Patents Issued in September 8, 2020
  • Patent number: 10766437
    Abstract: Systems, components, and methodologies are provided for improvements in operation of automotive vehicles by enabling monitoring analysis and reaction to subtle sources of information that aid in prediction and response of vehicle control systems across a range of automation levels. Such systems, components, and methodologies include wheel-turn detection equipment for detecting a wheel angle of another vehicle to trigger a vehicle control system to perform an operation based on the detected wheel angle of the other vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignees: Volkswagen AG, Audi AG, Porsche AG
    Inventors: Mirko Herrmann, Angela-Kristina Speidel
  • Patent number: 10766438
    Abstract: To provide a technique for enabling a single exterior member to be easily used for both a region of a wire harness that is disposed in a flat state and a region thereof that is disposed in a bent state. The wire harness includes an exterior member formed in a sheet shape, and a wire disposed overlapping the exterior member in at least a partial region extending along an extension direction of the wire. At least a part of a portion where an insulating covering of the wire and the exterior member overlap is welded. A partial region of the exterior member that extends along the extension direction of the wire is in a flat state, and at least another partial region of the exterior member that extends along the extension direction of the wire is rolled up in a direction intersecting the extension direction of the wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignees: AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD., SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Housei Mizuno, Hiroki Hirai, Makoto Higashikozono, Hidetoshi Ishida, Masakuni Kasugai
  • Patent number: 10766439
    Abstract: A module for providing security to a vehicle's in-vehicle communication network that is responsive to an operational state of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Argus Cyber Security Ltd.
    Inventors: Ofer Ben Noon, Yaron Galula, Oron Lavi
  • Patent number: 10766440
    Abstract: An electronic device is provided and includes a housing surrounding the electronic device, a wireless communication circuit positioned in the housing to communicate with a vehicle, and a switch connected to one of a first electrical path or a second electrical path, wherein the first electrical path includes a first antenna element extending along a first portion of the housing and the second electrical path includes a second antenna element extending along a second portion of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Sang Bong Sung, Se Woong Kim, Su Min Yun, In Young Lee
  • Patent number: 10766441
    Abstract: A charging rate monitoring apparatus for in-vehicle power supply configured to monitor charging rates of both a first power storage device and a second power storage device that supply power to a load via a power line, the apparatus including: a first switch connected between the power line and the first power storage device; a second switch connected between the power line and the second power storage device; a first monitoring circuit configured to output on/off signals to the first switch; and a second monitoring circuit configured to output on/off signals to the second switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignees: AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD., SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Hiromichi Yasunori
  • Patent number: 10766442
    Abstract: A power control system of an electronic control unit of a vehicle includes: a main power supply unit and an auxiliary power supply unit for supplying power to the electronic control unit; a main electronic fuse connected to a main circuit for detecting temperature or current flowing in the main circuit to determine whether a failure occurs in the main circuit; an auxiliary electronic fuse connected to an auxiliary circuit for detecting a temperature or current flowing in the auxiliary circuit to determine whether a failure occurs in the auxiliary circuit; and a power control unit connected to the main electronic fuse and to the auxiliary electronic fuse for controlling an ON/OFF operation of the main electronic fuse and the auxiliary electronic fuse according to whether a failure occurs in the main electronic fuse and the auxiliary electronic fuse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Jae Min Kwon
  • Patent number: 10766443
    Abstract: A bumper panel for preventing opening car doors from being damaged from hitting other objects has a design that can be interchanged. The bumper panel may have a design cover that slips over the rigid panel portion having resilient material layer over a rigid panel. The design cover may have an open end to enable the cover to slip over the rigid panel portion and may have mount apertures that align with mount fixtures when configured over the rigid panel. A design cover may be reversible and may have different designs on the inside various sides and surfaces of the design cover. As many as four designs may be displayed depending on the orientation and configuration of the design cover over the rigid panel. A bumper panel may be suspended from mount fixtures or retained along a wall or other object by mount brackets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Inventors: Michael Meyer, Laurie McCarthy-Meyer
  • Patent number: 10766444
    Abstract: A bumper beam 100 includes a closing plate 2 and a hat member 1. The hat member 1 includes a top plate 1a, two flanges 1c, and two walls 1b. The hat member 1 includes a high-strength portion 10H and low-strength portions 10L. The high-strength portion 10H includes a longitudinally middle portion of each of the two walls 1a and extends a length of at least 250 mm. The high-strength portion 10H has a tensile strength not lower than 1.5 GPa. The low-strength portions 10L are located outward of the high-strength portion and extends a length not smaller than the height of the walls. The low-strength portions have a tensile strength lower than the tensile strength of the longitudinally middle portion of the two walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Nippon Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Atsuo Koga, Yoshiaki Nakazawa, Satoshi Hirose
  • Patent number: 10766445
    Abstract: An airbag assembly includes a housing and an airbag supported by the housing. A sheet includes a first end fixed relative to the housing and a second end. A reinforcement is elongated on the sheet. The sheet is deployable below the airbag with the second end free from the airbag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: David R. Huelke, Eric Axel Smitterberg
  • Patent number: 10766446
    Abstract: A system includes a computer programmed to receive impact sensor data specifying a force of an impact to a vehicle body panel. The computer is programmed to, upon determining that the force is below a collision force threshold, identify the impact as user input. The computer is programmed to actuate a vehicle component according to the user input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Charles Everett Badger, II, Brandon Beauvais, Matthew Fleming
  • Patent number: 10766447
    Abstract: An airbag system for a vehicle table is provided. The system includes a table disposed in front of a passenger and an airbag cushion that is provided inside the table. The airbag cushion expands while being deployed in a state in which a first end portion of the airbag cushion is fixed to an internal portion of an edge of the table to allow a second end portion to protrude above the table and to cover an upper surface of the table. The airbag cushion also includes a bottom surface portion that faces the table, which is positioned at an interval from the upper surface of the table while the airbag cushion is deployed. An inflator supplies gas to the airbag cushion to deploy the airbag cushion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Yu Mi Jung
  • Patent number: 10766448
    Abstract: A side inflatable airbag assembly for a vehicle is disclosed. Inflatable airbag assemblies may provide protection for an occupant in a vehicle collision event. In a side collision event, or other event producing lateral movement of the occupant relative to the vehicle, the disclosed inflatable airbag assembly may receive and support the occupant during ride down so as to prevent or minimize injury resulting from impact with a vehicle door, sidewall, center console, or other vehicle structure disposed lateral to the vehicle seating position. The disclosed airbag may differentially support the occupant buy providing varied degrees of support for the shoulder and pelvis, and the torso, which may be particularly beneficial to an elderly occupant whose bones may be more susceptible to some injury types and modes as a result of age-incident health issues.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignees: Autoliv ASP, Inc., Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Derek John Wiscombe, Don Larry Parker, Terry Alan Wheelwright, Andrew Lawrence Holliday, Charles Paul Dinsdale, Bryant S. Whitcomb, Craig Allen Markusic
  • Patent number: 10766449
    Abstract: An airbag module assembly has an airbag cushion with at least one vent, a housing structure for receiving the airbag cushion, a housing cover for attachment to the housing structure, a vent connector connected to the vent, a pin puller mechanism with a retractable pin, and a flexible conduit extending from the airbag cushion adjacent the vent to the pin puller mechanism. The vent connector extends inside the conduit to a looped end for attachment to the retractable pin. The vent connector can be a rope or wire. The vent is initially in a closed position during deployment of the airbag. The airbag cushion is folded about the conduit during assembly and the vent connector is configured to pass through the flexible conduit when the airbag cushion is folded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Young, Jheanell Johnson
  • Patent number: 10766450
    Abstract: A side airbag device including an airbag (2); an inflator (3); and an inner tube (4) formed of a fabric and covering discharge holes (3a) of the inflator (3). The inner tube (4) protrudes toward a center of the airbag (2) in a deployed state and a first end (4b) is closed in the direction of gas discharge, and second ends (4c) that are in a vehicle height direction of the airbag (2) in the deployed state are open. The inner tube (4) is folded back at a folded-back portion (4d) inside the airbag (2) when the airbag (2) is folded in a case where the side airbag device is installed in a vehicle seat back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: AUTOLIV DEVELOPMENT AB
    Inventors: Naoki Hatakeyama, Atsushi Murai
  • Patent number: 10766451
    Abstract: A buffer device has a plate, a moveable ring, and an elastic member. The plate has an insertion hole formed through the plate, a connecting portion, and a retaining hole. The connecting portion and the retaining hole are formed on the plate and are located above the insertion hole of the plate. The moveable ring is moveably mounted out of a front side of the plate and has a slot. The slot is formed through the moveable ring. The elastic member is connected with the connecting portion of the plate and the moveable ring. A top section of the elastic member is wound on the connecting portion of the plate. A bottom section of the elastic member is wound on a top section of the moveable ring and passes through the slot of the moveable ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Inventor: Liang-Hsiung Wang
  • Patent number: 10766452
    Abstract: A self-locking seat belt retractor includes a blocking system for a seat belt winding shaft that is actuated in an at least vehicle-sensitive manner, in which, in the event of triggering, a sensor mass mounted in a vehicle-sensitive manner moves a locking lever with its engagement tip into a trigger position in engagement with the toothing of a control disk, as the result of which the control disk in its joint rotational motion with the belt winding shaft is stopped and the blocking system is activated. The sensor mass is situated in a support part on a contact surface, and when vehicle accelerations occur the sensor mass in the support part is movable on the contact surface by inertial control from a neutral position into the trigger position. The support part together with the sensor mass situated therein is situated in a housing that includes the control disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: AUTOLIV DEVELOPMENT AB
    Inventors: Arne Bargmann, Doris Kröger, Anriruddha Deshpande
  • Patent number: 10766453
    Abstract: An apparatus, a key partner, methods and computer programs for a key module of a vehicle and a vehicle. The apparatus for the key module includes a communication interface for radio communication with a key partner of the vehicle, a motion sensor, and a control module for controlling an operating state from operating states of the key module based on the information about the motion of the key module. The operating states include at least a first operating state, a pre-shutdown operating state and a shutdown state. The control module activates the first operating state if the motion of the key module is above a motion limit value and activates the pre-shutdown operating state if the motion of the key module is below the motion limit value over a period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Karsten Beyer, Christoph Fricke, Peter Lohmann, Dominique Nemetschek, Andreas Thiele, Julian Verkin
  • Patent number: 10766454
    Abstract: An ignition start system in which authentication of a key is carried out twice, first to activate the ignition switch to allow starting the engine and second at the time prior to moving the vehicle from a parked position. The two step authentication prevents driving off in a car that has been started without having the key for security purposes and also to avoid inconvenient situations that can otherwise occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Engle Grange, LLC
    Inventor: Donna Long
  • Patent number: 10766455
    Abstract: A sound output apparatus and a sound output control method including a sound output controller placed in a vehicle having a door lockable and unlockable based on the result of communicated with mobile terminals are disclosed. The vehicle mounted with the sound output controller and a locking and unlocking system including the vehicle are also disclosed. The sound output controller outputs a sound that is different between when the door is unlocked by a specified mobile terminal and when the door is unlocked by other means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoki Uenoyama, Etsuko Nakajima, Junya Masui, Akira Hoshino, Hideo Hasegawa, Keiko Nakano
  • Patent number: 10766456
    Abstract: A powered mobility vehicle including a keyless activation system, wherein the keyless activation system includes a control module carried by the vehicle and a remote operation transmitter, wherein the control module includes an electrical input which is connected to the electrical power supply of the vehicle, an electrical output connected to a motor controller of the vehicle, a switch electrically connected between the electrical input and the electrical output, and a signal receiver electrically connected to the switch, wherein the switch has an active configuration in which electrical power is supplied to the electrical output from the electrical input via the switch and an inactive configuration in which the switch electrically isolates the electrical output from the electrical input, and the configuration of the switch is controlled by signals from the signal receiver; and wherein the transmitter communicates wirelessly with the signal receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Inventor: Neil Thomas Medhurst
  • Patent number: 10766457
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure generally pertain to a system and method for overriding a vehicle inhibitor. This disclosure may be useful for providing an emergency override function for vehicle loan repayment enforcement systems that have wireless user interface modules, and that have become lost or inoperable when needed to generate an emergency override signal. Further, the present disclosure addresses this problem while mitigating additional system cost and additional components. This disclosure includes a method of providing an emergency override function for vehicle loan repayment enforcement systems that have wireless user interface modules, and that have become lost or inoperable when needed to generate an emergency override signal. Further this disclosure includes a method of providing a disablement override function for vehicle loan repayment enforcement systems, wired or wireless, that allows vehicle operation past the grace period in those locations where complete disablement may be limited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Inventor: Reinhold Mueller
  • Patent number: 10766458
    Abstract: An electronic key a vehicle is disclosed. The electronic key includes an inertial sensor, a microcontroller coupled to the inertial sensor and a transmitter/receiver coupled to the microcontroller. The microcontroller is configured to perform an operation, the operation includes detecting a motion, turning a radio of the transmitter/receiver on, determining that a distance to the vehicle is less than a preselected distance, determining an activity using a sensor fusion process, determining that the distance to the vehicle is decreasing and performing a preselected operation on the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Filippo Casamassima, Wolfgang Eber
  • Patent number: 10766459
    Abstract: An apparatus for directing air flow from a defrost vent in a vehicle toward the base of the windshield to de-ice the windshield wiper. A deflector plate is pivotally attached to one end of a jointed arm. The other end of the jointed arm is releasably attachable to the inside of the windshield above the defroster vent. The angles of the jointed arm and the deflector plate are adjusted to direct warm air from the defrost vent directly toward the windshield wiper. A commercial version of the apparatus has a length-adjustable arm to accommodate larger windshields in commercial vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Inventor: Wyndell Don Farrell
  • Patent number: 10766460
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and storage media for controlling wiper devices of a vehicle are disclosed. Exemplary implementations may: remove, by one or more wiper devices, fluid or debris from viewing portals; generate output signals conveying passenger sensor information related to passenger actions; generate output signals conveying vehicle sensor information related to vehicle operations; determine, based on the output signal, the passenger sensor information; determine, based on the output signal, the vehicle sensor information; assess, based on the passenger sensor information or the vehicle sensor information, readiness of a passenger to depart the vehicle via an exit; and control, based on the readiness of the passenger to depart the vehicle via the exit, the one or more wiper devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC.
    Inventors: Hiromitsu Urano, Kentaro Ichikawa, Junya Ueno
  • Patent number: 10766461
    Abstract: A windshield wiper system for an aircraft is provided and includes a motor, an output shaft, a wrap spring and crank rocker mechanism (WSCRM) to which the motor and the output shaft are coupled and a controller. By way of the WSCRM, first directional rotation input to the WSCRM from the motor via a two-stage gear reduction is converted such that the output shaft drives wiper blade oscillation through a first sweep angle and second directional rotation input to the WSCRM from the motor is converted such that the output shaft drives wiper blade oscillation through a second sweep angle. The controller is configured to control the motor such that the first directional rotation is continuously or non-continuously input during first or second flight conditions, respectively, and the second directional rotation is continuously input during third flight conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: ROSEMOUNT AEROSPACE INC.
    Inventors: Srivatsa Santyar, Guru Prasad Mahapatra
  • Patent number: 10766462
    Abstract: A connector for a windshield wiper, and a wiper blade assembly including same, that accommodates multiple pin-type windshield wiper arms having varying pin lengths and locking mechanisms. The connector for connecting a windshield wiper assembly to a wiper arm may have a peripheral wall having at least two opposing peripheral side walls and a top surface extending from one of the two opposing peripheral side walls to the other. The opposing peripheral side walls may each have one or more retaining pin apertures aligned with one another and sized to be capable of slideably accepting a retaining pin of at least one pin-type and/or pin-plus-locking-arm windshield wiper arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Inventor: Hiroshi Kawashima
  • Patent number: 10766463
    Abstract: A system includes a dome, a wiper assembly, a position sensor and a control device. The wiper assembly includes a wiper blade configured to rotate around the dome. The position sensor may be configured to send a signal to a control device when a wiper blade passes the position sensor. The control device may include one or more processors configured to receive the signal from the position sensor and determine a location of the wiper blade relative to the dome based on the received signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Graham Doorley, Paul Thomas Hansen Karplus, Peter Avram
  • Patent number: 10766464
    Abstract: An assembly includes a sensor defining a field of view. The assembly includes a diverter valve having an input port, a first output port, and a second output port. The assembly includes a fluid nozzle in fluid communication with the first output port and facing the field of view. The assembly includes a cooler in fluid communication with the second output port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: David J. Schmidt
  • Patent number: 10766465
    Abstract: A wheel and lug nut cleaning device that includes a static central spine defining a front portion and a rear portion, a shape-retaining core encircling the front and rear portions, and a sheath removably coupled to and encircling the core spanning from the rear portion of the static central spine to the distal end of the static central spine, wherein the sheath has a plurality of spaced-part microfiber flanges continuously spanning from the rear portion of the static central spine to the distal end of the static central spine and each extending in a direction outwardly away from an outer surface of the sheath and the core and having a rounded external end, wherein the spine, core and sheath are operably configured to bend in a position to dispose and orient the front portion in a shape-retaining angle relative to the rear portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Black Tie Brands, LLC
    Inventors: Scott Voelker, Jonathan Batchelor
  • Patent number: 10766466
    Abstract: Method for operating an automated hand brake comprising at least one first actuator and one second actuator for a motor vehicle, wherein each of the actuators is activated for an operation using a defined amperage, is characterized in that, in a first phase, the actuators are operated essentially synchronously until a defined first amperage is reached and, in a subsequent phase, the actuators are sequentially operated until a defined second amperage is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Englert, Edith Mannherz, Frank Baehrle-Miller, Tobias Putzer
  • Patent number: 10766467
    Abstract: The present embodiments relate to a collision prevention apparatus and method, and a driving support apparatus. The collision prevention apparatus may comprise: a collision risk determiner that determines a collision risk of a vehicle, a driving intervention determiner that determines driving intervention of a driver, and a collision prevention controller that controls a collision risk alert according to a result of determination on a collision risk of the vehicle, and adjusts a braking time point of the vehicle according to a result of determination on driving intervention of the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Sang Yeob Lee
  • Patent number: 10766468
    Abstract: A method of providing an additive offset of a longitudinal acceleration signal of a traveling motor vehicle. The signal being measured by an inertial sensor is ascertained. At least the longitudinal acceleration signal, a braking signal, and a drive signal are detected. A force balance of the longitudinal dynamic of the motor vehicle is analyzed. The signals are detected both during at least one acceleration process as well as during at least one braking process. The signals during the acceleration processes are detected and/or analyzed separately from the signals during the braking processes, and the additive offset is ascertained by comparing the signals detected during the acceleration processes or the values calculated therefrom with the signals detected during the braking processes or the values calculated therefrom. The invention further relates to an electronic controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. OHG
    Inventors: Chen Zhang, Julien Levrier
  • Patent number: 10766469
    Abstract: A braking control device is provided to automatically control a main braking device normally used to brake a host vehicle during travel and a second braking device used to maintain the host vehicle in a stopped state. The braking control device has a slip degree prediction unit and a braking device switching unit. The slip degree prediction unit predicts a possibility that the host vehicle will slip. The braking device switching unit is configured to delay a timing with which to start a reduction in a braking force of the main braking device if the slip degree prediction unit predicts a slip when switching the main braking device to the second braking device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Takae, Takeshi Sugano
  • Patent number: 10766470
    Abstract: This brake control device includes: an operation amount sensor which detects the brake operating member operation amount; front-wheel and rear-wheel actuators which generate braking force in front/rear wheels; front-wheel and rear-wheel sensors which detect the outputs of the front-wheel and rear-wheel actuators; and a controller which controls the front-wheel and rear-wheel actuators based on the operation amount and the outputs of the front and rear wheels. On the basis of the operation amount and/or the output of the rear wheels, the controller determines whether or not a long-term low-load state in which the friction member is continuously pressed against the rotary members of the rear wheels within a predetermined range over a long period of time is established. If so, the distribution ratio of the rear-wheel braking force to the total applied braking force is decreased compared to when a long-term low-load state is not determined to be established.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: ADVICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinichiro Yukoku, Takahisa Hishikawa
  • Patent number: 10766471
    Abstract: A system in which the device connecting the brake pedal to the brake actuator includes a control rod and a thrust rod guided in a cylinder, connected to the rod by a ball joint and returned by a spring. The end of the rod comprises a spherical cap having a spherical front bearing surface and a flat rear surface, perpendicular to the axis of the rod. A centering sleeve freely surrounding the control rod presses with its front edge against the rear face of the cap, pushed by a centering spring bearing on the thrust rod and on the centering sleeve to tilt the spherical cap and the rod toward the axis of the thrust rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Chris Anderson, Florent Yvonet, Raynald Sprocq
  • Patent number: 10766472
    Abstract: A method of managing the braking force applied on the wheels of a vehicle including hybrid brake actuators is provided. In particular, safety functions, such as ABS and ESP are performed using hybrid actuators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Lionel Farres, Christophe Long
  • Patent number: 10766474
    Abstract: A method and a system are disclosed for validating operation of a secondary braking system (SBS) of a vehicle having a plurality of brakes. The method may involve generating a predetermined braking pressure for at least one brake of the plurality of brakes and calculating, via an electronic control unit (ECU), an estimate of a pump output pressure based upon a counter electromagnetic force generated by a motor within the SBS. The method may further involve comparing an expected pump output pressure to the estimate, wherein the expected pump output pressure corresponds to the predetermined braking pressure and determining whether the SBS is operating properly based upon the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Veoneer-Nissin Brake Systems Japan Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Alexandru Versin, Arnie Spieker
  • Patent number: 10766475
    Abstract: A device for preventing dilution of engine oil includes an oil pan in which oil for lubrication of the engine is recovered with fuel. An exhaust purifier is provided on a rear end of the engine and purifying exhaust gas. A gas passage can guide flow of exhaust gas passing through the exhaust purifier to the oil pan. A gas valve can control flow rate of the exhaust gas flowing in the gas passage. A controller controls an opening ratio of the gas valve depending on a temperature of oil inside the oil pan to maintain the temperature of the oil equal to or higher than a temperature at which the fuel in the oil pan is vaporized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Sung Jong Oh, Sung Moon Cho, Yong Jun Choi, Yun Sik Jang
  • Patent number: 10766476
    Abstract: An emergency stop system includes a hazard switch that is a momentary switch, an automatic stop controller that performs automatic stop control for causing a vehicle to automatically stop when a predetermined condition is met, and a hazard light controller that controls hazard lights. While automatic stop control is not being performed, the hazard light controller switches the hazard lights between a flashing state and a turned-off state each time a user presses the hazard switch. The hazard light controller brings the hazard lights into the flashing state upon start of the automatic stop control, and turns off the hazard lights (i.e., transitions the hazard lights to the turned-off state) upon depression of the hazard switch while the hazard lights are flashing during execution of the automatic stop control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yukinori Kurahashi, Kei Oshida, Masayuki Nakatsuka
  • Patent number: 10766477
    Abstract: An electronic control unit is configured to make an engine start-up threshold at a time of second operation control smaller than an engine start-up threshold at a time of first operation control. Therefore, the engine stop time at the time of the first operation control can be made long. In consequence, the vehicle efficiency can be enhanced in a vehicle in which the first operation control and the second operation control can be selectively performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takashi Kohno, Kenta Kumazaki
  • Patent number: 10766478
    Abstract: A through the road (TTR) hybridization strategy is proposed to facilitate introduction of hybrid electric vehicle technology in a significant portion of current and expected trucking fleets. In some cases, the technologies can be retrofitted onto an existing vehicle (e.g., a trailer, a tractor-trailer configuration, etc.). In some cases, the technologies can be built into new vehicles. In some cases, one vehicle may be built or retrofitted to operate in tandem with another and provide the hybridization benefits contemplated herein. By supplementing motive forces delivered through a primary drivetrain and fuel-fed engine with supplemental torque delivered at one or more electrically-powered drive axles, improvements in overall fuel efficiency and performance may be delivered, typically without significant redesign of existing components and systems that have been proven in the trucking industry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: HYLIION INC.
    Inventors: Thomas Joseph Healy, Eric Weber
  • Patent number: 10766479
    Abstract: A system and method counters the “rubber band-like effect” in hybrid vehicles by introducing engine noise and/or vibration into a vehicle compartment when the engine reaches a threshold or maximum RPM, but the electric motor continues to provide additional power to increase vehicle speed. An acoustic tube coupling the engine to the passenger compartment is used to simulate the increased engine noise. Vibration mechanisms in the passenger compartment are used to simulate the engine vibration in the passenger compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Abril A. Galang
  • Patent number: 10766480
    Abstract: A hybrid construction machine includes: a motor generator system connected to an internal combustion engine and performing a motor generator operation; an electric power accumulation system connected to the motor generator system; a load drive system connected to the electric power accumulation system and being driven electrically; an abnormality detection part equipped to the motor generator system, the electric power accumulation system and the load drive system; and a main control part determining whether an abnormality has occurred based on a detection value of the abnormality detection part. When the abnormality determination part determines that an abnormality has occurred, the main control part stops a drive of a drive system in which the abnormality is detected in the load drive system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignees: SUMITOMO HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD., SUMITOMO(S.H.I.) CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chunnan Wu, Hideaki Kanbayashi, Kyoko Takanashi
  • Patent number: 10766481
    Abstract: A yielding action assistance system for assisting a vehicle driver to take an appropriate action in yielding to a passing emergency vehicle. The yielding action assistance system comprises: a detector that detects a proximity of the emergency vehicle; an information collector that collects a road information and information about the emergency vehicle and other vehicle; a target zone determiner that sets and updates a target zone to pull over the vehicle based on the information about the other vehicle and the road; and a notifier that informs a driver about the target zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Junya Mizuno, Ayumu Sagawa
  • Patent number: 10766482
    Abstract: A method and device for stabilizing a tractor vehicle-trailer combination during travel, in which tractor vehicle and trailer are connected via at least one pivot joint, including: ascertaining a setpoint buckling angle for a driving-stable setpoint movement of the combination, and/or a setpoint buckling angle velocity for a driving-stable setpoint movement of the combination, between the combination or between two trailers; ascertaining an actual buckling angle for the effective actual movement of the combination, and/or an actual buckling angle velocity for the effective actual movement of the combination, between the tractor vehicle and trailer or between multiple trailers; ascertaining a deviation between the setpoint and actual buckling angles and/or between the setpoint and actual buckling angle velocities, and if the deviation exceeds a threshold value, generating a control signal to activate at least one vehicle component to control movement of the combination in a direction toward a driving-stable mo
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: KNORR-BREMSE SYSTEME FUER NUTZFAHRZEUGE GMBH
    Inventors: Hermann Buchner, Florian Finkl, Martin Mederer
  • Patent number: 10766483
    Abstract: A negator module of a predictive motion system determines initial parameters for a passenger profile using a virtual reality system of an autonomous vehicle. The negator module receives upcoming driving conditions from an autonomous navigation system of the autonomous vehicle during a ride in which the passenger resides in a seat of the autonomous vehicle and uses the virtual reality system. Using a cognitive model, the negator module predicts a cognitive state of the passenger based on the passenger profile and the upcoming driving conditions. The negator module determines commands for actuators coupled to the seat and commands for the virtual reality system that match the predicted cognitive state of the passenger. The negator module sends the commands to the actuators and the virtual reality system to be executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Mauro Marzorati, Shikhar Kwatra, Jeremy R. Fox, Sarbajit K. Rakshit
  • Patent number: 10766484
    Abstract: A parking assistance apparatus can include a sensor for sensing environment information of a vehicle surrounding area, a display for displaying an image of the vehicle surrounding area; and a processor to determine a parking area within the vehicle surrounding area on which parking is allowable, generate virtual parking lines within the parking area, and control the display to display the virtual parking lines, receive an input selecting a candidate parking space within the virtual parking lines, set the selected candidate parking space as a target parking position, and control a vehicle to be driven to the target parking position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Hyeonju Bae, Seongju Ha, Jonghwa Yoon
  • Patent number: 10766485
    Abstract: A vehicle control device includes a detection unit detecting an object around the vehicle, a storage unit storing static object information acquired in advance and reliability of the static object information in association with each other, an acquisition unit acquiring calculation load information of the vehicle control device, a decision unit deciding a reliability threshold to be small with respect to an increase in a calculation load based on the calculation load information, a selection unit selecting the static object information associated with reliability equal to or greater than the reliability threshold from the static object information, a target decision unit deciding a tracking target by comparing a detection result and the static object information selected by the selection unit to each other, a tracking unit tracking the tracking target, and a control unit performing the traveling control based on a tracking result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Ryo Igarashi
  • Patent number: 10766486
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to testing predictions of an autonomous vehicle relating to another vehicle or object in a roadway. For instance, one or more processors may plan to maneuver the autonomous vehicle to complete an action and predict that the other vehicle will take a responsive action. The autonomous vehicle is then maneuvered towards completing the action in a way that would allow the autonomous vehicle to cancel completing the action without causing a collision between the first vehicle and the second vehicle, and in order to indicate to the second vehicle or a driver of the second vehicle that the first vehicle is attempting to complete the action. Thereafter, when the first vehicle is determined to be able to take the action, the action is completed by controlling the first vehicle autonomously using the determination of whether the second vehicle begins to take the particular responsive action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Nathaniel Fairfield, Vadim Furman
  • Patent number: 10766487
    Abstract: Autonomous driving systems and methods include a controller of a first vehicle configured to detect an operating state of a second vehicle proximate the first vehicle, and to predict, based on the operating state of the second vehicle, a potential behavior for the second vehicle that optimizes a cost function from the perspective of the second vehicle. The controller then controls the first vehicle to avoid a collision with the second vehicle assuming the second vehicle operates according to the potential behavior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignees: Denso International America, Inc., Robotwits LLC
    Inventors: Maxim Likhachev, Ellis Ratner, Lu Lyu, Takashi Bando, Yunfei Xu