Patents Issued in December 26, 2017
  • Patent number: 9849845
    Abstract: A vehicle having a space filling panel including a polystyrene layer, a polyurethane layer, and a polyethylene cover where the polyethylene cover forms a vacuum sealed space. The polystyrene layer and the polyurethane layer are both positioned in the polyethylene cover's vacuum sealed space. In another embodiment, a space filling panel for a vehicle includes a polystyrene layer comprising a plurality of polyurethane chips. The polystyrene layer having the plurality of polyurethane chips is enclosed in a vacuum sealed space formed by a polyethylene cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Sergio Castro, Emmanuel Garcia Ruiz
  • Patent number: 9849846
    Abstract: A wire harness includes electrical wires and an outer covering member. The outer covering member includes tube portions different in cross-sectional shape and size and a guiding shape portion between adjacent tube portions. The guiding shape portion guides the electrical wires when inserted. A cap is provided to each one end of the electrical wires, and the electrical wires are passed through the guiding shape portion with the caps facing frontward. A wire harness and a method for inserting electric conductive paths through the wire harness can enhance workability related to the electrical conductive paths and an outer covering member while suiting the wire harness to the shapes and the usage environments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tatsuya Oga
  • Patent number: 9849847
    Abstract: Provided is a connector cover structure that can fasten a connector cover without support for the connector cover with a finger and showing a high degree of assembly of a cover member in fabrication. The connector cover structure covers connects 61 and 62 for passage of high-voltage current provided in a casing 51 housing a high-voltage component in a vehicle 10. The connector cover structure includes connector covers 71 and 72 each having a flat surface along a vertical direction, first anchoring parts 91 and second anchoring parts 74 provided in the connector covers 71 and 72, fastening holes 92 formed in the connector covers 71 and 72 and configured to fasten the connector covers 71 and 72 to the casing 51, and float preventing mechanisms 95 for pressing the surfaces of the connector covers 71 and 72.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akiyoshi Furuzawa, Koji Katano
  • Patent number: 9849848
    Abstract: The invention relates to a motor vehicle component support, in particular a motor vehicle door lock (1), and to a method for the production thereof. Said motor vehicle component support is equipped with a strip conductor structure (3) composed of several strip conductors (7). According to the invention, the strip conductor structure (3) comprises at least two conductor strip sub-structures (3a, 3b) which are electrically interconnected by means of at least one connecting element (8) which is applied later.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Kiekert Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Christian Barmscheidt, Carsten Fuchs
  • Patent number: 9849849
    Abstract: A device for supplying electrical power to an aircraft on the ground, including two electric generators driven by an auxiliary power unit. The first generator is connected by a connection/disconnection mechanism to an aircraft network and to an electric taxiing network, to supply either an AC voltage to the aircraft network when it is connected to the aircraft network, or an AC voltage or a power to the taxiing network when it is connected to the taxiing network. The second generator is connected by the connection/disconnection mechanism to the aircraft or taxiing networks to supply the AC voltage to one of those networks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: LABINAL POWER SYSTEMS
    Inventors: Sebastien Vieillard, Loic Le Duigou
  • Patent number: 9849850
    Abstract: A system (e.g., a monitoring device) for monitoring a first battery (e.g., a vehicle battery) provided in a vehicle is provided with a monitoring unit for monitoring the electric state of the first battery (e.g., the vehicle battery) capable of starting a motor of the vehicle; and a power supply unit that is a second battery for supplying electric power to the monitoring unit. The monitoring unit may determine whether or not the motor is stopped, and when the motor is stopped, the monitoring unit may monitor, as the electric state of the first battery, e.g., the voltage of the first battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA ACCESS CORP.
    Inventor: Shiro Iwai
  • Patent number: 9849851
    Abstract: A front section for a motor vehicle includes a bumper cladding and a bumper stiffening which extends in the vehicle longitudinal direction between the bumper cladding and a supporting body part. A connecting unit including a blind nut and a threaded fastener is inserted from below into an opening of the body part to fix a rear edge region of the bumper stiffening on an underside of the body part. The blind nut has flexible legs which are reversibly splayed apart above the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Marco Nickel, Martin Likar
  • Patent number: 9849852
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to deploying safety mechanisms in an autonomous vehicle. As an example, the situational information identifying a potential impact target corresponding to an object with which the autonomous vehicle is predicted to have a collision within a predetermined period of time may be received. This situational information may also include an estimated time when the second computing device will receive an update for the potential impact target from the first computing device. The estimated time may be used to determine when to deploy a set of active safety mechanisms for the potential impact target. Each active safety mechanism may be configured to reduce a likelihood of damage to an object external to the autonomous vehicle caused by a collision. A signal is then sent to activate the set of active safety mechanisms prior to an impact with the object corresponding to the identified potential impact target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Lynn Larner, Atul Gupta, Felix Jose Alvarez Rivera, Thomas Daniel
  • Patent number: 9849853
    Abstract: An air bag sensor assembly for a vehicle is disclosed. An air bag sensor assembly that detects a crash impact of a vehicle so as to control an air bag module in accordance with a detected signal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include a holder that is screw-engaged with a sensor mounting portion of a vehicle body structure having a closed section, and a sensor module that includes a touch sensor that is disposed in the closed section of the vehicle body to be spaced from a transformation part thereof, and is fixed to the holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: SUNGWOO HITECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Woo Bum Park, Mun Yong Lee
  • Patent number: 9849854
    Abstract: A work vehicle includes a vehicle body frame, a protection frame extending upwards from the vehicle body frame, the protection frame including left and right strut members and an arch member extending between and detachable from the left and right strut members, a support frame provided in the vehicle body frame and configured to support the protection frame to the vehicle body frame, the support frame including a pair of left and right pipe-like supporting portions, each supporting portion being provided under a laterally outward tilted orientation with an upper portion of the supporting member being positioned on more laterally outer side of a vehicle body and being configured to removably support the strut member, and a connection tool configured to non-removably connect the left and right strut members to the left and right supporting portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiki Kanai, Takeshi Komorida, Masahiro Izumi, Masaki Takaoka, Koichiro Matsumoto, Azusa Furihata
  • Patent number: 9849855
    Abstract: A seatbelt assembly includes a webbing guide defining a slot, webbing extending through the slot, an airbag, and a clamp. The airbag includes a fixed end fixed relative to the webbing guide and an inflatable end portion inflatable away from the fixed end along the webbing. The clamp is attached to the inflatable end portion and is movable from an unlocked position disengaged with the webbing to a locked position engaging the webbing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mohammed Omar Faruque, Saeed David Barbat, Dean M. Jaradi, S.M. Iskander Farooq
  • Patent number: 9849856
    Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly that includes a seat back having a passenger support attached to a trim carrier with a suspension assembly connecting a support structure. The support structure includes a first trim piece, a seat frame, and a rear panel portion. The rear panel portion includes one or more upper inverted hooks, an energy transfer bracket, one or more lower 2-stage attachment clips, one or more outer wall detents, and one or more breaking members. An airbag deployment system is positioned proximate the first trim piece and a second trim piece and configured to deploy an airbag between the first and second trim pieces. The deployment energy is dissipated through the rear panel portion's one or more upper inverted hooks, the energy transfer bracket, the one or more lower 2-stage attachment clips, the one or more outer wall detents, and the one or more breaking members of the rear panel portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, Richard Joseph Soyka, Jr., Martin Voelker, Manoj Desai, Christian J. Hosbach
  • Patent number: 9849857
    Abstract: In the side airbag device, in an inflation and deployment state of the side airbag, a tension cloth extendingly disposed across between a front-rear partition and a rear end of the rear bag section is stretched, thereby restricting inflation in the vehicle front-rear direction of the rear bag section. An inflating width in a vehicle width direction of the rear bag section can be increased without significantly changing a position in the vehicle front-rear direction of the front-rear partition. In a flat developed state of the side airbag, the tension cloth is extendingly disposed across between the front-rear partition so folded into two as to protrude toward the rear bag section, and the rear end of the rear bag section. Accordingly, dimensions of each component can be so defined as to cause no redundancy in the rear bag section in the flat developed state, thus compactly folding the side airbag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yusuke Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 9849858
    Abstract: There is provided an airbag device with a reduced risk of injury to an occupant in the initial inflation and deployment of an airbag. The airbag has a roll folded portion in the rear side of a vehicle thereof, and a flip folded portion in the front side of the vehicle thereof, and is surrounded by a holding member. The holding member permits inflation and deployment of the airbag only from an opening. The flap has a first restricting portion, a second restricting portion and a third restricting portion joined together in a Y shape, and restricts the inflation and deployment of the airbag. The first restricting portion covers a portion of the roll folded portion of the opening side, and is disposed between the roll folded portion and the holding member. A tip of the second restricting portion is secured to the flip folded portion. The third restricting portion is folded into the flip folded portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: ASHIMORI INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takeshi Inazumi, Satoshi Yamashita, Yuta Minami
  • Patent number: 9849859
    Abstract: In a buckle device, cord portions that are pulled out from a distal end portion in a longitudinal direction of a helical portion of a curl cord are electrically and mechanically connected to a terminal of a buckle switch of a buckle. The distal end portion in the longitudinal direction of the helical portion of the curl cord is held by a holding bracket that is provided at a first cover component of a buckle cover. Consequently, even when the buckle cover is moved, excellent connections can still be maintained between the cord portions of the curl cord and the terminal of the buckle switch of the buckle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKAI-RIKA-DENKI-SEISAKUSHO
    Inventors: Koji Hayashi, Takuhiro Saito, Makoto Matsuzaki
  • Patent number: 9849860
    Abstract: A vehicle-side device includes a vehicle-side control unit that controls transmission of a request signal and performs predetermined control when authentication is successful on the basis of an answer signal, a portable device includes a portable-device control unit that detects reception intensity information of the request signal transmitted from the vehicle-side device and transmits an answer signal based on the reception intensity, the vehicle-side control unit controls a vehicle-side transmission unit so that the vehicle-side transmission unit transmits the request signal including the determination signal having an intensity level different for each section, and the vehicle-side control unit or the portable-device control unit determines whether or not the request signal is a true signal on the basis of a fluctuation in the reception intensity in each section of the determination signal received by the portable device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Akira Miyazawa
  • Patent number: 9849861
    Abstract: A wiper blade having a lever assembly and a spoiler integrated in the lever assembly. The wiper blade has a wiper rubber and the lever assembly holding the wiper rubber and being coupled to a wiper arm. The lever assembly has a plurality of levers, adjacent levers of which are hinge-jointed to each other. The lever of the lever assembly includes a spoiler portion forming a section of a spoiler integrated in the lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: THE KOREA DEVELOPMENT BANK
    Inventors: In Kyu Kim, Kyung Su Kim, Kyung Jong Nam, Sang Jin Jeong
  • Patent number: 9849862
    Abstract: A washer liquid heating apparatus integrated into a reservoir may include an auxiliary tank which is integrally connected to the reservoir and in which a washer liquid inflowing from the reservoir is stored, and a heater assembly that is integrally attached to the auxiliary tank and heats the washer liquid stored in the auxiliary tank, wherein the heater assembly comprises a plate-type heater that is installed in a hole of the auxiliary tank to heat the washer liquid within the auxiliary tank, and wherein the plate-type heater is exposed to an inside of the auxiliary tank through the hole of the auxiliary tank such that a heating surface where heating is performed heats the washer liquid within the auxiliary tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation, Denso Korea Automotive Corporation
    Inventors: Seung Kil Baik, Sang Heon Wang, Seok Cheon Kang
  • Patent number: 9849863
    Abstract: A parking interlock system and method for a vehicle is provided. The system includes: a safety state information detecting unit, configured to detect safety state information of the vehicle; an operating state information detecting unit, configured to detect operating state information of the vehicle; a brake; a motor; a low voltage controller, connected to the safety state information detecting unit and the brake respectively, and configured to generate a safety state judgment result based on the safety state information of the vehicle; and a motor controller, connected to the safety state information detecting unit and the motor respectively, and configured to control the motor according to the safety state judgment result received from the low voltage controller, and to send the operating state information of the vehicle to the low voltage controller such that the low voltage controller controls the brake according to the operating state information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: BYD COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Wenkui Si, Caihua Pan, Wengang Luo, Jun Wu
  • Patent number: 9849864
    Abstract: A parking assist system for a vehicle is provided that includes a brake system having at least one wheel count encoder configured to output a wheel count signal and a controller configured to limit a velocity of the vehicle in a first mode. The controller is also configured to stop the vehicle at a target location in a second mode, and prevent overshoot of the target location by the vehicle in a third mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John Bales, Michael Hafner
  • Patent number: 9849865
    Abstract: An emergency braking system is provided and brakes a vehicle by more efficiently predicting forward collision. The emergency braking system includes an imaging device that identifies a forward obstacle and a sensor that senses an external environment and a driving state of a vehicle. A controller determines a road on which the vehicle is driven, determines a current driving environment case among a plurality of driving environment cases, using external environment information and road information and learns a driving pattern for the current driving environment case, using obstacle information and driving state information. Additionally, the controller variably adjusts warning and braking intervention timings using the learned driving pattern according to the driving environment cases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Ji Won Kwon, Hai Jin Seo, Don Hyoung Lee, Gi Won Park
  • Patent number: 9849866
    Abstract: A piston pump assembly of an electronic controlled brake device for a vehicle includes: an inlet housing configured to accommodate a reciprocating piston and elastically support the piston; an outlet housing configured to accommodate the inlet housing and form a working chamber that allows a working fluid to be introduced from the inlet housing; an outlet ball valve accommodated in the working chamber to open and close a flow passage of the working fluid that is introduced from the inlet housing to the outlet housing; an outlet spring accommodated in the working chamber to elastically support the outlet ball valve toward the inlet housing; and a damper accommodated in the working chamber and mounted within the outlet spring to allow shape deformation while contacting the outlet ball valve. When the outlet ball valve is pushed and pressed toward an end of the working chamber, the damper generates viscous damping while discharging the accommodated working fluid into the working chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yong Kap Kim
  • Patent number: 9849867
    Abstract: An electronic parking brake system and method for controlling an EPB system are disclosed. An EPB system including EPB actuator operated by a motor includes a motor driver which drives the motor of the EPB actuator; a current detector which detects a current flowing in the motor; and an electronic control unit (ECU) which drives the motor using the motor driver according to an operation mode, calculates an amount of current energy consumed by the motor using the current detected by the current detector while the motor is driving and a detecting time taken to detect the current, compares the calculated amount of current energy and a preset value, and controls an operation of the motor according to a result of the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Su-Hwan No
  • Patent number: 9849868
    Abstract: A vehicle control device includes a standard inter-vehicle distance setting module that sets a standard inter-vehicle distance in accordance with a velocity of a subject vehicle that is equipped with the vehicle control device, an inter-vehicle distance measuring module that measures an inter-vehicle distance between the subject vehicle and a preceding vehicle, an effectiveness ratio setting module that sets an effectiveness ratio on the basis of an inter-vehicle distance difference obtained by subtracting the standard inter-vehicle distance from the inter-vehicle distance, the effectiveness ratio indicating a proportion of an amount of an accelerator operation by a driver to be reflected on a drive control, and a drive control module that performs the drive control on the subject vehicle on the basis of the effectiveness ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shinichi Sakaguchi
  • Patent number: 9849869
    Abstract: Systems and/or methods for controlling dual motor-dual clutch powertrains for HEV and PHEV vehicles are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method is disclosed comprising: determining the state of charge (SOC) of said batteries; determining the speed of the vehicle; if the SOC is greater than a given first threshold, selecting a charge-depleting operational mode of said vehicle; during operation of said vehicle, if the SOC is less than a given second threshold, selecting a charge-sustaining operating mode of said vehicle. In another embodiment, a system having a controller that operates the powertrain according to various embodiments is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: EFFICIENT DRIVETRAINS, INC.
    Inventors: Andrew Frank, Chan-Chiao Lin, Krishna Kumar, Anthony Serra
  • Patent number: 9849870
    Abstract: This hybrid vehicle (10) has an HV mode and an EV mode, creates a predetermined traveling plan in a manner so as to switch between HV mode and EV mode on the basis of map information, and performs mode switching control on the basis of the traveling plan. The hybrid vehicle (10) limits the execution of mode switching control that is on the basis of the traveling plan in the case of a predetermined state such that the power that can be output by a battery (28) that is the storage battery connected to a second MG (24) that is a rotary electric machine driven during execution of the EV mode is limited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Keisuke Morisaki
  • Patent number: 9849871
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine arranged to output torque and an electric machine arranged to apply a reaction torque against engine output torque to generate power for charging a traction battery. The vehicle also includes a controller programmed to issue a command to adjust the engine output torque and an output speed corresponding to a predetermined optimal brake specific fuel consumption while providing power to charge the fraction battery, satisfy an accessory power demand, and propel the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brock Dunlap, Bryan Michael Bolger, Angel Fernando Porras, William David Treharne
  • Patent number: 9849872
    Abstract: A method for controlling a hybrid drive of a vehicle includes detecting a traffic and/or street situation ahead of the vehicle, and based on the detected situation, determining an upcoming increase of a performance requirement to be expected from the hybrid drive and increasing a withdrawal rate of an electrical energy source of the hybrid drive. This increase occurs before the performance requirement is realized. The performance requirement may be realized according to the increase of the withdrawal rate, e.g., in conformity with a performance requirement which may be entered via an interface, for example an accelerator pedal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Martin Jehle, Johannes Moritz Maiterth, Akos Semsey
  • Patent number: 9849873
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a vehicle and a coasting feedback control method for the same. The coasting feedback control method includes the following steps: detecting the current speed of a vehicle, the depth of a braking pedal of the vehicle, and the depth of an accelerator pedal; and when the current speed of the vehicle is greater than a preset speed, both the depth of the braking pedal and the depth of the accelerator pedal are 0, and the current gear of the vehicle is gear D, when the vehicle is not in a cruise control mode and an anti-lock braking system of the vehicle is in a non-working state, controlling the vehicle to enter a coasting feedback control mode, where when the vehicle is in the coasting feedback control mode, a coasting feedback torque of a first motor generator and a coasting feedback torque of a second motor generator are distributed according to a selected coasting feedback torque curve of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: BYD COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Dongsheng Yang, Yubo Lian, Jintao Zhang, Hongbin Luo
  • Patent number: 9849874
    Abstract: A control system of a hybrid vehicle, in which a driving power source for travel includes an engine that is started by cranking, a motor that can control a torque, and a clutch that is coupled with the motor and in which a transmission torque capacity continuously changes depending on a change of a control amount is configured to estimate a torque of the clutch based on the torque that the motor outputs, and change rates of the rotational speed of the motor and the clutch caused by changing the control amount, when the torque that the motor outputs is transmitted by the clutch that is in a slip state by changing the control amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kensei Hata, Makoto Funahashi, Yuji Iwase, Yosuke Suzuki, Hirotatsu Kitabatake, Seitaro Nobuyasu
  • Patent number: 9849875
    Abstract: A method for operating a vehicle includes: ascertaining a danger measure of a possible stop position for a safe parking of the vehicle; comparing the ascertained danger measure to a predetermined danger measure threshold value; and guiding the vehicle to the possible stop position in order to safely park the vehicle in the possible stop position only if the ascertained danger measure is less than or equal to the predetermined danger measure threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Florian Hauler, Martin Mueller, Armin Ruehle, Carsten Hasberg, Stefan Nordbruch, Oliver Pink
  • Patent number: 9849876
    Abstract: A collision avoidance assistance device for a vehicle is provided. The collision avoidance assistance device includes a camera configured to acquire an image of an area around the vehicle and a controller. The controller is configured to: detect an image of an animal in the image of the area around the vehicle; determine a type of the animal detected in the image; retrieve behavior characteristics index values representing behavior characteristics of the determined type of the animal; calculate a future presence area of the animal based on the behavior characteristics index values; determine a probability of a collision between the animal and the vehicle based on the calculated future presence area of the animal; and perform a collision avoidance assistance function based on the determined probability of the collision between the animal and the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Edgar Yoshio Morales Teraoka, Shin Tanaka, Yoshitaka Oikawa
  • Patent number: 9849877
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling a vehicle are disclosed. A method for controlling a vehicle by monitoring a driver's state includes: a region setting step for establishing a first steering control region, a first steering warning region, a braking control region, and a first braking warning region of the vehicle; a driver state decision step for determining the driver state by monitoring a state of the driver; and a region resetting step for including, if the driver state is in an abnormal state in the driver state decision step, resetting a first steering control region of the vehicle, a first steering warning region, and a first braking warning region in the region setting region, and thus setting a second steering control region, a second steering warning region, and a second braking warning region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hyuck Min Na
  • Patent number: 9849878
    Abstract: A method for providing vehicle steering control through a curve in an autonomously driven or semi-autonomously driven vehicle that is towing a trailer. The method determines that the trailer will cross out of the travel lane based on the curvature of the curve and the turn radius of the trailer. The method calculates a start turn radius of the vehicle for a start location of the curve, an end turn radius of the vehicle for an end location of the curve, and a turn end point proximate the end location or a turn start point proximate the start location. The method provides initial and boundary conditions for determining a desired path of the vehicle through the curve that prevents the trailer from crossing out of the lane and determines the desired path based on the initial and boundary conditions by solving a polynomial equation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Jin-Woo Lee, Bakhtiar B. Litkouhi
  • Patent number: 9849879
    Abstract: A vehicle speed control system that carries out a method of: automatically causing application of positive and negative torque to one or more wheels of a vehicle to cause a vehicle to travel in accordance with a target speed value v_target; controlling a rate of change of speed of the vehicle by application of positive and negative torque to one or more wheels; and receiving information relating to a terrain response mode in which the vehicle is configured or an amount of drag imposed on a vehicle. The system is configured to control the rate of change of speed in dependence at least in part on the terrain response mode, the amount of drag imposed on the vehicle, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Limited
    Inventors: James Kelly, Robert Burford
  • Patent number: 9849880
    Abstract: Methods and systems are presented for improving performance of a vehicle operating in a cruise control mode where a controller adjusts torque output from a vehicle to maintain vehicle speed within a desired range. The methods and systems include adapting a vehicle dynamics model and a vehicle fuel consumption model that provide input to nonlinear model predictive controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC, HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Anthony Mario D'Amato, Dimitar Petrov Filev, John Ottavio Michelini, Jaroslav Pekar, Ondrej Santin, Jonathan Thomas Mullen
  • Patent number: 9849882
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate generally to a method for controlling a vehicle based on crowdsourcing data. According to the method, the vehicle transmits a route request to a server, receive navigation information in response to the route request, controls an operation of the vehicle based on the transmitted navigation information, collects vehicle driving data, during driving according to the transmitted navigation information, transmits the collected data to the server, receives generated crowdsourcing data, updates the transmitted navigation information based on the received crowdsourcing data, and controls the operation of the vehicle based on the updated navigation information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Inventor: Jung H Byun
  • Patent number: 9849883
    Abstract: A vehicle system includes a processor with access to a memory storing instructions executable by the processor. The instructions include determining whether an autonomous host vehicle can traverse an environmental obstacle, and if the autonomous host vehicle can traverse the environmental obstacle, controlling an active suspension system in accordance with the environmental obstacle and controlling the autonomous host vehicle to traverse the environmental obstacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Jianbo Lu, Davor David Hrovat, Hongtei Eric Tseng
  • Patent number: 9849884
    Abstract: A hill start assist control (HAC) method and system for vehicles is provided to prevent malfunction and sensitive operation of an HAC function, generated due to misrecognition of a flat road as a hill when the vehicle is accelerated after braking on the flat road, caused by use of a value sensed by an acceleration sensor in determination of a hill. For this purpose, a corrected gradient, in which a tilt of the vehicle in the pitch direction is reflected in a gradient acquired from the value sensed by the acceleration sensor, is used as an actual road gradient value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: In Su Kim
  • Patent number: 9849885
    Abstract: In engaging (connecting) a dog clutch by operating a synchromesh mechanism, when there occurs an uplock at the time when a first pressing force is caused to act on a hub sleeve, tooth tips of spline teeth of the hub sleeve contact with tooth tips of spline teeth of a synchronizer ring, and these spline teeth cannot be engaged. However, when a second pressing force is caused to act on the hub sleeve, the uplock is easy to be released. In addition, when torque from an engine is caused to act on the hub sleeve, a displacement is caused to occur in a rotation direction between the mutually contacting spline teeth. Thus, the uplock is reliably released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuya Sakamoto, Atsushi Ayabe, Kenji Matsuo, Hiroki Kondo, Mitsuhiro Fukao
  • Patent number: 9849886
    Abstract: A method and device for the combined determining of a momentary vehicle roll angle of a motor vehicle and a momentary roadway cross slope of a curved roadway section traveled by the motor vehicle is disclosed. The momentary vehicle roll angle and momentary roadway cross slope are determined from chassis data and transverse dynamics data of the motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Dieter Ammon, Claus-Michael Hainbuch, Magnus Rau
  • Patent number: 9849887
    Abstract: A database of high risk locations is formed and high risk causal factors for the high risk locations determined. Driver behavior is monitored at the sites in the database using data collection devices such as electronic logging devices or mobile phones to see if the drivers exhibit the same specific behaviors that are considered contributing factors to specific accident types at risk of occurrence at those sites. Warnings are provided to drivers approaching the specific sites to prompt behavioral changes which may further be monitored by the data collection devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Intelligent Imaging Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Heath, Wayne Malkin
  • Patent number: 9849889
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a vehicle having different operating modes, and for each such mode a different characteristic of output torque and accelerator pedal position. The rise of output torque in response to a propulsion request is more or less delayed according to the instant operating mode. The invention provides for blending of the response to a propulsion request so that the delay is progressively varied between a source and target operating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Limited
    Inventors: Paul Darnell, Elliot Hemes, Mark Roberts
  • Patent number: 9849890
    Abstract: A transport system includes a main cable, a track assembly, and a conveyance assembly, wherein the track assembly is suspended from the main cable to allow unimpeded translational movement of the conveyance assembly along the track assembly. In another aspect according to the present invention, the track assembly has a track changing assembly that includes a track changing section rotatably coupled to a primary track section for selective alignment of the track changing section to any one of a plurality of exit track sections. A method of conveyance along a suspended track includes suspending a main cable between natural or artificial support structures, suspending a track assembly from the main cable, and mounting a conveyance assembly on the suspended track assembly to provide unimpeded translational movement of the conveyance assembly along the track assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: MAIN ATTRACTIONS, LLC
    Inventor: Gordon Thomas Quattlebaum
  • Patent number: 9849891
    Abstract: A railcar includes a side sliding door and entrance peripheral-member surrounding the side entrance. The entrance peripheral-member includes a door pocket post in which outer and inner portions are inwardly of the outer portion in car-width direction coupled to each other. The side sliding door peripheral portion is pressed against an edge portion, extending along the side entrance of the entrance peripheral-member via a rubber seal at the side entrance closed state. In the side entrance open state, the side sliding door is pulled into a door pocket space facing the door pocket post inner portion. A portion projecting inwardly in car-width direction beyond the inner portion and including a tip end contacting the rubber seal provided at at least part of region constituted by portions of upper and lower edges of the side entrance peripheral-member and lateral edge at the edge portion door pocket post side of the entrance peripheral-member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoaki Kawakami, Shinichi Okada, Naohiro Yoshida, Kazumasa Inaba, Kenji Waki
  • Patent number: 9849892
    Abstract: Provided is a guide device for a guide rail-type vehicle which travels while being guided along a travel track. The guide device is provided with: guide wheels which include main guide wheels and branched guide wheels, the main and branched guide wheels being in contact with and roll on guide rails arranged on both sides of the travel track; steering arms which steer the vehicle; and elastic support members which each includes one end affixed to each of the steering arms and which each includes the other end including guide wheels rotatably supported thereon, the elastic support members absorbing an impact load by deflecting about the one end thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masaru Tachibana, Akihiro Niizeki, Junji Kamatani, Akira Komoto
  • Patent number: 9849893
    Abstract: A hub unit including an end cap for preloading and retaining a bearing unit on an axle. The end cap is provided with a sensor unit for detecting at least one of vibrations and temperature of the bearing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: AKTIEBOLAGET SKF
    Inventors: Andreas Clemens Van Der Ham, Mairi Joan Torrie, Andrew Campbell, Gerard McGoogan
  • Patent number: 9849894
    Abstract: A protective shroud is provided for enveloping light radiating from a light emitter used with a sensor system for mapping of a railway track. The protective shroud includes: a rigid body having a frame and at least one opaque panel connected to the frame, the rigid body defining at least a first portion of a light radiation zone; a skirt formed of high density fibers extending from adjacent a bottom edge of the at least one opaque panel to adjacent a ground surface; at least one light emitter connected to the rigid body adjacent a top edge of the rigid body to emit light radiation into the light radiation zone; and at least one sensor connected to the rigid body adjacent the top edge of the rigid body to sense the light emitted from the at least one light emitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: TETRA TECH, INC.
    Inventor: Darel Mesher
  • Patent number: 9849895
    Abstract: A system and method for inspecting a railway track bed using a plurality of sensors that are synchronized for rapid interrogation of a railway track bed while the sensors are in motion at a high rate of speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: TETRA TECH, INC.
    Inventor: Darel Mesher
  • Patent number: 9849896
    Abstract: A system for managing the transportation of crude oil by rail includes a user terminal having a display screen and a processing system coupled to the user terminal through a communications link. The processing system is operable to generate a user interface on the display screen of the user terminal receiving input information from a user, including information indicating a loading facility for loading a selected set of railcars and an unloading facility for unloading the selected set of railcars. The processing system is further operable to forecast an arrival time for the set of cars at the loading facility and an arrival time for the set of cars at the unloading facility and display the forecasted arrival times at the loading and unloading facilities on the display screen of the user terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: BNSF Railway Company
    Inventors: Steven Mitchell Painter, Martin Andrew Schlenker, Robert Joseph Saylor, Michelle Rae Flanery, Brandon Jay Archambeau, Gregory Lee Palcich, Joshua Landon Gary, Vipin Gangadhar Kohale, Robert Wayne Lease, Caleb Mikel Peterson