Radiation, Force, Or Waves Reflected From External Object Or Surface Patents (Class 180/169)
  • Patent number: 11927674
    Abstract: A system and method for providing a comprehensive trajectory planner for a person-following vehicle that includes receiving image data and LiDAR data associated with a surrounding environment of a vehicle. The system and method also include analyzing the image data and detecting the person to be followed that is within an image and analyzing the LiDAR data and detecting an obstacle that is located within a predetermined distance from the vehicle. The system and method further include executing a trajectory planning algorithm based on fused data associated with the detected person and the detected obstacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Huckleberry Febbo, Jiawei Huang, David Francis Isele
  • Patent number: 11822012
    Abstract: Methods and systems for performing multiple pulse LIDAR measurements are presented herein. In one aspect, each LIDAR measurement beam illuminates a location in a three dimensional environment with a sequence of multiple pulses of illumination light. Light reflected from the location is detected by a photosensitive detector of the LIDAR system during a measurement window having a duration that is greater than or equal to the time of flight of light from the LIDAR system out to the programmed range of the LIDAR system, and back. The pulses in a measurement pulse sequence can vary in magnitude and duration. Furthermore, the delay between pulses and the number of pulses in each measurement pulse sequence can also be varied. In some embodiments, the multi-pulse illumination beam is encoded and the return measurement pulse sequence is decoded to distinguish the measurement pulse sequence from exogenous signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Velodyne Lidar USA, Inc.
    Inventors: David S. Hall, Pieter J. Kerstens
  • Patent number: 11808575
    Abstract: A vehicle traveling control method for causing a vehicle to travel along a traveling road where magnetic markers are arrayed is a control method including an azimuth measuring process of performing a process on angular velocity, which is an output of a gyro sensor, and measuring a measured azimuth indicating an orientation of the vehicle, a control process of controlling the vehicle so that the measured azimuth is matched with a target azimuth corresponding to a direction of the traveling road, and a correction process of correcting a degree of control by the control process, in order to bring a lateral shift amount of the vehicle with reference to each of the magnetic markers closer to zero, in accordance with the lateral shift amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: AICHI STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michiharu Yamamoto, Kota Aratani, Kazuo Urakawa
  • Patent number: 11783659
    Abstract: A method for saving information about objects to be verified that were consigned to a self-service terminal and that were deposited by the self-service terminal in cassettes, with the following steps: acceptance of objects; verification of the objects; if verification was not successful, determination of a clear identification of the non-verified object and saving the identification on a memory system that is physically connected to the cassette and is transported with said cassette.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: DIEBOLD NIXDORF SYSTEMS GMBH
    Inventor: Oliver Lücking
  • Patent number: 11774247
    Abstract: A method for generating intermediate waypoints for a navigation system of a robot includes receiving a navigation route. The navigation route includes a series of high-level waypoints that begin at a starting location and end at a destination location and is based on high-level navigation data. The high-level navigation data is representative of locations of static obstacles in an area the robot is to navigate. The method also includes receiving image data of an environment about the robot from an image sensor and generating at least one intermediate waypoint based on the image data. The method also includes adding the at least one intermediate waypoint to the series of high-level waypoints of the navigation route and navigating the robot from the starting location along the series of high-level waypoints and the at least one intermediate waypoint toward the destination location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Boston Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Gina Christine Fay, Alfred Rizzi
  • Patent number: 11738724
    Abstract: A vehicle braking and warning method includes: acquiring first target information within a detection range of the binocular stereo camera, second target information within a detection range of a millimeter-wave radar, and current vehicle driving information; acquiring sensing result data about a target obstacle in accordance with the first target information and the second target information in conjunction with a predetermined weight; and outputting a braking instruction and/or a warning instruction in accordance with the sensing result data and the current vehicle driving information so as to enable a vehicle to adjust its driving state in accordance with the instructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Beijing Smarter Eye Technology Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Ran Meng, Hua Chai, Yanqiu Xia, Zhe Wang, Yong Jia, Hui Cai, Chuanbin Feng
  • Patent number: 11737635
    Abstract: Disclosed is a moving robot including: a travel unit configured to move a body; an image acquisition unit configured to acquire a surrounding image of the body; a sensor unit having one or more sensors configured to detect an obstacle while the body moves; a controller configured to: upon detection of an obstacle by the sensor unit, recognize an attribute of the obstacle based on an image acquired by the image acquisition unit, and control driving of the travel unit based on the attribute of the obstacle; and a sound output unit configured to: output preset sound when the recognized attribute of the obstacle indicates a movable obstacle. Accordingly, the moving robot improves stability, user convenience, driving efficiency, and cleaning efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Dongki Noh, Seungmyun Baek, Seungmin Baek, Sunghun Lee
  • Patent number: 11731567
    Abstract: A vehicle is disclosed that includes a vehicle body and at least one sensor assembly that is supported on the vehicle body. The at least one sensor assembly is configured to detect an external object and includes a housing portion and a sensor that is supported within the housing portion such that the sensor is oriented at a fixed (e.g., downward) angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Arturo Cruz
  • Patent number: 11685410
    Abstract: A driver assistance system for a motor vehicle for automated driving with automated longitudinal guidance, wherein when automated longitudinal guidance is active in an automatic mode, automated longitudinal guidance is brought about taking into account a predefinable setpoint speed. The system includes a first detection unit, configured to detect a defined stationary state situation which is set on the basis of a preceding automated braking process of the motor vehicle to the stationary state, a second detection unit, configured to detect accelerator pedal activation, and an evaluation and control unit, configured to actuate a manual mode when actuator pedal activation is detected during a defined stationary state situation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Florian Kohlhuber
  • Patent number: 11669098
    Abstract: Autonomous control of a subject vehicle including a longitudinal motion control system includes determining states of parameters associated with a trajectory for the subject vehicle and parameters associated with a control reference determined for the subject vehicle. A range control routine is executed to determine a first parameter associated with a range control command based upon the states of the plurality of parameters, and a speed control routine is executed to determine a second parameter associated with a speed control command based upon the states of the plurality of parameters. An arbitration routine is executed to evaluate the range control command and the speed control command, and operation of the subject vehicle is controlled to achieve a desired longitudinal state, wherein the desired longitudinal state is associated with a minimum of the range control command and the speed control command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Nikolai K. Moshchuk, Kausalya Singuru, David Andrés Pérez Chaparro
  • Patent number: 11627454
    Abstract: A method to detect an operator of an automobile vehicle includes: identifying if an emergency situation is occurring in an automobile vehicle; determining if a communication device is currently connected or was previously connected in the automobile vehicle; identifying a most recently connected operator of the communication device; and sending a signal identifying the emergency situation is occurring to the most recently connected operator of the communication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Eric T. Hosey, Matthew Edward Gilbert-Eyres, Russell A. Patenaude, David Nicky Yang
  • Patent number: 11618448
    Abstract: A control arrangement for adjusting a desired distance between two vehicles includes a distance regulation system having a distance control device configured to adjust a first desired distance between a subject vehicle and a vehicle ahead depending on sensor signals received from a sensor system by requesting a first subject vehicle desired acceleration. The control arrangement further includes a communication system configured to wirelessly send and receive a surroundings data signal. The surroundings data signal contains surroundings information. The control arrangement additionally includes an assistance control device configured to determine a second desired distance between the subject vehicle and the vehicle ahead and a second subject vehicle desired acceleration for adjusting the second desired distance depending on the surroundings information received from the communication system. The distance control system comprises an ACC interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: ZF CV SYSTEMS EUROPE BV
    Inventors: Daniel Hanslik, Soeren Huebner, Thomas Wolf
  • Patent number: 11608063
    Abstract: A method for providing instructions for controlling vehicle, the method comprising: predicting a near-future driving path for the vehicle using sensor data received from environmental sensors of the vehicle. Retrieving at least one acceptable spatial deviation value indicative of the acceptable deviation from the predicted driving path. Determining a limit velocity value or a longitudinal deceleration value based on predetermined relations between spatial deviations from the near-future driving path and vehicle motion parameters and corresponding error values. The limit velocity value and the longitudinal deceleration value are determined with the constraint that the acceptable spatial deviation is not violated along the predicted driving path. Providing an instruction signal comprising an instruction for the vehicle to travel below the limit velocity value, or comprising an instruction to decelerate according to the longitudinal deceleration value in the event of a safe stop procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventors: Mats Jonasson, Fredrik Broström
  • Patent number: 11603042
    Abstract: A backup camera system for monitoring an area around a vehicle. In one aspect, the system comprises a camera assembly, a display device and a stand for supporting the display device; the camera assembly comprising: (i) a camera adapted to produce an image signal corresponding to a perceived image, (ii) means for supplying power; (iii) a base having first and second holes that are configured and spaced from one another so as to facilitate attachment to the vehicle using the vehicle's license plate mounting bolts, (iv) a transmitter operably coupled to the camera for wirelessly transmitting the image signal; and the display device comprising: (i) a receiver for receiving the wirelessly transmitted image signal, (ii) means for supplying power, (iii) an image processing unit operably coupled to the receiver for converting the received image signal into a display image that is displayed on the display device, the display image corresponding to the perceived image. The backup camera system can form a retrofit kit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: ADC Solutions Auto, LLC
    Inventors: Mervin A. Dayan, Maurice S. Dayan, Larry D. Sharp
  • Patent number: 11578742
    Abstract: Disclosed is a mounting structure for a galvanometer motor. The mounting structure includes a motor apparatus directly mounted on a platform, wherein at least one connection through hole running vertically from a top portion of a housing and extending to a bottom portion of the housing is molded on the housing, and the housing is provided with a connection post, wherein the connection post runs through the connection through hole and is fixedly connected to the platform. In this way, an additional mount is not needed, such that mounting cost is reduced, and mounting is accurate and reliable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Inventor: Peijian Xu
  • Patent number: 11579246
    Abstract: A radar apparatus includes an antenna device including a first transmitting antenna, a second transmitting antenna, and a receiving antenna, a transceiver configured to transmit a transmission signal through one of the first transmitting antenna and the second transmitting antenna and receive a reflection signal reflected on an object through the receiving antenna, and a controller configured to process the reflection signal received through the receiving antenna to obtain information on the object, wherein the controller controls the transceiver to receive the reflection signal through the second transmitting antenna and the receiving antenna when the transmission signal is transmitted through the first transmitting antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: HL KLEMOVE CORP.
    Inventors: Han Byul Lee, Jung Hwan Choi
  • Patent number: 11567173
    Abstract: A system for increasing lidar sensor coverage for use by a vehicle is described herein. The system includes a two lidar sensors oriented to emit light beams toward a surface proximate the vehicle. The system also includes at least one mirror associated with each lidar sensor configured to reflect light beams emitted away from the surface. The at least one mirror reflects the light beams toward the surface, thereby increasing lidar sensor coverage associated with the respective lidar sensor. The lidar sensors receive lidar returns, either directly from the surface or reflected off the mirror and may generate sensor data associated with an area proximate the vehicle. A vehicle computing system controls the vehicle based in part on the sensor data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Todd A. Impola, Timothy M. O'Donnell
  • Patent number: 11548442
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are provided for detecting whether an object is approaching an autonomous vehicle when a passenger is about to exit the autonomous vehicle, determining a speed and type of the object that is approaching the autonomous vehicle, determining whether the object will enter an exit zone when the passenger enters the exit zone based on the speed and the type of the object that is approaching the autonomous vehicle, and preventing the passenger from exiting the autonomous vehicle based on the determining of whether the object will enter the exit zone when the passenger enters the exit zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: GM Cruise Holdings LLC.
    Inventors: Mohamed Mostafa ElShenawy, Nathan Mandi
  • Patent number: 11518300
    Abstract: There are included a vehicle behavior estimating unit (10) that estimates behavior of a vehicle (1); pattern illuminating units (4a to 4d) that illuminate a projection pattern onto ground around the vehicle (1); and an illumination control unit (11). The illumination control unit (11) controls the pattern illuminating units (4a to 4d) to illuminate a projection pattern, on the basis of the behavior of the vehicle (1) estimated by the vehicle behavior estimating unit (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kei Kasuga, Tsutomu Matsubara, Reiko Sakata, Shinsaku Fukutaka, Takaaki Kase, Hiroshi Yano, Ryutaro Morisono, Naoyuki Watanabe
  • Patent number: 11510545
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a frame, a drive assembly supported by the frame, an electronic system supported by the frame, and a cleaning assembly coupled to the frame. The drive assembly is configured to move the frame along a surface. The cleaning assembly is configured to engage the surface to transfer detritus from the surface to a storage volume supported by the frame. The electronic system has at least a processor and a memory. The processor is configured to define a path along which the drive assembly travels and is configured to redefined a path along which the drive assembly travels based on at least one signal received from at least one sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: AVIDBOTS CORP.
    Inventors: Faizan Sheikh, Pablo Roberto Molina Cabrera, Todd Willick, Julien D'Alessio-Doucet, Kenneth Lee
  • Patent number: 11512975
    Abstract: The presently disclosed subject matter includes a system and a method of navigating an unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) vehicle comprising a scanning device and an Inertial Navigation System (INS) being operatively connected to at least one processor. Operating the scanning device for scanning an area surrounding the UGV, and generate scanning output data; Generating, based on the scanning output data, a map representing at least a part of the area, the map being relative to a location of the UGV and comprising cells, each cell is classified to a class selected from at least two classes, comprising traversable and non-traversable, and characterized by dimensions larger than an accumulated drift value of the INS over a predefined distance; receiving INS data indicative of a current location of the UGV and updating a location of the UGV relative to cells in the map based on the INS data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: ELTA SYSTEMS LTD.
    Inventors: Dina Appelman, Ofir Cohen
  • Patent number: 11498589
    Abstract: A vehicle-mounted equipment control device includes a controller configured to cause equipment of any of a headlight, a wiper, and an air-conditioning device to continue a visual securing operation for securing visibility of a driver of a vehicle even after driving control of the vehicle is switched from automated driving control to manual driving control regardless of an operation mode of the equipment specified by an operation switch for setting an operation of the equipment when an operation mode executed by the equipment immediately before driving control of the vehicle is switched from automated driving control to manual driving control is an operation mode corresponding to the visual securing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Sugimoto, Daigo Ishikawa, Kazuhiko Ueda
  • Patent number: 11493927
    Abstract: A self-learning vehicle control system, the control system including: a controller configured to receive one or more of the following inputs: actual propulsion effort command; actual braking effort command; requested speed command; change in the requested speed command; change in the requested acceleration command; measured vehicle location; measured vehicle 3-D speed; measured vehicle 3-D acceleration; and measured vehicle 3-D angular speed; and one or more position determination sensors communicably connected with the controller; one or more 3-D speed determination sensors communicably connected with the controller; one or more 3-D acceleration determination sensors communicably connected with the controller; one or more 3-D angular speed determination sensors communicably connected with the controller; and an output device communicably connected with the controller and for providing requested speed and acceleration commands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: THALES CANADA, INC.
    Inventors: Alon Green, Dennis Yazhemsky
  • Patent number: 11467648
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture to reduce power consumption and improve battery life of display systems using adaptive sync are disclosed. An example apparatus includes an interface to transmit frame data to a sink device, the frame data generated by a processor; a timer to initiate in response to the transmission of the frame data to the sink device; and the interface to transmit a low power indication to the sink device after the timer reaches a threshold amount of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Nausheen Ansari, Kevin W. Krueger, Vishal R. Sinha, Seh Kwa
  • Patent number: 11454516
    Abstract: In a method of calibrating a gyro sensor mounted on a vehicle for measuring an angular velocity in a rotating direction generated about an axis of a vertical direction, a lateral shift amount detection process of detecting lateral shift amounts of the vehicle with respect to magnetic markers laid in a road, an azimuth estimation process of estimating, when the vehicle passes over a laying location where two magnetic markers are laid, an azimuth of the vehicle by a calculation process with the lateral shift amounts with respect to the two magnetic markers taken as input values, and a calibration process of calibrating the gyro sensor by using the azimuth of the vehicle estimated by the azimuth estimation process, are performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: AICHI STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michiharu Yamamoto, Tomohiko Nagao, Hitoshi Aoyama
  • Patent number: 11419688
    Abstract: A robotic surgery system includes a mobile base, a robotic device mounted on the mobile base, a surgical tool positioned at a distal end of the robotic device, an optical tracking emitter/detector mounted on the mobile base and configured to track an anatomical feature, and circuitry configured to characterize a pose of the surgical tool relative to the anatomical feature based on data from the optical tracking emitter/detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: MAKO Surgical Corp.
    Inventor: Hyosig Kang
  • Patent number: 11402851
    Abstract: Systems and methods use cameras to provide autonomous navigation features. In one implementation, a driver-assist object detection system is provided for a vehicle. One or more processing devices associated with the system receive at least two images from a plurality of captured images via a data interface. The device(s) analyze the first image and at least a second image to determine a reference plane corresponding to the roadway the vehicle is traveling on. The processing device(s) locate a target object in the first two images, and determine a difference in a size of at least one dimension of the target object between the two images. The system may use the difference in size to determine a height of the object. Further, the system may cause a change in at least a directional course of the vehicle if the determined height exceeds a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: MOBILEYE VISION TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
    Inventors: Gideon Stein, Amnon Shashua
  • Patent number: 11370433
    Abstract: A travel control method includes using the vehicle to autonomously control a travel of the vehicle. The vehicle has an autonomous speed control function for autonomously controlling a traveling speed of the vehicle and an autonomous steering control function for autonomously controlling the steering of the vehicle. The autonomous speed control function includes a curved route speed control function for controlling the traveling speed of the vehicle at a set speed corresponding to the size of a curve of a travel route. The curved route speed control function can be set to ON/OFF. Each of the autonomous speed control function and the autonomous steering control function can be set to ON/OFF. When the autonomous speed control function and the autonomous steering control function are set to ON, the curved route speed control function is operated regardless of whether the curved route speed control function is set to ON or OFF.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinya Saito
  • Patent number: 11372096
    Abstract: A method for using a radar assembly to sense an environment includes a radar system that has an antenna assembly secured for 360-degree rotation, the antenna assembly having mounted thereon at least one transmit antenna, and a first set of three or more separate fixed receive antennas, with the antenna assembly having a greater width than height so as to create a fanbeam. In the method of the present invention, the antenna assembly is rotated to a first azimuth position, and then an FMCW waveform is transmitted within the fanbeam, and reflections are received from targets in the environment while in the first azimuth position. Based on the received reflections, data is processed and stored. These steps are repeated for all other azimuths until an azimuth sweep has been completed. At that time, a full environmental data set is compiled for the environment, where the data set comprises azimuth data, range data, elevation data and RCS data. The data set is gathered and delivered to a controller for analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Inventor: David Slemp
  • Patent number: 11361196
    Abstract: Systems and methods for estimating a height of an object from a monocular image are described herein. Objects are detected in the image, each object being indicated by a region of interest. The image is then cropped for each region of interest and the cropped image scaled to a predetermined size. The cropped and scaled image is then input into a convolutional neural network (CNN), the output of which is an estimated height for the object. The height may be represented by a mean of a probability distribution of possible sizes, a standard deviation, as well as a level of confidence. A location of the object may be determined based on the estimated height and region of interest. A ground truth dataset may be generated for training the CNN by simultaneously capturing a LIDAR sequence with a monocular image sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventors: Tencia Lee, James William Vaisey Philbin
  • Patent number: 11360212
    Abstract: An ultrasonic type object detection apparatus sequentially detects a distance between an ultrasonic sensor and an object in a coverage of a transmission wave at a predetermined detection cycle based on a time taken for the ultrasonic sensor to transmit the transmission wave and then to receive a reflection wave. The apparatus includes: a storage storing the distance to the object; a vehicle information acquisition device acquiring vehicle information for calculating a movement distance; a detection distance predictor predicting a next detected distance to the object based on a past detection result and the vehicle information; and a short range determinator determining whether the object is present in a short range area in which the distance between the object and the ultrasonic sensor is equal to or shorter than a short range threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignees: DENSO CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takuya Nomura, Mitsuyasu Matsuura, Taiki Yoshida, Motonari Ohbayashi, Hironobu Ishijima
  • Patent number: 11340071
    Abstract: A calibration system is mounted in a vehicle and is provided with: an attitude sensor that acquires attitude information regarding a vehicle coordinate system of the vehicle; an image pickup unit that captures an image of the surroundings of the vehicle; an attitude-sensor reliability level calculation unit that calculates an attitude-sensor reliability level that is a reliability level of the attitude sensor; and an attitude use estimation unit that estimates, in the case where the calculated attitude-sensor reliability level is greater than a predetermined threshold, an external parameter of the image pickup unit using the attitude information output by the attitude sensor and a relationship of a coordinate system of the image pickup unit to the vehicle coordinate system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: CLARION CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Morihiko Sakano, Keiji Sato
  • Patent number: 11327478
    Abstract: A program stored in a mobile terminal including a computer, a camera, a display, and a communication device, the program being configured to operate an operation target vehicle from outside with use of the mobile terminal, the operation target vehicle being registered in advance, the program causing the computer to execute: a step of estimating a distance from the mobile terminal to the operation target vehicle based on a size of an image of the operation target vehicle included in a photographed image of the camera; a step of determining whether or not the estimated distance is less than a prescribed threshold; a step of receiving an operation instruction with respect to the operation target vehicle when the estimated distance is less than the threshold; and a step of causing the communication device to output a signal instructing an operation in response to the received operation instruction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Jumpei Fuke
  • Patent number: 11322024
    Abstract: A traffic control assembly includes a plurality of motion sensors that is each positioned adjacent to a ramp of a highway. The motion sensors are spaced apart from each other and re distributed along a full length of the ramp. A control unit is in communication with each of the motion sensors and the control unit receives a plurality of inputs of sequentially increasing urgency when the motions sensors senses traffic moving the wrong way on the ramp. A disabling unit is positioned adjacent to the ramp of the highway and the disabling unit is in communication with the control unit. The disabling unit broadcasts an intense burst of electromagnetic energy when the disabling unit is turned on to disable the electrical system of a vehicle traveling the wrong way on the ramp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Inventor: Alex Duran
  • Patent number: 11308800
    Abstract: An example operation includes one or more of establishing geolocation boundaries based on decibels associated with an impact involving one or more transports, transmitting, by a communication device, multimedia content related to the impact to one or more other communication devices within the geolocation boundaries, and receiving, by the one or more other communication devices, the multimedia content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Stephen Paul McFarland, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11292516
    Abstract: A vehicle anti-vibration device includes a vibration sensor programmed to detect vibrations and output a vibration signal representing the vibrations detected. The device further includes a motor that vibrates in accordance with a vibration dampening signal, a communication interface programmed to wirelessly transmit the vibration signal to a remote device, and a processor programmed to process the vibration signal and generate the vibration dampening signal to dampen the vibrations detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: FORD MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Christian Castro Guzman, Maria Fernanda Pulido Plauchud, Oswaldo Perez Barrera
  • Patent number: 11260860
    Abstract: A vehicle control device executes a cruise control to let a vehicle travel in such a manner that an acceleration is equal to a predetermined acceleration, when an execution condition becomes satisfied, and starts a vehicle speed upper limit control to let the vehicle travel in such a manner that the vehicle speed does not exceed an upper limit value determined based on a shape of a curve section, when a start condition becomes satisfied. The vehicle control device starts displaying a display element in a first display mode, when the vehicle speed upper limit control is started. At a time point at which the vehicle speed upper limit control is ended, the vehicle control device starts displaying the display element in a second display mode different from the first display mode if the execution condition is not satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masayuki Hosokawa, Takashi Maeda, Tsunekazu Yasoshima, Soichi Okubo, Yuki Tezuka
  • Patent number: 11256258
    Abstract: A system is described for determining the position of a vehicle on a site and for calculating a trajectory, including at least one vehicle, at least one auxiliary device and at least one reflector element, the at least one reflector element being mounted in the surroundings of the vehicle along a designated route section and the auxiliary device being suitable for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic beams. A method is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Nils Tietze, Simon Weissenmayer
  • Patent number: 11243080
    Abstract: A self-position estimation method includes: detecting a relative position of each target existing around a moving body relative to the moving body; estimating a movement amount of the moving body; correcting the relative position on a basis of the movement amount of the moving body and accumulating the corrected relative position as target position data; detecting a slope amount of a traveling road of the moving body; selecting, from among the accumulated target position data, the target position data of one or more targets in one or more sections having a slope amount less than a threshold value; and collating the selected target position data with map information indicating positions of the targets on a two-dimensional map to estimate a present position of the moving body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Takano, Yasuhito Sano, Chikao Tsuchiya, Takuya Nanri
  • Patent number: 11203339
    Abstract: A vehicle controlling apparatus includes a setting unit and an acquiring unit. The setting unit is configured to set a target inter-vehicle distance. The acquiring unit is configured to acquire position information of a temporary stopping location on a traveling route on which an own vehicle travels. The setting unit is configured to, on a condition that the own vehicle travels to follow a preceding vehicle, and that the acquiring unit has acquired the position information of the temporary stopping location, make a setting change to make the target inter-vehicle distance greater than a normal setting value when a distance from the own vehicle to the temporary stopping location reaches a predetermined distance, and make a setting change to bring the target inter-vehicle distance closer to the normal setting value in accordance with the distance until the own vehicle reaches the temporary stopping location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shinya Kudo
  • Patent number: 11197422
    Abstract: An article such as grass clippings collected by work equipment, such as a lawn mower, and stored in a container is allowed to be transported to an area for discarding such a collected article in an energy efficient and a work efficient way without imposing any undue burden on the operator. A collected article container device provided with a collected article container and capable of traveling autonomously is detachably connected to a work equipment main body that has a work unit such as a cutting blade device and is able to travel, the container device being configured to travel in a detached state to a collected article destination by itself. Further, the container device is provided with a lifting device that moves the rear wheels vertically relative to a device frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Koji Kuriyagawa, Runa Kaneko
  • Patent number: 11198435
    Abstract: The optimum headway distance setting method may include determining whether or not to stop the speed adjustment operation for a vehicle by a driver of the vehicle by a control unit in the state detecting a front vehicle 1F which is traveling in front of the vehicle; determining whether or not to be stabilization of a headway distance between the vehicle and the front vehicle by the control unit when the speed adjustment operation for the vehicle is stopped; setting the optimum headway distance configured to set the stabilized headway distance as an optimum headway distance according to a traveling propensity of the driver by the control unit, and stores the optimum headway distance in the control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Seung-Jae Yoo, Ja-Chun Han, Chang-Yu Kim, Soo-Lim Han
  • Patent number: 11195026
    Abstract: An object detection and display apparatus for mounting in a moveable body includes a far infrared camera (10), a display device (30), and a controller (22) (processor). The controller (22) detects, from a first image outputted by the far infrared camera (10), an image of a display target object at a distance equal to or greater than the distance reached by light from headlights (5) of the moveable body, and causes the display device (30) to display an image element corresponding to the display target object based on the position of the image of the display target object in the first image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: KYOCERA Corporation
    Inventor: Anil Kumar Samal
  • Patent number: 11192251
    Abstract: A method for controlling the operation of a robot within a system. The system includes the robot and sensors to analyze the concentric environment of the system. The sensors include a contact sensor, a proximity sensor and a vision and location sensor. For each of the axes of the robot, a maximum allowable force value is obtained. If the force on one of the axes of the robot is greater than the maximum value, the robot is stopped in its position. A concentric monitoring space or a security space is obtained as a function of the speed of the robot. The environment of the robot is monitored by the sensors. If the intrusion of an object is detected in the safe space of the robot, the maneuvering speed of the robot is gradually decreased to a safe speed. The process is repeated for the next axis of the robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignees: INSTITUT DE RECHERCHE TECHNOLOGIQUE JULES VERNE, CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE, UNIVERSITE DE NANTES
    Inventors: Christine Chevallereau, Alexis Girin, Philip Long
  • Patent number: 11181914
    Abstract: Methods and systems for the use of detected objects for image processing are described. A computing device autonomously controlling a vehicle may receive images of the environment surrounding the vehicle from an image-capture device coupled to the vehicle. In order to process the images, the computing device may receive information indicating characteristics of objects in the images from one or more sources coupled to the vehicle. Examples of sources may include RADAR, LIDAR, a map, sensors, a global positioning system (GPS), or other cameras. The computing device may use the information indicating characteristics of the objects to process received images, including determining the approximate locations of objects within the images. Further, while processing the image, the computing device may use information from sources to determine portions of the image to focus upon that may allow the computing device to determine a control strategy based on portions of the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Dave Ferguson, Abhijit Ogale
  • Patent number: 11181902
    Abstract: A remote operation system for a vehicle includes a plurality of remote operation devices, each of which includes a communication unit configured to communicate with the vehicle and receive information including a remote operation request, a presentation unit configured to present a situation of the vehicle received from the vehicle by the communication unit to a remote operator, a reception unit configured to receive an operation of the remote operator, and a control unit configured to generate control information on the basis of the operation received by the reception unit and transmit the control information to the vehicle using the communication unit. A remote operation device having a good communication environment with respect to the vehicle transmitting the remote operation request among the plurality of remote operation devices executes the remote operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Genta Boda, Shogo Akaba, Kazuyuki Kaneko
  • Patent number: 11167736
    Abstract: An apparatus for operating a pedestrian detection and collision mitigation system (PDCMS) of a vehicle is provided. The apparatus includes a front detection sensor that detects a pedestrian in a driving lane of the vehicle and a distance and a relative speed between the pedestrian and the vehicle. A vehicle sensor detects a vehicle speed and a controller executes the PDCMS function based on information detected by the front detection sensor and the vehicle sensor. A warning unit then outputs a notification to a driver regarding a collision of the pedestrian with the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Yoon Soo Kim, Seung Wook Park, Min Byeong Lee, Ho Choul Jung, In Yong Jung
  • Patent number: 11167760
    Abstract: A vehicle alarming system is provided to include (i) an inter-vehicle distance detector and (ii) an alarm. The inter-vehicle distance detector is configured to detect an inter-vehicle distance between a host vehicle and a vehicle ahead of the host vehicle. The alarm is configured to issue an alarm signal to a manipulation applied to an in-vehicle device in response to that a driving load including the inter-vehicle distance detected by the inter-vehicle distance detector satisfies an alarming condition of enabling the alarm. An execution state of a cruise control function is excluded from the alarming condition of enabling the alarm. The alarm is enabled in response to determining an override state in which acceleration or deceleration is manipulated forcedly by a driver of the host vehicle under the execution of the cruise control function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignees: DENSO CORPORATION, SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Youhei Okamoto, Shigeyuki Kato, Hiroshi Morimoto, Ayako Tsunoda, Kaneyoshi Ueda
  • Patent number: 11152814
    Abstract: Presented are mobile charging stations for recharging electrified vehicles, methods for making/using such mobile charging stations, and parking facilities equipped with such mobile charging stations. A mobile charging station includes a frame with multiple drive wheels and a prime mover operable to drive the wheels to propel the charging station. A hydrogen storage container and fuel cell are mounted to the frame. The fuel cell oxidizes hydrogen received from the storage container to generate electrical current. An electrical coupling mechanism connects the fuel cell to a traction battery pack of an electric-drive vehicle. A resident or remote controller is programmed to receive charge requests to recharge vehicles, and responsively determines path plan data for the mobile charging station. The controller commands the prime mover to propel the mobile charging station from the charger's origin to a charger destination, and enables the fuel cell to transmit electrical current to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Alan B. Martin, Matthew C. Kirklin, Charles E. Freese, V, Margarita M. Mann, William H. Pettit
  • Patent number: 11148293
    Abstract: A robot controlling method includes: obtaining a depth image by a depth camera; receiving the depth image and obtaining an object parameter according to the depth image by a processing circuit; generating an attractive force parameter according to a target trajectory by the processing circuit; generating a repulsive force parameter according to a first vector between the object parameter and a robot by the processing circuit; generating a virtual force parameter according to a second vector between the object parameter and the robot by the processing circuit; and outputting a control signal to the robot to drive the robot according to the attractive force parameter, the repulsive force parameter and the virtual force parameter by the processing circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: NATIONAL CHIAO TUNG UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Kai-Tai Song, Jen-Hao Chen