Patents Issued in November 19, 2019
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Patent number: 10479326Abstract: A motor-powered windshield scourer for any type of a motor-powered vehicle and or motor craft. The motorized windshield scourer may have a motor propelled appendages or a singular appendage that have replaceable scouring attachments joined to the appendages. The motor that propels the appendages can be positioned anywhere on or in the motor vehicle/craft, whether under the hood, in the cabin or elsewhere. The motor driven appendages with joined scouring attachments may be mounted on the windshield of the vehicle directly opposite of the windshield wiper blades. When turned on, the motor may move the appendages with joined attachments in a side to side and/or up and down motion across the windshield. The appendages may include an unpliable metal such as: steel, titanium, tungsten, or inconel, and the scouring attachments may include nylon scouring pads or a vinyl coated mesh attached to and covering rubber or foam.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2018Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Inventor: Vincent J. LoSacco
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Patent number: 10479327Abstract: Embodiments provide vehicle camera cleaning systems used for cleaning foreign matter off of a camera lens, including, for example, a water flow nozzle arranged to eject water flow, an air nozzle arranged to eject air, and a central controller used to control the water flow nozzle and air nozzle. In certain embodiments, a plurality of sensing devices are used for sensing the conditions of the camera lens, such as an infrared water drop sensor, a temperature sensor, a camera sensing sensor, and the like. The central controller may determine whether there are water drops, ice, snow, or other foreign matter on the lens based on signals received from the plurality of sensing devices, and may control the air nozzle and the water flow nozzle to clean the camera lens based on the foreign matter present.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2016Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: THUNDER POWER NEW ENERGY VEHICLE DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LIMITEDInventors: Jen-Chieh Hsiao, Tai-Te Wu, Yen-An Chen
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Patent number: 10479328Abstract: An autonomous vehicle includes interior sensors including a camera, IR camera, electro-chemical sensor, humidity sensor, and temperature sensor. Initial and final outputs of these sensors are captured for a trip conveying one or more passengers. If changes in the outputs of the sensors are detected, whether the final outputs of the sensors are acceptable may be evaluated. In some embodiments, an aggregation of the outputs is evaluated and found unacceptable even where individual outputs are acceptable. Outputs may be presented to a dispatcher to confirm that the outputs are unacceptable. If the outputs are found to be unacceptable, the vehicle may be autonomously driven to a cleaning station. Personal items may be identified in camera outputs and alerts generated in response.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2016Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Michael E Reibling, Ramzi Ahmad Chraim, Steven Michael Cyr, Ray C. Siciak
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Patent number: 10479329Abstract: In an aspect, a conveyor system for moving a wheeled structure through a service line is provided. The conveyor system comprises at least one endless belt mounted longitudinally through the service line. The belt has an upper transport portion for moving the vehicle through the service line, and a lower return portion with a support deck below the upper transport portion to support the belt. A liquid introduction system is provided for helping to remove dirt from the belt and/or to remove dirt from between the belt and the support deck.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2019Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: STEPHENSON TECHNOLOGIES INC.Inventors: Robert Roy Stephenson, Bartholomew John Boelryk
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Patent number: 10479330Abstract: A rotary brush for automatic vehicle washing systems, said brush comprising a central unit (2) and a plurality of cleaning elements (3), operatively supported by and coupled to said central unit (2) through removable coupling means (7); the cleaning elements (3) being removable from said central unit (2) and it being possible to replace and/or remove them without requiring the removal of said central unit from the rotary structure; said central unit (2) comprises a rigid shaft (4) that supports a plurality of supporting elements (5) comprising a plurality of lugs (53) to which the cleaning elements (3) are fastened; the rotary brush is characterized in that said cleaning elements (3) comprise bands (33), fringed and fringeless, helically arranged on said central unit (2) in such a way that each band (33) is coupled to a plurality of supporting elements (5).Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2017Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: FAVAGROSSA EDOARDO S.R.L.Inventor: Leonardo Favagrossa
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Patent number: 10479331Abstract: A trailer stabilizing device for stabilizing a parked freight trailer comprising a frame having mounted thereto at least a right side wheel and a left side wheel, the frame also including a hitch, a fifth wheel, and at least one of a repositionable wheel chock and a repositionable hook, the trailer stabilizing device further including a repositioning device in order to reposition at least one of the repositionable wheel chock and the repositionable hook.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2017Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: Stabilock, LLCInventor: Robert Peter Kimener
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Patent number: 10479332Abstract: A method for assisting in parking a vehicle, comprises the steps of: initiating a parking sequence having a reference velocity; altering a velocity of the vehicle to about the reference velocity by generating a brake torque during a first mode of operation of a controller; outputting the brake torque to a disturbance estimator; storing the brake torque within the disturbance estimator; and utilizing the brake torque from the disturbance estimator in a second mode of operation of the controller to stop the vehicle at a target location.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2017Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: John Bales, Michael Hafner
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Patent number: 10479333Abstract: A system includes a processor configured to access a train schedule to determine active train crossings along an original route, based on a predicted vehicle-arrival time at a given crossing. The processor is also configured to determine that a driver identity has an avoidance parameter associated therewith and determine a new route avoiding active train crossings, if possible, responsive to the avoidance parameter and determination of at least one active train crossing along the original route.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2017Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: David Charles Weber, Perry Robinson MacNeille, Yimin Liu
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Patent number: 10479334Abstract: A vehicle brake system includes a brake control device, a vehicle acceleration sensor, and a trailer brake controller. The trailer brake controller outputs an initial trailer brake torque demand based on an input received from the brake control device and adjusts the initial trailer brake torque demand to converge a signal from the vehicle acceleration sensor to an expected negative acceleration value correlated with the input from the brake control device.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2017Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Thaddeus Hill, Joe Alexander Bousamra, Lawrence Robert Rhein
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Patent number: 10479335Abstract: A vehicle braking system includes a wheel cylinder, a brake pedal, a master cylinder, a master cylinder circuit, a primary braking unit operable to generate a braking force at the wheel cylinder in a primary mode, decoupled from the master cylinder circuit, a secondary braking unit including a second electrically-actuated pressure generating unit and operable to generate a braking force at the wheel cylinder in a secondary mode of operation, a plurality of valves configured to provide anti-lock braking at the wheel cylinder upon loss of traction during braking in the primary mode of operation, and a controller programmed to actuate the plurality of valves and further programmed to actuate the second electrically-actuated pressure generating unit upon loss of traction in the primary mode of operation to generate pulsations within the master cylinder circuit to provide a feedback force at the brake pedal indicative of the anti-lock braking.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2017Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Ryan Kuhlman, Simon Hansmann
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Patent number: 10479336Abstract: The invention provides a vehicle brake system including a brake assembly providing a service brake and a parking brake having a brake disc assembly in common, a service brake circuit, a parking brake circuit, and a brake control arrangement adapted to control the service brake by selectively providing a fluid communication between a pressurising arrangement and the service brake via the service brake circuit, the brake control arrangement further being adapted to control the parking brake by selectively providing a fluid communication between the pressurising arrangement and the parking brake via the parking brake circuit, and by selectively draining the parking brake circuit, wherein the vehicle brake system includes a draining circuit adapted to drain the service brake circuit to avoid overload of the brake disc assembly.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2015Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: Volvo Construction Equiptment ABInventor: Johan Abrahamsson
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Patent number: 10479337Abstract: Disclosed is a solenoid valve for a brake system. The solenoid valve includes a valve housing installed in a bore of a modulator block and configured to include an internal flow path, a valve sheet provided at the internal flow path of the valve housing and configured to include an orifice, an armature configured to be slidably moved up and down by a magnet core and to include an opening or closing sphere configured to selectively open or close the orifice, a sleeve configured to accommodate the armature therein and to have one end coupled to the valve housing and the other end at which the magnet core is provided, and a damper guide provided at the internal flow path of the valve housing to come into contact with and surround the armature.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2018Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: MANDO CORPORATIONInventor: In-Wook Jeon
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Patent number: 10479338Abstract: A hydraulic unit for a slip controller of a hydraulic vehicle brake system includes an electric motor, a plurality of hydraulic pumps, a hydraulic block, a plurality of solenoid valves, a rotation angle sensor, an electronic control unit, and a valve cover. The electric motor is positioned on a narrow side of the hydraulic block, and is configured to drive the hydraulic pumps. The electronic control unit includes a contacting mechanism, and is positioned in the valve cover. The electric motor and the solenoid valves are arranged so that the electric motor and electromagnets of the solenoid valves protrude to approximately a same extent from the hydraulic block to enable simple commutation with the rotation angle sensor and the contacting mechanism of the electronic control unit.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2017Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Michael Loeffler, Thomas Zander, Michael Schlitzkus
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Patent number: 10479339Abstract: A flare-type brake line assembly includes (a) a brake tube having a flare with a first sealing surface, (b) a brake component having a port with a second sealing surface and (c) a tube nut to secure the brake tube and brake component together. At least one of the two sealing surfaces is treated to increase the coefficient of friction between those surfaces. A related method is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2016Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Janet Lynn Callahan, Martin Christopher Kapanowski
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Patent number: 10479340Abstract: A parking lock of a vehicle is normally controlled by a first control unit. In the presence of a predefined condition, control of the parking lock is assumed by a second control unit of the vehicle and the first control unit is disabled, at least in part, when the predefined condition is present.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2016Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: Audi AGInventor: Uwe Feldmann
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Patent number: 10479341Abstract: This electric brake device includes: a brake rotor; a friction member; friction member operator configured to bring the friction member into contact with the brake rotor; an electric motor configured to drive the friction member operator; and a controller configured to control a braking force by means of the electric motor. The controller includes: heat balance degree estimator configured to estimate a balance degree among heat generation amounts of a plurality of exciting coils in the electric motor; and heat load balancing section configured to decrease a heat generation amount of a specific exciting coil when the heat balance degree estimator has estimated that the heat generation amount of the specific exciting coil among the plurality of exciting coils is larger than heat generation amounts of the other exciting coils.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2017Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: NTN CORPORATIONInventor: Yui Masuda
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Patent number: 10479342Abstract: The electric brake device includes an electric motor, a friction member operator, a friction member, a brake rotor, and a control device. A braking force estimator provided in the control device includes: a direct estimator configured to convert output of a braking force sensor which detects a load or displacement corresponding amount, to a braking force; and an indirect estimator configured to estimate the braking force on the basis of information other than output of the braking force sensor. A range in which the braking force is estimated by the direct estimator is a specified low-braking-force range, and in a range beyond this range, estimation of the braking force is performed by the indirect estimator.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2017Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: NTN CORPORATIONInventors: Yui Masuda, Tatsuya Yamasaki
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Patent number: 10479343Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for launching a vehicle in an electric-only mode of operation. In one example, a driveline operating method comprises engaging a parking pawl to an output shaft of a dual clutch transmission in response to a request to engine a vehicle into a parked state, and disengaging the parking pawl via rotating an engine via an integrated starter/generator in response to a request to propel the vehicle solely via power of an electric machine positioned downstream of the dual clutch transmission. In this way, the vehicle may be launched in the electric-only mode without activating the engine in a fueled mode of operation and then deactivating the engine, which may increase vehicle operator satisfaction and which may improve fuel economy.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2017Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Steven Anatole Frait, Jason Meyer, Kevin Ray Ruybal
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Patent number: 10479344Abstract: A method for operating a vehicle drivetrain (1) having a drive machine (2), an output (3) and a gearbox (4) with the gearbox (4) arranged in power flow between the drive machine (2) and the output (3) includes opening, in the presence of a demand for activation of a sailing operating function of the vehicle drivetrain (1) and a simultaneously activated engine start-stop function, a positively engaging shift element (F) while the drive machine (2) is left both decoupled from the output (3) and shut down.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2017Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AGInventors: Peter Schiele, Johannes Brockmann
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Patent number: 10479345Abstract: A method of decoupling output torque from input torque during engine speed control of a hybrid powertrain for a vehicle comprises determining, via a controller, a virtual output torque required on an output member of a multi-mode transmission given a virtual input torque commanded on an input member of the multi-mode transmission for engine speed control in a selected mode of the multi-mode transmission such that rotational speed of the output member is unchanged to prevent undesired torque variation at the output member. The controller determines the virtual output torque via a first stored transfer function relating virtual output torque to virtual input torque based on modeled physical dynamics of the vehicle driveline for the selected mode of the multi-mode transmission. A hybrid powertrain includes an engine and a hybrid transmission, and a controller that controls the hybrid transmission according to the method.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2017Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventor: Shaochun Ye
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Patent number: 10479346Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a hybrid vehicle and a method of controlling the same. The hybrid vehicle includes a battery configured to store electrical energy, a motor configured to rotate using the electrical energy, a transmission including a first clutch and a second clutch that are connectable to the motor, and a controller configured to control rotation of the motor to cool the transmission when the transmission is determined to be in an overheated state.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2016Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors CorporationInventors: Daero Park, Woon Ki Cho, Seok Young Yun, Taehyuck Kim, Ji Hoon Kang, Dong Gu Han, Junyoung Park
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Patent number: 10479347Abstract: A method of protecting the high voltage DC bus of a hybrid vehicle as well as to a hybrid vehicle and controller configured to implement the method. The method involves detecting a plurality of requests to start the vehicle and, in response to at least the first request, precharging and energizing the high voltage DC bus without starting the engine. When one or more further requests are detected the engine is started and the high voltage DC bus is energized if each of the further requests is detected within a respective predetermined time interval from the preceding request. Starting the engine provides an audible feedback to the driver that the vehicle is ready for operation, thereby preventing overheating of the precharging circuit.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2015Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: Jaguar Land Rover LimitedInventor: Richard Wain
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Patent number: 10479348Abstract: A vehicle includes an electric machine, an engine, an engine mount, and a controller. The engine has a base speed that corresponds to a speed of the electric machine and an engine power demand. The engine mount is disposed between the engine and a vehicle structure such as a frame or unibody. The controller is configured to, in response to compression of the engine mount, increase an engine speed to a value that is greater than the base speed to reduce engine lugging.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2016Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Floyd Cadwell, Shunsuke Okubo, Carol Louise Okubo, Kimberly Trice
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Patent number: 10479349Abstract: Systems and methods for launching a hybrid vehicle that includes a motor/generator and an automatic transmission with a torque converter are described. The systems and methods may permit improved vehicle acceleration to enhance hybrid vehicle performance during specific vehicle launch conditions. The launch conditions may be established based on brake pedal position and accelerator pedal position.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2017Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Rajit Johri, Minku Lee, Justin Panhans
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Patent number: 10479350Abstract: A method is provided to control a hybrid powertrain, comprising a combustion engine; a gearbox with an input shaft connected to the combustion engine and an output shaft; a first planetary gear connected to the input shaft a second planetary gear connected to the first planetary gear; first and second electrical machines respectively connected to the first and second planetary gears; first gear pair connected with the first planetary gear and the output shaft; and second gear pair connected with the second planetary gear and the output shaft. The method comprises: a) engaging gears corresponding to the first gear pair and to the second gear pair; and b) connecting a second sun wheel, arranged in the second planetary gear and a second planetary wheel carrier with each other, with the use of a second coupling device.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2015Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: Scania CV ABInventors: Mathias Björkman, Niklas Pettersson, Johan Lindström, Mikael Bergquist
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Patent number: 10479351Abstract: Disclosed is a downshift control method for a hybrid DCT vehicle. The method includes: determining, by a controller, whether a downshift is desired while a vehicle travels on a slope having equal to or more than a predetermined reference gradient; comparing, by the controller, a motor speed with a desired shift stage input shaft speed, and selectively performing either a forward control step of increasing a motor torque in a forward direction to increase the motor speed in the forward direction or a negative control step of increasing the motor torque in a negative direction to increase the motor speed in the negative direction. Thus, it is possible to reduce the backward sliding of the vehicle by suppressing the motor speed from unnecessarily increasing and rapidly finishing the downshift.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2018Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATIONInventor: Sung Hyun Cho
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Patent number: 10479352Abstract: A method and an apparatus for controlling an engine clutch are provided. The method includes determining whether an engine start condition is satisfied when an engine is stopped and performing an engine cranking operation by operating a hybrid starter & generator (HSG) when the engine start condition is satisfied. Whether an engine speed is greater than or equal to a first reference speed is determined to thus reduce an HSG torque. Then, whether the engine speed is greater than or equal to a second reference speed is determined to thus calculate a target speed of the engine. A speed control of the engine is performed using the target speed of the engine while determining whether an engine clutch engagement condition is satisfied. An engine clutch is engaged when the engine clutch engagement condition is satisfied.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2015Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: Hyundai Motor CompanyInventor: Jae Sung Bang
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Patent number: 10479353Abstract: A vehicle surrounding situation estimation device includes a collision detection unit that detects that a vehicle collides with an object outside the vehicle; a surrounding situation detection unit that detects a situation of a detection area around the vehicle; a surrounding situation estimation unit that estimates a situation of a prediction area around the vehicle at a collision time based on a detection result of the surrounding situation detection unit before the collision detection unit detects the collision; a surrounding situation recording unit that records the situation of the prediction area; and a surrounding situation prediction unit that predicts a situation of a vehicle surrounding area around the vehicle based on the situation of the prediction area after the collision detection unit detects the collision, the situation of the prediction area being recorded by the surrounding situation recording unit before the collision detection unit detects the collision.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2014Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Quy Hung Nguyen Van
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Patent number: 10479354Abstract: An obstacle detection system includes a controller configured to receive a first signal from a first sensor assembly indicative of presence of an obstacle within a field of view of the first sensor assembly. The controller is configured to receive a second signal from a second sensor assembly indicative of a position of the obstacle within a field of view of the second sensor assembly in response to presence of a movable object coupled to the work vehicle within the field of view of the first sensor assembly. The controller is configured to determine presence of the obstacle within the field of view of the first sensor assembly based on the position of the obstacle, and the controller is configured to output a third signal indicative of detection of the obstacle in response to presence of the obstacle within the field of view of the first sensor assembly.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2017Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignees: CNH Industrial America LLC, Autonomous Solutions, Inc.Inventors: John Henry Posselius, Christopher Alan Foster, Taylor Chad Bybee, Bret Todd Turpin, Michael G. Hornberger
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Patent number: 10479355Abstract: A driving control system for a vehicle is provided. The vehicle includes a steering device, a steering operation amount sensor that detects a steering operation amount of the driver, and an abnormality determining device configured to determine whether the driver is in an abnormal state. The driving control system includes: an actuator configured to adjust a turning state quantity; and an electronic control unit configured to calculate a target turning state quantity of the vehicle based on the steering operation amount and control the turning state quantity adjusting device. The electronic control unit is configured to correct the target turning state quantity such that a magnitude of the target turning state quantity does not exceed a predetermined allowable range and to control the actuator based on the corrected target turning state quantity when the driver is in the abnormal state.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2017Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Tomoyuki Kozuka
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Patent number: 10479356Abstract: Systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable media can determine a road segment. A set of features associated with the road segment can be determined based at least in part on data captured by one or more sensors of a vehicle. A level of similarity between the road segment and each of a set of road segment types can be determined by comparing the set of features to features associated with each of the set of road segment types. The road segment can be classified as a road segment type based on the level of similarity. Scenario information associated with the road segment can be determined based on the classified road segment type.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2018Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: Lyft, Inc.Inventors: Asif Haque, Mark Douglas Huyler, Gerard Joyce, Ying Liu, David Tse-Zhou Lu, Sameer Qureshi, Vinay Shet
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Patent number: 10479357Abstract: A lane keeping system includes an absolute pressure sensor located in a door on each of opposing sides of a vehicle. Each sensor generates a signal indicative of a door cavity pressure on that side of the vehicle. A safety restraint system (SRS) controller is in communication with the pressure sensor. The SRS controller is configured to determine a collision event in response to the signal (e.g., increased pressure in the door as it is crushed) and activate a safety restraint component in response to the determined collision event. A lane keeping system (LKS) controller is in communication with the pressure sensors. The LKS controller determines a lateral wind force on the vehicle in response to the signal from each pressure sensor. The LKS controller determines a correction in response to the determined lateral wind force to maintain the vehicle along a desired path.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2016Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: APTIV TECHNOLOGIES LIMITEDInventors: Kevin J. Hawes, Ehsan Samiei, Michael I. Chia
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Patent number: 10479358Abstract: When switching from lane departure suppression control (LDA control) to lane keep assist control (LKA control), a self-vehicle is suppressed from deviating out of a traveling lane. A driving assist preferentially carries out the LKA control, but carries out the LDA control instead of the LKA control when there is a possibility that the self-vehicle may deviate out of the traveling lane under the LKA control. When the LDA control is returned to the LKA control after the lane departure avoidance operation of the self-vehicle is completed, the LDA control is continued while an angle between an orientation of the self-vehicle and the traveling lane is not a predetermined angle or less, and it is switched to the LKA control after the angle becomes the predetermined angle or less.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2017Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hiroaki Kataoka, Kazuma Hashimoto
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Patent number: 10479359Abstract: A restart control device is applied to a vehicle which is provided with an internal combustion engine, an electric motor, a driving wheel, and a clutch. The restart control device has a restart-condition determining portion which determines whether a restart condition for restarting the internal combustion engine is established while the vehicle is coasting; a push-start portion which starts the internal combustion engine by a push-start; a start-up portion which starts the internal combustion engine by use of an electric motor; and a doubly start-up portion which tries to start the internal combustion engine by one of the push-start portion and the start-up portion when the restart-condition determining portion determines that the restart condition is established. The doubly start-up portion tries to start the internal combustion engine by another one of the push-up portion and the start-up portion when the internal combustion engine has not been started.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2016Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Tomohisa Ose, Tadatoshi Asada, Shigeru Maeda, Takashi Senda
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Patent number: 10479360Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus includes management of coasting during operation of a vehicle equipped with a predictive cruise control system.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2019Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: Cummins Inc.Inventors: Joseph R. Dynes, Daniel Reed Dempsey, Kenneth M. Follen, Howard Robert Frost, Oruganti Prashanth Sharma, Ian Fredrick Lowry, Nathanael G. Long
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Patent number: 10479361Abstract: An apparatus and method of controlling a braking force of a vehicle can improve fuel efficiency by increasing the rate of regenerative braking in the vehicle. The method includes: determining a required deceleration based on a running state of other vehicle ahead; determining a maximum value of a maximum creep torque of a motor and a maximum creep torque of a battery as an amount of available creep torque; determining a smaller value of a required deceleration and the amount of available creep torque as the creep torque; determining a motor torque based on the creep torque; performing regenerative braking by controlling the motor so as to follow the determined motor torque; calculating a deceleration torque based on the creep torque and calculating an amount of hydraulic braking based on the deceleration torque; and performing hydraulic braking according to the calculated hydraulic braking amount.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2017Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors CorporationInventors: Jeewook Huh, Kyoungcheol Oh, Teh Hwan Cho
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Patent number: 10479362Abstract: Autonomous driving assistance systems, methods, and programs obtain lane information of a road on which a vehicle is traveling, and set a planned target section for which a lane change plan of the vehicle is to be created. The systems, methods, and programs obtain, for each lane, an obstructive factor present on the road on which the vehicle is traveling and that obstructs continuation of autonomous driving assistance executed on the vehicle, and set, for each obtained obstructive factor, an avoidance route that passes through a lane avoiding the obstructive factor. The systems, methods, and programs create a lane change route that defines the lane change plan of the vehicle in the planned target section and that is set so as to preferentially pass through the avoidance route set for each obtained obstructive factor, and execute the autonomous driving assistance of the vehicle based on the lane change route.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2016Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignees: AISIN AW CO., LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hirohiko Goto, Yuji Sato, Kuniaki Tanaka, Masaki Takano
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Patent number: 10479363Abstract: When lane change assist control for assisting a lane change from an own lane (original lane) to an adjacent target lane is performed, the determination as to whether or not another vehicle is in the target lane may be made based on the own lane width, the own vehicle's deviation from the lateral center of the own lane (own lane deviation), and the lateral position of the another vehicle. When the vehicle enters the target lane, own lane switching in which the own lane deviation changes by the lane width occurs and makes it impossible to properly perform the above determination. In view of this, after occurrence of own lane switching, the above determination is made based on a value obtained by adding the own lane width to the another vehicle lateral position or a value obtained by subtracting the own lane width from the another vehicle lateral position.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2018Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Shunsuke Miyata
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Patent number: 10479364Abstract: An engine power suppressing device includes a controller which controls an operation of a power changing element which changes engine power for driving a vehicle; and an environment sensor which detects an environment parameter indicating an environment in which the vehicle is used, wherein the controller determines whether or not a power suppressing condition in which a vehicle state is a state in which the engine power is to be suppressed, is met, wherein in a case where the controller determines that the power suppressing condition is met, the controller sets a suppressing value for the power changing element to suppress the engine power, and compensates the suppressing value based on the environment parameter detected by the environment sensor.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2017Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Tatsuya Hirokami, Shohei Terai, Seiji Azuma, Kengo Ueda
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Patent number: 10479365Abstract: An electronic control unit controls a motor so that a torque applied to an input shaft does not exceed an upper limit torque. The electronic control unit sets so as to restrict the upper limit torque from a first torque to a second torque smaller than the first torque, and then return the upper limit torque to the first torque more gradually when a first condition that a driver is assumed to have felt a decrease in driving force output to driving wheels is met before the upper limit torque is returned than when the first condition is not met.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2018Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin AW Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yukimasa Nishimura, Yoshizo Akita, Tadaaki Watanabe
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Patent number: 10479366Abstract: Disclosed is a gear shift control method of a Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT) vehicle. The gear shift control method includes a gear shift start determination step of determining whether a kick down shift, a biaxial shift determination step of determining, when the kick down shift is started, whether the gear shift is a biaxial shift; a clutch torque control step of uniformly decreasing torque of a release-side clutch and uniformly increasing torque of a connection-side clutch to synchronize revolutions per minute of a target gear input shaft with increasing revolutions per minute of an engine, a clutch synchronization determination step of determining whether the revolutions per minute of the target gear input shaft is synchronized with the revolutions per minute of the engine by the clutch torque control, and a gear shift performing step of performing gear shift control for engaging the target gear.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2017Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: Hyundai Autron Co., Ltd.Inventor: Seong-Jin Park
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Patent number: 10479367Abstract: An apparatus for active vibration control of a hybrid electric vehicle including an engine and a motor is disclosed. The apparatus includes: a position sensor to detect position information of the engine or the motor; and a controller to select a reference angle signal based on a signal from the position sensor. The controller performs fast Fourier transform (FFT) analysis by generating a reference angle, extracts a vibration component of each frequency through the FFT analysis, generates a reference signal by performing inverse FFT, and performs active vibration control of each frequency by reflecting a basic amplitude ratio, an adjustable rate according to an engine load, and an engine torque to the reference signal.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2018Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATIONInventors: Sung Jae Kim, Jeong Soo Eo
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Patent number: 10479368Abstract: A method for operating a driver assistance system of a motor vehicle, which includes multiple wheels in contact with a roadway, the driver assistance system including at least one unit which includes a friction coefficient model and at least one sensor, which provides an input signal for the friction coefficient model, a friction coefficient between at least one of the wheels and the roadway being ascertained with the aid of the friction coefficient model, and the driver assistance system being set or calibrated as a function of the ascertained friction coefficient. Friction coefficients are ascertained with the aid of multiple of the units that ascertained friction coefficients are compared to one another, at least one valid friction coefficient of the friction coefficients is determined with the aid of the comparison, and the driver assistance system is set or calibrated as a function of the valid friction coefficient.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2017Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Andreas Offenhaeuser, Erik Lesser, Martin Kieren, Nils Hagenlocher
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Patent number: 10479369Abstract: A method for use in a driving assistance system of a motor vehicle is provided. The method comprises receiving, by a driver attention module of the driving assistance system, information from at least one input source. The information comprises at least one indicator. The at least one indicator indicates a current attention of a driver of the motor vehicle. The method further comprises deciding, based on the current attention, whether the driving assistance system is to interfere in a current driving operation of the motor vehicle. The method further comprises triggering a signal, by the driver attention module, based on the decision. A driver attention module and a driving assistance system having the driver attention module and a driver fatigue module are further provided.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2017Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: LUCAS AUTOMOTIVE GMBHInventors: Georg Schneider, Sascha Heinrichs-Bartscher
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Patent number: 10479370Abstract: A system for authorizing a user to operate a vehicle comprises first and second image capturing devices disposed inside and outside the vehicle to capture first and second images of the user, respectively; an identification device to compare the first image with a first stored user image, generate a first output, and upload the first image to the database as a second stored user image if a matching degree of the first image with the first stored user image is greater than a first threshold. The identification device further compares the second image with the second stored user image and generates a second output if a matching degree of the second image and the second stored user image is larger than a second threshold. The system further comprises first and second operation execution devices to perform first and second vehicle operations upon the first and second outputs, respectively.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2019Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLCInventor: Wenger Gong
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Patent number: 10479371Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining driver distraction based on a jerk and a vehicle system are provided. The apparatus includes: a jerk calculating processor to calculate a lateral jerk of a vehicle based on driving information collected when the vehicle is traveling, an exception event detecting processor to detect an exception event defining a situation where the lateral jerk occurs during normal driving based on the collected driving information, and a determining processor to detect oversteering of the vehicle by comparing the calculated lateral jerk with a reference value and determine a driver distraction based on the detected oversteering and exception event.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2018Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATIONInventors: Jin Kwon Kim, Sam Yong Kim, Yu Jin Yun, Seong Sook Ryu, Hwal Ly Lee, Byoung Joon Lee
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Patent number: 10479372Abstract: Disclosed herein are a vehicle control apparatus and a control method thereof. The vehicle control apparatus includes an input unit configured to receive a current yaw rate value, a current steering angle value, and a current lateral acceleration value detected by a detection device, an estimator configured to obtain an estimated lateral acceleration value of lateral acceleration estimation model information on the basis of the received current yaw rate value and current steering angle value, a determiner configured to determine that the current lateral acceleration value is abnormal when the received current lateral acceleration value is not equal to the estimated lateral acceleration value of the lateral acceleration estimation model information, and a controller configured to receive the current yaw rate value, the current steering angle value, and the current lateral acceleration value, deliver an estimation command to the estimator, and deliver a determination command to the determiner.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2017Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: MANDO CORPORATIONInventor: Kwang-Hui Kim
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Patent number: 10479373Abstract: A system and method for determining whether a driver of a host vehicle intends to make a left or right turn with a certain level of confidence. The method obtains a plurality of turning cues that identify external parameters around the host vehicle and/or define operating conditions of the host vehicle, and determines a confidence level that the host vehicle will make a left or right turn based on the turning cues, where determining the confidence level includes weighting each of the cues based on current vehicle operating conditions.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2016Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Upali P. Mudalige, Thanura Ranmal Elvitigala
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Patent number: 10479374Abstract: Systems and methods for customizing connections to a vehicle of one or more occupants equipped with a wearable device. The system a memory that stores instructions for customizing connections to a vehicle of one or more occupants equipped with a wearable device. The system also includes a processor configured to execute the instructions. The instructions cause the processor to: detect one or more occupants of the vehicle equipped with a respective wearable device; determine a status of each of the one or more occupants equipped with the wearable device based on one or more motions; and customize the connections to the vehicle based on the status of each of the one or more occupants.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2018Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventor: Bonnie Hu Chen
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Patent number: 10479375Abstract: In general, techniques are described for autonomously performing default operations. A vehicle comprising a processor and a memory may be configured to perform the techniques. The processor may determine, while currently operating autonomously, a current context in which the vehicle is operating autonomously. The memory may store the current context. The processor may further determine, while currently operating autonomously and based on the current context, one of a plurality of operations to perform when the vehicle is unable to continue to operate autonomously, and unable to transfer control of the vehicle to an occupant, and perform the determined one of the plurality of operations.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2017Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: QUALCOMM IncorporatedInventor: Regan Towal