Speed Of Vehicle, Engine, Or Power Train Patents (Class 340/441)
  • Patent number: 10549687
    Abstract: The invention relates to a lighting device having dynamic lighting effects for the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle. The lighting device includes a lighting system configured to emit at least one light signal producing a dynamic effect of scrolling inside the passenger compartment in order to simulate the scrolling of the road inside the passenger compartment of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: VALEO VISION
    Inventor: Thierry Fleurence
  • Patent number: 10479401
    Abstract: A power steering system including a sensor arranged or located in the steering system. The sensor detects an acoustic vibration or an acceleration signal in the steering system during a change in the steering angle and generates a sensor signal representing the vibration or the acceleration signal. A control unit receives the sensor signal and compares the sensor signal with a threshold value to detect a fault state; for example when the sensor signal is larger than the threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Frank Peter Engels
  • Patent number: 10467987
    Abstract: A display apparatus includes a display configured to display an image, an input unit configured to receive a selection of a panoramic image, and a processor configured to control the display to display a first split screen which displays a first viewpoint of the panoramic image, and a second split screen which is disposed below the first split screen and displays a horizontally flipped second viewpoint of the panoramic image, the second viewpoint being in an opposite direction to the first viewpoint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seok-hyun Kim, Chang-seog Ko, Jung-geun Kim
  • Patent number: 10224008
    Abstract: An image display system includes: a display device; and an information terminal, the display device having: a display control unit that generates a first display image having size adjustment regions added thereto, based on a video signal outputted by the information terminal; and an image transmitter that outputs the first display image generated by the display control unit to the information terminal; the information terminal having: a video output unit that outputs the video signal to the display device; a screen adjustment information acquisition unit that acquires screen adjustment information used by the display control unit to generate a display screen to be displayed on the display device, based on the first display image transmitted by the image transmitter; and an information transmitter that transmits the screen adjustment information acquired by the screen adjustment information acquisition unit to the display device, wherein the display control unit generates a second display image, based on the s
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Clarion Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Katsuya Asada
  • Patent number: 10173677
    Abstract: A method for operating a speed control system of a vehicle is provided. The method comprises receiving one or more electrical signals representative of vehicle-related information. The method further comprises determining, based on the signals representative of vehicle-related information, whether one or more predetermined conditions are met. The method still further comprises automatically determining a baseline set-speed for the speed control system when it is determined that at least certain of the one or more predetermined conditions are met. The method yet still further comprises adjusting the baseline set-speed to determine an instantaneous set-speed of the speed control system based on a signal indicative of a desired comfort level. A speed control system comprising an electronic control unit configured to perform the above-described methodology is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Limited
    Inventors: Andrew Fairgrieve, James Kelly, Daniel Woolliscroft
  • Patent number: 10170002
    Abstract: An in-vehicle lighting apparatus includes a lighting device attached to an instrument panel at a lower part of a vehicle A-pillar in an interior compartment of a subject vehicle. The in-vehicle lighting apparatus has a vehicle information obtainer for obtaining information about a state of the vehicle, and a light controller for controlling the lighting device based on the vehicle information obtained by the vehicle information obtainer. The lighting device includes an indirect lighting part that directs light from a light source toward a surface of the A-pillar, for enabling an effective notification of vehicle information and events to a driver of the subject vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Michinaga Nagura
  • Patent number: 10131229
    Abstract: An electronic meter cluster system for a vehicle. The system includes a display screen and a meter control module configured to control the display screen. For example, the meter control module is configured to control the display screen to display a meter for conveying information to a driver of the vehicle, the meter including numerals and a pointer needle. The meter control module arranges the needle relative to the numerals to convey information to the driver. Based on a change in the information being conveyed to the driver, the meter control module is configured to modify at least one of sharpness of the numerals, size of the numerals, one or more colors of the display, brightness of the needle, and length of the needle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignees: DENSO International America, Inc., DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gareth Webb, Dustin Garrett
  • Patent number: 10127556
    Abstract: An automated at-the-pump method manages vehicle fuel purchases at a fuel station. The method includes transmitting driver identification data to a mobile device assigned to a vehicle driver. The driver identification data is electronically verified to confirm that the driver identification data received by the mobile device matches the assigned vehicle driver. Vehicle data is transmitted from a data bus of the vehicle to the mobile device for storage in the memory. The vehicle data and driver identification data are transmitted to a remote terminal. Using the remote terminal, the vehicle data and driver identification data are electronically authenticated. An authorization signal is then transmitted from the remote terminal to an at-the-pump fuel control terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Innovative Global Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Alan C. Lesesky
  • Patent number: 10121372
    Abstract: A system for displaying speed information for a vehicle includes a speed measuring device configured to obtain an actual current speed, a display for displaying speed information to an operator, and a controller. The controller acquires a geographical location, obtains road data including a posted speed limit for the geographical location, and causes displaying a first graphical feature indicating the posted speed limit and a second graphical feature indicating the actual current speed. For example, the first graphical feature is in the form of a ring, while the second graphical feature is a circle centered within the first graphical feature. A size of the second graphical feature corresponds to the actual current speed and dynamically changes with the change of the actual current speed. Thus, the size of second graphical feature increases with the increase of actual current speed and decreases with the decrease of actual current speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: RIT INNOVATIONS, LLC
    Inventors: Ivan Anatolevich Klabukov, Aleksei Anatolevich Ostanin, Mihail Vladimirovich Sannikov
  • Patent number: 10065527
    Abstract: In a control system and control method for a driving device, opposite distribution control is performed (e.g., steps 1, 4 to 7), whereby a left driving force and a right driving force are controlled such that a yaw moment in a direction opposite to a turning direction of the vehicle acts on the vehicle, whereby a left-right driving force difference is generated which is a difference between the left driving force and the right driving force. During performance of the opposite distribution control, when deceleration of the vehicle is obtained, limit control is performed (e.g., step 8), whereby the left driving force and the right driving force are controlled such that a change in the left-right driving force difference becomes smaller than a change in a left-right driving force sum, which is the sum of the left driving force and the right driving force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tomokazu Honda
  • Patent number: 10036193
    Abstract: The invention relates to a glass panel (200), including: a first glass sheet (20) at least partially coated with an electrically conductive coating (21), the conductive coating including at least one stack consisting of a metal layer (212) and an insulating layer (213), the metal layer being arranged between the first glass sheet and the insulation layer; at least one electronic component (23) arranged on the first glass sheet (21), the electronic component including at least one connection terminal (231) electrically connected to the conductive coating. According to the invention, the insulation layer (213) in such a panel includes at least one first window (241) which opens onto the metal layer and which is located at the connection terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: AGC Glass Europe
    Inventors: Jean-Bernard Decraye, Michael Demeyere, Patrick Roucloux
  • Patent number: 9982778
    Abstract: A diagnostic method for shifting an actuator of a transmission may include accumulating, by a controller, a damage index for an applied current when a current is applied to the actuator of the transmission, and determining, by the controller, whether the accumulated damage index exceeds a predetermined reference index and when it is determined that the accumulated damage index exceeds the predetermined reference index, determining the actuator as a failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corp.
    Inventors: Young Min Yoon, Seung Sam Baek
  • Patent number: 9975485
    Abstract: A surroundings monitoring system includes: a detection device that is disposed in a work vehicle and configured to be able to detect an object around the work vehicle; and a display device that is disposed in the work vehicle so as to display the work vehicle on a screen and display a detection area of the detection device in which an abnormality has occurred around the work vehicle on the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Kurihara, Yukihiro Nakanishi
  • Patent number: 9966057
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting an engine sound audible to the operator in a vehicle cabin during an engine idle-stop. In one example, responsive to an engine idle-stop, modified versions of a generated engine sound may be played via a dashboard speaker during each of the engine spin-down, engine rest, and engine spin-up. The modified versions of a generated engine sound may at least partially cancel inherent engine spin-up and engine spin-down sounds while maintaining an engine idling sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Yan Wang
  • Patent number: 9952054
    Abstract: An autonomous driving control apparatus and method using navigation technology are disclosed. The autonomous driving control apparatus includes a driving mode setting unit, a navigation unit, and an information provision unit. The driving mode setting unit sets the driving mode of a vehicle. The navigation unit offers guidance on a driving route to a destination input by the driver of the vehicle based on the set driving mode. The information provision unit, if the driving mode of the vehicle is set to autonomous driving mode, provides the navigator of an adjacent vehicle and the navigator of the terminal of a pedestrian with autonomous driving information received from the vehicle, and also provides the navigation unit with behavior information received from the adjacent vehicle and the terminal of the pedestrian.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Kyoung-Hwan An, Sam-Yeul Noh, Woo-Yong Han
  • Patent number: 9902414
    Abstract: A locomotive is disclosed. The locomotive includes a car body, including an operator cabin, a power source, and an operator health monitor within the operator cabin, the operator health monitor configured to monitor at least one health condition associated with the operator and configured to generate an operator health signal associated with the at least one condition. The locomotive includes an operator warning system within the operator cabin, configured to present the operator with an operator warning in response to an operator warning signal, and an electronic controller. The electronic controller may be configured to determine an operator fatigue score based on, at least, the operator health signal, determine if the operator fatigue score exceeds a warning threshold, and transmit the operator warning signal to the operator warning system if the operator fatigue score exceeds the warning threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Electro-Motive Diesel, Inc
    Inventors: David Matthew Roenspies, James David Seaton, Alex Shubs
  • Patent number: 9889739
    Abstract: Universal combination meters, methods for customizing a universal combination meter, and electronic dashboards are disclosed. A universal combination meter may include a processing device and a non-transitory, processor-readable storage medium. The non-transitory, processor-readable storage medium may include one or more programming instructions that, when executed, cause the processing device to monitor one or more data transmissions between a manufacturing computer and a vehicle, determine at least one of a model and a body type of the vehicle from information in the data transmissions, retrieve at least one of an image, vehicle-specific features, and vehicle-specific information from a repository, and load the at least one of the image, the vehicle-specific features, and the vehicle-specific information for displaying. The at least one of the image, vehicle-specific features, and vehicle-specific information correspond to the at least one of the model and the body type of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Nathaniel J. Secord
  • Patent number: 9866165
    Abstract: In various implementations, a condition of a motor may be monitored based at least partially on time required to achieve a change in speed. A notification may be transmitted based on the condition of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Joe Powell, Randall L. Lisbona
  • Patent number: 9855949
    Abstract: A vehicle speed limiter system installed on a vehicle includes a detection unit to detect a speed limit value of a road while the vehicle is traveling; a setting unit to set the speed limit value; a limiter unit to limit the vehicle speed, based on the speed limit value; an obtainment unit to obtain a stepping amount on an accelerator pedal; a calculation unit to calculate a parameter depending on the stepping amount in a state where the vehicle speed is being limited by the limiter unit; and a display unit to display information based on the parameter, in a case where a speed limit value newly detected by the detection unit is greater than the speed limit value previously set by the setting unit, before the setting unit sets the speed limit value newly detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Tomatsu, Takashi Inoue, Sokfan Yee, Tetsuya Taira, Keiji Yamashita, Takato Masuda
  • Patent number: 9848387
    Abstract: An electronic device includes: a display; a sensor module configured to detect movement of the electronic device; and a control module configured to control such that power is supplied to the display when a movement is detected in the electronic device by the sensor module, to determine whether a user of the electronic device is driving a vehicle based on the detected movement of the electronic device, and to control such that the supply of power to the display is limited when it is determined that the user is driving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Un Kyu Park
  • Patent number: 9836814
    Abstract: A display control apparatus includes a receiver that receives a recognition result of a change in environment around a vehicle, and a controller that controls an image generation apparatus to generate an image corresponding to a presentation image to be displayed on the display medium. The controller generates and outputs a control signal to the image generation apparatus to control the image generation apparatus based on the recognition result so as to deform the presentation image radially on the display medium such that the deformed presentation image moves toward at least one of sides of the display medium and disappears sequentially to the outside of the display medium across edges of the display medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Wataru Nakai
  • Patent number: 9761138
    Abstract: Systems and methods for the automatic detection of yard move status for drivers of commercial motor vehicles (CMV). One method includes defining a geo-fenced region for a yard and determining a location of the vehicle in relation to the geo-fenced region. The location is used, along with other vehicle and driver parameters, to automatically detect a start of the yard move status and an end of the yard move status using a processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas C. Harter, Michael K. Kuphal, Bruce D. Lightner
  • Patent number: 9746355
    Abstract: An information indication system for a vehicle, a vessel, an aircraft as well as other equipment, the information indication system configured to indicate a value of a physical parameter to an operator of the vehicle, vessel or aircraft, the information indication system including a dial corresponding to a range of values of the physical parameter and a needle operable to move about the dial, wherein a current location of the needle on the dial indicates the value of a physical parameter within the range of values of the physical parameter, wherein the information indication system is configured to illuminate a portion of the dial in the immediate vicinity of the current location of the needle on the dial. In various embodiments, the information indication system may be a speedometer or a tachometer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Inventor: Leonid Despotuli
  • Patent number: 9630552
    Abstract: The vehicle speed display is a device that is adapted to be mounted on the window of an automobile that publically displays the current speed of the automobile. This public display of speed is used to send a calming signal aggressive drivers that the lead car is maintaining their speed under the legal speed limit. The vehicle speed display comprises a logic module, a display module, a power module and a housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Inventor: Michael Baker
  • Patent number: 9613606
    Abstract: A motor vehicle having at least one sound generating system for generating an artificial engine noise, which has at least one electrically controllable vibration exciter, wherein the vibration exciter is fastened to a component that is acoustically and/or vibrationally decoupled from a body of the motor vehicle. The component is retained on the motor vehicle by a retaining device, which covers the component at least to a large extent. By means of this measure, the acoustic properties of the sound-generating system can be significantly improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Jens Feldhaus, Carsten Lutter, Denis Dupper
  • Patent number: 9604540
    Abstract: A display unit incorporated in the housing surface of an instrument panel changes its display variously together with other display devices of the instrument panel such as a liquid crystal display, and displays information such as driving information, danger notification information and entertainment information in coordination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Takamatsu, Tai Inoue, Masahide Nagata, Takayuki Ogawa, Gosei Sato, Takao Kanai
  • Patent number: 9586599
    Abstract: A method for advising a driver of a vehicle may include measuring a plurality of parameters representing the vehicle's current handling condition and the vehicle's limit handling condition, determining a margin between the vehicle's current handling condition and limit handling condition, and initiating an alert for the driver before the vehicle achieves the limit handling condition if the margin exceeds a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dimitar Petrov Filev, Jianbo Lu, Kwaku O. Prakah-Asante, Fling Tseng
  • Patent number: 9536426
    Abstract: Systems and methods to determine a speed limit violation by a vehicle. A locator device coupled to the vehicle receives GPS location coordinates from a satellite. The systems and methods determine the speed of the vehicle using the received coordinates or the functions of an engine control module. The speed limit of the segment of roadway on which the vehicle is traveling is identified based on the coordinates, and the vehicle speed is compared to the speed limit to determine whether the vehicle is violating the speed limit for the segment of roadway. The systems and methods alert any interested parties, such as the vehicle driver or a fleet manager, of the speed limit violation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Omnitracs, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel P. Schmitt, Arlene Hasegawa, Stephen Lachmayr
  • Patent number: 9528834
    Abstract: Vehicle-mounted device includes an inertial measurement unit (IMU) having at least one accelerometer or gyroscope, a GPS receiver, a camera positioned to obtain unobstructed images of an area exterior of the vehicle and a control system coupled to these components. The control system re-calibrates each accelerometer or gyroscope using signals obtained by the GPS receiver, and derives information about objects in the images obtained by the camera and location of the objects based on data from the IMU and GPS receiver. A communication system communicates the information derived by the control system to a location separate and apart from the vehicle. The control system includes a processor that provides a location of the camera and a direction in which the camera is imaging based on data from the IMU corrected based on data from the GPS receiver, for use in creating the map database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Intelligent Technologies International, Inc.
    Inventors: David S Breed, Ryan Breed
  • Patent number: 9469194
    Abstract: A meter pointer for a meter includes an arm. The arm includes a display. The display has a dot-matrix array including pixels. Each of the pixels is configured to change in intensity. The dot-matrix array is configured to indicate a graphic image with at least one of the pixels by controlling the intensity of each of the pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Inventor: Kevin Sockolosky
  • Patent number: 9409481
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for displaying a cluster are provided. The apparatus includes a driving sensor that senses a driving state of a mobile object and a display unit that converts a method of displaying a cluster indisposed within the mobile object. A controller is configured illuminate a scale and a pointer that indicates the scale based on the sensed driving state of the mobile object. In addition, the controller detects a current driving state of the mobile object in real time to generate a control signal with respect to the display method including a brightness degree, a brightness region, and a color of the scale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Kum Lim Choi
  • Patent number: 9408047
    Abstract: Use of information-elements (IE) to enable global system for mobile communications (GSM) devices to support read acknowledgements for text messaging, e.g., short message service (SMS). A GSM device inserts a read acknowledgement request Information-Element (IE) into the body of an SMS message to request that a read acknowledgement be returned to the sending device upon opening. When a GSM recipient device opens an SMS message with a read acknowledgement request IE, the GSM recipient device creates a read acknowledgement SMS message by populating a read acknowledgement message indicator IE, inserting the read acknowledgement message IE into an SMS message, and forwarding the read acknowledgement SMS message to an originating GSM device. Read acknowledgement IEs have a message value that allows a mobile device to associate a read acknowledgement with a particular SMS message. A short message service center (SMSC) supports interoperability between GSM, CDMA, IP, MME, and SMPP read acknowledgements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Telecommunication Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Lewis Tuttle, Dennis Meyer, Phillip W. Geil
  • Patent number: 9396656
    Abstract: A vehicle system may include a communication device configured to receive road data. The system may also include an application, having a processor and a memory, configured to analyze the road data in view of the at least one vehicle attribute included in vehicle data. The application may also determine whether the road data is relevant and transmit, in response to the road data being relevant, a command to a display unit to display information based on the analysis of the road data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Cellco Partnership
    Inventors: Carlos A. Cazanas, Kalpan S. Shah, Phillip A. Leone, Victor M. Pagan
  • Patent number: 9367967
    Abstract: Systems and methods for odometer monitoring are disclosed herein. One example method includes storing an odometer value and a vehicle position in response to an initial triggering event, and determining a second odometer value and a second vehicle position in response to a subsequent triggering event. The odometer value is compared with the second odometer value to detect any odometer value change from the initial triggering event to the subsequent triggering event. The vehicle position is compared with the second vehicle position to detect any vehicle position change from the initial triggering event to the subsequent triggering event. From the comparisons, it is determined whether odometer tampering has occurred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, General Motors LLC
    Inventors: William A. Biondo, George Baker
  • Patent number: 9352690
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are an apparatus and method for detecting an obstacle adaptively to vehicle speed. The apparatus includes a control unit, a speed-adaptive camera sensor, a speed-adaptive laser scanner sensor, and a detection data integration unit. The control unit receives information about the speed of a vehicle and a Pulse Per Second (PPS) signal from a Global Positioning System (GPS) module. The speed-adaptive camera sensor adjusts the range of a detection region based on the information about the speed of the vehicle, and generates first detection data on an object. The speed-adaptive laser scanner sensor adjusts the range of the angle of the field of view of a laser scanner based on the information about the speed of the vehicle, and generates second detection data on the object. The detection data integration unit outputs obstacle detection data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Hyun-Kyun Choi, Kyung-Bok Sung, Dong-Yong Kwak, Dong-Sun Lim
  • Patent number: 9341699
    Abstract: A method of controlling a mobile information terminal including a positioning sensor includes creating a speed profile to a destination location based on a distance to the destination location, information on a speed of a mode of travel to the destination location, and information on stopping before the destination location, and calculating a crock time to cause the positioning sensor to perform positioning based on the speed profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventor: Takuya Sato
  • Patent number: 9286798
    Abstract: A vehicle speed enforcement method includes the steps of receiving and collecting, by a base station located in a detection zone, information about a target vehicle from a communication unit in the target vehicle, detecting a speed of the target vehicle through the collected information about the target vehicle, and setting the target vehicle as an overspeed vehicle when the speed of the target vehicle is faster than a reference limit speed at a point in time at which the target vehicle has entered the detection zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jee Hoon Kim
  • Patent number: 9227566
    Abstract: A pseudo-tach signal system includes a pseudo-tach signal modeling module, and an output module operatively connected to the pseudo-tach signal modeling module. The output module exports a pseudo-tach signal based audible sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Frank C. Valeri, Scott M. Reilly
  • Patent number: 9222636
    Abstract: A vehicle information transmission device includes: a display device that displays light in a first mode at a position of a vehicle body, at which visual recognition of a certain object is prompted, when the visual recognition is prompted and that displays light in a second mode different from the first mode on the vehicle body when the visual recognition is not prompted or when the visual recognition is prompted; and a control unit that adjusts light in the second mode on the basis of light in the first mode when the visual recognition is prompted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Hatakeyama, Shinya Kawamata
  • Patent number: 9162619
    Abstract: A notification sound control unit of an approaching vehicle audible system includes a first rotation speed calculation section that calculates a first rotation speed, based on an accelerator opening degree signal of an electric vehicle, a second rotation speed calculation section that calculates a second rotation speed, based on a vehicle speed signal of the electric vehicle, a rotation speed synthesis section that synthesizes the first rotation speed and the second rotation speed, a virtual engine rotation speed calculation section that applies filtering processing to a synthesis rotation speed synthesized by the rotation speed synthesis section so as to calculate a virtual engine rotation speed, and a notification sound signal generation processing section that changes a pitch and a volume of a phoneme signal outputted from a phoneme, based on the virtual engine rotation speed, so as to generate a notification sound signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takahisa Aoyagi, Asako Omote, Youichi Kato, Noritaka Kokido, Satoru Inoue
  • Patent number: 9156401
    Abstract: A running-linked sound producing device produces a running-linked sound according to a running state of a vehicle. The running-linked sound producing device includes a vehicle speed estimation unit to estimate a vehicle speed of the vehicle, an accelerator command value estimation unit to estimate an accelerator command value based on a vehicle speed estimated by the vehicle speed estimation unit, and a running-linked sound generation unit that generates a running-linked sound, wherein the running-linked sound generation unit generates a running-linked sound based on a vehicle speed estimated by the vehicle speed estimation unit and an accelerator command value estimated by the accelerator command value estimation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Takahashi, Mikio Saitou, Osamu Maeda
  • Patent number: 9145147
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for altering the drivability of a vehicle so as to alert a driver of the vehicle of a potentially hazardous condition. The vehicle has at least one sensor configured to detect the potentially hazardous potential. Additionally, the vehicle has a control system for directing a transmission of the vehicle to perform a transmission operation that catches the driver's attention by generating an acceleration or deceleration. The transmission operation is preferably an upshift, a downshift, an unlocking of a torque converter lockup clutch or a locking of the lockup clutch. In one embodiment, the control system directs the transmission to perform more than one transmission operation, the transmission operations defining a transmission operation cycle. In a preferred embodiment, more than one transmission operation cycle is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jianbo Lu, Zhengyu Dai, Felix Nedorezov, Hong Jiang, Roger Lyle Huffmaster, Dimitar Petrov Filev
  • Patent number: 9142142
    Abstract: Disclosed are a device and method for providing driver tracking and behavior analysis, initiated without concurrent user input, by the presence detection of one or more drivers of the vehicle. Vehicle motion inferred from a location aware device sensor, as well as other driver smartphone sensors and application use are logged and analyzed to determine risk factors associated with identified drivers. Internet data sources are further utilized for associating road conditions and traffic regulations with the logged locations of the vehicle. Logged and analyzed data from the identified drivers is aggregated for reporting on vehicle risk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Kaarya, LLC
    Inventors: Ujjual Nath, William Fletcher, Brian Billett
  • Patent number: 9139199
    Abstract: A method of moving autonomous or driverless vehicles being parked or accessed in a parking area is disclosed. The vehicles are parked in columns spaced too closely to allow drivers to enter or exit. The movements of the vehicles are coordinated by a central computer which computes a set of movements, transmits them to the vehicles, and commands and controls the execution. Multiple vehicles are moved sequentially or simultaneously to the computed locations for access, storage or exit. Sensors in the vehicles can transmit relative location information to the central computer to be used in the computations. Vehicles can be shuffled from column to column or from the front to the rear of a column to allow access. Temporary aisles can be formed for exit by vehicles or for access for loading or unloading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Inventor: Thomas Danaher Harvey
  • Patent number: 9121560
    Abstract: The invention relates to a motor vehicle having a lighting device (4-7), which is combined with a noise-output device, and having an electrical drive device. In order to optimize a motor vehicle having a lighting device, which is combined with a noise output device, and having an electrical drive device in respect of the installation space required for the noise output device, at least one diffusing lens of the lighting device (4) is designed as a sound-emitting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Karl Dums
  • Patent number: 9087445
    Abstract: A vehicular information-processing device and a vehicular information-processing method with which driver operation information can be smoothly linked to learning results are provided. The information-processing ECU learns pieces of operation information, which are obtained in correspondence with various vehicle operations by a driver, in association with the respective spots where the vehicle operations occurred, and, on the basis of the result of learning, provides operation information specific to each spot as driving assistance information. The information-processing ECU determines whether or not the specific operation information provided at the same spot conforms to the driver's vehicle operation at the spot, and learns the repeatability of the specific operation information provided at the spot on the basis of the number of times that it is determined that there is conformity or the number of times that it is determined there is no conformity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Satoshi Uno
  • Patent number: 9065403
    Abstract: A running-linked sound generation unit includes an order sound data generation unit, a random sound data generation unit, and a synthesis unit. The order sound data generation unit generates order sound data by changing the tone of basic order sound data according to a motor rotation speed of a vehicle. The random sound data generation unit generates random sound data by changing the volume of basic random sound data according to a motor rotation speed and an accelerator command value of a vehicle, without changing the tone of the basic random sound data. The synthesis unit generates synthetic sound data by combining synthesized order sound data and random sound data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Takahashi, Mikio Saitou, Osamu Maeda
  • Patent number: 9050925
    Abstract: A vehicle having an electric drive and having a sound transducer is provided. The vehicle has a sound generator for substantially simultaneously emitting a first noise having increasing frequency and decreasing loudness, a second noise having increasing frequency and increasing loudness, and at least a third noise having increasing frequency by means of the sound transducer, in particular during increasing rotational speed of the electric drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Jens Meschke, Marcus Kern
  • Patent number: 9045142
    Abstract: A method according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, arbitrating velocity signals derived from information from a first sensor and a second sensor, estimating a ratio between an actual tire radius and an expected tire radius, and generating a fused velocity estimate based on an arbitrated signal calculated during the arbitrating step and an estimated ratio calculated during the estimating step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joe F. Stanek, Mathew Alan Boesch, Anthony David Tsakiris, Tony A. Lockwood, Emrah Adamey
  • Patent number: 9030312
    Abstract: A diagnostic tool and method are provided wherein the diagnostic tool includes a global positioning system that alerts a user when a condition is exceeded. Examples of conditions include that the user is speeding during the test drive or has driven passed a defined area. The user can be alerted to such conditions. The owner of the shop may also locate the diagnostic tool by using a location server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Bosch Automotive Service Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: William Wittliff, III