Patents Issued in September 12, 2019
  • Publication number: 20190275890
    Abstract: A method for switching off a current-excited synchronous machine of a motor vehicle, the current-excited synchronous machine having a rotor supplied by an excitation circuit of power electronics and a stator supplied via a bridge circuit of the power electronics, the method including interrupting a current supply to the rotor and the stator. The method further includes switching over the excitation circuit of the power electronics to a first freewheeling position, whereby energy contained in the excitation circuit and in the rotor is fed into a first energy store via a first feedback arrangement, and switching over the bridge circuit of the power electronics to a second freewheeling position, whereby energy contained in the bridge circuit and in the stator is fed into a second energy store via a second feedback arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventors: Zakaria EL KHAWLY, Igor GUSYEV, Joerg MERWERTH, Nuno Miguel SILVA CERQUEIRA, Christian STEINBAUER
  • Publication number: 20190275891
    Abstract: A master electronic control device for a vehicle is provided as follows. A vehicle time, which is managed by the master electronic control device to be used in common with a slave electronic control device, is transmitted to the slave electronic control device. Device log information is received from the slave electronic control device, the device log information including (i) a content of an event in the slave electronic control device, (ii) a device time in the slave electronic control device when the event is detected, and (iii) information on vehicle time reception state. The device time included in the device log information is converted into the vehicle time that corresponds to the device time in response to that the information on vehicle time reception state indicates that, when the event is detected, the slave electronic control device has not received the vehicle time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventor: Takahiro SHIDAI
  • Publication number: 20190275892
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system and methods for autonomous charging of an autonomous vehicle. Specifically, the present disclosure describes an autonomous vehicle subsystem configured to evaluate vehicle charge, identify possible charging stations, interact with a user to confirm a charging station, navigate to the selected charging station, and initiate and receive of a charge from a charging port at the charging station. User interaction may be vehicle-driven or user-driven.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2018
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Paxton S. WILLIAMS, Colby S. Williams, Scott L. Frederick
  • Publication number: 20190275893
    Abstract: Embodiments facilitate charging of electric vehicles (EVs) in an EV charging network. The EV charging network can include an EV charging server in communication with a power grid and with a number of geographically distributed EV charging stations electrically coupled with the power grid, receiving station capacity information and grid capacity information therefrom, respectively. In response to receiving an EV charging request, the EV charging server can: compute a charging timeframe; identify one or more EV charging stations as available for charging the requesting EV during the charging timeframe as a function of the station capacity information, and as having at least a threshold associated power delivery capacity for charging the requesting EV during the charging timeframe as a function of the grid capacity information; and communicate an EV charging response via the communication network to direct the requesting EV to the identified EV charging station(s).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2018
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventor: Wellen Sham
  • Publication number: 20190275894
    Abstract: System, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to improving distribution of power using an internal battery of an electric vehicle. In one embodiment, a method includes, in response to detecting establishment of an electrical connection between the electric vehicle and a station, determining attributes of the electrical connection with the station that indicate at least a relationship between the electric vehicle and the station. The method includes transferring electric charge between an internal battery of the vehicle and the station according to at least the attributes of the electrical connection by performing one of i) discharging the electric charge to the station from the internal battery to offset electric demand at a location associated with the station according to at least the relationship, and ii) charging the internal battery of the vehicle from the station to store surplus electric supply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventors: Matthew Amacker, Christopher Ballinger
  • Publication number: 20190275895
    Abstract: A hybrid power control unit for a vehicle according to the present disclosure includes: a capacitor module; first and second coolers disposed on opposite sides of the capacitor module, the coolers including flow paths extending along lengthwise directions of the capacitor module; a plurality of power modules each being installed between the branch flow paths of one of the first and the second coolers; a low DC-DC converter (LDC) module disposed on one of the first and second coolers to be in contact with a remaining one of the branch flow paths of the cooler having the LDC module; a gate board having a top surface being electrically connected to the power modules; and a control board having a top surface being electrically connected to the gate board and the LDC module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2018
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventor: Sang Chan JEONG
  • Publication number: 20190275896
    Abstract: A universal electric vehicle frame configured to be exchangeably coupled to a plurality of different types of sets of wheel assemblies to selectively form a plurality of different types of electric vehicles including an electric scooter, an electric skateboard, and an electric bicycle. The universal electric vehicle frame includes an encasement for housing one or more batteries to power the electric vehicles. At least one of the wheel assemblies includes an electric motor powered by the batteries, and configured to turn a wheel of the wheel assemblies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2018
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventors: Hiroki Miyata, Nicholas Renner
  • Publication number: 20190275897
    Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed of a transportation pathway in the form of a road (10), which comprises a pavement sub-base material (12) located at surrounding ground (14), which has a layer which includes a conductive material. In one example, the layer is located on an uppermost surface (16) of the pavement sub-base (12). In the embodiment shown, the conductive material is in the form of a layer of asphalt (18) containing dispersed particulate conductive particles (20) in the form of graphene. A sufficient quantity of the conductive particles (20) is located a short depth from the uppermost road surface (22) of the asphalt layer (18), so that when the surface (22) is exposed to a primary magnetic field (28) generated by an external magnetic source positioned above the pathway, for example a powered hoverboard (24) or other vehicle, these conductive particles (20) create an induced magnetic field (26) which repels the primary magnetic field (28) being generated by the hoverboard (24).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2017
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventor: Jason Ayoub
  • Publication number: 20190275898
    Abstract: A charging system, wherein a movable body has an automatic operation function, the charging system comprises: a movable body managing unit that manages a charging state of the storage battery of the movable body; and a waiting space managing unit that manages a usage state of a plurality of waiting spaces for keeping the movable body waiting, the waiting space managing unit has: a waiting space determining unit that determines, among the plurality of waiting spaces that the waiting space managing unit is managing, a waiting space for keeping the movable body waiting after charging of the movable body has completed, if the movable body managing unit has detected that: (i) charging of the movable body is being started; (ii) charging of the movable body has been started; (iii) charging of the movable body is completing; or (iv) charging of the movable body has completed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2019
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventor: Satoshi HANEDA
  • Publication number: 20190275899
    Abstract: A fuel cell system mounted on a vehicle comprises a fuel cell; a secondary battery; a drive motor configured to serve as a motor to generate a driving force and as a generator to generate regenerative power; an auxiliary machine configured to consume the regenerative power; an accelerator pedal sensor; a shift position sensor; a vehicle speed sensor; and a controller. The controller determines that the vehicle is in a first state when the vehicle has a negative vehicle speed, a move forward request is given to the vehicle and an accelerator pedal is depressed or when the vehicle has a positive vehicle speed, the move backward request is given to the vehicle and the accelerator pedal is depressed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Junichi MATSUO
  • Publication number: 20190275900
    Abstract: An electrically driven vehicle includes an electrical storage device that includes a plurality of electrical storage bodies and that charges by a direct current electric power supply, and an electronic control unit that limits charge electric power supplied by the direct current electric power supply as an electrical storage amount of the electrical storage device increases. The plurality of the electrical storage bodies includes a first electrical storage body and a second electrical storage body. The electronic control unit performs adjustment control when charge by the direct current electric power supply is not carried out. The electronic control unit charges the first electrical storage body in priority to the second electrical storage body when charge by the direct current electric power supply is carried out.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2019
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Niimi, Yoshihiko Hiroe, Keiji Kaita
  • Publication number: 20190275901
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are directed to wireless charging and wireless power alignment of wireless power antennas associated with a vehicle. A wireless power charging apparatus includes an antenna including first and second orthogonal magnetic elements for detecting a horizontal component of a magnetic field generated from a second charging base antenna. A processor determines a directional vector between the antennas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventors: Hans Peter Widmer, Nigel P. Cook, Lukas Sieber
  • Publication number: 20190275902
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicle, is mounted on an automobile that has a motor for traveling and a power storage apparatus for exchanging electric power with the motor. The control apparatus is configured to execute external charging for charging the power storage apparatus by using electric power from an external power supply, and is configured to perform a route guidance for a planned travel route to a destination. When operation information on a charging spot of the destination is not obtainable and it is predicted that the charging spot of the destination is not usable, it is recommended to execute the external charging at a charging spot around the planned travel route.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomoya KATANODA, Hirotaka OMISHA
  • Publication number: 20190275903
    Abstract: A secondary unit arrangement of an inductive power transfer system includes a secondary unit having a secondary winding structure for receiving a magnetic or electromagnetic field generated by a primary unit, a detector device including plurality of detection elements for detecting an arrangement comprising the primary unit, a determination unit for determining at least one electrical property of the detector device with respect to different regions of an arrangement, thereby generating determination results consisting of a determination result for different regions of the arrangement, a comparison unit for comparing the determination results with existing information about the arrangement to be detected, wherein the existing information includes information about expected values for the different regions of the arrangement, thereby generating a comparison result, and a decision unit for deciding from the comparison result whether the determination results indicates that the detector device has detected the a
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2019
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventors: Christoph Ludwig, Wolfgang Ludwig, Adrianus Johannes Steinfort, Marnix Lannoije
  • Publication number: 20190275904
    Abstract: A method for controlling a power transmitting device includes (1) causing a power transmitting coil to output power before a power receiving coil and the power transmitting coil are electromagnetically coupled with each other and a mobile object including the power receiving coil overlaps the power transmitting coil in order for the power receiving coil and the power transmitting coil to be electromagnetically coupled with each other, (2) causing a thermal sensor to measure a surface temperature of the metal foreign object, and (3) causing, if the measured surface temperature of the metal foreign object is equal to or higher than a threshold, the power transmitting coil to reduce the power to be output or stop outputting the power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventors: HIROYUKI MATSUO, TETSURO SAWAI
  • Publication number: 20190275905
    Abstract: A charging device for a motor vehicle, having a charging terminal for the energetic coupling to a motor-vehicle-external charging station, a high-voltage terminal for the electrical connection of the charging device to a high-voltage vehicle electrical system of the motor vehicle, and a charging device energy converter electrically coupled to the charging terminal and the high-voltage terminal. The charging device energy converter, for converting electrical energy between the charging terminal and the high-voltage terminal, has an electrical inductor as an electrical energy accumulator, which is at least partially formed as an electronic main coil. A low-voltage terminal for connection to a low-voltage vehicle electrical system of the motor vehicle and an electronic auxiliary coil, which is magnetically coupled to the main coil and electrically coupled to the low-voltage terminal and which is designed to provide electrical energy for the low-voltage vehicle electrical system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Applicant: AUDI AG
    Inventor: Daniel RUPPERT
  • Publication number: 20190275906
    Abstract: A notification method is implemented by a notification system for battery pick-up, and includes: A) detecting a concerned battery identifier of a battery to be charged; B) determining one of plural sets of reference battery data corresponding to one of reference battery identifiers that matches the concerned battery identifier, and charging the battery; and C) transmitting, when it is determined that the battery has been fully charged, a pick-up notification to a target of notification transmission that is indicated by a user end target receiver code of said one of the plural sets of reference battery data determined in step B).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventors: Chen-Sheng Lin, Hsin-Liang Teng, Po-Yu Chuang, Jen-Chiun Lin, Yuh-Rey Chen, Te-Chuan Liu
  • Publication number: 20190275907
    Abstract: Disclosed are a charger and a method of charging an electric vehicle. A main body of the charger includes a plurality of sub main bodies coupled to each other to transform its shape. The charger with the main body having a first shape moves toward the electric vehicle, and is then transformed to have a second shape. The first shape refers to a shape allowing the main body to be movable on a ground, and the second shape refers to a shape making the main body occupy a smaller surrounding area of the electric vehicle than the first shape. The electric vehicle is charged as connected to the charger having the second shape. The charger does not obstruct traffic of other vehicles because its size is reduced during charging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventors: Hun LEE, Cheol-hoi KIM, Ji-hoon CHOI
  • Publication number: 20190275908
    Abstract: Provided is an electric vehicle battery charging system and method using a multi-layer division method which may reduce time required when charging a battery of an electric vehicle and may increase an overall battery capacity by efficiently connecting, arranging, and charging battery cells of the electric vehicle having a limited capacity. To this end, an electric vehicle battery charging system for charging a battery pack configured with a plurality of battery cells includes the battery pack configured with the plurality of battery cells; at least one connection portion including switching means for electrically connecting the plurality of battery cells to allow a current to flow between the plurality of battery cells or to block the electrical connection state; a plurality of charging terminals which are connected to the plurality of battery cells respectively; and a control unit that controls the on/off states of the switching means of the connection portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventor: Wonseok JANG
  • Publication number: 20190275909
    Abstract: A method for tracking a lost battery is to be implemented by an electric carrier system, and includes the following steps: recording a loss report that includes a concerned battery identifier which corresponds to a concerned battery; detecting a detected battery identifier of a detected battery, and obtaining location information that relates to where the detected battery is located; determining whether the detected battery identifier matches the concerned battery identifier; and recording the location information when it is determined that the detected battery identifier matches the concerned battery identifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventors: Chen-Sheng LIN, Yi-Lin LI, Yuh-Rey CHEN, Po-Yu CHUANG, Jen-Chiun LIN, Te-Chuan LIU
  • Publication number: 20190275910
    Abstract: A charging management device includes: an environment information acquiring unit that acquires charging environment information indicating a charging environment of each of a plurality of vehicles parked in a parking lot; an order deciding unit that decides an order in which the plurality of vehicles are charged, taking into consideration the charging environment indicated by the charging environment information; and a charging management unit that causes the plurality of vehicles to be charged according to the order decided by the order deciding unit. A parking lot including the above-mentioned charging management device may be provided. A program for causing a computer to function as the above-mentioned charging management device may be provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2019
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventors: Katsuya INOUE, Kei MACHIDA
  • Publication number: 20190275911
    Abstract: In a method for cooling a traction battery of an electrically drivable vehicle, a refrigerant is used as cooling medium, and in a mass flow of specified magnitude is led along the traction battery through at least one channel. The at least one channel is in heat-conducting connection with the traction battery. It is proposed that an available cooling power (PV) for cooling the traction battery is determined, wherein as a function of the available cooling power (PV), the magnitude of the mass flow of the refrigerant is regulated in such a way that either no cooling power (Pactual) is delivered to the traction battery, or the delivered cooling power (Pactual) in each case assumes one of multiple cooling power stages (I, II) as a function of the available cooling power (PV).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2019
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Applicant: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Jan-Christoph ALBRECHT, Carsten WACHSMUTH, Bastian SCHAAR
  • Publication number: 20190275912
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell outputting generated power to an external load; a secondary battery outputting charged power to the external load; and a controller performing a first control that controls output power of the fuel cell and output power of the secondary battery such that the output power of the secondary battery has a ratio predetermined in accordance with an output demand from the external load, in the power supplied to the external load, the controller switches the first control to a second control when the output demand satisfies a predetermined condition with which the output power of the secondary battery is predicted to reach a limit value with the first control, the second control sets a target value of the output power of the fuel cell such that the output power of the secondary battery is smaller than that in the first control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Tsuruta
  • Publication number: 20190275913
    Abstract: A detachable transportation seat assembly for facilitated and secure attachment to the rear row of a mass transportation vehicle, which is releasable and replaceable as desired to enable access to vehicle componentry under the rear seat, or behind the rear wall. A pivot bar on the front of a single or a collection of rear row vehicle seats projects to cooperate with a pivot hook retention bracket, to facilitate removal of the seat or seats, or, alternatively, to facilitate the restoration of the seats for use by passengers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2019
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventors: William Bellin O'Connor, Vlad Batef, Paul Vidri
  • Publication number: 20190275914
    Abstract: An adjusting device (100, 200) for a vehicle seat, includes a first adjustable assembly (20), a second adjustable assembly (22), and an electric motor (24). The electric motor is operatively connected both to an adjustment gearing (32) of the first adjustable assembly as well as to an adjustment gearing of the second adjustable assembly (22) by means of at least one output shaft (36). A motor support (110, 210) is provided which receives the electric motor, and the motor support is secured to the two adjustable assemblies (20, 22) via a respective adapter (120, 220). The motor support has a metal material as a single piece. The adapters are made of a non-metal material. A method for assembling the adjusting device includes first securing the adapters to the respective paired adjustable assembly. The motor support is connected to the adapters in an additional step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventors: Thorsten SCHUERMANN, Andreas HOFFMANN, Tamas POCZIK, Ivica STANIC, Oliver KUNTZ
  • Publication number: 20190275915
    Abstract: A method for operating a vehicle seat of a motor vehicle with electric seat adjustment is provided. The method includes the steps of importing a measurement data set that is representative of an initial sitting position of a person sitting on the vehicle seat, evaluating the measurement data set in order to determine a target sitting position data set for a target sitting position, and evaluating at least the measurement data set and the target sitting position data set in order to determine a transfer data set for transferring the initial sitting position into the target sitting position at a rate of change below a perception threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2019
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Eike Schmidt, Stefan Wolter, Philipp Wolf
  • Publication number: 20190275916
    Abstract: A utility vehicle includes a cargo box and a seat device located on the front side of the cargo box. The seat device includes a seat bottom and a seat back that includes a first lateral swinging shaft that extends in a lateral direction, a seat back frame that swings about the first lateral swinging shaft between an upright position and a horizontal position at which the seat back frame overlaps with the seat bottom, and a seat back main body that is attached to the seat back frame. The seat back frame in the horizontal position defines an expansion floor by which the floor of the cargo box is expanded in a forward direction. The seat back main body swings to a hanging orientation with respect to the seat back frame in the horizontal position and is located in front of the seat bottom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Applicant: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Scott KEZIAH, Aubrey JARVIS, David SPITZ
  • Publication number: 20190275917
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system for retaining a stow strap is disclosed. The stow strap may be usable with a stowable automotive seat. A seat stowing mechanism may be housed at least partially within the inner portion of the seat. A stow strap may be interoperable with the seat stowing mechanism, wherein the stow strap passes from the inner seat to the outer rear seatback surface of the seat through an opening in the outer rear seatback of the seat. Pulling the stow strap imparts a force in a first direction on the seat stowing mechanism. A stow strap retaining mechanism may be spaced from the opening and may provide a reactive force in a return direction to return the stow strap toward the outer rear seatback surface when the stow strap is pulled away from the rear seatback surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2018
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventors: Yuji KUBOTA, Derek S. Lindsay, Ross L. Burghardt
  • Publication number: 20190275918
    Abstract: It is provided a covering clamping clamp set formed by coupling a plurality of clamps together. Each of the clamps comprises a base portion formed as a plate shape and retaining a foam body as well as a clamping portion protruded from the base portion and clamping a member to be clamped which is mounted on a covering covers the foam body, wherein a fragile portion is provided between adjacent ones of the clamps. The covering clamping clamp set is capable of improving operating efficiency, shortening operating time and reducing cost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2019
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventors: FUKUO MAYUMI, HIROYUKI ABE, QINJUN FEI, MUTSUMI NISHINO, KAZUNARI MIYASAKA
  • Publication number: 20190275919
    Abstract: An armrest includes an armrest arm having an upper support surface forming a support for the forearm of an occupant of the vehicle seat, and a user interface having at least one display portion of flattened shape, having a front face comprising a screen and a rear face formed by a shell. The user interface is mounted on the armrest arm so as to be movable between a retracted position where the screen is inaccessible and an extended position where the screen is accessible. In the retracted position of the user interface, the shell is integrated with the upper support surface of the armrest arm, and in the extended position of the user interface, the screen is at least partially projecting above the upper support surface of the armrest arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2019
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventor: David GAYON
  • Publication number: 20190275920
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a footrest assembly of a car seat apparatus for young children that is capable of maintaining alignment with the car seat apparatus regardless of the installation position of the car seat apparatus and stably supporting the short legs of users such as the young children by varying and fixing the height of the footrest. The footrest assembly includes a base portion interposed between a vehicle seat and a car seat body for a young child; sidewall portions respectively erected upward on both sides of the base portion; one or more pressing portions facing each other toward a center of a width of the base portion and installed on the sidewall portions to press or release side portions of the car seat body for a young child; and a footrest portion connected to a front end portion of the sidewall portion with a connection unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2018
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventor: Jong Hoon BAE
  • Publication number: 20190275921
    Abstract: Provided is an assembly including a dump body configured to be supported by a frame to be moved relative to the frame between a dump position and a load position. The dump body includes first and second sidewalls, a front wall, a floor having a first opening, a tailgate, and an apron below the tailgate, the apron having a second opening substantially perpendicular to the first opening. The assembly also includes an endless conveyor configured to direct material to the second opening and being removably attached to the dump body below the floor such that material is prevented from exiting the dump body through the first opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventor: James B. Rike
  • Publication number: 20190275922
    Abstract: A lock mechanism is disclosed herein that can be used to lockingly secure and release sections of an apparatus relative to one another. The lock mechanism can lockingly secure the sections of the apparatus relative to one another in a plurality of different positions and, when released or unlocked, can allow the sections of the apparatus to rotate relative to one another and to different ones of the plurality of different positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Applicant: T.C. Development & Design, Inc.
    Inventor: Teffy R. Chamoun
  • Publication number: 20190275923
    Abstract: A left front camera (11) is adapted to be mounted on a left front lamp (1LF) of a vehicle to obtain external information of at least ahead of the vehicle. A right front LiDAR sensor (12), a type of which is different from the camera (11), is adapted to be mounted on a right front lamp (1RF) of the vehicle to obtain external information of at least ahead of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2017
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki FUSHIMI, Takashi HORI, Teruaki YAMAMOTO, Yusuke KASABA
  • Publication number: 20190275924
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp comprising: mask-object detecting means that detects a mask-object to be masked ahead of a self-vehicle; prediction means that predicts a position of the mask-object detected by the mask-object detecting means; and a lamp unit that forms, a light distribution pattern including a non-illumination region that does not illuminate the mask-object positioned at the position predicted by the prediction means, wherein the position of the mask-object predicted by the prediction means is a position of the mask-object after the lapse of the predetermined time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2019
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventor: Naoki MURAMATSU
  • Publication number: 20190275925
    Abstract: A vehicle dual-functional lighting module is provided, including a light guide layer having a top surface, a bottom surface and at least one side surface, one lateral solid-state light source located on the side surface of the light guide layer and emitting a first light in a first direction, and one direct light solid-state light source located below the light guide layer and emitting a second light selectively in a second direction. The first light is guided by the side surface and led out of the top surface to present a surface-illuminated surface light source. The first direction is substantially perpendicular to the second direction. The second light is emitted toward the top surface to present an intensified light source which is located in the surface light source to selectively enhance the illumination intensity locally of the surface light source. A vehicle dual-functional lighting set is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2018
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventors: YU-CHU CHEN, SHENG-HUA YANG
  • Publication number: 20190275926
    Abstract: A vehicle power supply, a vehicle lighting system and a method for supplying power for a vehicle lighting system are provided. The vehicle power supply includes: a power supplying module and a control module coupled to the power supplying module; the power supplying module includes a solar module, a battery charging control unit, a battery and a constant current source, which are coupled in turn. In the control module, light intensity of an environment where a vehicle is used is detected through a light intensity detection unit, and vibration of the vehicle is detected through a vibration detection unit. A processing unit determines whether to permit the power supplying module to supply power for a light-emitting device at least based on a relationship between the light intensity and a first threshold and a relationship between the vibration and a second threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2018
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventor: Xing WANG
  • Publication number: 20190275927
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for selectively acknowledging drivers of other motor vehicles. One implementation is a method and apparatus that comprises detecting a share and desired characteristic between a first motor vehicle and a second motor vehicle by illuminating an indicator on the first motor vehicle to acknowledge a driver of the second motor vehicle in response to the second motor vehicle sharing the desired characteristic with the first motor vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2019
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventor: Gary Beebe
  • Publication number: 20190275928
    Abstract: A visual observation by a “trailing vehicle's” driver, that observes text messages illuminating from an encased unit that operates automatically and installed to the rear outside of a “followed vehicle, or the visual observation of text messages being incorporated into the “followed vehicle's” design. The text messages being observed nevertheless faces the “trailing vehicle's” driver and cautions the “trailing vehicle's” driver via the illuminating text messages to alter his/her vehicle's attitude to that of a lawful requirements, in order to drive safely. In specific but not limited to, the unit or system's function is to prevent drivers “following too close”, forgetting HIGH BEAMS on, or forgetting to TURN HEAD LIGHTS on. Other informative text messages may also be incorporated to this specific method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2018
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventor: Andre De La Rey Rossouw
  • Publication number: 20190275929
    Abstract: A motor vehicle according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a rear bumper including a section configured to support a license plate, a spare tire carrier, and a light assembly mounted to the spare tire carrier. The light assembly is configured to illuminate the section of the rear bumper. A method is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2018
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventors: David Brian Glickman, Ryan Nicholas Garvey, Stuart C. Salter, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Stephen Thomas Kozak
  • Publication number: 20190275930
    Abstract: Provided is a soft upper trim of a vehicle door, in which an upper substrate, a foam, and a transparent skin are laminated, and particularly, to a soft upper trim for switch assembly of a vehicle door, in which a switch, which is configured to preserve continuity of a transparent skin and display lock and unlock symbols on the transparent skin, is easily assembled to an upper substrate, and a method of manufacturing the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventors: Ji Hyun CHO, Dong Suk KIM, Jong Kyu KIM, Sung Won LEE
  • Publication number: 20190275931
    Abstract: Provided is a soft upper trim of a vehicle door, in which an upper substrate, foam, and a transparent skin are laminated, and particularly, to a soft upper trim for switch assembly of a vehicle door, in which a switch, which is configured to preserve continuity of a transparent skin and display lock and unlock symbols on the transparent skin, is easily assembled to an upper substrate, and a method of manufacturing the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventors: Ji Hyun CHO, Dong Suk KIM, Jong Kyu KIM, Sung Won LEE
  • Publication number: 20190275932
    Abstract: Provided is a soft upper trim of a vehicle door, in which an upper substrate, a foam, and a transparent skin are laminated, and particularly, to a soft upper trim for switch assembly of a vehicle door, in which a switch, which is configured to preserve continuity of a transparent skin and display lock and unlock symbols on the transparent skin, is easily assembled to an upper substrate, and a method of manufacturing the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventors: Ji Hyun CHO, Dong Suk KIM, Jong Kyu KIM
  • Publication number: 20190275933
    Abstract: Provided is a soft upper trim of a vehicle door, in which an upper substrate, a foam, and a transparent skin are laminated, and particularly, to a soft upper trim for switch assembly of a vehicle door, in which a switch, which is configured to preserve continuity of a transparent skin and display lock and unlock symbols on the transparent skin, is easily assembled to an upper substrate, and a method of manufacturing the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventors: Ji Hyun CHO, Dong Suk KIM
  • Publication number: 20190275934
    Abstract: Provided is a soft upper trim of a vehicle door, in which an upper substrate, a foam, and a transparent skin are laminated, and particularly, to a soft upper trim for switch assembly of a vehicle door, in which a switch, which is configured to preserve continuity of a transparent skin and display lock and unlock symbols on the transparent skin, is easily assembled to an upper substrate, and a method of manufacturing the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventors: Ji Hyun CHO, Dong Suk KIM, Jong Kyu KIM
  • Publication number: 20190275935
    Abstract: Various implementations of an illumination system include a light guide, a housing having a ceiling and defining a window, and a base coupled to the housing. The light guide is supported between the base and the ceiling. At least one light source is disposed adjacent a first end of the light guide. The light guide transmits the light from the light source through at least a portion of the outer surface of the light guide and the window. One or more tabs extending from the base each define at least one opening, and the at least one opening defined by each tab is alignable with an opening in a spoke portion of a frame. The openings receive a fastener to couple the base to the spoke portion. The housing may be integrally formed with a trim cover coupled to the frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2019
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventors: Jason Lisseman, Adorian Marc, Erick Staszak, Valerie Gardner
  • Publication number: 20190275936
    Abstract: A vehicle driver notification assembly for notifying a driver when to drive forward includes a housing and a control circuit mounted in the housing. A sensor array is mounted on the housing and is electrically coupled to the control circuit. The sensor array detects parameters that indicate when a vehicle may proceed forward. The parameters include when a mass in front of a vehicle moves away from the vehicle and when the sensor array receives a proceed signal from a requisite traffic signaling device. An alert is electrically coupled to the control circuit and is turned on to provide an emission detectable by a person when the sensor array detects the parameters that allow the vehicle to proceed forward.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2018
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventor: Steven Bryce
  • Publication number: 20190275937
    Abstract: A portable device communicates with a vehicle, and the portable device includes: a motion sensor; a control unit configured to determine whether or not abnormality has occurred in the motion sensor, based on an output from the motion sensor; and an output unit configured to perform an output representing abnormality in the motion sensor, when the control unit determines that abnormality has occurred in the motion sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomoyuki FUNAYAMA, Shigeki NISHIYAMA, Toru YOSHIHARA, Masashi KOMEYA
  • Publication number: 20190275938
    Abstract: An obstacle detecting device for detecting an obstacle around a vehicle includes a sensor, a notifying unit, an operation detecting unit, and a control unit. The sensor is installed at a fixed portion of the vehicle to detect an obstacle within a predetermined detection range with an origin corresponding to a position where the sensor is installed. The notifying unit provides a notification based on a signal output from the sensor. The operation detecting unit detects an operation of a movable portion of the vehicle moving within the detection range of the sensor. The control unit is enabled to inhibit a notifying operation of the notifying unit when the operation detecting unit detects the operation of the movable portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventors: Fumihiko Matsushita, Takuya Nomura
  • Publication number: 20190275939
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and a method for assisting driving of a host vehicle, and more particularly to a technology for controlling whether to operate a vehicle collision alert device according to the circumstances surrounding the host vehicle. An apparatus for assisting driving of a host vehicle a sensor mounted to the host vehicle and having a field of view outside of the host vehicle and capturing images; and a controller communicatively connected to the sensor and configured to predict a driving route of the host vehicle based on a vehicle control command input from a driver; determine whether the host vehicle is able to travel along the predicted driving route based on surrounding space information on the host vehicle obtained from the captured images; and control a collision alert device of the host vehicle based on a result of determining whether the host vehicle is able to travel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventor: Tak Gen Kim