Patents Issued in June 1, 2021
  • Patent number: 11021040
    Abstract: An air deflector bar extends parallel to an upper edge of a front windscreen of a motor vehicle. The air deflector bar includes an air deflection channel that extends along its length. The air deflection channel is concavely delimited in cross section by means of a first side that butts against the front windscreen and a second side that is connected to the first side and is at a distance from the first side. The inner surface of the second side of the air deflector bar is oriented toward an edge of a dashboard of the motor vehicle, which edge delimits the dashboard toward a passenger interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Michael Saliger
  • Patent number: 11021041
    Abstract: An integrated thermal management system includes a cooling circuit having a component thermal conditioning circuit, a battery thermal conditioning circuit, a cabin heating circuit, a cabin cooling circuit and a valve group configured for selectively interconnecting or isolating the component thermal conditioning circuit, the battery thermal conditioning circuit, the cabin heating circuit and the cabin cooling circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jing He, Manfred Koberstein, Loren John Lohmeyer, III, Jacob Gregory Powers, Todd Louis Wenzel, Christian Brent Schoeneman
  • Patent number: 11021042
    Abstract: An air-conditioning control system includes: a weather information providing system and an air-conditioning control apparatus that controls an air conditioner installed in a vehicle. The air-conditioning control apparatus includes: a receiving unit that receives, from the weather information providing system, first weather information indicating an estimated weather condition predicted at the vehicle; a measurement unit that performs measurements concerning second weather information indicating an actual weather condition at the position of the vehicle; a judgment unit that judges whether or not a reliability level of the first weather information is below a first threshold value by comparing the first weather information and the second weather information or by detecting a change per unit time of the second weather information; and a transmission unit that transmits, to the weather information providing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kan Saito
  • Patent number: 11021043
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) door diagnostic system. The system has a rotatable hard stop lever that contacts, and restricts movement of, both a first airflow control door and a second airflow control door beyond a stop position when both the first airflow control door and the second airflow control door are present and moving in sync. When one of the first and second airflow control doors is not present or the first and second airflow control doors are not in sync, only one of the first and second airflow control doors will: contact the hard stop lever at the stop position, rotate the hard stop lever, and move beyond the stop position. The HVAC door diagnostic system generates a failure notice when the first airflow control door or the second airflow control door moves beyond the stop position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO International America, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Wisniewski, Jason Wagnitz
  • Patent number: 11021044
    Abstract: There is disclosed a vehicle air conditioner device of a so-called heat pump system to accurately perform efficient and comfortable heating of a vehicle interior. The vehicle air conditioner device includes a heating medium circulating circuit 23 which heats air to be supplied from an air flow passage 3 to a vehicle interior. A controller calculates a required heating capability TGQhtr of the heating medium circulating circuit to complement a shortage of an actual heating capability Qhp to a required heating capability TGQ of a radiator 4. The controller calculates a decrease amount ?Qhp of the actual heating capability Qhp from a difference ?TXO between a refrigerant evaporation temperature TXO of an outdoor heat exchanger 7 and a refrigerant evaporation temperature TXObase in non-frosting, and adds the decrease amount ?Qhp to the required heating capability TGQhtr to execute the heating by the heating medium circulating circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Sanden Holdings Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Suzuki, Ryo Miyakoshi, Kouhei Yamashita, Megumi Shigeta
  • Patent number: 11021045
    Abstract: A zipper less removable window system having removable windows for use with a foldable, stowable roof for a vehicle. A plurality of attachment devices of the zipper less removable window system connect the windows to the foldable, stowable roof and to the vehicle without the use of zippers. The operator zipper effort caused by traditional windows is thereby eliminated and misalignment issues present with traditional zippered windows is eliminated or reduced. The stress placed on the portions of the windows connectable to the foldable roof during installation and removal, including around curved portions of the removable window, is eliminated or reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Bestop, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric John Hanson
  • Patent number: 11021046
    Abstract: A retractable overhead assembly for a vehicle having a retractable cover (912) under tension and an integrated stiffening rod that includes attachment features (916) to selectively connect to a windshield area. The retractable system is self contained within an extrusion keeping the overall package size small and the installation/removal simple. The retractable cover creates a sun shade over the vehicle front cockpit and/or rear passenger area when deployed, and is retractable to a stowed position. The retractable overhead assembly is installable under any hard or soft top assembly configuration, and does not impede use or operation of the hard top or soft top assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Bestop, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric D. Getzschman, William H. Haberkamp, Michael Beltowski
  • Patent number: 11021047
    Abstract: This invention is relevant to a bed cover of pickup truck. The bed cover of pickup truck includes one bed cover. The bed cover includes at least two plates. The adjacent plates are connected by rotating shaft structure. The rotating shaft structure includes a plate-like pedestal, two connectors which form a rotary connection with the pedestal. This invention provides a bed cover of pickup truck with simple structure and great leading function. The drainage channel in the invention are big and will not cause syphonage. Thus the leading function will be better, requirement of the assembly accuracy will be lower and the production will be easier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Inventors: Lanhua Cai, Yi Lin
  • Patent number: 11021048
    Abstract: A window weather strip arrangement for covering at least sections of a window well of a motor vehicle includes a window weather strip carrier which can be secured on a vehicle skin and has a reinforcing core and a carrier sleeve accommodating the reinforcing core. The window weather strip arrangement further includes a window weather strip secured to the window weather strip carrier. The window weather strip carrier has a vehicle skin receiving portion for receiving sections of the vehicle skin and the window weather strip is secured to the window weather strip carrier on a side of the window weather strip carrier facing away from the vehicle skin receiving portion. A lamp is arranged in a lamp-receiving opening of the window weather strip and the reinforcing core protrudes out of the carrier sleeve overlapping with at least sections of the lamp-receiving opening, such that at least sections of the reinforcing core function as a reflector for the lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: FYSAM AUTO DECORATIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Rolf Vetter, Stefan Sirrenberg
  • Patent number: 11021049
    Abstract: An engine mount control apparatus that is an active noise vibration control apparatus according to the present disclosure is characterized by being provided with a housing that has an outer core, an inner core that is disposed inside the outer core, and an electromagnetic coil that is positioned between the outer core and the inner core and by a portion between the outer core and the inner core being filled with a magneto-rheological elastomer containing magnetic particles. The present disclosure enables the maintenance of good static load support performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignees: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD., NATIONAL UNIVERSITY CORPORATION KANAZAWA UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Toshio Inoue, Osamu Terashima, Toshihiko Komatsuzaki
  • Patent number: 11021050
    Abstract: The invention provides a vehicle engine system comprising: a fuel pump for selectively delivering fuel under high pressure; an accumulator having a first chamber for receiving an output from the fuel pump and a second chamber for receiving an oil feed, wherein as one chamber is filled up the other chamber is compressed; wherein on vehicle acceleration the fuel pump delivers fuel to a common rail fuel injection system, and on vehicle braking the fuel pump delivers fuel to the first chamber of the accumulator to thereby put the oil in the second chamber under pressure, and wherein on subsequent acceleration the oil chamber delivers an output under pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: VN-AC IP LTD
    Inventor: Alasdair Cairns
  • Patent number: 11021051
    Abstract: A liquid vehicle tank (1) having a wall made of a plastic material, the tank (1) comprising a component (3, 5) affixed to the wall, the component (3, 5) having a portion (10) embedded in the wall, the embedded portion (10) having an external surface (21) a part of which is chemically incompatible with the plastic material of the wall, wherein the tank (1) also comprises a strengthening element welded to the wall over the embedded portion (10) of the component (3, 5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Plastic Omnium Advanced Innovation and Research
    Inventor: Jean-Francois Coing
  • Patent number: 11021052
    Abstract: A capless filler pipe closure is provided for a tank filler pipe. The capless closure permits a fuel pump nozzle to be inserted into the tank filler pipe without first removing a fuel cap form the outer end of the tank filler pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Stant USA Corp.
    Inventor: Paul C. Wetzel
  • Patent number: 11021053
    Abstract: A work vehicle and a commodity tank configured for mounting on a work vehicle and storing material are provided. The commodity tank includes an inboard portion extending vertically and configured to be positioned at an inboard location of the work vehicle. The commodity tank further includes an outboard portion extending horizontally from an upper end of the inboard portion and configured to extend at least partially over a ground-engaging member of the work vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Christopher A. Bering, Chad N. Hogan
  • Patent number: 11021054
    Abstract: An integrated pinion/bearing/coupling (PBC) assembly for use with a hypoid gearset in power transfer assemblies of motor vehicles having mounting features and venting features, The integrated PBC assembly includes a hollow pinion unit made of steel and including a pinion shaft segment and a pinion gear segment, and a coupling unit having a hub segment made of aluminum. A brazing sleeve is used to braze the aluminum hub segment of the coupling unit to the steel pinion shaft segment of the pinion unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: MAGNA POWERTRAIN OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Bradley Ketchel, Wade Smith, Ralph Larson, Ryan Strand
  • Patent number: 11021055
    Abstract: A motor module for modularly making a front and/or rear electric axle, comprising an electric motor generator and a gear train enclosed in a gearbox case permanently fixed to a stator of said electric motor-generator, the module having an L-shape. Electric axle comprising a pair of L-shaped modules for making a T-shaped front electric axle and a U-shaped rear electric axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: FERRARI S.p.A.
    Inventors: Francesco Crotti, Renaud Marlier, Fabrizio Favaretto
  • Patent number: 11021056
    Abstract: A work vehicle including a floor, a forward pedal arm, a reverse pedal arm, a forward rotation shaft, and a reverse rotation shaft. The floor has a first insertion hole and a second insertion hole. The forward pedal arm is placed in the first insertion hole and provided with a forward pedal. The reverse pedal arm is placed in the second insertion hole and provided with a reverse pedal. The forward rotation shaft serves as a rotation shaft of the forward pedal arm, and is oriented so that an outer end thereof is directed toward the rear of a vehicle body of the work vehicle. The reverse rotation shaft serves as a rotation shaft of the reverse pedal arm, and is oriented so that an outer end thereof is directed toward the rear of the vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: YANMAR POWER TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shuichi Mitani, Yoshiaki Kurokawa
  • Patent number: 11021057
    Abstract: A transfer case with an actuator for operating a two-speed transmission (i.e., range mechanism) and a clutch (i.e., mode mechanism). The actuator employs a motor-driven cam structure that coordinates the movement of a first fork, which is associated with the range mechanism, and a second fork that is associated with the mode mechanism. A resilient coupling is employed to provide compliance between the motor and the cam structure in the event that tooth-on-tooth contact inhibits the range mechanism from changing from a high-range mode and a low range mode. Compliance is provided between the cam structure and the second fork in the event that tooth-on-tooth contact inhibits the mode mechanism from changing from a 2WD mode to a 4WD mode. A sensor system identifies the placement of the first and second forks in various positions and responsively generates associated sensor signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Abhinav Jain, Stephen D. Tucker, Travis J. Wentz
  • Patent number: 11021058
    Abstract: A foldable accelerator pedal apparatus is equipped with a hysteresis module for a vehicle. In a manual driving mode where a driver drives a vehicle with human input, a pedal pad protrudes from a pedal housing to be exposed toward the driver. In an autonomous traveling mode where the vehicle travels without any human input, the pedal pad retracts into the pedal housing so as not to be exposed toward the driver. When operating the pedal pad, hysteresis may be realized through the hysteresis module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation, Kyung Chang Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eun Sik Kim, Hyeon Uk Kim, Sung Il Byun
  • Patent number: 11021059
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a vehicular display assembly and a vehicle, and the vehicular display assembly includes: a storage box; and a display device arranged on an opening side of the storage box, wherein the display device includes a laid state or a folding state, wherein the display device which is laid shields the opening of the storage box, and the display device which is folded exposes at least a part of the opening of the storage box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignees: Chengdu BOE Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd., BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuhsiung Feng, Wenbao Gao, Jia Zeng
  • Patent number: 11021060
    Abstract: A method for guiding a motor vehicle occupied by a driver during a vehicle journey in an automated manner by a driver assistance system includes: displaying, on an optical display apparatus of the driver assistance system, to the driver information from the driver assistance system relevant to the journey; and displaying the information relevant to the journey on the optical display apparatus by a plurality of different display pages assigned to different information classes. The display pages are displayed sequentially and in a stipulated order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Stephan Cieler, Guido Meier-Arendt, Heidi von Bychowski, Benjamin Mathe
  • Patent number: 11021061
    Abstract: A power interface (14) connected to an ultra capacitor (16), a power source (18), and a load (20), with a controller (22) for managing the power interface (14), and monitoring the ultra capacitor (16), power source (18), and demands of the load (20) attached thereto. The power interface (12) selectively switches the circuit between the ultra capacitor (16) and the power source (18), and between the load (20) in response to the level of demand of the load (20) attached thereto such that the ultra capacitor (16) powers peak demand and the power source (18) powers steady demand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: AMT, Inc.
    Inventors: Vinai Dumrongkietiman, Yinghua Zhu, Norm Mortensen
  • Patent number: 11021062
    Abstract: A vehicle power supply device includes a first DC/DC converter, a DC/DC controller, a second DC/DC converter, and a vehicle controller. The first DC/DC converter converts a voltage output from a power source, and outputs the converted voltage to a first load. The DC/DC controller controls an operation of the first DC/DC converter. The second DC/DC converter operates by electric power supplied from the power source, and converts the voltage output from the power source and outputs the converted voltage to the DC/DC controller. The vehicle controller controls the DC/DC controller and the first load by supply of the voltage output from the first DC/DC converter and the voltage output from the second DC/DC converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hideaki Shirahashi
  • Patent number: 11021063
    Abstract: In a vehicle, a first gas sensor detects a hydrogen gas concentration of a vehicle interior front zone. Air-conditioning corresponding to an operation of a suction air switching button or the like is performed until the hydrogen gas concentration of the vehicle interior front zone reaches a predetermined second reference concentration, and any one of interior air mode switching control of an interior/exterior air switching mechanism and stop control of a blower is performed regardless of the operation of the suction air switching button or the like when the hydrogen gas concentration reaches the second predetermined reference concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Syuji Hirakata
  • Patent number: 11021064
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a battery pack heating apparatus. The battery pack heating apparatus is applicable portably and externally to a vehicle and includes: an electrical energy conversion component, including an energy storage device, a first set of switches and a second set of switches; a heating interface component including a plurality of heating interfaces connected to the energy storage device via the first set of switches to form a first heating loop and connected to the energy storage device via the second set of switches to form a second heating loop, each of the plurality of heating interfaces being configured to be connected to a battery pack of one vehicle; and a heating control module configured to control a direction of electrical energy transfer between the electrical energy conversion component and the battery pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited
    Inventors: Zhimin Dan, Xiyang Zuo, Wei Zhang, Yizhen Hou, Wenbin Lu, Xingyuan Wu, Taosheng Zhu
  • Patent number: 11021065
    Abstract: A battery system for an electric vehicle has a high-voltage battery, a control unit, and a safety device for disconnecting the high-voltage battery from a high-voltage on-board electrical system of the electric vehicle. The battery system is characterized in that the control unit has two conductor loops, and that the control unit carries out a monitoring of the two conductor loops. Based on the monitoring, the control unit activates the safety device such that the safety device separates the high-voltage battery from the high-voltage vehicle electrical system of the electric vehicle, wherein the safety device has an irreversible separating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Wladislaw Waag, Thomas Hammerschmidt
  • Patent number: 11021066
    Abstract: A vehicle having wheels for riding the vehicle over a carrier such as a road or rails, said vehicle having a battery and a generator connected thereto, said generator being arranged to generate electrical power for charging said battery, said generator being further mechanically connected to at least one of said wheels such that said wheel drives the rotor of said generator, characterized in that said generator is an asynchronous generator or a permanent magnet generator, wherein an AC/DC inverter/charger is connected between said generator and said battery for regulating the current and the voltage of the charging power to said battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventor: Eeuwe Durk Kooi
  • Patent number: 11021067
    Abstract: An electrically powered vehicle includes electric power lines through which electric power supplied from external charger flows, an electric power storage device electrically connected to the electric power lines, a charging circuit electrically connected to the electric power lines, and an electronic control unit. The electric power storage device is configured to be charged with the electric power from the external charger. The charging circuit is configured to charge the electric power storage device in either a first state or a second state. The electronic control unit is configured to acquire charger information indicating information related to electric power to be suppliable from the external charger, generate the command by using the acquired charger information, and output the command to the charging circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Kusumi, Yoshihiko Hiroe, Tomoya Ono
  • Patent number: 11021068
    Abstract: A method for controlling a vehicle that includes a motor configured to provide a driving/braking force to the vehicle and a friction braking mechanism configured to provide a friction brake force to the vehicle includes a target calculation step of calculating a target torque of the motor in accordance with a displacement of an accelerator pedal, a gradient estimation step of estimating a gradient torque to cancel a disturbance due to a gradient of a road surface where the vehicle is travelling, a command calculation step of calculating a torque command value of the motor based on the gradient torque and the target torque, a control step of controlling a torque of the motor in accordance with the torque command value, and a stop control step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ikuma Shindo, Tatsuya Suzuki, Mitsunori Ohta
  • Patent number: 11021069
    Abstract: A power system for an automotive vehicle includes a matrix transformer having two separate cores, a primary winding wound around each of the cores, a first secondary winding wound around one of the cores, and a second secondary winding galvanically isolated from the first secondary winding and wound around the other of the cores. The power system also includes circuitry that transfers power from an AC source to the primary winding, transfers power from the first secondary winding to a traction battery, and transfers power from the second secondary winding to an auxiliary battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mohamed Elshaer, Chingchi Chen, Mark J. Ferrel
  • Patent number: 11021070
    Abstract: A battery pack includes a plurality of stacked single battery cells, a case for housing the plurality of stacked single battery cells, and a vehicle body fastening member for fastening the case to a vehicle body frame, wherein the vehicle body fastening member is provided separately from case, is connected to at least one of two side wall parts opposing each other in a width direction of the case by a hooking structure facing an upper surface and a lower surface of the side wall part, and is provided independently at a plurality of arbitrary positions along a length direction of the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kyosuke Miyoshi
  • Patent number: 11021071
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electric work vehicle that includes a traveling vehicle body, a wheel unit having wheels on the right and left sides of the traveling vehicle body, a motor for supplying rotational drive force to the wheel unit, and a battery for supplying electric power to the motor. The battery includes a first battery disposed at a right/left center of the traveling vehicle body, and second batteries disposed in right/left symmetricity on the traveling vehicle body to act as supplementary batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Hirokazu Ito, Yasuhiro Manji
  • Patent number: 11021072
    Abstract: A heat management control device for a vehicle that includes an electric motor and a power supply section that includes a storage battery and that supplies electrical power to the electric motor. The heat management control device includes a charging device that charges the storage battery through a connection to an external power source, a heat exchanger that performs heat exchange of heat generated by the charging device during charging with fluid flowing in a specific transport path. The heat management control device includes a heat storage section that uses a chemical reaction partway along the specific transport path in order to recover heat from the fluid and that stores the recovered heat, and a fluid supply controller that, from immediately after a vehicle is started, releases heat stored by the heat storage section to the fluid, and selectively supplies the fluid to a predetermined plurality of warm-up targets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA CHUO KENKYUSHO
    Inventor: Gentaro Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 11021073
    Abstract: A power management system for an electric vehicle is provided which maintains power to the various vehicle ‘always-on’ components and subsystems during periods of vehicle non-use without requiring the low voltage battery to undergo frequent charge/discharge cycling. The system uses a secondary DC/DC converter that has a lower output voltage, and operates at a higher efficiency, then the primary DC/DC converter. As a result of this system, the life of the low voltage battery is prolonged and power consumption efficiency is improved, thereby minimizing range loss while the car is parked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Atieva, Inc.
    Inventors: Jean-Philippe Gauthier, Matthew Djock, Richard Biskup
  • Patent number: 11021074
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a device obtains sensor data indicative of three dimensional (3-D) orientations of primary and secondary wireless power transfer (WPT) charging coils. The secondary coil is mounted to a vehicle and the primary coil provides charge to the secondary coil during charging. The device detects misalignment between the primary and secondary WPT coils based on the sensor data. The device determines a coil alignment correction to offset the detected misalignment. The device sends control commands to one or more actuators to implement the coil alignment correction by moving one or more of the coils, either directly (e.g., via directly-coupled actuators) or indirectly (e.g., via the suspension of a vehicle).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Ashok Krishnaji Moghe, John George Apostolopoulos, Charles Calvin Byers
  • Patent number: 11021075
    Abstract: Systems and methods for automatically servicing autonomous vehicles are provided. In one example embodiment, a computer implemented method includes obtaining data associated with one or more reference mechanisms located on an autonomous vehicle. The method includes identifying information associated with the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on the data associated with the one or more reference mechanisms located on the autonomous vehicle. The information associated with the autonomous vehicle includes an orientation of the autonomous vehicle. The method includes determining a vehicle maintenance plan for the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on the information associated with the autonomous vehicle. The method includes providing one or more control signals to implement the vehicle maintenance plan for the autonomous vehicle based at least in part on the orientation of the autonomous vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: UATC, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew Shaw Wood, Dirk John VandenBerg, III
  • Patent number: 11021076
    Abstract: A control device of a vehicle includes an electronic control unit configured to selectively execute a first operation control for traveling based on a driving operation of a driver and a second operation control for traveling by setting a target traveling state independently of the driving operation of the driver and automatically performing acceleration or deceleration based on the target traveling state, and set an input voltage of an inverter set in the second operation control to be lower than the input voltage of the inverter set in the first operation control when an operating state of a rotating device represented by an output torque and a rotational speed of the rotating device is not changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Jun Gotoh, Kenta Kumazaki
  • Patent number: 11021077
    Abstract: A vehicle power supply system includes a first drive motor, a second drive motor, a first power line to which a first inverter and a first battery are connected, a second power line to which a second inverter and a second battery are connected, a voltage converter that convert a voltage between the power lines, and a charging and discharging control device that controls charging and discharging of the batteries and by operating the inverters and and the voltage converter. A vehicle is able to travel in a drive mode of any of an all-wheel drive mode and a two-wheel drive mode. The charging and discharging control device drives the first drive motor with power that is discharged from the first battery in a case where the drive mode is the two-wheel drive mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuya Oyama, Hirokazu Oguma
  • Patent number: 11021078
    Abstract: A refuse vehicle including a chassis, a body assembly coupled to the chassis, the body assembly defining a refuse compartment, an electric energy system configured to store power and supply power to the refuse vehicle, and a power control system configured to measure one or more electrical attributes of the refuse vehicle and determine a power profile for the refuse vehicle, the power profile describing a length of time the refuse vehicle can continue to operate based on a remaining power of the electrical energy system, and wherein the power control system controls operation of a lift assembly of the refuse vehicle based on the power profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Oshkosh Corporation
    Inventors: Joshua D. Rocholl, Derek A. Wente, John T. Kellander, Cody D. Clifton, Vincent Hoover, Zachary L. Klein, Clinton T. Weckwerth, Skylar A. Wachter
  • Patent number: 11021079
    Abstract: A vehicle is provided to execute different modes based on a start signal. A parking-video recording mode is executed by turning on a first switch connected to a first battery to supply electric power of the first battery to a video recording device, identifying a charging amount of the first battery, turning on a third switch connected to a second battery to supply electric power of the second battery to the video recording device when the identified charging amount is less than a first reference charging amount, identifying a charging amount of the second battery, and terminating the parking-video recording mode when the identified charging amount of the second battery is less than a second reference charging amount. A traveling-video recording mode is executed by turning on a second switch connected to a generator to supply electric power generated by the generator to the video recording device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Donghyuk Jeong, Singu Kim, Ki Seon Ryu
  • Patent number: 11021080
    Abstract: Section insulator for an overhead contact line arranged for being placed between two isolated sections of said overhead contact line, said section insulator having an insulating element placed between two contact wires of two adjacent sections of an overhead line; two clamps respectively connected on one side to a respective contact wire and on the other side to a connecting plate arranged for being in turn connected to the insulating element, so that the tensile force due to the contact wires applies along the axis of the insulating bar; and supporting means directly connected to the insulating element through the connecting plates and arranged for supporting the section insulator to the overhead line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: ALSTOM TRANSPORT TECHNOLOGIES
    Inventors: Silvano Micheli, Cristian Bormetti
  • Patent number: 11021081
    Abstract: An occupant detection device includes: a face area detecting unit for executing a process of detecting a plurality of face areas corresponding to a plurality of faces in an image captured by a camera for capturing an image of a vehicle interior; a first determination unit for determining whether or not, among a plurality of seat areas corresponding to a plurality of seats in the captured image, there is a seat area including two or more face areas; a second determination unit for determining whether or not a duration time of a state where there is a seat area including two or more face areas has exceeded a reference time; and a warning output control unit for executing control for outputting a warning when the duration time exceeds the reference time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jiro Tsuchiya
  • Patent number: 11021082
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to vehicles capable of autonomous driving. These vehicles may include seats for accommodating different numbers of passengers. In some cases, the seats may be reconfigurable. For instance, a vehicle may include a first row of seating having a first, passenger use configuration. The first row may allow a passenger to sit in a seat of the first row of seating and access user input controls for the vehicle. The first row of seating may also have a second, folded configuration where the first row is in a folded configuration and no longer usable for passenger seating. The vehicle may also have a second row of seating. When the first row of seating is in the second, folded configuration, the second row of seating may still be usable for seating and may include additional legroom for the passenger as compared to when the first row of seating is in the first passenger use configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: YooJung Ahn, David Tse-Zhou Lu, Min Li Chan, Brian Douglas Cullinane, Adam Lee Frost, Philippe Robert Agostino Holland, Hassan Rashid Mir, Marcos Aniceto Villalón Caro, Isaac Lopes Nogueras
  • Patent number: 11021083
    Abstract: A seat lock device includes: a hook member; and a cam plate. The hook member includes: a hook inclined edge surface and is rotationally biased by contact with a striker entering; an engaging groove into which the striker entering fits after crossing the hook inclined edge surface to bring the hook member into a locked position; a restraining pin; and an interlock pin, the cam plate is set to a limiting position when the hook member engages with the striker and is switched to an allowing position when the striker enters and when an operation performed to release an engagement of the striker, and the cam plate includes: a cam surface that contacts with the restraining pin to rotationally bias the hook member; and an interlock surface with which the interlock pin contacts when the hook member has turned from the locked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: MITSUI KINZOKU ACT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Katsunori Noguchi, Makoto Kondo, Hidemasa Hirakui, Junichi Shimada
  • Patent number: 11021084
    Abstract: A vehicle seat structure including: a seat cushion on which a vehicle occupant sits; a seat back that supports a back portion of the vehicle occupant while sitting on the seat cushion in a seat deployed state, the seat deployed state being a state in which the vehicle occupant is able to sit on the seat cushion; and a seat deploying/retracting mechanism that enables the seat cushion and the seat back to slide in a vehicle up-down direction, and that, in a seat retracted state in which the seat cushion and the seat back are retracted, enables the seat cushion and the seat back to be placed in the vehicle up-down direction such that the seat cushion stands upright, and the seat back is placed at an upper side of the seat cushion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideyuki Sakurai
  • Patent number: 11021085
    Abstract: A seat air conditioner is applied to a seat including a seat cushion portion, a seat back portion, and a reclining mechanism portion for varying a reclining angle of the seat back portion relative to the seat cushion portion. The seat air conditioner includes a blower, an air blowing portion from which the air blown by the blower is blown toward the seated occupant, and a wind direction adjustment unit that adjusts a wind direction of the blown air. The wind direction adjustment unit is configured to adjust the wind direction of the air blown out from at least the part of the air blowing portion such that the air from the air blowing portion is blown toward a specific part of the seated occupant regardless of the reclining angle when the seat back portion is inclined toward a rear side of the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takahisa Fujii, Hironobu Murakami
  • Patent number: 11021086
    Abstract: A vehicle seat for a vehicle having a backrest part and a seat part are provided. The backrest part and the seat part each have an inner portion and side bolster portions arranged laterally on both sides of the inner portion The inner portions and the side bolster portions each have a cushion part and an upholstery part at least partially surrounding the cushion part. An abrasion-resistant coating that has a higher hardness and/or stiffness than the at least one upholstery part is at least in part arranged on at least one of the upholstery parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: GRAMMER AG
    Inventors: Gerald Herbst, Martin Wellein
  • Patent number: 11021087
    Abstract: In a vehicle seat, a seat back includes a backrest on which an occupant sitting on a seat cushion leans his/her back, and banks supporting the back of the sitting occupant on both sides. Urethane pads configuring the banks are formed in a shape protruded to the front with respect to a urethane pad configuring the backrest, the back face sides of the urethane pads configuring the banks formed in the shape protruded to the front are formed in a recessed shape with respect to a back face side of the urethane pad configuring the backrest, and on the portions of the back face sides of the urethane pads configuring the banks formed in the recessed shape, protrusions having faces at the same height as the back face side of the urethane pad configuring the backrest and extended to the portions formed in the recessed shape are formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: TACHI-S CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinnosuke Kobayashi, Akinori Taniguchi
  • Patent number: 11021088
    Abstract: An armrest structure for seat includes an armrest configured to move in a lateral width direction of the seat, a guide block configured to move in a front-rear direction of the seat, and an operation portion configured to be manually operated, such that the guide block moves in the front-rear direction. The armrest and the guide block are slidably engaged with each other in a direction inclined with respect to the lateral width direction and the front-rear direction of the seat. The armrest is configured to move in conjunction with the guide block in the lateral width direction, in response to an operation that the operation portion is operated to move the guide block in the front-rear direction. According to this armrest structure, an interval between the armrest on both sides can be adjusted in accordance with the physique and the posture of a seated person.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: STARTING INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ami Ishimizu, Hiroki Kato
  • Patent number: 11021089
    Abstract: Inter alia, the invention relates to a support bracket (12) with two bar regions bracket on a vehicle seat, with a traverse (15) connecting the bar regions pivotally supporting a head contact part (11) of a headrest (10), and with locking means of a latch (17) for blocking pivoting the head contact part (11). The special feature is that the traverse (15) is made of plastic or a composite material and comprises attachment regions for securing to a support rod (13a, 13b) or is integrally connected with bar regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: GRAMMER AG
    Inventors: James Powell, Steve Almasian, Joe Cahill, Jim Beal, Rick Cassidy, Gerd Truckenbrodt