Patents Issued in March 1, 2022
  • Patent number: 11260852
    Abstract: Embodiments include methods, systems and computer readable storage medium for a method for collision avoidance by a vehicle is disclosed. The method includes installing a vehicle system into a vehicle, wherein the vehicle system provides collision avoidance guidance based on training data using movement information from one or more agents and behaviors associated with one or more individuals associated with the one or more agents or the vehicle. The method further includes detecting, by a processor, a collision course between the vehicle and the one or more mobile agents and/or one or more stationary agents. The method further includes calculating, by the processor, one or more decisions that avoid a collision in response to detecting a collision course. The method further includes selecting, by the processor, a decision from the one or more decisions and controlling, by the processor, operation of the vehicle based on the selected decision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Amir M. Rahimi, Aashish N. Patel, Rajan Bhattacharyya, Srinivas Nedunuri
  • Patent number: 11260853
    Abstract: A collision avoidance device for a vehicle is provided. The collision avoidance device includes an object sensing unit for sensing an object, an attribute acquisition unit for using a sensing result from the object sensing unit to acquire an attribute of an oncoming vehicle, and a collision avoidance execution unit for executing at least one of a notification of a possibility of collision and a collision avoidance operation, if it is determined, based on the attribute acquired by the attribute acquisition unit, that the oncoming vehicle crosses a center line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kei Kamiya, Yosuke Ito, Takaharu Oguri, Takahiro Baba
  • Patent number: 11260854
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an inputter receiving an emergency stop command; an emergency stop condition determiner determining that an emergency stop condition is satisfied when a driver's state is determined as a predetermined inoperable state, a steering wheel is not operated for a predetermined time period, or a rate of change of a yaw rate of the vehicle exceeds a predetermined value; a sensor configured for detecting an obstacle around the vehicle; and a controller configured to determine whether the vehicle can avoid collision with a front obstacle only by braking without a lane change, to determine a risk area in an adjacent lane based on a braking distance of the vehicle and obstacle detection information in a lane adjacent to a driving lane of the vehicle, and to control the lane change or a braking process of the vehicle based on whether the obstacle is detected in the determined risk area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Junghoon Jeon
  • Patent number: 11260855
    Abstract: Methods and systems to predict object movement within a driving environment is disclosed. In one embodiment, one or more objects are detected within the driving environment. One or more predicted trajectories are computed for each of the objects based on map and route information to produce a set of predicted trajectories for the objects. The set of predicted trajectories is used to enumerate a number of combinations of predicted trajectories on which the objects possibly travel within the driving environment. A risk value is computed for each of the combinations to generate a number of corresponding risk values. An autonomous vehicle is controlled based on a combination having a lowest risk value included in the corresponding risk values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: BAIDU USA LLC
    Inventor: Yajia Zhang
  • Patent number: 11260856
    Abstract: An information display device includes a surrounding environment detector, a vehicle information acquirer, a predictor, an avoidance path provider, and an information display. The surrounding environment detector detects position relevant information related to a position of at least a surrounding object in a surrounding environment of a vehicle. The vehicle information acquirer detects vehicle information including a speed and a steering direction of the vehicle. The predictor predicts a contact of the vehicle with the surrounding object, based on the position relevant information and the vehicle information. When the predictor has predicted that there is a possibility of the contact of the vehicle with the surrounding object, the avoidance path provider assumes an avoidance path for avoiding the contact, based on the position relevant information and the vehicle information. The information display displays the avoidance path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Daisuke Tokunaga, Nobuyuki Nakano, Toshiya Mori
  • Patent number: 11260857
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to controlling a vehicle having an autonomous driving mode or an autonomous vehicle. For instance, a polygon representative of the shape and location of a first object may be received. A polyline contour representation of a portion of a polygon representative of the shape and location of a second object may be received. The polyline contour representation may be in half-plane coordinates and including a plurality of vertices and line segments. Coordinates of the polygon representative of the first object may be converted to the half-plane coordinate system. A collision location between the polyline contour representation and the polygon representative of the first object may be determined using the converted coordinates. The autonomous vehicle may be controlled in the autonomous driving mode to avoid a collision based on the collision location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Dong Li, Victor Puchkarev
  • Patent number: 11260858
    Abstract: A prediction device includes a camera configured to repeatedly image a region ahead of a vehicle, an extractor configured to extract a region including other vehicles from each of a plurality of images repeatedly captured by the camera, and a predictor configured to predict that a traffic jam will occur in a road on which there is the vehicle on the basis of a change in the region extracted from each of the plurality of images by the extractor between the images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takamasa Koshizen
  • Patent number: 11260859
    Abstract: A vehicle control system includes a first steering controller that executes first steering control for controlling a steering device such that a traveling lane is maintained, and a second steering controller that executes second steering control that is activated during execution of the first steering control. If a command value given to the steering device in the first steering control has continued to deviate either left or right in a case that the second steering control starts, the second steering controller executes the second steering control by reflecting the command value given in the first steering control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Haruhiko Nishiguchi
  • Patent number: 11260860
    Abstract: A vehicle control device executes a cruise control to let a vehicle travel in such a manner that an acceleration is equal to a predetermined acceleration, when an execution condition becomes satisfied, and starts a vehicle speed upper limit control to let the vehicle travel in such a manner that the vehicle speed does not exceed an upper limit value determined based on a shape of a curve section, when a start condition becomes satisfied. The vehicle control device starts displaying a display element in a first display mode, when the vehicle speed upper limit control is started. At a time point at which the vehicle speed upper limit control is ended, the vehicle control device starts displaying the display element in a second display mode different from the first display mode if the execution condition is not satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masayuki Hosokawa, Takashi Maeda, Tsunekazu Yasoshima, Soichi Okubo, Yuki Tezuka
  • Patent number: 11260861
    Abstract: A method, a device and a computer-readable storage medium with instructions for determining the lateral position of a vehicle relative to the lanes on a roadway. The device has an image processing unit for detecting roadway markings as well as a positioning unit for determining an initial position for the vehicle. An evaluation unit is set up to determine that the detected roadway markings are insufficient for detecting a lateral position of the vehicle by comparing the detected roadway markings with roadway marking information from a lane geometry map for the initial position determined for the vehicle. In this case, the evaluation unit identifies an approximate lateral position of the vehicle while taking into consideration information from the lane geometric map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Moritz Schack, Markus Kerper
  • Patent number: 11260862
    Abstract: A method for controlling an engine clutch of an electrified vehicle is provided to easily engage and disengage an engine clutch by applying a launch engagement control method that utilizes power from both of an engine and a motor in accordance with the variation of the number of revolutions per hour of the engine and the usage rate of electrical energy by a motor to engage the engine clutch in a terrain mode and by applying a control method that disengages an engine clutch early in accordance with the number of revolutions per hour of the engine and the shaft torque of the engine clutch in the terrain mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Chun Hyuk Lee, Kwon Chae Chung, Seong Ik Park
  • Patent number: 11260863
    Abstract: A driving assistance apparatus can execute a deceleration assistance control, when there is a deceleration target ahead, of the vehicle in a course thereof. The driving assistance apparatus is provided with: a recognizer configured to recognize a surrounding situation of the vehicle; and a controller programed to execute the deceleration assistance control when a predetermined condition is satisfied. The controller is programed to suppress execution of the deceleration assistance control if a road as the recognized surrounding situation has a high extent of a downgrade, in comparison with a situation in which the road has a low extent of the downgrade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuta Ikezawa, Kohei Tochigi, Shogo Ito
  • Patent number: 11260864
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle path generating apparatus at an intersection and an apparatus and method for controlling a vehicle at an intersection that are capable of providing safe autonomous driving at an intersection by calculating the accurate position of an intersection point, which is a cut position of a lane or a crossing position of lanes, in an intersection area using map information and/or image information, precisely calculating a vehicle movement path in the intersection on the basis of the calculated position of the intersection point, and automatically controlling a travel of the vehicle according to the calculated vehicle travel path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Mando Mobility Solutions Corporation
    Inventor: Sangkyun Sim
  • Patent number: 11260865
    Abstract: A vehicle control device includes a control instruction unit (ALC switch) that gives an instruction to perform one of lane change assistance control in which guidance of lane change is provided to a vehicle occupant through a notification unit (HMI) and automated lane change control in which travel control required for movement from a travel lane to a target lane is automatically performed as lane change control performed in the lane change in accordance with vehicle occupant's operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Ishioka, Kanta Tsuji
  • Patent number: 11260866
    Abstract: A vehicle control device includes an action controller that is configured to control an action of a vehicle, in which, in a case where there is another vehicle traveling on a second road adjacent to a first road on which the vehicle is traveling, and the vehicle is controlled to overtake another vehicle, the action controller is configured to accelerate the vehicle, causes the vehicle to show an intention to enter the second road when the vehicle is located a predetermined distance or more in front of another vehicle in an advancing direction of the vehicle after the vehicle is accelerated, and decelerates the vehicle while maintaining the vehicle in a state in which the vehicle is located in front of another vehicle at a timing according to the entry intention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kaijiang Yu
  • Patent number: 11260867
    Abstract: A computer includes a processor and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to detect a potential hydroplaning area of a roadway based on topographic data and based on vehicle sensor data, and to actuate a component of a vehicle based on a location of the potential hydroplaning area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Somak Datta Gupta, Mahmoud Yousef Ghannam, Brian Bennie
  • Patent number: 11260868
    Abstract: A system includes an acquisition unit that acquires an operation amount or a duration count, and a switching unit that switches a driving state. The switching unit switches the driving state to the cooperative driving state when the operation amount is equal to or greater than an intervention threshold and less than a start threshold or the duration count is equal to or greater than a first threshold and less than a second threshold during the autonomous driving state, switches the driving state to the autonomous driving state when the operation amount is less than the intervention threshold or the duration count is less than the first threshold during the cooperative driving state, and switches the driving state to the manual driving state when the operation amount is equal to or greater than the start threshold or the duration count is equal to or greater than the second threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiromitsu Urano, Kentaro Ichikawa, Taisuke Sugaiwa, Toshiki Kindo
  • Patent number: 11260869
    Abstract: A control device for an automatic transmission includes: a failure diagnosis section for diagnosing whether or not a failure has occurred in a shift control system of the automatic transmission; a fail-safe control section for fixing the automatic transmission into a predetermined gear position in response to confirmation of the failure of the shift control system of the automatic transmission; and an oil temperature rise regulation torque reduction control section for outputting a torque reduction request to suppress torque of a vehicle driving source, based on temperature of transmission operating oil of the automatic transmission, and outputting the torque reduction request in response to satisfaction of an oil temperature condition that is set lower in oil temperature when the automatic transmission is fixed in a first gear position by the fail-safe control section than when the automatic transmission is not fixed in the first gear position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: JATCO LTD
    Inventors: Tomoko Oue, Masashi Yamaji, Hiroshi Tsuchiya, Shin Tsukamoto
  • Patent number: 11260870
    Abstract: A tire (100) rolls on a surface (105). A method (600) for providing maximum traction coefficient between the tire (100) and the surface (105) include steps for detecting a momentary slip of the tire (100) on the surface (105); detecting a momentary traction coefficient; forming a tuple (410, 510) from the slip and the current traction coefficient; choosing a characteristic curve (205, 305) from a number of predetermined characteristic curves (205, 305) on the basis of the tuple (410, 510), whereby each characteristic curve (205, 305) describes a traction behavior of the tire (100) or a corresponding characteristic pitch; determining the maximum traction coefficient on the basis of the selected characteristic curves (205, 305); and thus providing the maximum traction coefficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Robert Zdych, Heinz-Joachim Gilsdorf, Volker Wagner, Ulrich Mair, Lara Ruth Turner, Julian King
  • Patent number: 11260871
    Abstract: A road information detection device includes a curve-starting-position identification part configured to identify the starting position of a transition curve according to a road structure upon detecting an attached structure on a road. It further includes an image information capture part configured to capture an image, an attached-structure detection part configured to detect the identification of an attached structure reflected in the image, and a storage media configured to store the position of an attached structure. The curve-starting-position identification part may identify the starting position based on the detected identification of an attached structure, the stored position of an attached structure, and a distance from the attached structure to the starting position of a transition curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hideki Amemiya
  • Patent number: 11260872
    Abstract: A system and method for utilizing a temporal recurrent network for online action detection that include receiving image data that is based on at least one image captured by a vehicle camera system. The system and method also include analyzing the image data to determine a plurality of image frames and outputting at least one goal-oriented action as determined during a current image frame. The system and method further include controlling a vehicle to be autonomously driven based on a naturalistic driving behavior data set that includes the at least one goal-oriented action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yi-Ting Chen, Mingze Xu, Mingfei Gao
  • Patent number: 11260873
    Abstract: A driving analysis server may be configured to receive vehicle operation data from mobile devices respectively disposed within the vehicles, and may use the data to group the vehicles into multiple groups. A driving pattern for each vehicle may be established and compared against a group driving pattern of its corresponding group to identify outliers. A driver score the outliers may be adjusted positively or negatively based on whether the outlier behaved in a manner more or less safe than its group. Further, unsafe driving events performed by the outlier that were the result of another vehicle's unsafe driving event may be ignored or positively accounted for in determining or adjusting the outlier's driver score.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Allstate Insurance Company
    Inventor: Dana Ferguson
  • Patent number: 11260874
    Abstract: An acquisition unit acquires at least one of first information and second information. A notification unit provides warning information to the driver, the warning information being generated based on at least one of the first information and the second information acquired and indicating a possibility of an increase in an insurance premium of an insurance applied to the driver. An reception unit receives acceptance of the provided warning information from the driver. A processor determines to transmit the acceptance by the driver of the possibility of an increase in the insurance premium to an insurance company server when the acceptance is received and determines to transmit at least one of the first information and the second information to the insurance company server when acceptance is not received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC INIELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Akira Masuo, Junichi Yukawa, Kenji Sugihara
  • Patent number: 11260875
    Abstract: Systems and methods are directed to motion planning for an autonomous vehicle. In one example, a computer-implemented method for road surface dependent motion planning includes obtaining, by a computing system comprising one or more computing devices, surface friction data. The method further includes determining, by the computing system, one or more constraints for motion planning based at least in part on the surface friction data. The method further includes generating, by the computing system, a motion plan for an autonomous vehicle based at least in part on the one or more constraints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: UATC, LLC
    Inventors: Diana Yanakiev, Frederic Tschanz, Aaron L. Greenfield
  • Patent number: 11260876
    Abstract: A system and method of sensor validation utilizing a sensor-fusion network. The sensor-fusion network may comprise a number of sensors associated with one or more vehicles having autonomous or partially autonomous driving functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Oliver Schwindt, Andreas Heyl, Thomas Gussner, Theresa Kienle, Joachim Mueller, Stephan Reuter
  • Patent number: 11260877
    Abstract: A method for selecting a driving profile of a motor vehicle, a driver assistance system therefor and a motor vehicle equipped therewith is disclosed. In the method and based on an operating action by a driver, a deviation between the number of predetermined driving profiles currently desired by the driver and that previously used is recognized. After the deviation has been recognized, a query is output to the driver as to whether the deviation should be taught by the driver assistance system for the current situation. After the query has been confirmed by the driver, the driver assistance system is accordingly adapted for the current situation in at least one parameter influencing the selection of the driving profile to be used such that the deviation in the automatic selection of the driving profile to be used in future situations that correspond to the current situation is taken into account.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Julia Gohlke, Paul Hochrein, Holger Spahr
  • Patent number: 11260878
    Abstract: Excess fuel consumption monitor and feedback systems for vehicles include sensor arrays of two primary types including those sensors deployed as part of a vehicle manufacturer established sensor suite and sensors deployed as after-market sensors. Together, these sensor suites include sensors coupled to vehicle subsystems and operating environments associated with the vehicle. Data from these sensors may be used as parametric inputs to drive algorithmic calculations which have outputs that express excess fuel consumption. Expressions of excess fuel consumption may be made instantaneously as real-time feedback to a vehicle operator/driver and/or a fleet manager as part of a summary report.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: SmartDrive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Palmer, Slaven Sljivar
  • Patent number: 11260879
    Abstract: A vehicle is provided that includes a bio-signal sensor configured to measure a bio-signal of a user and a feedback device configured to interact with the bio-signal of the user. A controller determines a current emotional state of the user based on the bio-signal and adjusts an output signal of the feedback device based on the current emotional state. The output signal leads to a target emotional state in which the degree of excitability is a reduced emotional state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Jinmo Lee, Kaangdok Yee, Jung Keun You, Joongkwan Kim
  • Patent number: 11260880
    Abstract: In one embodiment, instead of using map data, a relative coordinate system is utilized to assist perception of the driving environment surrounding an ADV for some driving situations. One of such driving situations is driving on a highway. Typically, a highway has fewer intersections and exits. The relative coordinate system is utilized based on the relative lane configuration and relative obstacle information to control the ADV to simply follow the lane and avoid potential collision with any obstacles discovered within the road, without having to use map data. Once the relative lane configuration and obstacle information have been determined, regular path and speed planning and optimization can be performed to generate a trajectory to drive the ADV. Such a perception system is referred to as a relative perception system based on a relative coordinate system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignees: BAIDU USA LLC, BAIDU.COM TIMES TECHNOLOGY (BEIJING) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Fan Zhu, Qi Kong, Yuchang Pan, Feiyi Jiang, Xin Xu, Xiaoxin Fu, Zhongpu Xia, Chunming Zhao, Liangliang Zhang, Weicheng Zhu, Li Zhuang, Haoyang Fan, Hui Jiang, Jiaming Tao
  • Patent number: 11260881
    Abstract: A LIDAR system includes a laser source, a first lens, and a second lens. The laser source is configured to output a first beam. The first lens includes a planar portion and a convex portion. The first lens is configured to receive the first beam and output a second beam responsive to the first beam. The second lens includes a concave portion and a planar portion. The second lens is configured to receive the second beam and output a third beam responsive to the second beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: BLACKMORE SENSORS & ANALYTICS, LLC
    Inventors: Edward Joseph Angus, Zeb Barber, Ryan Moore Galloway
  • Patent number: 11260882
    Abstract: A system for context-aware decision making of an autonomous agent includes a computing system having a context selector and a map. A method for context-aware decision making of an autonomous agent includes receiving a set of inputs, determining a context associated with an autonomous agent based on the set of inputs, and optionally any or all of: labeling a map; selecting a learning module (context-specific learning module) based on the context; defining an action space based on the learning module; selecting an action from the action space; planning a trajectory based on the action S260; and/or any other suitable processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Gatik AI Inc.
    Inventors: Gautam Narang, Apeksha Kumavat, Arjun Narang, Kinh Tieu, Michael Smart, Marko Ilievski
  • Patent number: 11260883
    Abstract: A system for data-driven, modular decision making and trajectory generation includes a computing system. A method for data-driven, modular decision making and trajectory generation includes: receiving a set of inputs; selecting a learning module such as a deep decision network and/or a deep trajectory network from a set of learning modules; producing an output based on the learning module; repeating any or all of the above processes; and/or any other suitable processes. Additionally or alternatively, the method can include training any or all of the learning modules; validating one or more outputs; and/or any other suitable processes and/or combination of processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Gatik AI Inc.
    Inventors: Gautam Narang, Apeksha Kumavat, Arjun Narang, Kinh Tieu, Michael Smart, Marko Ilievski
  • Patent number: 11260884
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus that controls a vehicle, comprising a controller configured to execute lane departure suppression control to suppress the vehicle from departing from a division line, wherein in a case in which the shape of a road is a curve, the controller delays an operation timing of the lane departure suppression control compared to a case in which the shape of the road is not the curve, and in a case in which the shape of the road is the curve and an oncoming vehicle is detected, the controller decreases an amount of delay of the operation timing of the lane departure suppression control compared to a case in which the shape of the road is the curve and the oncoming vehicle is not detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Atsuhiro Eguchi
  • Patent number: 11260885
    Abstract: An overhead transport system includes a suspended railway and a motorized carrier configured to travel along the suspended railway. The motorized carrier includes a motorized trolley configured to move the motorized carrier along the suspended railway, chassis/beam configured to carry an object below the motorized trolley, and a bumper and deflection system configured to prevent the object from contacting another object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: EagleRail Container Logistics, LLC
    Inventor: J. Michael Meissner
  • Patent number: 11260886
    Abstract: Disclosed is a brake system for a railway vehicle, including linings each having at least one positioning member for mechanically fastening the linings in a predetermined position on the system with respect to a disc of the vehicle and a bearing face for tightly gripping the disc under the action of an actuator of the system, and at least one return member for separating the linings from the disc in order to release it when the linings are freed from the action of the actuator; each lining has at least one fastening member formed on an edge, the return member has two opposite end lugs connected to one another by an elastic portion and each mechanically fastened with a the fastening member, and the system is configured such that the fastening members and the end lugs are situated at a distance from the at least one positioning member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: FAIVELEY TRANSPORT AMIENS
    Inventors: Claudino Goncalves, Louis Maillard, Fabrice Laurent, Guillaume Crosnier
  • Patent number: 11260887
    Abstract: A railway vehicle parking brake that can provide the appropriate tension to the braking system using a motor, a brake chain drum interconnected to the motor to take up or release a brake chain, a load arm deflects in response to tension in the brake chain, and a switch that is closed by the load arm when it deflects. A movable sheave interconnects the brake chain and the load arm and is positioned between the brake chain drum and a fixed sheave over which the brake chain is looped. A control method considers the position of the first switch to determine whether to the motor off when applying the brakes and the amount of current being drawn by the motor to determine whether to the motor off because of a system failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: NEW YORK AIR BRAKE, LLC
    Inventors: Derick Call, Carl Banks, Nicholas Van Derzee, Steven Michael Barnhart, James Lewis Vendlinski
  • Patent number: 11260888
    Abstract: A method and system for health assessment of a track circuit and/or of a track section, the track circuit being configured for detecting the presence of a vehicle on the track section between a transmitting end and a receiving end of the track circuit. The method, implemented by an electronic device, comprises obtaining, from a sensor device placed near the receiving end, samples of an electrical parameter of an electric signal transmitted between the transmitting end and the receiving end of the track section, forming a temporal series of received samples, applying an automatic clustering algorithm to separate the received samples in a predetermined number of clusters, selecting one of the clusters and determining, for the selected cluster, a first peak value of the received samples classified within the selected cluster, and calculating a track circuit health indicator depending on the first peak value determined for the selected cluster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: ALSTOM TRANSPORT TECHNOLOGIES
    Inventors: Song Qin, Nenad Mijatovic, Jeffrey Fries
  • Patent number: 11260889
    Abstract: A cart comprises a body structure and at least one wheel connecting structure. The body structure comprises a support shaft, a first frame member and a second frame member. Both the first and second frame members are disposed on the support shaft. The wheel connecting structure is disposed on one end of the support shaft and comprises a driving assembly, a rotating assembly, a linking assembly, and an energy assembly. The driving assembly is connected to the first frame member. One end of the rotating assembly is disposed in correspondence with the one end of the support shaft, and the other end of the rotating assembly is mounted on a wheel member. The linking assembly is disposed between the driving assembly and the rotating assembly. The linking assembly comprises a pushing unit, which is pivotally connected to the rotating assembly. The energy assembly is connected to the linking assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: UNIQUE PRODUCT & DESIGN CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tsoung-Yong Liao
  • Patent number: 11260890
    Abstract: A pallet jack includes a base and a pair of tines extending from the base. The pair of tines including a first tine and a second tine. A load wheel supports an outer end of each of the pair of tines. Each load wheel is configured to move toward and away from the respective tine to raise the tine off a floor on which the load wheel is supported. The first tine including a support surface configured to selectively be a lowermost surface of the tine to facilitate lateral displacement of the first tine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Rehrig Pacific Company
    Inventor: Dane Gin Mun Kalinowski
  • Patent number: 11260891
    Abstract: A tool can aid in articulating a water heater onto, and off of, an elevated pedestal. The tool can consist of at least a frame that is pivotally attached to a stationary base via a fulcrum feature. The frame may be sized to support a water heater with at least a pair of rails. The stationary base can have at least one rigid pivot stop cantilevered from a base body and shaped to maintain the stationary base at a non-normal tilted orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Inventor: John W. Strader
  • Patent number: 11260892
    Abstract: A foldable pushchair chassis, particularly a sport-model pushchair chassis, buggy chassis or similar vehicle chassis for children, comprising wheels and a push element for pushing the pushchair chassis, wherein said pushchair chassis can be brought at least into a lockable usage state and into a folded, lockable storage state, and a, particularly manual, actuation device is provided and configured such that during transfer from the locked usage state into the locked storage state, at least two locking procedures can occur, in particular both release of the locking in the usage state and adjustment of locking in the storage state, by means of a single first actuation of said actuation device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: CYBEX GmbH
    Inventors: Franz Kiesler, Ralf Holleis, Johannes Hauser, Jason Barker
  • Patent number: 11260893
    Abstract: Rocking device for a stroller (2), including at least one main element (10) provided with a motor (40) and rolling means (21, 23) on its lower face, the motor and the rolling means being designed to drive the main element in a back and forth movement, the upper face of the main element (10) being designed to take a wheel (3) or (4) of the stroller. The rolling means are designed to roll on the ground and the device comprises a means for automatically starting the back and forth movement as a result of a deliberate action on the part of the user in pushing the stroller (2) so as to drive the main element (10) at least once in a first direction and at least once in the direction opposite to the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Baby M
    Inventors: Franck Carreras, Julie Carreras
  • Patent number: 11260894
    Abstract: A cargo sled assembly for facilitating a physically limited user to transport cargo includes a dish that has a rigid bottom wall to facilitate the dish to be dragged along a variety of support surfaces. The dish has a diameter of at least 40.0 inches to accommodate cargo such as yard debris or the like thereby facilitating the dish to transport the cargo. A pair of straps is each coupled to and extends laterally away from the dish. A rod is coupled between each of the straps and the rod can be gripped by a user thereby facilitating the user to drag the dish along the support surface. In this way the user can transport the cargo in the dish.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Inventor: Jeffrey M. Pogue
  • Patent number: 11260895
    Abstract: A locking device for an adjustable steering column assembly of a motor vehicle is described, comprising an operating unit which has at least one closed and one open position, a control element coupled to the operating unit, and at least one eccentric part which is actuated by the control element. A retaining part is provided, which interacts with the eccentric part in the closed position, wherein a locking portion of the eccentric part engages on an engaging portion of the retaining part in the closed position. The eccentric part has a force transmission portion which is substantially opposite to the locking portion, wherein the force transmission portion in the closed position rests against a support surface lying substantially opposite to the engaging portion. Furthermore, a steering column assembly is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: ZF Automotive Germany GmbH
    Inventor: Markus Lingemann
  • Patent number: 11260896
    Abstract: A steering column assembly for a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, provides that an absorption part extends into a reduction part through a passage, which has a smaller cross-section than an end portion of the absorption part having the form of a rod, tube or wire. By a relative movement between the reduction part and the absorption part the end portion is pulled through the passage and plastically deformed. In such a way, an energy absorption device is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: ZF Automotive Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Stephan Haenisch, Patrick Ericke
  • Patent number: 11260897
    Abstract: A steer-by-wire steering device includes a first member, a second member, and a stopper. The first member includes a first base surrounding an input shaft and rotatable, a first protrusion protruding from the first base in a radial direction or in an axial direction, and a first weight provided on the first base so as to make a weighted center consistent with a center of the input shaft. The second member is rotatable together with the first member with the first protrusion being abutting the second protrusion. The stopper is provided on a trajectory of the second protrusion, and is capable of restricting the turn of a steering wheel via the input shaft when abutting with the second protrusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Fujita, Hirotoshi Uchibori
  • Patent number: 11260898
    Abstract: A steering system for a vehicle includes a drive motor having a motor shaft. The steering system also includes a first gear reduction stage for receiving a first rotational input from the motor shaft and providing a first rotational output. The steering system further includes a second gear reduction stage for receiving the first rotational output from the first gear reduction stage and providing a second rotational output. The second gear reduction stage may include at least one of a strain wave gearing, a worm drive, and a planetary gearing. The steering system includes an output shaft for receiving the second rotational output from the second gear reduction stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Kaufman
  • Patent number: 11260899
    Abstract: An electric drive device and an electric power steering device are provided that reduce the size of a motor in an axial direction parallel to a shaft and in a radial direction of the shaft. The electric drive device includes a bus bar module in which a connector, a first power supply terminal, a second power supply terminal, positive electrode bus bar wiring that electrically connects the connector to the first power supply terminal, and negative electrode bus bar wiring that electrically connects the connector to the second power supply terminal are integrally formed with the connector. The positive electrode bus bar wiring and the negative electrode bus bar wiring extend from the connector, bypass an extended line of the shaft, and are electrically connected to the circuit board in positions at distances from the connector larger than a distance from the connector to the extended line of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: NSK LTD.
    Inventor: Masaaki Kawata
  • Patent number: 11260900
    Abstract: A motor torque control section switches a change rate of a motor torque for approximating the motor torque to an assist torque according to relationship between the motor torque of an electric motor and the assist torque and according to a change in a turning angle, after automatic steering is cancelled according to a steering torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Hitachi Astemo, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kentaro Ueno, Hiroshi Ito, Takashi Tsutsui
  • Patent number: 11260901
    Abstract: A four wheel steering vehicle (1), in which front wheels (2f) and rear wheels (2r) can be steered in response to a steering input from a steering wheel (11), includes a rear wheel steering control unit (50) that variably controls a rear wheel steering device such that the rear wheels are steered in a prescribed relation to a steered angle of the front wheels. When the steering input is determined while the front wheel brake and the rear wheel brake are engaged, the rear wheel steering control unit disengages the rear wheel brake and steers the rear wheels. When the fore and aft inclination angle detected by an inclination sensor (40) provided on the vehicle is greater than a threshold value, the rear wheel steering control unit prohibits a steering of the rear wheels and keeps the rear wheel brake engaged even if the steering input is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ryosuke Yamazaki, Takumi Inagaki