, the gear for the travel in an opposite direction in the partial transmission, not involved in the starting process, is disengaged and a follow-up gear, for the gear in the partial transmission involved in the starting process, is engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Roland Mair
  • Patent number: 9598082
    Abstract: In consideration of an amplification effect of a braking force at the time of brake operation, upper-limits (?, ?) of a brake operation force (Brk) with which the execution of free-run coasting and neutral coasting is started may be different, on the basis of whether or not a brake booster can be filled with a negative pressure. Therefore, while the braking force at the time of brake operation is secured, the range of the brake operation force (Brk) with which coasting is executed can be enlarged, and an improvement in fuel economy can be made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Rentaro Kuroki, Takuya Hirai, Masaki Mitsuyasu, Jonggap Kim, Masaki Matsunaga, Yasunari Kido, Takeaki Suzuki, Takayuki Kogure, Yukari Okamura, Akihiro Sato, Yusuke Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 9598083
    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: March 21, 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: 9598084
    Abstract: A running control device of a vehicle executes a normal running mode with an engine coupled to drive wheels, a first inertia running mode with the engine stopped during running and an engine brake force reduced as compared to the normal running mode, and a second inertia running mode with the engine rotating during running and the engine brake force reduced as compared to the normal running mode. A determining portion determines a necessity of a brake negative pressure during the first or second inertia running mode. The necessity of the brake negative pressure is a condition for returning from the first inertia running mode and the second inertia running mode to the normal running mode. An upper limit value of the necessity of the brake negative pressure for returning from the first inertia running mode is smaller than that for returning from the second inertia running mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Rentaro Kuroki, Takuya Hirai, Masaki Mitsuyasu, Jonggap Kim, Masaki Matsunaga, Yasunari Kido, Takeaki Suzuki, Takayuki Kogure, Yukari Okamura, Akihiro Sato, Yusuke Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 9598085
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle powertrain is configured to provide a regenerative-braking torque limit on a transmission during a regenerative-braking downshift. The regenerative-braking downshift event has sequential boost, start, torque, inertia, and end phases. The transmission may be operated in absence of a regenerative-braking torque limit during the boost and start phases to recapture more energy. The transmission may be operated with a regenerative-braking torque limit during the torque and inertia phases to protect for an input shaft speed dip that may occur without the limit. The limit may be removed once the regenerative-braking downshift event is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Bernard D. Nefcy, Mark Steven Yamazaki, Yanan Zhao, Scott J. Lauffer, Francis Thomas Connolly, Zhengyu Dai, Matthew John Shelton
  • Patent number: 9598086
    Abstract: A method for ascertaining a height profile of a road situated ahead of a vehicle includes: reading in a movement profile of an object which is provided by an image sensor, the movement profile being read in as a plurality of images; reading in at least one parameter with regard to the object from a parameter sensor which is independent of the image sensor; and determining the height profile of the road situated ahead of the vehicle by using at least one vertical position of the object in the image and the parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventor: Oliver Heim
  • Patent number: 9598087
    Abstract: Systems and methods use an image of a road surface that is generated by a camera. The image includes a pattern from a light source. A region of interest in the image is determined based on the pattern from the light source. A total area is determined that includes at least part of the region of interest and an area adjacent the region of interest. A feature vector is extracted based on the region of interest and the total area. A road condition is determined based on the feature vector and a classifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Qingrong Zhao, Qi Zhang, Jinsong Wang, Bakhtiar Litkouhi, Wende Zhang
  • Patent number: 9598088
    Abstract: A driver assistance apparatus and a vehicle including the same are disclosed. The driver assistance apparatus includes a stereo camera, a memory to store road surface data regarding a state of a road surface classified into a dry state, a wet state, a snow covered state, and an icy state, and a processor to classify the state of the road surface as any one of the dry state, the wet state, the snow covered state, and the icy state based on stereo images received from the stereo camera and the road surface data. Consequently, it is possible to recognize a current road surface state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Hansung Lee, Soohwan Choi, Jaehyuk Yang
  • Patent number: 9598089
    Abstract: An arrangement for improving stability of a vehicle combination includes a towing vehicle and at least one towed vehicle, where the at least one towed vehicle includes an actively steered axle and/or individual brake on at least one axle, where the towing vehicle and the at least one towed vehicle each includes a lateral acceleration determining arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar AB
    Inventors: Kristoffer Tagesson, Leo Laine, Sogol Kharrazi
  • Patent number: 9598090
    Abstract: A retractable safety platform system for use between a train and a station platform, to thereby ensure a passenger will not fall or be pushed onto a path of the train, includes a rigid barricade platform adapted to be anchored to an outwardly facing side of the station platform registered along a vertical plane, and a mechanism for automatically reciprocating the barricade platform along a vertical linear travel path upon detecting first and second triggering events respectively. The linear travel path is defined along the vertical plane extending above and below a top surface of the station platform. In this manner, the barricade platform is displaced from a lowered retracted position to a raised extended position when the first triggering event is detected. The barricade platform is displaced from the raised extended position to the lowered retracted position when the second triggering event is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Inventor: Ignacio R. Maysonet
  • Patent number: 9598091
    Abstract: An air intake system is disclosed. The air intake system may have an air box. The air box may be configured to receive air from an ambient. The air intake system may also have a filter assembly disposed within the air box. The filter assembly may be configured to clean the air. In addition, the air intake system may have a duct. The duct may have a first duct end configured to receive the air exiting the filter assembly. The duct may also have a second duct end configured to deliver the air to the engine. The second duct end may be located at a gravitationally higher position than the first duct end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Electro-Motive Diesel, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary R. Svihla, Joshua D. Schueler, Pradeep Ganesan
  • Patent number: 9598092
    Abstract: A railcar energy absorption/coupling system including a cushioning assembly arranged in operable combination with a coupler and a yoke. The cushioning assembly is positioned in a draft pocket defined by a draft sill on a railcar between the front and rear stops. The yoke consists of a back wall along with top and bottom walls which are joined to and axially extending from the back wall toward a forward end of the cushioning assembly. The back wall of the yoke is disposed to contact the rear end of the cushioning assembly. The top and bottom walls of the yoke are operably coupled to a shank portion of the coupler toward a forward end of the yoke. The top and bottom walls of the yoke each include stop members which extend in opposed lateral directions from each other and limit draft travel while maximizing buff travel and limit total combined travel of the energy absorption/coupling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: MINER ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventors: Kenneth A. James, Erich A. Schoedl
  • Patent number: 9598093
    Abstract: A signal detection system for use with a signaling system is disclosed, the signal detection system comprising a plurality of electrical terminals including a source terminal and an output terminal, the output terminal being connected to a signaling device. An auxiliary terminal electrically coupled to at least one of the plurality of electrical terminals is provided. A current sensor is coupled to the auxiliary terminal for detecting an electrical signal for controlling the signaling device. The current sensor generating an output signal in response to the detection of the electrical signal for controlling the signaling device for monitoring the status of the signaling device. Also disclosed is a method for installing a signal detection system in a wayside signaling system including a signaling device for monitoring a status of the signaling device. An apparatus for connecting a current sensor to a signaling device is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Alstom Transport Technologies
    Inventors: Jeffrey Michael Fries, Gregory K. Hann, Aric Weingartner, Steven R. Murphy, Dan E Erickson, David Fletcher, Bradley Dale Brown
  • Patent number: 9598094
    Abstract: An event recorder playback system for a plurality of locomotives in a consist is described, including a processor configured to receive and save a first dataset and a second dataset associated with operation of a first locomotive and a second locomotive, respectively, in the consist. The processor may determine, using the processor, a point of synchronization of the first dataset and the second dataset with respect to time, and align the first dataset and the second dataset using the point of synchronization. The event recorder playback system may be further configured to output the first dataset and the second dataset on an output device. The output is aligned with respect to time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Progress Rail Services Corporation
    Inventors: Marc David Miller, Steven Keith Kirby, Gregory Richard Bressler
  • Patent number: 9598095
    Abstract: A cart includes a platform assembly, a handle assembly, first wheel assembly and a second wheel assembly. In use, the cart may folded from a deployed position in which it rolls along a surface to transport items, to a stowed position, in which it is collapsed in a compact geometry for storage. The cart may be further integrated into a chair, chaize lounge, garden cart, bicycle utility cart or a bicycle passenger cart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Sunny Fold, LLC
    Inventor: Joseph E. Panigot