Patents Issued in April 6, 2021
  • Patent number: 10967849
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a plurality of wheels; a motor configured to apply a driving force to the plurality of wheels; a rain detector configured to detect a precipitation; a temperature detector configured to detect outside temperature; and a controller configured to control a torque of the motor based on the precipitation detected by the rain detector and the outside temperature detected by the temperature detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Do Youn Jang
  • Patent number: 10967850
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling driving of a vehicle, and a vehicle system are provided. The apparatus according to the present disclosure includes a determination device that determines a closed state of an engine clutch, based on a state of a motor or an engine of the vehicle when a state of the engine clutch is unknown by an engine clutch controller. A state determination device receives information from the determination device to thus determine whether the engine clutch is in a closed or open state. A motor controller allows reverse rotation of the motor for reverse driving control of the vehicle in response to determining that the engine clutch is in the open state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Yeon Bok Kim, Tae Woo Kim
  • Patent number: 10967851
    Abstract: A vehicle system includes a camera, a sensor, and processors for detecting an unoccupied parking spot while the vehicle traverses a detection path. The processors define a variable virtual boundary based on at least one object detected on a side of the detection path excluding the unoccupied parking spot and generates at least one parking maneuver based on the unoccupied parking spot and the variable virtual boundary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Markus Krekel, Ahmed Benmimoun, Andrew Ochmanski, Thomas Gerlitz, Nadja Wysietzki, Cinderella Matuk, Li Xu, Kyle Simmons
  • Patent number: 10967852
    Abstract: A method, an apparatus and a system for displaying an image of a vehicle blind spot are provided. The apparatus is coupled to at least one external camera disposed outside the vehicle, at least one internal camera disposed inside the vehicle with a lens facing towards a driver, and at least one display disposed inside the vehicle. The method comprises capturing an image of the external environment of the vehicle by the external camera as an external image, capturing an image including the driver by the internal camera as an internal image, recognizing a face of the driver and a displacement of the face in the internal image, and adjusting a position of an ROI in the external image according to the recognized displacement, to display an image of the ROI on the display corresponding to the external camera. The displayed image of the external of the vehicle may be adjusted according to the posture or the angle of view of the driver, to have the image of the current blind spot by the driver shown correctly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: VIA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Hsueh-hsin Han, Hsuan-chieh Huang
  • Patent number: 10967853
    Abstract: A computer includes a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to, upon determining that a yaw rate for a host vehicle is below a threshold, identify a front corner point of a target, and to suppress threat mitigation when a time to collision between the host vehicle and front corner point of the target exceeds a time threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Purushothaman Rayalsamy, Christopher Pontisakos, Alex Maurice Miller
  • Patent number: 10967854
    Abstract: A driving supporter includes: an object-information obtainer that obtains object information relating to at least an object in an area; an environment obtainer that obtains a relative positional relationship between the own vehicle and the object located in the area and identified based on the object information obtained by the object-information obtainer; and a support inhibitor that inhibits driving support when an absolute value of a steering operation value representing a magnitude of a steering operation is greater than an inhibition threshold value. The support inhibitor includes a threshold-value determiner that determines the inhibition threshold value to a smaller value when the relative positional relationship is a specific relationship in which it is estimated that a steering operation in a direction in which the own vehicle avoids the object is to be performed, than when the relative positional relationship is not the specific relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroaki Kataoka
  • Patent number: 10967855
    Abstract: A vehicle and a method for controlling the same are provided to advance a control start time of an (ADAS) of a vehicle. The vehicle includes an image capturing device that detects an object using an image of the object located in a peripheral region of a vehicle and a detection sensor that acquires position information of the object and speed information of the object. An input receives a command for starting the ADAS and a controller starts the ADAS when a traveling environment and traveling status of the vehicle satisfy a predefined condition. A warning start time of the ADAS is advanced by a predetermined period of time after starting operation of the ADAS and an operation release reference value for releasing the operation of the ADAS is set to be greater than a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Sungmin Ji
  • Patent number: 10967856
    Abstract: The present radio system transmits an electromagnetic signal to nearby devices requesting the device respond. The radio system also receives responses to the electromagnetic signal from the nearby devices. Based on the radio technology used, the signaling of the transmitted electromagnetic signal may be varied. For example, the transmitted electromagnetic signal may be a Bluetooth, 802.11, or other radio signal. A device that received the signal from the radio unit may transmit a response signal with the same radio technology. However, in some instances, the radio technology used for communication may operate on several radio (e.g., frequency) channels. Both the transmitter and receiver must operate on the same channel at the same time in order to communicate. Thus, it may be desirable to transmit the electromagnetic signal on more than one channel at the same time, in order to increase the chances that a nearby device responds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventor: Pierre-yves Droz
  • Patent number: 10967857
    Abstract: In a driving support device for a vehicle, a collision prediction unit uses a determination plane defined by a lateral position axis indicating a position with respect to a vehicle in a lateral direction orthogonal to a vehicle traveling direction, and a prediction time period axis indicating a time-to-collision set in the vehicle traveling direction. Specifically, the collision prediction unit establishes a first collision prediction area as an area in the determination plane. The collision prediction unit determines whether an object is present in the first collision prediction area. Based on this determination, the collision prediction unit predicts a collision between the vehicle and the object. The width of the first collision prediction area along the lateral position axis is set based on the width of the vehicle. The lateral position of the first collision prediction area is set based on the speed of the object and the time-to-collision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shogo Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 10967858
    Abstract: A vehicle speed-limit control method is provided. The method includes determining whether a speed-limit control inactivation condition is satisfied by accelerator pedal engaged when speed-limit control is activated. In response to determining that the inactivation condition is satisfied, a candidate value of an accelerator pedal sensor (APS) and a candidate gear shift stage are determined and a speed margin is determined based on the candidate value of the APS, the candidate gear shift stage and a vehicle speed. The speed margin is compared with a predetermined threshold. The candidate gear shift stage is determined as a transition gear shift stage and the candidate value of the APS is determined as a transition value of the APS when the speed margin is equal to or greater than the threshold. The vehicle is operated based on the transition gear shift stage and the transition value of the APS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Jin Kyeom Cho, Hui Un Son, Joon Young Park, Sung Deok Kim
  • Patent number: 10967859
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus controls a vehicle that is performing automated driving traveling. The vehicle control apparatus comprises: a communication unit configured to acquire deceleration information of another vehicle by communication with the other vehicle; a setting unit configured to set, for a deceleration of the vehicle, a range of an allowable deceleration that allows a vehicle speed change within a predetermined range; a determination unit configured to compare the deceleration of the vehicle with a deceleration included in the deceleration information and determine whether deceleration control of matching the deceleration of the vehicle with the deceleration of the other vehicle can be performed within the range of the allowable deceleration; and a control unit configured to perform the deceleration control of the vehicle based on a determination result of the determination unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Mizuno, Takayuki Kishi, Yoshiaki Konishi, Makoto Kurihara
  • Patent number: 10967860
    Abstract: A vehicle control device is provided which is capable of properly satisfying an acceleration request from a driver even when the driver performs a step-on operation of an accelerator pedal in the implementation of an ACC mode. The vehicle control device is capable of: a front car follow-up travel mode, in which a driving force and a transmission ratio are controlled based on a first accelerator position (AP1) for an inter-vehicle distance to a preceding vehicle to be a target inter-vehicle distance; and an override mode, in which the driving force and the transmission ratio are controlled based on a second accelerator position (AP2) determined by an operation of an accelerator operator performed by a driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuichiro Takemori
  • Patent number: 10967861
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to controlling a first vehicle in an autonomous driving mode. While doing so, a second vehicle may be identified. This vehicle may be determined to be a tailgating vehicle. An initial allowable discomfort value representing expected discomfort of an occupant of the first vehicle and expected discomfort of an occupant of the second vehicle may be identified. Determining a speed profile for a future trajectory of the first vehicle that meets the value may be attempted based on a set of factors corresponding to a reaction of the tailgating vehicle. When a speed profile that meets the value cannot be determined, the value may be adjusted until a speed profile that meets the value is determined. The speed profile that meets an adjusted value is used to control the first vehicle in the autonomous driving mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Inventor: Tobias Kunz
  • Patent number: 10967862
    Abstract: A computing system can receive sensor log data from one or more first autonomous vehicles (AVs) operating throughout a transport service region, and analyze the sensor log data against a set of road anomaly signatures. Based on analyzing the sensor log data against the set of road anomaly signatures, the computing system may identify road anomalies within the transport service region, and generate a resolution response for each road anomaly. The computing system can then transmit the resolution response to one or more second AVs to cause the one or more second AVs to respond to the road anomaly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: UATC, LLC
    Inventor: Alyson Bonk
  • Patent number: 10967863
    Abstract: A control device of a vehicle with a stepped automatic transmission has: a gradient acquiring part; a driving force calculating part; a future change estimating part; and a shift control part. The shift control part prohibits change of the gear stage when the speed of change of the speed or acceleration of the vehicle in the future if the maximum driving force applied, is within a reference range of speed of change where the occupants would not notice a change in speed or acceleration, and permits change of the gear stage when the speed of change of the speed or acceleration of the vehicle in the future if the maximum driving force applied, is outside the reference range of speed of change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takaaki Tokura, Hideki Takamatsu, Hirofumi Sato, Shojiro Suga, Katsumi Kono, Akira Hino, Masato Matsubara
  • Patent number: 10967864
    Abstract: This vehicle control device is provided with: an external sensor which detects a vehicle stop position present ahead of a host vehicle in the travel direction; and a remaining distance calculation unit which calculates the remaining distance to the detected vehicle stop position from the host vehicle. The vehicle control device is further provided with a medium-term trajectory generation unit and a short-term trajectory generation unit which use a predefined setting method to set a target speed for decelerating the host vehicle in accordance with the calculated remaining distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Oguro, Daichi Kato, Chihiro Abe
  • Patent number: 10967865
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a vehicle that includes an engine and an electric machine are described. In one example, electric machine torque is adjusted according to a wheel torque in a wheel torque creep mode where an engine provides torque to vehicle wheels. Operating the electric machine in this way may allow the electric machine to emulate wheel creep torque that is generated via an engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yanan Zhao, Jason Meyer, Rajit Johri, Jeffrey Allen Doering
  • Patent number: 10967866
    Abstract: A power-train controlling apparatus controls a power train of an engine electric hybrid vehicle. The power train is provided with an engine, a catalytic converter, an oxygen-level sensor, an engaging element, and an electric rotating machine. The power-train controlling apparatus includes a fuel injection controller, a catalyst diagnosing unit, and an engaging-element controller. The fuel injection controller stops fuel injection to the engine during coasting of the vehicle while the engaging element is engaged, introduces oxygen to the catalytic converter, and resumes the fuel injection in a fuel-rich state while the vehicle is running. The catalyst diagnosing unit diagnoses the catalytic converter after the resuming of the fuel injection. The engaging-element controller prohibits transition of the engaging element to a released state during a period between the stopping of the fuel injection and completion of the diagnosing of the catalytic converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Atsushi Kaneko, Tatsuya Nishizawa
  • Patent number: 10967867
    Abstract: A method is provided for efficiently providing occupancy information on the surroundings of a vehicle, which vehicle has sensors for ascertaining the occupancy of the surroundings. The method includes the following steps: receiving sensor measurements of the surroundings of the vehicle; determining the occupancy of the surroundings by obstacles using the sensor measurements; providing a division of the surroundings into regions; for each region of the surroundings, determining the most certainly identified occupancy in the respective region if multiple occupancies of the surroundings have been detected in the respective region; and determining the next occupancy, namely the respective region occupancy for which the shortest distance has been determined according to a distance determination specified for the respective region; and providing the most certainly identified occupancy and the next occupancy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Benoit Vanholme, Michael Manz
  • Patent number: 10967868
    Abstract: The invention relates to a driving assistance method for a vehicle, wherein the movement of the vehicle in the direction of travel can be influenced in accordance with a traffic-controlling signal system positioned on the road in front of the vehicle and having cyclically recurring signal states, and wherein, inside the vehicle, first data relating to the position of a stop line associated with the signal system, and second data relating to the start times and end times of individual signal states of the signal system are determined via a first data processing system (electronic horizon) and provided in the form of data packets (messages) (A, B) for electronic control devices by means of a data connection inside the vehicle, and wherein individual data packets contain at least the following data: an earliest possible and/or latest possible time for the exchange of a signal phase, as well as a most probable time of the exchange of a signal phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Hongjun Pu
  • Patent number: 10967869
    Abstract: A road surface condition estimation apparatus (1) is provided with a collecting device (111) for collecting, from vehicle (2), behavior information relating to a behavior of the vehicle; a determining device (112) for determining on the basis of the behavior information whether or not an abnormality condition is satisfied, the abnormality condition being set on the basis of a specific behavior that is expected to be taken by the vehicle when the vehicle encounters a road surface abnormality; and an estimating device (112) for estimating a condition of the road surface on the basis of a determined result of the determining device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yosuke Kimura, Hiroshi Majima, Masaya Fujimori, Takeo Moriai, Tatsuya Obuchi
  • Patent number: 10967870
    Abstract: A hill descent system for a vehicle and a control method thereof comprising: wheels; wheel speed sensors used for detecting the speeds of the wheels; motors used for selectively driving or braking the wheels; a motor controllers, for controlling the working states of the motors; resolver sensors for detecting the rotational speeds of the motors; and a vehicle control unit for determining the actual downhill speed of the vehicle and adjusting the working states of the motors to control the descent of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: BYD COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Heping Ling, Fanliang Meng, Mingchuan Shi, Yanfei Xiong, Weiqiang Chen
  • Patent number: 10967871
    Abstract: In various embodiments, a driver sensing subsystem computes a characterization of a driver based on physiological attribute(s) of the driver that are measured as the driver operates a vehicle. Subsequently, a driver assessment application uses a confidence level model to estimate a confidence level associated with the driver based on the characterization of the driver. The driver assessment application then causes driver assistance application(s) to perform operation(s) that are based on the confidence level and modify at least one functionality of the vehicle. Advantageously, by enabling the driver assistance application(s) to take into account the confidence level of the driver, the driver assessment application can improve driving safety relative to conventional techniques for implementing driver assistance applications that disregard the confidence levels of drivers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Harman International Industries, Incorporated
    Inventors: Stefan Marti, Joseph Verbeke, Sven Kratz
  • Patent number: 10967872
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to transportation systems. More particularly, embodiments relate to methods and systems of vehicle data collection by a user having a mobile device. In a particular embodiment, vehicle movement data (also termed herein “driving data” or “data”) is collected, analyzed and transformed, and combinations of collected data and transformed data are used in different ways, including, but not limited to, reporting and display of the combinations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: TRUEMOTION, INC.
    Inventors: Rafi Finegold, Brad Cordova, Joe Adelmann, Philippe Bosshart, Matt McClure
  • Patent number: 10967873
    Abstract: A processor associated with a vehicle receives sensor data from a plurality of sensors in the vehicle. Each sensor is configured to measure a different parameter of a driver of the vehicle. The processor applies a model to the received sensor data, which when applied causes the processor to output a determination, based on the parameters of the driver, of attentiveness of the driver to driving the vehicle. Responsive to the determination indicating the driver is not attentive to driving the vehicle, the processor causes the vehicle to output an alert to the driver or to automatically control a driving function of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Cobalt Industries Inc.
    Inventor: Rana June Sobhany
  • Patent number: 10967874
    Abstract: Method for controlling a vehicle, comprising: identifying an upcoming curve and determining its properties; determining current vehicle speed, vv, estimating friction, ?e, between a tire of the vehicle and the road; estimating maximum allowable vehicle speed, vmax_e, when entering the curve based on the properties, speed and friction; if the current vehicle speed is higher than the estimated maximum allowable vehicle speed, determining that a friction measurement is required; if distance, dv, between the vehicle and a curve entrance is higher than a predetermined threshold distance, dT, and if a braking action is detected, performing a friction measurement during the braking action to determine current friction, ?c; if a distance between the vehicle and the curve entrance is lower than the predetermined threshold distance, performing a friction measurement to determine a current friction; and determining a maximum allowable vehicle speed vmax_d based on the curve radius, speed and friction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventors: Mats Jonasson, Mattias Brannstrom, Rickard Nilsson
  • Patent number: 10967875
    Abstract: According to one aspect, an autonomous all-terrain vehicle (ATV) may include a controller receiving a command associated with autonomous driving and monitoring components of the autonomous ATV, a location unit determining a current location associated with the autonomous ATV and a destination location associated with the command, a navigation module determining one or more driving parameters based on map data associated with a path from the current location to the destination location, and a safety logic implementing an emergency stop based on an error determined by the controller. The controller may monitor the location unit and the navigation module for the error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Joshua D. VanLandingham, Maruthi Govindarajan, Kavya Vittala, Lichao Ma
  • Patent number: 10967876
    Abstract: A vehicle control system including: a surrounding state detector is configured to detect a state of the surroundings, a first running assistor is configured to automatically control at least acceleration/deceleration or steering such that the subject vehicle can run along a route to a destination; a monitor is configured to monitor whether or not the first running assistor is in a predetermined state and limit an operation of the first running assistor in a case in which the first running assistor is in the predetermined state; and a second running assistor is configured to assist a occupant's driving on the basis of the result of the detection executed and perform steering control according to a relation between the subject vehicle and a lane in a case in which the first running assistor is determined as being in the predetermined state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masahiko Asakura, Hironobu Kiryu, Satoru Otsuka
  • Patent number: 10967877
    Abstract: A vehicle control system includes a recognition unit that is configured to recognize nearby vehicles traveling around a subject vehicle, an automated driving control unit that is configured to implement a plurality of automated driving modes in which at least one of speed control and steering control of the subject vehicle is automatically implemented, the plurality of automated driving modes having different degrees of surroundings monitoring obligation of the subject vehicle imposed on an occupant of the subject vehicle, and a management unit that is configured to manage the surroundings monitoring obligation of the subject vehicle, the management unit being configured to reduce the surroundings monitoring obligation of the subject vehicle when vehicle platooning in which the subject vehicle travels while following a preceding vehicle traveling in front of the subject vehicle among the nearby vehicles recognized by the recognition unit is implemented by the automated driving control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masahiko Asakura, Kunimichi Hatano, Naoto Sen, Masaaki Abe
  • Patent number: 10967878
    Abstract: A vehicle control system for controlling at least one subsystem of a vehicle; the vehicle control system comprising: a subsystem controller for initiating control of the or each of the at least one vehicle subsystems in one of a plurality of baseline subsystem control modes by setting at least one control parameter of the or each of the at least one subsystems to a predetermined, stored, value or state applicable to that baseline subsystem control mode, each baseline subsystem control mode corresponding to one or more different driving conditions for the vehicle; and input means for permitting a user to provide an input to the control system, wherein, for at least one of the plurality of baseline subsystem control modes, the control system is configured to allow a user to define, via the input means, a user-configured subsystem control mode based on one said at least one baseline subsystem control mode by adjusting the value or state of at least one of said at least one control parameters to a value or state
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: JAGUAR LAND ROVER LIMITED
    Inventors: Charlotte Cooke, Robert Burford, David Armstrong, Christopher Johnson
  • Patent number: 10967879
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to implement, at a low hardware cost, a device that changes an autonomous driving control parameter whose step size is variably set. An autonomous driving control parameter changing device according to the present invention includes, a gesture operation acquisition unit that acquires information on a gesture operation for moving the operation target icon, a parameter changing unit that changes the autonomous driving control parameter in an increase or decrease direction defined in association with a movement direction in which the operation target icon is moved, and a step size setting unit that variably sets a step size based on a predetermined condition, the step size corresponding to an amount of change in the autonomous driving control parameter made by the parameter changing unit per occurrence of the gesture operation, and the change operation screen includes a display of the step size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mitsuo Shimotani, Yoshitaka Nakamura, Tadashi Miyahara, Naohiko Obata, Tsutomu Matsubara
  • Patent number: 10967880
    Abstract: A system and method for disabling a function of a feature of a vehicle based on a validation request to a centralized validation authority, prior to a use of the feature includes determining that a condition is met as part of a startup sequence of the vehicle, transmitting the validation request to the centralized validation authority, in response to determining the condition is met, wherein the validation request is part of the startup sequence of the vehicle, receiving a validation decision from the centralized validation authority, and disabling the feature of the vehicle as a function of the receiving the validation decision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Cesar Augusto Rodriguez Bravo, Gregory J. Boss, Rick A. Hamilton, II
  • Patent number: 10967881
    Abstract: A utility vehicle includes a frame and a plurality of ground-engaging members supporting the frame. Each of the plurality of ground-engaging members is configured to rotate about an axle. The utility vehicle further includes a powertrain assembly supported by the frame and a braking system configured to operate in a normal run mode and an anti-lock braking mode. The braking system includes an anti-lock braking control module operably coupled to the plurality of ground-engaging members and configured to automatically engage the anti-lock braking mode in response to a predetermined condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Harry Pongo, Brian E. Brandt, Joshua T. Weed, Agata Kaleta, Jacob J. Minick, Ryan D. Kincade
  • Patent number: 10967882
    Abstract: An autonomous vehicle system, and a method of using same, includes an eye or face tracking sensor for tracking a user's movements or expressions, a head up display for displaying information to the user, an instrument cluster for providing driving measurements of the autonomous vehicle, a time of flight sensor, a camera monitor system for displaying a side or rear view of the vehicle, and a control unit to communicate with the eye or face tracking sensor, the head up display, the time of flight sensor, and the camera monitor system when receiving a request to turn over driving controls to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Motherson Innovations Company Limited
    Inventor: Reinhold Langbein
  • Patent number: 10967883
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting vehicle noises to notify the vehicle operator of speed changes in human-in-the-loop cruise control and semi-autonomous vehicle operation. In one example, a method for drive unit of a vehicle may include responsive to a vehicle speed meeting a predefined condition relative to a threshold vehicle speed, adjusting one or more drive unit actuators to modulate engine noise while maintaining desired wheel torque within a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth Miller, Thomas Leone, Aed Dudar
  • Patent number: 10967884
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided, for example, to detect and to provide alerting of a part of a vehicle subsequently moving into the path of travel of a bicyclist or other vehicle. In the context of a method, one or more events indicative of a part of a vehicle subsequently moving into a path of a bicyclist are detected. The method also includes taking an action, responsive to detection of the one or more events, to reduce the risk to a person outside the vehicle or another vehicle proximate the door of the vehicle, such as by providing an alert as to the vehicle subsequently moving into the path of the bicyclist or to at least temporarily prevent the vehicle from subsequently moving into the path of the bicyclist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: HERE GLOBAL B.V.
    Inventors: Frank Kozak, Chris Dougherty
  • Patent number: 10967885
    Abstract: The dining car (10) includes first and second side structures laid out facing each other, and a first lower floor (16), the dining car comprising a first consumption area (Z1), a second preparation area (Z2), and a third technical area (Z3). The first side face includes first supporting portions intended to support a second upper floor (20), and the first (Z1), second (Z2) and third (Z3) areas are all made on the first lower floor (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: ALSTOM TRANSPORT TECHNOLOGIES
    Inventor: Emmanuel Kondyra
  • Patent number: 10967886
    Abstract: A rail car includes an elongated floor supporting a rail car body, a draft sill depending from the floor, and a crash energy management (CEM) system. The CEM system includes a coupler plate coupled to the draft sill and depending from the floor between the draft sill and a first end of the floor, a coupler support depending from the floor between the coupler plate and the first end of the floor, an elongated coupler assembly extending from the coupler plate in a direction of the first end of the floor via an opening defined by the coupler support, and at least one cable connected in tension between the coupler support and the coupler plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Bombardier Transportation GmbH
    Inventors: Simon Vergnaud, Daniel Koudolo, André Gagnon
  • Patent number: 10967887
    Abstract: Provided is a bearing monitoring device of a railcar, the railcar being constituted by coupling a plurality of cars including carbodies and bogies, the bearing monitoring device including: bearing temperature sensors provided at the respective bogies and configured to directly or indirectly detect temperatures of bearings of the bogies; at least one state sensor provided at at least one of the carbodies of the plurality of cars and configured to be used for calculating loads or rotating speeds of the bearings; and a storage unit provided at at least one of the carbodies of the plurality of cars and configured to store data pieces of signals detected by the bearing temperature sensors and the state sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takehiro Nishimura, Yoshi Sato, Keiichiro Kamura, Masayuki Mitsue
  • Patent number: 10967888
    Abstract: At an on-board control unit of an on-board apparatus, a coupling detecting unit detects coupling of a failure train with respect to the own train. Then, in the case where detection is performed by the coupling detecting unit, a train occupancy range calculating unit updates train length information using the number of vehicles of the failure train and uses the updated train length information to calculate train occupancy range information. Further, a traveling control unit controls traveling and stop of the own train as a series of coupled trains in the case where detection is performed by the coupling detecting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: KYOSAN ELECTRIC MFG. CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshifumi Nishi, Tamotsu Yokoyama, Tomonori Itagaki, Kenji Mizuno
  • Patent number: 10967889
    Abstract: The invention relates to a point machine for a rail switch, comprising at least one switching mechanism, designed to transmit at least one switching force onto at least one switch point and at least one switching element, designed to transmit at least one switching force onto the switching mechanism. According to the invention, the at least one switching element is designed to convert a load which is moved by the switching element substantially in a longitudinal direction (L) relative to the switching element to a torque. The invention also relates to a switch point, a point device having said switch point, a rail switch comprising said point device, and a center buffer coupling and to a rail vehicle having said center buffer coupling and to a rail traffic system comprising the rail vehicle and the rail switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: SCHÄFER ZECHLIN GBR
    Inventor: Tristan Schäfer
  • Patent number: 10967890
    Abstract: A first antenna group includes one first antenna disposed at one end of a leading car, and another first antenna disposed at one end of a following car. A second antenna group includes one second antenna disposed at the one end of the leading car, the position where the one second antenna is disposed being different from the position where the one first antenna is disposed in a direction orthogonal to a travel direction of the leading car, and another second antenna disposed at the one end of the following car. A measurement unit measures radio wave strength between a pair of first antennas during communication via the first antenna group. A controller is enabled to make a switch from the first antenna group to the second antenna group when the radio wave strength is less than a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Nobuhiko Arashin, Takuji Maeda
  • Patent number: 10967891
    Abstract: A method and system for identification of obstacles near railways and for providing alarm to an operator of a train if obstacles constitute threat to the train are disclosed. The system comprise IR sensor disposed at the front of the train facing the direction of travel. The IR sensor receives images of the rails in front of the train. The system comprises pre-stored vibration profile of the train's engine that is used to eliminate influence of the engine's vibrations on the accuracy of the received images. Presence of rails in the received frames is detected based on inherent differences of temperature between the rails and the substrate in the rails' background, such as the railway sleepers and the materials underneath it. The system may detect defects in an electric conductor system of a train.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: RAIL VISION LTD
    Inventors: Elen Josef Katz, Yuval Isbi, Shahar Hania, Noam Teich
  • Patent number: 10967892
    Abstract: A method and system for motion control of movers in an independent cart system is disclosed. In one implementation, the independent cart system includes a plurality of track segments, each section having a respective controller. One of the controllers receives a motion command for a plurality of carts, respectively. The controller generates a force command for each of the plurality of carts and transmits the respective commands to the track segments commutating the plurality of carts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark R. Cooper, David D. Van Dorpe, Patrick E. Ozimek, Shankernarayan Ramanarayanan
  • Patent number: 10967893
    Abstract: A locomotive communication system includes a wireless communication device and a controller that controls operation of the wireless communication device. The controller directs the wireless communication device to switch between operating in an off-board communication mode and operating in an onboard communication mode. The wireless communication device communicates a remote data signal with an off-board location while the wireless communication device is operating in the off-board communication mode and the wireless communication device communicates a local data signal between the propulsion-generating vehicles of the vehicle system while the wireless communication device is operating in the onboard communication mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: TRANSPORTATION IP HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventors: Jared Klineman Cooper, Robert James Foy, David Michael Peltz, Eugene Smith, Steven Andrew Kellner, Brian William Schroeck, Keith Gilbertson, Joseph Forrest Noffsinger, Wolfgang Daum
  • Patent number: 10967894
    Abstract: Railroad crossing object detection systems and methods include radar sensors detecting object presence, speed and heading in a different manner. A controller compares signal outputs from the different sensors to provide traffic control preemption signals and self-diagnose sensor problems. The sensor devices may include an ultra-wideband (UWB) impulse radar device and at least one reflective device providing failsafe object presence detection and object non-presence detection in redundant fashion with at least a second sensor device such as a side-fired radar device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: THE ISLAND RADAR COMPANY
    Inventor: Thomas N. Hilleary
  • Patent number: 10967895
    Abstract: A method for safe supervising train integrity includes: (a) acquiring first position data of the first carriage via a first tracking unit which is installed on-board of a first carriage and acquiring second position data of a second carriage via a second tracking unit which is installed on-board of the second carriage, wherein the position data is related to a rail route coordinate system; (b) determining a deviation between a reference value which depends on the length of the train and a position value which depends on position data of at least one of the tracking units; (c) detecting whether train integrity is given by analyzing the deviation; (d) repeating steps a) through c); wherein the tracking units are part of on-board units of an automatic train protection system. Thus a cost-efficient method for supervising train integrity which complies with safety level SIL4 can be realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: THALES MANAGEMENT & SERVICES DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventors: Harald Bauer, Veit Lauterberg, Christian Wallner, Klaus Mindel
  • Patent number: 10967896
    Abstract: This invention is directed to a kit of coolers that offers a number of improvements over the prior art. The coolers are modified to specifically accommodate frozen gel ice packs instead of ice cubes. Because there is no spill water, the coolers open with front-facing pull-out drawers. The coolers stack atop one another with interlocking parts. Easy transport is provided by a handle and wheels, which may be attached to the bottom (main) bin or alternatively on a separate dolly. Internally, the cooler bins are compartmentalized horizontally or vertically with dividers. Hollow spaces within the walls and dividers of the bins accommodate frozen gel ice packs. Overall, the coolers are easier to pack and unpack, stack, load into a car, and transport on the ground than conventional ice chest coolers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Inventor: Alina Kravchenko
  • Patent number: 10967897
    Abstract: A foldable golf cart includes an upper frame, a lower frame, a handlebar set, a front wheel set, and two rear wheel sets. The upper frame is mounted on the lower frame. The front wheel set is mounted at a front end of the lower frame. The rear wheel sets are rotatably mounted on the left side and the right side of the rear end of the lower frame respectively. The handlebar set is connected with the upper frame through a first lock mechanism, the upper frame is connected with the lower frame through a second lock mechanism, and the first lock mechanism and the second lock mechanism are connected through a link mechanism. When the first lock mechanism is unlocked, the handlebar set is rotated, and at this moment, the link mechanism drives the second lock mechanism to be unlocked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: NINGBO WENTAI SPORT EQUIPMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Sheng Zhang
  • Patent number: 10967898
    Abstract: A motor-adjustable steering column for a motor vehicle, includes a support unit, which can be mounted on a vehicle body, and by which an actuator unit is held, in which a steering spindle is rotatably mounted about a longitudinal axis. An adjusting drive is connected to the support unit and to the actuator unit, and by which the actuator unit can be adjusted relative to the support unit. The adjusting drive includes a drive unit and a threaded spindle engaging in a spindle nut with a threaded spindle axis, wherein the threaded spindle can be driven in rotation or in translation by the drive unit. The drive unit is connected to a component of the steering column such that it is movable in a transverse direction transversely to the threaded spindle axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignees: thyssenkrupp Presta AG, thyssenkrupp AG
    Inventors: René Marco Schmidt, Samuel Gomez Redondo