Patents Issued in August 22, 2017
  • Patent number: 9738223
    Abstract: A method for dynamically registering a graphic upon a cropped image obtained from a camera device includes capturing an original image obtained from the camera device. Intrinsic calibration information for the camera device, extrinsic information for the camera device and vehicle information are monitored. The cropped image is generated based on cropping parameters to exclude undesirable content from the original image. The intrinsic calibration information is adjusted based on a relationship to the cropping parameters. The graphic is dynamically registered upon the cropped image based on the adjusted intrinsic calibration information for the camera device, the monitored extrinsic information for the camera device and the monitored vehicle information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Wende Zhang, Bakhtiar Brian Litkouhi, Kent S. Lybecker
  • Patent number: 9738224
    Abstract: A vision system suitable for use for a vehicle includes a plurality of exterior viewing cameras disposed at the vehicle and having respective fields of view exterior of the vehicle. A display system is operable to display images for viewing by the driver of the vehicle. Responsive at least in part to determination that the gaze direction of the driver of the vehicle is towards a non-transparent portion of the vehicle, the display system displays an image derived from image data captured by at least one of the plurality of exterior viewing cameras to display a representation of the driver's view as it would be through the non-transparent portion of the vehicle. The gaze direction of the driver may be determined by a monitoring system that processes image data captured by an interior viewing camera having a field of view that encompasses the head of the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Achim Gieseke, Michael Biemer
  • Patent number: 9738225
    Abstract: A display system mounted on one or more sides of a public transportation vehicle (e.g., a bus). The display system is interfaced with a portable computing device (e.g., a personal data assistant), where the portable computing device provides updated messages to be displayed on a display panel. The display system includes at least one display panel mounted on one side of a bus, facing outwards such that the display panels may be readily seen when the bus goes around. The display panel is mainly for displaying messages provided by the portable computing device but also for displaying default messages in a local storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Inventors: Kammy Au, Barry Hartsfield
  • Patent number: 9738226
    Abstract: A layout system for a cargo area of a vehicle includes a divider and cargo side-trims. The divider includes a first rod, a second rod, and a screen. The cargo side-trims are installed in the vehicle to form sidewalls of the cargo area. The cargo side-trims include rails that include guide rail portions and rail-side securing portions. The guide rail portions are for guiding end portions of the first and the second rods along a front-rear direction of the vehicle. The guide rail portions include horizontal portion and extending portions that extend from the respective horizontal portions toward a lower rear of the vehicle. The rail-side securing portions are connected to the guide rail portions, respectively. The rail-side securing portions are for holding the end portions of the first and the second rods to secure the first and the second rods to the cargo side-trims.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignees: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA, KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Kurato Kamada, Masanori Saito, Masashi Tsuji, Hirokazu Niimi, Yoshikazu Natsume
  • Patent number: 9738227
    Abstract: A storage assembly for positioning between vehicle seats, includes an enclosable compartment that has opposing longitudinal sidewalls and opposing lateral sidewalls that are connected to the opposing longitudinal sidewalls to define an interior volume. A plurality of retention features are spaced along an upper edge of the opposing longitudinal sidewalls and the opposing lateral sidewalls. A hanging storage module has a rigid panel suspended in the interior volume and a pair of support elements protrudes horizontally from opposing ends of the rigid panel to removably engage a corresponding pair of the plurality of retention features on a select one of the opposing longitudinal sidewalls and the opposing longitudinal sidewalls. The rigid panel has a side portion configured to vertically hold at least one object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Annette Lynn Huebner, Kristin Ann Hellman, Artur Sakarian, Ryan Welch, Scott H. Dunham, Stuart Salter, Cornel Gardner
  • Patent number: 9738228
    Abstract: A watersport equipment carrier configured to be mounted on a vehicle includes an elongate base having an upper surface configured to receive watersport equipment and a locking portion. A securement strap having an anchor end and a free end and the anchor end is coupled to the base at an anchoring point. A locking mechanism is coupled to the locking portion of the base and configured to secure the free end of the strap to the base such that the free end of the strap passes through the locking mechanism in a locked configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Thule Sweden AB
    Inventors: Kevin Bogoslofski, James Stevens, Greg Weaver, John Laverack
  • Patent number: 9738229
    Abstract: A carrier bar is provided, capable of enabling suitable assembly work of the stay and improving freedom in adjustment of stay assembly position relative to carrier bar, disclosed is a carrier bar having shell formed along longitudinal direction and hollow zones in cross-sectional structure so as to be assembled to stay by using a clamp mechanism having a head and a constricted portion to form a base carrier. Shell has assembly and positioning openings extending toward the longitudinal end of shell by using assembly opening as a basal end and having a terminated end formed by longitudinal end of shell. Assembly opening has an opening width and an opening length into which the head of clamp mechanism is insertable. Positioning opening has an opening width narrower than that of assembly opening, along which the constricted portion is slidable, and an opening length longer than that of assembly opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: CAR MATE MFG. CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuichi Sato, Daisuke Kisaka, Hisashi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9738230
    Abstract: An embodiment includes a travel system comprising: a first arm and a second arm, the first arm including an aperture; a hub pivotally coupled to the first and second arms; a male hitch insert, coupled to the hub, configured to insert within a female hitch; a handle bar support coupled to the male hitch insert and configured to receive a handle bar of a stroller; a void, located between the first and second arms, configured to receive a wheel of the stroller; and a post configured to (a) extend from the first arm to the second arm, (b) mate with the second arm, (c) extend between support members of the wheel and secure the stroller to the system. Other embodiments are described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: FOURTH ROW, LLC
    Inventor: Michael Bohmer
  • Patent number: 9738231
    Abstract: An assembly secures a bicycle having first and second fork prongs to a vehicle. The assembly includes an elongated skewer for mounting the first and second fork prongs of the bicycle thereon. The elongated skewer defines a longitudinal axis, and has a first end portion and a second non-threaded end portion. The assembly also includes a stop removably coupled to the second non-threaded end portion of the elongated skewer, and a sleeve movably coupled to the elongated skewer and removably coupled to the stop to lock the stop on the elongated skewer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Thule Sweden AB
    Inventor: Joseph Settelmayer
  • Patent number: 9738232
    Abstract: A container and mounting bracket system configured to be mounted to and secured in a vehicle. The container and mounting bracket system extend laterally with respect to the vehicle at a rear of the vehicle when mounted in and secured in the vehicle. The mounting bracket system and container system cooperate to allow the container system to rotate about a spindle at one end of the mounting bracket system such that the container system extends out the back of the vehicle, allowing access to a cargo area of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: SUV Swing Vault, LLC
    Inventor: Matthew Hill
  • Patent number: 9738233
    Abstract: A mobile ballet barre apparatus includes a motor vehicle having a driver's seat and a passenger cabin behind the driver's seat, the passenger cabin disposed between opposed elongated sides of the vehicle. The vehicle is configured to travel on ground. The apparatus also includes an elongated ballet barre mounted to a frame of the vehicle on at least one of the elongated sides, each ballet barre extending longitudinally along a longitudinal first axis that is substantially parallel to the side of the vehicle to which it is mounted and substantially parallel to the ground vertically above which it extends in spaced apart relation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Aggraziato LLC
    Inventor: Christina M. Schwefel
  • Patent number: 9738234
    Abstract: A fastening apparatus is configured to fasten an electronic device to other objects. The fastening apparatus includes a fastening base, a connection assembly pivotably connected to the fastening base, a first magnet, and an adhesive layer positioned on the fastening base configured to fix the fastening base to other objects. The connection assembly includes a connection portion and a second hinge positioned on the connection portion. The first magnet is positioned on a side of the connection portion to detachably grip the electronic device, and the second hinge is positioned on other side of the connection portion opposite to the first magnet. The second hinge is pivotably connected to the fastening base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: ScienBiziP Consulting(Shenzhen)Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yu-Tan Lien
  • Patent number: 9738235
    Abstract: To mount a unit in a compartment in a vehicle instrument panel including an opening for inserting the unit, the unit includes two tenons that are compressible in a heightwise direction and can be guided in two fixed parallel longitudinal lateral slideways that include an entry zone and a closed-end zone that is not as tall as the entry zone in which the tenon is compressed vertically. A facade surround is provided around the opening to collaborate in positioning and/or attachment of a face plate of the unit. The lateral slideways include two longitudinally separated parts, a first part secured to the facade surround and a second part not secured to the facade surround and held on a wall of the compartment of the instrument panel to lie substantially in longitudinal continuation of the first part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: RENAULT S.A.S.
    Inventors: Sylvie Perveyrie, Michel Bougault, Alain Dagoreau, Laurent Perrin, Isabelle Prin
  • Patent number: 9738236
    Abstract: A rear emblem forms an outer surface and includes a base member made of transparent plastic and a pattern print layer arranged on a part of the back side of the base member. The pattern print layer includes a light transmitting portion and a light transmission reducing portion. The light transmission reducing portion is arranged around the light transmitting portion and transmits less light than the light transmitting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Sugiura, Tatsuya Oba, Akihiro Misawa
  • Patent number: 9738237
    Abstract: An in-vehicle device covering structure comprises an in-vehicle device attached to a ceiling surface of a vehicle, a cover that covers the in-vehicle device from below, and a plate-shaped bracket attached to the ceiling surface and covered by the cover from below together with the in-vehicle device, the cover hanging from the bracket. The bracket has a first attachment surface attached to the ceiling surface on the vehicle rear side relative to the in-vehicle device, a second attachment surface attached to the cover and arranged overlapping at least a chassis of the in-vehicle device when viewed in a vehicle upper-lower direction and at a distance from the in-vehicle device, and a vertical wall connecting the first and second attachment surfaces, the vertical wall being arranged on the vehicle rear side relative to the in-vehicle device and at a distance from the in-vehicle device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ryotaro Yasuhara
  • Patent number: 9738238
    Abstract: A footrest to be installed between a bulkhead and a floor of a motor vehicle includes a bearing wall to support the foot or feet of a passenger and a sound insulation mat extending opposite at least part of the bearing wall and attached to the floor. The mat includes an insulating layer between the floor and a covering layer attached to the insulating layer. The bearing wall includes a storage compartment and an internal face positioned facing an exterior face of the covering layer at installation of the foot rest. The storage compartment extends between the internal face of the bearing face and the exterior face of the covering layer. The storage compartment has a bottom wall fixed permanently to the internal face of the bearing wall by first, and second connecting members and includes housings the content of which is directly accessible without removing the storage compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: RENAULT s.a.s.
    Inventor: Jean-Charles Bouillon
  • Patent number: 9738239
    Abstract: A trim assembly having a trim element and an air vent designed to be supplied with air. The trim element includes a first face designed to be oriented toward a user, a second face opposite the first face, and an edge extending between the first face and the second face. The air vent is positioned to generate a jet of air flowing along the second face toward the edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Faurecia Interieur Industrie
    Inventors: Godefroy Beau, Jean-François Oeuvrard
  • Patent number: 9738240
    Abstract: One end side of a corrugated tube is urged forward or backward in a closing direction, among a circumference direction around a vertical direction passing through the one end of the corrugated tube, in which a slide structural body is closed with respect to a vehicle body so that the corrugated tube is bendable in a U-shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Naoto Kogure
  • Patent number: 9738241
    Abstract: There is provided a bumper absorber attachment structure including (1) bumper reinforcement, (2) a first engaged portion that is formed at a vehicle upper side of a side face at a vehicle front side of the bumper reinforcement, (3) a second engaged portion that is formed at a vehicle lower side of the side face at the vehicle front side of the bumper reinforcement, (4) a bumper absorber that includes a thinned portion, an upper leg, and a lower leg, (5) a first engagement portion that is formed at a vehicle rear side of the upper leg, and that engages with the first engaged portion, and (6) a second engagement portion that is formed at a vehicle rear side of the lower leg, and that engages with the second engaged portion in a case in which the bumper absorber is displaced toward the vehicle lower side in a collision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Tomita
  • Patent number: 9738242
    Abstract: An airbag of an airbag device for a driver's seat includes an exhaust strap which includes a cover section that closes off an outer opening of a vent hole at airbag deployment and connecting bands extending from opposite sides of the cover section and joined to the center of a driver-side wall. When the driver-side wall of the airbag cushions the driver at airbag deployment and moves toward a vehicle-side wall, the connecting bands of the exhaust strap loosen and allow a distant edge region of the cover section to loosen and pass through the outer opening such that the outer opening and an inner opening communicate to open the vent hole. The cover section includes a reinforcing element that prevents the distant edge from slipping towards a proximate edge while allowing a bending deformation of the distant edge to pass through the outer opening and open the vent hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Naohiko Ishiguro, Mikine Hayashi, Kenichi Fukurono, Kenji Sasaki
  • Patent number: 9738243
    Abstract: An airbag device for a driver's seat, includes: a steering wheel; a wheel pad portion; a main body airbag that is configured to receive a supply of gas and to be inflated and deployed at a vehicle rear side of the steering wheel; a side portion chamber that is provided at a side portion in a vehicle transverse direction of the main body airbag, and that is configured to receive a supply of gas from the main body airbag and to be inflated and deployed from the side portion of the main body airbag toward the vehicle rear side; and a regulating tether that connects the main body airbag to a rear portion or a front-rear direction intermediate portion of the side portion chamber, and that restricts the side portion chamber from collapsing toward a side removed from a center of the main body airbag in the vehicle transverse direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Osamu Fukawatase, Atsushi Nakashima
  • Patent number: 9738244
    Abstract: An airbag apparatus in which an airbag is deployed while maintaining appropriate deployment pressure. A tether is tightened by deployment force of a sub-cushion, and pulls a hidden cushion disposed in a main cushion so that the hidden cushion is deployed, such that a volume in the main cushion is reduced by the hidden cushion, thereby maintaining deployment pressure of the main cushion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hyo Bae Lee
  • Patent number: 9738245
    Abstract: A pressurized gas mechanism contains a sealed gas container containing a sealed first end, and, a burst cup sealing the first end and containing a rupturable portion. A housing encases the burst cup and is juxtaposed to at least a portion of the sealed gas container, the housing containing a surface juxtaposed to the rupturable portion. Upon actuation of the mechanism, the rupturable portion is adapted to rupture as the rupturable portion is leveraged against the surface, thereby releasing gas from the sealed gas container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: TK Holdings Inc.
    Inventor: Bruce A. Stevens
  • Patent number: 9738246
    Abstract: Adjusting device for a front lid, with an actuator for raising the rear edge of the front lid, wherein the actuator is configured as a coupling mechanism having a first drive with a rotation-locked lever connected to a push rod in an articulated fashion and a second drive with a rotation-locked lever connected to a push rod in an articulated fashion, wherein the two push rods have a common attachment point, via which they are connected to the front lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Peter Kugler, Wolfgang Dorfner, Harald Sternecker, Bernhard-Konrad Pfaller, Manfred Schindler
  • Patent number: 9738247
    Abstract: A device for preventing protrusion of a seatbelt anchorage cable into a seat belt system buckle during operation of a pretensioner coupled with the cable and a buckle assembly, the cable of a type affixed at a first end to the pretensioner, and at a second end to the buckle assembly. The cable further having an end wrap forming a loop around a rivet affixed to a frame of the buckle assembly with the cable loop wrapping around the rivet. The device having a feature positioned adjacent to the cable loop and blocking movement of the loop into the buckle. Embodiments include; providing features of a buckle housing in the form of a tab which blocks motion of the cable loop, retainer ring element attached to the buckle frame having features which embrace the cable loop, and clips which can be attached to the buckle assembly, embracing the cable attachment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: AUTOLIV ASP, INC.
    Inventors: Jonathon G. Boughner, Jon E. Burrow
  • Patent number: 9738248
    Abstract: A web position and attenuation apparatus includes an elastically deformable body having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, one of the first and second ends configured to be affixed to a frame of a movable vehicle, a web coupling member received on the elastically deformable body, the web coupling member movable relative to, and positionable along, the elastically deformable body, the web coupling member defining a web slot, and a flexible web extending through the web slot, the flexible web part of a restraint system to restrain an occupant of a vehicle seat mounted within the vehicle. The elastically deformable body is responsive to dynamic loads applied by the occupant through the flexible web to the web coupling member to absorb energy and attenuate tension in the flexible web via elastic deformation of the elastically deformable body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Indiana Mills & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Guy R. Dingman, Jeffrey A. King, James T. Anthony
  • Patent number: 9738249
    Abstract: A self-locking belt retractor for seat belts having a belt-strap-sensitive control mechanism with a control disc coupled to the belt shaft to control a locking element, by means of a pin moveably in an oblong hole in the control disc. The control disc carries an inertia element that, when triggered, radially swivels to lock the retractor belt shaft engages into a stationary toothed section. A control clip has two spaced apart legs on a friction mount between a blocking position of the inertia element and a release position. A follower forms stop surfaces engageable with the clip legs to carry the control clip during the rotation of the control disc belt winding direction a belt extension direction. The control clip releases the inertia element in the release position. One spring leg extends with an end into the movement path of the pin in the oblong hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: AUTOLIV DEVELOPMENT AB
    Inventors: Volkmar Heine, Uwe Bosse, Melanie Weiss
  • Patent number: 9738250
    Abstract: A locking mechanism comprising a coupling member comprising an arm portion which is rotatably supported by a housing and adapted to rotate in a predetermined direction in response to the actuation of the pretensioner mechanism, a pressing portion adapted to press the pawl towards an engagement direction with the ratchet gear, and a coupling portion adapted to couple the arm portion and the pressing portion; and a rotating device adapted to hold the arm portion restrict a reverse rotation thereof; in the actuation of the pretensioner mechanism, when the pawl, pressed by the pressing portion and in contact with the ratchet gear rotating in the take-up direction, passes over each of teeth of the ratchet gear, the coupling member is elastically twisted and deformed between the arm portion and the pressing portion to hold the pawl in a state of being urged toward the engagement direction with the ratchet gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: ASHIMORI INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenichi Shigesato, Insu Choi
  • Patent number: 9738251
    Abstract: A seat belt device includes: a belt reel that winds a webbing; an electric motor that drives the belt reel to wind; a collision prediction unit that predicts a collision with an object; and a controller that is connected to the collision prediction unit via a network and that performs winding control of the electric motor when a collision with the object is predicted by the collision prediction unit. After the controller receives information on collision prediction from the collision prediction unit via the network, even when a communication failure occurs between the controller and the collision prediction unit, the controller performs control to cause the electric motor to continue winding control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shotaro Odate
  • Patent number: 9738252
    Abstract: A driver seat for an operator includes: a fastener configured to fasten a pair of hip belts; a pair of shoulder belts each having a distal end attached to each of the pair of hip belts, the pair of shoulder belts being configured to hold a shoulder area of the operator; and a fastened-state detector configured to detect whether or not the fastener is fastened. The fastened-state detector includes: a detector main body configured to detect whether or not the fastener is fastened through electrical continuity; a signal line connected to the detector main body; and a bag-shaped section integrated with one of the pair of shoulder belts in a drawing direction of the shoulder belt, the bag-shaped section housing the signal line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Takuma Shoda, Shunsuke Nishida, Hirofumi Wada
  • Patent number: 9738253
    Abstract: There is set forth herein in one embodiment a system for detecting physical objects within a perimeter. The system can include one or more sensors configured to be supported by a motor vehicle. The system can include a processing system and the processing system can be configured to detect a physical object moving within the perimeter based on an output of the one or more sensors. The processing system can be configured to transmit a notification responsive to detecting a person approaching the motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: APS SYSTEMS, LLC.
    Inventors: Thomas Czyz, Andrew Buyck, Joseph Impellizzieri
  • Patent number: 9738254
    Abstract: A tire theft alarming system includes a vehicular device mounted to a vehicle and a mobile device carried by a user of the vehicle. When a main power supply of the vehicle is in an OFF state, the vehicular device transmits a radio wave including a first alarm based on having a variation in air pressure or acceleration of a tire, which is mounted to the vehicle, detected by a sensor transmitter for detecting and transmitting the air pressure of the tire or the acceleration applied to the tire. The mobile device carries out a warning notification to a user based on having reception of a radio wave including a first alarm transmitted by the vehicular device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ichiro Shigetomi
  • Patent number: 9738255
    Abstract: A method for regulating vehicle access comprises receiving, from an electronic device of a user, a request to access a vehicle. The vehicle can be disposed at a designated geographic location. Next, geographic information of the user is received from the electronic device. The geographic information is determined with the aid of the electronic device of the user. The user is then provided access to the vehicle if, based on the received geographic information, a geographic location of the user is within a given distance from the designated geographic location of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Scoot Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Keating, J. Loren Passmore, Peter R. Russo
  • Patent number: 9738257
    Abstract: A system for monitoring an interior of a vehicle, comprising an identification device adapted to be carried by an individual, a vehicular unit adapted for mounting within the vehicle, and a controller adapted for remote wireless communication with the unit. The unit will activate a camera and a microphone when a person is detected within the vehicle. The unit will search for the identification device and, if the identification device is not detected, the unit will activate an alarm. If the identification device is detected, the unit will compare an access code from the identification device with authorized access codes. If the access code is not found within the authorized access codes, the unit will activate an alarm. The controller is operable to display images, broadcast sounds, and display the alarm status from the unit to a user in possession of the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: CRIDER BUSH, LLC
    Inventors: Grant W. Crider, Erik D. Arendall, Kenneth M. Bush
  • Patent number: 9738258
    Abstract: A method of managing an electronic control unit of an automobile through an integrated fingerprint recognition system is implemented between a vehicle and at least one driver. The driver is considered as a user profile within the system and can include a primary designation or a secondary designation. The primary designation is allowed to fully control a plurality of vehicular controllers through the system while the secondary designation is allowed to partially control the vehicular controllers. The vehicular controllers include an entry system, an ignition system, a speed control system, a GPS, and a security system as each of the vehicular controllers is activated or implemented by a fingerprint image of the driver that is stored within an onboard computer of the vehicle. The onboard computer also communicably connected with a mobile device of the driver to complete the system between the driver and the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Inventor: Lauren Catherine Masucci
  • Patent number: 9738259
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for removing ice from a windshield. A windshield wiper includes a wiper assembly, a scrubber assembly, and an engaging assembly. The wiper assembly includes a wiper support structure and a wiper blade attached to the wiper support structure. The scrubber assembly includes a scrubber support structure, an elongated scrubber element and a motor. The scrubber element is movably attached to the scrubber support structure and extends between a first end and a spaced apart second end along a central longitudinal axis. The scrubber element can have a hardness value sufficient to remove ice from the windshield. The motor is mounted to the scrubber support structure and is engaged with the scrubber element to move the scrubber element to remove ice. An engaging assembly can be coupled with the wiper assembly and the scrubber assembly to raise and lower the scrubber assembly with respect to the wiper assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Nelson and Nelson Enterprises, LLC
    Inventor: James Q. Nelson
  • Patent number: 9738260
    Abstract: A wiper blade apparatus for a vehicle includes: a vertebra that is a rod-like elongated member; a first connection member disposed at a central upper portion of the vertebra, provided with a rotational shaft fixed to the vertebra; and a center support including a plurality of elastic hook sections supporting a top surface of the vertebra so that the center support is fixed to the vertebra. The elastic hook sections forcibly pass through a space between the vertebra and a hook release prevention section extending downward from a sidewall of the first connection member and are elastically fixed to the top surface of the vertebra. The center support is assembled upward from a lower side of the vertebra after the first connection member is assembled with the vertebra.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: DY AUTO Corporation
    Inventors: Wi Young Park, Sung Jun Yoon
  • Patent number: 9738261
    Abstract: A windscreen wiper device comprising an elastic, elongated carrier element, as well as an elongated wiper blade of a flexible material, which can be placed in abutment with a windscreen to be wiped, which wiper blade includes opposing longitudinal groove on its longitudinal sides, in which grooves spaced-apart longitudinal strips of the carrier element are disposed, wherein neighboring ends of said longitudinal strips are interconnected by a respective connection piece, which windscreen wiper device comprises a connecting device for an oscillating arm, wherein said oscillating arm is pivotally connected to said connecting device about a pivot axis near one end, with the interposition of a joint part, wherein said joint part comprises at least one resilient tongue engaging in a correspondingly shaped hole provided in said oscillating arm, and wherein said resilient tongue is rotatable along an hinge axis between an outward position retaining the wiper blade onto the oscillating arm and an inward position relea
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul S.A.
    Inventor: Xavier Boland
  • Patent number: 9738262
    Abstract: A wiper module assembly for a vehicle liftgate having an inner panel with a spoiler formed as a one-piece part of the inner panel. An outer panel of the liftgate is connected to the inner panel to form an exterior surface of the liftgate. A cavity is formed in part of the spoiler and receives a carrier forming a removable module connected to the cavity of the vehicle liftgate. The carrier includes a wiper, motor and drive assembly for operating a wiper for a window on the liftgate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: MAGNA INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Michael William Crane, Brian Christopher Sansoterra, Norman Guschewski
  • Patent number: 9738263
    Abstract: An electro-hydraulic brake system may include a brake input device manipulated by a driver to brake a vehicle, a brake input detecting sensor configured to detect a brake input value of the driver through the brake input device, a pressure generating device configured to generate a brake hydraulic pressure, a wheel cylinder configured to receive the brake hydraulic pressure generated from the pressure generating device and to generate braking power for braking rotations of each vehicle wheel, a hydraulic pressure supply line connected between the pressure generating device and the wheel cylinder to transfer the brake hydraulic pressure generated from the pressure generating device to each wheel cylinder, and a controller configured to output a control signal for controlling an operation of the pressure generating device to allow the pressure generating device to generate a target brake hydraulic pressure based on a signal of the brake input detecting sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Young Suk Jung
  • Patent number: 9738264
    Abstract: Systems and methods for estimating the cooling time of a brake assembly are disclosed. Systems are provided comprising a processor, a tangible, non-transitory memory configured to communicate with the processor, the tangible, non-transitory memory having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising receiving, by the processor, a first temperature of a brake assembly at a first time, receiving, by the processor, a second temperature of a brake assembly at a second time, wherein the second time occurs a fixed period after the first time, determining, by the processor, a temperature decay coefficient (“?”) of the brake assembly based on the first temperature and the second temperature and calculating, by the processor, an estimated total time to cool the brake assembly to a predetermined temperature based on the first temperature, the predetermined temperature and ?.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Goodrich Corporation
    Inventors: Marc Jean Claude Georgin, Todd Rook
  • Patent number: 9738265
    Abstract: A system and method for estimating disconnect clutch torque during engine start with the motor in vehicles having an engine selectively coupled to the motor and transmission may be configured to control motor torque based on a clutch torque estimated from a difference in a measured powertrain state and a predicted powertrain state using motor torque as an input. The powertrain states may include, for example, motor speed, turbine speed, engine speed and clutch torque. An adaptive gain may be used to drive the difference between measured and estimated clutch torque toward zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Rajit Johri, Wei Liang, Mark Steven Yamazaki, Xiaoyong Wang, Ryan Abraham McGee, Ming Lang Kuang
  • Patent number: 9738266
    Abstract: An engine controller includes: a warm-up control unit that performs warm-up operation for letting the engine continuously operate until an integration value of air intake of the engine comes to a predetermined integration value in order to warm up a catalyst provided in an exhaust system when the engine is first started after start-up of the vehicle; and a continuation control unit that lets the engine continuously operate for a predetermined period subsequent to an end of the warm-up operation. The continuation control unit takes an output value of the engine as a request output value when the request output value of the engine is a predetermined idling output value or more that is smaller than the predetermined warm-up output value and takes the output value as the warm-up output value when the request output value is less than the predetermined idling output value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI JIDOSHA KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Jun Aizawa, Wataru Matsumura, Shingo Sonoda
  • Patent number: 9738267
    Abstract: Systems and methods for improving operation of a hybrid vehicle are presented. In one example, driveline braking may transition from regenerative braking to engine braking to reduce the possibility of battery degradation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Seung-Hoon Lee, Gregory Michael Pietron, Jeffrey Allen Doering, Alex O'Connor Gibson, Dennis Craig Reed
  • Patent number: 9738268
    Abstract: A vehicle control system includes a controller that is programmed to, in response to an accelerator lift-pedal event, generate a drag torque, with at least one of an engine and electric machine, having a magnitude that is based on a deceleration fuel shut-off torque of the engine and a desired power output of the electric machine, and limit the drag torque to a threshold value that is based on the deceleration fuel shut-off torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chen Zhang, Rajit Johri, Scott James Thompson, Ming Lang Kuang, Jeffrey Allen Doering, Mathew Alan Boesch, David Crist Gabriel
  • Patent number: 9738269
    Abstract: A motor speed control method and system for improving the performance of a running resistance evaluation of a hybrid electric vehicle are provided. The method includes determining whether a vehicle satisfies a running resistance evaluation start condition. When the vehicle satisfies the running resistance evaluation start condition, the speed of a motor is adjusted, which adjusts an input speed of a transmission to be equal to an output speed of the transmission. A speed adjustment of the motor is then completed using the speed of the motor and the output speed of the transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Jae-Yun Shim, Tae-Young Chung, Chun-Hyuk Lee, Yong-Hoon Lee, Kyung-Taek Lee, Jang-Hyo Lee, Dong-Su Ha, Young-Kwan Ko, Keum-Jin Park, Byung-Hoon Yang
  • Patent number: 9738270
    Abstract: An engine clutch control apparatus of a hybrid vehicle is provided. The apparatus includes an engine clutch that is disposed between an engine and a drive motor to selectively connect the engine and the drive motor and an integrated starter-generator that is connected with the engine to start the engine or to generate electricity. A vehicle controller releases or couples the engine clutch to implement a driving mode and determines a chargeable torque and an engine target estimation torque based on a generator rotation speed of the integrated starter-generator. An engine target torque and a charge torque are set based on the chargeable torque and a clutch input torque is generated using at least one of the engine target torque, an engine friction torque, and the charge torque. The engine clutch is then released when the clutch input torque is less than a reference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Kwonchae Chung, Sang Joon Kim, Young Chul Kim, Seong Ik Park, WooSuk Choi, Il Kwon Park
  • Patent number: 9738271
    Abstract: A method for controlling a hybrid electric powertrain includes, in response to a request to increase a powertrain braking force on at least one of a plurality of traction wheels, (i) commanding at least one clutch to increase a gear ratio of a transmission, and (ii) during clutch stroke, commanding an electric machine to act as a generator such that the electric machine applies a braking force to at least one of the traction wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Walter Joseph Ortmann, Daniel Scott Colvin, Marvin Paul Kraska
  • Patent number: 9738272
    Abstract: A system and method for operating a hybrid vehicle having an engine and an eMachine coupled by a clutch using a hybrid controller is presented. The method determines an idle fuel rate of the engine, determines a hybrid efficiency index for the hybrid vehicle, determines an expected energy storage rate increase for an operating condition where the engine is decoupled from a vehicle transmission using said clutch, multiplies the expected energy storage rate increase by the hybrid efficiency index to determine an expected fuel rate reduction of the engine in the operating condition; and decouples the engine from the vehicle transmission using the clutch if the expected fuel rate reduction is greater than the idle fuel rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Allison Transmission, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen T. West, Aaron Rues
  • Patent number: 9738273
    Abstract: In a host controller included in a vehicle control apparatus, a generator-torque-command generating unit monitors an abnormal operation of the engine on the basis of an engine power generation command and a detection signal of a rotating speed detector, switches, when the abnormal operation of the engine is detected, a generator torque command to the lowest value of a torque command value for abnormal time set in advance as the generator torque command, thereafter, gradually increases the generator torque command, and, after recording, as a torque limit value, the magnitude of the generator torque command (a torque command value for abnormal time 3) at the time when the abnormal operation of the engine is detected again, switches the generator torque command to a torque command value for abnormal time (a torque command value for abnormal time 2) having a value smaller than the torque limit value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuruki Okada, Hisanori Yamasaki, Keita Hatanaka, Yasuhiko Wada