Responsive To Sensing Of Acceleration, Deceleration, Or Tilt Of Vehicle Patents (Class 180/282)
  • Patent number: 10611262
    Abstract: Vehicles such as a combustion engine, electric, and/or hybrid electric vehicles and methods of operation, which include controller(s) configured to respond to cruise control signals, and to generate a route efficiency profile according to instantaneous vehicle performance parameters and environmental conditions. The controller(s) are also modified to adjust a vehicle cruise speed according to the signal and profile, to enable reaching at least one designated destination in a minimum time, and whereby vehicle range is extended to the destination, while one or more reserve energy limits of battery power and fuel are maintained. The controller(s) are also adapted to detect instantaneous feedback signals that include the performance parameters and environmental conditions, and to generate error signals according to an actual vehicle watt-hour per mile efficiency and the route efficiency profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dylan Erb, Alexander Bartlett, Jacob Wiles, Arun Sivan, Bikram Singh, Baocheng Sun
  • Patent number: 10604100
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a structure for mounting an occupant protection system in a vehicle. The structure includes an electric power steering device (1) and a knee protection air bag assembly (51). The device (1) includes a steering column (18). The assembly (51) includes a bag (53) configured to expand to protect knees (9a) of an occupant (9) seated on a driver's seat (8) of the vehicle. The steering column (18) includes a drive member (26) of the device (1). The assembly (51) is located below the drive member (26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10525881
    Abstract: A wheel orientation warning system and method to alert to a driver to turn front wheels toward a curb includes an electronic processor and a memory. The system includes a slope detector for detecting a slope of the vehicle and an arrangement for determining a presence of a curb adjacent a side of the vehicle. The system includes a transmission device for detecting when the vehicle is in a park mode. The electronic processor is configured to provide an alert to a driver to turn front wheels toward the curb when the vehicle is each of: disposed at a slope with an absolute value greater than a predetermined threshold, disposed adjacent the curb, and in the park mode. The system includes a dashboard display for providing messages and an indication to a driver when the wheels are turned toward the curb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Anup S Deshpande, Troy Austin McCormick, Al-Laith Taha
  • Patent number: 10520947
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for automatic event detection and classification for autonomous vehicles. One example method includes obtaining, by one or more computing devices, vehicle data descriptive of vehicle conditions associated with an autonomous vehicle during an autonomous driving session. The method includes extracting, by the one or more computing devices, a plurality of features from the vehicle data. The method includes determining, by the one or more computing devices using a machine-learned classifier, a classification for each of one or more candidate events based at least in part on one or more of the plurality of features that are respectively associated with the one or more candidate events. The method includes associating, by the one or more computing devices, the classification determined for each of the one or more candidate events with the vehicle data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: UATC, LLC
    Inventors: Chenggang Liu, John Evan Bares
  • Patent number: 10493937
    Abstract: A method for developing restraint device deployment timings includes selecting a first restraint device as a reference device, determining a deployment time range for the first restraint device, selecting a second restraint device, and determining a deployment time range for the second restraint device relative to the deployment time range of the first restraint device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Mahmoud Yousef Ghannam, Kirk David Arthurs, Todd N. Clark, Edward Joseph Abramoski
  • Patent number: 10486637
    Abstract: An airbag assembly is configured for mounting above an occupant in a vehicle. The example airbag assembly includes an airbag housing that is configured to enclose an airbag cushion when the airbag cushion is in an uninflated state. The airbag cushion is connected to the airbag housing and is configured to project outward from the airbag housing when the airbag cushion inflates from the uninflated state to an inflated state. The example airbag assembly also includes a tether connected at a first attachment point and connected to the airbag cushion at a second attachment point. The first attachment point is located horizontally closer to the occupant than the second attachment point when the airbag cushion is in the inflated state such that the tether limits movement of the airbag cushion in a direction away from the occupant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Scott D. Thomas, Brennon L. White
  • Patent number: 10475256
    Abstract: The disclosure generally relates to vehicle maintenance and more particularly to methods and systems for automatic vehicle maintenance scheduling. The method comprises obtaining acceleration data at a fixed sampling rate of a moving vehicle when the moving vehicle attains at least a pre-determined speed for a pre-determined time from start of the moving vehicle. The obtained acceleration data is processed to generate jerk energy values at predetermined intervals. Speed normalized jerk energy is computed based on an average of the generated jerk energy values and average speed of the moving vehicle. A relationship between journey number and the computed speed normalized jerk energy is computed. A vehicle maintenance indicator based on the computed relationship between the journey number and the computed speed normalized jerk energy is finally computed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Tata Consultancy Services Limited
    Inventors: Arijit Chowdhury, Tapas Chakravarty, Tanushree Banerjee, Balamuralidhar Purushothaman
  • Patent number: 10471828
    Abstract: Exception event recorders and analysis systems include: vehicle mounted sensors arranged as a vehicle event recorder to capture both discrete and non-discrete data; a discretization facility; a database; and an analysis server all coupled together as a computer network. Motor vehicles with video cameras and onboard diagnostic systems capture data when the vehicle is involved in a crash or other anomaly (an ‘event’). In station where interpretation of non-discrete data is rendered, i.e. a discretization facility, captured data is used as a basis for production of supplemental discrete data to further characterize the event. Such interpreted data is joined to captured data and inserted into a database in a structure which is searchable and which supports logical or mathematical analysis by automated machines. A coupled analysis server is arranged to test stored data for prescribed conditions and upon finding such, to initiate further actions appropriate for the detected condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: SmartDrive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: James Plante, Ramesh Kasavaraju, Gregory Mauro, Andrew Nickerson
  • Patent number: 10464473
    Abstract: An autonomous vehicle includes a vehicle body, at least one detector, at least one display and at least one controller. The at least one detector is configured to detect a presence of an external object within a vicinity of the vehicle. The at least one display is supported on the vehicle body. The at least one controller is programmed to determine the presence of the external object upon detection of the external object by the detector. The controller is further programmed to display a rationale indicator on the display to a remote party within the vicinity of the vehicle based on a detection result of the detector indicating the presence of the external object. The rationale indicator is an indication of an external condition occurring in the vicinity of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Jingyi Zhang, Melissa Cefkin, Erik Vinkhuyzen
  • Patent number: 10464572
    Abstract: A safety device for motor vehicle includes a microprocessor having set therein a tilt angle default value, a controller coupled with the ignition device and brake device of the motor vehicle, an angle sensor mounted to the body of the motor vehicle and an operator sensor installed in the directional control device. The microprocessor activates the controller to turn off the ignition device and to actuate the brake device if the motor vehicle is tilted excessively or when the operator goes out of the sensing range of the operator sensor, avoiding danger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: CHAO LONG MOTOR PARTS CORP.
    Inventors: Chao-Hsi Su, Yung-Min Chen, Kuo-Chueh Chen, Cheng-Wei Lin
  • Patent number: 10421431
    Abstract: A webbing take-up controlling device including: a motor that is configured to operate a centrifugal clutch; and a controller that controls a voltage applied to the motor such that, in the case of operating the centrifugal clutch, a first voltage lower than a target voltage to operate the centrifugal clutch is applied to the motor, and then the target voltage is applied to the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKAI-RIKA-DENKI-SEISAKUSHO
    Inventors: Yuya Nagata, Tomonari Umakoshi, Takuhiro Saito, Takahiro Osaki
  • Patent number: 10399523
    Abstract: A method and system may identify vehicle collisions in real-time or at least near real-time based on statistical data collected from previous vehicle collisions. A user's portable computing device may obtain sensor data from sensors in the portable computing device and compare the sensor data to a statistical model indicative of a vehicle collision, where the statistical model includes sensor data characteristics which correspond to the vehicle collision. Each sensor data characteristic may have a threshold value, the portable computing device may compare a value for the sensor data characteristic to the threshold value. If the portable computing device identifies a vehicle collision based on the comparison, notifications may be sent to emergency contacts and/or emergency personnel to provide assistance to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Scott T. Christensen, David J. Dosher, Sunish Shreenarayan Menon, Susan M. Dunham
  • Patent number: 10395438
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a vehicle telematics system including a telematics device and a remote server system, wherein the telematics device obtains sensor data from at least one sensor installed in a vehicle, calculates peak resultant data based on the sensor data, generates crash score data based on the peak resultant data and a set of crash curve data for the vehicle, and provides the obtained sensor data when the crash score data exceeds a crash threshold to the remote server system and the remote server system obtains vehicle sensor data and vehicle identification data from the vehicle telematics device, calculates resultant change data and absolute speed change data based on the obtained sensor data and/or the vehicle identification data, and generates crash occurred data when the resultant change data exceeds a first threshold value and when the absolute speed change data is below a second threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: CalAmp Corp.
    Inventors: Jeff Jenkins, Greg Bayley, Peter Byrne, Gallin Chen
  • Patent number: 10369962
    Abstract: A restraint system includes a housing, a spool rotatably coupled to the housing, a pinion fixed to the spool, a rack engaged with the pinion, and a piston attached to the rack and the housing. The piston is filled with a resilient material. The resilient material may be a heterogeneous mixture of a liquid and hydrophobic, nanoporous particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Mohammad Omar Faruque, Dean M. Jaradi, Saeed David Barbat, James Chih Cheng, Robert William McCoy, Mohamed Ridha Baccouche
  • Patent number: 10363816
    Abstract: A pedal unit includes an accelerator pedal, a brake pedal, a first bracket, a second bracket, and a connector. The first bracket includes a first plate including a first surface and a second surface that rotatably supports the accelerator pedal disposed adjacent to the first surface and the brake pedal disposed adjacent to the second surface. The second bracket includes a second plate including a third surface that rotatably supports the brake pedal disposed adjacent to the third surface of the second plate. The connector connects the first bracket, the brake pedal, and the second bracket in a state in which the brake pedal is disposed between the second surface and the third surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazunari Takata
  • Patent number: 10328886
    Abstract: The invention relates to a module cover (40) for an airbag (10) and/or an airbag module for being arranged beneath a vehicle roof (56), especially in the area of an upper windscreen rim, wherein the module cover (40) comprises a module cover panel (41) having a rear side (42) pointing to the vehicle roof (56) during use and a front side (43) pointing away from the vehicle roof (56) during use. In accordance with the invention, the module cover panel (41) comprises an elongate clearance portion (44) preferably formed over the entire width (B) of the module cover panel (41) in the form of an elongate indentation (49) configured in the front side (43) of the module cover panel (41).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignees: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GMBH, DALPHI METAL ESPANA S.A.
    Inventors: Jean-Christophe Peyre, Ramon Ramos
  • Patent number: 10315564
    Abstract: A method for operating a motor vehicle, in which an imminent rollover of the motor vehicle is detected, depending on the status values of the motor vehicle, at least one countermeasure being initiated and/or at least one warning message being output when an imminent rollover is detected. It is provided that, when an imminent rollover is detected, at least one of the instantaneous status values and/or the warning message is/are transmitted to a central database, where it is/they are made available for other motor vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventor: Thomas Fuehrer
  • Patent number: 10320319
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling the operating speed and the torque of an electric motor using an operational model are described. An operational model for the electric motor, including a plot of engine performance parameters, is used for reference, and a most efficient output path, which may pass through an optimal operation region in the operational model, is selected. The most efficient output path may be determined, for example, according to locations of a current output state and a to-be-reached target state in the operational model, enabling the operating state of the motor to reach the target state from the current operating state. By selecting a more efficient output path, the operating efficiency of the motor may be optimized, the life of a battery improved and/or the operating mileage of the vehicle may be increased, without significantly reducing the driving experience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: THUNDER POWER NEW ENERGY VEHICLE DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventor: Sheng-Fu Lai
  • Patent number: 10286912
    Abstract: An emergency vehicle control device includes an emergency vehicle stop switch (emergency situation detector) that detects or estimates an emergency situation; and an accelerator operation detector that detects whether or not an accelerator is being operated. When an emergency situation is detected or estimated by the emergency situation detector and an accelerator non-operation state lasting for an accelerator non-operation time threshold value or longer is detected by the accelerator operation detector while the vehicle is running, the vehicle is automatically stopped regardless of whether or not a steering operation is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masayuki Nakatsuka, Kei Oshida, Makoto Katayama, Yukinori Kurahashi
  • Patent number: 10279447
    Abstract: A damper damping motion of a first object relative to a second object, the damper including: a casing including a conductor; plurality of magnetic elements serially in a first direction within the casing and each including at least one magnet so adjacent magnetic elements repel in the first direction; at least one magnetic element is moveable relative to other magnetic elements within and relative the casing; the conductor allows movement of at least one moveable magnetic element relative to the casing induces current in the conductor, the magnetic field produced by current providing a braking force to the moving magnetic element; at least one moveable magnetic elements includes a first connecting part and either casing or at least one other magnetic element includes a second connecting part, one connecting part for connecting the damper to the first object, and other connecting part for connecting the damper to the second object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Stewart Lowth, Adam Nagy
  • Patent number: 10252709
    Abstract: A motorcycle including a frame to which an internal combustion engine is associated, from which internal combustion engine at least one exhaust pipe of combusted gases departs, the exhaust pipe having an open terminal, the frame mounted on a front wheel and a rear wheel, a control board or unit included, for controlling torque produced by the engine and other parameters such as velocity of the vehicle and spatial position thereof with respect to the road surface. The motorcycle including a system to verify when the front wheel of the motorcycle detaches from the road surface during acceleration. The system includes a choke for partializing the section of the exhaust gases outlet area from the exhaust pipe, during partialization. The partialization obtained as a function of the torque produced by the engine and the position of the front wheel with respect to the road surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: DUCATI MOTOR HOLDING S.P.A.
    Inventors: Davide Barana, Federico Maldini, Leonardo Mossali
  • Patent number: 10214215
    Abstract: An emergency vehicle control device, when an emergency vehicle stop switch is operated for an operation time threshold value or longer in a state where automatic vehicle stop control is not executed, determines that the automatic vehicle stop control is intended to be executed. Later, when the interval between the previous operation and the current operation of the emergency vehicle stop switch is within an operation interval threshold value, the determination that the automatic vehicle stop control is intended to be executed is sustained, whereas when the interval exceeds the operation interval threshold value and the emergency vehicle stop switch is operated for the operation time threshold value or longer, it is determined that the execution of the automatic vehicle stop control is intended to be cancelled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masayuki Nakatsuka, Kei Oshida, Makoto Katayama, Yukinori Kurahashi
  • Patent number: 10214166
    Abstract: Systems and methods for impact detection in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. In one embodiment, a vehicle impact detection system includes an acceleration sensor, a storage device storing an impact detection application, and a processor, where the impact detection application directs the processor to receive acceleration information using the acceleration sensor, filter the acceleration information to attenuate noise, determine an occurrence of an impact by detecting an acceleration from the acceleration information that exceeds a threshold for a time period, detect an angle of the impact with respect to a forward direction using the acceleration information, and trigger an impact detector signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: CalAmp Corp.
    Inventor: Alexandre Dlagnekov
  • Patent number: 10195926
    Abstract: A vehicle side door structure that includes: a side door body portion configured to open and close a side door opening, the side door body portion including a door inner panel and a door outer panel; and a sensor placed inside the side door body portion, the sensor including a detection component configured to face outward in the vehicle width direction and to detect information in the side direction of the vehicle by using a detection medium, wherein a transmissive portion is disposed on the vehicle width direction outside of the detection component, the transmissive portion configuring part of the door outer panel and being configured by a material that allows the detection medium to be transmitted through the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazuki Sugie
  • Patent number: 10196024
    Abstract: A vehicle safety system having an external safety system for protecting a pedestrian, and a device for activating the external safety system the device being connected to a pre-crash sensor system (10, 11) and an in-crash sensor system (16). The device is arranged to perform an object classification of a first signal from the pre-crash sensor system and to determine a threshold (T1, T2) for the in-crash sensor system as a function of the object classification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: VEONEER SWEDEN AB
    Inventors: Yann Le Merrer, Aurore Loisy, Alexandre Mensales
  • Patent number: 10186090
    Abstract: A method is provided for determining a collision characteristic of a vehicle collision for triggering safety means of the vehicle. The method has a step of an ascertainment of at least one determination-relevant time segment of a sensor signal representing the vehicle collision before a triggering time for a safety means. The method also has a step of a comparison of at least two features of the sensor signal in the at least one time segment with one another in order to determine the collision characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Gunther Lang, Dirk John, Werner Nitschke, Simon Koenig, Mustafa Ajanovic
  • Patent number: 10125670
    Abstract: The turbocharged engine control device comprises a basic target torque-deciding part for deciding a basic target torque based on a driving state of a vehicle including an accelerator pedal operation state; a torque reduction amount-deciding part for deciding a torque reduction amount based on a driving state of the vehicle other than the accelerator pedal operation state; a final target torque-deciding part for deciding a final target torque based on the decided basic target torque and the decided torque reduction amount; and an engine output control part for controlling the engine so as to cause the engine to output the decided final target torque, wherein the engine output control part is operable, when an operating state of the engine falls within a supercharging region where supercharging by a compressor, to restrict control of the engine corresponding to a change in the torque reduction amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chikako Ohisa, Osamu Sunahara, Daisuke Umetsu, Taizo Ohmae, Yugou Sunagare, Yasunori Takahara, Daisaku Ogawa, Takahiro Kawamura, Takeatsu Ito
  • Patent number: 10118587
    Abstract: A hinge apparatus (1) for a front hood (2) of a motor vehicle has an integrated pedestrian protection that includes a hood-side fastening arrangement (4) articulated to a body-side fastening arrangement (6) via a link arrangement (5) that has a stop link (50). The hood-side fastening arrangement (4) has a hinge upper part (40) and a coupling (41), and the body-side fastening arrangement (6) has a lock (60) that acts on the coupling (41) to lock the hood (2) in a normal state and to unlock it by a pyrotechnical actuator (9) that acts on the lock (60) and the stop link (50). The pyrotechnical actuator (9) has a piston rod (90) and an ignition in a housing (92). A free end (91) of the piston rod (90) is articulated on the lock (60), and an opposite end (93) of the housing (92) is articulated on the stop link (50).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: DE. ING H.C.F. PORSCHE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Timo Czechtizky
  • Patent number: 10094696
    Abstract: A method of monitoring a vehicle includes monitoring a precollision fuel level, detecting a collision event, and detecting a vehicle orientation based at least on the precollision fuel level and a postcollision fuel level. The method can be executed by a controller having a processor and a memory storing processor-executable instructions where the processor is programmed to monitor the precollision fuel level, detect the collision event, and detect the vehicle orientation based on at least a precollision fuel level and a postcollision fuel level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Aed M. Dudar
  • Patent number: 10086705
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for a multipoint safety isolation system. The multipoint isolation system includes one or more isolation triggers that connect to multiple low voltage (LV) battery components and multiple high voltage (HV) battery components. The multiple LV battery components include an LV battery. The multiple HV battery components include multiple HV batteries. The one or more isolation triggers are configured to isolate at least one of the LV battery from the multiple HV batteries or a first subset of the multiple HV batteries from a second subset of multiple HV batteries. The multipoint isolation system includes an electronic control unit (ECU) configured to activate the one or more isolation triggers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Justin J. Chow
  • Patent number: 10086787
    Abstract: A rollover mitigation device for a motor vehicle comprises a frame mounted to a roof assembly within which is disposed a transversely mounted deployable rollover protector shaft. The frame comprises a pair of lateral mounting rails mounted to the roof assembly and a tubular cross member extending between the pair of lateral mounting rails. The deployable rollover protector shaft is substantially disposed within the tubular cross member when in the stowed position and is actuated from the stowed position to a locked deployed position by a spring disposed within the tubular cross member. A controller actuates a release lock to release the deployable rollover protector shaft to the deployed position upon a sensor detecting a roll angle of the motor vehicle exceeding a predetermined value. A deployment lock restrains the deployable rollover protector shaft in the deployed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Shaikh Akhlaque-e-rasul, Zhenyan Gao, William Moore Sherwood
  • Patent number: 10040572
    Abstract: A control device including at least one control member for measuring an acceleration of an aircraft, for generating an inflation order, and for transmitting the inflation order to an inflation member, the inflation member serving to inflate at least one inflatable safety bag, the control device, the inflation member and the inflatable bag being arranged together on a single seat of the aircraft. Such a control device includes at least one readying system connected to the at least one control member, the readying system comprising: at least a first sensor suitable for continuously measuring a first current acceleration of the aircraft relative to at least one axis; and at least one switch that is controllable as a function of the first current acceleration of the aircraft as measured by the first sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: AIRBUS HELICOPTERS
    Inventor: Tomas Santana-Gallego
  • Patent number: 10029639
    Abstract: A driver assistance apparatus for a vehicle includes an object detection sensor that acquires data in a driving direction of the vehicle or around the vehicle. The driver assistance apparatus also includes a processor that detects, based on the acquired data, an object and determines, based on the acquired data, at least one attribute of the detected object. The processor detects that the vehicle has collided with the object and determines, based on detecting that the object has collided with the vehicle and based on the at least one attribute of the object, whether to perform a hood lift-up or pedestrian protection airbag deployment. The processor further provides a control signal for the hood lift-up or the pedestrian protection airbag deployment based on determining whether to perform the hood lift-up or the pedestrian protection airbag deployment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Jeongsu Kim
  • Patent number: 10011194
    Abstract: A system and method for positioning a seat arrangement in a vehicle having a front seat arrangement and a rear seat arrangement includes moving the rear seat arrangement rearward relative to the vehicle when a plurality of criteria are met, including at least one criterion related to occupancy of the rear seat arrangement and at least one criterion related to a likelihood of impact into the vehicle from behind the vehicle. The rear seat arrangement is not moved rearward when at least one of the criteria is not met.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Ray Scott, David Kazyak, Karl Henn, Jasmine Pizana, Mladen Humer, Arjun Yetukuri
  • Patent number: 9994184
    Abstract: A side curtain airbag that has a rear chamber, a front chamber and a secondary chamber affixed to said front chamber. The side curtain air bag has tear stitching and permanent stitching connecting the secondary chamber to an inboard panel of the air curtain such that, in a deployed state, the secondary chamber occupies a gap between a driver airbag and the curtain airbag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Zhibing Deng, Luis Enrique Castillo jaime, Srinivas Reddy Malapati, Nial James Wykes
  • Patent number: 9990332
    Abstract: A vehicle motion control device includes curve shape acquisition means for acquiring a shape of a curve present in front of a currently traveling vehicle, vehicle position acquisition means for acquiring a position of the vehicle, and vehicle motion control arithmetic means for computing, on the basis of the shape of the curve and the position of the vehicle, a command value relating to longitudinal acceleration to be caused to the vehicle. During a time interval from before the vehicle reaches a near end of the curve, until the vehicle has approached the curve and traveled to a site having a constant or maximum curvature of the curve, the vehicle motion control arithmetic means computes a plurality of different negative longitudinal acceleration command values. Thus, even when there is no lateral motion, the vehicle motion control device accelerates/decelerates the vehicle while improving a driver's feeling of slowdown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Junya Takahashi, Makoto Yamakado, Shinjiro Saito
  • Patent number: 9950702
    Abstract: In a method for stabilizing the driving behavior of a tractor-trailer combination, a tilting inclination variable is obtained and a tilting limit is determined on the basis of the tilting inclination variable and is prescribed to a vehicle movement dynamics control system. A vehicle movement dynamics control device carries out the method. In order to improve the stabilization of the driving behavior of tractor-trailer combinations with different loads of the individual vehicles, the respective tilting inclination variable is determined at a plurality of vehicles of the tractor-trailer combination, and the value of the tilting inclination variable for the determination of the tilting limit which is decisive for the determination of the tilting limit is obtained from the tilting inclination variables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: WABCO GmbH
    Inventors: Arne Michaelsen, Tobias Munko
  • Patent number: 9945302
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure are directed to characterizing vehicle mass. As may be implemented in accordance with one or more embodiments, one or more operating parameters of the vehicle are obtained, and at least one qualifying period of time is identified in which the operating parameter or parameters are within a range of values associated with the parameter. A value that provides an estimate of the mass is then generated based on the one or more operating parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Tantalum Innovations Limited
    Inventors: John Keates, Glen Tunstall, Craig Barry
  • Patent number: 9922470
    Abstract: A Method and System for Tuning the Effect of Vehicle Characteristics on Risk Prediction is disclosed. The system many incorporate many of those driver risk assessment system features previously disclosed by Assignee's Prior Applications. The present system provides a major functional distinction from those prior systems by adding the feature of real-time tuning of the risk assessment/prediction/analysis system in response to ongoing changes in vehicle motion characteristics. Specifically, system monitors the vehicle center of gravity for changes on a real-time basis, and then adjusts the risk prediction/assessment/analysis system responsively. The system executes an initialization feature that implements an initial, or series of initial vehicular motion profiles at the commencement of either a driving trip of the system being powered up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Lytx, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryon Cook, Peter Ellegaard, Hongying Li
  • Patent number: 9922471
    Abstract: A vehicle accident reporting system and method identifies a sudden event when a measured acceleration of the vehicle exceeds a predefined maximum acceleration or deceleration indicative of an accident. A notification that a sudden event has occurred is transmitted to an accident management hub, the notification including a vehicle identification, current video data, and GPS coordinates. An insurance provider is identified by retrieving insurance provider information associated with the vehicle. A prompt is transmitted to a mobile device requesting a photograph of the license plate of other vehicles involved in the accident and video of the accident scene. The requested license plate image and video of the accident scene are received from the mobile device, and an accident notification is transmitted to the insurance provider's computer system, the accident notification including the vehicle identification, current video data and GPS coordinates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Saeideh Joodaki, William P. Shaouy
  • Patent number: 9911249
    Abstract: A method for operating a diagnostic system of a vehicle including a fail operational power system (FOPS) module and a fail operational system (FOS) module includes the FOS module requesting a microcontroller of the FOPS module to generate a diagnostic control signal. The FOS module receives the diagnostic information from a component module of the FOPS module based on the diagnostic control signal generated by the microcontroller. The FOS module executes isolator diagnostics based on the received diagnostic information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: David P. Koch, Chandra S. Namuduri, Jeffrey James Hoorn, Nikhil L. Hoskeri, Mark C. Hoinka
  • Patent number: 9910437
    Abstract: A method for operating a motor vehicle, including a first control unit, a second control unit configured separately from the first control unit and a surroundings sensor system for detecting motor vehicle surroundings, including: detecting the vehicle surroundings with the surroundings sensor system to ascertain surroundings data corresponding to the detected surroundings, checking with the first control unit based on the ascertained surroundings data, whether there is an object in the vehicle surroundings which could with a predetermined probability collide with the vehicle, to ascertain a first checking result, checking with the second control unit, based on the ascertained surroundings data, whether there is an object in the vehicle surroundings which could with a predetermined probability collide with the vehicle, to ascertain a second checking result, comparing the two checking results, driverless guidance of the vehicle, based on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventor: Stefan Nordbruch
  • Patent number: 9904928
    Abstract: To detect a risk of insurance fraud in a vehicle insurance claim for physical injuries, injury data may be retrieved from previous crashes involving similar type vehicles as the damaged vehicle, and having similar crash characteristics. A likelihood that the claimant suffered physical injuries from the crash may be determined based on the percentage of people who suffered similar injuries according to the injury data. If the likelihood is very small, the claim for physical injuries may be flagged as a risk of fraud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventor: William J. Leise
  • Patent number: 9896153
    Abstract: This motor driving control apparatus includes (A) a driving unit that drives a motor, and (B) a regeneration control unit that controls the driving unit so as to generate a regenerative braking force in accordance with a vehicle acceleration, a vehicle speed and a pedal-rotation converted speed that is obtained from a pedal rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignees: MICROSPACE CORPORATION, TAIYO YUDEN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masato Tanaka, Yasuo Hosaka, Kazuo Asanuma, Hiromi Hagiwara, Satoru Shimizu
  • Patent number: 9849852
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to deploying safety mechanisms in an autonomous vehicle. As an example, the situational information identifying a potential impact target corresponding to an object with which the autonomous vehicle is predicted to have a collision within a predetermined period of time may be received. This situational information may also include an estimated time when the second computing device will receive an update for the potential impact target from the first computing device. The estimated time may be used to determine when to deploy a set of active safety mechanisms for the potential impact target. Each active safety mechanism may be configured to reduce a likelihood of damage to an object external to the autonomous vehicle caused by a collision. A signal is then sent to activate the set of active safety mechanisms prior to an impact with the object corresponding to the identified potential impact target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Lynn Larner, Atul Gupta, Felix Jose Alvarez Rivera, Thomas Daniel
  • Patent number: 9849781
    Abstract: A utility vehicle includes a diesel engine, a two-four wheel drive switcher provided on a driving power transmission path from the diesel engine and configured to switch transmission of driving power to driving wheels between a two-wheel drive mode and a four-wheel drive mode, and a vehicle control unit configured to control the two-four wheel drive switcher. The utility vehicle further includes a rollover sensor configured to detect rollover of the utility vehicle, and a fuel cutoff valve configured to cut off fuel supply to the diesel engine. The vehicle control unit determines whether or not the utility vehicle is being rolled over in accordance with detection by the rollover sensor and controls the fuel cutoff valve to cut off the fuel supply when the vehicle control unit determines that the utility vehicle is being rolled over.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Seiji Itoo, Shinichi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9840166
    Abstract: A computer device may include logic configured to detect a wake up event that wakes the computer device from an idle mode, wherein the wake up event indicates that a user is getting ready to use a vehicle; obtain accelerometer data from an accelerometer, associated with the vehicle, during a time period that includes the wake up event; determine a number of door slam events during the time period based on the obtained accelerometer data; and determine a number of people in the vehicle based on the determined number of door slam events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Steven Taylor, James Ronald Barfield, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9815442
    Abstract: Disclosed is an advanced emergency brake system that performs an emergency brake if a target is situated at a location close to a vehicle. The emergency brake system includes a radar sensor; a camera; an ultrasonic sensor for detecting an object situated at a close distance from the vehicle; and an electronic control unit that outputs a predetermined alarm control signal or performs an emergency brake depending on the input from the radar sensor, the camera, and the ultrasonic sensor. The emergency brake system disclosed herein can perform emergency brakes even when a target outside the angle of view of the radar sensor or the camera abruptly intervenes. Also disclosed is a method for controlling a brake with the emergency brake system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Soo Myung Jung
  • Patent number: 9819312
    Abstract: A vehicular audio-amplifier controller includes: a delay buffer that stores a sound signal supplied from a signal source; a first processing unit that applies an absolute value process to the supplied sound signal; a second processing unit that applies a low-pass filter process and an offset process to a processing result of the first processing unit; a power supply controller that performs control to change a voltage value of a vehicular power supply according to at least a signal value processed by the second processing unit and a type of the signal source; and a sound signal output unit that outputs a sound signal stored in the delay buffer with only a delay time that is determined based on a power supply control process time of the power supply controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Daisuke Namekawa
  • Patent number: 9815492
    Abstract: A method for controlling the articulation angle of a big rig, in which a first articulation angle control unit, which determines and controls a target wheel angle of at least one steerable wheel of the tractor unit so as to achieve a predefined target articulation angle of the big rig, is combined with a further articulation angle control unit for controlling the articulation angle with the first articulation angle control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Robert Bosch Automotive Steering GmbH
    Inventor: Nicolas Boos