Patents Issued in August 18, 2020
  • Patent number: 10744981
    Abstract: An electromechanical braking (EMB) connector for electrical communication between an interior of a brake caliper assembly and an exterior of the brake caliper assembly is disclosed. The EMB connector includes a body having a distal end for insertion into the interior of the brake caliper assembly and a proximal end for exposure on the exterior of the brake caliper assembly, with the distal end and the proximal end defining a body axis. The EMB connector also includes a load sensor connector for coupling with a load sensor disposed on the interior of the brake caliper assembly. The load sensor connector is compressible along a load sensor axis that is substantially perpendicular to the body axis. The EMB connector further includes a conductive component coupled to the load sensor connector. The conductive component enables electrical connection of the load sensor to the exterior of the brake caliper assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: SENSATA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Ruben Auer
  • Patent number: 10744982
    Abstract: A hydraulic power brake system (1) of a wheeled vehicle or for a vehicle unit has a main brake line (20, 21), in which a setpoint brake pressure can be controlled via a brake valve (4) that is operated via a brake pedal (7), and from which an axle brake line or a wheel brake line (46, 49, 50) branches off. Inlet valves and outlet valves and a pilot control valve of the ABS control system for the vehicle unit or for each vehicle axle are respectively disposed together in an ABS modulator block (69), which also includes a temperature sensor (70, 71, 72) for detecting the oil temperature (T) and a heating element (73, 74, 75) for locally heating the hydraulic oil are disposed in each ABS modulator block (69).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: WABCO GmbH
    Inventors: Mirko Brütt, Michael Haverkamp
  • Patent number: 10744983
    Abstract: A brake fluid pressure control device for a vehicle includes a wheel speed acquisition device that acquires a wheel speed, an estimated vehicle body speed calculation device that calculates an estimated vehicle body speed on the basis of the wheel speed, and a bad road determination device that determines whether a road surface of travel is a bad road. The brake fluid pressure control device for a vehicle can provide hydraulic control of a brake fluid that is used in wheel brakes, and the bad road determination device determines whether the road surface of travel is a bad road on the basis of the deviation between the estimated vehicle body speed and the wheel speed. The present invention can detect phenomena particular to bad roads, and can more accurately perform bad road determination, and allows for the improvement of control such as ABS control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: NISSIN KOGYO CO, LTD.
    Inventor: Teruyoshi Yamakawa
  • Patent number: 10744984
    Abstract: A hydraulic block includes pedal travel simulator for a hydraulic power-assisted vehicle braking system includes a piston that is displaceable in a cylinder, a piston spring that acts on the piston against the displacement, and a stroke limiter limiting the displacement. A characteristic curve of such a pedal travel simulator is set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Weh, Chris Anderson, Harald Guggenmos, Matthias Mayr, Raynald Sprocq
  • Patent number: 10744985
    Abstract: An electro-hydrostatic brake system includes a motor controller configured to receive a brake command, a motor in electronic control communication with the motor controller, and a pump mechanically coupled to the motor. In various embodiments, the electro-hydrostatic brake system further includes a hydraulic tank fluidly coupled in fluid providing communication with the pump, a hydraulic pressure rail fluidly coupled in fluid receiving communication with the pump, and a brake actuator in fluid communication with the hydraulic pressure rail and configured to exert a braking force on a wheel, wherein the braking force is directly modulated by the motor and/or the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naison E Mastrocola, Michael Abbott, Tyler Arsenault
  • Patent number: 10744986
    Abstract: In order to improve a transmitter unit, especially for a hydraulic brake system, comprising a housing body, a piston which is arranged in the housing body able to move between a starting disposition and a pressure disposition, a pressure chamber bounded by the housing body and the piston, a reservoir for the supply of hydraulic fluid connected by a connection channel to the pressure chamber, a valve unit, which in an open position allows the connection between the reservoir and the pressure chamber and in a closed position breaks this connection, as well as a connection opening for the routing of pressurized hydraulic fluid from the pressure chamber for example to connected hydraulic brake cylinder, so that an escaping of air bubbles from the pressure chamber is more easily possible, it is proposed that in a functional orientation of the transmitter unit, the connection channel opens into a highest end region of the pressure chamber in regard to a direction of gravity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Gustav Magenwirth GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Stefan Ruckh
  • Patent number: 10744987
    Abstract: A master cylinder and an electronic brake system including the same are disclosed. The electronic brake system includes a main hydraulic-pressure supply device to generate hydraulic pressure by sensing displacement of a brake pedal and a sub hydraulic-pressure supply unit to supply hydraulic pressure to at least one wheel cylinder during an abnormal operation of the main hydraulic-pressure supply device. The master cylinder includes a first piston disposed in a bore of a cylinder body so as to be directly pressurized by the brake pedal, a first hydraulic chamber pressurized by the first piston to discharge hydraulic pressure, a second piston indirectly pressurized by the first piston, and a second hydraulic chamber pressurized by the second piston to discharge hydraulic pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hyun Dong Kim
  • Patent number: 10744988
    Abstract: The reservoir tank includes a reservoir body which reserves a fluid in an inner portion thereof formed to be in a hollow box shape. The reservoir body includes a port extending outward, a reservoir chamber which reserves the fluid and a port chamber which volume is smaller than that of the reservoir chamber and is in fluid communication with the port and a first communication passage positioned at a portion lower than a changeable liquid surface of the fluid reserved in the reservoir chamber in a vertical direction and provided at the first partition portion to allow the fluid communication between the reservoir chamber and the port chamber and wherein the port chamber and the port are kept being a state in which they are filled with the fluid supplied from the reservoir chamber via the first communication passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignees: ADVICS CO., LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yusuke Sekine, Ryosuke Sakakibara, Jun Matsushima, Akira Omizu, Koji Masuda, Akira Sakai, Hideki Sugawa
  • Patent number: 10744989
    Abstract: This brake device is provided with: a brake actuator which applies to a wheel a brake torque depending on the rotation of an electric motor; a booster circuit which boosts a reference voltage outputted from a battery; and a motor control unit which controls the electric motor. Depending on the state of the booster circuit, the motor control unit switches between a first drive process for driving the electric motor by supplying thereto a boost voltage, which is a voltage that has been boosted by the booster circuit, and a second drive process for driving the electric motor by supplying a reference voltage to the electric motor and by performing spark advance control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: ADVICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yuki Ota
  • Patent number: 10744990
    Abstract: An arrangement of an electric vacuum pump, for example, in a vehicle, wherein a mounting element is provided on which the vacuum pump is installed, and wherein the vacuum pump comprises a pump chamber part and a motor part, and wherein a longitudinal axis extends through the pump chamber part and the motor part. According to the invention, the vacuum pump has a horizontal arrangement with respect to a gravitational direction, wherein the installation of the vacuum pump on the mounting element is limited to two mounting points, and wherein a center of gravity of the vacuum pump lies on a connection axis between the two mounting points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: HELLA GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Ingo Geue, Theodor Hueser, Christian Praest, Thomas Valeiras Fernandez
  • Patent number: 10744991
    Abstract: A hydraulic block for a hydraulic unit of a brake controller of a hydraulic vehicle brake system is configured to fit with hydraulic components such as solenoid valves of the brake controller. The hydraulic block is manufactured by 3D printing, which enables considerably more complex line routing than manufacture by machining.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Mayr, Dieter Pflaum, Andreas Weh
  • Patent number: 10744992
    Abstract: A reservoir includes at least a container, a cap, a diaphragm, and a sealing device. The container includes a neck portion that extends from a body of the container. The neck portion includes an opening that provides access to an interior of the container. The cap is structured to interact with the neck portion. The cap includes a vent for pressure balancing of the reservoir. The diaphragm includes a slit that communicates with the vent. The sealing device includes a sealed vessel and a holder. The sealed vessel includes a sealing member sealed by a seal. The sealed vessel is movable to at least a first position such that the sealed vessel physically contacts the diaphragm to seal the slit. The sealed vessel is movable to a second position such that the sealed vessel is spaced from the diaphragm to unseal the slit. The holder is configured to bold the sealed vessel in alignment with the cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Josh Macy, Alejandro Martinez
  • Patent number: 10744993
    Abstract: A method monitoring a pneumatically actuatable brake for motor vehicles, wherein an air gap of the brake is ascertained using measured position values provided by a brake wear sensor, includes ascertaining a reference position value of the brake wear sensor during unbraked travel, determining multiple value pairs of discrete position values and a current brake pressure P at a same point in time during a braking procedure, ascertaining a characteristic function interpolating the value pairs, determining a characteristic position value according to the characteristic function for a selected brake pressure, and determining an actual value of the air gap by subtracting the reference position value from the characteristic position value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: WABCO EUROPE BVBA
    Inventors: Thomas Dieckmann, Marcos Keller, Denis Kusin, Torsten Wallbaum
  • Patent number: 10744994
    Abstract: A primary clutch assembly for a continuously variable transmission is provided. The primary clutch assembly includes a fixed sheave and a movable sheave centered on a post for joint rotation therewith. A rotational unit disposed on the post generates centrifugal forces during rotation of the post that are translated axially to urge the movable sheave along the post towards the fixed sheave. The primary clutch utilizes an actuator assembly that is configured to establish a locked condition that prevents axial movement of the movable sheave as the rotational unit builds-up centrifugal force and an unlocked condition to allow sudden axial movement of the movable sheave towards the fixed sheave. The actuator assembly includes a bearing unit that extends through a hole in the post to contact the movable sheave in the locked condition and is housed within the hole and spaced from the movable sheave in the unlocked condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: SUPREME TOOL & MACHINE, INC.
    Inventor: Mark Beyer
  • Patent number: 10744995
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for correcting a drag torque curve of at least one rotatable machine element of which the drag torque is dependent on the rotational speed of the machine element, wherein the drag torque curve has a plurality of rotational speed ranges which are different from one another, in which the drag torque curve in each rotational speed range is corrected between a measured rotational speed of the machine element and a calculated rotational speed of the machine element on the basis of a rotational speed deviation in the respective rotational speed range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: MAGNA POWERTRAIN GMBH & CO KG
    Inventor: Markus Kohlböck
  • Patent number: 10744996
    Abstract: A stop-start system and method for a motor vehicle include a controller configured to shut down an engine of the motor vehicle automatically when the motor vehicle is moving and a predetermined engine shut down condition is achieved, to perform a rolling stop-start operation; and a mechanically driven auxiliary vacuum pump coupled to a transmission gear or output shaft and configured to provide vacuum pressure to a brake booster of the motor vehicle, wherein the controller is configured to operate the auxiliary vacuum pump during the rolling stop-start operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Anthemios Philemon Petridis
  • Patent number: 10744997
    Abstract: A method for operating a motor vehicle. To determine a total operating strategy, predictive basic data describing the operation of the motor vehicle for a known route is determined from input data comprising route data. The operating strategies of the motor vehicle are evaluated based on the predictive basic data in order to determine the total operating strategy. The motor vehicle is then operated according to the total operating strategy. To determine the basic data, a performance profile is determined based on the total required performance of the vehicle throughout the route. The route is divided into route sections, each assigned characterizing performance information. Successive route sections are combined into a common segment when at least one similarity criterion is satisfied comparing the performance information of the route sections. Thereafter, the segments are provided with this assigned total performance information associated with the total performance information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Florian Mühlfeld, Boris Blasinski
  • Patent number: 10744998
    Abstract: A system includes a computing device with memory configured to store instructions and a processor to execute the instructions for operations that include receiving information representative of an amount of energy stored over a first period of time in an energy storage device of a vehicle that includes a first propulsion system. Operations include receiving information representative of a performance measure of the vehicle for a second period of time, shorter than the first period of time, and, determining an assistance adjustment from an estimated value of stored energy from the information representative of the amount of energy stored over the first period of time. Operations include determining a level of assistance for a second propulsion system included in the vehicle from the received information representative of the performance measure, and, adjusting the level of assistance using the assistance adjustment determined from the estimated value of the stored energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: XL Hybrids
    Inventor: Neal Ennis Brenner
  • Patent number: 10744999
    Abstract: A control system that controls a driveline of a motor vehicle to operate in a selected one of a plurality of configurations is configured to receive a brake signal responsive to the application of a braking system. The control system causes the driveline to operate in a second configuration and not a first configuration in dependence at least in part on the brake signal. In the first configuration a first group of one or more wheels and in addition a second group of one or more wheels are arranged to be driven by the driveline, and in the second configuration the first group of one or more wheels and not the second group are arranged to be driven by the driveline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: JAGUAR LAND ROVER LIMITED
    Inventors: Rob Jerger, Russell Osborn, Christopher Harries
  • Patent number: 10745000
    Abstract: An engine is controlled such that a first motor rotates at a rotational speed that causes a counter-electromotive voltage of the first motor to be higher than direct current-side voltages of a first inverter and a second inverter, and the first motor outputs torque to a driving shaft through a planetary gear set when an accelerator is on during specified travelling with gates of the first inverter and the second inverter being cut off and an engine being operated. When the accelerator is turned off during the specified traveling, fuel injection of the engine is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Daiki Takayama
  • Patent number: 10745001
    Abstract: A method for operating a drive device for a motor vehicle with an internal combustion engine and a dual clutch transmission. In a starting operation of the drive device directed at a startup of the motor vehicle, an electric machine coupled to a first input shaft is used, when the first shift clutch is at least partially engaged and the first sub-transmission is disengaged and when the second shift clutch is at least partially engaged and the second sub-transmission is engaged, for providing at the output shaft a starting torque used for starting the internal combustion engine and a drive torque directed at the startup of the motor vehicle, and/or in that, in the starting operation, the internal combustion engine is operated, when the second shift clutch is at least partially engaged and the second sub-transmission is engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventor: Christian Glück
  • Patent number: 10745002
    Abstract: A vehicle for autonomously parking in a desired parking location selected via a remote device. The vehicle includes a first camera, a vehicle control system, and a first electronic processor. The first electronic processor is configured to receive a first image from the first camera, determine a plurality of features in the first image, and receive, from the remote device, a second image and the desired parking location in the second image. The first electronic processor is also configured to determine a plurality of features in the second image, match the determined features in the second image to determined features in the first image, and determine a location of the vehicle relative to the desired parking location. The first electronic processor is further configured to determine a route to the desired parking location from a current location of the vehicle and autonomously maneuver the vehicle to the desired parking location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: James Stephen Miller, Sergio Andrés Amaya Correa
  • Patent number: 10745003
    Abstract: Systems, apparatus, and methods implemented in algorithms, software, firmware, logic, or circuitry may be configured to process data and sensory input in real-time to determine whether an object external to an autonomous vehicle may be a potential collision threat to the autonomous vehicle. The autonomous vehicle may be configured to deploy one or more bladders positioned external to the autonomous vehicle to absorb forces from an impact to the vehicle by the object. A perception system of the vehicle may receive a sensor signal and generate object data associated with the object. A planner system of the vehicle may process the object data to predict an impact time and an impact location on the vehicle. The planner system may cause a drive system of the vehicle to maneuver the vehicle to position an impact-absorbing structure and/or one or more bladders of the vehicle to coincide with the predicted impact location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy David Kentley-Klay, Rachad Youssef Gamara, Sagar Behere
  • Patent number: 10745004
    Abstract: An object recognizing device includes: an other-vehicle recognizing unit configured to recognize another vehicle traveling near the vehicle based on the detection point information of the LIDAR and to recognize a size and a traveling condition of the other vehicle; an other-vehicle tracking unit configured to track the other vehicle based on the detection point information of the LIDAR; and an enlargement determining unit configured to determine whether the size of the other vehicle which is tracked by the other vehicle tracking unit is enlarged, wherein, when the enlargement determining unit determines that the size of the other vehicle has been enlarged, detection points located near the other vehicle before being enlarged are recognized as an object other than the other vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kentaro Ichikawa, Hiromitsu Urano, Yusuke Hayashi, Bunyo Okumura
  • Patent number: 10745005
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for inter-vehicle cooperation for vehicle self height estimation. An example vehicle includes an inter-vehicle communication module and a body control module. The body control module broadcasts a request for images via the inter-vehicle communication module. The body control module also performs semantic segmentation on the images, generates a composite image of the vehicle based on the segmented images, and generates a three dimensional representation of the vehicle based on the composite image. Using the three dimensional representation, the body control module determines a height of the vehicle, and based on the height, controls the vehicle to avoid obstacles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Michael Herman, David A. Herman, David Joseph Orris, Nunzio DeCia, Stephen Jay Orris, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10745006
    Abstract: Technical solutions are described for controlling an automated driving system of a vehicle. An example method includes computing a complexity metric of an upcoming region along a route that the vehicle is traveling along. The method further includes, in response to the complexity metric being below a predetermined low-complexity threshold, determining a trajectory for the vehicle to travel in the upcoming region using a computing system of the vehicle. Further, the method includes in response to the complexity metric being above a predetermined high-complexity threshold, instructing an external computing system to determine the trajectory for the vehicle to travel in the upcoming region. If the trajectory cannot be determined by the external computing system a minimal risk condition maneuver of the vehicle is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Donald K. Grimm, Wei Tong, Shuqing Zeng, Upali P. Mudalige
  • Patent number: 10745007
    Abstract: A collision avoidance system for a subject vehicle. The system includes a secondary vehicle detection module that, based on at least one of inputs from sensors of the subject vehicle or a message transmitted by a secondary vehicle, detects the following: location, speed, and heading of the secondary vehicle, and whether the secondary vehicle intends to turn or change lanes. A warning module warns an operator of the subject vehicle of the secondary vehicle and the identified intention of the secondary vehicle, and modifies warning intensity based on the detected intention of the secondary vehicle to turn or change lanes. An adaptive cruise control module modifies at least one of speed and heading of the subject vehicle based on the detected intention of the secondary vehicle to turn or change lanes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: DENSO International America, Inc.
    Inventors: Yu Zhang, Doua Vang, Bilal Alasry
  • Patent number: 10745008
    Abstract: A driving support device is mounted to a vehicle. The driving support device includes an object detection unit that detects an object moving in a direction crossing the traveling direction of the vehicle, a collision prediction unit, a support execution unit, an acceleration calculation unit, and a prohibition unit. The collision prediction unit predicts a collision between the object detected by the object detection unit and the vehicle. When the collision prediction unit predicts a collision between the object and the vehicle, the support execution unit performs driving support for reducing the risk of a collision of the vehicle. The acceleration calculation unit calculates the acceleration of the object. When the calculated acceleration has become more negative than a negative threshold, the prohibition unit prohibits the support execution unit from performing the driving support with respect to the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shogo Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 10745009
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus is provided. The electronic apparatus includes at least one processor configured to detect, by a sensor, a driving state of a vehicle or a driving state of another vehicle in a vicinity of the vehicle while the vehicle is being driven, obtain state data including the driving state of the vehicle and the driving state of the other vehicle, and use at least one data recognition model to determine a dangerous situation of the vehicle after a certain period of time while the vehicle is being driven, based on the obtained state data. The electronic apparatus may predict a dangerous situation of the vehicle by using a rule-based algorithm or an artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm. The electronic apparatus predicts the dangerous situation of the vehicle by using at least one of machine learning, a neural network, and a deep learning algorithm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun-Ik Jang, Ye-Hoon Kim, So-jung Yun, Jin-ho Lee, Do-jun Yang, Han-sung Lee, Soon-hyuk Hong
  • Patent number: 10745010
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for detecting anomalous vehicle behavior. It is determined whether a plurality of received car probes include one or more indicators of unusual behavior. An object agent corresponding to a vehicle having a car probe that includes an indicator of unusual behavior is selected. A search is performed to select one or more vehicles surrounding the vehicle having a car probe that includes an indicator of unusual behavior. An information entropy is determined from received car probes, for the vehicle having a car probe that includes an indicator of unusual behavior and for each of the selected surrounding vehicles. An anomalous point value is calculated for each vehicle, based on the determined information entropies. In response to determining that the anomalous point value for a car exceeds a pre-determined threshold, the vehicle is flagged as a vehicle exhibiting anomalous behavior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Mari Abe Fukuda, Satoshi Hosokawa, Yasutaka Nishimura
  • Patent number: 10745011
    Abstract: Detection of merge scenarios by an autonomous vehicle (AV) is disclosed. A system includes a memory and a processor. The memory includes instructions executable by the processor to, in response to detecting a merge scenario, identify an interacting object pair including a merging object and a crossing object, where the AV is the merging object; generate a yield hypothesis and a no-yield hypothesis; compute a yield reference path corresponding to the yield hypothesis and a no-yield reference path corresponding to the no-yield hypothesis; determine a yield likelihood of the yield hypothesis and a no-yield likelihood of the no-yield hypothesis; and operate the AV to merge or to wait until the merge scenario is no longer detected based on the yield likelihood and the no-yield likelihood.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignees: Nissan North America, Inc., Renault S.A.S.
    Inventors: Yue Zhao, Christopher Ostafew
  • Patent number: 10745012
    Abstract: A method for controlling a motor vehicle take-off from rest including the steps of transitioning the vehicle from a brake holding mode to an engine driving mode and then accelerating the vehicle in a forward direction until a set vehicle target speed has been reached. The method including maintaining the vehicle at the set target speed until a driver of the vehicle intervenes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Inventor: Graham Bergin
  • Patent number: 10745013
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting engine idle-stop based on operation of an on-board generator. In one example, during operation of the generator to power an external load, a method may include inhibiting engine shut-down based on input from a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Nicholas Herhusky, Scott Steadmon Thompson, John Eric Rollinger, Vincent Martinez
  • Patent number: 10745014
    Abstract: An inter-vehicle calculation unit calculates a required inter-vehicle distance required between the own vehicle and forward/rear vehicles traveling in the lane to which the own vehicle moves during the lane change. The required inter-vehicle distance includes a first inter-vehicle distance and a second inter-vehicle distance. The first inter-vehicle distance is the distance required to allow the own vehicle or the forward/rear vehicles to adjust their velocity after the own vehicle changes lanes, and the first inter-vehicle distance is calculated by a first calculation unit. The second inter-vehicle distance is the distance required between the own vehicle and the forward/rear vehicles after the own vehicle or the forward/rear vehicles adjust their velocity, and the second inter-vehicle distance is calculated by a second calculation unit. A determination unit determines that the own vehicle can change lanes if the relative distance is equal to or greater than the required inter-vehicle distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shotaro Fukuda, Hiroaki Niino, Koji Fujiki
  • Patent number: 10745015
    Abstract: A power transmission system and an attenuation mechanism are disclosed. A power transmission system includes an electric motor, a drive wheel, a transmission shaft and an attenuation mechanism. The transmission shaft transmits a torque between the electric motor and the drive wheel. The attenuation mechanism is attached to the transmission shaft. The attenuation mechanism includes a support member and an inertia member. The support member is attached to the transmission shaft. The inertia member is disposed to be rotatable relative to the transmission shaft. The inertia member is engaged with the support member by friction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: EXEDY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Katsuaki Waki, Kenji Kitada
  • Patent number: 10745016
    Abstract: A driving system for a vehicle includes: a communication apparatus; at least one processor; and a computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform operations that include: receiving, through the communication apparatus, Advanced Driver Assistance system (ADAS) information that is based on a location of the vehicle; determining, based on the ADAS information, whether to use at least one ADAS for the vehicle; and based on a determination of whether to use the at least one ADAS for the vehicle, providing a control signal for controlling at least one of a steering operation, a brake operation, or an acceleration operation of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Hyeonju Bae, Jonghyun Oh, Taehui Yun
  • Patent number: 10745017
    Abstract: A method for controlling a transmission of a vehicle includes: determining, via an electronic controller, a predicted lateral G-force that will act on the vehicle while the vehicle moves along a road curve using image data from a front camera of the vehicle before the vehicle moves along the road curve; communicating, via the electronic controller, the predicted lateral G-force to a transmission controller; and and controlling, via the transmission controller, the transmission of the vehicle based on the predicted lateral G-force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Henry R. Wright, Rakesh Mohanty, Crystal J. Nassouri
  • Patent number: 10745018
    Abstract: Hybrid user recognition methods systems for vehicle access and control are disclosed. For one example, a hybrid user recognition system can capture at least two types of biometric data of a user. The user is recognized if at least two types of captured biometric data match with at least two types of registered biometric signatures of the user. If the user is recognized, the user is allowed access or control of at least part of the electronic or driving controls of the otherwise the user is prevented from access or control of the vehicle. Examples of user biometrics include facial, voice, iris, fingerprint and behavioral biometrics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Byton Limited
    Inventors: Dirk Abendroth, Baharak Soltanian
  • Patent number: 10745019
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed to a computer-implemented method of operating a driver assistance component (DAC) of a vehicle. The method includes receiving sensed operator state data and sensed vehicle state data that represents a vehicle state of the vehicle. Based at least in part on the sensed operator state data, an operator state model is created, trained, and updated. Based at least in part on the sensed vehicle state data, a vehicle state model is created, trained, and updated. Based at least in part on new sensed operator state data, an operator state model classification output is created. Based at least in part on new sensed vehicle state data, a vehicle state model classification output is created. The operator state model classification output and the vehicle state model classification output are correlated, and operating parameters for the DAC are predicted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: John S. Werner, Luke N. Buschmann, Brad Hoover
  • Patent number: 10745020
    Abstract: A method, a processing device, and a system for driving prediction are proposed. The method is applicable to a processing device configured in a vehicle, where the processing device is connected to an image capturing device and an output device and pre-stores a prediction model. The method includes the following steps. A video sequence around the vehicle is received from the image capturing device. Whether the video sequence satisfies the prediction model is determined so as to update the prediction model according to a driving situation of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Wistron Corporation
    Inventor: Chia-Chang Hou
  • Patent number: 10745021
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed for estimating a suspension displacement. An example apparatus includes a suspension motion determiner module programmed to output a signal to a first suspension assembly of a vehicle based on a first deflection of the first suspension assembly, the first deflection calculated based on a calculation and a second deflection of a second suspension assembly of the vehicle, the calculation selected based on whether the vehicle is utilized in a first mode or a second mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ahmed Mohamed, Joseph M. Raad, Russ Lee Norton, Jorge Rivas
  • Patent number: 10745022
    Abstract: A road curve guidance method is provided. The road curve guidance method includes: obtaining link information corresponding to a road on which a vehicle is being driven; determining a position of the vehicle on a link at a future time point based on the obtained link information; and judging a degree of risk of a curve section in which the vehicle is to be driven after a predetermined time using the determined position and speed of the vehicle at a reference time point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: THINKWARE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Suk Pil Ko
  • Patent number: 10745023
    Abstract: A voltage monitoring framework is proposed to predict, report, and correct actions for performance impacting voltage droop due to power supplies in a system-on-a-chip. Both the amplitude and duration of the voltage droop are monitored. By predicting serious voltage droops early, power supplies cross check against each other to avoid catastrophic error, thus ensuring that integrated circuits making up the system-on-a-chip will maintain functional reliability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: INTEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Amit Kumar Srivastava, Asad Azam, Jagannadha Rapeta
  • Patent number: 10745025
    Abstract: A method for assisting a transportation vehicle occupant located in a transportation vehicle wherein user information regarding the behavior and/or the state of a transportation vehicle occupant and transportation vehicle parameters of the transportation vehicle are gathered. The gathered user information and transportation vehicle parameters are combined and jointly analyzed and at least one behavior pattern of the transportation vehicle occupant is determined from the jointly analyzed user information and transportation vehicle parameters. The behavior pattern is stored together with the user information. In a subsequent gathering of user information, this user information is compared with the user information behavior pattern previously stored. When there is conformance with the behavior pattern, a transportation vehicle function is automatically carried out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Esref Köse, Ahmed Ali, Sebastian Gehrling, Jens Kampermann, Sarah Strygulec, Sven Klomp, Jessica Apfel, Sandra Jürgensmeier, Wolfgang Theimer, Ernst Zielinski
  • Patent number: 10745026
    Abstract: A control device and an operating method for a driver assistance system of a vehicle are configured to selectively process image data from only a first vehicle camera or from only a second vehicle camera at any given time, depending on a current operating state of the vehicle, in order for driver assistance functions to be implemented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Conti Temic microelectronic GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Fey, Lutz Kuehnke
  • Patent number: 10745027
    Abstract: A viewing system (100) for a vehicle (10, 10A, 10B, 10C) having at least one capture unit (20A, 20B) adapted to capture at least one first near area (1, 2, 3, 4) around the vehicle (10, 10A, 10B, 10C), at least one control unit (30) adapted to process the data captured by the capture unit (20A, 20B) and at least one reproduction unit (40A, 40B) adapted to show the near area (1, 2, 3, 4) visibly for a driver which steers the vehicle (10, 10A, 10B, 10C). During driving maneuvers conditioned by the situation, in addition, at least one collision area (K1, K2) which comprises an area at risk of collision around the vehicle (10, 10A, 10B, 10C) is shown on the reproduction unit (40A, 40B). The collision area (K1, K2) corresponds to an image section of a near area (1, 2, 3, 4) captured by the capture unit around the vehicle (10, 10A, 10B, 10C).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: MEKRA LANG GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Werner Jürgen Lang, Christian Rebelein
  • Patent number: 10745028
    Abstract: Provided are a method, an apparatus and a device for obstacle in lane warning. The method includes receiving information of an obstacle in a front lane of a first vehicle, where the first vehicle is in front of a second vehicle; and performing an obstacle warning on the second vehicle according to the information of the obstacle. The second vehicle receives the information of the obstacle, and performs the obstacle warning on the second vehicle according to the information of the obstacle to prevent the second vehicle from failing to detect the obstacle in a blind area when the sight of the second vehicle is blocked by the first vehicle; the front vehicle notifies the subsequent vehicle of the obstacle in the lane immediately, which facilitates the driver to handle the situation in advance, improves the vehicle's ability to sense the obstacle and prevents the collision from occurring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: BEIJING BAIDU NETCOM SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sheng Tao, Huo Cao, Zeshu Shen, Haisong Wang, Ji Tao, Dewang Song
  • Patent number: 10745029
    Abstract: The present subject matter relates to providing alerts to the driver based on external environment and location of the vehicle. Data related to external environment to a vehicle is fetched and the location is determined. Based on the fetched external environment data an event is determined. Also, location parameters are also identified. For the location and the parameters of the location, road and the vehicle are determined, the general driving behavior for the particular location is fetched. Based on the determined event warning is generated for a driver of the vehicle. The intensity of the warning is varied based on severity of the event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: THE HI-TECH ROBOTIC SYSTEMZ LTD
    Inventors: Anuj Kapuria, Ritukar Vijay
  • Patent number: 10745030
    Abstract: The present subject matter relates to providing alerts to the driver based on comparison between the driver's driving behaviour and the general driving behavior. Driver presence is determined after which the driver is identified using identification attributes extracted. Further, data related to external environment to a vehicle is fetched. Based on the fetched external environment data an event is determined. Also, the driving behavior of the driver is compared with the general driving behavior for the vehicle. Based on the determined event and the deviations of driver's driving behavior from the general driving behavior, suggestive alert is generated for the driver of the vehicle. The intensity of the warning is varied based on severity of the event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: THE HI-TECH ROBOTIC SYSTEMZ LTD
    Inventors: Anuj Kapuria, Ritukar Vijay
  • Patent number: 10745031
    Abstract: To provide an alarm system for a vehicle that can reduce alarms that can irritate a driver. An alarm system 1 for a vehicle includes a determination and alarm part 52 that determines whether or not an object will cross a right alarm line 61 or a left alarm line 62 within a predetermined time and activates an alarm unit when it is determined that the object will cross the alarm line within the predetermined time. When the relative velocity of the object with respect to the right alarm line 61 or the left alarm line 62 is decreasing, the determination and alarm part 52 performs an alarm reduction control to reduce operation of the alarm unit compared with when the relative velocity is not decreasing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuki Yoshida, Koji Hirai