Patents Issued in February 5, 2019
  • Patent number: 10195957
    Abstract: There is provided a battery holder including: a plurality of battery cell receiving sections for receiving a battery cell. A deformation section elastically deformed depending on transmission of external impact, and a space section for allowing the deformation section to be elastically deformed are formed between a peripheral surface of one battery cell receiving section and a peripheral surface of another battery cell receiving section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Kano
  • Patent number: 10195958
    Abstract: In a method for cooling a component of a motor vehicle, which component is coupled thermally to a cooling volume filled with a liquid coolant, at least one cooling parameter is measured by a control device and, in dependence on the cooling parameter, the component is either cooled in a first cooling mode, in which the cooling volume is connected via a first and second coupling device to a cooling circuit which includes at least one circulating device by means of which the coolant is circulated, or is cooled in a second cooling mode, in which the cooling volume is separated from the cooling circuit by the first and second coupling device, wherein the component is cooled by evaporation of coolant in the cooling volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventor: Karl-Heinz Meitinger
  • Patent number: 10195959
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a system main relay, a first voltage converter, a second voltage converter, a first diode disposed in a third power line and configured to prevent a reverse flow of a current from the first auxiliary machine to the auxiliary machine battery, and a second diode disposed in a second power line and configured to prevent a reverse flow of a current from the first auxiliary machine to the second voltage converter. Therefore, according to the vehicle, even when the auxiliary machine battery is short-circuited, the first diode can prevent a reverse flow of a current and the second voltage converter can continuously supply electric power to the first auxiliary machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takashi Nozawa
  • Patent number: 10195960
    Abstract: When two motors are in a locked state in which electric current is flowed in a concentrated manner in a specific phase in the two motors, a lock protection control is performed to rotate the two motors to change over a phase in which electric current is flowed in a concentrated manner in the two motors. The lock protection control rotates the two motors such that a vehicle is turned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Akihiko Ide
  • Patent number: 10195961
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an apparatus and a method for controlling an engine of a hybrid vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, KIA Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Jung Soo Park, Myung Seok Lee, Hong Kee Sim
  • Patent number: 10195962
    Abstract: A seatback assembly pivotally supported upon a seat bottom and including each of forward spring assisted dump, rewind and reset protocols. A stationary sector is affixed to the seat bottom and has an abutment edge. A seatback sector is pivotally secured to the stationary sector and is influenced relative thereto in a forward rotating dump direction. A cam is rotatably supported upon the pivoting seatback sector, the cam having an outer engaging edge in abutting contact with the abutment edge for maintaining the seatback sector in an upright design position. A rotating sector plate is arranged in stacked fashion with the stationary and pivoting seatback sectors, the sector plate exhibiting a plurality of outer circumferentially arrayed teeth. A pinion gear extends from a pivot axis established between the cam and seatback sector, the gear engaging the outer arrayed teeth of the sector plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: BAE Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen C. Bruck
  • Patent number: 10195963
    Abstract: A longitudinal adjuster (3), for a vehicle seat (1), includes a lower rail (9), an upper rail (11), moveable in relation to the lower rail (9) in a longitudinal direction (x), and a locking unit (13) for locking the upper rail (11) to the lower rail (9). The locking unit (13) includes two locking elements (VR), which, in order to lock the upper rail (11) and the lower rail (9), engage in the upper rail and the lower rail in a blocking manner in steps such that one of the locking elements (VR) pre-locks the upper rail (11) and the lower rail (9) with play in a pre-locking step and one of the locking elements (VR) locks the upper rail (11) and the lower rail (9) without play in a locking step. A vehicle seat (1) including such a longitudinal adjuster (3) is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Adient Luxembourg Holding S.à.r.l.
    Inventors: Joachim Flick, Erik Sprenger
  • Patent number: 10195964
    Abstract: An adjusting system is provided for a seat, in particular a motor vehicle seat. A longitudinal axis, in which a person sitting on the seat is facing, is defined for the seat, and a transverse axis running perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis and a height axis running perpendicularly to the transverse axis and the longitudinal axis are also defined. The adjusting system comprises at least one first bearing ring which can be connected to the seat, at least one second bearing ring which can be connected to a seat mounting, and a plurality of adjusting rings which are connected to one another in a sequential manner and which are arranged between the first bearing ring and the second bearing ring. The adjusting rings can be rotated relative to one another in order to pivot the seat selectively about the longitudinal axis, the transverse axis, and the height axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Robert Martin
  • Patent number: 10195965
    Abstract: A height-adjustable rotatable chair overlay for facilitating entry to and exit from a vehicle by a user includes a seat. A lift is coupled to and extends from a bottom of the seat. The lift is selectively extensible. A turntable is rotationally coupled to the lift distal from the seat. Each of a pair of arms is coupled to a top of the seat. The arms are positioned singly proximate to a left side and a right side of the seat. The turntable is positioned on the lift such that the seat is selectively rotatable relative to the turntable. The arms are positioned on the seat such that the arms are configured to assist a user in entering and exiting the seat. The lift is positioned on the seat such that the lift is positioned to extend and retract. The seat is raised and lowered relative to the turntable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Inventor: Beverly Vandenbout
  • Patent number: 10195966
    Abstract: A seat core member of a seat portion provided with the seat core member made of a hard synthetic resin foam and a cushion layer made of a soft synthetic resin foam and covering the seat core member is provided, and the seat core member includes a plurality of ridges extending in a rising direction of the seat core member in a rising portion of the seat core member being in contact with the cushion layer and opposing to calves of a body is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: JSP Corporation
    Inventors: Motoaki Ueguri, Atsuo Takayama, Keiichi Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 10195967
    Abstract: Apparatus for adapting an adult three-point seatbelt for securing a child, the seatbelt comprising a belt extending from above the shoulder to an anchor point connected to chassis of vehicle, and a clasp attached to the chassis on opposite side of an occupant of the seat, such that the belt may be drawn downwards and across the occupant to engage the clasp, thereby restraining the occupant with both sash and lap sections of the seatbelt, the apparatus comprising: a mat with side catches for engaging the lap section of the seatbelt and holding it down over the legs of the child, and a strap fixed to the mat and having a clip at a distal end thereof, for extending behind the child, and the clip for clippably engaging the belt extending from the drum, to bring the sash section of the belt down, over the shoulder of the child.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: CARFOLDIO LTD.
    Inventor: Jon Sumroy
  • Patent number: 10195968
    Abstract: A seating system for use with a vehicle. The seating system includes: a seat device arranged proximal to a rear edge of the vehicle, arranged to be deployed at least partially beyond the rear edge; and a platform arranged to be moveable between a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration. In the deployed configuration, the platform is arranged to be positioned for use as a footrest by a user seated on the seat device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Limited
    Inventor: Ian Barnes
  • Patent number: 10195969
    Abstract: A vehicle seat back includes a seat back frame. An impact pad is supported on the seat back frame. The impact pad includes a pad body that is located on a rear side of the seat back frame. The impact pad includes a frame contact surface that matches a contour of the seat back frame. The vehicle seat back also includes one of more spaces located between the pad body and the seat back frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Eric Veine, Ashford Galbreath, Thomas Hicks
  • Patent number: 10195970
    Abstract: A device for air-conditioning the backrest or the seat area of a motor vehicle seat has an insert that rests in a recess of a cushion component of the vehicle seat. The insert has an air distribution layer that is covered by (a) an upper cover layer at the top side area that points away from the base area of the recess and (b) a lower cover layer arranged at the side of the air distribution layer that points toward the base area of the recess. The lower cover layer has at least one strap section that protrudes beyond the outer circumference of the air distribution layer. This cover layer has a width that corresponds approximately to the thickness of the air distribution layer and rests on a circumferential area of the air distribution layer that is associated with the strap section and at least partly covers this circumferential area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: I. G. BAUERHIN GMBH
    Inventor: Stefan Bauer
  • Patent number: 10195971
    Abstract: A vehicle seat capable of efficiently utilizing air delivered from an air conditioning device and thereby adjusting the temperature of heat generated by a seat heater is described. A vehicle seat comprises a seat heater between a cushion pad and a surface skin. A heater wire affixed to a seat base material of the seat heater is disposed at a position to partially overlap air passages formed on the cushion pad. Moreover, the heater wire is formed on the seat base material, is disposed at a position to partially overlap a plurality of through-holes having a greater width than the heater wire, and extends while avoiding center portions of the through-holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuichiro Hoshi
  • Patent number: 10195972
    Abstract: A lumbar support device comprises a carrier, a pair of arching elements molded to the carrier, and a support basket supported by the pair of arching elements. To produce the lumbar support device, the pair of arching elements may be molded to the carrier in a molding tool and the support basket may be formed in the same molding tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Inventors: Maxime Samain, Christoph Kiesewetter, Andreas Weinmüller, Robert Kremen, Freddy Vallant
  • Patent number: 10195973
    Abstract: A vehicle structure body includes: a vehicle interior member; an exterior member; and a fastening portion in which a first fastening seat of the vehicle interior member and a second fastening seat of the exterior member are fastened and fixed to each other in a state of being disposed to face each other. A first fastening part to which a first fastener is attached with a shaft portion of the first fastener, and a second fastening part to which a second fastener is attached with a shaft portion of the second fastener are provided adjacent to each other. An input direction of a shear load that is applied to the shaft portion of the first fastener in an orthogonal direction and an input direction of a shear load that is applied to the shaft portion of the second fastener in an orthogonal direction differ from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Iwao Matsushima
  • Patent number: 10195974
    Abstract: An armrest assembly includes a frame. The armrest assembly also includes an armrest mounted on the frame for relative rotational movement between a first position and a second position. A stop rod is mounted on one of the frame and the armrest. A detent mounted on the other of the frame and the armrest. The detent includes a first stop indent and a second stop indent. The stop rod is located in the first stop indent when the armrest is in the first position. The stop rod is located in the second stop indent when the armrest is in the second position. The detent includes a deflection arm supported on a detent base. The detent includes an arm space between the deflection arm and the detent base. The detent includes a detent bumper located in the detent space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Xuefei Zhang, Xiangbin Hu, XiaoZhong Wu
  • Patent number: 10195975
    Abstract: A gear assembly for a seat adjuster includes a gear housing, a worm gear, a helical gear meshed with the worm gear, a wobble gear carried on an eccentric lobe of the helical gear, a pinion disc, a first ring gear disposed in the gear housing, a second ring gear disposed in the pinion disc, and a pinion member carrying the helical gear and the pinion disc. The wobble gear includes first and second sets of wobble gear teeth that mesh with the first and second ring gears, respectively. A housing side gear ring disposed in the gear housing defines part of the first ring gear and the gear housing defines another part of the first ring gear. A pinion disc gear ring disposed in the pinion disc defines part of the second ring gear and the pinion disc defines another part of the second ring gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: FISHER & COMPANY, INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Burckhard Becker, Mircea Napau, Armin Michel
  • Patent number: 10195976
    Abstract: A spreader assembly may include a hopper configured for receiving a spreadable material, a removable cartridge configured for sliding engagement with the hopper and having a material transportation mechanism configured for receiving the spreadable material from the hopper, and a spreader configured for receiving the spreadable material from the material transportation mechanism and spreading the spreadable material onto a target surface. One of the hopper and the cartridge may include a roller having a roller surface, and the other of the hopper and the cartridge may include a bearing surface configured for rolling engagement with the roller surface. The cartridge may have one or more pull bars to facilitate removal of the cartridge from the hopper. Related methods are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Alamo Group Inc.
    Inventors: Spencer J. Null, Vladimir Feldman, Douglas E. Metcalf, Robert W. Wood, Randal M. Wolf, Allen T. Joyce
  • Patent number: 10195977
    Abstract: A lift for transferring a user to and from a vehicle, the lift including a lift platform for receiving the user, the lift platform being arcuately movable between a first position and a second position; a vertical arm coupled to the lift platform, the vertical arm having a profile that is progressively convex along the entire length of the vertical arm; and a pair of parallel arms extending from the vertical arm, wherein each of the parallel arms is pivotally coupled to a bracket mounted to the vehicle; wherein the vertical arm has a generally U-shaped cross-section that forms a channel configured to receive at least a portion of the pair of parallel arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: The Braun Corporation
    Inventors: Robert E. Bettcher, III, Justin M. Kline, Austin D. Metzger, Haiyan Henry Zhang, Cong Liao, Achilleas Bardakas
  • Patent number: 10195978
    Abstract: An apparatus facilitates the deployment and retrieval of highway panels and includes a work basket mountable on the rearward end of a truck to be vertically moveable relative thereto. A ramp member is detachably mounted on a selected side of the work basket to be movable therewith. A lift member is detachably mounted on a four-bar lift linkage carried by the truck along the selected side thereof. The lift member is vertically movable by the lift linkage to raise the highway panels from the ramp member to the level of the truck bed on which the highway panels are transported. Both the ramp and lift members are formed with rollers on the top surface to facilitate the movement of the highway panels in both deployment and retrieval. Retrieval is accomplished by moving the truck rearwardly and tipping the highway panel so the ramp member can slide underneath the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: J-Tech, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard S. Johnson, Collin E. Johnson, Joe E. Snyder, Jason M. Rohrer, Dave E. Brown
  • Patent number: 10195979
    Abstract: A maintenance/construction cart that facilitates wall and ceiling access while isolating the interior of the cart from the surrounding environment. The cart is configured such that its height can be easily adjusted by an operator to provide access to ceilings of different heights while maintaining the seal between the interior of the cart and the surrounding environment while structurally supporting a ladder leaning against a surface of the cart. In some embodiments, the cart includes an air filtration unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Abatement Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Blair Lawrence Harber, Lynette Raville Mathews, Adam Brian Hunninck, Leonard Gene Simmons
  • Patent number: 10195980
    Abstract: A system (90) for emitting shaped light (26) from a vehicle (10) and for projecting the shaped light (26) onto a surface (18) external to the vehicle (10), the system comprising a controller, one or more light sources and at least one light emitter, wherein the at least one light emitter is arranged to emit at least a first light signal directed towards said surface (18) external to the vehicle (10), the light emitter comprising a projection head arranged to direct light externally to the vehicle (10) and a beam shaper element, wherein the at least one light emitter is coupled to at least one of said light sources by one or more optical fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Limited
    Inventors: Paul Widdowson, Mark Cund
  • Patent number: 10195981
    Abstract: A headlight includes a shell unit defining a mounting space that extends in a front-rear direction, a mounting seat pivotally mounted in the mounting space, and having a plurality of mounting portions, a plurality of light emitting units respectively mounted to the mounting portions of the mounting seat, and an adjusting unit including an adjusting member that is mounted to the mounting seat, and that is operable for adjusting the angular position of the mounting seat. Each of the light emitting units includes a light emitting member, and a lens disposed in front of the light emitting member for allowing a light beam emitted from the light emitting member to pass therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: COPLUS INC.
    Inventor: Jacob Wu
  • Patent number: 10195982
    Abstract: 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, control a light emission of at least one light source of the illuminating device and a transmission coefficient of the variable transmission screen, in relation to each other, with a pulsed signal, characterized in that the assisting device is configured to detect a vehicle equipped with a device of the same type via inter-vehicle communication and to modify the pulsed signal so as to avoid antiphase and/or phase effects, when the device detects such a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: VALEO VISION
    Inventors: David Hue, Hafid El Idrissi, Etienne Monchy
  • Patent number: 10195983
    Abstract: A motor vehicle jack positioning system includes a light source located adjacent a jack point for the motor vehicle and a controller configured to activate the light source in response to a data signal representative of a triggering event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jose Abinadi Badillo Gutierrez, Pedro Garcia Zarco, Victor Negrete Cortes
  • Patent number: 10195984
    Abstract: An emergency signal system is a magnetically based “BABY” sign (in various languages) with colorful flashing lights, and an audible lullaby “siren” designed to be placed on top of a car when an expectant mother is on her way to the hospital to give birth. In this manner, the driver of the car is able to alert other motorists that a woman in labor is on her way to the hospital, and as a result, yield the road for the car's smooth and easy passage, helping to ensure timely arrival at the hospital for delivery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Inventor: Bernadine McGrady
  • Patent number: 10195985
    Abstract: A vehicle is provided herein. The vehicle includes a headliner including a cover. A first luminescent structure is disposed on the cover and is configured to luminesce in response to excitation by a light assembly. The light assembly is disposed below the headliner. A controller is configured to activate the light assembly. The light assembly independently illuminates various portions of the luminescent structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Carol C. Kordich, Paul Kenneth Dellock, James J. Surman, Julian Lopacki
  • Patent number: 10195986
    Abstract: A vehicular illumination holding structure comprising: a bar-shaped light guide installed in an interior trim; a holding member that holds the light guide; and a transmitting portion of the interior trim, wherein an emission surface of the light guide extends along longitudinal direction thereof and faces the transmitting portion, the transmitting portion is disposed with a gap from the emission surface, the holding member extends from the interior trim, the holding members have, at leading end portions thereof, engagement bodies engaged with a first longitudinal side surface of the light guide, the interior trim further includes support portions and step portions, where the support portions extend over a second side surface of the light guide to reach the emission surface, the second side surface being a surface opposed to the first side surface, and the step portions connect the support portions and the transmitting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: HAYASHI TELEMPU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Naoyuki Kato
  • Patent number: 10195987
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a motor vehicle having one or more flashing light devices for generating a turn signal light or a blinking hazard light, one or more elongated interior lighting devices for emitting visible light in a form of moving light in the interior of the motor vehicle, and a control device associated with the interior lighting devices, and the control device is configured to to control the one or more interior lighting devices such that, during the time the turn signal light or the blinking hazard light is being generated by the one or more flashing light devices, visible light in the form of a moving light will be emitted by the one or more interior lighting devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventors: Stephan Berlitz, Friedrich-Uwe Tontsch, Julia Kastner
  • Patent number: 10195988
    Abstract: A Bluetooth based vehicular internal monitoring device for preventing or mitigating the likelihood of leaving a living entity behind within an unattended vehicle with an interior exhibiting life threatening environmental conditions. The system leverages ultra-low powered micro sensors, and open source communication systems to convey data acquired by a number of remote monitoring apparatuses and a head unit controller. The system is activated using a remote controller area network device attached to the factory installed controller area network system to detect the presence of a driver or caregiver exiting the vehicle when the living entity is present within the vehicle. Should the driver side door open with the living entity within the vehicle, the head unit controller alarms to notify the driver of such. Integration with vehicle telematic services enables delivery of alerts and information to parents, caregivers, emergency contacts, and emergency responders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Inventors: Steven P. Garza, Lamar Channell
  • Patent number: 10195989
    Abstract: A communication system for a vehicle comprises a mechanism for sensing a motion status of a vehicle, a control device, plurality of data acquisition sensors, and one or more alerting device activation circuits. The communication system is customizable with the plurality of data acquisition sensors and one or more alerting device activation circuits based upon the needs of the vehicle. In some embodiments, the communication system is customized before it is installed within the vehicle. Alternatively, in some embodiments, the communication system is customizable after it is installed within the vehicle by turning on and/or turning off one or more of the data acquisition sensors and one or more alerting device activation circuits. The communication system is able to be implemented on a bus or other such fleet vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Vision Works IP Corporation
    Inventors: Fritz Braunberger, Beau M. Braunberger
  • Patent number: 10195990
    Abstract: An in-vehicle lighting device for alerting a driver driving a vehicle to an obstacle present in a vicinity of the vehicle, which obstructs driving of the vehicle. The in-vehicle lighting device includes: a light emitter that is installed in an interior side of a pillar in a front part of the vehicle and that emits light of different chromatic colors; a controller connected to the light emitter; and a detector that is connected to the controller and detects the obstacle present in the vicinity of the vehicle. When the detector detects the obstacle present in the vicinity of the vehicle, the controller causes the light emitter to emit light having a color according to a characteristic of the obstacle detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Toshiya Moriwaki
  • Patent number: 10195991
    Abstract: An abnormality detection device includes a load connected to a load connection terminal; a first switching element, having one end connected to the load connection terminal, that switches between connection and disconnection of a power supply to the load; a control unit that switches between an on state and an off state of the first switching element; a detection unit that outputs a signal based on comparison between a voltage of the load connection terminal and a predetermined reference voltage; an acquisition unit that acquires the signal from the detection unit; a determination unit that determines that the load is in an abnormal state when the acquisition unit acquires an abnormality detection signal, which is a signal of a predetermined level, continuously for more than a predetermined first determination time period after the control unit switches the first switching element from the on state to the off state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Miyuki Nishida
  • Patent number: 10195992
    Abstract: Example obstacle detection systems and methods are described. In one implementation, a method receives data from at least one sensor mounted to a vehicle and creates a probabilistic grid-based map associated with an area near the vehicle. The method also determines a confidence associated with each probability in the grid-based map and determines a likelihood that an obstacle exists in the area near the vehicle based on the probabilistic grid-based map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Marcos Paul Gerardo Castro, Dongran Liu, Sneha Kadetotad, Jinesh J Jain
  • Patent number: 10195993
    Abstract: A rear backup sideview mirror assembly to be used in conjunction with a vehicle's interior rearview mirrors to view other motor vehicles moving in a side to lateral direction. The rearview mirror assembly, located on the rear of the vehicle that allows the user to see laterally away from the vehicle in both directions for oncoming obstructions and down behind the vehicle in order to observe objects that may not appear in the rearview mirror but are behind the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Inventor: Walter Lee Nichols
  • Patent number: 10195994
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for automation of a side mirror of a vehicle. In one example, a side mirror is disposed on a side of the vehicle, and a camera is mounted on the side mirror. A processor is configured to at least facilitate determining whether a condition has been satisfied with respect to a vehicle having a side mirror, and providing instructions for automatic movement of the side mirror from a first position to a second position, when it is determined that the condition has been satisfied. An actuator is coupled to the processor, and is configured to move the side mirror from the first position to the second position based on the instructions provided by the processor when it is determined that the condition has been satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Akram M. Abdel-Rahman, Mohannad Murad
  • Patent number: 10195995
    Abstract: A vision system for a vehicle is provided including a camera for capturing images within a field of view; a display device movably mounted relative to the vehicle for displaying a portion of the field of view of the camera; a movement sensor for sensing movement of the display device; and a processing circuit in communication with the movement sensor, the display device, and the camera for selecting the portion of the field of view to be displayed on the display device in response to movement of the display device as sensed by the movement sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventor: Neil J. Boehm
  • Patent number: 10195996
    Abstract: An image display method for vehicle rearview mirrors is provided. The method includes obtaining at last two images to be displayed by an image obtaining module, and displaying the at least two images in a split-screen manner on at least one rearview mirror of the vehicle rearview mirrors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignees: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD., BEIJING BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shuai Xu, Lei Guo, Zhiyong Wang, Qing Zhao, Hong Zhu
  • Patent number: 10195997
    Abstract: A horizontally moving retractable vehicle step is attachable to a vehicle, such as a low to the ground vehicle like a van. The horizontal vehicle step can provide access to different portions of the vehicle. Further, the horizontal vehicle step can act as a safety mechanism to reduce potential harm to a user in accidentally stepping in gaps between the vehicle and a curb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Lund Motion Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Anthony Nicholas Smith
  • Patent number: 10195998
    Abstract: A compact safe storage compartment for weapons and electronic equipment, also sometime referred to as LOFT, for police sports utility vehicles (SUVs) is provided which is easy to use and access by police and is not readily viewable from outside the SUV by pedestrians, criminals and others. The LOFT can occupy otherwise unused space in the SUV. The LOFT can comprise: a special frame, a unique door for carrying weapons, and/or an optional tray secured to the door for carrying electronic law enforcement equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Lund Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark J. Lundberg, Patrick W. Hill, Paul A. Lundberg
  • Patent number: 10195999
    Abstract: A vehicle compartment system includes a tub establishing a storage compartment and a closure panel movable between a closed position and an open position for accessing the storage compartment. The closure panel is maintained below a vehicle down vision line in the open position. The closure panel may be raised from the closed position to a position above the storage compartment and then may be automatically slid rearward to the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: David Brian Glickman, Michael Williams, Colin Christopher Nitroy, Kosta Papanikolaou
  • Patent number: 10196000
    Abstract: A vehicle trunk includes a panel having a leg protruding past a perimeter thereof and a trunk floor defining a recess and cavity. The leg occupies a first portion of the cavity to secure the panel perpendicular to the floor, and a second portion of the cavity different from the first to secure the panel flush within the recess such that the panel is disposed over unoccupied portions of the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Pattrick Loew, Kendra White
  • Patent number: 10196001
    Abstract: A storage console includes a housing having a storage chamber, an access opening and a guide track. The storage console also includes a tambour door including an articulated substrate and a plurality of slats carried on the articulated substrate. The articulated substrate includes integral overmolded guides and integral overmolded splines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Francis Raymond Gillis
  • Patent number: 10196002
    Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly is provided herein. The seating assembly includes a support structure defining a bin. A subassembly is disposed over the support structure and includes a cushion. The subassembly defines a void within the cushion. The void has a larger cross-sectional area than the bin. A seat insert is disposed within the void and is disposed over the bin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Raul Emilio del Puerto, Gerardo Diaz Paredes, Javier Bartolo Trujillo, Gregory Hagedorn, Ivonne Ruth Lepe, Arturo Emmanuel Salas Garcia
  • Patent number: 10196003
    Abstract: A work basket includes a frame having a work platform mounted thereon to permit people to move about the work basket to position supplies on a highway surface from the vehicle on which the work basket is mounted. The work basket has an adjustable hitch mechanism to permit vertical positioning of the hitch for engagement with the hitch receiver on the support vehicle. A pair of outrigger arms mounted on the frame of the work basket on opposing sides of the hitch member is horizontally and vertically adjustable to position a foot member on the distal end of the outrigger arm into engagement with flat surfaces on opposing sides of the support vehicle to stabilize the work basket. Vertical adjustment of the outrigger arm is accomplished by manipulation of an adjustment screw positioned at the support bracket and by the vertical positioning of the outrigger within the frame member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: J-Tech, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard S. Johnson, Collin E. Johnson, Jason M. Rohrer
  • Patent number: 10196004
    Abstract: A display device for a saddle-type vehicle includes a display-form change operation input device, a preset switching operation input device, and a vehicle-information display device. The display-form change operation input device receives an operation for changing a display form. The preset switching operation input device receives an operation for switching a display form to a preset screen set in advance. The vehicle-information display device displays information about a saddle-type vehicle to enable a driver to recognize the information. This display device sets a display form of the vehicle-information display device in accordance with an operation for changing a display form received via the display-form change operation input device, and switches the display form of the vehicle-information display device to the preset screen if an operation for switching a display form to the preset screen is received via the preset switching operation input device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomo Yamamoto, Taro Iwamoto
  • Patent number: 10196005
    Abstract: A camera and production technique for an ADAS. The camera lens and image sensor are positioned along multiple axes using a target located at a first distance from the lens to establish a first relative position between the lens and the image sensor. The first relative position between the lens and the image sensor is modified by a predetermined amount for an object located a second distance from the lens. The second distance is larger than the first distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Mobileye Vision Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Ori Eytan, Avi Eyal, Gideon Stein
  • Patent number: 10196006
    Abstract: Certain configurations are described of systems and devices that can be used to assist in mounting a vehicle safety device in an automobile, truck, train or other vehicle. In some examples, the device comprises a template which can reversibly couple to a vehicle component such as a windshield or a bumper. In some instances, the template may comprise one or more alignment indicators or markings that facilitate mounting of the vehicle safety device in a selected position or to the windshield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Inventor: Robert Lee Warren