Patents Issued in January 2, 2024
  • Patent number: 11858449
    Abstract: A curtain airbag capable of improving deployability of an airbag cushion without including a ramp component. The curtain airbag includes a main cushion, provided at an upper side of a pillar of a vehicle along a forward-and-rearward direction of the vehicle and configured to be deployed with inflation thereof, and a guide cushion, connected to a front area of an upper end portion of the main cushion and configured to extend toward a rear of the vehicle, the guide cushion pushing the main cushion toward an inside of the vehicle while being inflated together with the main cushion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Dong Ho Kang
  • Patent number: 11858450
    Abstract: A restraint system (10) for helping to protect an occupant (60) of a vehicle (20) having a roof (32) and a cabin (40) with a seat (50) for the occupant (60) includes an airbag (70) having a stored condition within the roof (32) and being inflatable to a deployed condition extending into the cabin (40) and aligned with the seat (50). First and second tethers (110, 120) each have a first end (112, 122) connected to the airbag and a second end (114, 124). A first retractor (140) is connected to the vehicle (20) and to the second end (114) of the first tether (110). A second retractor (150) is connected to the vehicle (20) and to the second end (124) of the second tether (120). The first and second retractors (140, 150) control the length of each of the first and second tethers (110, 120) when the airbag (60) is in the deployed condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: ZF PASSIVE SAFETY SYSTEMS US INC.
    Inventor: Hylus Ranjit Raj Jayakar
  • Patent number: 11858451
    Abstract: An airbag module having a retainer, an airbag cushion affixed to the retainer, an inflator, affixed to the retainer, to inflate the airbag cushion and a vertical restrictor disposed inside the airbag cushion. The vertical restrictor being affixed to the airbag, cushion and to the retainer and configured to limit a distance the airbag cushion travels in a vertical direction during inflation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: William J. Barnes
  • Patent number: 11858452
    Abstract: An air bag cushion for a vehicle. A tether reinforcing fabric coupled to a tether seam portion of a main cushion is used to allow the tether reinforcing fabric to inflate with the main cushion when the main cushion inflates, and the inflating tether reinforcing fabric forms an auxiliary chamber between the main cushion and the tether reinforcing fabric, and the auxiliary chamber of the tether reinforcing fabric supports the head of a passenger in a front passenger seat in the event of a crash, thereby preventing the rotation of the passenger's head and efficiently protecting the safety of the front passenger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Min Seok Koh
  • Patent number: 11858453
    Abstract: An assembly includes a seat back having a top end and a bottom end. The assembly includes an airbag supported by the seat back at the top end. The airbag is inflatable to an inflated position that extends forward and upward from the top end of the seat back. The airbag in the inflated position has an inboard panel and outboard panel that define an inflation chamber therebetween. The assembly includes a tether in the inflation chamber, the tether fixed to the inboard panel and the outboard panel between a front edge of the tether and a rear edge of the tether. The front edge of the tether defines a first width and the rear edge of the tether defines a second width that is less than the first width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Zhibing Deng, Joseph E. Abramczyk, Lavanya Vemuri, Selvakumar Inbaraj Daniel
  • Patent number: 11858454
    Abstract: Airbag cushions and related assemblies comprising improved internal tethers for reshaping deployment. In some embodiments, the assembly may comprise an inflatable cushion and an internal tether comprising an elongated axis positioned within the inflatable cushion, wherein the internal tether comprises a first concave portion attached to a first internal surface of the inflatable cushion and a second concave portion attached to a second internal surface of the inflatable cushion. The first concave portion and the second concave portion may be configured to redirect inflation of the inflatable cushion to form, upon deployment, two enlarged deployment regions and a reduced deployment region between the two enlarged deployment regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony Young, Xiahong Wang, Devin Steve Silverwood, HongSeok Kim
  • Patent number: 11858455
    Abstract: An airbag device may include: an airbag cushion part inflated by operating gas introduced thereto; a vent part formed through the airbag cushion part, and configured to discharge the operating gas within the airbag cushion part; a cord movement prevention part mounted on one side of the vent part; and one or more tether cord parts mounted on the other side of the vent part, and configured to tighten and close the vent part while passing through the cord movement prevention part, when the airbag cushion part is deployed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Rae Ick Jang
  • Patent number: 11858456
    Abstract: A system for providing occupant restraint includes a seatbelt, a tensioning mechanism, and a locking mechanism. The seatbelt may include an upper portion and a lower portion, or just a single span. The tensioning mechanism is configured to remove slack in one or more portions of the seatbelt in response to an event such as an impact event. The locking mechanism is configured to lock an end of the seatbelt after the tensioning mechanism removes the slack, to prevent the seatbelt from extending. A connector may be included that defines an upper portion of the seatbelt and a lower portion of the seatbelt. The tensioning mechanism may include a load limiter to lessen a force transmitted to the seatbelt during tensioning. The load limiter may include an energy absorption element. The tensioning mechanism and the locking mechanism may be coupled to either span.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Rivian IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Henning Wigger
  • Patent number: 11858457
    Abstract: An alert system to assist in child safety in a vehicle includes a seat belt buckle insert adapted to be inserted between the male and female parts of a standard safety belt found in most automobiles or for a child car safety seat. It may also include a portable receiver device designed to be carried by a vehicle operator. The seat belt buckle insert detects whether the seat belt has been buckled and the temperature is within an acceptable range, as well as the approximate distance between the seat belt buckle insert and portable receiver device. The seat belt buckle transmits information gathered to the portable receiver device and triggers alerts notifying the vehicle operator of a child's safety status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Inventor: Jason Davis
  • Patent number: 11858458
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a first member, a second member configured for coupling with the first member, an authentication module integrated into one of the first or second member, and a locking device operable to lock the second member to the first member, and unlock the second member from the first member upon receiving input from the authentication module. The authentication module is operable to authenticate an unlock request received from an external source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: CISCO TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Joel Richard Goergen, Mary Kathryn Savage, Kameron Rose Hurst, Robert Gregory Twiss
  • Patent number: 11858459
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a vehicle navigation system which can navigate a vehicle through an environment based on driving commands received from a remote control system based on manual operator interaction with an interface of the remote control system. Remote driving control can be engaged based on determination, via processing vehicle sensor data, of a health emergency associated with one or more occupants of the vehicle, and the remote control system can generate remote driving commands which cause the vehicle to be navigated to a particular location without requiring the occupant associated with the health emergency to manually navigate the vehicle. The remote control system can monitor the occupant via communicated vehicle sensor data and can control remote control devices included in the vehicle to provide external indication that the vehicle is being navigated according to remote driving control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Bartholomeus C. Nabbe, Tie-Qi Chen, Benjamin B. Lyon
  • Patent number: 11858460
    Abstract: An embodiment device for controlling a user authentication transmission includes a user authentication device configured to perform user authentication of a user authorized to operate a vehicle and a controller disposed in the vehicle. The controller is configured to unlock a transmission of the vehicle based on a result of the user authentication. An embodiment method for controlling a user authentication transmission includes performing user authentication of a user authorized to operate a vehicle and unlocking a transmission of the vehicle based on a result of the user authentication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventors: Da Ye Oh, Ki Suk Lee
  • Patent number: 11858461
    Abstract: A compact deployable/retractable running board assembly for a motor vehicle including a running board, linkage coupled to the running board, and a motor assembly coupled to an actuator, the running board moveable between at least one stowed position and at least one deployed position. The linkage includes a drive arm connected to a pivot shaft within a housing at a location on the pivot shaft between two bushings that are coupled to the pivot shaft within the housing. The linkage also includes an idler arm connected to a pivot shaft within an idler housing. The actuator is operably coupled to the linkage to cause rotation of the linkage to move the running board between the at least one stowed position generally under the motor vehicle and at least one deployed position to provide a step surface for a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Magna International Inc.
    Inventors: Albert Yuguang Long, Jeffrey R. Johnson, Bradley E. Watson
  • Patent number: 11858462
    Abstract: An electric pedal for an automobile comprises a driving support, a driven support, and a pedal. The driving support comprises a first automobile connecting rod, a driving motor, a second automobile connecting rod, a gear box, and a rotating mechanism. The first automobile connecting rod, the driving motor, and the second automobile connecting rod are separately fixed to the automobile to which the electric pedal is mounted, and the driven support comprises a driven automobile fixing plate and a driven rotating mechanism. The electric pedal for an automobile can be switched into a fixed side pedal, and in this case, the driving motor needs to be stopped, or the driving motor or the gear box fails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Shanghai Essenway Technology Development Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jiancheng Li, Guilan Zhou
  • Patent number: 11858463
    Abstract: A stowage compartment for a motor vehicle, wherein the stowage compartment is designed to be arranged underneath a hood element of the motor vehicle, wherein the hood element forms a part of the outer skin of the motor vehicle, wherein the stowage compartment includes: a trough-like container; a cover connectable or connected to the container, wherein the cover is movable relative to the container around a pivot axis between a closed position and an open position, a hinge device, which enables the pivot movement of the cover relative to the container it is provided here that the hinge device is designed in such a way that the cover is automatically held in an arbitrary open position from a minimum opening angle (Wmin) and up to a maximum opening angle (Wmax), and in that the cover automatically moves into a closed position because of gravity below the minimum opening angle (Wmin).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Matthias Rucker, Klaus Pflaumbaum, Ernst Roiger
  • Patent number: 11858464
    Abstract: A cargo management system for a cargo area of a vehicle includes a first retention feature and a second retention feature. The first retention feature is formed in a first panel structure of the cargo area and adapted to support a first end of a support member. The second retention feature is formed in an opposing second panel structure of the cargo area and adapted to support an opposed second end of the support member. The first and second retention features are configured to inhibit movement of the support member in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle while also allowing the support member to move laterally past one of the first and second retention features into a space defined by a respective panel structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: William Henry Dean, George David Aucott, Michael James Freeman
  • Patent number: 11858465
    Abstract: A console assembly for a vehicle includes a compartment side wall. The compartment side wall extends from a compartment floor to an upper rim of the compartment side wall. The console assembly includes a receptacle side wall that extends upward from a receptacle floor of the console assembly to define a receptacle. The console assembly further includes a panel that has opposite first and second sides. The panel is pivotable between a first position and a second position. In the first position of the panel, the panel, the compartment side wall, and the compartment floor define a compartment of the console assembly, and the first side of the panel faces the compartment. In the second position, the panel covers the receptacle of the console assembly and a surface of the first side of the panel is substantially planar with a surface of the compartment floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gregory Paul Thomas, Stephen Neal Jacobsen, Michele Marie Mathews
  • Patent number: 11858466
    Abstract: A trunk shelf system for mounting onto a seat back of a vehicle includes a support structure configured to be secured to the seat back; and a shelf movably mounted to the support structure, the shelf being movable between a stowed position and a deployed position, the shelf having a bottom surface providing a primary support surface and a supplemental support surface that is movable from a retracted position to an extended position when the shelf is in the deployed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Inventor: Alexandra Castiello Gandolfo
  • Patent number: 11858467
    Abstract: A utility vehicle includes an open driver section including a driver's seat for a driver to sit on; a hermetically sealable space disposed in the driver section and having a door; and a terminal in the hermetically sealable space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventor: Yuki Nakaoka
  • Patent number: 11858468
    Abstract: A lift-assisted rack mountable to a roof of a vehicle and pivotable between a transport configuration and a loading configuration. The lift-assisted rack comprises: a fixed base mounted to the roof of the vehicle, a set of pivoting links, an article support, a pivoting arm and a lift-assisting strut. The set of pivoting links are pivotally connected to the fixed base at a link proximal end thereof. The article support is pivotally connected to the set of pivoting links, at a link distal end thereof. The pivoting arm is pivotally connected to the fixed base at an arm proximal end and is pivotable of a predetermined angular. The lift-assisting strut is pivotally connected to one link of the set of pivoting links at a strut distal end and is pivotally connected to the arm distal end of the pivoting arm, at a strut proximal end thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: 9358-3433 QUEBEC INC.
    Inventors: Mathieu Bouchard, Frederic Laurin-Lalonde, Damir Gacanovic, Joey Hebert
  • Patent number: 11858469
    Abstract: A carrier is provided, including: a mounting rod, configured to be connected to a vehicle; a frame body, including a connecting seat rotatably connected to the mounting rod, a stand rod and two lateral rods, the stand rod and the two lateral rods being connected to the connecting seat, the connecting seat being rotatable between a first position and a second position, wherein when located in the first position, the connecting seat and the mounting rod being stacked; a first quick-release mechanism, including a first elastic abutting portion, the first elastic abutting portion being disposed on one of the mounting rod and the connecting seat, the first elastic abutting portion being blockably abuttable against the other of the mounting rod and the connecting seat so that the connecting seat is positioned in the first position and non-rotatable toward the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: YOTTA INNOVATION CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Stella Huang
  • Patent number: 11858470
    Abstract: A carrier is provided, including: a mounting rod including an inclined surface; a frame body, including a connecting seat which includes an upper plate connected to the two side plates and two side plates rotatably connected to the mounting rod, a stand rod and two lateral rods, the stand rod and the two lateral rods being connected to the connecting seat, wherein when located in a first position, the connecting seat is parallel to the mounting rod, and when the connecting seat is located in a second position, the inclined surface is abutted against the upper plate; a first pin, wherein when the connecting seat is located in the first position, the first pin is inserted in the mounting rod and at least one of the two side plates so that the connecting seat is positioned in the first position and non-rotatable toward the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: YOTTA INNOVATION CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Stella Huang
  • Patent number: 11858471
    Abstract: A bicycle carrier for securing a bicycle on top of a vehicle is disclosed, including a fork mount and a tail mount. The fork mount is configured to clamp a first crossbar of the vehicle, while the tail mount is configured to clamp a second crossbar of the vehicle. The fork mount includes a passage and a pair of inserts configured to be secured at opposing ends of the passage. A skewer is configured to protrude through apertures in a front fork of a bicycle, through the pair of inserts, and through the passage to secure the front fork to the fork mount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Yakima Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin Lesley
  • Patent number: 11858472
    Abstract: The invention relates to an adapter unit which is provided for coupling, in particular releasably coupling, a wiper blade to a wiper arm, having a wind deflecting surface which is designed to deflect inflowing air and press the wiper blade against a vehicle pane, wherein the wind deflecting surface is bordered by a wind deflecting surface edge, and the wind deflecting surface edge has at least •a side which faces the wind and which extends largely in a wiper arm direction, •a side which faces away from the wind and which extends largely in the wiper arm direction, a right-hand side which is arranged between the side facing the wind and the side facing away from the wind and which is arranged on the wiper arm side of the adapter and is designed to couple the adapter unit to the wiper arm, •a rear left-hand side which adjoins the side facing away from the wind and is arranged on the adapter side opposite the wiper arm side, and •a front left-hand side which adjoins the side facing the wind and is arranged on th
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Godelieve Kraemer, Marcello Bubba, Herve Bratec, Michael Kruse, Helmut Depondt, Stijn Truyens
  • Patent number: 11858473
    Abstract: An imaging device images rearward of a vehicle through a windshield from inside a cabin of the vehicle, and a vehicle washing device includes a wiping device and a controller. The wiping device is capable of reciprocatingly wiping a predetermined range of the windshield. The predetermined range of the windshield includes an imaging range for the imaging device. The controller switches operation of the wiping device to one of a first mode or a second mode in accordance with an input. In the first mode, the wiping device wipes the predetermined range of the windshield. In the second mode, the wiping device wipes the imaging range of the windshield preferentially compared to the first mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takahiro Aoyama, Kento Hashimoto, Daisuke Shirakura
  • Patent number: 11858474
    Abstract: A wind deflector for a windscreen wiper system of a motor vehicle has a windscreen-cleaning apparatus with at least one nozzle for cleaning a windscreen integrated therein. The wind deflector has a wind deflector contour, by way of which an air flow in the region of an associated wiper arm and a wiper blade can be guided. The wind deflector, on its side that faces the wiper blade, has at least one wind-guiding element, which is arranged in the region of the associated nozzle and protrudes, raised, toward the windscreen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignees: Audi AG, Dr. Ing. H.C.F. Porsche AG, A. Raymond Et Cie, Volkswagen Aktiengsellschaft
    Inventors: Stephan Haefner, Frank Ackermann, Sven Auch, Axel Feger, Karl Bode
  • Patent number: 11858475
    Abstract: A wiper blade having a wiper strip having a wide portion and a lip, and an elongate backing element. The backing element having a top portion, and two opposing legs that descend from the top portion, such that each opposing leg has a claw which extends towards the other opposing leg. A gap formed between the claws that is narrower than a width of the wide portion of the wiper strip. The claws, legs, and top portion define a wiper strip cavity sized to receive the wide portion wiper strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: PYLON MANUFACTURING CORP.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Kawashima
  • Patent number: 11858476
    Abstract: A connection device (1) for connecting a wiper blade to a driving arm for a vehicle is disclosed. At least one connector is configured to be secured to the wiper blade. The connection device (1) comprises a base adapter (25) and at least one complementing adapter (26, 27), this base adapter (25) being equipped with at least one pivot member (50) connecting it to the connector (24), the base adapter (25) being configured to connect this connector (24) to a first type of driving arm, the base adapter (25) bearing at least one reference, the complementing adapter (26, 27) bearing at least one marking, a combination of the base adapter (25) and the complementing adapter (26, 27) generating a code visually associated with another type of driving arm, different from the first type of driving arm, from a combination of the reference and the marking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Valeo Systèmes d'Essuyage
    Inventors: Vincent Gaucher, Eric Poton, Stéphane Houssat
  • Patent number: 11858477
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cover (223) for a connection device designed to be rotatably mounted on an adapter (220) of the connection device, the cover (223) extending mainly between a first end (231) and a second end (232), the first end (231) comprising at least one bearing (235) designed to cooperate with a rod (228) of the adapter (220), the cover (223) being configured to be closed in a first direction of rotation (S1) and to be opened in a second direction of rotation (S2), characterised in that the bearing (235) comprises at least one tab (250) designed to allow the bearing (235) to be disengaged from the rod (228) of the adapter (220), in the first direction of rotation (Si).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Valeo Systèmes d'Essuyage
    Inventors: Vincent Gaucher, Olivier Jomard, Eric Poton
  • Patent number: 11858478
    Abstract: A fluid guiding apparatus for a wiper arm of a windscreen wiper, the fluid guiding apparatus having a vehicle/arm interface in order to receive windscreen washing liquid from a source, an arm/wiper blade interface which has at least two fluid channels which are provided to supply the windscreen washing liquid to a wiper blade, at least a first and a second fluid line in order to guide the windscreen washing liquid from the vehicle/arm interface the arm/wiper blade interface and to provide it to one of the fluid channels in each case, and a heating wire which is guided at least through a portion of the first fluid line and at least through a portion of the second fluid line and which is provided to heat the windscreen washing liquid. The arm/wiper blade interface has a through-opening which connects the two fluid channels to each other. The heating wire is guided through the through-opening and the through-opening is closed with a sealing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Ilija Pjescic
  • Patent number: 11858479
    Abstract: A washer fluid distribution device includes a plurality of nozzle units formed consecutively, a transfer conduit configured to pass through the plurality of nozzle units and having one end fluidly connected to an introduction part, the introduction part located at one end of the transfer conduit and configured to allow a washer fluid to be introduced from a washer pump, a plurality of discharge holes configured to correspond to the number of the nozzle units in the transfer conduit and having different angles based on a center of the transfer conduit, and a controller configured to control a rotation angle of the transfer conduit to allow the discharge holes to correspond to the nozzle units in response to a user's request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation, DY Auto Corporation
    Inventors: Jong Min Park, Nak Kyoung Kong, Seung Sik Han, Ki Hong Lee, Min Wook Park
  • Patent number: 11858480
    Abstract: A ready mix truck wash system includes a frame adapted for receiving a ready mix truck during operation of the system, a plurality of nozzles supported at predetermined positions by the frame to direct a pressurized liquid for washing the ready mix truck, a controller, and a plurality of sensors controlled by the controller for monitoring a position of the ready mix truck relative to at least one of the frame and the plurality of nozzles in preparation of operation and during operation of the system. In response to the ready mix truck being temporarily positioned at a first fixed position during operation of the system, a controlled predetermined volume of pressurized liquid is introduced into a barrel of the ready mix truck from at least one nozzle of the plurality of nozzles, the predetermined volume of pressurized liquid mixing with a concrete load in the ready mix truck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Shumaker Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Brett Shumaker, Kenneth Kremser, Drew Streit, John Facer, Jared Facer, Benjamin Bitting
  • Patent number: 11858481
    Abstract: A lock module assembly controls hill hold, park, and neutral states of a vehicle. The lock module assembly does all of this by controlling rotation of a wheel hub (or a shaft that rotates the wheel hub) of the vehicle. The lock module assembly includes a pocket plate fixedly secured to a rotating shaft. The pocket plate includes a locking element housed therein. A notch plate has first and second sets of notches with the first set complementing the pocket plate secured to the rotating shaft. A second set of notches complements a static pocket plate that houses at least clockwise actuator and at least one counterclockwise actuator. The actuators are used to control hill holds and park, whereas the locking element of the pocket plate disengages the wheel hub from the rotating shaft (neutral).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Sigma Powertrain, Inc.
    Inventor: John W. Kimes
  • Patent number: 11858482
    Abstract: A commercial vehicle includes at least one driven axle, a service brake, at least one propulsion engine, and wheels. A parking brake function of the vehicle is achieved by a bistable locking means that acts on both wheels. A first and second multi-speed gearbox having respective first and second gear stages are each activated by an actuator and coupled to the wheels. The parking brake function is achieved at least in-part by concurrently activating the first and second gear stages. A computing device is configured to activate the bistable locking means when the commercial vehicle is at a standstill and configured to send a brake request via an electronic signal to an electronic brake control unit to activate the service brake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems, LLC
    Inventors: William Plow, Zsombor Gyoerke, Janos Toth, Sven Krueger, Levente Hos, Michael Blessing, Huba Nemeth, Peter Kovacsik, Andreas Buch
  • Patent number: 11858483
    Abstract: An electro-pneumatic parking brake arrangement includes a shut-off valve and a parking brake module. The parking brake module includes a reservoir connection configured to connect to a compressed air reservoir, a first spring-loaded accumulator connection configured to connect to the shut-off valve, an electro-pneumatic valve unit having at least one electro-pneumatic valve configured to output a spring-loaded brake pressure at the first spring-loaded accumulator connection, and an electronic control unit configured to receive parking brake signals from an electronic parking brake switch and/or a higher-order control unit. The shut-off valve comprises a second spring accumulator connection configured to connect the spring-loaded brakes of the further axle and to shut off the second spring accumulator connection depending on a shut-off signal provided by the parking brake module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: ZF CV SYSTEMS EUROPE BV
    Inventors: Julian Van Thiel, Robert Otremba
  • Patent number: 11858484
    Abstract: A braking current management system for use in a towed trailer. The braking current management system comprises a battery health module configured to determine an amount of available battery current associated with the towed trailer and to generate therefrom an available current signal. The system further includes a trailer brake control module configured to receive the available current signal and, in response to the available current signal, to control an amount of current applied to a trailer brake associated with the towed trailer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Todd J. Brinkman, David B. Antanaitis, Stacey M. Marmara
  • Patent number: 11858485
    Abstract: A straddle type vehicle including a vehicle control apparatus capable of controlling a brake by a brake-by-wire method, includes: a control unit configured to control the brake of the straddle type vehicle based on a signal from a brake operation unit; and a signal processing unit configured to supply power of a battery power supply of the straddle type vehicle to the control unit by a predetermined input operation in a handle locking state of the straddle type vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takaya Kakimoto, Shogo Tatsumi, Akiyuki Suzuki, Shogo Nishida, Takashi Sato, Takayuki Abe
  • Patent number: 11858486
    Abstract: A parking brake apparatus for a vehicle includes a motor section receiving electric power from an outside, and generating power; a power transmission section rotated by driving the motor section, and including transmission worm gears; a pair of pressing units receiving power from the power transmission section and pressing a brake pad; a load transmission unit installed between the pair of pressing units, connected to each of the pair of pressing units, transmitting a pressing load of any one of the pair of pressing units to the other pressing unit, and made of a magnetic material; a magnet unit disposed to be spaced apart from the load transmission unit; and a hall sensor unit disposed between the load transmission unit and the magnet unit, and sensing a change in magnetic field according to rotation of the load transmission unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hyun Hwa Hong
  • Patent number: 11858487
    Abstract: An ECU determines an abnormality in a master cylinder pressure sensor or a discharge pressure sensor based on a detection value of the master cylinder pressure sensor and a detection value of the discharge pressure sensor after actuating a shut-off valve in a valve-opening direction and actuating a pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Hitachi Astemo, Ltd.
    Inventor: Makoto Kashiwagi
  • Patent number: 11858488
    Abstract: Methods, systems and devices for monitoring the stress of a rail, in particular, of continuous welded rail (CWR), providing a device that includes radar processing mechanisms and circuitry which is mountable on a rail to be monitored. The radar unit is sealed in a housing and projects a beam to a fixed target that is within a detection range of the radar unit. The radar unit also includes circuitry that allows programming of readings to take place at predetermined time intervals so changes and the extent of changes in conditions of the rail may be determined, and communicated to a remotely situated monitoring device, which may take place through a gateway or other communication network. The devices also may be used to measure temperature and other properties, rail conditions within a tunnel, such as proximity of the rail to walls, as well as ground condition, and bridge monitoring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Pennsy Digital Inc.
    Inventors: William Lefebvre, Wayne H. Murphy, Zachary Zasada, Zachary Ryan Brook
  • Patent number: 11858489
    Abstract: A riding lawn mower includes a chassis having longitudinal support beam, a drive wheel, an electric motor coupled to the drive wheel, a suspended subframe having a longitudinal subframe beam pivotally coupled to the longitudinal support beam about a pivot axis, and a suspension device coupled between the longitudinal subframe beam and the longitudinal support beam. The longitudinal subframe beam at least partially supports the electric motor. The drive wheel and the electric motor are configured to translate relative to the chassis via the pivotal coupling between the longitudinal support beam and the longitudinal subframe beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton, LLC
    Inventors: Erik R. Slegelis, Travis Rasch
  • Patent number: 11858490
    Abstract: A brake control device according to an embodiment executes, for an electric braking wheel of either the front wheel and the rear wheel, a brake hold control for driving an electric braking device to move a propulsion shaft toward the braked member to be braked and bring it into contact with a piston, calculating a target braking force for maintaining the stationary state of the vehicle, subtracting a first braking force from the target braking force to calculate a required hydraulic braking force applied to the non-electric braking wheel different from the electric braking wheel, and controlling a differential pressure control valve connected to the non-electric braking wheel of the hydraulic braking device so that the required hydraulic braking force is applied to the non-electric braking wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: ADVICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Terushige Uraoka
  • Patent number: 11858491
    Abstract: A system and method for allowing failover between an autonomously controlled braking system and a human controlled braking system in a truck having pneumatic brake lines is provided. A cab-mounted brake actuator is arranged to be handled by the human operator and is arranged to selectively deliver pressurized air to truck brakes and a trailer brake air supply. A controller performs autonomous braking operations in response to control inputs and senses when a human operator is handling the actuator. A plurality of valves, interconnected between a pressurized air source on the truck, the actuator, the truck brakes and the trailer brake air supply, are responsive to the controller, and are arranged to override selective delivery of pressurized air to the truck brakes of the truck and the trailer brake air supply in response to the autonomous braking operations in favor of selective delivery of pressurized air via the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Outrider Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter James, Gary Seminara, Lawrence S. Klein
  • Patent number: 11858492
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for estimating a maximum safe articulation angle (?lim) to be used in reversing of a vehicle combination (1) comprising a towing vehicle (10) and at least one trailer (20), said method comprising: S1) providing a preset maximum safe articulation angle (?lim) for the towing vehicle (10) or the vehicle combination (1), S2) receiving a signal being indicative of an articulation angle (?) of the vehicle combination (1) during forward driving of the vehicle combination (1), and S3) updating the maximum safe articulation angle (?lim) when the articulation angle (?) of the vehicle combination (1) during forward driving is larger than the preset maximum safe articulation angle (?lim). The disclosure also relates to a method for reversing a vehicle combination (10), to a control unit (11), to a towing vehicle (10), to a computer program and to a computer readable medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Volvo Truck Corporation
    Inventors: Kristoffer Tagesson, Staffan Rödjedal
  • Patent number: 11858493
    Abstract: Sharing sensor data of a first device with a second device includes obtaining a set of point data from at least one of a sensors located in the first device, generating a first property data of the first subset of point data based on the first subset of point data, generating a sharing data including at least a portion of the first subset of point data and the first property data, and transmitting the sharing data to the second device. If a class of a first object included in the class information a class in which personal information must be protected, a content of the sharing data includes a privacy protection data in which the first subset of point data is processed such that personal information of the first object does not identified by the second device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: SOS LAB Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sung Ui Hwang, Jun Hwan Jang, Yong Yi Lee
  • Patent number: 11858494
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method for processing vehicle driving mode switching, a vehicle and a server. The method includes: determining (S103) a target switching reason upon detecting that a driving mode of a vehicle is switched from unmanned driving to manned driving; acquiring (S104) status information and/or traveling environment information of the vehicle corresponding to the target switching reason; and sending the status information and/or the traveling environment information, and the target switching reason to a server, to enable the server to analyze the target switching reason, and improve the automatic driving system continuously according to the analysis result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: APOLLO INTELLIGENT DRIVING TECHNOLOGY (BEIJING) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Gao Yu, Jingjing Xue, Gaifan Li, Donghui Shen, Tong Wu, Jiaqi Liang
  • Patent number: 11858495
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for controlling a transmission. An engine stop-start event may be allowed or denied based on one or more characteristics of the vehicle including the transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Allison Transmission, Inc.
    Inventors: Claire Etchason, Jacob Hoeschen, Charles F. Long
  • Patent number: 11858496
    Abstract: A method for operating a hybrid vehicle includes obtaining propulsion switching data descriptive of a state of one or more vehicle systems for switching power flow of an internal combustion engine and an electric machine. The propulsion switching data may be used to provide a driver behavior recommendation and/or an actual environmental impact of the hybrid vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Gahl Berkooz, Greg Yezersky, Lev Levine, Iris Maria Weiss
  • Patent number: 11858497
    Abstract: Systems and methods of controlling a vehicle in a stable drift are provided. With the goal of enhancing the driver experience, the disclosed drift control systems provide an interactive drift driving experience for the driver of a vehicle. In some embodiments, a driver is allowed to take manual control of a vehicle after a stable drift is initiated. For safety reasons, an assisted driving system may provide corrective assistance to prevent the vehicle from entering an unstable/unsafe drift. In other embodiments, an autonomous driving system retains control of the vehicle throughout the drift. However, the driver may perform “simulated drift maneuvers” such as counter-steering, and clutch kicking in order to communicate their desire to drift more or less aggressively. Accordingly, the autonomous driving system will effectuate the driver's communicated desire in a manner that keeps the vehicle in a safe/stable drift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC.
    Inventors: Avinash Balachandran, Yan Ming Jonathan Goh, John Subosits, Michael Thompson, Alexander R. Green
  • Patent number: 11858498
    Abstract: Autonomous vehicle trailer loading with smart trailer are disclosed herein. An example method includes receiving a request to activate a self-loading procedure for an autonomous vehicle, executing the self-loading procedure by an autonomous vehicle controller, the self-loading procedure including causing the autonomous vehicle to navigate to a transportation platform, determining a visual identifier of the transportation platform using output from a sensor platform of the autonomous vehicle, and causing the autonomous vehicle to navigate onto or into the transportation platform and park at a parking spot of the transportation platform designated for the autonomous vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Oliver Martinovski