With Means Responsive To Speed Of Vehicle For Maintaining Speed At, Or Preventing It From Exceeding, A Particular Value Patents (Class 180/170)
  • Patent number: 9529365
    Abstract: An apparatus controller for prompting a rider to be positioned on a vehicle in such a manner as to reduce lateral instability due to lateral acceleration of the vehicle. The apparatus has an input for receiving specification from the rider of a desired direction of travel, and indicating means for reflecting to the rider a propitious instantaneous body orientation to enhance stability in the face of lateral acceleration. The indicating may include a handlebar that is pivotable with respect to the vehicle and that is driven in response to vehicle turning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Dean Kamen, Robert R. Ambrogi, James J. Dattolo, Robert J. Duggan, J. Douglas Field, Richard Kurt Heinzmann, Matthew M. McCambridge, John B. Morrell, Michael D. Piedmonte, Richard J. Rosasco
  • Patent number: 9523986
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system for coordinating the delivery of a payload by a drone to a recipient, the system comprising a drone; where the drone is an autonomous vehicle that is operative to perform one or more functions without human intervention; and a facility agent acting on behalf of a facility in which the recipient is located; where the facility agent is autonomous and is operative to act on behalf of either the recipient or the facility in which the recipient is located; and where the facility agent comprises an access option enumerator for computing a set of delivery strategies in accordance with a constraint or a goal; and an access negotiator for reaching an agreement between the drone and the facility agent on the delivery strategy for the payload.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ermyas Abebe, Dileban Karunamoorthy, Kent Steer
  • Patent number: 9517704
    Abstract: In a control apparatus, an extractor extracts, from a rotational speed of a rotating member, a vibration component included in the rotational speed of the rotating member. A first suppressor performs first suppression to suppress the rotational speed of the rotating member from changing due to change of a speed change ratio. A mode setter switchably sets one of an enabling mode to enable the first suppression or a disabling mode to disable the first suppression in the control apparatus according to a parameter indicative of the speed change ratio. A second suppressor performs second suppression to suppress change of the vibration component generated based on switching of one of the enabling mode and the disabling mode to the other thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Syo Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 9520731
    Abstract: An embodiment of the invention provides a charging station for a cleaning robot. The charging station includes an IR transmitter and a controller. The IR transmitter outputs a first IR light beam, wherein the IR light beam includes a second boundary and a first boundary which is substantially perpendicular or perpendicular to the charging station and the cleaning robot moves to the charging station along the first boundary. The controller controls the IR transmitter to output the first IR light beam or a second IR light beam. When the controller determines that the cleaning robot is near to the charging station, the controller controls the IR transmitter to output the second IR light beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: MSI COMPUTER (SHENZHEN) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: You-Wei Teng, Yi-Chih Yeh, Shih-Che Hung
  • Patent number: 9499050
    Abstract: A velocity-regulating system for motor vehicles has an electronic control device that produces control signals for regulating the velocity of the motor vehicle at a pre-specified target velocity and/or at a pre-specified distance from a preceding target object. The velocity-regulating system has an operating element whose actuation causes an intervention that influences the velocity regulation. The operating element is embodied as a touch-sensitive button that, when the button is pressed, produces a first intervention that influences the velocity regulation, and that, when the button is only touched, for the period during which button is touched, produces a second intervention that influences the active velocity regulation. Once the touching has ended, the original velocity regulation is continued.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengsellschaft
    Inventor: Helmut Spannheimer
  • Patent number: 9494093
    Abstract: Data is collected in a vehicle relating to a potential obstacle. Based at least in part on the collected data, an obstacle is identified. At least one characteristic of the obstacle is determined. At least one torque to be applied in a vehicle powertrain is determined based at least in part on the at least one characteristic of the obstacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Dale Scott Crombez, David Crist Gabriel, Jonathan Andrew Butcher
  • Patent number: 9469297
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a technology that enables avoidance of situations in which the driver's own vehicle enters the course of a vehicle behind with a change in the course of the driver's own vehicle without relying upon a device for detecting the vehicle running diagonally behind the driver's own vehicle in a driving assistance apparatus that causes the driver's own vehicle to change its course to avoid a collision with a solid object existing in the course of the vehicle. To achieve the object, according to the present invention, a change of the course of the driver's own vehicle is forbidden when a dividing line indicating a lane boundary is not detected on the road between the driver's own vehicle and a solid object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tomonori Akiyama
  • Patent number: 9472023
    Abstract: The disclosure includes a system and method for providing a heads-up display in a vehicle for alerting users to roadway objects. The system includes a processor and a memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the system to: monitor, with the one or more processors, for a roadway object; detect, with the one or more processors, the roadway object; generate graphical data configured to emphasize the roadway object on a heads-up display; determine whether a user sees the roadway object; responsive to the user failing to see the roadway object, determine whether the roadway object is critical; and responsive to the roadway object being critical, enhance a graphic output on the heads-up display to get the user's attention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Inventors: Emrah Akin Sisbot, Veera Ganesh Yalla
  • Patent number: 9464578
    Abstract: A control apparatus includes a means for detecting a position and a means for adjusting a reaction force of the accelerator, wherein the means for adjusting increases the reaction force of the accelerator by an increase amount in addition to a basic reaction force when the position of the accelerator is increased to satisfy a predetermined condition associated with a specific fuel consumption of the vehicle, the means for adjusting sets the increase amount to a first amount when the position of the accelerator is increased from a first accelerator position in a preload area to a second accelerator position that satisfies the predetermined condition, the means for adjusting sets the increase amount to a second amount when the position of the accelerator position is increased from an intermediate accelerator position that exceeds the preload area to the second position, and the first amount is greater than the second amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masao Shiomi, Shigeyuki Sakaguchi
  • Patent number: 9421993
    Abstract: A motor vehicle steering wheel provided with controls for the turn indicators; the steering wheel has: a central hub, which is mounted so as to rotate; an outer crown, which is rigidly coupled to the central hub by means of at least two spokes; and two controls, each of which is mounted on a corresponding spoke to be actuated with a vertical movement and operate the right turn indicators and the left turn indicators; each control has a rear appendage, which projects from the rear side of the corresponding spoke; and each control can be actuated with a vertical movement in a direction to operate the left turn indicators and can be actuated with a vertical movement in an opposite direction to operate the right turn indicators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Ferrari S.p.A.
    Inventor: Patrizio Spaggiari
  • Patent number: 9411340
    Abstract: An apparatus controller for prompting a rider to be positioned on a vehicle in such a manner as to reduce lateral instability due to lateral acceleration of the vehicle. The apparatus has an input for receiving specification from the rider of a desired direction of travel, and indicating means for reflecting to the rider a propitious instantaneous body orientation to enhance stability in the face of lateral acceleration. The indicating may include a handlebar that is pivotable with respect to the vehicle and that is driven in response to vehicle turning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: DEKA PRODUCTS LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
    Inventors: Dean Kamen, Richard J. Rosasco, Robert R. Ambrogi, James J. Dattolo, Robert J. Duggan, J. Douglas Field, Richard Kurt Heinzmann, Matthew M. McCambridge, John B. Morrell, Michael D. Piedmonte
  • Patent number: 9399407
    Abstract: A vehicle propulsion system includes a first bi-directional DC-DC converter coupled to a first DC bus, an energy storage system comprising at least one energy storage unit coupled to the first bi-directional DC-DC converter, a first DC-to-AC inverter coupled to the first DC bus, and a first electromechanical device coupled to the first DC-to-AC inverter. A controller is programmed to determine a real-time operating speed of the first electromechanical device, compare the real-time operating speed of the first electromechanical device to a scheduled speed of the first electromechanical device, and selectively control the first bi-directional DC-DC converter to shift a voltage of the first DC bus based on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Inventors: Jian Zhou, Zhi Zhou, Robert Dean King, Fengcheng Sun, Zhihao Li
  • Patent number: 9387851
    Abstract: An adaptive control adjusts thresholds in a vehicle stability control in response to video camera data, GPS data and weather data indicating that vehicle road conditions are not ideal. Video data determines mue (coefficient of friction) and type of road. Weather data includes temperature, visibility, precipitation and wind velocity. A human machine interface manually overrides the adaptive control in response to a user input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Willy Klier, Ravi Bhadange
  • Patent number: 9381811
    Abstract: A vehicle driving assist system has a controller configured to urge a driver to slow down (decelerate) in locations where visibility is poor. The controller detects a traveling condition of a host vehicle, e.g., when the host vehicle is approaching a designated area, such as a school zone, and then selectively executes an imaginary speed limiting road protrusion control that generates an imaginary speed limiting road protrusion by artificially reproducing a vehicle behavior that simulates the host vehicle crosses an actual speed limiting road protrusion arranged on a road surface, based on the traveling condition of the host vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki Kondoh, Tomohiro Yamamura, Nobuyuki Kuge, Kenji Komori
  • Patent number: 9371629
    Abstract: An apparatus for displaying an RPM section having a good efficiency for a construction machine is disclosed, which includes a control unit outputting different control signals depending on whether a current engine RPM belongs to a predetermined RPM section having the good efficiency, and a good-efficiency display unit selectively turning on or off an LED lamp according to the control signal output from the control unit. Since the RPM section having the good efficiency of the construction machine equipment is defined and the LED lamp for indicating the good-efficiency state is turned on if the current engine RPM belongs to the RPM section, a client can finally achieve good fuel efficiency in using the construction machine equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: VOLVO CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT AB
    Inventor: Hyun-Woo Kim
  • Patent number: 9359074
    Abstract: Methods, systems and devices are provided for securing a drone delivering a package of goods to a delivery destination. A notification may be provided to a device of the purchaser that the drone has arrived near the delivery destination. The drone may hover at a secure altitude from a landing zone at the delivery destination. The drone may receive a purchase code associated with a purchase of the package of goods. The drone may authenticate the purchase code as a condition for landing. The drone may land in the landing zone at the delivery destination when the purchase code is authenticated. The drone may abort the landing when the purchase code is not authenticated. The drone may receive a delivery code associated with completing delivery the package of goods. The drone may require the delivery code as a condition for releasing the package of goods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Shriram Ganesh, Jose Roberto Menendez
  • Patent number: 9352650
    Abstract: A rule-based vehicle cruise-control system includes a computer in a vehicle, the computer including a processor and a memory, and the computer is configured to control a vehicle speed within a first speed threshold according to a set point inputted to the cruise control system. The computer is configured to determine a current grade value is within a first grade threshold and adjust the set point to control the vehicle speed within a second speed threshold outside the first speed threshold. The computer is further configured to determine the current grade value is within a second grade threshold and adjust the set point to recover the vehicle speed to within the first speed threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dimitar Petrov Filev, John Ottavio Michelini, Steven Joseph Szwabowski, Anthony Mario D'Amato
  • Patent number: 9333860
    Abstract: A system for guiding execution of a main function of a vehicle, includes an input unit, a storage, a display and a controller. The input unit includes an independent function key configured to independently perform a function, and a dependent function key capable of performing a function when being selected in connection with another key. The storage stores vehicle state information indicating a state of the vehicle and explanation information about a dependent function key corresponding to error information. The display is configured to display guide information. The controller is configured to output, through the display, an input value of the dependent function key and explanation information corresponding to the vehicle state information by referring to the storage when the dependent function key is inputted two or more times while a condition for operating the dependent function key is not satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Jong Duck Kwak, Youngwoon Jo, Seung-Chang Park
  • Patent number: 9321449
    Abstract: A method and a system for choosing a transmission mode in a vehicle over the course of a road section, in which a simulation of at least one future speed profile vsim for the road section ahead of the vehicle is conducted on the basis of a road slope for the road section. A time period Tappl is determined on the basis of the at least one simulated future speed profile vsim, which ensures that a lower transmission mode is chosen before a lowest permitted speed vmin defined for the road section and/or a set speed vset for a speed control is reached. During the determined time period Tappl, the transmission mode which is utilized when the simulation is made is applicable for the vehicle. After this, it is evaluated whether a lower transmission mode than the currently used transmission mode shall be chosen. A lower transmission mode shall be chosen if the time period Tappl for which the current transmission mode is applicable is shorter than a first threshold period Tlim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: SCANIA CV AB
    Inventors: Oskar Johansson, Mikael Ögren, Fredrik Roos
  • Patent number: 9304003
    Abstract: A computing device includes a location sensor system including sensor(s) configured to measure one or more parameters of a surrounding environment, a pose-tracking engine configured to determine a current pose of the computing device based on the one or more measured parameters of the surrounding environment, a graphing engine configured to access a traversability graph including a plurality of vertices each having a local coordinate system, a navigation engine configured to identify a nearby vertex of the traversability graph to the current pose, and configured to determine a path of traversable edges between the nearby vertex and a destination vertex of the traversability graph, and a display configured to visually present as an overlay to the environment a navigation visualization corresponding to the path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew Sammis Ashman, Ethan Eade, Arthur Tomlin, Tony Ambrus
  • Patent number: 9251629
    Abstract: Examples of a telematics device are configured to connect to an on-board diagnostics port of a vehicle and collect telematics data related to the vehicle. The telematics device examples perform processes to determine whether a time value received by an external source is accurate with respect to a variance value. Based on the determination, a clock time value may be either modified based the accurate time value received from the external source or left unmodified. In addition, an example provides a time gap determination that accounts for time between a reconnection of the telematics device to a vehicle diagnostics port and receipt of an external time value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: HTI IP, LLC
    Inventors: Dedeepya Kalinadhabhotla, Pankaj Sharma
  • Patent number: 9248740
    Abstract: An active control method of accelerator pedal effort comprises steps to actively vary pedal effort. When a vehicle having a controllable pedal effort accelerator pedal runs, the active control method can actively vary the accelerator pedal effort according to an accelerator position sensor operation percentages selected by a driver, thereby improving the accelerator pedal manipulation efficiency of the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jeong Seon Min, Yang Rae Cho
  • Patent number: 9205836
    Abstract: A method is provided for controlling a driving distance between a host vehicle and a first vehicle driving in front of the host vehicle, the host vehicle driving at a driving speed and at the driving distance to the first vehicle. The host vehicle includes a system for controlling the driving distance and a fuel saving system, wherein the system for controlling the driving distance is adapted to retain the driving distance at not less than a preset minimum safety distance, and wherein the fuel saving system includes an automatic speed increasing function which in case of fulfillment of a set of conditions automatically increases the driving speed in order to utilize kinetic energy inherent in the host vehicle to save fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar AB
    Inventors: Anders Eriksson, Johan Bjernetun
  • Patent number: 9180883
    Abstract: Described is a method for determining a reference value for a vehicle. The method includes: performing a number of simulation cycles Sj each comprising simulation steps: making a first prediction of the vehicle's speed vpred—cc along the determined horizon with a conventional cruise control; comparing, in a first comparison, the predicted vehicle speed vpred—cc with Vlim1 and Vlim2, which define a motor torque used in a subsequent simulation cycle; making a second prediction of the speed when the engine torque is a value that depends on the result of said comparison in the latest preceding simulation cycle; comparing, in a second comparison, the predicted vehicle speed vpred—Tnew with vmin, and Vmax1 which demarcate a range within which the speed is maintained; determining the reference value based on the second comparison and/or the second predicted speed in that simulation cycle Sj; and controlling the vehicle according to the reference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: SCANIA CV AB
    Inventors: Oskar Johansson, Maria Södergren, Fredrik Roos
  • Patent number: 9134955
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and techniques are provided for customization a vehicle and the interior thereof. The customization can be based at least on customization themes associated with an occupant of the vehicle and/or the vehicle. In addition or in the alternative, the customization can be based at least on vehicular context of the occupants and the vehicle. A specific customization can be effected in response to a change in context of vehicle, and thus the vehicle can be dynamically customized in response to a specific vehicular context as the context is realized. The customization themes can integrate with an in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) system and/or one or more of in-cabin lighting, projection or other rendering features, or data streams. Customization can be accomplished via configuration of one or more customization components comprising sensors, rendering units, lighting fixtures, or control components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Jennifer A Healey, Alexandra C. Zafiroglu, Victoria S. Fang
  • Patent number: 9085237
    Abstract: Provided is a speed limiter, wherein a vehicle speed is detected, and a speed limit displayed on a speed sign is detected based on an image captured by a front monitoring camera. A speed difference between the vehicle speed and the speed limit is calculated, and an accelerator sensitivity gain is set using the speed difference as a parameter. Then an accelerator opening degree is corrected with the accelerator sensitivity gain to obtain a pseudo accelerator opening degree. A target throttle opening degree is set based on the pseudo accelerator opening degree and an engine rpm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: FUJI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuji Kii, Tasuku Maruyama, Munenori Matsuura
  • Patent number: 9046371
    Abstract: A system and method for navigating a vehicle through a mining environment to a target destination is presented. The system and method may be utilized to avoid contention in the mining environment. A route through the mining environment to the target destination for the vehicle is identified and a first speed profile for at least a portion of the route is determined. A potential contention condition associated with the route is identified and the potential contention condition along the route is used to determine a second speed profile for at least a portion of the route. An optimized speed profile is determined using the first speed profile and the second speed profile, and at least a portion of the optimized speed profile is communicated to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Modular Mining Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: William Casson, Lucas Van Latum, Michael Lewis
  • Patent number: 9020732
    Abstract: A vehicle may include a sensor configured to detect a rearward approaching object and at least one controller configured to cause the vehicle to accelerate in response to the sensor detecting a rearward approaching object while the vehicle is moving forward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Edward Pilutti, Peter Gyumyeong Joh, Matthew Y. Rupp, Dorian Jack Spero, Aaron L. Mills
  • Patent number: 9014919
    Abstract: A lane change control method and system that include a driver mode setting unit that sets a driver's lane change mode based on a lane change mode input from a plurality of lane change modes and a lane change path generation unit that generates a lane change path based on the lane change mode set by the driver mode setting unit, a transverse acceleration of vehicle, a target path angle and a target transverse distance path. In addition, a path follow up controller executes a lane change based on the lane change path by calculating steering angle information that corresponds to the lane change path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Hoi Won Kim
  • Patent number: 9008939
    Abstract: A vehicle control system and method combining control allocation and phase compensation for forming a phase compensated actuator command signal based on a control demand signal. A feedback unit includes a matrix multiplication unit for forming an estimated behavior signal, from a control efficiency matrix and the actuator command signal. The estimated behavior signal is fed to a second summation unit for forming a difference signal. The difference signal is processed by a filter unit for forming a feedback signal which is connected to a first summation unit for forming a modified control demand signal, such that the modified control demand signal is adjusted to always represent a control demand realizable by the vehicle. The modified control demand signal is further connected to the second summation unit and to a control allocator which output is then connected to the matrix multiplier to form a feedback loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: SAAB AB
    Inventor: Bengt-Göran Sundqvist
  • Publication number: 20150096819
    Abstract: A recreational vehicle includes a seatbelt sensor configured to detect when a seatbelt is in an engaged position or a disengaged position and an engine control module in communication with the seatbelt sensor to automatically limit a maximum speed of the vehicle to a reduced maximum speed limit upon detection of the seatbelt is in the disengaged position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventors: Karl J. Grajkowski, Amber P. Malone, Eric P. Nault, Steven C. Erickson, Brian R. Gillingham, Ryan D. Carlson
  • Patent number: 8996272
    Abstract: Provided is a cruise control system and method. A vehicle cruise control system collects state information of components inside and outside a vehicle, state information of a road on which the vehicle is provided, and drive pattern information of a driver of the vehicle, analyzes a mileage amount and an exhaust gas emission amount of the vehicle based on the collected state information of the components, the road state information, and the drive pattern information, calculates a cruise control speed based on the analysis result, and controls the vehicle to run at the cruise control speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Do Hyun Kim, Jungsook Kim, Jae Han Lim, Kyeong Tae Kim, Byung Tae Jang, Jeong Dan Choi, Jaejun Yoo, Kyung Bok Sung, Jeong Ah Jang
  • Patent number: 8989943
    Abstract: An unmanned autonomous traveling service apparatus and method based on driving information database that allows an unmanned autonomous traveling vehicle to be autonomously operated stably without performing a large scale computing process in real time by allowing the unmanned autonomous traveling vehicle to be autonomously operated based on driving information generated in a database and allowing the unmanned autonomous traveling vehicle to be autonomously operated based on an installed sensor at the time of a traffic lane change or an unexpected situation. In particular, the driving information is collected from drivers throughout the world to create the database for the driving information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Byung Yong You
  • Patent number: 8972138
    Abstract: A method for controlling a vehicle's speed by adopting a desired speed vset for the vehicle; determining a horizon for the intended itinerary made up of route segments, effecting the following during each of a number of simulation cycles (s) each comprising a number N of simulation steps conducted at a predetermined frequency f: first predicting the vehicle's speed vpred—cc along the horizon with conventional cruise control when vset is presented as reference speed, comparing the predicted vehicle speed vpred—cc in a range vmin to vmax, making a second prediction of the vehicle's speed vpred—Tnew along the horizon based on the vehicle's engine torque T; determining a reference value for how the vehicle's speed is to be influenced on the basis of at least one of the comparisons and the predicted vehicle speed vpred—Tnew; controlling the vehicle by the reference value. A module for the foregoing controls a vehicle's speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Scania CV AB
    Inventors: Oskar Johansson, Maria Södergren, Fredrik Roos
  • Patent number: 8965597
    Abstract: Road grade is modeled over a region in which a vehicle is driven on roadways having a grade that varies over a plurality of predetermined grade ranges. A succession of grade values are generated while operating the vehicle at a predetermined rate, wherein each grade value identifies a respective grade range then being encountered. A Markov chain road-grade model is updated in response to the succession of grade values, wherein the model represents respective elements of probability in a matrix of transition events from each predetermined grade range to a respective next-in-succession grade range. Each element of the matrix has a value ?i,j representing a weighted frequency of transition events from a first respective grade value to a second respective grade value divided by a weighted frequency of transition events initiating from the first respective grade value, so that the matrix successively approximates the road grade of the region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dimitar P. Filev, John O. Michelini, Steven J. Szwabowski, Diana Yanakiev, Mahmoud Abou-Nasr, I
  • Patent number: 8957618
    Abstract: In an electric vehicle, a throttle spring restores a throttle opening on the side of a minimum opening when the accelerator is not operated. A driving section drives a motor according to the throttle opening. The throttle spring pushes an accelerator grip to a creep speed reference opening so as to reduce the throttle opening. A creep speed control section supplies a motor driving instruction to the driving section so that the electric vehicle is advanced at minute vehicle speed. The electric vehicle can also be backed at predetermined minute vehicle speed when the throttle opening is smaller than the creep speed reference opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yui Tadano, Koji Aoki
  • Patent number: 8954256
    Abstract: The vehicle-use speed control apparatus sets a virtual preceding vehicle assumed to run at a target speed at a predetermined initial distance ahead of the own vehicle when the brake pedal is operated causing a relative speed between the actual vehicle speed and the target speed exceeds a predetermined value, calculates an initial value of a performance index for approach and alienation based on the initial distance and the target speed. Thereafter, the vehicle-use speed control apparatus repeatedly calculates a following distance to the virtual preceding vehicle based on a time elapsed from when a speed control start condition is satisfied, the current relative speed and the initial distance, and a target relative speed based on the initial distance, the initial value of the performance index and the following distance, and controls the vehicle speed based on the difference between the target relative speed and the actual relative speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Isaji, Naohiko Tsuru
  • Patent number: 8948977
    Abstract: A system for controlling an implement of a machine is disclosed. The system may have a machine velocity sensor that senses an actual machine velocity and a targeted machine velocity sensor that senses a targeted machine velocity. The system may also have a controller, and an actuator configured to move an implement responsive to commands received from the controller by an actuator controller. The controller may be configured to receive the actual machine velocity from the machine velocity sensor, receive the targeted machine velocity from the targeted machine velocity sensor, compare the actual machine velocity to the targeted machine velocity, and send a command to the actuator controller to shake the implement based on the comparison of the actual machine velocity to the targeted machine velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Forrest Liu, William Ostler
  • Patent number: 8935071
    Abstract: A method, for controlling direction of a vehicle as desired in connection with operation of an autonomous driving maneuver using selectively, independently and/or in combination, multiple electrical park brakes (EPBs) and multiple hydraulic brakes (HBs). The method includes determining a total brake force needed for redirecting the vehicle in a pre-determined manner, and determining whether an applicable EPB can provide the total brake force needed. The method further includes providing, if it is determined that the applicable EPB can provide the total brake force needed, a brake command instructing the applicable EPB to apply the total brake force. The method also includes determining, if it is determined that the EPB is alone insufficient, an optimal fusion of the EPBs and the HBs, including two front and two rear HBs, two rear EPBs, and in some embodiments, also two front EPBs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Jin-Woo Lee, Bakhtiar Brian Litkouhi
  • Patent number: 8914195
    Abstract: A system for powering a steering angle sensor coupled to a steering wheel and a controller comprising a switch, coupled to the sensor and the controller. The switch is activated upon motion of the steering wheel or steering shaft. The switch, when activated, connects a power supply, such as a vehicle battery, to the sensor and the controller so that a new steering angle may be sensed and stored. After a predetermined period of time, the controller sends a signal to deactivate the switch and disconnect the power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies
    Inventors: Erick Michael Lavoie, Bradley G. Hochrein
  • Patent number: 8902055
    Abstract: A rollover warning system for a vehicle includes: a base control inertial measurement unit with a plurality of sensors and a computer. The plurality of sensors measures a plurality of vehicle measurements. The plurality of vehicle measurements include at least two of: a longitudinal acceleration measurement; a lateral acceleration measurement; a vertical acceleration measurement; a roll rate measurement; a yaw rate measurement; and combinations thereof. Optionally, a pitch rate gyro for pitch measurement can be added for additional functionality, such as a vertical slope warning, or it can also be input into the predictive algorithm for defining additional vehicle hazardous operation states and conditions. The computer calculates a Rollover Risk Estimate based on the plurality of vehicle measurements taken by the plurality of sensors in the inertial measurement unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: MSI Defense Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Todd J. Holbert, David J. Holden, David C. Nelson, Mark A. Nelson, James M. Wyler
  • Publication number: 20140332296
    Abstract: A wheel assembly 10 for a golf trolley (30) comprises a wheel 12, a motor for driving the wheel, a battery 20 for powering the motor, detection means for detecting whether or not the wheel 12 is rotating, a control unit 22 for controlling the motor and releasable connection means 24 for releasably connecting the wheel assembly 10 to a golf trolley (30), the control unit 22 having at least a first mode of operation in which the motor can be activated only when the wheel 12 is already rotating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Inventors: Mark Adam Stewart, David Michael Funnell, Duncan Ross Stewart, Jon Stewart-Miller
  • Patent number: 8876657
    Abstract: The automatic gear bike includes a control system for selectively operating in an automatic mode, providing power to the bike or a manual mode. The control system includes a control assembly, a motor assembly operatively in communication with the control assembly, and a gear assembly in operative engagement with the motor assembly. The gear assembly includes a ration gear, a hub, and hub embedded gear. The ration gear is operatively connected to the beam gear, and the hub embedded gear is connected to the hub. The controller receives detects the real-time bike speed, and compares the bike speed to a pre-selected bike speed. Based on the comparison the controller sends a signal to the motor assembly to selectively transfer power to the beam gear and operatively connected gear assembly, to increase or decrease the bike speed such that the real-time bike speed is substantially equal to the pre-selected speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Inventor: Fawzi Behbehani
  • Patent number: 8880296
    Abstract: Vehicle control system and method in which restrictions on travel of the vehicle are determined based on an indication of the visibility of a driver and information about objects moving in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of the vehicle are considered. The travel restrictions include preventing a passing maneuver on a two-lane road when an oncoming vehicle precludes safely initiating or completing an already-initiated passing maneuver. A warning system is provided to warn a driver about the travel restrictions so that the driver will, hopefully, not attempt an unsafe maneuver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: American Vehicular Sciences, LLC
    Inventor: David S. Breed
  • Patent number: 8866603
    Abstract: A method, a device and a system for communicating in a vehicle at least one deviation of a measured actual vehicle parameter value from its predetermined value to a driver involve determining an amount of the deviation, color-coding the amount of deviation, and communicating the amount of deviation to the driver by using the color-code. Determining the amount of deviation includes weighting a calculated difference between the measured actual vehicle parameter value and the predetermined vehicle parameter value with a weighting factor. A vehicle or more particularly a truck may include such a device and such a system and a computer programmed for performing such a method and computer readable medium comprising a program for performing such a method can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Volvo Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Joel Sandström, Emma Rozada
  • Patent number: 8830048
    Abstract: An apparatus controller for prompting a rider to be positioned on a vehicle in such a manner as to reduce lateral instability due to lateral acceleration of the vehicle. The apparatus has an input for receiving specification from the rider of a desired direction of travel, and indicating means for reflecting to the rider a propitious instantaneous body orientation to enhance stability in the face of lateral acceleration. The indicating may include a handlebar that is pivotable with respect to the vehicle and that is driven in response to vehicle turning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Dean Kamen, Robert R. Ambrogi, James J. Dattolo, Robert J. Duggan, J. Douglas Field, Richard Kurt Heinzmann, Matthew M. McCambridge, John B. Morrell, Michael D. Piedmonte, Richard J. Rosasco
  • Patent number: 8825338
    Abstract: A primary controller disclosed. The primary controller is configured for controlling operation of a drive system comprising a prime mover, a generator, and a motor, wherein the prime mover is configured to provide energy to the generator, which is configured to drive the motor. The controller comprises a speed controller configured for determining a target speed of the motor dependent on externally-supplied speed input and a torque controller configured for determining a target torque of the motor based on externally-supplied torque input and on parameters of the vehicle. The primary controller is configured to simultaneously determine the target speed and the target torque and to simultaneously control the prime mover, generator, and motor to operate the motor at the target speed and the target torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd.
    Inventors: Ran Braier, Arie Perry
  • Patent number: 8825226
    Abstract: An automated mobile vehicle configured to autonomously provide coverage for inoperable infrastructure components at various locations. A plurality of automated mobile vehicles may be deployed to provide emergency lighting, a wireless network, audio, video, etc., at an event area. The event area may be indoors and/or outdoors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: William Spencer Worley, III, Eric Mathew Clayton
  • Patent number: 8812196
    Abstract: A payload estimation system for a work machine is provided. The system includes a power source, a payload carrier, an actuator and a controller. The payload carrier is configured to contain a payload of material. The actuator is configured to effectuate movement of the payload carrier. The controller is configured to control an operation of the actuator. The controller is also configured to receive one or more parameters associated with the power source of the work machine, during an operation of the payload carrier. Further, the controller is configured to compare the one or more parameters with a pre-determined dataset to estimate a weight of the payload on the work machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Zheng Hu, Jason D. Bell
  • Patent number: 8803679
    Abstract: An engine rotational speed display device includes a rotational speed sensor and a pulse rotor. An engine rotational speed calculating unit is configured to calculate an engine rotational speed by a moving average of a detected value of a crankshaft rotational speed pulse. A display unit is configured to display the engine rotational speed on a meter by electrical processing. When the crankshaft rotational speed pulse is not detected in a detection time equal to or more than a predetermined value, the engine rotational speed calculating unit determines that the engine rotational speed is “0,” and the engine rotational speed of “0” is displayed on the meter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanori Nakamura, Kenichi Machida