Patents Issued in June 13, 2017
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Patent number: 9676287Abstract: An installation and a method for charging an electric battery for an electric vehicle. The electric vehicle comprises an on-board computer. The installation comprises a main power source delivering a charging power Pc1. The charging method comprises the step of determining the charging power Pc to be delivered to the electric battery in relation to a charging voltage and/or current set point demanded at an instant t by the onboard computer. The charging power is compared against the charging power Pc1 delivered by a main power source. If Pc>Pc1, at least one auxiliary power source delivering a charging power Pc2 is utilized in addition to the main power source such that the sum of the charging powers delivered by the power sources is equal to the charging power Pc.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2012Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: EVTRONICInventor: Eric Stempin
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Patent number: 9676288Abstract: A battery management system for a vehicle includes a controller programmed to apply a current pulse to reverse a current flow through a battery to reduce or remove cell polarization. After the current pulse, an open-circuit voltage is measured as the terminal voltage of the battery. The settling time for the terminal voltage to approach the open-circuit voltage is reduced after the current pulse. The magnitude of the current pulse is based on a battery state of charge, a battery temperature, and a current magnitude prior to the current pulse.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2015Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Xiaoguang Chang, Xu Wang, Szushen Ho, Chuan He
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Patent number: 9676289Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a battery pack supplying power to propel a vehicle are disclosed. One example method includes, increasing a battery pack state of charge window in response to a negative grade of a section of road a vehicle is traveling. The method also includes decreasing the battery pack state of charge window in response to the vehicle transitioning from traveling down a section of road having a negative grade to traveling down a section of road that has a positive or zero grade.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2013Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Xiaoguang Chang, Chuan He, Xu Wang
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Patent number: 9676290Abstract: A vehicle controller includes an electric motor connected to wheels, a power storage device connected to the electric motor, a charge/discharge controller that controls charge/discharge of the power storage device, a first traveling controller that controls the electric motor in accordance with a driver's operation, and a second traveling controller that controls the electric motor in accordance with a cruise function that automatically controls a vehicle speed. When the first traveling controller controls the electric motor, the charge/discharge controller controls charge/discharge power of the power storage device within a first charge/discharge range. When the second traveling controller controls the electric motor, the charge/discharge controller controls charge/discharge power of the power storage device within a second charge/discharge range that is wider than the first charge/discharge range.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2015Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATIONInventors: Yuichi Tanaka, Kazuki Furuta
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Patent number: 9676291Abstract: The invention relates to a refrigerant circuit of a hybrid or electric vehicle with a refrigerant distributor and to a refrigerant distributor (10) with an inlet channel (12), which extends substantially linearly along an inlet axis (E) and has a channel cross-section (QE), and at least two outlet channels (14, 16) branching off from the inlet channel (12), which each extend substantially linearly along an outlet axis (A1, A2) and have a channel cross-section (QA1, QA2), wherein the outlet axis (A1) of a first outlet channel (14) and the outlet axis (A2) of a second outlet channel (16) intersect in a point of intersection (S), and wherein the refrigerant distributor (10) has at least one of the following features: a) the channel cross-section (QA1) of the first outlet channel (14) differs from the channel cross-section (QA2) of the second outlet channel (16), b) the point of intersection (S) of the outlet axes (A1, A2) is arranged laterally offset from the inlet axis (E).Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2014Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: VALEO KLIMASYSTEME GMBHInventor: Roland Haussmann
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Patent number: 9676292Abstract: A hybrid vehicle control device is provided for controlling a drive system in a hybrid vehicle. The hybrid vehicle control device is provided with a hybrid control module that controls an operation start timing of a DC/DC converter at vehicle startup. When an ignition switch is pressed, after connecting a high power relay that is interposed between the motor/generator and the high power battery, the hybrid control module starts operation of the DC/DC converter upon determining that the outputtable electric power by the high power battery is a prescribed value or greater.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2013Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventor: Shuichi Orita
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Patent number: 9676293Abstract: An electric vehicle driving force control device capable of decreasing discrepancy generated between a driver's acceleration pedal operation and output torque actually generated by a drive motor is provided. The electric vehicle driving force control device includes target torque setting unit 5, 7, 8, 9, and 10 for setting target torque by limiting an upper limit of a target torque basic value from the target torque basic value and the maximum discharge power equivalent motor torque. The target torque setting unit corrects the target torque basic value such that, on a graph indicating a relationship between an acceleration opening and the target torque, an acceleration opening generating a limited target torque shifts to an acceleration opening side greater than the acceleration opening, and target torque smaller than the target torque basic value is generated in an accelerator opening region which is smaller than the limited accelerator opening.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2014Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: CALSONIC KANSEI CORPORATIONInventor: Kensuke Osamura
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Patent number: 9676294Abstract: A method of managing an operating state of an electrified powertrain includes a controller identifying a plurality of available operating regions defined by at least one available operating state of the powertrain, each operating region representing a distinct range of operating conditions. The available operating regions include an avoidance region defining a plurality of unwanted operating conditions and separating a first allowable operating region from a second allowable operating region such that the first and second allowable operating regions are noncontiguous. The method identifies at least one ideal operating condition in each of the available operating regions, determines a preferability factor and stabilization factor for each of a current and each of the ideal operating conditions, and arbitrates the factors to identify one of the current and ideal operating conditions as an optimized operating condition to produce a required parameter value.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2014Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Anthony H. Heap, Kee Yong Kim, Jeremy Wise
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Patent number: 9676295Abstract: An electric vehicle accomplishes speed changes through the use of electronically controlled, multiple electric motor configurations that are coupled to an output drive shaft instead of a speed change transmission. A parallel-coupled motor configuration includes at least two motors that are each coupled to the output drive shaft through respective gear arrangements, each gear arrangement having a respective gear ratio. In a serially-coupled motor configuration, the stator of the second motor is coupled to the rotor of the first motor, where the rotor of the second motor is coupled to the output drive shaft. The required torque to reach or maintain a desired vehicle speed can be obtained by selective energization of either one or both of the motors (in both multi-motor configurations). Two motors are also coupled to a differential gear so that the rotational speed contributed by both motors are additive at the output shaft.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2013Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: SUPERIOR ELECTRON, LLCInventors: Christopher P. Zing, Joachim H. Wiest, Henry T. Fung
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Patent number: 9676296Abstract: A motor vehicle with a seat unlocking system includes a seat with a seat part and a back part secured to a body at an attachment, an airbag, and an actuator for releasing the attachment of the seat to the body. Following activation of the actuator, the attachment between the seat and the body is disconnected such that the seat is moveable relative to the body. A control unit is configured to activate the actuator following an accident exclusively in the case of an opened airbag and exclusively with the motor vehicle at a standstill.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2016Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventor: Mark Denne
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Patent number: 9676297Abstract: An attachment device is provided for securing a first workpiece to a second workpiece. The attachment device includes an attachment head and a receiver. The attachment head includes a cantilever snap tab, a first outboard locator tab and a second outboard locator tab. The receiver includes an opening for receiving and holding the cantilever snap tab, the first outboard locator tab and the second outboard locator tab.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2015Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Enrique Granell Peniche, Edgardo Fabricio Ortiz Hernandez
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Patent number: 9676298Abstract: A longitudinal adjustment device for a motor vehicle seat has two pairs of rails. It includes a locking device for each pair of rails. It has a common actuating unit for the two locking devices, the unit interacting with both locking devices and includes a handle. The actuating unit has an electric drive motor, a gearbox which is connected to the electric drive motor, an actuator and preferably a setting unit.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2011Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: C. ROB. HAMMERSTEIN GMBH & CO. KGInventors: Wilfried Beneker, Antal Teer, Burckhard Becker
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Patent number: 9676299Abstract: Vehicle seat including: a seat back pivoted to a side of floor; a seat cushion pivoted to the seat back; and a front leg element having an upper end pivoted to the seat cushion and a lower end pivotally locked to the side of floor in a releasable manner, thus normally providing a four-pivotal-point linkage in the seat. Maintaining the four-pivotal-point linkage adversely restricts design and actions of the seat. Inequality conditions are therefore set in that four-pivotal-point linkage, such that folding down the seat back by an angle exceeding a predetermined angle results in unlocking of the lower end of the front leg element from the side of floor, thereby destroying the four-pivotal-point linkage. Hence, a freedom of design is increased for the seat and floor. Further, leverage mechanism(s) may be provided to facilitate the ease of unlocking the front leg element from the side of floor.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2014Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: TACHI-S CO., LTD.Inventors: Minoru Fukutani, Norito Akimoto
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Patent number: 9676301Abstract: A vehicle seat with integrated child booster device provides an integrated child booster deployable into a use position from a stowed position within a vehicle seat. The device includes a seat back coupled to and extending upwardly from a base frame. A seat bottom is slidably coupled to the base frame selectively covering and exposing an interior space of the base frame. A border section of the seat bottom is slidably coupled to the base frame and a central section of the seat bottom has an upright portion pivotally coupled to a seat portion along a first side of the central section. A second side of the central section is pivotally and slidably coupled to the border section. The upright portion is positionable adjacent to the seat back. A platform is vertically aligned under and supports the central section of the seat bottom.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2015Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Inventor: Francis K. Sam
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Patent number: 9676302Abstract: An adjustable footrest assembly adapted to a car safety seat is provided. The car safety seat includes a seat body. The adjustable footrest assembly includes a footrest and two flexible connection structures. The two flexible connection structures are connected to two ends of the footrest. The footrest is adapted to be connected to the seat body through the two flexible connection structures, and a length of each of the flexible connection structures is adapted to be adjusted to change a distance between the footrest and the seat body. In addition, a car safety seat having the adjustable footrest assembly is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2015Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: National Tsing Hua UniversityInventors: Chien Yang, Te-Hung Chen, Mao-Jiun Wang
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Patent number: 9676303Abstract: A car seat and base with a locking mechanism are disclosed, in which the locking mechanism is mounted on the base, and a release mechanism is mounted on the car seat. The locking mechanism comprises a hooking element can be rotated to a locked position for retaining the car seat to the base, and to a release position to release the car seat from the base. The release mechanism comprises a release actuator and a plectrum follower. The release actuator is operatively mounted on the car seat, and the plectrum follower is associated with the release actuator for rotating the hooking element from the locked position to the release position, so as to permitting a user to release the car seat from the base by operating of the release actuator.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2014Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: Dorel Juvenile (Zhongshan) Product Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hung-Chung Hou, Chin-Hui Wang
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Patent number: 9676304Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a seatback and a seat bottom having a seating surface. A child car seat anchoring system is provided behind the vehicle seat and extends between the seatback and seat bottom. A guide ramp on the seat bottom is aligned with an anchor point of the child car seat anchoring system to aid an individual in connecting a child car seat to the child car seat anchoring system.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 2014Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Raul Emilio del Puerto Camargo, David Eduardo Banales Cano, Daniel Sangines Vazquez, Steven Walter Nunez, Peter Curran
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Patent number: 9676305Abstract: A vehicle seat with integrated child seat comprising: a passenger seat backrest and a seat cushion configured to seat a front-facing adult, the passenger seat backrest further configured to be foldable onto the seat cushion; a child seat backrest integrated with the passenger seat backrest, the child seat backrest configured to be raisable from the passenger seat backrest when the passenger seat backrest is folded onto the seat cushion so as to form a rear-facing child seat.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2015Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: TUM CREATE LIMITEDInventors: Rahul Gujarathi, Sebastian Bender, Stephan Jin Siong Schickram, Andreas Herbert Schwab
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Patent number: 9676306Abstract: An armrest for a vehicle seat is disclosed. The armrest includes a monolithic frame as a support structure of the armrest and for fastening armrest upholstery thereto. The monolithic frame, which includes first and second longitudinal side rails and first and second transverse end rails, is constructed as a one-part, one-piece and/or one-material primary-formed component.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2015Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventor: Christian Kuhley
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Patent number: 9676307Abstract: An armrest comprises an arm body in which a through hole is formed, an arm connected to the arm body, a drum that includes a cylinder inserted in the through hole, a bottom, and planar walls extending outside from a part of an end of the cylinder, is arranged rearward the arm body, and pivots the arm body about the cylinder; and mounting metal fittings that are integrally connected to the drum while locking the bottom and can be mounted on the seat frame. The armrest can adjust a position of the arm at a storage state and at a use state. The planar walls are arranged in such a manner as to position in a front-and-rear direction of the arm body in the use state, and the arm body is sandwiched between the planar walls and the mounting metal fittings in an axial direction of the cylinder.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2015Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: Bizen Hatsujo Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takeshi Yamane, Tokuzo Kobayashi, Yoshinori Taniguchi, Yasushi Taniguchi, Kengo Tamura
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Patent number: 9676308Abstract: A ventilating device is provided that includes at least one air guidance device and a heater resistor and/or a heat conducting pipe. The at least one air guidance device has at least one channel segment that is swingable relative to at least one additional channel segment. At least one of the channel segments carries the heater resistor and/or the heat conducting pipe to control a temperature of air streaming through the at least one air guidance device.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2012Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: GENTHERM GMBHInventors: Jonathan Yu Zhang, Yand Yanbing Zhang, Beck Hailong Liang, Fred Fufei Zhang
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Patent number: 9676309Abstract: A vehicle heating apparatus (10a) to be mounted on or built in a vehicle seat (2) at a location below a sitting portion S of the vehicle seat (2) includes a housing (20), a fan (14), and a heater (15). The housing (20) has an intake port (11), a left nozzle (12l), a right nozzle (12r), an air curtain nozzle (12c), and an internal space (13) serving as air flow paths from the intake port (11) to the left nozzle (12l), to the right nozzle (12r), and to the air curtain nozzle (12c). The air curtain nozzle (12c) is located between the left nozzle (12l) and the right nozzle (12r), and is formed so as to, in the usage state, blow air delivered by the fan (14) in a direction inclined upward at an angle of not more than 90° to a direction in which warm wind is blown out of the left nozzle (12l) and the right nozzle (12r).Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2014Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Yoshiaki Kurosawa, Takehiko Ise, Atsunori Hashimoto
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Patent number: 9676310Abstract: A vehicle seat includes seat pads included in seat bottoms and seat backs. The seat pads are configured to provide both a cold sensation and a warming sensation to an occupant sitting on the seat pads. According to the present disclosure, a vehicle seat includes an occupant-support base. The occupant-support base includes a cushion cover defining a cushion-receiving space and a cushion positioned to lie in the cushion-receiving space.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2013Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: Faurecia Automotive Seating, LLCInventors: Robert C. Fitzpatrick, Dana R. Lowell, Tarek Makansi, John Latimer Franklin
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Patent number: 9676311Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly includes a composite frame with continuous-fiber reinforced (CFR) material along laterally spaced side members and cross members. The CFR material may be in a continuous piece along all four frame members to provide structural rigidity that is superior to that of separate pieces of CFR material. The pieces of CFR material may define a foundation portion of the seat frame and may be at least partly embedded in a thermoplastic accessory mounting portion, which is also part of the frame. An overmolding process can be used to at least partially encapsulate the CFR material in the accessory mounting portion with thermoplastic material along opposite sides of the CFR material. The overmolding process can also be used to embed recliner support plates in the composite frame. The frame may have an S-shaped cross section, facilitating simplified mold design and providing beam-like rigidity along multiple directions.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2013Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: Faurecia Automotive Seating, LLCInventors: Leo Murolo, Yang Cao, Brice Lassalle, Ravikant Deore, John Perraut
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Patent number: 9676312Abstract: A vehicle seat with a modular vehicle seat frame is disclosed. The seat frame includes a first side module and a second side module which is arranged located opposite. A front, rear upper and middle cross brace are seat width-adaptably arranged between the side modules. Between the front and the rear cross brace a spring structure is stretched out, which spring-elastically supports a seat cushion of the vehicle seat.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2014Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Christian Kuhley, Juergen Maier, Eduard Wolf, Michael Hoefgen-Allmann
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Patent number: 9676313Abstract: Storage compartment for a vehicle comprising: a receptacle having an interior volume; a movable partition member that can be moved in a sliding direction and partitions said interior volume, and; a locking device for locking the partition member in the sliding direction, comprising a first locking member provided on the receptacle and suitable for engaging with a second locking member provided on the partition member; the partition member being movable in an unlocking direction perpendicular to the sliding direction between a locked position in which the first and second locking members engage and a sliding position in which the first and second locking members are disengaged from each other, and the compartment comprising an elastic member biasing the partition member towards the locked position.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2013Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: FAURECIA INTERIEUR INDUSTRIEInventors: Jean-Pierre Morel, David Pereira
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Patent number: 9676314Abstract: A trailer for a tugger train having a frame, which has a lifting apparatus with a lift platform. An inner wagon to be transported rests in a raised state on the lift platform. The lifting apparatus has a pull/push rod and at least one triangular lever. Each triangular lever is mounted pivotably with a first end on the frame, a second end on the lift platform and a third end on the pull/push rod, wherein the lift platform can be adjusted in height using the triangular lever(s), with which the lift platform performs an arc-shaped pivot movement, and with a lowering movement is lowered to such an extent that the inner wagon is released from the lift platform and is pushed out of the frame, transverse to the lowering direction, by a predetermined path.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2015Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: JUNGHEINRICH AKTIENGESELLSCHAFTInventor: Dirk Neubauer
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Patent number: 9676315Abstract: A support system for loading ramps useful in loading and unloading vehicles and other machinery in truck beds and similar storage and transport structures. The support system includes a horizontal support which couples with a hitch receiver, a vertical support having a central aperture at its top to receive a support bar of a loading ramp system, and an angle brace designed and configured to be removably affixed to the horizontal and vertical supports. The angle brace may extend at an angle of between 20 and 40 degrees or between 50 and 70 degrees from horizontal. In some embodiments the support system is provided with a ramp system including a pair of ladder ramps, each ladder ramp having two ladder ramp segments hingedly connected. In these and other embodiments the support system may be provided with a ramp system including an arced segment near the top portion thereof.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2015Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Inventor: William Jason Davis
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Patent number: 9676316Abstract: The present invention provides a lift gate system. In one embodiment, the lift gate system comprises a lift platform, a lifting mechanism, and at least one stop member. The lifting mechanism moves the lift platform between a raised position and a lowered position. The lift platform is substantially aligned with an extension plate when the lift platform is in the raised position. The stop members are positioned relative to the lift platform to provide a gap between the extension plate and the lift platform when the lift platform is in the raised position.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2015Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: MAXON INDUSTRIES, INC.Inventors: Karapet Ablabutyan, Akop Gasparian, Aida Sahakyan
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Patent number: 9676317Abstract: A system includes a remotely-operated ground vehicle having first and second lift members, a first lift mechanism coupled to the first lift member, and a second lift mechanism coupled to the second lift member, where the first and second lift mechanisms are positioned at different angles with respect to a ground surface. The first and second lift members may be positioned at opposite sides of a front end of the vehicle and may be controlled by a single motor. The lift mechanisms may have a body portion including first and second prongs separated by an opening, with a plurality of magnets embedded within the body portion near the intersection of the first and second prongs. A communication relay may be secured to each lift mechanism via the opening and a magnetic coupling between the magnets embedded within the body portion and magnets embedded within the communication relay.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2015Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: The United States of America as represented by Secretary of the NavyInventors: Kevin Holz, Aaron Burmeister, Abraham Hart, Narek Pezeshkian, Hoa G. Nguyen
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Patent number: 9676318Abstract: A step-and-guide apparatus that aids on centering a boat on a boat trailer and assists an operator in boarding and exiting the boat when on the water or on land is disclosed. The step-and-guide apparatus has first and second guide mechanisms positioned on opposing sides of a trailer frame, and each apparatus includes a trailer mount assembly, a bracket arrangement, an arm having a first end and a second end, with a first end of the arm being rotatably coupled to the bracket arrangement, and a step-and-guide board affixed to the second end of the arm and that is oriented lengthwise along the boat. The arm and the step-and-guide board are rotatable between a first position and a second position defined by the bracket arrangement, with the step-and-guide board functioning as a step when in the first position and as a boat guide member when in the second position.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2014Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Inventor: Gregg Donald Langenfeld
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Patent number: 9676319Abstract: A tonneau cover system is provided for a cargo box of a pickup truck. The cargo box including a sidewall having an inboard side, wherein the inboard side extends downward and includes a lower edge. The tonneau cover system comprises a framework assembly positionable over the cargo box of the pickup truck and a bed rail extender having an engagement surface. The bed rail extender is adapted to attach to the inboard side such that the engagement surface is spaced downward from the lower edge of the inboard side. A clamp assembly is operably coupled to the framework system. The clamp assembly has an engaging member selectively positioned between a latched position and an unlatched position. The engaging member is adapted to contact the engagement surface of the bed rail extender in the latched position to retain the framework assembly to the cargo box.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2015Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: Advantage Truck Accessories, Inc.Inventor: Jeffrey A. Fink
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Patent number: 9676320Abstract: A vehicle lamp is provided with a housing for mounting to a vehicle and defining a outward opening. A lens is attached to the outward opening of the housing to define a lamp chamber therebetween. The lens has an appearance portion and a concealed portion. A condensation trap feature is formed along an inner surface of the concealed portion of the lens.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2013Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: NORTH AMERICA LIGHTING INC.Inventors: Paul Andrew Lyon, Karl Zeno Rauschendorfer, Chin-Jung Chen
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Patent number: 9676321Abstract: A method for recognizing an intensity of an aerosol in a field of view of a camera of a vehicle includes: reading in image information of an image of the camera, providing a color indicator value for at least one subsection of the image, the color indicator value representing a relation between (i) a first parameter representing a value obtained with application of a first color filter to the image information in the subsection, and (ii) a second parameter representing a value obtained without application of a color filter, or with application of a second color filter differing from the first color filter, and providing a gradient indicator value representing a brightness difference of a different image region of the image, an aerosol intensity value being determined using the color indicator and the gradient indicator values.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2012Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Tobias Ehlgen, Sebastian Van Staa
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Patent number: 9676322Abstract: This invention relates to a light linking system, which includes a plurality of casings and lamps, and two binding members as main components combined together. Said casing is a hollow shell structure provided with a first housing and a second housing, said first housing has a first inner recessed annular wall which is in line with the shape of the lamp, the first housing is provided with a first hinge mount and a second hinge mount set correspondingly on both sides of the first housing, to connect the first hinge mount and second hinge mount of adjacent casings correspondingly. Said first hinge mount and second hinge mount set with the limiting members(s) to get a pre-determined angle range and limit the bending angle range of adjacent casings. Said second housing has a second inner recessed annular wall which is in line with the shape of the lamp for clamping the lamp together by the first inner recessed annular wall of first housing and the second inner recessed annular wall of second housing.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2015Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: KC HILITES INC.Inventor: Bobby Leang
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Patent number: 9676323Abstract: A system is provided for mounting a lamp having a plurality of different types of mounting members. One of the mounting members is a rigid tray mountable by fasteners flush upon a surface of a vehicle to enable an on-surface mounting mode, and other of said mounting members, such as a grommet or bracket, are mountable at least partially in an opening or hole when present along such surface of a vehicle to enable an inset mounting mode. The different mounting members each engage a common shape housing of the lamp, such as round or oval, so that by selection of one of the mounting members, on-surface or inset mounting of the lamp can readily be achieved. One or more common engagement features are provided along the housing to facilitate engagement of the housing of the lamp by mounting members in on-surface and inset mounting modes.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2014Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: STAR HEADLIGHG & LANTERN CO., INC.Inventors: R. Michael Datz, James Cronmiller, Michael A. Barbato
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Patent number: 9676324Abstract: A device for assisting with driving an automotive vehicle, the vehicle being equipped with at least one illuminating device able to emit a beam for illuminating a road scene (SR) in front of the vehicle, the assisting device comprising a variable transmission screen that is intended to be placed between the road scene (SR) and a driver of the vehicle, the assisting device being configured to, when active, synchronously control a light emission of at least one light source of the illuminating device and a transmission coefficient of the variable transmission screen with a pulsed signal. The assisting device is configured so as to prevent antiphase and/or phase effects while and if a vehicle equipped with a device of the same type is approaching.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2014Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: Valeo VisionInventors: David Hue, Hafid El Idrissi, Etienne Monchy
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Patent number: 9676325Abstract: A method for detecting the presence of an unattended child left in a vehicle includes receiving acoustic data obtained from inside a vehicle, determining if the vehicle is running or not in response to the acoustic data, determining if all windows in the vehicle are closed when the vehicle is not running, determining if sound volume inside the vehicle exceeds a predetermined threshold when all of the windows are closed, determining if a predetermined high-frequency word is spoken inside the vehicle when all of the windows are closed, and outputting an alert indicating that an unattended child is left in the vehicle when the sound volume inside the vehicle exceeds the predetermined threshold and when the predetermined high-frequency word is spoken inside the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2016Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: Ning Duan, Guoqiang Hu, Jingchang Huang, Peng Ji, Jun Zhu
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Patent number: 9676326Abstract: A driving assistance system includes a drive detection component, a presence component, and a notification component. The drive detection component is configured to determine that a vehicle or driver is exiting or preparing to exit a parking location. The presence component is configured to determine, from a drive history database, whether a parking barrier is present in front of or behind the parking location. The notification component is configured to provide an indication that the parking barrier is present to a human driver or an automated driving system of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2015Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Venkatapathi Raju Nallapa, Harpreetsingh Banvait, Scott Vincent Myers, Ashley Elizabeth Micks
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Patent number: 9676327Abstract: Disclosed is a method of displaying a rear side obstacle of a vehicle, including: a first measuring step of measuring a first distance between a vehicle and an obstacle using a first sensor; a determining step of determining a position of the obstacle using the first distance, a moving distance of the vehicle, and a steering angle of the vehicle related with the moving distance; and a displaying step of displaying the position of the obstacle. Therefore, the position of the obstacle at the rear side of the vehicle is precisely predicted so that a driver may be notified in advance that the vehicle may hit the obstacle.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2015Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.Inventor: Yang Woo Kwon
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Patent number: 9676328Abstract: In a method for detecting a collision between a vehicle and an object using a mobile user terminal which is able to be coupled to the vehicle, a user terminal signal for detecting the object is read in, which user terminal signal represents a signal which is provided by an image sensor of the user terminal; a driving state signal is read in to detect a driving state of the vehicle, which driving state signal represents a measured variable output by a vehicle sensor via an interface between the user terminal and the vehicle and/or output by an acceleration sensor of the user terminal; and a collision signal is ascertained to indicate an imminent collision between the vehicle and the object, based on the user terminal signal and the driving state signal.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2014Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventor: Christian Danz
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Patent number: 9676329Abstract: A camera system for a motor vehicle includes an image sensor for outputting image signals and multiple optical elements. The optical elements include a switchable optical element which is part of a first camera optical system in the first switching state and part of a second camera optical system in a second switching state. Optical elements form the first camera optical system for detecting a first surrounding and for imaging the first surrounding on the image sensor with the aid of a first object distance, and optical elements form the second camera optical system for detecting a second surrounding and for imaging the second surrounding on the image sensor with the aid of a second object distance which differs from the first object distance.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2011Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBHInventors: Reinhold Fiess, Annette Frederiksen
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Patent number: 9676330Abstract: A roadside object detection apparatus to detect a roadside object by analyzing images, detecting height information of an object in the images in a neighboring region having a distance less than or equal to a threshold from a vehicle, detecting a change of a height of a road surface due to the roadside object from the height information in the neighboring region, determining positions having the change of the height detected as characteristic points of the roadside object, extrapolating the characteristic points into a far-off region having a distance greater than or equal to the threshold from the vehicle, based on a road model, setting a search range for the roadside object in the far-off region based on a virtual line that is obtained by the characteristic points being extrapolated by the characteristic point extrapolation unit, and detecting the roadside object in the far-off region based on the search range.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2012Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yoshinao Takemae, Akihiro Watanabe
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Patent number: 9676331Abstract: For determining a state of a pavement from surroundings sensor data, local data received from at least one device that measures a local pavement state or coefficient of friction is merged with camera image data received from a camera for imaging a pavement extending in front of the vehicle. When analyzing the camera image data, the local data representing the measured pavement state or coefficient of friction is assigned to individual image sectors of a camera image while taking odometric and time information into account to achieve proper correspondence, and the local data is taken into account for supporting and/or plausibility-checking of an anticipatory estimation of the local coefficient of friction or pavement state based on the camera image data.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2013Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. OHGInventor: Bernd Hartmann
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Patent number: 9676332Abstract: A panorama projection unit is disclosed which concentrates the projected images in a front area of the motor vehicle and temporarily or locally shades the projection beams between projection units and the display surfaces. The panorama projection unit includes a three-dimensional panoramic screen, a plurality of projectors which project images onto a rear side of the panoramic screen, and a central control unit which controls the projectors in such a way that the projected images are mapped without distortion on the three-dimensional panoramic screen.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2014Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: David Leary, Borris Ilse, Boris Jacob, Jong Won Kim, Lionel Silva Santos, Ivo van Hulten, Martin Schaufler, Martin Golly
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Patent number: 9676333Abstract: A vehicle control system executes a distance calculation process of detecting, corresponding points between a pair of captured images obtained by stereo-imaging, working out a coordinate shift between the corresponding points as a parallax, and calculating a distance up to each corresponding point based on the parallax; and a representative distance calculation process of dividing a distance image, in which a distance of each corresponding point is represented, into multiple strip regions that partition the image in a vertical direction, and working out, for each strip region, a distance for which a frequency is equal to or higher than a predefined value, as a representative distance. The system further executes a determination process of counting the number of representative distances within a monitoring region, and determining a magnitude relationship between the count value and a threshold value, to determine thereby the presence or absence of reflection.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2014Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: FUJI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Shunsuke Makabe
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Patent number: 9676334Abstract: A rearview assembly having a mounting structure configured to be operably coupled with a vehicle. A housing is operably connected with the mounting structure and a rearward viewing device is supported by one of the housing and the mounting structure. The rearward viewing device provides a rearward view to a vehicle driver and includes a front substrate and a rear substrate. The entire front surface of the front substrate is exposed and the entire rear substrate is positioned behind the front substrate. A concealing layer is disposed about a periphery of the rearward viewing device between the front substrate and the rear substrate. A partially optically transparent bezel is disposed adjacent to both the rearward viewing device and the housing, the optically transparent bezel having an edge radius greater than 2.5 mm and the optically transparent bezel being substantially flush with the front surface of the front substrate.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2014Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATIONInventors: David J. Cammenga, Danny L. Minikey, Jr., Mark R. Roth, William L. Tonar, Jeremy A. Fogg, Michael F. Lisowski, Peter N. Rizk
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Patent number: 9676335Abstract: A back light unit for an outside mirror of a vehicle for optimizing a light-emitting structure of an LED to improve uniformity of light emission and brightness of light so that night visibility for a driver can be improved may include a bottom case, a light source seated on an inner lower side of the bottom case and emitting light when an electric power is supplied, a light guide plate positioned on an inner upper side of the bottom case and uniformly diffusing light emitted from the light source and transferring the light to a prism plate, the prism plate disposed in front of the light guide plate at the inner upper side of the bottom case and refracting and refocusing light from the light guide plate to increase surface brightness, and a top case coupled to a front end of the bottom case.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2014Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation, S L Mirrortech Corporation, JS Automotive Inc.Inventors: Geon Jin Kim, Byoung Gyu Park, Jong Sik Bae, Chan Mook Choi, Seung Ju Yang, Se Been Oh, Byoung Gon Choi, Hyun Dong Lee, Dae Soo Shin
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Patent number: 9676336Abstract: An exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a mirror head pivotally mounted at a mounting base configured for attachment at a side of a vehicle, and a camera module disposed at the mirror head and operable to capture image data. The camera module is adjustably disposed at the mirror head and pivots about a generally vertical pivot axis as the camera module is extended and retracted relative to the mirror casing. When extended, the camera module is disposed laterally sideward away from the mirror casing and is pivoted so as to have a rearward field of view, and when retracted, the camera module is disposed at the mirror casing and is pivoted so as to have an outboard field of view that is directed outward away from the side of the vehicle and from the rearward field of view of the camera module when extended.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2016Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Kenneth C. Peterson, Gregory A. Huizen
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Patent number: 9676337Abstract: An automobile running board includes a load-bearing member and an anti-slip member mounted on an upper surface of the load-bearing member. A cross section of the load-bearing member is a downwardly opening C-shaped channel structure which is an integrally formed curved structure, and a lower portion of each of two inner sides of the load-bearing member is provided with a slide rail formed by an upwardly opening C-shaped channel structure. A slide block located within the load-bearing member is provided with a respective recess which may slide along each slide rail. The slide block has a closed periphery as viewed in a lateral cross section of the automobile running board, and a lower end of the slide block is provided with a mounting member to be connected to a car. Two end portions of the load-bearing member are provided with a sealing structure fixed to an inner side of the load-bearing member.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2014Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: Zhihui Metal Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Xingwen Du, Zhijian Du