With Sonar Or Radar Type Sensor Patents (Class 303/193)
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Patent number: 12038754Abstract: A movable body that moves automatically includes a plurality of sensors configured to detect an obstacle in a periphery of the movable body, a selection information acquisition unit configured to acquire selection information indicating a sensor, of the plurality of sensors, to be used for detection of the obstacle, the sensor being set based on a relationship between a reference position of the obstacle and a position of the movable body, and a detection control unit configured to cause the sensor indicated by the selection information to detect the obstacle, and identify a position of the obstacle from a detection result of the obstacle.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2022Date of Patent: July 16, 2024Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: Satoshi Iio, Kiichi Sugimoto, Kenta Nakao, Kenji Takao
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Patent number: 12005915Abstract: A multi-lane scenario driving support is provided for an ego vehicle in a traffic situation. Traffic surroundings are measured by an environment sensor system. The traffic surroundings include data about traffic and free space within an ego lane of the ego vehicle and an adjacent lane, and data about front proximity area and rear proximity area of the ego vehicle. A decision device evaluates the measured traffic surroundings and decides a driving operation to be executed by the ego vehicle based on at least one strategy. In the decision device, a cost function is used for choosing one of at least six strategies. The cost function is based on at least a core priority to avoid collision of the ego vehicle and not cause collision of the ego vehicle with a third party vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2019Date of Patent: June 11, 2024Assignee: VALEO SCHALTER UND SENSOREN GMBHInventors: Dimitrios Tzempetzis, Ornella Nath, Ivan Surovtcev
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Patent number: 11945437Abstract: A vehicle is provided that includes a cruise control deactivation system. The system includes a cruise control system, and a user control that, when activated, commands deactivation of the cruise control system. The system also includes a processor configured to permit or override the commanded deactivation of the cruise control system while the vehicle is moving, based on at least one criterion. Criteria may include whether or not a first sensor detects a foot of a driver of the vehicle on an accelerator pedal of the vehicle, and whether or not a first computation indicates that the deactivation of the cruise control system will cause a collision with a second vehicle located behind the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2021Date of Patent: April 2, 2024Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Timothy Wang, Roger Akira Kyle, Bryan Else Yamasaki, Justin K. Shen
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Patent number: 11827196Abstract: The present disclosure in at least one embodiment provides an apparatus for braking a vehicle, including at least one sensor for detecting a braking input of the vehicle, a front-wheel EMB including a front-wheel motor and a front-wheel brake for braking a front wheel(s), a rear-wheel EMB including a rear-wheel motor and a rear-wheel brake for braking a rear wheel(s), a front-wheel ECU for controlling the front-wheel motor for allowing the front-wheel EMB to brake the front wheel, a center ECU for calculating and transmitting, upon receiving the braking input from the at least one sensor, a braking force to the front-wheel ECU, and controlling the rear-wheel motor for allowing the rear-wheel EMB to brake the rear wheel, and a battery for supplying electric power to the front-wheel ECU and the center ECU, wherein the front-wheel EMB is controlled by the front-wheel ECU, and the rear-wheel EMB is controlled by the center ECU.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2021Date of Patent: November 28, 2023Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.Inventor: Jong Sung Kim
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Patent number: 11724674Abstract: A method for automatically braking a commercial vehicle includes: providing a plurality of ultrasonic radars on a front vehicle body of a target commercial vehicle, the ultrasonic radars being configured to detect a region before the target commercial vehicle in a gapless manner, an active speed range being set for each ultrasonic radar; acquiring a current speed of the target commercial vehicle in real time and calculating a safe distance for each ultrasonic radar in accordance with the current speed; and detecting whether there is an obstacle within the safe distance in real time, and when there is the obstacle within the safe distance, transmitting a decelerating or braking instruction to an execution system of the target commercial vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2021Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Assignee: Beijing Smarter Eye Technology Co. Ltd.Inventors: Ran Meng, Hua Chai, Zhe Wang, Yong Jia
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Patent number: 11708825Abstract: For rotary protection of an external force piston of a power brake pressure generator of a hydraulic vehicle power braking system, axially parallel rotary protection grooves are provided at a circumference of an external force cylinder bore in a hydraulic block of a hydraulic unit of the vehicle power braking system, and tabs of the external force piston protrude into the rotary protection grooves.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2021Date of Patent: July 25, 2023Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBHInventors: Andreas Weh, Martin Hagspiel, Matthias Mayr, Stefan Kaserer
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Patent number: 11560130Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for using the weights of cost functions to improve linear-program-based vehicle driveline architectures and systems. In some embodiments, the methods and systems may include establishing values for driveline controls of a linear program based on driveline requests of the linear program. The values of the driveline controls, which may be used to adjust driveline actuators, may be established based on values of a plurality of weights of a cost function of the linear program, the weights respectively corresponding with the plurality of driveline requests.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2020Date of Patent: January 24, 2023Assignee: Dana Automotive Systems Group, LLCInventors: Bernhard E. Westerhof, Johan N. Van Ginkel, Ahmed H. El-Shaer
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Patent number: 11427221Abstract: A method for autonomous emergency braking of an ego vehicle includes capturing driving-dynamics variables of the ego vehicle, capturing distance measurement signals, determining a longitudinal distance of the ego vehicle from an object in front, detecting an emergency braking situation based on the driving-dynamics variables and the distance measurement signals. The method further includes advanced determining or projecting, in response to the detecting the emergency braking situation, of first, second, and third starting points for initiation of a warning phase, a subsequent partial braking phase, and an emergency braking brake pressure. The advanced determining or projecting of the first, second, and/or third starting points includes: setting up a minimum period criterion with at least one minimum period and projecting, in advance in accordance with the longitudinal distance from the object, a criticality function that represents a criticality of the traffic situation.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2018Date of Patent: August 30, 2022Assignee: ZF CV SYSTEMS EUROPE BVInventor: Ruediger Meyer
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Patent number: 11420626Abstract: A method for operating a vehicle. When an autonomous cruise control is in the activated state, a switch is made to an accelerator-pedal-controlled distance controller in response to an acceleration command indicated by an override of an accelerator pedal of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2019Date of Patent: August 23, 2022Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Bernhard Lucas, Sebastian Baier, Thorsten Schori
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Patent number: 11286639Abstract: A wheel loader includes: an operator's cab; a front wheel; a front frame configured to support front wheel such that front wheel is rotatable; a bucket; a boom having a distal end connected to bucket, and a proximal end rotatably supported by front frame; a sensor configured to measure a distance between front wheel and a loading target; and a controller configured to control an action of wheel loader. The controller causes wheel loader to perform a predetermined action for collision avoidance on condition that a distance to be measured by sensor when wheel loader travels takes a value less than or equal to a threshold value.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2017Date of Patent: March 29, 2022Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.Inventor: Toru Naito
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Patent number: 11287817Abstract: A system and method are arranged to provide recommendations to a user of a vehicle. In one aspect, the vehicle navigates in an autonomous mode and the sensors provide information that is based on the location of the vehicle and output from sensors directed to the environment surrounding the vehicle. In further aspects, both current and previous sensor data is used to make the recommendations, as well as data based on the sensors of other vehicles.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2019Date of Patent: March 29, 2022Assignee: Waymo LLCInventors: Christopher Paul Urmson, Dmitri A. Dolgov, Andrew Hughes Chatham, Philip Nemec
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Patent number: 11279350Abstract: A method of adaptive trajectory generation for a vehicle is provided. A computer device of the vehicle may update a current trajectory for the vehicle when some predetermined conditions that are related to an obstacle positioned within a predetermined distance of the vehicle are satisfied.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2019Date of Patent: March 22, 2022Assignee: Automotive Research & Testing CenterInventors: Chien-Feng Wu, Bo-Han Lin, Tsung-Ming Hsu, Ming-Kuan Ko
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Patent number: 10780872Abstract: A system on a tractor for controlling trailer service brakes comprises a manually operated trailer brake switch, a first electropneumatic valve in communication with a pressure source and a controller. The controller has an input communicating with the trailer brake switch, an output communicating with the electropneumatic valve and control logic. The control logic receives an input from the trailer brake switch indicating a driver's request to apply the trailer service brakes of the combination vehicle, determines if a predetermined condition exists and transmits a signal to the output to the electropneumatic valve. The electropneumatic valve transmits pressure to a trailer service control line to actuate the trailer service brakes in response to the trailer brake switch and existence of the predetermined condition.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2018Date of Patent: September 22, 2020Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLCInventors: Phillip J Kasper, David J Taneyhill, Paul C Niglas, Gerhard Wieder
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Patent number: 10654453Abstract: Systems and methods for implementing a low-latency braking action for an autonomous vehicle are provided. A computing system can include a vehicle autonomy system comprising one or more processors configured to determine a motion plan for an autonomous vehicle based at least in part on sensor data from one or more sensors of the autonomous vehicle. The computing system can further include a low-latency braking system comprising one or more processors configured to determine that the autonomous vehicle has a likelihood of colliding with an object in a surrounding environment based at least in part on a previously-determined motion plan obtained from the vehicle autonomy system. In response to determining that the autonomous vehicle has a likelihood of colliding with the object in the surrounding environment, the low-latency braking system can further be configured to implement a braking action for the autonomous vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2017Date of Patent: May 19, 2020Assignee: UATC LLCInventors: Narek Melik-Barkhudarov, Michael W. Bode, Randy Warner, Dillon Collins, Anurag Kumar, Carl Knox Wellington
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Patent number: 10427674Abstract: An evasion and brake-assist system for motor vehicles, having a sensory system for sensing the traffic environment of the vehicle, an actuator system for interventions in a steering system and a brake system of the vehicle, and having an electronic control device in which an emergency evasion function is implemented that checks whether an emergency evasive maneuver is necessary based on the data supplied by the sensory system and then acts on the dynamics of the vehicle via the actuator system to assist the vehicle driver in initiating and/or executing the emergency evasive maneuver, characterized in that in the first phase of an evasive maneuver, the emergency evasion function intervenes exclusively in the transverse dynamics, and only after this phase, decides whether an intervention in the longitudinal dynamics will also take place.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2014Date of Patent: October 1, 2019Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Folko Flehmig, Christian Braeuchle
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Patent number: 10421436Abstract: System, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to surveillance of a vehicle. In one embodiment, a method includes, in response to detecting a surveillance event associated with the vehicle, collecting information from one or more sensors of the vehicle about the surveillance event. The method includes classifying the information according to a security profile to identify a threat type and a threat level of the surveillance event. The method includes controlling the vehicle to provide a response to the surveillance event according to the threat type and the threat level.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2017Date of Patent: September 24, 2019Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., DENSO International America Inc.Inventors: Sergei I. Gage, Jay Robert Gloomis, Isabel Rios
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Patent number: 10245957Abstract: A smart braking system for a vehicle is provided. The smart braking system selectively activates a braking system of the vehicle when the smart braking system detects a scenario in which it is likely that a constant vehicle speed, rather than an increasing vehicle speed, would be desired by a driver. In one example, a driver releases an accelerator while the vehicle is on a decline but the vehicle accelerates anyway. In this instance, the smart braking system records the speed of the vehicle when the accelerator is released and applies the braking system to maintain the speed of the vehicle at the recorded speed while the vehicle is on the decline. The smart braking system stops activating the braking system upon detecting that braking is no longer needed to slow down the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2016Date of Patent: April 2, 2019Assignee: NIO USA, Inc.Inventor: Robert Herb
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Patent number: 10155521Abstract: This vehicle control device is provided with: a control unit for executing one-pedal control, that is, the control for accelerating a vehicle when a single pedal is depressed from a predetermined reference point of a pedal stroke, and for decelerating the vehicle when the pedal is released from the reference point; and a determination unit for determining whether or not a rate of change in a pedal operation amount when the pedal is released is equal to or greater than a first threshold value. The control unit performs control for increasing a braking force when the rate of change is equal to or greater than the first threshold value.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2016Date of Patent: December 18, 2018Assignee: ADVICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Yusuke Takeya, Toshihisa Kato
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Patent number: 9740944Abstract: The disclosure relates to methods, systems, and apparatuses for virtual sensor data generation and more particularly relates to generation of virtual sensor data for training and testing models or algorithms to detect objects or obstacles, such as wheel stops or parking barriers. A method for generating virtual sensor data includes simulating a three-dimensional (3D) environment comprising one or more objects. The method includes generating virtual sensor data for a plurality of positions of one or more sensors within the 3D environment. The method includes determining virtual ground truth corresponding to each of the plurality of positions, wherein the ground truth includes information about at least one object within the virtual sensor data. The method also includes storing and associating the virtual sensor data and the virtual ground truth.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2015Date of Patent: August 22, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Ashley Elizabeth Micks, Venkatapathi Raju Nallapa, Harpreetsingh Banvait, Scott Vincent Myers
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Patent number: 9658620Abstract: A system and method is provided of providing recommendations to a user of a vehicle. In one aspect, the vehicle navigates autonomously and the sensors provide information that is based on the location of the vehicle and output from sensors directed to the environment surrounding the vehicle. In further aspects, both current and previous sensor data is used to make the recommendation, as well as data based on the sensors of other vehicles.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2015Date of Patent: May 23, 2017Assignee: Waymo LLCInventors: Christopher Paul Urmson, Dmitri A. Dolgov, Andrew Hughes Chatham, Philip Nemec
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Patent number: 9610947Abstract: The invention relates to a method for providing lane-keeping support in automobiles during the operation of a fully automatic driver assistance system designed for driver-independent vehicle guidance by means of a control unit which controls the actuatorics of a steering system during operation of this driver assistance system such that the vehicle is maintained within the driving lane, characterized in that, in the event of failure of the steering system, targeted braking interventions are performed in order to maintain the lateral guidance for the lane-keeping support of the vehicle by means of a braking system of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2015Date of Patent: April 4, 2017Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AktiengesellschaftInventors: Dirk De Bruin, Martin Rau
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Patent number: 9251630Abstract: A method, computer-readable storage device and apparatus for exchanging vehicle information are disclosed. For example, the method receives the vehicle information from a second vehicle, wherein the vehicle information is received via a direct vehicle to vehicle communication, calculates an operating parameter of the second vehicle, determines an alert condition based on the operating parameter of the second vehicle, and provides a notification of the alert condition to a driver of the first vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2013Date of Patent: February 2, 2016Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.Inventors: Michael S. Denny, Brian Dominguez, Brian Greaves, Craig Lee, Ricardo Niedermeyer, Steven Neil Tischer
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Patent number: 9004616Abstract: A brake control system for motor vehicles includes a stability system for stabilizing the vehicle from the standpoint of driving dynamics during braking, a triggering unit for the automatic output of a braking demand as a function of the traffic situation, a braking unit which converts the braking demand into a braking action, and a control unit for modifying the braking demand prior to its implementation as a function of the state of the stability system.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2005Date of Patent: April 14, 2015Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Martin Heinebrodt, Martin Randler
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Patent number: 8935071Abstract: A method, for controlling direction of a vehicle as desired in connection with operation of an autonomous driving maneuver using selectively, independently and/or in combination, multiple electrical park brakes (EPBs) and multiple hydraulic brakes (HBs). The method includes determining a total brake force needed for redirecting the vehicle in a pre-determined manner, and determining whether an applicable EPB can provide the total brake force needed. The method further includes providing, if it is determined that the applicable EPB can provide the total brake force needed, a brake command instructing the applicable EPB to apply the total brake force. The method also includes determining, if it is determined that the EPB is alone insufficient, an optimal fusion of the EPBs and the HBs, including two front and two rear HBs, two rear EPBs, and in some embodiments, also two front EPBs.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2013Date of Patent: January 13, 2015Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Jin-Woo Lee, Bakhtiar Brian Litkouhi
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Patent number: 8930105Abstract: In a method for setting a brake system of a vehicle, braking force is built up automatically in the event of a collision. In the process, the position of the collision on the vehicle is determined and the build-up of braking force is implemented as a function of the position of the collision.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2009Date of Patent: January 6, 2015Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventor: Ferah Cetinkaya
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Patent number: 8855841Abstract: A method for operating an electric vehicle, the electric vehicle having an electric motor and a brake device, and the electric motor and the brake device being capable of being influenced by a control device. When the electric vehicle is at a standstill, when there is an error of the control device, the brake device is actuated so that the electric vehicle cannot move, or at least can move only to a very limited extent.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2010Date of Patent: October 7, 2014Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Bernd Doerr, Roland Schleser, Holger Niemann, Markus Kretschmer, Oliver Kaefer, Daniel Damm, Dirk Gollub, Andreas Heyl
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Patent number: 8657390Abstract: A vehicle brake fluid pressure control apparatus includes: a normally open electromagnetic valve which adjusts a differential pressure between an upstream side and a downstream side; and a control unit including a memory part which stores a valve closing map which shows a relationship between the differential pressure between the upstream side and the downstream side of the pressure regulator valve and an output current value for closing the pressure regulator valve and a valve opening map which shows a relationship between the differential pressure and an output current value for opening the pressure regulator valve, wherein when attempting to reduce a fluid pressures, the control unit executes a current value switching control which controls a current flowing to the pressure regulator valve by selecting alternately an output current value of the valve opening map and an output current value of the valve closing map.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2010Date of Patent: February 25, 2014Assignee: Nissin Kogyo Co., Ltd.Inventors: Naoki Masuda, Nobuyuki Nomura
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Patent number: 8452506Abstract: A device, program and method for monitoring the environment of a vehicle capable of moving according to a path. The device, program and method comprises the steps of calculating a plurality of critical levels of driving depending on detection sensors, parameters related to the vehicle and an obstacle being in the environment of the vehicle, determining if an obstacle is on the path of the vehicle and depending on the calculated critical levels of driving and determination of an obstacle on the path of the vehicle, making a decision concerning the braking of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2010Date of Patent: May 28, 2013Assignee: Valeo VisionInventor: Xavier Groult
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Patent number: 7950751Abstract: A system and method of controlling a vehicle with a trailer comprises determining the presence of a trailer, determining a vehicle velocity, determining a steering wheel angle, and determining a rear axle side slip angle. When the rear axle side slip angle is above a predetermined value, the vehicle velocity is above a velocity threshold, and the steering wheel is about zero, brake-steer is applied to the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2004Date of Patent: May 31, 2011Assignee: Ford Global TechnologiesInventors: Timothy G. Offerle, Craig H. Stephan, Douglas S. Rhode
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Patent number: 7828104Abstract: A travel safety device for a vehicle comprises: an object detecting unit (114) for detecting an object existing in the traveling direction of the vehicle (100); a correlation calculating unit (39) for calculating a correlation involving the distance between the vehicle (100) and the object on the basis of a detection result of the corresponding object detecting unit (114); an automatic brake unit (120) for automatically decelerating the vehicle (100); a safety device (122) including a seatbelt device (15) for automatically tightening the seatbelt (14) and releasing the tightening thereof; and safety device operation control units (38, 39, 43) for determining a possibility of a contact between the vehicle (100) and the object on the basis of the correlation calculated by the correlation calculating unit (39) and for controlling the operation of the safety device (122) where it is predicted that there is a possibility of a contact; wherein the safety device operation control units (38, 39, 43) simultaneously acType: GrantFiled: January 16, 2004Date of Patent: November 9, 2010Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hiroshi Akaba, Koichi Kamiji, Yoshihisa Sugamata
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Patent number: 7673950Abstract: A first vehicle autonomous brake-apply system includes a vehicle hydraulic brake assembly, a vacuum booster assembly operatively connected to the vehicle hydraulic brake assembly, a solenoid valve operatively connected to the vacuum booster assembly, and an automatic controller including an output signal operatively connected to the solenoid valve. A second system uses a lateral-acceleration-sensor assembly in place of the automatic controller. A third system includes a braking controller, an electrical braking device, and at least one distance sensor. A method for assisting driving of a vehicle includes applying a braking force to stop the vehicle before the vehicle strikes an obstacle whose distance to the vehicle is measured using at least one distance sensor.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2005Date of Patent: March 9, 2010Inventors: Gary C. Fulks, Douglas E. Poole, Timothy A. Haerr, Xavier Groult
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Patent number: 7607741Abstract: When it is judged that a possible collision of the own vehicle with a preceding vehicle is avoidable by operation of either one of the brake pedal and steering wheel, a first grade braking force is automatically produced. While, when it is judged that the possible collision is unavoidable by operation of either of the brake pedal and steering wheel, a second grade braking force is automatically produced, which is greater than the first grade braking force.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2002Date of Patent: October 27, 2009Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yoji Seto, Yoshinori Yamamura, Yosuke Kobayashi, Minoru Tamura
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Patent number: 7509217Abstract: A vehicle detector includes a detecting apparatus and a determining apparatus. If a plurality of detection points detected by the detecting apparatus forms a group of detection points, the determining apparatus sets a determining virtual window encompassing the group of detection points and determines whether the group of detection points is likely to represent the one vehicle based on a state of movement of the group of detection points with respect to the determining virtual window.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2005Date of Patent: March 24, 2009Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc.Inventor: Kenjiro Endoh
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Patent number: 7425043Abstract: A method and apparatus for triggering automatic emergency braking in a vehicle, such as a truck, provides an assistance function for avoiding or mitigating the effects of a rear end collision with a vehicle traveling ahead. A driver warning is triggered if a predefined warning condition requires that an automatic emergency braking process is triggered, but only after the expiration of a predefined warning time period, in order to avoid the vehicle having a rear end collision with the vehicle traveling ahead.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2003Date of Patent: September 16, 2008Assignee: Daimler AGInventors: Heiko Doerr, Matthias Gut, Wolfram Mendt, Lorenz Schaefers, Ingo Scherhaufer, Juergen Trost, Gert Volk, Ursula Voss
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Patent number: 7344200Abstract: A vehicle braking system has two driver-operable input devices. The vehicle braking system is sufficiently configured such that one of the driver-operable input devices is effective in causing resistance to the rotation of at least one wheel only when a predetermined condition exists, and the other driver-operable input device is effective independent of the predetermined condition.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2004Date of Patent: March 18, 2008Assignee: General Motors CorporationInventors: Christopher E. Borroni-Bird, Sanjeev M. Naik, Joseph F. Szczerba
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Publication number: 20080030074Abstract: Automatic reacting is to react automatically or in a better manner to replace manual operation by thermostat, video camera, radar, all kinds of sensors including reacting proximate sensor, touch sensor, speedometer, motor, switch, timer and/or any other equivalents for making useful devices.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 4, 2006Publication date: February 7, 2008Inventor: Henri Duong
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Patent number: 7234786Abstract: A vehicular brake control apparatus detects risky occasions and locations that may be risky by using, for example, an infrastructure information input device or a navigation device, and, for such locations and the like, performs the pre-charge so that braking force will be promptly generated. Therefore, the pre-charge can be precisely performed under necessary circumstances, irrespectively of the driver's accelerator operation. Hence, when the driver depresses the brake pedal at such a location or the like, braking force will be promptly generated. Thus, accidents and the like can be prevented.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2005Date of Patent: June 26, 2007Assignee: Advics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yukio Mori, Kazutaka Kato, Kazuhiro Kamiya, Masahiro Matsuura
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Patent number: 7213687Abstract: A vehicle emergency brake system has a second brake for braking a vehicle by increasing the frictional resistance with the road surface, a millimeter wave radar for detecting any obstacle in an advancing direction, a pedal speed sensor for detecting the step-in speed of a brake pedal for actuating a first brake, and a controller for actuating the second brake. If hard braking by the first brake is detected by the pedal speed sensor, the controller determines whether the vehicle is going to crash into an obstacle detected by the radar. If a determination is made that it will collide, the second brake is actuated. Thus, it is possible to reliably actuate the second brake in an emergency.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2003Date of Patent: May 8, 2007Assignee: Advics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Moriharu Sakai, Takashi Watanabe, Shoichi Masaki
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Patent number: 7099764Abstract: A braking control device performs a steering and/or avoidance possibility determination based on the state of the vehicle to execute automatic vehicle braking when an obstacle in front of the vehicle cannot be avoided by steering and/or braking. The device determines that the obstacle can be avoided by steering when the correlation value between steering avoidance time and relative velocity is smaller than the distance from the vehicle to the obstacle. The steering avoidance time is set to a shorter value when the suspension characteristic is stiffer and the sideways force generated by the front wheels is larger. The steering avoidance time is set successively shorter for low, high, and medium speed travel regions, respectively, to reflect the behavior response characteristic of the vehicle with respect to steering input. The vehicle deceleration that would occur if the driver released the accelerator pedal is considered in the braking avoidance possibility determination.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2003Date of Patent: August 29, 2006Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yoji Seto, Minoru Tamura, Yoshinori Yamamura, Seiki Takahashi, Masahide Nakamura
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Patent number: 7018004Abstract: A system and method for brake pre-charging includes pre-filling brakes, based on proximity information from a forward-looking sensor, to reduce the initial delays associated with braking. By reducing the initial delay in converting driver brake pressure requests into actual brake torque to the wheels, the stopping distance required for braking is reduced.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2003Date of Patent: March 28, 2006Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Ju Chen, Gerald H. Engelman, Levasseur Tellis
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Patent number: 6971727Abstract: A vehicle brake system includes a brake mechanism for individually braking wheels, and a brake controller for controlling the brake mechanism against an oblique collision from behind or an offset collision with a host vehicle. The controller includes a collision predictor, a collision direction detector, and a colliding object speed detector. In accordance with a prediction signal transmitted from the collision predictor, a detection signal transmitted from the collision direction detector and a detection signal transmitted from the colliding object speed detector, the controller controls the operation of the brake mechanism to allocate braking forces to the respective wheels so as to prevent the turning of the host vehicle in a collision.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2003Date of Patent: December 6, 2005Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Ryozo Yoshizawa, Isamu Nakanishi
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Patent number: 6962396Abstract: A method and a device for controlling a brake system of a vehicle, with an automatic braking action being triggered when a threshold value is exceeded. The threshold value is varied as a function of a quantity derived from the distance to an obstacle located in front of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2004Date of Patent: November 8, 2005Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Ian Faye, Helmut Wiss
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Patent number: 6955409Abstract: A vehicle equipped with an anti-lock brake system (ABS) and with anti-slip regulation (ASR) and having the capability of automatically controlling the distance from a vehicle driving in front whereby various vehicle deceleration devices are actuated automatically if the distance becomes shorter than a preset minimum safe distance. For deceleration of the vehicle if the distance from a vehicle driving in front becomes shorter than the preset minimum safe distance, the ASR function used for braking the drive axles of the vehicle is actuated.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2003Date of Patent: October 18, 2005Assignee: Wabco GmbH & Co. oHGInventors: Detlev Neuhaus, Frank Zielke
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Patent number: 6876098Abstract: The invention is directed toward methods for operating a series hybrid vehicle in a manner that responds to the operator's demand for power output, while maximizing engine efficiency and minimizing disruptions in vehicle drivability. According to principles of the present invention, when the driver of a series hybrid vehicle makes a demand for power output, whether the secondary power source(s) is supplied with secondary energy stored in an energy storage device(s), direct input energy generated by an engine(s), or both, depends on the amount of available secondary energy stored in the vehicle's secondary storage device(s) alone, and in combination with vehicle speed. During the time that the engine is used to generate secondary energy, the power efficiency level at which the engine is operated also depends on the vehicle speed and the amount of available secondary energy stored in the vehicle's secondary storage device alone, and in combination with vehicle speed.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2003Date of Patent: April 5, 2005Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection AgencyInventor: Charles L. Gray, Jr.
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Publication number: 20040145238Abstract: A braking control device performs a steering and/or avoidance possibility determination based on the state of the vehicle to execute automatic vehicle braking when an obstacle in front of the vehicle cannot be avoided by steering and/or braking. The device determines that the obstacle can be avoided by steering when the correlation value between steering avoidance time and relative velocity is smaller than the distance from the vehicle to the obstacle. The steering avoidance time is set to a shorter value when the suspension characteristic is stiffer and the sideways force generated by the front wheels is larger. The steering avoidance time is set successively shorter for low, high, and medium speed travel regions, respectively, to reflect the behavior response characteristic of the vehicle with respect to steering input. The vehicle deceleration that would occur if the driver released the accelerator pedal is considered in the braking avoidance possibility determination.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 4, 2003Publication date: July 29, 2004Applicant: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yoji Seto, Minoru Tamura, Yoshinori Yamamura, Seiki Takahashi, Masahide Nakamura
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Publication number: 20040090117Abstract: An automatic brake and steering system for a vehicle containing a sensor unit for sensing vehicle state variables and vehicle characteristic variables and ambient conditions. Furthermore, a control unit and actuator devices are provided for setting the vehicle brake system and/or the vehicle steering system.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 19, 2003Publication date: May 13, 2004Inventors: Ingo Dudeck, Rainer Freitag, Gerhard Kurz, Wofgang Lauer, Thomas Roehrig-Gericke, Reinhold Schoeb, Harry Troester, Andy Yap, Richard Zimmer
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Publication number: 20030227217Abstract: A vehicle brake system includes a brake mechanism for individually braking wheels, and a brake controller for controlling the brake mechanism against an oblique collision from behind or an offset collision with a host vehicle. The controller includes a collision predictor, a collision direction detector, and a colliding object speed detector. In accordance with a prediction signal transmitted from the collision predictor, a detection signal transmitted from the collision direction detector and a detection signal transmitted from the colliding object speed detector, the controller controls the operation of the brake mechanism to allocate braking forces to the respective wheels so as to prevent the turning of the host vehicle in a collision.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 2003Publication date: December 11, 2003Applicant: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Ryozo Yoshizawa, Isamu Nakanishi
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Patent number: 6659572Abstract: An emergency brake assist apparatus amplifies driver braking force upon imminent contact detection. A brake pedal, operated by the driver, exerts a pedal force upon a variable brake booster. A braking system is coupled to the variable brake booster that produces a variable brake booster force causing the braking system to exert a braking force proportional to the pedal force during normal operation. When a forward detection apparatus detects an imminent contact, a controller signals the variable brake booster to increase the variable brake booster force such that the braking system exerts an amplified braking force proportional to the pedal force.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2001Date of Patent: December 9, 2003Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: John Vincent Bond, III, Gerald H. Engelman, M. Nabeel Tarabishy, Levasseur Tellis, Jonas Ekmark, Jonas Lars Zakarias Jansson
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Patent number: 6621175Abstract: An engine control system for a hybrid vehicle having an internal combustion engine and an electric motor as driving force sources, for permitting stopping and starting of the engine in accordance with predetermined drive conditions. The system includes a booster for receiving a negative pressure supplied by an operation of the engine, a pressure detector for detecting a pressure supplied to the brake booster, a throttle-opening state detector for detecting a throttle opening state and an engine-operation enable/disable determining device for determining whether or not to operate the engine when the engine is stopped, based on the throttle opening state detected by the throttle-opening-state detector and the pressure detected by the pressure detector.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2000Date of Patent: September 16, 2003Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shigetaka Kuroda, Atsushi Izumiura, Shinichi Kitajima, Atsushi Matsubara
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Patent number: 6607255Abstract: A brake control system (10) for an automotive vehicle (12) is provided. The system (10) includes a vehicle sensor complex (16) that generates a vehicle sensor complex signal and an object detection system (14) that generates an object detection signal. A brake controller (22) is electrically coupled to the vehicle sensor complex and the object detection system. The controller (22) in response to the vehicle sensor complex signal and the object detection signal generates a brake ramping control signal. Controller (22) adjusts brake pressure in response to the brake ramping control signal. A method for performing the same is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2002Date of Patent: August 19, 2003Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: John Vincent Bond, III, Gerald H Engelman, Jonas Ekmark, Jonas L. Z. Jansson, M. Nabeel Tarabishy, Levasseur Tellis