Patents Issued in April 28, 2020
  • Patent number: 10632936
    Abstract: The invention disclosed herein is an automotive acoustic panel including a porous sound-absorption material made from a polymer and an expanded perlite. One or more silane compounds may be coupled or coated onto the expanded perlite while a coupling agent and a chemical foaming agent may additionally be added to the automotive acoustic panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Paul Kenneth Dellock, Stuart C. Salter, Richard Gall, David Brian Glickman, Michael A. Musleh
  • Patent number: 10632937
    Abstract: A straight bus bar includes an axial direction and having a rigid first portion with a first contact surface connectable to a first fuse, an axially spaced rigid second portion with a second contact surface connectable to a second fuse, and a connecting portion electrically connecting the first portion and the second portion. The connecting portion is a resilient compensation portion having at least two lateral recesses extending from opposite sides into the bus bar making the connecting portion elastically bendable to allow a relative axial movement of the first and second portions when an axial force is applied to the bus bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Aptiv Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Pawel Kot, Dariusz Hebda, Dawid Bebenek, Konrad Stefanski
  • Patent number: 10632938
    Abstract: An in-wheel motor power line wiring structure of the present invention includes an in-wheel motor drive device configured to drive a wheel, a damper (77) including an upper end portion (77b) and a lower end portion (77c), the upper end portion (77b) being coupled to a vehicle-body-side member and the lower end portion (77c) being coupled to the in-wheel motor drive device, a power line extending from the in-wheel motor drive device to a vehicle body, and a clamp member (96) that is provided on the lower end portion of the damper and configured to hold an intermediate portion of the power line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shiro Tamura, Yusuke Shibuya
  • Patent number: 10632939
    Abstract: A multilayer textile sleeve and method of construction thereof is provided. The sleeve includes a textile wall having opposite edges extending lengthwise along a longitudinal axis of the sleeve between opposite ends. The opposite edges are configured to overlap one another to bound a central cavity of the sleeve. The wall has an inner layer with opposite inner and outer faces and an outer layer with opposite inner and outer faces. The inner and outer layers overlap one another and are constructed of interlinked yarn. The inner and outer layers are integrally connected to one another across interlinked portions adjacent the opposite edges by yarn common to each of the inner and outer layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul Powertrain, LLC
    Inventors: Masanori Yoshimura, Cassie M. Malloy, Zhong Huai Zhang, Linwood Ludy, Danny Winters
  • Patent number: 10632940
    Abstract: A corrugated tube retainer includes a turning member and a holding member. The turning member has a spherical section into which a corrugated tube is inserted, and a tubular section extending from an outer surface of the spherical section in a tubular shape. The holding member has a first housing section housing the spherical section turnably in a three dimensional direction, and a second housing section in which the corrugated tube is routed. The second housing section is provided with a standing section standing up from a bottom surface of the second housing section, and positioned just below the tubular section. By abutting on the tubular section, the standing section 66 prevents the corrugated tube from touching on a bottom surface of the second housing section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yamashita, Tsukasa Sekino
  • Patent number: 10632941
    Abstract: A method of determining an amount of fuel wasted by a vehicle due to sub-optimal performance of at least one component of the vehicle includes receiving information about operation of the vehicle from at least one sensor positioned on the vehicle, categorizing, with a processor, a fuel use by the vehicle as a normal fuel use or a wasted fuel use due to the at least one component performing at a sub-optimal level by comparing the received information to expected information from the at least one sensor when the vehicle is operating at optimal performance, and determining, with the processor, the amount of fuel wasted due to the at least one component operating at the sub-optimal level based on categorized fuel use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Vnomics Corporation
    Inventors: David Charles Chauncey, Michael David Joseph
  • Patent number: 10632942
    Abstract: A system for an autonomous vehicle includes an array of sensors, a time sensitive network switch, and a data-power interface. The array of sensors is configured to capture one or more objects in an external environment of the autonomous vehicle and generate sensor data based on the captured one or more objects. The time sensitive network switch is configured to receive the sensor data. The data-power interface separately couples at least two of the sensors in the array to the time sensitive network switch. The data-power interface includes power conductors, a first data conductor, and a second data conductor. The power conductors provide the elevated voltage from the time sensitive network switch to the sensors in the array to power the sensors and the first data conductor and a second data conductor are configured to provide a high-speed vehicle communication link between the time sensitive network switch and the sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Aurora Innovation, Inc.
    Inventors: Cameron David Christie, Anuranga Sajith Gunaratne
  • Patent number: 10632944
    Abstract: A control method is performed to control first and second storage devices that are connected in parallel to an electric generator in which the second storage device has a lower internal resistance than that of the first storage device. In a case where a driver has requested automated driving during charging of the first storage device (e.g., a lead-acid battery) in a state in which a generator and the second storage device (e.g., a lithium-ion battery) are disconnected, the generator and the second storage device are electrically connected even when a charge ratio of the lead-acid battery is less than a prescribed percentage. In a case where the driver has not requested the automated driving, the generator and the second storage device are electrically connected after the charge ratio of the first storage device has reached the prescribed percentage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Tezuka, Tomoyuki Koike, Akifumi Koishi
  • Patent number: 10632945
    Abstract: A system includes a processor configured to receive a user-selected vehicle-detectable state and corresponding user-defined state-variable value. The processor is also configured to receive a user-defined vehicle-enactable action. The processor is further configured to save the state-variable value as a condition for enacting the vehicle-enactable action saved in conjunction with the state-variable value. The processor is additionally configured to monitor the vehicle-detectable state and enact the vehicle-enactable action upon determining via the monitoring that the vehicle-detectable state corresponds to the user-defined state-variable value saved in conjunction with the state-variable value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Steven Lin, Yifan Chen
  • Patent number: 10632946
    Abstract: A bumper beam includes an outer portion and an inner portion each extending between a top end and a bottom end. At least one of the outer portion or the inner portion includes a pair of geometrical features each of which are disposed in spaced relationship to one another and adjacent a respective one of the top or bottom ends. A top wall and a bottom wall each extend from one of the geometrical features to the other of the outer portion or the inner portion to interconnect the outer and inner portions of the bumper beam. The geometrical features can be varied in size and shape to change and tune the energy absorption properties of the bumper beam and ultimately provide for a bumper beam that is adaptable and flexible over a range of vehicle applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: MAGNA INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Amar Rajendra Jadhav, Joseph Matthew Yaldo, Shrikanth Gujjal, John J. Caito, Jeffrey Mellis
  • Patent number: 10632947
    Abstract: Provided is a rear guard structure system including: a chassis frame attached to the bottom of a vehicle; a plurality of guard stays having one ends hinge-coupled to chassis-frame hinges at both sides of the chassis frame through first hinges; and a rear guard attached to the other ends of the guard stays. A first stopper is mounted around the first hinge so as to restrict rotation of the guard stay, and includes a first buffer member to reduce shock or vibration when the rear guard is vertically vibrated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: E-CUBE SYSTEM INC.
    Inventor: Jee Ung Seok
  • Patent number: 10632948
    Abstract: Disclosed is a guard for a trailer that utilizes a strap webbing to prevent a vehicle from underriding the trailer. The guard includes one or more straps that span the length of the trailer and may include additional structures to pre-tension the straps before a crash or supplement the tension of the straps as a vehicle crashes into the guard. When two or more straps are utilized on a single guard, the straps may be aligned parallel to each other or may form a cross shape. Additional structures may be incorporated into the guard to direct an impacting vehicle towards or away from specific features of the trailer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Vanguard National Trailer Corporation
    Inventors: Mark A Roush, Hongrong Dong
  • Patent number: 10632949
    Abstract: A method of assistance to at least one occupant of a vehicle involved in an accident includes detecting a state of the vehicle resulting from the accident, activating a device to measure a physiological state of the occupant, collecting physiological data relating to the occupant by at least one dedicated measurement device, recording the data collected, and sending a message containing the data relating to the physiological state of the occupant to a remote data storage server, via a telematic control unit on board the vehicle. The collecting the physiological data is carried out recurrently at a regular time interval from a time of the detecting the state of the vehicle resulting from the accident. The sending the message is carried out automatically after each of the recording of the data collected in the collecting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: RENAULT s.a.s.
    Inventors: Laetitia Del-Fabbro, Denis Darmouni, Claire Petit-Boulanger
  • Patent number: 10632950
    Abstract: A vehicular safety system includes a rearward-viewing camera disposed at a vehicle so as to have an exterior field of view at least rearward of the equipped vehicle. A control includes an image processor for processing image data captured by the camera to detect a vehicle exterior and rearward of the equipped vehicle and to determine if a collision between the detected vehicle and the equipped vehicle is pending. When reverse gear is engaged, and responsive to determination of the pending collision, a safety feature of the equipped vehicle, such as a reversible feature of a driver seat of the equipped vehicle, is triggered before impact occurs. If actual impact does not occur, the triggered safety feature returns to its condition that existed prior to the determination of the pending collision between the detected vehicle and the equipped vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Ove J. Salomonsson
  • Patent number: 10632951
    Abstract: An impact absorbing system includes a vehicle floor, a rocker, and a reinforcement member. The rocker is disposed below the vehicle floor. The reinforcement member is supported on the rocker. The reinforcement member is deployable from an undeployed position beneath the vehicle floor to a deployed position above the vehicle floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Saied Nusier, Mohammed Omar Faruque, Mohamed Ridha Baccouche, S. M. Iskander Farooq, Dean M. Jaradi
  • Patent number: 10632952
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to passenger restraint system, deployable upon detection of an imminent side impact vehicle collision. The restraint system contains both an inner inflatable portion and an outer rigid telescopic portion, resulting in a semi-rigid restraint system. The restraint system may be mounted to the outboard and/or inboard sides of a vehicle seat, to protect the passenger from forces from an intruding door structure (or vehicle structure) or from other passengers. Mounting the restraint system to the vehicle seat may limit the force load that is transferred from the vehicle to the occupant, compared to a restraint system mounted to the vehicle interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Craig Markusic
  • Patent number: 10632953
    Abstract: A retainer and an inflator are disposed inside the airbag. The retainer includes a mounting base section, a holding section which extends from the mounting base section and receives and holds an inflator therein, and a second mounting means which protrudes from the mounting base perpendicularly. The inflator includes a cylindrical body provided with a gas release section and, a first mounting means protruding from a region of the body disposed outside the airbag. The retainer further includes a storing dent section which receives the first mounting means of the inflator so as to conform an orientation of the first means to that of the second mounting means and, a pressing section disposed proximate the storing dent section. The pressing section is brought into close contact with a circumferential area of the body of the inflator when the first mounting means of the inflator is secured to a vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takashi Shigemura
  • Patent number: 10632954
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an airbag assembly and a vehicle seat comprising the airbag assembly. The airbag assembly is adapted to be mounted at a side of a vehicle front seat away from its neighboring vehicle door, and includes a folded airbag adapted to be inflated with gas and to be connected to a backrest frame of the vehicle front seat; and a tether for controlling deployment of the airbag. A first end of the tether is connected to the airbag and a second end of the tether is adapted to be connected to the backrest frame. The airbag is configured to be restrained by the tether and the filling so as to be disposed along a side contour of the backrest frame in a bent state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Jin Zhang, Kongfu Xie, Magdalena Wingren, Mats Berntsson, Par Sandinge
  • Patent number: 10632955
    Abstract: A vehicle safety system is mounted on a far-side vehicle seat for protecting a far-side occupant in a near-side impact crash event. The vehicle safety system includes an occupant restraint mounted on an inboard side of a seat back of the far-side vehicle seat. The restraint includes a support frame rotatable from a stowed condition where the support frame is aligned with the seat back and a deployed condition where the support frame is forward of the seat back. The support frame includes a rear arm and a forward arm each rotatably connected to the seat back at separate mounting points with the mounting point of the rear arm located above the mounting point of the forward arm. In a near-side impact crash event the restraint is rotated into the deployed condition inboard of the far-side vehicle seat to restrain the far-side occupant against lateral movement within the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Craig Markusic
  • Patent number: 10632956
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a seatback and an airbag unit. The seatback has a front side and a rear side. The airbag unit includes an airbag and an inflator. The airbag unit is carried by the seatback and includes a first portion and a second portion. In an inflated state free of outside forces, the airbag rearwardly extends from the rear side of the seatback such that the first portion includes a first impact surface defining a first impact plane and the second portion includes a second impact surface defining a second impact plane. The first impact plane is oriented generally vertical and the second impact plane oriented generally horizontal. At least one shape defining member may be provided for maintaining the generally horizontal orientation of the second impact plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: AUTOLIV ASP, INC.
    Inventor: David W. Schneider
  • Patent number: 10632957
    Abstract: A frontal airbag for vehicle occupants, especially a passenger airbag, includes a contact panel (26) facing the vehicle occupant (12). Inside the airbag plural tethers (38) and/or partitions (38) are arranged which in portions withhold the contact panel (26) in the inflated state of the airbag (10) and form at least one lateral bead (34) and plural central beads (36) which in cross-section are smaller than the lateral beads (34). Furthermore, an airbag module is presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Hans-Peter Bausch, Lothar Zink, Jochen Weiss
  • Patent number: 10632958
    Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly is provided herein. The vehicle includes a seat-base. A seatback is coupled to the seat-base. An airbag assembly is coupled to the seatback and configured to deploy therefrom. A tether is coupled to the airbag assembly and at least one of the seatback and the seat-base. The tether is configured to bias the airbag assembly seating-assembly-downward when the airbag assembly is in a deployed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alan George Dry, Johnathan Andrew Line, Brian Robert Spahn, Benjamin Yilma, S. M. Akbar Berry, Kevin Wayne Preuss, Marcos Silva Kondrad, Daniel Ferretti
  • Patent number: 10632959
    Abstract: An airbag apparatus including: a first chamber connected to an inflator; a second chamber connected to the rear of the first chamber and supported by the first chamber, supporting the head of a passenger in case of an oblique collision of a vehicle, and having a first passage through which gas of the first chamber is introduced; a third chamber connected to the rear of the first chamber and supported by the first chamber, disposed at one side of the second chamber, and supporting the head of the passenger in a head-on collision of the vehicle; a connection tether connecting the second and third chambers to limit separation between the second and third chambers; and a shut-off valve closing the first passage to block gas of the second chamber from being discharged to the first chamber through the first passage, when the first chamber is completely deployed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ga Ram Jeong, Hae Kwon Park, Rae Ick Jang
  • Patent number: 10632960
    Abstract: A folded body of a head protection airbag includes a compression section, and a non-compression section. The airbag includes a shield inflation section that covers the vehicle interior side of a window at a time of inflation completion. The shield inflation section includes: a primary development area developed and inflated in an initial stage of an inflow of the inflation gas; and a secondary development area disposed on a side of one end of the airbag in the front-rear direction so as to be inflatable by following development and inflation of the primary development area. The secondary development area is disposed in the compression section and the primary development area is disposed in the non-compression section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaaki Okuhara, Shinji Hayashi, Takashi Iida
  • Patent number: 10632961
    Abstract: A deflection fitting for a seat belt in a motor vehicle, in particular for an inflatable seat belt, includes a belt deflector which encloses the seat belt and which comprises a guide slot for receiving and for passing through the seat belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Martin Kizil, Joerg Frank Doering, Carsten Bazant
  • Patent number: 10632962
    Abstract: An assembly includes a base. The assembly includes a plate pivotally supported by the base. The assembly includes a seatbelt retractor supported by the plate. The assembly includes a webbing payable from the seatbelt retractor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Abdelrahim Khal, Marwan Ahmad Elbkaily, Eric Axel Smitterberg, Kaiming Sun
  • Patent number: 10632963
    Abstract: A seatbelt retractor includes a spool, a piston, a cylinder, a ring, and a valve. The spool is rotatably connected with a base by the piston and the cylinder. The piston is fixed to one of the base and the spool. The cylinder receives the piston and is fixed to the other of the base and the spool. The piston and the cylinder define a first chamber. The ring is sealed against the cylinder and defines a second chamber connected with the first chamber by an aperture. The valve is disposed across the aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Mohammad Omar Faruque, Dean M. Jaradi, S. M. Iskander Farooq, Saeed David Barbat
  • Patent number: 10632964
    Abstract: A seatbelt buckle with cutter includes a latch element having a tongue-like protrusion with an aperture configured to be received by a belt buckle receiver, a middle element having a pull handle and a serrated cutting blade, a top cover configured for coupling to a top of the latch element a bottom cover configured for coupling to the bottom of the middle element, wherein when the top and bottom covers are coupled to the latch element and middle element, respectively, and the belt extends through the apertures of the patch element, middle element, and top and bottom covers, the blade is configured to cut the belt when the pull handle of the middle element is pulled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Inventors: Wilson Gutierrez, Oscar Escobar
  • Patent number: 10632965
    Abstract: A vehicle may offer a mobile device connection with the vehicle, the connection being to at least one of a simulated network connection or a simulated application connection, responsive to a stolen-vehicle trigger that is received by or detected by the vehicle. The vehicle may further gather predefined data from the mobile device, responsive to the mobile device accepting the offer and connecting to at least one of the simulated network connection or simulated application connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey William Wirtanen, Muhammad Khaledul Islam, Jin Kim
  • Patent number: 10632966
    Abstract: A self-declaring electronic license plate (e-plate) system for a vehicle is disclosed. This self-declaring e-plate system includes: an input device; a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader coupled to the input device; and an RFID-enabled license plate. In some embodiments, the input device is configured to receive vehicle occupancy information and triggers the RFID reader to write the received vehicle occupancy information to the RFID-enabled license plate in response to receiving the vehicle occupancy information. The RFID reader is configured to write at least a portion of the received vehicle occupancy information to the RFID-enabled license plate. The RFID-enabled license plate is configured to provide at least a portion of the received vehicle occupancy information to an electronic toll collection (ETC) reader. In some embodiments, the received vehicle occupancy information includes a current number of occupants self-declared by a user, such as a driver or a passenger inside the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Neology, Inc.
    Inventors: Sheshi Nyalamadugu, Joe Mullis, Bobby Leanio
  • Patent number: 10632967
    Abstract: A vehicle alarm system includes a first device mounted on a vehicle, and a second device mounted on the vehicle. The first device authenticates the second device by first wireless communication processing with the second device, detects that a state of the vehicle is changed in a predetermined pattern in a case where the second device is successfully authenticated, and outputs a predetermined alarm instruction when the first device detects that the first wireless communication processing is stopped. The second device authenticates a portable terminal device by second wireless communication processing with the portable terminal device, and performs the first wireless communication processing with the first device in a case where the portable terminal device is successfully authenticated. The first device causes the second device to stop the first wireless communication processing when the first device detects a predetermined first state change of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Ryuta Atsumi
  • Patent number: 10632968
    Abstract: A vehicular door handle assembly includes a base portion configured to mount at a handle region of a vehicle door of a vehicle, a handle portion movable relative to the base portion, and an illumination module disposed in the handle portion. The illumination module includes a housing and an electronic circuit assembly having a light emitting diode (LED) and a circuit board with a user actuatable input disposed at a side thereof. The illumination module includes a light pipe in the housing and at least partially along the handle portion and having a light receiving end at the LED. The LED is actuated responsive at least in part to actuation by the user of the user actuatable input. Light emitted by the LED, when actuated, is received at the light receiving end of the light pipe, whereby the light pipe provides illumination at least partially along the handle portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Darryl P. De Wind, Justin E. Sobecki, Eric S. Deuel
  • Patent number: 10632969
    Abstract: A vehicle control system includes a vehicle-mounted device and a mobile device portable by a user. The vehicle-mounted device permits a predetermined operation on a vehicle based on a response signal transmitted from the mobile device in response to a request signal from the vehicle-mounted device. The vehicle-mounted device includes a first communication device performing a wireless communication with the mobile device under a predetermined communication protocol different from that of the request signal. The mobile device includes: a second communication device performing the wireless communication with the first communication device; and a response control unit that responds to the request signal under a condition that the mobile device is located in a communication range of the first communication device and the wireless communication between the first communication device and the second communication device is established.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Taichi Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 10632970
    Abstract: A vehicle may include: a communication device configured to communicate with a remote control device; a biometric information detector configured to detect biometric information; and a controller configured to authenticate a user based on at least one of the detected biometric information and a signal received by the communication device from the remote control device. When biometric information of the user is detected, the controller may be configured to determine whether to activate the remote control device based on a location of the remote control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Jihye Lee, Dong June Song
  • Patent number: 10632971
    Abstract: An automated grommet installer and methods of installing a grommet. The installer and methods are capable of seating a grommet in an aperture of a window and facilitating correct alignment of the grommet within the window. Grommets are used to support and seal around a window wiper attached to a window. Typically, grommets are asymmetrical to match the curvature of the window. Embodiments of the described installer maintain grommet orientation while inserting the grommet in the window, quickly and efficiently installing the grommet. In embodiments the installer includes a system for identifying an incorrectly loaded grommet prior to installation and alerting an operator. In other embodiments, the installer includes a positioner that positions the grommet proximate to the window for installation and a gripper having one or more fingers reach through the window aperture, engage the grommet, and draw it into position, seated in the window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Inventors: Connor Cassady, Kevin Gearhart
  • Patent number: 10632972
    Abstract: Automatic wiper control prohibiting means prohibits execution of automatic wiper control when vehicle stop detecting means detects that a vehicle is stopping and a masking object detecting part determines that a masking object is adhered to an outer surface of a window part. When the vehicle stop detecting means detects that the vehicle is stopping and a state of the masking object detecting part is changed from a state where the masking object detecting part detects that the masking object is adhered to the outer surface of the window part to a state where the masking object detecting part detects that the masking object is not adhered to the outer surface of the window part at a changing time, the automatic wiper control prohibiting means prohibits the execution of said automatic wiper control for a predetermined period of time from the changing time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshitaka Oikawa
  • Patent number: 10632973
    Abstract: The invention relates to a windshield wiper device (100) for a vehicle having a fastening element (32) and a mounting unit (110) configured to be mounted to the fastening element (32), wherein the mounting unit (110) has a first engagement means (116). The windshield wiper device (100) comprises a wiper blade (2) having a longitudinal extension (8), wherein on the wiper blade side, the wiper blade (2) has a fastening part (120) having a second engagement means (124). The mounting unit (110) and the fastening part (120) on the wiper blade side can be inserted into each other, at least partially, by a movement substantially along the longitudinal extension (8) of the wiper blade (2). The first engagement means (116) and the second engagement means (124) are designed to engage each other whenever the mounting unit (110) and the fastening part (120) on the wiper blade side are inserted into each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Michael Weiler, Peter Deak, Viktor Hackl
  • Patent number: 10632974
    Abstract: Window wiping device for a motor vehicle comprising at least one link (2, 3), a mobile arm (6) adapted to be mounted on the vehicle by said link (2, 3) and effect an angular to-and-fro movement (A), a flexible washing liquid feed tube (16), rigidly fastened to said mobile arm (6), which device is characterized in that it further comprises a means (20) for limitation of a curvature assumed by said flexible feed tube (16) configured to surround the flexible feed tube (16) so as to prevent it cracking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Valeo Systèmes d'Essuyage
    Inventor: Jean-Michel Jarasson
  • Patent number: 10632975
    Abstract: A method for cleaning an interior of a motor vehicle, in particular an autonomously drivable motor vehicle, which includes the following steps recording at least one floor area of the interior by means of at least one camera device, determining a level of soiling of the floor area by evaluating the image recorded by the camera device, and cleaning at least the floor area, when the determined level of soiling exceeds a predefinable first limiting value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Bjoern Strasdat, Silvan Horovitz, Thanh-Binh To
  • Patent number: 10632976
    Abstract: A component for a vehicle wash system includes a rotatable stem portion and a backing member in communication with the rotatable stem portion. The backing member is configured to rotate with the stem portion about an axis of rotation defined by the centerline of the stem portion. A plurality of media elements are secured to the backing member with the plurality of media elements being constructed of a generally self-supporting, non-marring material and wherein the plurality of media elements are oriented generally perpendicular to the backing member. The plurality of media elements configured to rotate in a working plane defined by the backing member and the working plane is oriented generally perpendicularly to the axis of rotation. Additionally, the plurality of media elements are configured during a wash process to contact at least an exterior painted surface of a vehicle to effectuate cleaning thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: WashMe Properties, LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. Belanger, Barry S. Turner, David L. Tognetti, Mark D. Morin
  • Patent number: 10632977
    Abstract: A vehicle impact is determined to be likely to occur. Determinations are made that a vehicle speed is below a first predetermined threshold, that a vehicle pedal condition is met, and that a vehicle acceleration is below a second predetermined threshold. At least one instruction is then provided that includes at least one of an instruction to override an acceleration request and an instruction to suppress a throttle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Alex Maurice Miller, Stephen William Rouhana
  • Patent number: 10632978
    Abstract: There is provided a method for estimating friction between a tire of a vehicle and a road surface, the method comprising acquiring, a front wheel axle torque, a rear wheel axle torque, a vehicle longitudinal acceleration, a vehicle pitch rate and wheel rotational velocities. The method further comprises determining a front wheel normal force and a rear wheel normal force, based on a center of gravity of the vehicle and the longitudinal acceleration; determining a longitudinal tire stiffness, jointly determining a vehicle longitudinal velocity, based on the wheel rotational velocities and vehicle longitudinal acceleration, and a vehicle pitch angle relative to the horizontal plane based on the vehicle pitch rate; and determining a friction coefficient between tires and ground based on the front and rear wheel axle torque, the front wheel normal force and the joint estimation of pitch angle and vehicle longitudinal velocity. There is also provided a system for performing the described method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: VOLVO CAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tony Gustafsson, Mats Jonasson
  • Patent number: 10632979
    Abstract: A braking system for vehicles includes a hydraulic actuator unit operatively connected to at least one braking device, so as to control its actuation by a first hydraulic circuit at a first working pressure. The hydraulic actuator unit includes at least one manual actuator for a user to allow the user to supply the braking system with a braking request. A power generation unit is operatively connected to the hydraulic actuator unit by a second hydraulic circuit at a second working pressure. An actuated brake pump is connected in input to the second hydraulic circuit of the power generation unit to be actuated, and operatively connected, in output, to the first hydraulic circuit for actuation of the at least one braking device. The first and the second hydraulic circuits are supplied with different hydraulic fluids fluidically separate from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: FRENI BREMBO S.p.A.
    Inventors: Roberto Arienti, Carlo Cantoni, Andrea Odoni
  • Patent number: 10632980
    Abstract: A method for releasing a first electric motor-actuated brake device for a vehicle includes actuating a second brake device for the vehicle in a clamping direction with a first brake device in a clamped state in order to produce a predetermined clamping force on a brake piston that is associated with the first brake device and the second brake device in common. The method further includes actuating the first brake device in a release direction before the second brake device reaches the predetermined clamping force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Helmut Wolff, Andreas Englert
  • Patent number: 10632981
    Abstract: An automatic braking system including: a control unit for controlling at least some of the brakes of a vehicle; and a contact sensor for detecting an impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Inventor: Thomas Jeffrey Lowe
  • Patent number: 10632982
    Abstract: The present invention comprises: a first pressure-regulating mechanism that pressurizes a first wheel cylinder on either the left or right front wheel side of a vehicle, by using the movement of a first control piston driven by a first electric motor; a second pressure-regulating mechanism that pressurizes a second wheel cylinder on the other side, out of the left and right front wheels, by using the movement of a second control piston driven by a second electric motor; an opening/closing means interposed in a connection fluid path that connects the first wheel cylinder and the second wheel cylinder; and a control means. If the operation amount for a braking operation member is less than a prescribed value, the control means puts the opening/closing means in a connected state, puts the first electric motor in an electricity-supplied state, and puts the second electric motor in a non-electricity-supplied state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: ADVICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Motokazu Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 10632983
    Abstract: A control device for a vehicle hydraulic braking system, including an electronic device for transferring brake fluid into at least one wheel brake cylinder without a force transmission connection to the brake actuating element, or that is hydraulically decoupleable from the brake actuating element, with a motorized brake pressure buildup device; ascertaining whether wheel locking of at least one wheel of the vehicle that is braked with the at least one wheel brake cylinder is present or at risk; temporarily effectuating, at least at times, a counterforce on the brake actuating element acting against the actuation of the brake actuating element by the driver when it is ascertained that wheel locking is present or at risk and/or when the electronic brake force distribution function and/or the antilocking function are/is executed. Also described is a hydraulic braking system for a vehicle, and a method for operating such a braking system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Jens Wagner
  • Patent number: 10632984
    Abstract: The pressure sensor functions as a first detection portion for detecting hydraulic pressure set according to operation of a brake pedal. The control unit detects the hydraulic pressure acting on the second piston portion through the pipe. The control unit controls differential pressure in the detected hydraulic pressure to a target value set according to vehicle speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignees: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD., ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kaneta, Yoshiaki Sawano, Hiroshi Kurata, Atsushi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 10632985
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a hybrid vehicle and a method of predicting a driving pattern in the same. The method includes: acquiring current vehicle driving information, determining an upcoming event and a driving style based on the current vehicle driving information, and generating an acceleration/deceleration prediction value based on a prediction model corresponding to the upcoming event and the driving style selected from a plurality of pre-learned prediction models.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, KIA Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Kyu Hwan Jo, Joon Young Park
  • Patent number: 10632986
    Abstract: A hybrid electric vehicle has a powertrain including an internal combustion engine, an electric machine, and a transmission coupled to controller(s) that control torque disturbances arising from changing output torques of the engine, electric machine, and transmission. A torque disturbance threshold is adjusted for driver comfort, and is used to respond to torque demand signals from the vehicle systems, including a battery charging subsystem, and a driver. The controller(s) respond to battery charge and driver demand torque signals, among others, and adjust engine and electric machine torque at a controlled rate and magnitude, using charge-torque-slew-rate, charge-torque, and other limits. Battery charging is similarly managed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Steven Yamazaki, Chen Zhang