With Means For Controlling Operation Responsive To Electromagnetic Radiation, Magnetic Force, Or Sound Waves Received From Source, Or Reflected From Object Or Surface, Located Apart From Vehicle Patents (Class 180/167)
  • Patent number: 9594378
    Abstract: A system for automated operation of a host-vehicle includes an object-detection device and a controller. The object-detection device is operable to detect an object in a field-of-view proximate to a host-vehicle. The object-detection device is operable to vary a field-of-focus of the object-detection device used to observe a portion of the field-of-view. The controller is configured to determine, based on information received from the object-detection device, a travel-direction of the object relative to a travel-path of the host-vehicle. The controller is also configured to adjust the field-of-focus of the object-detection device based on the travel-direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael H. Laur, Serge Lambermont, John P. Absmeier
  • Patent number: 9592826
    Abstract: A system for parallel parking a vehicle into a target parking space is provided herein. The system includes a user input device through which one or more parking parameter selections are made. The system also includes a park assist system for automatically steering the vehicle during the execution of a parallel parking maneuver, wherein the parallel parking maneuver is governed by the one or more parking parameter selections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Erick Michael Lavoie, Miguel Bahena, Bradley G. Hochrein
  • Patent number: 9586471
    Abstract: A robotic omniwheel system for motion comprising various components such as in wheel motor assemblies with brake, supportive hub and axle assemblies, strut and yoke assemblies for suspension, a motor device having controller for steering motion, a motorized universal joint for rocking motion, an active transmission rod to uniquely engage lift and expansion which are managed by a drive logic system comprising status control system and sensor array, laser radar, GPS, and as well as manual navigational control system including wireless remote control for communication and monitoring motion states for transport and to monitor power levels therein. As well, an electrical system includes battery array to furnish power for the robotic omniwheel array assemblies and to the electrical components via power cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Inventor: Carla R. Gillett
  • Patent number: 9588517
    Abstract: A system for automated operation of a vehicle includes an infotainment-device and a controller. The infotainment-device is operable to provide an infotainment-activity to an operator of a vehicle. The controller is operable to estimate a take-over-interval for an operator to prepare for a mode-transition from automated-control of the vehicle by the controller to manual-control of the vehicle by the operator. The take-over-interval is determined based on the infotainment-activity of the operator. The controller is operable to notify the operator that the mode-transition is needed at least the take-over-interval prior to a take-over-time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael H. Laur, Indu Vijayan
  • Patent number: 9581449
    Abstract: For a vehicle using dead reckoning or some other type of navigation which accumulates error as the vehicle moves, this invention provides a simple, single-sensor, low-cost, highly-accurate system for correcting navigation errors. The system uses a marker structure with optical density which is formed from one or more periodic patterns. The vehicle's navigation computer records the density, measured by the sensor, as the sensor moves on a line over a marker at a known location, then it processes the recorded density function to get the correct navigation parameters. If the vehicle's usual path passes over a marker, that path can be used without change for acquiring navigation corrections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Inventor: George W. Batten, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9576492
    Abstract: A vehicle collision mitigation system (2) and method having a detecting device (3) and a control unit (4). The detecting device (3) being arranged to detect a certain field of view (6) defining a trigger area having an adjustable trigger width that is defined by trigger borders (9a, 9b; 10a, 10b) and is adjustable between a minimum trigger width (wmin) and a maximum trigger width (wmax). The collision mitigation system (2) is arranged to issue a system trigger signal at least in dependence of an object being determined to at least partly being present within the trigger borders if a collision is predicted to occur. The adjustable trigger width (w) is adjustable in dependence of the number of system trigger signals that have been issued during a certain time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: AUTOLIV DEVELOPMENT AB
    Inventors: Erik Rosen, Benny Nilsson
  • Patent number: 9561795
    Abstract: A vehicle collision avoidance apparatus and method are provided. The method includes identifying, by a controller, whether an obstacle is a vehicle or a pedestrian and collecting information required for calculating a minimum braking time and a minimum steering time. The controller is configured to calculate the minimum braking time to avoid a collision with the obstacle and the minimum steering time to avoid a collision with an obstacle. In addition, the a controller is configured to sequentially operating braking and steering of a traveling vehicle based on the minimum steering time depending on a type of identified obstacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Dae Seok Jeon, Suk Ki Min, Dong Hyun Sung
  • Patent number: 9561778
    Abstract: Method of selecting and stopping a vehicle using vehicle-to-vehicle communication includes selecting and suppressing a local vehicle including vehicle-to-vehicle communication comprising transmitting a vehicle-to-vehicle locating signal from a host vehicle to local vehicles to obtain a location and a direction of movement for local vehicles within a local area, selecting a local vehicle as a selected vehicle to be suppressed, and suppressing the selected vehicle using vehicle-to-vehicle communication from the host vehicle to the selected vehicle. The suppressing of the selected vehicle by the host vehicle includes providing a warning to the operator of the selected vehicle, limiting speed, along with decelerating and halting of the selected vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Carlos Atoche
  • Patent number: 9561797
    Abstract: Methods and systems for predictive reasoning for controlling speed of a vehicle are described. A computing device may be configured to identify a first and second vehicle travelling ahead of an autonomous vehicle and in a same lane as the autonomous vehicle. The computing device may also be configured to determine a first buffer distance behind the first vehicle at which the autonomous vehicle will substantially reach a speed of the first vehicle and a second buffer distance behind the second vehicle at which the first vehicle will substantially reach a speed of the second vehicle. The computing device may further be configured to determine a distance at which to adjust a speed of the autonomous vehicle based on the first and second buffer distances and the speed of the autonomous vehicle, and then provide instructions to adjust the speed of the autonomous vehicle based on the distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Dmitri Dolgov, Dave Ferguson
  • Patent number: 9558413
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided that may allow an autonomous vehicle to discern a school bus from image data. An example method may include receiving image data indicative of a vehicles operating in an environment. The image data may depict sizes of the vehicles. The method may also include, based on relative sizes of the vehicles, determining a vehicle that is larger in size as compared the other vehicles. The method may additionally include comparing a size of the determined vehicle to a size of a school bus and based on the size of vehicle being within a threshold size of the school bus, comparing a color of the vehicle to a color of the school bus. The method may further include based on the vehicle being substantially the same color as the school bus, determining that the vehicle is representative of the school bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: David Ian Franklin Ferguson, Wan-Yen Lo
  • Patent number: 9560692
    Abstract: A system for controlling a machine may include a remote control (RC) input device configured to remotely initiate a RC enabled mode on the machine. The RC input device may subsequently establish a communication link with the machine when no other RC input device currently has a communication link with the machine. The RC input device may transition the machine to a RC reserved mode in which the machine is reserved for control by the RC input device, and transition a mode of control for the machine to a RC active mode from the RC reserved mode. The RC input device may selectively control the machine when in the RC active mode. The RC input device may also transition the mode of control for the machine to an autonomous mode from the RC active mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Jason McGee, Jean-Jacques Clar, Craig L. Koehrsen, Brian Gerard Funke, Brett Andrew Eisenmenger, Deepa Jeyamani, Kent James Chesko, Clarence Matthew Glover, Shahul Hameed Mohammed
  • Patent number: 9558667
    Abstract: A vehicle collision detection system may be configured to coordinate with collision detection systems of other vehicles. The coordination may comprise sharing sensor data with other vehicles, receiving sensor information from other vehicles, using sensor information to generate a collision detection model, sharing the collision detection model with other vehicles, receiving a collision detection model from other vehicles, and the like. In some embodiments, vehicles may coordinate sensor operation to form a bistatic and/or multistatic sensor configuration, in which a detection signal generated at a first land vehicle is detected at a sensing system at a second land vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: ELWHA LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Bowers, Geoffrey F. Deane, Roderick A. Hyde, Nathan Kundtz, Nathan P. Myhrvold, David R. Smith, Clarence T. Tegreene, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9550294
    Abstract: A method for energy management in a robotic device includes providing a base station for mating with the robotic device, determining a quantity of energy stored in an energy storage unit of the robotic device, and performing a predetermined task based at least in part on the quantity of energy stored. Also disclosed are systems for emitting avoidance signals to prevent inadvertent contact between the robot and the base station, and systems for emitting homing signals to allow the robotic device to accurately dock with the base station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: David A. Cohen, Daniel N. Ozick, Clara Vu, James Lynch, Philip R. Mass
  • Patent number: 9550499
    Abstract: A work vehicle includes: a first control system that controls a traveling of a work vehicle; a second control system that controls the traveling of the work vehicle via the first control system by using set information; a first communication line used for communication between the first control system and the second control system; and a second communication line that transmits information to the first control system from the second control system, wherein the second control system generates information for controlling an engine of the work vehicle and information for controlling a brake device of the work vehicle, and transmits the information for controlling the engine and the information for controlling the brake device to the first control system via the second communication line by an information transmission system different from an information transmission system by the first communication line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventor: Katsuyuki Sakai
  • Patent number: 9545582
    Abstract: A robotic activity system, which includes a board and an autonomous robotic device, is described herein. The board may display a line and one or more color patterns. The robotic device may traverse the line using one or more integrated sensors. For example, sensor data may include light intensity data for visible light reflected or emitted by the board. The sensor data may be analyzed to 1) ensure the robotic device follows the line and/or 2) detect color sequences associated with color patterns shown on the board. Upon detection of a color sequence, the robotic device may attempt to match the color sequence with a known color pattern definition. The color pattern definition may be associated with a function to be performed by the robotic device. Using multiple sets of color patterns and associated functions allows the robotic device to move in a variable and potentially unpredictable fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: EVOLLVE, INC.
    Inventors: Armen Kroyan, Ond{hacek over (r)}ej Stan{hacek over (e)}k, Nader Abou-Hamda
  • Patent number: 9547986
    Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for coordination of autonomous vehicles in a roadway. A roadway management system can generate lane configurations for a roadway or a portion of the roadway. The roadway management system can determine the direction of travel for lanes in a roadway and direct autonomous automobiles to enter the roadway in a particular lane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James Christopher Curlander, Ryan Scott Russell, Allan Scott Bathurst, Udit Madan, Jules Cook Graybill, Jonathan Blair Norwood, Wesley Scott Lauka, Pragyana K. Mishra, Darren Ernest Canavor
  • Patent number: 9541020
    Abstract: An engine controller is proposed which facilitates an operation at start of a vehicle without forcing mental strain to a rider to cancel start control. An engine controller includes a start determinator for determining start of a vehicle, an elapsed time after start timer for counting elapsed time Tp since start of the vehicle is determined by the start determinator, and a start controller for adjusting an output of an engine until the elapsed time Tp counted by the elapsed time after start timer reaches a predetermined control time Tr determined in advance if the start of the vehicle is determined by the start determinator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
    Inventor: Atsushi Takaoka
  • Patent number: 9541647
    Abstract: A range finding device includes a transmission module, a linked movement module and a range finding module. The linked movement module is connected to and driven by the transmission module. The transmission module driven by an external driving module enables the linked movement module. The range finding module has one plane which is connected with a plane of the linked movement module and further includes a transmitting portion for transmission of a measurement signal and a receiving portion for reception of the reflected measurement signal, each of which is configured on one side of the range finding module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Inventor: Jason Yan
  • Patent number: 9539989
    Abstract: A travel support system uses a wireless communication unit for receiving a following vehicle's speed control capacity, and compares the speed control capacity received with a speed control capacity of the subject vehicle. If the speed control capacity of the following vehicle is higher than the capacity of the subject vehicle, a maximum deceleration of the subject vehicle is restricted to a restricted value. In addition, a target inter-vehicle distance to a lead vehicle is set according to the restricted value of the subject vehicle, thereby enabling a reduction of the inter-vehicle distance to the lead vehicle for each of the vehicles in a convoy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takahisa Yamashiro
  • Patent number: 9533619
    Abstract: A rearview mirror assembly includes a reflective mirror element and a blind spot indicator system in optical communication with the reflective mirror element and configured to receive an input from a blind spot detector system, wherein the blind spot indicator system includes a first indicator assembly and a second indicator assembly each having a light source and an optic, the optic is in optical communication with the light source. The light sources are configured to emit light that at least partially propagates through the optics and the reflective mirror element if the input received from the blind spot detector indicates the blind spot detector is active or an object is detected in the blind spot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Danny L. Minikey, Jr., Mark R. Roth
  • Patent number: 9534918
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate generally to identifying and displaying traffic lanes that are available for autonomous driving. This information may be displayed to a driver of a vehicle having an autonomous driving mode, in order to inform the driver of where he or she can use the autonomous driving mode. In one example, the display may visually distinguishing between lanes that are available for auto-drive from those that are not. The display may also include an indicator of the position of a lane (autodrive or not) currently occupied by the vehicle. In addition, if that lane is an autodrive lane the display may include information indicating how much further the vehicle may continue in the autonomous driving mode in that particular lane. The display may also display information indicating the remaining autodrive distance in other lanes as well as the lane with the greatest remaining autodrive distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Philip Nemec, Brian Douglas Cullinane, Manuel Christian Clement, Robertus Christianus Elisabeth Mariet
  • Patent number: 9533724
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for attaching a crawler vehicle to the surface of an object. The crawler vehicle may comprise a frame, a number of moveable surface-engaging components attached to the frame, a number of actuators, and an electro-permanent magnet. The number of actuators is operable to move the frame with respect to the object when the number of moveable surface-engaging components is in contact with the surface of the object. The electro-permanent magnet is operable to hold the number of moveable surface-engaging components in contact with the surface of the object by a magnetic force between the electro-permanent magnet and the object when the electro-permanent magnet is activated and to remove the magnetic force when the electro-permanent magnet is deactivated to release the number of moveable surface-engaging components from the surface of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: James J. Troy, Gary Ernest Georgeson, Scott W. Lea, Karl Edward Nelson, Daniel J. Wright
  • Patent number: 9522471
    Abstract: Methods and systems for determining and presenting virtual safety cages are provided. An example method may involve receiving an instruction for a robotic device to perform a physical action in a physical environment occupied by the robotic device. The method may also involve, responsive to receiving the instruction, and based on one or more parameters of one or more physical components of the robotic device, determining one or more estimated trajectories along which the one or more physical components of the robotic device are estimated to move as the robotic device performs the physical action. The method may further involve, based on the one or more estimated trajectories, determining a virtual representation of a space that the robotic device is estimated to occupy in the physical environment while performing the physical action. The method may then involve providing, into the physical environment, an indication of a location of the space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: James J. Kuffner, Jr., Peter Elving Anderson-Sprecher
  • Patent number: 9513633
    Abstract: The present invention provides a work vehicle including a control system that can switch between a first driving mode for allowing the work vehicle to travel in a manned state and a second driving mode for allowing the work vehicle to travel in an unmanned state, wherein the control system controls such that, during an execution of the second driving mode, a number of types of information exchanged by communication in the control system becomes less than that during the first driving mode, or a communication interval of information exchanged by the communication in the control system becomes longer than that during the first driving mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventor: Katsuyuki Sakai
  • Patent number: 9505435
    Abstract: A method wherein, when a vehicle is pulled into or out of a parking space, the dimensions of the parking space in which the vehicle is located or in which the vehicle is being pulled into are determined by an assistance system. Furthermore, the assistance system detects a distance between the vehicle and an obstacle. If the distance is below a threshold value, the assistance system produces a notice. The assistance system sets the threshold value according to the dimensions of the vehicle and the dimensions of the parking space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AG
    Inventors: Ulrich Wuttke, Philipp Hüger, Mehmet Terkes
  • Patent number: 9505428
    Abstract: A control computing unit blends a feedforward axial force and a feedback axial force at an allocation ratio, based on an axial force difference, a lateral acceleration, a vehicle velocity, a steering angle, and a steering angular velocity so as to set a final axial force. Then, the control computing unit applies a steering reaction force based on the final axial force that has been set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yu Wun Chai, Kazuhiro Igarashi
  • Patent number: 9508264
    Abstract: A system and method for management of airspace for unmanned aircraft is disclosed. The system and method comprises administration of the airspace including designation of flyways and zones with reference to features in the region. The system and method comprises administration of aircraft including registration of aircraft and mission. A monitoring system tracks conditions and aircraft traffic in the airspace. Aircraft may be configured to transact with the management system including to obtain rights/priority by license and to operate in the airspace under direction of the system. The system and aircraft may be configured for dynamic transactions (e.g. licensing/routing). The system will set rates for licenses and use/access to the airspace and aircraft will be billed/pay for use/access of the airspace at rates using data from data sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Inventors: Alistair K. Chan, Jesse R. Cheatham, III, William David Duncan, Eun Young Hwang, Roderick A. Hyde, Tony S. Pan, Clarence T. Tegreene, Victoria Y. H. Wood
  • Patent number: 9499167
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for assistance in the parking of a vehicle from a roadway into a free parking space, by one or more maneuvers of the slot parking type, comprising the following steps: determination of the length of the free parking space, determination of an optimum path to be followed by the movement of the vehicle by successive arcs of a circle, characterized in that it comprises a step for determining the number of maneuvers Nm needed in order to bring the vehicle into the parking space and in that these maneuvers are implemented when this number of maneuvers Nm is less than a threshold S2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: RENAULT s.a.s.
    Inventors: Helene Vorobieva, Nicoleta Minoiu Enache, Sebastien Glaser
  • Patent number: 9500276
    Abstract: A shift by wire auto lever controlling structure using an integrated controller having two buttons may include an integrated controller including a first button and a second button, and a control unit connected with the integrated controller and controls shifting in a vehicle in response to input signals of the integrated controller, wherein the control unit discriminates a long input signal and a short input signal of input signals from the first button and the second button of the integrated controller as different input signals, and combines the different input signals from the first button and the second button, and performs a Shift By Wire (SBW) mode for changing a current shift range to a predetermined shift range matched with a combination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Jeong-Seon Min
  • Patent number: 9499197
    Abstract: A method for steering control of a vehicle having an actuator which turns steered wheels of the vehicle. The steering control method includes obtaining a location of a target point at a look-ahead distance away from the vehicle based on a maneuver the vehicle is performing, predicting a forward location of the vehicle at the look-ahead distance away from the vehicle, determining a distance between the location of the target point and the forward location, computing a normalized error by dividing the distance with the look-ahead distance, and determining a steering control command based on an integration of the normalized error. The actuator then turns the steered wheels of the vehicle according to the steering control command so as to steer the vehicle to perform various maneuvers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignees: HUA-CHUANG AUTOMOBILE INFORMATION TECHNICAL CENTER CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Han-Shue Tan, Jihua Huang
  • Patent number: 9494943
    Abstract: A method of controlling autonomous or driverless vehicles in a specific control zone or in a convoy is disclosed. The vehicles enter the zone or form a convoy and come under the control of a zone authority or escort vehicle that coordinates the movements of the vehicles until they leave the zone or convoy. Escort vehicle communicate with central control facilities, each other or escorted vehicles. The behavior of the escorted or controlled vehicles is modified to insure that it matches a set of rules established by the zone authority. Possible zones include parking areas, indoor passages and areas with security concerns. The zone authority or escort vehicle may simultaneously control multiple autonomous vehicles and possible additional driver operated vehicles. Messages establishing control or providing continuing administration of rules or movements of escorted or controlled vehicles may be delivered by any type of communications link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Inventor: Thomas Danaher Harvey
  • Patent number: 9493114
    Abstract: A warning device for a vehicle to start a warning at an optimum timing depending on a position at which an object passes near the vehicle. The warning device has a warning part for warning a driver of a presence of the object that will pass near the vehicle. The warning device has a timing changing part for changing a timing of starting the warning via the warning part according to a size of an allowance space from the vehicle to an expected passing position at which the object is expected to pass near the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Takahashi, Tomoya Kawasaki, Tetsuya Komoguchi
  • Patent number: 9495603
    Abstract: A method and a device determine whether a vehicle can pass through a passage of an object, based on image data from a 3-D camera, which records an image of surroundings of the vehicle. A trajectory of the vehicle is ascertained. From the image data, it is determined whether an object located above the trajectory is recognized and whether the object has at least one connection to the ground. The dimensions and the shape of an entry area or a passage space between the object and the roadway, through which the vehicle is to pass, are determined from the image data. By comparing the dimensions and shape of the entry area or the passage space with the dimensions and shape of the vehicle, it is determined whether and how the vehicle can pass through the entry area or passage space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignees: Conti Temic microelectronic GmbH, Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Stefan Hegemann, Stefan Lueke, Christoph Hassenpflug
  • Patent number: 9487123
    Abstract: A vehicular headlamp apparatus includes: a headlamp that illuminates ahead of a vehicle; illumination range changing means for changing an illumination range of the headlamp; detecting means for detecting a position of a forward vehicle present in front of the vehicle; controlling means for controlling the illumination range changing means based on the position of the forward vehicle detected by the detecting means; and determining means for determining whether or not the position of the forward vehicle is within the illumination range. When the position of the forward vehicle is determined as being within the illumination range, the apparatus changes the illumination range so as to have the position of the forward vehicle fall outside the illumination range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignees: DENSO CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ryu Mizuno, Hajime Kasai, Tatsuya Takagaki
  • Patent number: 9482750
    Abstract: A method for avoiding collisions with an aircraft ground-services vehicle includes using a proximity sensor attached to the ground-services vehicle to generate a proximity signal, and using a processor that stores a three-dimensional map of the ground-services vehicle's outer geometry. The three-dimensional map is modifiable upon in-use changes to the 3-D geometry of the ground-services vehicle. The processor uses the three-dimensional map and the proximity signal to determine whether a predetermined 3-D envelope around the vehicle has been breached, and notifies the vehicle of a breach.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Eric B. Gilbert
  • Patent number: 9475522
    Abstract: A method and an automatically controlled vehicle for transporting an object such as an item of luggage, with two pivotable axles each having at the outer ends two wheels driven with drive motors, with a control unit which is configured to perform the steps of controlling each of the drive motors such that an at least substantially equal basic drive torque is applied to each of the wheels and, for the purpose of changing the direction of the vehicle, controlling the drive motors associated with a wheel support arm such that a steering torque which is of the same magnitude but of opposite direction is applied in addition to the basic drive torque to the associated wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: VANDERLANDE INDUSTRIES B.V.
    Inventors: Erik Wilhelmus Petronella Van Meijl, Jozef Antonius Wilhelmus Maria Van Eekelen, Aart Jan De Graaf
  • Patent number: 9475491
    Abstract: Various manners of changing travel lanes for an autonomous vehicle are described. A target gap between a pair of neighboring vehicles located in a travel lane that is adjacent to the current travel lane of the autonomous vehicle can be identified. It can be determined whether the size of the first target gap is acceptable or unacceptable. Responsive to determining that the size of the first target gap is unacceptable, an alternative lane changing maneuver for the autonomous vehicle can be determined. The autonomous vehicle can be caused to implement the alternative lane changing maneuver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Naoki Nagasaka, Danil V. Prokhorov
  • Patent number: 9479760
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a solid state imaging device includes a first imaging device, a second imaging device, and a calculating unit. The first imaging device includes a first optical system, a first imaging unit, and a second optical system provided between the first optical system and the first imaging unit. The second imaging device includes a third optical system, a second imaging unit, and a fourth optical system provided between the third optical system and the second imaging unit. The calculating unit is configured to perform a first calculation and a second calculation. The first calculation includes deriving a first distance from stereo disparity. The second calculation includes deriving a second distance from a parallax image. The calculating unit is configured to estimate a target distance based on at least one selected from the first distance and the second distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Suzuki, Risako Ueno, Mitsuyoshi Kobayashi, Honam Kwon, Hideyuki Funaki
  • Patent number: 9469299
    Abstract: Deceleration control systems, methods, and programs acquire from learning information a target deceleration point in front of a traveling vehicle and an associated deceleration end point. The deceleration end point is a point representative of one or more locations at which deceleration of the vehicle or another vehicle was actually completed in the past as the vehicle or the other vehicle approached the associated deceleration end point. The systems, methods, and programs determine a distance between the acquired target deceleration point and the acquired deceleration end point as a predicted distance over which traffic is present. The systems, methods, and programs communicate with a vehicle ECU to perform a deceleration control of the vehicle so that (i) the longer the determined distance, the greater the deceleration rate applied during the deceleration control, and (ii) the deceleration is complete by the time the vehicle reaches the acquired deceleration end point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignees: AISIN AW CO., LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshiaki Niwa, Tomoki Kodan, Kuniaki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9457808
    Abstract: A method for supporting a driver of a motor vehicle during a driving maneuver, including the following: (a) determining a driving path in which the motor vehicle moves when the driving maneuver is carried out and automatically or semi-automatically carrying out the driving maneuver; (b) detecting the surroundings of the motor vehicle during the driving maneuver; (c) stopping the motor vehicle if an object is detected in the driving path and resuming the driving maneuver as soon as the object has left the driving path and/or decelerating the motor vehicle and slowly resuming the driving maneuver if an object is detected outside the driving path. Also described is a device for carrying out the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Florian Raisch, Hans-Peter Huebner
  • Patent number: 9452526
    Abstract: Provided is a robot cleaner. The robot cleaner includes a main body defining an outer appearance of the robot cleaner, a moving unit for moving or rotating the main body, a plurality of receiving units disposed in the main body to receive a user's voice command, and a control unit recognizing a call command occurring direction when the voice command inputted from the plurality of receiving units is a call command. The control unit controls the moving unit so that the main body is moved in the recognized call command occurring direction along the preset detour route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Jimann Jeong, Byounggi Lee, Kyuho Lee
  • Patent number: 9446521
    Abstract: A robot obstacle detection system including a robot housing which navigates with respect to a surface and a sensor subsystem aimed at the surface for detecting the surface. The sensor subsystem includes an emitter which emits a signal having a field of emission and a photon detector having a field of view which intersects the field of emission at a region. The subsystem detects the presence of an object proximate the mobile robot and determines a value of a signal corresponding to the object. It compares the value to a predetermined value, moves the mobile robot in response to the comparison, and updates the predetermined value upon the occurrence of an event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher M. Casey, Matthew Cross, Daniel N. Ozick, Joseph L. Jones
  • Patent number: 9426946
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for shaping of lawns and hedges into desired 3D patterns or shapes. The apparatus consists of a bStem and/or other computational device comprising storage, a motorized platform, and trimmer end effectors. The computational device instructs the end effectors to extend or retract as the platform moves along at a steady pace, thus producing a target pattern (e.g., a company logo) in a hedge, lawn, a wall or a ground-cover of any material suitable for such shaping. The apparatus may be configured to operate autonomously based on a pre-loaded pattern file. Software (e.g., such as BrainOS) may be used to provide real-time feedback to trimmers regarding the process and the results, and possibly to train the inverse model accordingly. The apparatus may learn to minimize predicted or current mismatches between the desired pattern and the one being produced. Users compete for the best designs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: BRAIN CORPORATION
    Inventor: Dimitry Fisher
  • Patent number: 9420740
    Abstract: A riding lawnmower includes left and right wheels, at least one caster wheel, a lawnmower blade or reel, and a control section. The left and right wheels are independently driven by electric rotary machines to travel. The lawnmower blade or reel is driven for mowing. The control section, in response to turn instruction input by a turn operator, controls the left and right wheels according to preset standard setting conditions, or according to deceleration setting conditions which differ from the standard setting conditions, under which at least one of a vehicle movement speed and vehicle turning speed is decelerated more than under standard setting conditions. The riding lawnmower includes a section designating either standard setting conditions or deceleration setting conditions. In a riding lawnmower, left and right wheels are caused to turn around a turn center position corresponding to a turn instruction according to designated setting conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: KANZAKI KOKYUKOKI MFG. CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Norihiro Ishii, Kengo Sasahara, Kazunari Koga, Jun Matsuura, Tomoyuki Ebihara, Katsumoto Mizukawa
  • Patent number: 9415983
    Abstract: A crash prevention system mounted to the crane mast for a storage and retrieval machine having a rotating sensor apparatus for forming a circular detection pattern that detects an obstruction along the entire front or back of the crane mast is disclosed. A processor in operative communication with the rotating sensor apparatus generates a fault condition that terminates the movement of the storage and retrieval machine and prevents contact with the obstruction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Shamrock Foods Company
    Inventors: Scott D. Dwire, Robert J. Waters
  • Patent number: 9412277
    Abstract: A vehicle system includes a first sensor configured to output a first signal and a second sensor configured to output a second signal. The first and second signals represent movement of a potential cut-in vehicle. The vehicle system further includes a processing device programmed to compare the movement of the potential cut-in vehicle to at least one threshold. The processing device selects the potential cut-in vehicle as an in-path vehicle if the movement exceeds the at least one threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Nitendra Nath, Aaron L. Mills
  • Patent number: 9412280
    Abstract: A system for delivery of payload at a precise location by autonomous delivery vehicle. A machine-readable unique identifier is laid at a place where a user wants delivery of an item. User opens a precise delivery app on smartphone, activates the scanner and standing near the unique identifier scans it. Precise delivery app reads the unique identity of the unique identifier and collects the geophysical location of the smartphone. Third party system feeds this information of the target unique identifier to the autonomous vehicle. The autonomous delivery vehicle includes a first prior art navigator and a second scanner navigator. The autonomous vehicle determines its route to the approximate location of the target unique identifier with the help of the first prior art navigator and the second scanner navigator scans every unique identifier that may be present around that location and guides the autonomous vehicle to the target unique identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Inventors: Daniel Ian Zwillinger, Ronald Douglas Hettich, Jr., John Cogliandro
  • Patent number: 9409483
    Abstract: A fuel cell system mounted in a vehicle includes a fuel cell, a collision prediction device, a discharge device, and a controller. The fuel cell includes a gas channel to which a reactant gas is to be supplied to generate electricity. The collision prediction device is configured to predict probability of collision of the vehicle. The discharge device is configured to discharge the electricity from the fuel cell. The controller is configured to control the discharge device to discharge the electricity from the fuel cell in a case where the collision prediction device predicts that the probability of collision of the vehicle is higher than a predetermined probability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takeshi Ohtani, Kazuyoshi Miyajima, Akihiro Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9406163
    Abstract: A method for medical imaging executed by an apparatus including a processor includes determining a start block of volume rendering based on respective maximum values of blocks positioned on a path of a light beam; acquiring a value of the light beam based on first sampling values acquired by sampling the start block; setting a processing order for remaining blocks positioned on the path of the light beam based on respective distances between the start block and the remaining blocks; determining whether a next block, according to the processing order, is to be processed, by comparing a maximum value of the next block with the value of the light beam; and comparing second sampling values acquired by sampling the next block with the value of the light beam and updating the value of the light beam according to a comparison result, in response to the maximum value of the next block being greater than the value of the light beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignees: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., SEOUL NATIONAL UNIVERSITY R&DB FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Yu-mi Sohn, Yeong-gil Shin, Dong-geon Oh, Ho-chul Kang, Ki-won Sohn
  • Patent number: 9403533
    Abstract: A method for operating a motor vehicle using a control unit during operation of a fully-automatic driver assistance system is designed to guide the vehicle independently of the driver. The control unit actuates a drive unit and/or a brake unit during operation of said driver assistance system such that the motor vehicle maintains a predefined distance to a vehicle in front which is detected as a target object, the control unit also actuating the actuation unit of a steering system such that the motor vehicle is kept within its own detected lane. If the vehicle in front, detected as the target object, leaves the detected lane and if there is no new preceding vehicle, a braking action is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Dirk De Bruin, Joachim Schiehlen, Andreas Bogner