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: 10605607
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of tracking multiple objects with a probabilistic hypothesis density filter is provided. The method includes providing a plurality of intensities. The plurality of intensities are pruned based on their respective weight to remove lower weighted intensities and produce a first set of intensities. Intensities in the first set of intensities that are identified as corresponding to the same object are then merged to produce a second set of intensities. The second set of intensities is then pruned again to produce a final set of intensities, wherein pruning the second set of intensities includes in the final set of intensities, up to a threshold number of intensities having the largest weights in the second set of intensities and excludes from the final set of intensities any remaining intensities in the second set of intensities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Vibhor L. Bageshwar, Michael Ray Elgersma, Eric A. Euteneuer
  • Patent number: 10605613
    Abstract: A system and method for facilitating location of driver-participants in car transportation systems is provided. The system includes a network-independent signal emitting device and an electronic device, each in communication with a car transportation system. The signal emitting device corresponds to a driver-participant of the car transportation system while the electronic device corresponds to a passenger-participant of the car transportation system. The signal emitting device is configured to transmit a signal including location data. The signal includes a unique identifier that associates the signal emitting device with the driver-participant of the car transportation system. The electronic device is configured to receive the signal and display the driver-participant's location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Inventor: Scott Houston
  • Patent number: 10606261
    Abstract: A system 10 for controlling operation of a vehicle 12 in a defined area 14 includes a perimeter 16 defining a boundary of the defined area 14. A user interface 18 is provided for at least one of controlling and monitoring movement of the vehicle 12 as it traverses the area 14 and monitoring the location of the vehicle 12 relative to the perimeter 16. The system 10 further includes a controller 26 to which the vehicle 12 is responsive, the vehicle 12 having a plurality of modes of operation, one of which is an autonomous mode and another of which is an operator controlled mode. The controller 26 is operative, when the vehicle 12 is operating in the autonomous mode and the vehicle comes within a predetermined range of the perimeter, to inhibit the vehicle 12 from crossing the perimeter 16 and, when the vehicle 12 is operating in the operator controlled mode or is converted from autonomous mode to operator controlled mode, to permit the vehicle 12 to cross the perimeter 16 under control of the operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Technological Resources Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Charles Benjamin McHugh, Eric William Nettleton, Florian Oppolzer
  • Patent number: 10597033
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for monitoring and adjustment of gaps between vehicles. An example vehicle includes a rear sensing device and a controller. The controller is to determine a target lead gap for following a lead vehicle during adaptive cruise control and measure, via the rear sensing device, a trailing distance to a trailing vehicle. The controller also is to determine a target trailing gap for the trailing vehicle. The example vehicle also includes a cruise control unit to increase, responsive to the trailing distance being less than the target trailing gap, the target lead gap based on the trailing distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel A. Makled, Michael McQuillen, Nitendra Nath, Nicolas Salciccioli, Aaron L. Mills
  • Patent number: 10594541
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses for remote evaluation of content delivery service are described. A remote computing device may determine the existence and performance characteristics of devices and equipment at a premises by monitoring and analyzing data from a network associated with the premises to determine the presence or absence of equipment, compatibility issues, and performance quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Maurice Manuel Garcia, Robert Joseph Thompson
  • Patent number: 10583816
    Abstract: A lane departure prevention device includes: a travelling state recognition unit; a lane line recognition unit; a departure determination unit; a yaw moment calculation unit configured to calculate a target trajectory and a target yaw moment; a direction determination unit configured to determine the departure avoidance direction; a direction alignment determination unit configured to determine the turning direction of the vehicle by the target yaw moment coincides with the departure avoidance direction; and a braking force control unit configured to control the braking forces of the vehicle. In a case where the direction alignment determination unit determines that the results of determinations coincide with each other, the braking force control unit perform a braking force control, and in a case where the direction alignment determination unit doesn't determine that the results of determinations coincide with each other, the braking force control unit doesn't perform the braking force control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshitaka Oikawa
  • Patent number: 10583780
    Abstract: A vehicle collision warning system and method detects a rear-center area impending collision and a rear-lateral-corner area impending collision, and controls an operator alarm in one of a standard mode and a towing mode. In the standard mode, the operator alarm is controlled to provide an alert to an operator when the rear-center area impending collision is detected and/or the rear-lateral-corner area impending collision is detected. In the towing mode, the operator alarm is controlled to provide the alert to the operator when the rear-lateral-corner area impending collision is detected by the rear-lateral-corner area impending collision detection module, and to provide no alert to the operator when the rear-center impending collision is detected by the rear-center area impending collision detection module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: David Albert Vanderburgh, Justin T. Longwell, Steven Feit, Brian P. Baker, Joseph A. Heater, Randy L. Skiles, Jordan J. Marker, David A. Thompson, Gregory A. Barlage, Peter J. Cardimen, David Bryant, Jason Dutter, Kin C. Fung
  • Patent number: 10576969
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided. One method includes processing communication with a vehicle and connected objects. The processing is by one or more servers of a cloud system where said vehicle is associated for receiving services. The connected objects include objects having communication capabilities that are either fixed at specific locations as infrastructure where the vehicle is traversing or is moving in location in areas proximate to where the vehicle is traversing. The method includes receiving by a server of the cloud system, geo-location for the vehicle using on-board electronics of the vehicle and data obtained from a global positioning system. Determining a heading direction of the vehicle based on detected changes in the geo-locations of the vehicle. Receiving state data from connected objects, and selecting one or more of the connected objects based on a current geo-location of the vehicle and the heading direction of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Emerging Automotive, LLC
    Inventors: Angel A. Penilla, Albert S. Penilla
  • Patent number: 10569769
    Abstract: If the sign of the relative speed of the non-fixed object is negative, the determination width for own lane is expanded in the lane-width direction. According to the expanded determination width for own lane, both the preceding vehicle on the adjacent lane and the preceding vehicle on the own lane are recognized as existing on the own lane. Therefore, if it is determined that the risk to collide with the preceding vehicle on the adjacent lane is high, the decelerating assist control is executed to prevent collision with this preceding vehicle. Also, if it is determined that the risk to collide with the preceding vehicle on the own lane is high, the decelerating assist control for preventing collision with this preceding vehicle is executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masamichi Ohsugi
  • Patent number: 10565438
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle periphery monitor device for accurately distinguishing between and detecting two side-by-side pedestrians and a vehicle that is lighting lights. With regard to a pedestrian candidate having at least two head candidates, a reference image creation unit creates the peripheral image of one of the head candidates as a reference image and creates an inverted image in which the right and left sides of the reference image are inverted. An object determination unit sets the peripheral image of the other heat candidate as a comparative image, and determines whether the head candidates are the pedestrians or the vehicle on the basis of the consistency of the reference image and the inverted image relative to the comparative image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Nobuharu Nagaoka, Makoto Aimura
  • Patent number: 10567107
    Abstract: A portable countermeasure device is provided comprising one or more directional antennae, one or more disruption components and at least one activator. The portable countermeasure device further comprises a body, with the directional antennae are affixed to a front portion of the body. The one or more disruption components may be externally or internally mounted to the device body. The portable countermeasure device is aimed at a specific drone, the activator is engaged, and disruptive signals are directed toward the drone, disrupting the control, navigation, and other signals to and from the drone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Dedrone Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander Morrow, Daniel E. Stamm, Raphael Joseph Welsh
  • Patent number: 10558213
    Abstract: A control system for an autonomous driving vehicle comprises an operation device configured to be operated by a driver; a notification device configured to give notification to the driver; and an electronic control unit. Autonomous driving is performed. When the driver operates the operation device during autonomous driving, autonomous driving is terminated and vehicle driving is switched to manual driving. Further, when the driver should be requested to terminate autonomous driving during autonomous driving, the notification device is controlled to first notify a request for preparing for manual driving to the driver and then notify a request for terminating autonomous driving to the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Jun Sato, Yuma Kawamori, Keiko Tosaki
  • Patent number: 10558212
    Abstract: A vehicle operating system (10) for controlling operation of a vehicle (12) in an area (26) in which a safe working area (SWA) (30) is demarcated includes a periphery generator module (22) for generating a periphery of a zone of interest about the vehicle (12) and to output zone data. A scanning arrangement (36) is mountable to the vehicle (12) for scanning a region about the vehicle (12), including the zone of interest, for obstacles, the scanning arrangement (36) outputting obstacle data. A processing module (20) is responsive to the zone data, the obstacle data and SWA data relating to the SWA (30) to determine if a detected obstacle is within both the SWA (30) and the zone of interest. The processing module (20) causes action to be taken regarding further traversal of the area (26) by the vehicle (12) depending on whether or not both conditions are satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: Technological Resources Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Florian Oppolzer, Justin Young, Hume Saunders, Brendan Betke
  • Patent number: 10557727
    Abstract: A target for an inductive displacement sensor is provided, including a plurality of conductive patterns distributed along a zone having a dimension Dtot in a direction, the patterns being defined by the overlay of at least a first set of elementary periodic patterns having a period approximately equal to Dtot/N, including N first elementary conductive patterns of a dimension approximately equal to Dtot/2N in the direction, regularly distributed along the zone, and of a second set of elementary periodic patterns having a period approximately equal to Dtot/(N+r), including N+r second elementary patterns of a dimension approximately equal to Dtot/2(N+r) in the direction, regularly distributed along the zone, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 2 and r is a positive integer, different to zero and less than or equal to N?1, wherein first and second elementary conductive patterns overlap at least partially.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: HUTCHINSON
    Inventors: Yohan Maniouloux, Gor Lebedev
  • Patent number: 10551495
    Abstract: An apparatus/vehicle for warning a driver of a vehicle or vehicle/trailer (V-VT) about a stationary object (SO): a) a sensor device having a detection area (DA) including a side DA arranged laterally from a vehicle side (VS) and extending front to rear, in the direction of a longitudinal centerline of the (V-VT), and detecting the SO within the DA; b) a control device to evaluate the sensor signals as to the SO detected within the DA and define a dynamically alterable warning area (WA) that is no more than the side DA; c) a warning device to generate a warning signal if the sensor device detects the object(s) in the WA; d) the control device, on detection of the SO within the side DA and on detection of the (V-VT) turning toward the VS on which the side DA is situated, to assign a triangular cross-section to the WA.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: KNORR-BREMSE SYSTEME FUER NUTZFAHRZEUGE GMBH
    Inventors: Andreas Nohl, Ulrich Guecker, Jochen Banspach
  • Patent number: 10545505
    Abstract: A method and device for an autonomous vehicle operation in a heterogeneous vehicle environment are disclosed, where sensing, based on vehicle sensor data, a vehicle travelling ahead, and trajectory request for trajectory information of the vehicle can be transmitted. Based on a response by the vehicle to the trajectory request, determining a certainty estimate value for a trajectory of the vehicle. With the certainty estimate value, selecting a distance buffer proportional to the certainty estimate value for the autonomous vehicle operation in relation to the vehicle, and modifying a trajectory plan of the autonomous vehicle operation to produce a modified trajectory plan based on the distance buffer for modifying the autonomous vehicle operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Toyota Research Institute, Inc
    Inventor: Katsuhiro Sakai
  • Patent number: 10538247
    Abstract: An autonomous driving system mounted on a vehicle, includes: an information acquisition device configured to acquire driver operation information indicating an operation by a driver of the vehicle; and an autonomous driving control device configured to perform autonomous driving control of the vehicle. The autonomous driving control device performs: default lane setting processing that sets a default lane in which the vehicle travels; and vehicle travel control processing that controls the vehicle to travel in the default lane when there is no departure reason for departing from the default lane and to travel away from the default lane until there is no departure reason when there is the departure reason. In the default lane setting processing, the autonomous driving control device refers to the driver operation information to set the default lane according to the driver's intention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryuta Hashimoto, Yoshinori Watanabe
  • Patent number: 10534110
    Abstract: An RF transmit signal is modulated onto an optical carrier to form a transmit modulated optical carrier (TMOC). The TMOC is split into N transmit modulated optical subcarriers (TMOS). Each TMOS is respectively processed in one of N transmit optical channels (TOCs). In each TOC, RF antenna beam steering operations are performed by optical tuning the TMOS to selectively control a phase difference between the optical carrier and the optical sideband. A different selected phase difference can be applied in each TOC. The TMOS from each of the N TOCs is then processed to obtain N RF signals for driving an antenna array. In the receive direction, M received RF signals from M antenna elements are modulated respectively onto M optical subcarriers to form M receive modulated optical subcarriers (RMOS). RF antenna beam steering operations are performed by optical tuning the RMOS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: PRECISION OPTICAL TRANSCEIVERS INC.
    Inventors: Bryce Tennant, Donald Adams
  • Patent number: 10524629
    Abstract: A coverage robot including a chassis, multiple drive wheel assemblies disposed on the chassis, and a cleaning assembly carried by the chassis. Each drive wheel assembly including a drive wheel assembly housing, a wheel rotatably coupled to the housing, and a wheel drive motor carried by the drive wheel assembly housing and operable to drive the wheel. The cleaning assembly including a cleaning assembly housing, a cleaning head rotatably coupled to the cleaning assembly housing, and a cleaning drive motor carried by cleaning assembly housing and operable to drive the cleaning head. The wheel assemblies and the cleaning assembly are each separately and independently removable from respective receptacles of the chassis as complete units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Chikyung Won, Scott Thomas Burnett, Stephen A. Hickey, Deepak Ramesh Kapoor, Zivthan A. Dubrovsky, Selma Svendsen, Robert Rizzari, Paul E. Sandin
  • Patent number: 10519698
    Abstract: An electrically-controlled locking arrangement for a lock mechanism of a commercial vehicle load space door includes a housing and a hook member rotatably mounted within the housing for engagement with an external catch member. A handle is coupled to the hook member to effect movement between open and closed positions. A detent is provided either on the hook member itself or on a component coupled to the hook member, a locking dog being arranged for movement between a locked setting where the dog is in engagement with the detent and a free setting where the dog is clear of the detent, to allow operation of the handle to move the hook member to its open position. An electric actuator is mounted within the housing to drive the locking dog to its free setting allowing rotation of the hook member from its closed position to its open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: MAPLE FLEET SERVICES LIMITED
    Inventor: Alan James Maple
  • Patent number: 10520939
    Abstract: A drive assist apparatus includes an arrival window time calculation unit configured to calculate an arrival window time before the vehicle arrives at a switching completion point, a driving concentration degree estimation unit configured to estimate a driving concentration degree of a driver based on a state of the driver when the arrival window time is equal to or shorter than a predetermined time, and a stimulation providing unit configured to provide a stimulus to the driver according to the driving concentration degree. In a case where the driving concentration degree is equal to or less than a threshold value set in advance, the stimulation providing unit provides a stimulus to the driver, which is stronger than that in a case where the driving concentration degree is greater than the threshold value, or provides a stronger stimulus to the driver in accordance with reduction in the driving concentration degree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Jun Sato, Masahiro Iwasaki
  • Patent number: 10512382
    Abstract: To prevent a self-propelled vacuum cleaner from falling down an inclined surface, even if the remaining capacity of the battery becomes zero when the cleaner is located on the inclined surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshihiro Senoo, Yuhji Ohnishi
  • Patent number: 10509399
    Abstract: A control system for an autonomous driving vehicle comprises an operation device configured to be operated by a driver; a notification device configured to give notification to the driver; and an electronic control unit. Autonomous driving is performed. When the driver operates the operation device during autonomous driving, autonomous driving is terminated and vehicle driving is switched to manual driving. Further, when the driver should be requested to terminate autonomous driving during autonomous driving, the notification device is controlled to first notify a request for preparing for manual driving to the driver and then notify a request for terminating autonomous driving to the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Jun Sato, Yuma Kawamori, Keiko Tosaki
  • Patent number: 10511950
    Abstract: A method and system for determining and verifying a location of network devices connected to the Internet of Things (IoT). The method and system provide a current physical geographic location for such IoT network devices and/or a user of the IoT network device in an emergency situation such as an accident, health, fitness, fire, terrorist attack, military incident, weather, flood event, etc. and forwarding the current physical geographic location to a legacy 911 network, NG-911 network, a Emergency Services IP networks (ESInet) or text-to-911 Short Message Services (SMS) networks to alert emergency responders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: RedSky Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas M. Maier, Gerald R. Eisner
  • Patent number: 10507582
    Abstract: In a case where an apparatus that is moved by a user is moved in a vertical direction, when a distance from an object located in the same two-dimensional position as the apparatus and directly underneath the apparatus is greater than a height, which corresponds to the two-dimensional position and which possibly damages the apparatus when the apparatus falls, a display is caused to perform a first display and a speaker is caused to output a first sound. When the distance is equal to or shorter than the height, the display is caused to perform a second display and the speaker is caused to output a second sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shiki Kou, Kohei Tahara, Yusaku Ota
  • Patent number: 10509410
    Abstract: Remote controlling of a vehicle, such as an autonomous vehicle, may sometimes be more efficient and/or reliable. Such control, however, may require processes for ensuring safety of surrounding persons and objects. Aspects of this disclosure include using onboard sensors to detect objects in an environment and alter remote commands according to such objects, e.g. by reducing a maximum permitted velocity of the vehicle as a function of distance to detected objects. In some examples described herein, such remote controlling may be performed by using objects in the environment as control objects, with movements of the control objects resulting in movement of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventors: Marcus Hammond, Marc Wimmershoff, Timothy David Kentley-Klay
  • Patent number: 10506905
    Abstract: Provided is a vacuum cleaner including a cleaner body; a cover member installed at an upper portion of the cleaner body to be opened and closed and configured to form a part of a front surface and an upper surface of the cleaner body; a suction hose provided at a front surface of the cover member; a hole formed at the front surface of the cover member to be in communication with the suction hose; and an outlet port formed at a rear surface of the cleaner body to be located at a position lower than the hole, wherein air introduced through the hole is discharged to the outlet port via an inside of the cleaner body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jungkyu Son, Bohyun Nam, Jaeyong Park, Sehwan Bae, Jonghyun Seo, Jinwoo Lee
  • Patent number: 10507829
    Abstract: A system and method to avoid collisions on highways, and to minimize the fatalities, injury, and damage when a collision is unavoidable. The system includes sensor means to detect other vehicles, and computing means to evaluate when a collision is imminent and to determine whether the collision is avoidable. If the collision is avoidable by a sequence of controlled accelerations and decelerations and steering, the system implements that sequence of actions automatically. If the collision is unavoidable, a different sequence is implemented to minimize the overall harm of the unavoidable collision. The system further includes indirect mitigation steps such as flashing the brake lights automatically. An optional post-collision strategy is implemented to prevent secondary collisions, particularly if the driver is incapacitated. Adjustment means enable the driver to set the type and timing of automatic interventions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: AUTONOMOUS ROADWAY INTELLIGENCE, LLC
    Inventors: David E. Newman, R. Kemp Massengill
  • Patent number: 10503169
    Abstract: A travel working machine includes: an automatic travel control unit 61 configured to implement automatic travel based on automatic travel information necessary for automatic travel; a manual travel control unit 52 configured to implement manual travel based on an operation signal from a manual travel operating unit 9; a machine body status detecting unit 51 configured to output machine body status information indicating a machine body status based on the operation signal and a detection signal received from a status detecting device 8; and an automatic travel management section 7 configured to determine forbiddance of automatic travel by the automatic travel control unit 61 and permission of the automatic travel based on the machine body status information, and output a control command in automatic travel forbiddance, for deciding control of the machine body after a command to forbid the automatic travel has been issued, based on the machine body status information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Shunya Takase, Tetsuya Nakajima, Aya Tanabe, Shigeki Hayashi
  • Patent number: 10504052
    Abstract: Example embodiments presented herein are directed towards a navigation unit, and corresponding method therein, for providing navigation instructions for an autonomous vehicle configured to be in an autonomous driving mode while in a certified autonomous road. The navigation unit is first configured to determine the autonomous vehicle is driving in an unplanned route or that the autonomous vehicle is deviating from a planned route. Thereafter, a trigger for routing the autonomous vehicle to a certified autonomous road is identified. The trigger is based on at least one of a current location, a time and date, a driving history or a calendar event. After the determination and identification previously described is performed, the vehicle is navigated to the certified autonomous road. Upon entering the road, and therefore being in an autonomous driving mode, a display screen will engage the driver so that the driver may input route planning information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventors: Ichiro Sugioka, Aric Dromi, Kari Kauppi
  • Patent number: 10496101
    Abstract: A side mirror assembly of a vehicle is provided herein. The side mirror assembly includes a body portion and a camera mounted to the body portion for capturing images of a rear and a side-vehicle operating environment. The camera includes a horizontal field of view angle defined by a first horizontal extent intersecting a centerline longitudinal axis of the vehicle and a second horizontal extent making an angle with a lateral axis of the vehicle that intersects the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Maher Ghneim, Yasmin Jawad, Jennifer Danielle Shaw
  • Patent number: 10493997
    Abstract: Systems and techniques are disclosed for switching a vehicle driving mode. A sensing unit senses a state of a driver of a vehicle configured to be driven automatically or manually. An intention detecting unit detects whether the driver intends to switch from an automatic driving mode to a manual driving mode based on the state of the driver. An operation detecting unit detects whether the driver is able to operate the vehicle in the manual driving mode based on the state of the driver. A driving state predicting unit predicts a driving state of the vehicle in the manual driving mode based on detecting that the driver is able to operate the vehicle in the manual driving mode. A control unit determines that the predicted driving state of the vehicle meets a preset condition and switches from the automatic to the manual driving mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Hyun Kim
  • Patent number: 10496091
    Abstract: As an example, data identifying characteristics of a road user as well as contextual information about the vehicle's environment is received from the vehicle's perception system. A prediction of the intent of the object including an action of a predetermined list of actions to be initiated by the road user and a point in time for initiation of the action is generated using the data. A prediction of the behavior of the road user for a predetermined period of time into the future indicating that the road user is not going to initiate the action during the predetermined period of time is generated using the data. When the prediction of the behavior indicates that the road user is not going to initiate the action during the predetermined period of time, the vehicle is maneuvered according to the prediction of the intent prior to the vehicle passing the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Stéphane Ross, David Ian Franklin Ferguson
  • Patent number: 10496262
    Abstract: A method for instructing operation of a robotic floor-cleaning device based on the position of the robotic floor-cleaning device within a two-dimensional map of the workspace. A two-dimensional map of a workspace is generated using inputs from sensors positioned on a robotic floor-cleaning device to represent the multi-dimensional workspace of the robotic floor-cleaning device. The two-dimensional map is provided to a user on a user interface. A user may adjust the boundaries of the two-dimensional map through the user interface and select settings for map areas to control device operation in various areas of the workspace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: AI Incorporated
    Inventors: Ali Ebrahimi Afrouzi, Soroush Mehrnia
  • Patent number: 10493985
    Abstract: In the present invention, it is possible to accurately predict, at an earlier timing, that a pedestrian will perform constant speed movement or a route change that is more complex than the constant speed movement. Provided is a travel control device that can accurately determine a change in the route of the pedestrian according to a change in the pedestrian's posture and, in particular, a change in the orientation of the body or a change in an inverted angle, and that can appropriately control the travel of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: HITACHI, LTD.
    Inventors: Atsushi Yokoyama, Kenta Maeda
  • Patent number: 10486951
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide methods and systems of monitoring trash cans. A central computer system of a shopping facility identifies a first motorized transport unit and a second motorized transport unit; communicates routing instructions based on a mapping of the shopping facility to each of the first and second motorized transport units directing the first and second motorized transport units to a trash can receptacle, wherein the second motorized transport unit transports a replacement second trash can; communicates trash can removal instruction to the first motorized transport unit to cause the first motorized transport unit to remove the first trash can from the trash can receptacle; and communicates a trash can replacement instruction to the second motorized transport unit to cause the second motorized transport unit to place the second trash can into the trash can receptacle in place of the first trash can.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventors: Donald R. High, Shuvro Chakrobartty, David C. Winkle, Michael D. Atchley
  • Patent number: 10488866
    Abstract: A method for guiding a robot towards a charging base includes controlling a device of the charging base to emit sound when a battery level of the robot is less than a preset level. Once an orientation of the charging base in relation to the robot is determined, according to signal strengths of audio signals detected by microphone of the robot, a moving mechanism of the robot is controlled to drive the robot to move towards the charging base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignees: Fu Tai Hua Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chia-Hung Chen, Liang Xie, Shun-Chuan Yang
  • Patent number: 10486698
    Abstract: A cruise control device 10 includes a cutting-in/deviation determination unit 12 for performing cutting-in determination and deviation determination of another vehicle. The cutting-in/deviation determination unit 12 calculates a lateral position that is a position in a vehicle width direction of a forward vehicle 51 traveling ahead of an own vehicle 50, and determines the forward vehicle 51 traveling on an adjacent lane 64 to be a cutting-in vehicle into an own lane 63 and determines the forward vehicle 51 traveling on the own lane 63 to be a deviating vehicle from the own lane 63 on the basis of the calculated lateral position. The cutting-in/deviation determination unit 12 determines whether or not the own vehicle 50 is in a predetermined own vehicle turning state that is either one of a state before starting a turn or a state of turning, and determines permission of performing of cutting-in determination and deviation determination of the other vehicle on the basis of the determination result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignees: DENSO CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Youhei Masui, Toyoharu Katsukura, Yoshihisa Ogata, Takeshi Nanami, Takashi Nishida
  • Patent number: 10488506
    Abstract: Using communication unit positional information acquired using infrastructure communication and moving body positional information detected using millimeter-wave radar, a moving body existing in a blind spot of a radar detection region is recognized, and behavior is predicted from movement information of the moving body, by deleting the moving body information detected by millimeter-wave radar from the communication unit information acquired using infrastructure communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Takayoshi Takehara, Takeshi Nishiwaki, Takashi Maeda, Keisuke Morita
  • Patent number: 10491823
    Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a mobile vehicle that can effectively suppress an image blur with a simple configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masatoshi Tomomasa, Hisashi Kunihiro
  • Patent number: 10478037
    Abstract: A method for operating a self-propelling and self-steering floor-cleaning device is provided, wherein at least one map of at least one room to be cleaned is storable in a storage unit of the floor-cleaning device, as is a user-predeterminable cleaning plan having one or more cleaning tasks, wherein at least one cleaning task is associated with a particular room that is identifiable from a map, and the floor-cleaning device is placed in a room. In order to provide a method of this kind that enables efficient execution of the cleaning plan, when the cleaning plan is executed, the floor-cleaning device determines whether the room in which it is placed is the particular room, and, if the result of this determination is negative, performance of the cleaning task is not carried out, is interrupted, or is ended. A floor-cleaning device for performing the method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: robart GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Duenne, Michael Schahpar, Harold Artes
  • Patent number: 10479388
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are generally directed to shopping carts and associated systems and methods. Exemplary embodiments of the shopping cart include a shopping cart body and a plurality of wheels supporting the shopping cart body. Exemplary embodiments of the shopping cart include a receiver configured to detect a position of the shopping cart relative to a range of a network or an area defined by a geo-fence. Exemplary embodiments of the shopping cart include an electromagnetic generator operatively coupled to at least one of the plurality of wheels. A resistive load can be selectively connected between an input and an output of the electromagnetic generator to restrict rotation of the at least one of the plurality of wheels as the position of the shopping cart detected by the receiver varies between within or outside of the range of the network or the area defined by the geo-fence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: WALMART APOLLO, LLC
    Inventors: Larry A. Kraus, Anthony G. Wind, III, Lawrence J. Duerkes
  • Patent number: 10482789
    Abstract: Described herein are propulsive force devices for providing propulsive force to integrated wireless devices for science education (e.g., Newton's laws of motion, kinematics, etc.). A propulsive force device includes a motor to drive a rotating member to generate a propulsive force and a motor driver coupled to the motor. The motor driver controls operation of the motor and at least one processing unit is coupled to the motor driver. The at least one processing unit is configured to receive a control signal from an integrated wireless device to adjust at least one parameter of the propulsive force device. When the propulsive force device is mounted to an integrated wireless device, operation of the propulsive force device may be configured to alter, adjust, or otherwise change dynamic properties of the integrated wireless device during science education experiments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: PASCO SCIENTIFIC
    Inventors: Richard A. Escott, Thomas Reineking, Phillip Gulley, Scott E. Wild, Jon D. Hanks, Ann D. Hanks
  • Patent number: 10481173
    Abstract: Described herein are wireless smart devices having integrated force, position, acceleration, and rotational sensing for science education (e.g., Newton's laws of motion, kinematics, etc.). An integrated wireless device includes an accelerometer to generate acceleration data based on detecting a current rate of acceleration of the integrated wireless device, a shaft encoder to detect angular positional changes of a shaft or axle of the integrated wireless device over time, and at least one processing unit coupled to the accelerometer. The at least one processing unit is configured to decode angular position data of the shaft encoder into positional data and to synchronize acceleration data received from the accelerometer with the positional data. In one example, a force load cell is coupled to the at least one processing unit. The force load cell measures applied force or impact force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: PASCO SCIENTIFIC
    Inventors: Richard A. Escott, Thomas Reineking, Phillip Gulley, Scott E. Wild, Jon D. Hanks, Ann D. Hanks
  • Patent number: 10481600
    Abstract: Systems and method are provided for collaboration between autonomous vehicles. In one embodiment, a processor-implemented method for coordinating travel between multiple autonomous vehicles is provided. The method includes sending a collaboration request to one or more vehicles in an area to form a group to perform a mission, receiving an acceptance of the collaboration request to join the group wherein the group includes a plurality of vehicles, cooperating in assigning leading functions for the group to one or more of the plurality of vehicles in the group, cooperating in mission negotiations for the group, cooperating in determining a formation for the group, and cooperating in generating a trajectory for the group. The vehicles in the group are operated in accordance with the determined formation and generated trajectory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Chih-hung Yen, Yao Hu, Yilu Zhang, Paul E. Krajewski, Steven W. Holland, Mutasim A. Salman, Xiaoyu Huang, Azeem Sarwar
  • Patent number: 10473680
    Abstract: A wheel unit includes a rotating wheel, a wheel axle, and a location sensor. The rotating wheel rotates with respect to the wheel axle. The location sensor is disposed in a fixed position with respect to the wheel axle. The location sensor determines coordinates for a location of the wheel unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Noa Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Nick Lobnitz, Seth Spiel, Jason Van der Schyff, Adam Fewtrell, Martin Schuster, Nelson Pina, Pedro Silva, Roman Laabs
  • Patent number: 10471829
    Abstract: Methods and systems of an electrical vehicle are provided that recognize a power system fault with the vehicle and in response autonomously drive the vehicle to an identified safe location to self-destruct. Upon reaching the location, the vehicle can evaluate the location using imaging sensors to determine whether the location is free of objects, animals, or people. If not, the vehicle may autonomously drive to another safe location. Prior to destruction, the vehicle sends messages, including information about the power system fault, to at least one device or third party. The messages include location information for the vehicle or information about the power system fault.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: NIO USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Yadunandana Yellambalase, Austin L. Newman
  • Patent number: 10471365
    Abstract: A remotely controlled vehicle assembly includes a vehicle that may have a child seated therein. The vehicle has a pair of rear and front wheels. A drive unit is coupled to the vehicle and the drive unit is mechanically coupled to each of the rear wheels. In this way the drive unit selectively urges the vehicle along the support surface. A steering unit is coupled to the vehicle and the steering unit is mechanically coupled to each of the front wheels. In this way the steering unit steers the vehicle on the support surface. A remote control unit is provided and the remote control is manipulated by a caregiver. The remote control is in electrical communication with each of the drive unit and the steering unit. In this way the remote control unit facilitates the caregiver to control motion of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Inventor: Sherry Rendell
  • Patent number: 10457289
    Abstract: Vehicle acceleration from a learned deceleration area or stop can be learned and/or predicted. While approaching a learned deceleration stop, deceleration data including a current accelerator off speed can be acquired. It can be determined whether there is an acceleration learning record for the learned deceleration stop. Responsive to determining that there is an acceleration learning record for the learned deceleration area, it can be determined whether the current accelerator off speed meets a qualification rule based on one or more prior accelerator off speeds included in the acceleration learning record for the learned deceleration area. Responsive to determining that the current accelerator off speed meets the qualification rule, an acceleration for the vehicle from the learned deceleration area can be predicted. The predicted acceleration can include a cruising speed that is substantially equal to the current accelerator off speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua D. Payne, Shannon Alicia Wrobel
  • Patent number: 10452075
    Abstract: A method to generate an autonomous driving route of an autonomous vehicle includes: receiving an input image of a front view captured from the autonomous vehicle; calculating a gradient between the autonomous vehicle and a ground based on the input image; and generating the autonomous driving route based on the calculated gradient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Cheolhun Jang