With Means For Promoting Safety Of Vehicle, Its Occupant Or Load, Or An External Object Patents (Class 180/271)
  • Patent number: 10618558
    Abstract: A structural component connected to a structural element is provided. The structural component includes an extension extending in a longitudinal direction between a front end and a rear end, the rear end facing the structural element. The structural component also includes a stop element protruding from a longitudinal wall of the extension. The stop element has a contact surface facing a region of the structural element. When the extension is subject to an impact creating forces in the longitudinal direction, the contact surface comes into contact with the region and transmits a part of the forces created by the impact to the region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: ARCELORMITTAL
    Inventors: Cédric Bouton, Edith Lahellec, Jean-Louis Colmont, Thierry Derchu, Maxime Gabrel
  • Patent number: 10622179
    Abstract: A breaker device for connecting in an electrical circuit, the device includes a pyrotechnic initiator and a body having present therein: a pressurizing chamber in communication with an outlet from the pyrotechnic initiator; at least one electrically conductive portion for connection to the electrical circuit; at least one fusible element connected in series with the conductive portion, the initiator being connected to the terminals of the fusible element and the fusible element being configured to trip when the current passing through it exceeds a predetermined value, thereby actuating the initiator; and a movable breaker element; the pyrotechnic initiator being configured to cause the breaker device to pass from a current-passing first configuration to a circuit-breaking second configuration, the movable breaker element being moved on passing from the first configuration to the second in order to disconnect the conductive portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: ARIANEGROUP SAS
    Inventors: Gilles Gonthier, Frédéric Marlin, Jean-François De Palma, Rémy Ouaida
  • Patent number: 10603879
    Abstract: A shock absorption structure has an exterior member made of a first fiber-reinforced composite material, an interior member made of a second fiber-reinforced composite material, and a first intermediate member made of resin, extending along the exterior member and the interior member, and sandwiched between the exterior member and the interior member. The first intermediate member has a lower elongation percentage than the exterior member. The first intermediate member has lower strength than the exterior member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takeshi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 10591922
    Abstract: Arrangements related to operating an autonomous vehicle in view-obstructed environments are described. At least a portion of an external environment of the autonomous vehicle can be sensed to detect one or more objects located therein. An occupant viewable area of the external environment can be determined. It can be determined whether one or more of the detected one or more objects is located outside of the determined occupant viewable area. Responsive to determining that a detected object is located outside of the determined occupant viewable area, one or more actions can be taken. For instance, the action can include presenting an alert within the autonomous vehicle. Alternatively or in addition, the action can include causing a current driving action of the autonomous vehicle to be modified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Katsuhiro Sakai, Danil V. Prokhorov, Bunyo Okumura, Naoki Nagasaka, Masahiro Harada, Nobuhide Kamata
  • Patent number: 10588797
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include a wheelchair configured to reposition an occupant between a lowered and a raised position. The wheelchair can include a frame, a seat moveable relative to the frame, a drive wheel, and one or more pairs of arm assemblies. The arm assembly includes a wheel configured to move from a first spatial location when the wheel chair is operating on flat, level ground to a second spatial location that is different than the first spatial location. Arm limiters can selectively engage the arm assembly based on at least one of a seat position, position of the arm assembly and surface conditions of ground surface. The arm limiters can limit the range of motion of the arm assembly and sometimes other operational aspects of the chair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Pride Mobility Products Corporation
    Inventors: James P. Mulhern, Stephen J. Antonishak
  • Patent number: 10577009
    Abstract: A selectively autonomous steering column assembly includes a steering column shaft. Also included is a steering input device coupled to the steering column shaft. Further included is a column adjustment assembly configured to translate the steering column shaft between a retracted position and a driving position. Yet further included is at least one signal indicating when the steering column shaft is in the driving position. When steering column shaft is in the retracted position, directional control is automated, and when the steering column shaft is returned to the driving position as indicated by the at least one signal, direction control via the steering input device is enabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Frank P. Lubischer, Richard K. Riefe, Joen C. Bodtker, Bryan L. Faist
  • Patent number: 10576989
    Abstract: A vehicle drive assistance system is provided, which includes a processor configured to execute an individual driver model learning engine configured to build an individual driver model unique to a vehicle driver based on driving data of the driver, and an on-board controller provided in a vehicle of the driver and configured to perform particular vehicle control processing. The individual driver model learning engine analyzes a current state of the driver based on the driving data, determines recommending processing that corresponds to the analyzed state based on the individual driver model, and instructs the on-board controller to perform the recommending processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiro Tochioka, Toshimi Okazaki, Jun Takemura
  • Patent number: 10580601
    Abstract: A DC overcurrent protection apparatus includes an ignition current-controlled irreversible high-current switch-off element, an overcurrent detection unit which is electrically connected in a high-current path in series with the ignition current-controlled irreversible high-current switch-off element, and control contacts configured to control the ignition current-controlled irreversible high-current switch-off element. The control contacts are arranged such that they are electrically connectable to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Wladislaw Waag
  • Patent number: 10562520
    Abstract: A control device for a vehicle includes an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit, when switching a traveling mode of the vehicle, is configured to control an amount of torque change produced in a drive power source for traveling subjected to switching in operation upon switching of the traveling mode, such that the amount of torque change during manual driving is larger than that during autonomous driving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akiko Nishimine, Tatsuya Imamura
  • Patent number: 10556561
    Abstract: A vehicle front portion structure includes a cover; an absorber provided rearward of the cover of a vehicle, the absorber being configured to absorb energy of a collision between the cover and a collision body while allowing the cover to move rearward; a front grill provided rearward of the cover and above the absorber, the front grill being configured to move rearward along with the cover during the collision between the cover and the collision body; a radar device attached to the front grill; and a deformation limiting member provided outside a radio wave irradiation range of the radar device and in a space between the radar device and the front grill or the cover, the deformation limiting member being configured to limit deformation of the front grill or the cover to the radar device side during the collision between the cover and the collision body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Eisuke Ikeno
  • Patent number: 10558875
    Abstract: A system for determining a state of a driver includes a face tracking device configured to detect coordinates and a direction vector of a face at intervals of a sampling time from a face image of the driver, an event detecting device configured to detect valid behavior of a vehicle as an event, and a determination device configured to determine an impaired state of the driver based on a reflex response time of the driver when the event is detected by the event detecting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Seong Sook Ryu, Jin Kwon Kim, Byoung Joon Lee, Sam Yong Kim
  • Patent number: 10551407
    Abstract: In some examples, a sensor device is to mount to a barrier pivotable between an open position and a closed position, the barrier being on a moveable platform. The sensor device includes an accelerometer to measure acceleration data and a rotation sensor to measure rotation about an axis. The sensor device includes at least one processor configured to determine an open/close status of the barrier based on the acceleration data and the rotation data, and an orientation of the moveable platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Sandeep Chennakeshu, Dake He, Yu Gao
  • Patent number: 10547203
    Abstract: The present invention proposes power battery pre-charge system and device for an electric vehicle, said power battery pre-charge device comprises a pre-charge circuit formed by a current source circuit and a bus capacitor, wherein said current source circuit provides a current for charging the bus capacitor, wherein said current source circuit includes a triode, a first resistor, a second resistor and at least two high-voltage MOSFET transistors. The power battery pre-charge system and device for an electric vehicle as disclosed in the present invention have high charging efficiency, low cost and low failure rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: NIO NEXTEV LIMITED
    Inventors: Fei Chen, Guodong Xu, Tao Jiang
  • Patent number: 10543796
    Abstract: Provided is a protection device for a vehicle electrical component capable of preventing damage to a predetermined electrical component due to hitting by a battery, and also capable of reducing noise/vibration. The disclosure is a protection device which protects a starter in a vehicle in which a battery and the starter are disposed to face each other with a space therebetween in an engine room of the vehicle in which components constituting a power plant or a power train are supported by a vehicle body via a mount and a bracket. The skid block serving as the protection device includes bracket attachment portions attached to a transmission attachment portion of the bracket, and a skid block main body extending upward from the bracket attachment portions and gradually away from the bracket extension portion, and having a distal end portion positioned between the battery and the starter and facing the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Isafushi, Yoshikazu Mukaiyama
  • Patent number: 10536860
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes accessing a point cloud comprising several points, wherein each point corresponds to a location on a surface of an object located in three-dimensional space; determining whether each point in the point cloud is part of a linear structure, a planar structure, or a volumetric structure; identifying a plurality of point clusters, wherein each point cluster comprises one or more points that are located within a grid segment on a two-dimensional grid derived from the three-dimensional space; determining, for each point cluster, whether the point cluster represents a vertical-linear structure or a portion of a vertical-linear structure; identifying one or more point-cluster pairs, wherein each point-cluster pair includes two point clusters corresponding to one or more vertical-linear structures within a threshold distance in the three-dimensional space; and determining, for each point-cluster pair, whether a line-of-sight exists between each point-cluster in the point-cluster pa
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventors: Guan Pang, Jing Huang, Balmanohar Paluri, Brian Karrer, Ismail Onur Filiz, Birce Tezel, Nicolas Emilio Stier Moses, Vishakan Ponnampalam, Timothy Eric Danford
  • Patent number: 10532711
    Abstract: An underrun protection system for arranging on a rear of a vehicle includes a crossmember and two support arms for supporting the crossmember and for mounting on a mounting structure of the vehicle. The underrun protection system further includes two connecting devices for mounting the crossmember on the support arms. The connecting devices serve as reinforcing parts for the partial reinforcement of the crossmember and/or the connecting devices are designed for adjustability along the crossmember.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: MAN TRUCK & BUS AG
    Inventors: Florian Wilke, Aleksandar Bogicevic, Mike Langhammer, Stefan Marx
  • Patent number: 10527396
    Abstract: A device for destroying dangerous objects such as shells, munitions or other charges that are to be destroyed by detonating them, which device includes a packaging produced from a flat blank folded on itself along three folds, four folds or more in order to form at least three sides and two half, four sides or four sides and a flap for closing the packaging which is produced in the form of a tubular package of polygonal and notably square or rectangular cross section once the flat blank has been folded up, with explosive charges placed on the sides that are to be folded, the flat blank being of dimensions suited to being able to house, in the middle of the tubular package in contact with the explosive charges, one or more of the dangerous objects that are to be destroyed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: ARIANEGROUP SAS
    Inventor: Gérald Raymond
  • Patent number: 10507788
    Abstract: An airbag device includes an airbag, straps, and strap covers. The airbag is stored in a cowl portion. The airbag configured to be deployed on the front surface side of windshield glass, and to cover the cowl portion and front pillars at least in part. A first end of each of the straps is attached to an upper portion of an outer surface of the airbag in the vehicle up-down direction and a second end of each of the straps is attached to the cowl portion. The straps pass between the airbag and the strap covers. The strap covers are sewn to the outer surface of the airbag and cover the straps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Taichi Minei, Kenichiro Yoshimoto, Akihiro Osanai, Yuta Iwai
  • Patent number: 10502306
    Abstract: The present invention is a device and method for aligning a bellhousing without a centered opening at the transmission mounting surface to an engine block. The device and method of using the device permit the alignment of the bellhousing to be performed without requiring the user remove a portion of the transmission for use in the alignment process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Accel Performance Group LLC
    Inventor: Ross A. McCombs
  • Patent number: 10493960
    Abstract: A method for operating a hill hold controller of a motor vehicle including at least one parking brake. The parking brake is disengaged according to an actuation of a gas pedal of the motor vehicle. The disengagement of the parking brake is released according to a variable representing a road gradient. The release to disengage the parking brake is granted, independently of the variable and/or the availability of the variable, when the gas pedal of the motor vehicle reaches or exceeds a predefinable release position by way of the actuation thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Baehrle-Miller, Helmut Wolff
  • Patent number: 10486592
    Abstract: The pedestrian safety system includes a vehicle crossing arm system, an alarm annunciator, a plurality of sensors, and an in-vehicle display device. The vehicle crossing arm system may include a crossing arm and a crossing arm motor. Methods of using the pedestrian safety system function to detect movement of pedestrians in proximity to a vehicle are disclosed. In particular, for detecting movement of children in proximity to a school bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Inventor: David Earl Irby, Sr.
  • Patent number: 10488504
    Abstract: A system and method for determining when a trailer is located behind a vehicle includes at least one detection device configured to detect objects located behind the vehicle and a processor. The processor is in communication with the at least one detection device and a plurality of signals generated by the vehicle. The processor receives data from the at least one detection device. The data includes a plurality of targets detected by the at least one detection device. Next, the processor determines if one or more clusters exists and clusters the targets into at least one cluster to form cluster features when one or more clusters exist. The processor determines vehicle state based on the vehicle dynamic features from the plurality of signals generated by the vehicle as well as global features from data from the at least one detection device and determines when the trailer is located behind the vehicle based on the cluster features, the vehicle state, and/or the global features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: VEONEER US, INC.
    Inventors: Junru Di, Shan Cong, Kapil Gupta, Malakeh Sivako, Debra Rice, Joe Attard
  • Patent number: 10481617
    Abstract: A metering system includes a first meter roller, such that the first meter roller includes many protrusions, such that each protrusion of the many protrusions drives flowable particulate material downwardly in response to rotation of the first meter roller. Furthermore, the metering system includes a drive shaft that is driven in rotation and a first transmission assembly that establishes a first direct mechanical linkage between the drive shaft and the first meter roller, such that the first transmission assembly shifts between a first plurality of gear ratios to drive the first meter roller in rotation at a respective first plurality of different speeds relative to the drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: CNH Industrial Canada, Ltd.
    Inventors: Gordon Anthony Engel, Gregory Jacob Erker, Anthony Charles Rapley
  • Patent number: 10479310
    Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly is provided herein. The vehicle includes a seat-base coupled to a seatback. A guide-channel and an armrest are coupled to at least one of the seatback and the seat-base. A carrier having an airbag is slidably coupled to the guide-channel, wherein the carrier is operable between a stowed position and a use position. The carrier is disposed vehicle downward of the armrest while in the stowed position. An airbag deployment side of the carrier is generally directed seating assembly rearward while the carrier is in the use position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alan George Dry, Johnathan Andrew Line, Brian Robert Spahn, Benjamin Yilma, S. M. Akbar Berry
  • Patent number: 10479440
    Abstract: An electrically power assisted bicycle includes an electric motor, a detachable battery that supplies electric power to at least the electric motor, and an operation panel including a controller configured or programmed to control the display in a time display area and a built-in battery that supplies electric power to the controller. When the detachable battery is attached to the electrically power assisted bicycle and the electrically power assisted bicycle is in a power-on state, the controller is supplied with the electric power from the detachable battery. When the electrically power assisted bicycle is turned on from a power-off state in a state where a remaining capacity of the built-in battery is insufficient, the controller displays, in the time display area, information indicating that the remaining capacity of the built-in battery is insufficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hirokatsu Kishita
  • Patent number: 10474914
    Abstract: Apparatus detecting driving incapability state of a driver includes: a head detection portion that successively detects a head portion, which is higher than a neck of the driver, based on an image of a driver's seat captured by an imaging device mounted in a vehicle; and an out-of-frame state detection portion that detects that the driver is incapable of driving, when the head portion detected by the head detection portion is out of a predetermined scope in the image during travelling of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroto Banno, Takuhiro Omi, Yutaka Munaoka, Takeshi Enya
  • Patent number: 10464478
    Abstract: A device for controlling the interior lighting of a motor vehicle comprises at least one lighting module capable of emitting a light beam in the passenger compartment, and means for detecting a plurality of gestures of an occupant of the vehicle forming a determined sequence triggering the control of the interior lighting module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: VALEO VISION
    Inventors: Thierry Fleurence, Aymeric Koniec
  • Patent number: 10458082
    Abstract: The truck snow-melting system comprises a pair of three-port diverting valves which may, under electrical control from within the cab of a truck, be transitioned between directing exhaust gases out of the vehicle's exhaust pipe and directing exhaust gases to a left transport pipe and a right transport pipe. The left transport pipe directs exhaust gases to a left exhaust outlet located in front of driven wheels on the left side of the truck and the right transport pipe directs exhaust gases to a right exhaust outlet located in front of driven wheels on the right side of the truck. The exhaust gases melt wintery precipitation so that the truck may gain traction. A plurality of adjustment points allow the horizontal and vertical positions of the exhaust outlets to be changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Inventor: James Piner
  • Patent number: 10457163
    Abstract: A system for detecting an occupant in a vehicle seat that includes a sensing electrode located in a seat bottom of a vehicle seat. The system also includes a shield electrode located in the vehicle seat below the sensing electrode. A sensing circuit is operatively coupled to the sensing electrode and the shield electrode. A controller is operatively coupled to the sensing circuit, wherein the controller operates to configure the sensing circuit to apply current to the shield and sensing electrodes. The controller is configured to detect the presence of an object in the seat by comparing a measure of the quadrature component of the sensing current to a threshold wherein the measure is adjusted by an offset value that varies based on a value of a non-volatile counter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: JOYSON SAFETY SYSTEMS ACQUISITION LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey S. Bennett, Joseph A. Schultz, Daniel A. Dalimonte
  • Patent number: 10458536
    Abstract: A gearshift assembly for a transmission includes a shift lever which is mounted for pivotal movement in a select direction between a shifting gate for automatic mode and a shifting gate for manual mode. The gearshift assembly also includes a return mechanism including a push member, an electric motor mechanically acting on the shift lever through the push member, a driven member connected to the push member, a spring acting between the push member and the driven member, and a blocking element which can be actuated to move out of a blocking position in which the blocking element blocks the movement of the shift lever from the shifting gate for automatic mode to the shifting gate for manual mode. The return mechanism also includes a wheel drivable for rotation by the electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Kongsberg Automotive AB
    Inventors: Jasmin Insanic, Bengt Hermansson, Andreas Persson
  • Patent number: 10443714
    Abstract: A drive control system of a vehicle includes a vehicle speed module configured to determine whether the vehicle is moving and set a state of a signal based on the determination. A shift control module is configured to shift a transmission of the vehicle based on a signal from a range selector. Independently of the signal from the range selector, the shift control module is configured to selectively shift the transmission of the vehicle based on a signal from a combination park and ignition switch and the signal from the vehicle speed module. An ignition control module is configured to selectively shut down an engine of the vehicle based on the signal from the combination park and ignition switch and the signal from the vehicle speed module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Orson S. Wang, Fred W. Huntzicker, Michael A. Van Camp, Pratyush Kumar
  • Patent number: 10434861
    Abstract: A power equipment unit includes: a power equipment which supplies electric power to a motor; a controller which controls the power equipment; and a harness which connects the power equipment and the controller. The power equipment and the controller are disposed so as to be adjacent to each other in a forward/backward direction with a space interposed therebetween, and the harness includes: a first harness part extending through the space in a vertical direction; and a controller connecting part connected to the controller from below.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masato Narisawa, Masashi Abe
  • Patent number: 10437309
    Abstract: Technologies are generally described for employing proximity sensing mechanisms in augmented reality (AR) systems. Sensors strategically placed on AR eyeglasses in locations such as right and/or left arms, bridge, or flip-up feature of the eyeglasses may be used to detect AR eyeglass usage for power management and/or to provide user interface elements like volume control, display controls, user input, and comparable ones. According to some examples, the sensors may be mechanical sensors, capacitive sensors, optical sensors, inductive sensors, magnetic sensors, and/or similar components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Empire Technology Development LLC
    Inventor: Peter N. Milford
  • Patent number: 10421428
    Abstract: A method for cushioning a pedestrian during contact with a moving vehicle. The method includes steps providing an energy-absorbing pedestrian interface structured to cushion the pedestrian during contact, providing an interface deployment mechanism operatively coupled to the interface and structured to move the interface between a stowed position and a deployed position, and moving the pedestrian interface to the deployed position when the vehicle is in motion and prior to contact between the pedestrian and the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: JOYSON SAFETY SYSTEMS ACQUISITION LLC
    Inventors: Vidyakant Chandrakant Revankar, Larry M. Wilmot
  • Patent number: 10421453
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to detecting and responding to objects in a vehicle's environment. For example, an object may be identified in a vehicle's environment, the object having a heading and location. A set of possible actions for the object may be generated using map information describing the vehicle's environment and the heading and location of the object. A set of possible future trajectories of the object may be generated based on the set of possible actions. A likelihood value of each trajectory of the set of possible future trajectories may be determined based on contextual information including a status of the detected object. A final future trajectory is determined based on the determined likelihood value for each trajectory of the set of possible future trajectories. The vehicle is then maneuvered in order to avoid the final future trajectory and the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: David Ian Franklin Ferguson, David Harrison Silver, Stéphane Ross, Nathaniel Fairfield, Ioan-Alexandru Sucan
  • Patent number: 10407012
    Abstract: An off-center impact structure (a frame protrusion rupture mitigating structure) has a first end section, a mid-section and a second end section. The first end section is fixedly attached to an attachment section of a vehicle front side member. The mid-section extends laterally outward and defines an arcuate shape curving forward from the first end section and laterally outboard. The second end section of the off-center impact structure is located forward of the attachment section. The mid-section has a forward-facing surface formed with a plurality of vertically oriented recesses. In response to an off-center impact event where impacting force is applied to a distal end of the second end section, the off-center impact structure deforms bending along the mid-section with at least a portion of the vertically oriented recesses expanding in a bellows-like manner absorbing impact energy such that the second end section is moved rearward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Patrick Grattan
  • Patent number: 10391964
    Abstract: A vehicle occupant protection apparatus includes a seat for an occupant of a vehicle and an airbag device. The airbag device includes a front airbag configured to deploy in front of an upper body of the occupant in the seat. The front airbag is capable of deploying so as to receive the upper body that has been displaced forward from a seating position on the seat. The front airbag includes a pair of shoulder-receiving projections capable of receiving both shoulders of the upper body that has been displaced forward from the seating position by projecting rearward at both sides of the front airbag in a vehicle width direction of the vehicle in a deployed state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Isamu Nagasawa, Takao Kondo
  • Patent number: 10391989
    Abstract: A communication system for a vehicle comprises a mechanism for sensing a motion status of a vehicle, a control device, plurality of data acquisition sensors, and one or more alerting device activation circuits. The communication system is customizable with the plurality of data acquisition sensors and one or more alerting device activation circuits based upon the needs of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Vision Works IP Corporation
    Inventor: Fritz Braunberger
  • Patent number: 10391931
    Abstract: Methods are provided for managing a passenger's interaction with an autonomous vehicle. The method identifies a passenger approaching an autonomous vehicle and activates a recognition signal that indicates pairing the passenger with the vehicle. As the passenger approaches, and entry point for the vehicle is identified. A recognition signal for the entry point is activated and the passenger is notified. As the exit point for the bride approaches, it is identified by the vehicle and in exit indicator is activated for the passenger. Any exit obstacles are identified by the vehicle and the passenger is notified. And exit indicator is activated for the passenger to provide notification of a safe to exit status from the autonomous vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Yael Shmueli Friedland, Asaf Degani, Gila Kamhi, Ori Succary, Jakie Shemesh
  • Patent number: 10378916
    Abstract: A peripheral information obtaining unit, a road information obtaining unit, and a communication unit which are included in a driving environment obtaining unit obtain information indicating a current state of a drive environment. A driver information obtaining unit and a vehicle information obtaining unit which are included in a driving state obtaining unit obtain information indicating a driving state of a current driver. A display controller controls at least one of a display position and a display timing of a guidance sign to be displayed on a display unit, based on at least one of the pieces of information which are output from the driving environment obtaining unit, the driving state obtaining unit, and a route guiding unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Makoto Funabiki, Keiichiro Obayashi, Takayoshi Koyama, Jun Imamura, Tadashi Shibata
  • Patent number: 10377612
    Abstract: A lift-truck including a support means extending from a load engagement means; a distance sensor to measure the distance (D) to the load engagement means; a control unit connected to an operator interface and a lifting/lowering unit and to the distance sensor, the distance sensor attached to the support means at a fixed distance above the load engagement means, the control unit receives start signal from the operator interface and performs a height adjustment cycle of the load engagement means comprising; determining a default distance (D0) to the surface on the load engagement means; determining the present distance (D) to the surface on the load engagement means; comparing the default distance (D0) and the present distance (D); moving the load engagement means a distance (R) when a difference (Ddelta) between the default distance (D0) and the present distance (D) is determined, the distance (R) depends on the difference (Ddelta).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Material Handling Manufacturing Sweden AB
    Inventor: John Öberg
  • Patent number: 10371522
    Abstract: A method for determining centripetal accelerations of pivotally coupled rigid bodies arranged in a series, where the series includes a rigid body arranged between a previous rigid body and a next rigid body, includes determining the centripetal acceleration of the next rigid body and the centripetal acceleration at an inertial measurement unit (IMU) coupled to the next rigid body based on measurements and calculated parameters from the rigid body and the next rigid body. The centripetal acceleration of the next rigid body and the centripetal acceleration at the IMU coupled to the next rigid body are determined without using measurements or calculated parameters from the previous rigid body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Caterpillar Trimble Control Technologies LLC
    Inventor: Nima Alam
  • Patent number: 10363908
    Abstract: A vehicle brake system comprises an input device (21) attached to a bulkhead (15) separating a power unit room and a passenger compartment of the vehicle from each other, and including a part extending into the power unit room. A free end of the part of the input device extending into the power unit room is fitted with a protective member (70) defining a slanted surface (70a) opposing the power unit and slanting rearward as one moves in a prescribed lateral direction so that the input device is protected from a frontal impact. In particular, the slanted surface aligns with a corner part (83a) of the power unit (83).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keita Ishihara, Toshihiro Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 10363959
    Abstract: A method for assisting a maneuvering process of a motor vehicle, and a parking assistance device are provided. In a method for assisting a maneuvering process of a motor vehicle, wherein longitudinal and lateral control of the movement of the motor vehicle is carried out on the basis of predefined setpoint values of the direction of travel, speed or steering angle in order to automatically carry out the maneuvering process, at least some of these setpoint values and the chronological sequence in which the setpoint values are predefined during the maneuvering process are stored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Frederic Stefan, Uwe Gussen, Christoph Arndt
  • Patent number: 10329829
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides an opening/closing detection device, including: a plurality of sensors configured to be arranged along a predetermined portion of a mark attached to a vehicle; and a control unit configured to output an action trigger signal for instructing an opening action of an opening/closing body of the vehicle when detection signals representing a trace order of the predetermined portion are input from the plurality of sensors that detect an order of a motion of tracing the predetermined portion of the mark by a user of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignees: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Seika Matsui, Takeshi Katsuda, Satoru Ishizaki, Yuji Nishi
  • Patent number: 10328918
    Abstract: A valve module is provided for enabling a vehicle to control an autonomous event of the vehicle. The valve module comprises a relay valve, a first solenoid valve, and a second solenoid valve. A first control pressure can be delivered through the first solenoid valve and applied to a control port of the relay valve. In one embodiment, a second control pressure can be delivered through the second solenoid valve and combined with the first control pressure. The combined first and second control pressures are applied to the control port of the relay valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC
    Inventor: David W. Howell
  • Patent number: 10323600
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for diagnosing a failure of a power stage of an electronic waste gate actuator (EWGA). According to the present invention, whether the failure of the power stage of the EWGA occurs is determined by confirming, by an engine control unit (ECU), information on the failure of the power stage transferred from an EWGA driver IC at the time of EWGA position learning, after an engine is turned off. By doing so, even when a turbo-charger is not used for a long time, whether the failure of the power stage of the EWGA occurs may be diagnosed for every driving cycle, such that a failure of the ECU may be prevented in advance and unnecessary replacement of components may be prevented, thereby decreasing maintenance costs for a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Min-Kyu Won
  • Patent number: 10315600
    Abstract: A method for the operation of a safety system of a motor vehicle in the event of a collision with a collision object, the acceleration of the motor vehicle being recorded by a plurality of collision sensors of the motor vehicle in various sensor data describing directions within the horizontal plane and being evaluated with regard to the triggering and/or an adaptation of an operating parameter as actions of restraint systems for occupants of the motor vehicle, wherein, of the sensor data, two motion values are determined which describe the motion of at least one occupant, especially all occupants, of the motor vehicle along at least one longitudinal direction and at least one transverse direction of the motor vehicle and which span a two-dimensional decision space, the ranges of action assigned to the actions being defined in the decision space and an action being carried out if the point in the decision space described by the motion values is within the range of action assigned to the action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Raul Garcia Gomez, Markus Geiss
  • Patent number: 10295382
    Abstract: A vehicle sensor system includes a first sensor pod mounted to a pillar structure of the vehicle and a second sensor pod mounted to the pillar structure. A sensor pod deployment mechanism is operatively coupled to the first sensor pod and to the second sensor pod for deploying the first and second sensor pods from the pillar structure. The deployment mechanism is operable to move the first sensor pod between a stowed position and a deployed position of the first pod, and operable to move the second sensor pod between a stowed position and a deployed position of the second pod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Paxton S. Williams, Danil V. Prokhorov
  • Patent number: 10293780
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for operating a pedestrian-protection device of a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, which has a surroundings sensor system and a contact sensor system, and is configured to trigger at least one pedestrian-protection measure. The method comprises monitoring the surroundings of the vehicle to detect a collision object using the surroundings sensor system, and determining the type of detected collision object before an impact with the vehicle. The method further comprises using the contact sensor system to determine an impact feature on the vehicle of the detected collision object, which has impacted with the vehicle, and to compare the impact feature with at least one predefineable limiting value, in order to make a decision about the triggering of the pedestrian-protection measure. In this context there is provision that the limiting value is changed as a function of the determined type of detected collision object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Marlon Ramon Ewert, Bastian Reckziegel