Patents Issued in May 9, 2023
  • Patent number: 11643032
    Abstract: A seat device for a vehicle includes: a support member detachably attached to a floor of the vehicle; an occupant seat movably supported by the support member and provided with an electrical component; and a wireless power supply mechanism configured to supply electric power to the electrical component. The wireless power supply mechanism includes a power transmitting unit attached to the floor, and a power receiving unit attached to the support member so as to face the power transmitting unit and configured to receive the electric power wirelessly from the power transmitting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: TS TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chase Hemmelgarn, Steven Johnson
  • Patent number: 11643033
    Abstract: Motor vehicle on-board network having at least two main line strands arranged electrically parallel to one another, the main line strands being electrically short-circuited to one another in two regions which are separated from one another and having a connection for one of at least two on-board network power supplies in each case, at least one motor vehicle on-board network being arranged in the at least two main line strands interrupting the respective main line strand, the motor vehicle electrical system switching network having at least three switches, a first switch being arranged between a first main line connection and a common node, a second switch being arranged between a second main line connection and the common node, and a third switch being arranged between the common node and at least one load connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Auto-Kabel Management GmbH
    Inventors: Wacim Tazarine, Frank Gronwald, Simon Betscher
  • Patent number: 11643034
    Abstract: A vehicle power supply system and a method for operating the same are provided. The vehicle power supply system includes a main battery and a sub-battery to supply power to an electronic load inside a vehicle, and a controller to control supplying of the power to the electronic load using at least one of the main battery or the sub-battery, by monitoring the main battery and the sub-battery. The controller determines whether the main battery allows entrance into Idle Stop and Go, determines whether the sub-battery is able to assist the ISG, and controls the sub-battery to assist the main battery to supply the power to the electronic load, when the main battery allows the entrance into the ISG, when the sub-battery is able to assist the ISG, and when entering into the ISG.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventor: Sun Ho Choi
  • Patent number: 11643035
    Abstract: A vehicle front structure basically includes a vehicle frame, an upper suspension arm, a lower suspension arm, a sway bar and a rack and pinion steering. The upper suspension arm is pivotally coupled to the vehicle frame about first and second upper pivot points. The lower suspension arm is pivotally coupled to the vehicle frame about first and second lower pivot points. The sway bar is attached to the upper suspension arm and located above the upper suspension arm. The rack and pinion steering arranged between the upper and lower suspension arms. The rack and pinion steering is located adjacent the second upper pivot point and between the first and second upper pivot points with respect to a longitudinal vehicle direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keith E. Kotrla, Michael P. Deschamps
  • Patent number: 11643036
    Abstract: An airbag controller for a vehicle is proposed. In the airbag controller for a vehicle, an integrated plastic housing without a cover is used to fix a PCB, and a separate grounding device connecting the PCB positioned inside the plastic housing to a vehicle body positioned outside the plastic housing is used in the airbag controller to solve a problem of grounding. Accordingly, it is possible to make the airbag controller be slim and the overall size of the airbag controller be compact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jeong Gyun Park
  • Patent number: 11643037
    Abstract: A safe exiting assistance system includes an object detector that detects an object which approaches from a rear side of a vehicle, a body detector that detects physical information of a passenger in the vehicle, a door opening/closing detector that detects door opening or closing information of the vehicle, a determiner that determines whether a situation requires alert to the passenger in response to detection results of the object detector and the door opening/closing detector and calculates a value sensed by the body detector in response to vehicle information set in advance, and a controller that differently controls a position and an irradiation angle of a light source in response to the physical information when information in which the alert is necessary is received from the determiner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Gyun Ha Kim, Eung Hwan Kim, Sang Kyung Seo, Dae Yun An
  • Patent number: 11643038
    Abstract: A safety-related device for use in vehicles, includes a microcomputer, a micro-electronic circuit, a first data bus interface, a second data bus interface, a safety unit (Safety-Agent), a PSI5 sensor link, and a sensor signal simulation unit which can simulate a sensor. The safety unit (Safety-Agent) is controlled via the first data interface by the microcomputer. The sensor signal simulation unit and the sensor interface and the switching between same via the second data interface is controlled via the microcomputer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Inventors: Fikret Abaza, Jens-Arne Schürstedt
  • Patent number: 11643039
    Abstract: An instrument panel includes an instrument panel body fixed to a vehicle body, and a cover that covers a space of the instrument panel body from a rear in a front-rear direction of a vehicle and faces an occupant in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. The instrument panel body includes a harness holder configured to hold a wire harness arranged in a vehicle width direction. The harness holder extends along the vehicle width direction in the space of the instrument panel body, and includes a fragile portion provided in at least one position in a longitudinal direction of the harness holder. A sectional area of the fragile portion is smaller than a sectional area of the other portion of the harness holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuichi Yagishita
  • Patent number: 11643040
    Abstract: A steering wheel assembly includes a steering wheel and an airbag module. The steering wheel includes a hub portion that has a hook member and a first bracket opposed to the hook member and having an access hole. The airbag module is pivotably attached to the hub portion of the steering wheel and includes a latch member and a second bracket opposed to the latch member and having an access hole. The latch member is pivotably attached to the hook member, and the first bracket and the second bracket overlap with each other such that the access holes form a port that receives a fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Rivian IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Gary Andrew Card
  • Patent number: 11643041
    Abstract: An occupant protection device includes: an airbag including an upper inflating portion and a lower inflating portion, and a rear inflating portion having a restraint surface that receives the occupant, the airbag being provided with a hollow portion penetrating in a left-right direction in a center; and a protrusion length adjustment unit configured to adjust a protrusion length from an accommodation position to the restraint surface in the airbag. An exhaust port configured to exhaust the inflation gas is disposed on an inner peripheral surface side in the vicinity of an intersection portion between the upper inflation portion and the lower inflation portion of the airbag. When the protrusion length by the protrusion length adjustment unit is adjusted to be long, the upper inflation portion and the lower inflation portion approach each other, so that an edge member approaches the exhaust port, thereby reducing an exhaust amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuya Suzuki, Motoyuki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11643042
    Abstract: There is provided a vehicle crash pad coupled to a passenger airbag door having a passenger airbag installed in a passenger seat direction, the vehicle crash pad including a base forming a frame, a scrim coupled to an inside of the base of the passenger airbag door in an insert-injection method, a skin disposed above the base portion and having a surface exposed to an outside, a foam disposed between the base and the skin, and X shaped incision grooves formed in a rear surface of the base in an area of the passenger airbag door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Min Kyeong Lee
  • Patent number: 11643043
    Abstract: An assembly includes a seat. The assembly includes an anchor fixed relative to the seat. The assembly includes a blanket engageable with the anchor and inflatable to an inflated position. The assembly includes a computer having a processor and a memory storing instructions to inflate the blanket in response to detecting engagement of the blanket with the anchor and to deflate the blanket in response to detecting disengagement of the blanket from the anchor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Zhibing Deng, Deepak Patel, Joseph E. Abramczyk
  • Patent number: 11643044
    Abstract: A grille assembly for a vehicle is disclosed and includes a forward frame portion, an aft frame portion, and a plurality of spring portions coupling the forward frame portion to the aft frame portion such that the forward frame is movable relative to the aft frame portion. A front end assembly for a vehicle is also disclosed that includes a bolster assembly and an active grille shutter system supported relative to the bolster assembly. The disclosed active grille shutter system includes a plurality of spring portions coupling forward and aft frame portions such that the forward frame is movable relative to the aft frame. Vanes are supported by at least one of the forward and aft frame portions and are rotatable for controlling airflow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: David Brian Glickman, Sean Terence Coghlan, Darshan Arun Nayak, James Alan Acre, Aaron Peter Klop
  • Patent number: 11643045
    Abstract: A vehicle seat belt device including: a buckle that is positioned so as to face a corner formed by a seat cushion and a seat back those constitute a rear center seat, and to which a tang of a seat belt is detachably attached; a webbing that connects the buckle to a lower floor; a loop portion formed on a side surface part of the buckle; and a first band that is inserted into the loop portion, is engaged with the buckle at one extending end, and is fixed to the seat back at the other end, is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kensuke Kimura, Yusuke Ogata, Mitsuru Nakano, Hiroaki Azumi, Hidenori Watanabe, Kenta Oguma, Hirokazu Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11643046
    Abstract: A control apparatus includes a controller configured to, upon determining, based on behavior classification, that a behavior of a passenger detected from a captured image or a sound of inside of a vehicle is threatening, transmit a first instruction to increase tension of a seat belt worn by the passenger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuki Tatsumoto, Toshiki Kashiwakura, Manabu Ishihara, Akira Sasaki, Sachin Ahire
  • Patent number: 11643047
    Abstract: A plurality of images of an imaging subject are captured by using a plurality of cameras. The plurality of images are synthesized to generate a synthesized image viewing the imaging subject from a virtual perspective. The synthesized image is displayed on a screen. When a user operation for changing the position of the virtual perspective is detected, the position of the virtual perspective in the synthesized image is changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: FUJITSU TEN LIMITED
    Inventor: Yasuyoshi Sawada
  • Patent number: 11643048
    Abstract: A computer system performs techniques related to enrolling and using a secure credential. In some embodiments, a computer system provides user interfaces for enrolling a secure credential on the computer system. In some embodiments, a computer system provides user interfaces for inviting a user account to use a secure credential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Vitalii Kramar, Dorian D. Dargan, Marcel Van Os
  • Patent number: 11643049
    Abstract: Disclosed is an Ethernet-based vehicle control system and method. The Ethernet-based vehicle control system (method) according to the present invention comprises: a router for connecting a vehicle internal network and a vehicle external network; a vehicle electronic element connected to and communicating with the router; and a third-party module newly mounted on a vehicle to control the vehicle electronic element, wherein the vehicle electronic element includes a Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) module, and the third-party module may piggyback on a signal input into the RKE module by a remote controller through the vehicle external network. According to the present invention, since a third-party module can be freely installed and replaced based on Ethernet, various services related to a vehicle may be realized through a vehicle external network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: GARIN SYSTEM CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yun Sub Lee
  • Patent number: 11643050
    Abstract: A transportation vehicle having a BLUETOOTH® Low Energy (BLE) system to send and receive BLE advertising signals, BLE connection request signals and BLE data signals via at least one antenna, a central locking system to lock or unlock at least one vehicle door of the transportation vehicle, and a control unit to activate the BLE system and to activate the central locking system based on the BLE data signals. Also disclosed is an electronic vehicle radio key and a system for passive access to a transportation vehicle including a transportation vehicle, an electronic vehicle radio key and a smartphone. The system allows a user passive access to the transportation vehicle, both with the aid of the electronic vehicle radio key and with the aid of the smartphone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Inventor: Claus-Peter Brückner
  • Patent number: 11643051
    Abstract: Heated wiper device for a vehicle, in particular for a snowgroomer, the wiper device comprising: a wiper blade configured for being springily against the windscreen's outer surface of the vehicle; a wiper blade carrier; wherein the wiper blade carrier supports and at least partially houses the wiper blade; a box supporting and at least partially housing the wiper blade carrier; a wiper arm comprising a first end coupled to the box and a second end configured for being rotatably coupled to the vehicle to enable the wiper blade to move on the windscreen; and an electrical heating device coupled to the box in a position such that the electrical heating device is facing the wiper blade carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: PRINOTH S.P.A.
    Inventors: Günther Steiner, Jamie Simon Thom
  • Patent number: 11643052
    Abstract: A sensor-cleaning apparatus includes an upper piece, a lower piece fixed to the upper piece, a plurality of inserts inserted into the upper piece, and a plurality of nozzles. The upper piece and the lower piece form a tubular segment that is elongated along an arc of a circle and encloses a chamber. Each nozzle is formed of the upper piece and one of the inserts. Each nozzle includes a deflection surface and a tunnel from the chamber to the deflection surface, and each tunnel is partially formed of the upper piece and partially formed of the respective insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Valeo North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Andre Sykula, Kunal Singh, Venkatesh Krishnan, Raghuraman Surineedi, Yoann Dolle, William Terrasse, Denis Thebault, Veeramanikandan Gopal, Gowtham Ilanthirayan, Michael Whitney
  • Patent number: 11643053
    Abstract: A multipurpose wheel-washing apparatus includes a wheel-washing unit including an upper frame provided with a plurality of rollers on which wheels of a vehicle are to be rotatably seated, and injection nozzles configured to inject high-pressure washing water onto the wheels seated on the rollers; and a lower frame provided with a water tank located below the upper frame so as to collect falling waste/turbid water; a water storage unit configured to store washing water to be supplied to the injection nozzles; a purification unit configured to receive and purify the waste/turbid water from the water tank and then send purified water to the water storage unit; and a blowing unit disposed on an exit side of the wheel-washing unit so as to blow air and provided with spray nozzles for selectively spraying water in a particulate form. Accordingly, environmental pollution can be significantly reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: DAEKEUM GEOWELL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Seung-Woo Lee
  • Patent number: 11643054
    Abstract: A vehicle moving device for moving a vehicle from a first location to a second location includes a frame having a first end and a second end. A driving wheel is coupled to the first end of the frame and configured to contact a vehicle wheel at a first wheel location. A holding arm is coupled to the second end of the frame opposite the driving wheel and configured to contact the vehicle wheel at a second wheel location. The holding arm holds the vehicle wheel in contact with the driving wheel as the driving wheel rotates the vehicle wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald Scott Friend, Robert Aaron Allex, Brian McElroy
  • Patent number: 11643055
    Abstract: A rapid deceleration mechanism for a vehicle is provided herein. The rapid deceleration mechanism includes a cutting mechanism configured to be coupled to a body of the vehicle, e.g., via a tether. An actuating mechanism is configured to selectively actuate (e.g., release or propel) the cutting mechanism towards a road surface on which the vehicle is driving to cause the cutting mechanism to cut a channel in the road surface. The channel defines a bollard area in the road surface. At least a portion of the cutting mechanism is disposed at least partially within the channel, against the bollard area, to anchor the body of the vehicle relative to the road surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: NURO, INC.
    Inventors: Trevor Andrew Vidano, Daniel Jason Ratner
  • Patent number: 11643056
    Abstract: A driving assistance apparatus that includes a brake operation portion that applies a brake to a vehicle, the brake operation portion allowing a manual brake operation by a hand of a driver of the vehicle, the brake operation portion including a brake operation body and a grip portion to be gripped by the hand of the driver, the grip portion being provided at an upper end of the brake operation body, and a shift-down switch that shifts-down the vehicle is provided on the grip portion, the shift-down switch allowing a manual shift-down operation by the hand of the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yutaka Sakuragi, Masaaki Aoki, Keiichi Yamasaki, Katsuhisa Maedo, Shigeru Takenaka, Kenichi Nakamoto
  • Patent number: 11643057
    Abstract: Driving support ECU transmits a communication connection request to a help net center HNC when a driver of a vehicle has been determined to be in an abnormal state where the driver loses an ability to drive the vehicle, and when the communication connection to the help net center HNC has been established, the driving support ECU transmits the help signal (the positional information of the vehicle) and decelerates the vehicle at a constant deceleration to make the vehicle stop. On the other hand, when the communication connection to the help net center HNC has not been established, the driving support ECU makes the vehicle travel at a constant speed. Accordingly, it is possible to make the vehicle stop under a situation where the help net center HNC recognizes the vehicle position inside which the driver who has been determined to be in the abnormal state is.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hirotada Otake
  • Patent number: 11643058
    Abstract: A driver assistance system includes a braking module and a module for controlling emergency braking distance. The braking module is intended to be connected to brakes. The module for controlling braking distance is connected to an output of the braking module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: RENAULT s.a.s.
    Inventor: Yann Blanco
  • Patent number: 11643059
    Abstract: A method for controlling the braking action applicable by a brake caliper on a mechanical movement member of a vehicle is described. An electronic control unit operatively connected to an actuator assembly receives an input signal representative of a braking request. The unit determines a first reference value of a position of a component in the actuator assembly and a second reference value of a parameter representative of the braking action applicable by a brake caliper via the actuator assembly. The unit determines at least one feedback value of the position of a component in the actuator assembly. The unit also generates at least one control signal for the actuator assembly based on feedback values and the reference values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Brembo S.p.A.
    Inventors: Alessandro Rossi, Luca Ugolini, Fabrizio Forni, Davide Paolini
  • Patent number: 11643060
    Abstract: A brake controlling apparatus includes a gradient sensor, an operation unit, a brake controlling unit, and a storage unit. The gradient sensor is configured to detect a road gradient. The operation unit is configured to switch a constant speed downhill traveling function to become effective. The brake controlling unit is configured to control first and second regenerating units configured to generate regenerative electric power from braking torques of front and rear wheels, respectively. The storage unit is configured to hold an efficiency map. In a case where the constant speed downhill traveling function is caused to become effective, the brake controlling unit is configured to calculate braking torque distribution between the front and rear wheels based on the road gradient and the efficiency map to cause total regeneration efficiency to satisfy a first condition, and control the first and second regenerating units on a basis of the braking torque distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takashi Kono
  • Patent number: 11643061
    Abstract: A pedal simulation device, comprising: a housing; an abutment region that is coupled with the housing in a substantially rigid manner; a piston that is received in the housing and can be moved in a direction of actuation by passing through successive first and second actuation phases; and a return device that is configured to exert a resetting force on the piston that acts counter to the displacement of the piston in the direction of actuation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: ZF Active Safety GmbH
    Inventors: Carlos Erviti, Jorge Trobajo, Ana Maisterra, Omayra Zapata
  • Patent number: 11643062
    Abstract: A diagnostic method to identify a leak in a three-way valve for a vehicle brake system having a remote master cylinder which includes the steps of: (1) providing a pedal simulator having pressure medium; (2) de-energizing a secondary three-way valve; (3) retracting a dual acting plunger to the home position to drop the pressure in the boost circuit to zero while also monitoring the pressure at the output of a fluid separator via a secondary master cylinder pressure sensor; (4) determining a rate of pressure reduction at the output of a fluid separator via a secondary master cylinder pressure sensor; and (5) identifying a leak in at least one of a primary three-way valve and the secondary three way valve if the rate of pressure reduction is equal to or higher than a pre-determined rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: ZF Active Safety US Inc.
    Inventor: Blaise Ganzel
  • Patent number: 11643063
    Abstract: A method for ascertaining an available fluid volume in a tank for brake fluid of a braking system. The braking system includes a pressure generator fluidically connected to the tank on the one hand and to at least one brake circuit on the other hand, which is activatable for generating a hydraulic pressure in the braking system as brake fluid is withdrawn from the tank. A drop below a predefined limiting value for a fill level of the brake fluid in the tank is monitored with the aid of a binary sensor assigned to the tank. It is provided that an actuation of the pressure generator is monitored and that the available fluid volume is ascertained as a function of the actuation of the pressure generator when the instantaneous fill level drops below the limiting value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Florian Haag, Martin Marquart, Nikolas Loeffelmann
  • Patent number: 11643064
    Abstract: An execution device executes an obtaining process that obtains a state of a vehicle, an operating process that operates an electronic device of the vehicle based on the state of the vehicle obtained by the obtaining process and operation data, a performance determining process that determines whether an environmental performance of the vehicle when the electronic device is operated is lower than a determination performance, and a data updating process that updates the operation data so as to increase the environmental performance of the vehicle when the performance determining process determines that the environmental performance of the vehicle is lower than the determination performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yosuke Hashimoto, Akihiro Katayama, Yuta Oshiro, Kazuki Sugie, Naoya Oka
  • Patent number: 11643065
    Abstract: In a vehicle drive system using a motor for cruising, the connection node of serially-connected first and second batteries is grounded. The operation of an inverter is controlled so that the motor drive voltage is higher than the output voltage of each of the first and second batteries. A balance circuit balances the charged amounts of the first and second batteries by performing charge/discharge control between the first and second batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akihiro Furukawa, Ikuo Usami, Seiyo Hirano
  • Patent number: 11643066
    Abstract: Methods and systems of power management in a hybrid vehicle are disclosed. A control system of the hybrid vehicle obtains battery temperature and catalyst temperature. The control system determines (a) whether the battery temperature is within an optimal battery temperature range and (b) whether the catalyst temperature is within an optimal catalyst temperature range. The control system determines a power split ratio (PSR) based on the determination of (a) and (b). The control system controls the engine and the motor-generator based on the determined PSR.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
    Inventors: Kesavan Ramakrishnan, Vaidehi Y. Hoshing
  • Patent number: 11643067
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes an electric motor and a combustion engine. A K0 clutch couples the combustion engine to a drivetrain of the vehicle. A control module of the vehicle calculates a torque to be applied by the motor to the K0 clutch when initiating engagement of the combustion engine to the drivetrain. The control module calculates two separate torque lead values by two separate methods and calculates the torque by combining the two torque lead values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yang Xu, Akshay Bichkar, Zhengyu Dai, Hiral Jayantilal Haria, Hong Jiang, Jason Meyer
  • Patent number: 11643068
    Abstract: Environmentally friendly electrical vehicles are presented. The electrical vehicles include electrical low speed vehicles (LSVs) that may use sensed location data to obtain one or more operational profiles. The operational profiles may govern the behavior of the LSV in a specific environment, area, or zone to ensure the LSV reduces its impact on the local terrain. The LSV may leverage locally sensed data to form a local context in which the LSV is operating. The LSV's vehicular controller may refine the operational parameters of the operational profile to ensure smooth operation based on local conditions from the local context.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: AYRO, INC.
    Inventor: Thomas M. Wittenschlaeger
  • Patent number: 11643069
    Abstract: A vehicle is configured to assist parking at a predetermined position by generating a path to the predetermined position and changing, based on the path, at least a vehicle wheel angle of a steered wheel. The vehicle includes: at least one steered wheel; at least one driven wheel; a power unit configured to provide a driving force to the driven wheel; and an operation device configured to receive at least an operation of changing power of the power unit. Before the predetermined position on the path, the vehicle wheel angle of the steered wheel is changed based on the path. If the vehicle travels beyond the predetermined position of the path, the vehicle wheel angle of the steered wheel is changed to allow the vehicle to advance in a tangential direction of the predetermined position of the path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuya Hamai, Akihiro Morimoto, Manabu Nakakita
  • Patent number: 11643070
    Abstract: The parking assist apparatus comprises an ECU. When the ECU recognizes a perpendicular-parallel parking possible space to which a vehicle can not only be perpendicularly parked from a parking start position but also be parallelly parked from the parking start position, the ECU is configured to display any one of a first perpendicular-parallel parking space selection button and a second perpendicular-parallel parking space selection button in such a manner that one of the buttons is superimposed on the perpendicular-parallel parking possible space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chenyang Wang, Yasutaka Matsunaga, Toshihiro Takagi, Satoshi Kozai, Masahiro Iino, Michihiro Takada, Mayuko Maeda
  • Patent number: 11643071
    Abstract: A parking assistance device includes a range setting unit configured to set a search range searching for an obstacle based on a movement range of a host vehicle for a case in which the host vehicle is moved along a parking route, in terms of two directions, and a judgment unit configured to detect an object having a possibility of interfering with the movement of the host vehicle, based on the surrounding condition around the host vehicle, in a case in which the detected object is positioned within the search range, to judge whether the detected object is an obstacle interfering with the movement of the host vehicle along the parking route, and, in a case in which the detected object is positioned outside the search range, not to make judgment whether the detected object is the obstacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Faurecia Clarion Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Ishinoda, Koki Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 11643072
    Abstract: Techniques for detecting an object in an environment, determining a probability that the object is a region of particulate matter, and controlling a vehicle based on the probability. The region particulate matter may include steam (e.g., emitted from a man-hole cover, a dryer exhaust port, etc.), exhaust from a vehicle (e.g., car, truck, motorcycle, etc.), dust, environmental gases (e.g., resulting from sublimation, fog, evaporation, etc.), or the like. Based on the associated probability that the object is a region of particulate matter, a vehicle computing system may substantially maintain a vehicle trajectory, modify a trajectory of the vehicle to ensure the vehicle does not impact the object, stop the vehicle, or otherwise control the vehicle to ensure that the vehicle continues to progress in a safe manner. The vehicle controller may continually adjust the trajectory based on additionally acquired sensor data and associated region probabilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew E. Beller
  • Patent number: 11643073
    Abstract: The described techniques relate to modifying a trajectory of a vehicle, such as an autonomous vehicle, based on an overlap area associated with an object in the environment. In examples, map data may be used, in part, to generate an initial trajectory for an autonomous vehicle to follow through an environment. In some cases, a yield trajectory may be generated based on detection of the object, and the autonomous vehicle may evaluate a cost function to determine whether to execute the yield or follow the initial trajectory. In a similar manner, the autonomous vehicle may determine a merge location of two lanes of a junction, and use the merge location to update extents of an overlap area to prevent the autonomous vehicle from blocking the junction and/or provide sufficient space to yield to the oncoming vehicle while merging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventor: Victoria Magdalena Dax
  • Patent number: 11643074
    Abstract: A hazard prediction and a hazard avoidance procedure are performed based on a predetermined hazard avoidance condition during an autonomous driving operation of a vehicle. User-input information about a driving operation of the vehicle; is received, and area or object information is checked to determine the area or the object as a monitoring target. The monitoring target is tracked. At least one additional hazard avoidance procedure for the monitoring target is set, and the at least one additional hazard avoidance procedure is performed in addition to the hazard avoidance procedure when the monitoring target approaches the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideki Watanabe, Ichiro Yoshida
  • Patent number: 11643075
    Abstract: In a case of a mistaken pedal operation determination: ON, the driving assist ECU sets a value of a steering angle threshold ?ref to a value ?ref2 which is greater than a normal value of the steering angle threshold, and sets a value of a steering operation rate threshold ?ref to a value ?ref2 which is greater than a normal value of the steering operation rate threshold. When a steering angle ? is equal to or greater than the steering angle threshold ?ref and/or when a steering operation rate ? is equal to or greater than the steering operation rate threshold ?ref, the ECU delays a start timing of a automatic brake control, by setting a value of a threshold for executing TTCa to a delaying execution threshold TTCa2 that is smaller than a normal value of the threshold for executing TTCa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koichi Tsuchiya, Kazunori Nogi
  • Patent number: 11643076
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure disclose forward collision control methods and apparatuses, electronic devices, programs, and media, where the forward collision control method includes: detecting a forward suspected collision object on a road where a current traveling object is located on the basis of a neural network; predicting the collision time between the current traveling object and the suspected collision object; and performing forward collision control on the current traveling object according to the collision time, where the forward collision control includes forward collision warning and/or driving control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: SHENZHEN SENSETIME TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wenzhi Liu, Chendi Yu, Xingyu Zeng, Shuai Yi, Yuanyang Tong
  • Patent number: 11643077
    Abstract: An estimation unit performs a primary estimation for estimating the degree of risk based on the speed of the traffic participant, the acceleration of the traffic participant, and the advancing direction of the traffic participant, for a traffic participant whose separation distance from a moving body is equal to or shorter than a first distance, and performs a secondary estimation for estimating the degree of risk based on the scene at the time, for the traffic participant whose separation distance is equal to or greater than the second distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideki Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 11643078
    Abstract: A travel control device for a vehicle, includes: a lane information acquisition unit configured to acquire lane information; a steering control unit configured to control steering of the vehicle by executing lane travel control to make the vehicle travel along the lane; and a vehicle speed control unit configured to control a vehicle speed by executing constant speed travel control in which the vehicle is made to travel at a set vehicle speed and/or adaptive cruise control in which the vehicle is made to travel at a speed equal to or lower than the set vehicle speed so as to follow a preceding vehicle. The vehicle speed control unit is configured to control the vehicle speed during a turn of the vehicle by setting a vehicle speed upper limit value, which is set to different values depending on whether the lane travel control is being executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Satoshi Sadamura
  • Patent number: 11643079
    Abstract: In a cruise control method and a cruise control apparatus for a manual transmission vehicle, upon receiving a signal from an input device to start a cruise mode, a cruise control controller calculates an optimal gear stage for satisfying a target cruise traveling speed according to a traveling state of a vehicle, and a display device displays the calculated optimal gear stage to the driver to induce the driver to shift to the optimal gear stage. In addition, whether the gear stage by the driver's operation has matched the optimal gear stage may be determined within a predetermined time to determine whether a cruise control continues according to the determination result, thereby eliminating the driver's inconvenience due to frequent cancellation of the cruise mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Sun-Young Park, Oh-Eun Kwon
  • Patent number: 11643080
    Abstract: A system for controlling platooning by a following vehicle includes a main body of the following vehicle. The system further includes a pressure sensor located in or on the main body and configured to detect a pressure corresponding to a pressure wake from a leading vehicle. The system further includes an electronic control unit (ECU) located in or on the main body, coupled to the pressure sensor, and configured to determine an optimal distance from the following vehicle to the leading vehicle based on the detected pressure. The optimal distance corresponding to a distance at which drag applied to the following vehicle is reduced based on the pressure wake from the leading vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Tenghua Shieh
  • Patent number: 11643081
    Abstract: Systems and control methods can provide for determining a TrnAin torque request from desired vehicle acceleration in a vehicle that utilizes a WTC architecture to allow for smooth transition between different transmission states, such as torque converter bypass clutch states and shifts between transmission gear ratios. The methods provide consistent and smooth vehicle acceleration profile during transmission state transitions. The methods also provide the ability to track the desired vehicle acceleration consistently from virtual driver demand sources, such as adaptive cruise control, autonomous vehicle, or remote parking, without allocating any additional resource to account for transmission state transitions. The proposed methods are applicable to any TC-based automatic transmission drivetrain, such as conventional powertrain, MHT, P4 HEV, or even BEV powertrains where the motor is located on the impeller side of a torque converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Maruthi Thiruninravur Ravichandran, Judhajit Roy, Jason Meyer, Rajit Johri