Hazard Warning Or Distress Signalling Patents (Class 340/471)
  • Patent number: 12237361
    Abstract: A transparent display includes a first transparent substrate, pixel structures, first electrodes, and second electrodes. The pixel structures are located on the first transparent substrate. Each pixel structure includes light-emitting elements. A pitch of adjacent light emitting elements in each pixel structure is 0.17 mm to 0.34 mm. A pitch of adjacent pixel structures is 3.4 mm to 15.4 mm. The first electrodes and the second electrodes are electrically connected to the pixel structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: Au Optronics Corporation
    Inventor: Chih-Che Kuo
  • Patent number: 12223832
    Abstract: A system and method is provided for detecting the approach of official and emergency vehicles and alerting drivers. The system is comprised of a vehicle device, a client device, a local device and a dongle. The local device includes a set of acoustic sensors and a set of light wave sensors. The local device is connected to the dongle. The dongle is connected to the local device, the vehicle device and the client device. In use, the sensors record analog light wave and acoustic signals. The signals are processed through a series of rolling frequency and amplitude summary tables to determine the type of emergency vehicle and whether or not it is approaching. If so, an alert is generated and sent to the vehicle device and the client device where it is displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2024
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: Alert The Mechanism LLC
    Inventors: David W. Newland, Shane M. Hopkins
  • Patent number: 12187192
    Abstract: A vehicle lighting system includes a lighting assembly that is disposed along an interface between a hood of a vehicle and a fender of the vehicle. A vehicle lighting method includes securing a lighting assembly at a position between a fender and a hood of a vehicle. The lighting assembly extends along a vertically upper end of the fender. The method further includes emitting light from the lighting assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Aaron B. Johnson, Luciano Lukacs, Michael L. Merritt, Joshua D. Schwab
  • Patent number: 12187215
    Abstract: A display module installed on a device of a vehicle is disclosed. The device includes an airbag module having an inflator and an airbag, and the airbag is configured to be inflated by a gas produced by the inflator. The display module includes a display panel. The display panel is disposed on the airbag module when the airbag is not inflated by the gas. The display panel is secured to the device of the vehicle when the airbag is inflated by the gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: InnoLux Corporation
    Inventors: Yuan-Lin Wu, Tsung-Han Tsai, Kuan-Feng Lee
  • Patent number: 12181121
    Abstract: An automobile funeral light including a housing assembly, an electronic assembly, and an attaching assembly. Housing assembly includes a housing with a hollow body and a lid placed in a rear side thereof. Electronic assembly is housed inside the housing, having a plurality of LED strobes placed on the lateral sides, top side, and bottom sides of the housings, wherein the plurality of LED strobes is actuated wirelessly by means of an integral remote device and/or by means of a button placed on the housing. A rechargeable battery placed inside the housing powers the plurality of LED strobes. Attaching assembly includes a magnet, wherein the magnet is placed in a rear side of the housing and is used to be removably attachable to a vehicle, thereby the LED strobes provides warning visibility to oncoming traffic during a procession.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Inventor: Bobbie Branch
  • Patent number: 12148287
    Abstract: An antenna apparatus includes a bottom member mounted on the vehicle, an antenna module including at least one antenna and disposed on a first portion of the bottom member, at least one light emitting element disposed on a second portion of the bottom member, and a cover member coupled to the bottom member to surround the antenna module and the at least one light emitting element therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, KIA Corporation
    Inventor: Sang Heun Lee
  • Patent number: 12139066
    Abstract: Devices, systems and methods for controlling an exterior and dashboard lights of an autonomous vehicle are described. One example of a method for controlling one or more exterior lights includes receiving, from an autonomous driving system (ADS) of the vehicle, an input to control one or more exterior lights that are part of a lighting system of the vehicle, and transmitting, based on the input, a message to a controller area network (CAN) bus of the lighting system, the message being further based on a driver command upon a determination that a driver-initiated message is received. In an example, the lighting system of the vehicle further comprises a plurality of dashboard lights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: TUSIMPLE, INC.
    Inventors: Yu-Ju Hsu, Xiaoling Han, Jay Day, Jeffrey Renn, Bret Vanatta
  • Patent number: 12134345
    Abstract: An embodiment vehicle includes an emergency light, a plurality of detectors, a communication device, and a processor configured to determine whether the vehicle is in a normal state based on detection information of the plurality of detectors when the emergency light is in a turned-on state, determine a turning-on cause of the emergency light based on current location information received by the communication device when it is determined that the vehicle is in the normal state, and control the communication device to transmit guide information corresponding to the determined turning-on cause of the emergency light to an external device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2024
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventor: Kyu Hyung Lim
  • Patent number: 12115904
    Abstract: A vehicle control system for controlling the activation of brake lights on a vehicle may include a pedal angle sensor operably coupled to a brake pedal of a vehicle to measure brake pedal angle, an electronic brake boost (EBB) system which may include an EBB module and a pedal travel sensor, a vehicle control module (VCM) which may monitor the EBB system and a brake light control module which may be operably coupled to the EBB module and the pedal angle sensor. The brake light control module may control the operation of brake lights on the vehicle based on input from the pedal travel sensor in a first state. The brake light control module may switch to a second state in which the operation of the brake lights may be controlled based on input from the pedal angle sensor responsive to the brake light control module detecting state change criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Techologies, LLC
    Inventors: Roberto Villegas Muriel, Harold John Felch, Luis Manuel Noriega, Ricardo Gutierrez
  • Patent number: 12109938
    Abstract: A system for signaling a hazard condition of a vehicle includes a microprocessor configured to receive an electronic signal from the vehicle that is indicative of a hazardous condition involving the vehicle, and a first radio transmitter in operative communication with the microprocessor. In response to receiving the signal indicative of a hazardous event, the microprocessor sends a first wireless signal via the first radio transmitter that indicates the vehicle is involved in the hazardous condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: ESS-Help, Inc.
    Inventors: David M. Tucker, Stephen T. Powers, Mike Incorvaia, Austin Reece Tucker
  • Patent number: 12097845
    Abstract: A method for identifying high-risk driving situations in driving data may include receiving driving data, identifying trigger events in the driving data, and using the trigger events in combination with first portions of the driving data corresponding to periods of time preceding the trigger events, training a machine learning model to identify features, in the driving data, associated with the trigger events. The method may further include using second portions of the driving data where no trigger events are identified, further training the machine learning model to ignore features common to both the first portions and the second portions. The method further includes detecting a high risk driving situation in real time driving data by using the machine learning model to identify the features associated with the trigger events, and performing a defensive driving maneuver in response to the detection of the high risk driving situation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC.
    Inventors: Ryan Marcotte, Marcus McCoy Hammond
  • Patent number: 12077094
    Abstract: A system for alerting motorists travelling on a roadway in a vicinity of a vehicle is disclosed. The system includes one or more projector units, and a respective attachment structure for each of the one or more projector units for attaching the projector units to a portion of the vehicle. The one or more projector units are configured and arranged to project a light signal on to at least a portion of the roadway adjacent the vehicle and in a travel path of the motorist. The one or more projector units include at least one light flare projector unit and/or at least one signage projector unit. A school bus incorporating the system is also disclosed. A method for alerting motorists travelling on a roadway in the vicinity of a vehicle is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: SMARTREND MANUFACTURING GROUP (SMG), INC.
    Inventors: David Beernaert, Kevin Smith, Meng Liang, Andrew McKay, Jorgen Kaspick
  • Patent number: 12071088
    Abstract: The present invention discloses components adapted to provide safety features in a living compartment, including an automotive vehicle. More precisely, there is disclosed a safety system for an automotive vehicle comprising electronic control units, comprising: a safety module in communication with one or more sensors of the automotive vehicle and the one or more electronic control units, wherein the safety module, upon detection of a condition by the sensors, is designed to signal one of the electronic control unit to operate according to a safety protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: KS2 CORP INC.
    Inventor: Anthony Scappaticci
  • Patent number: 12071132
    Abstract: A vehicular trailer hitching assist system includes a rearward-viewing camera disposed at a vehicle and viewing a hitch of the vehicle and a trailer coupler of a trailer that is positioned rearward of the vehicle and not coupled to the hitch of the vehicle. The vehicular trailer hitching assist system, via image processing of image data captured by the rearward-viewing camera, determines height of the trailer coupler relative to the hitch of the vehicle. The vehicular trailer hitching assist system, responsive to the determined height of the trailer coupler relative to the hitch of the vehicle being greater than a threshold amount, generates a signal to adjust the height of the trailer coupler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: Magna Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Harold E. Joseph, Jagdish Rathod, Jyothi P. Gali, Alexander Velichko
  • Patent number: 12063724
    Abstract: A vehicle brake light system connected to a brake of a vehicle, the vehicle brake light system including at least one graduated tail light, including a a plurality of lights to illuminate a plurality of colors in response to the brake of the vehicle being depressed at a plurality of levels of force, and a brake sensor connected to the brake of the vehicle to detect a level of force on the brake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2024
    Inventor: Melissa Bunke
  • Patent number: 12033506
    Abstract: Examples provide emergency vehicle warning light device activation digital alerts to recipients. An alert manager monitors activation of smart light devices on an emergency vehicle. When smart light device activation is detected, the alert manager generates a digital alert notification including notification data. The notification data identifies the current location of the emergency vehicle. The notification is transmitted to one or more selected recipients. The notification data in the digital alert notification is used to generate a digital alert on a user interface device or other output device associated with each recipient. The system determines when to provide digital alerts by applying user-configurable rules to notification data for customizable digital alerts to selected recipients. The digital alerts can include emergency vehicle indicators identifying the location of emergency vehicles having activated emergency lights within digital maps displayed to users in vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: Feniex Industries
    Inventors: Hamza Deyaf, Kyle Hale, Nicholas Cameron Marth, Aaron Brown, Geoffrey Salazar, Tom Duong
  • Patent number: 12021575
    Abstract: A method for predictively estimating the transmission conditions for a communication between two communication partners traveling along a roadway, wherein the communication partners themselves estimate the current transmission conditions. The communication partners use the estimated transmission conditions of a number of preceding communication partners to better estimate the transmission conditions for a future time. The communication partners themselves also estimate the transmission conditions for the future time based on a sensor-based detection of the surroundings and merging the estimation results obtained in this way with the results obtained from the preceding transportation vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Roman Alieiev, Guillaume Jornod
  • Patent number: 12012311
    Abstract: A system and method for construction of a framed structure which permits on-site storage and relocation of construction materials using trolleys and cranes supported by the framed structure. The system provides a runway surface for removable attachment of trolleys, crane bridges, and platforms by offsetting the first longitudinal beam and a second longitudinal beam from a cross beam and where the first longitudinal beam, second longitudinal beam, and cross beam of the system provide components for the framed structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: Bechtel Energy Technologies & Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Churchill, John Manuel, Ivan Ku, Justin Monson
  • Patent number: 11987943
    Abstract: A traffic marker illumination device for improving the visibility of a traffic marker to provide warnings for constructions sites and roadways. The traffic marker illumination device is designed to removably attach to an interior portion of a traffic marker. The traffic marker illumination device generates a light to illuminate the traffic marker based on the geographic position of the traffic marker and surrounding environmental elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: Safety X Enterprises, LLC
    Inventors: Peter A. Reckert, David Alton Chamblee, Tristan Tyler Neal, Bobby Dayle Price
  • Patent number: 11981254
    Abstract: A system prevents activation of strobe lights on a vehicle in response to events calculated to indicate a nuisance activation. Directional strobing may be activated based on input from vehicles systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: ESS-Help, Inc.
    Inventors: John Zachariah Cobb, Daniel Anthony Tucker, David M. Tucker, Stephen T. Powers, Austin Reece Tucker, Kenneth E. Wagner, Mike Incorvaia
  • Patent number: 11975648
    Abstract: A communication light device for vehicles having a number of light sources, having an elongated optical unit for generating a light signature, having a control unit for controlling the number of light sources such that a locally and/or temporally variable light emission and/or illuminated area is generated in the longitudinal extent of the elongated optical unit, wherein the communication light device is designed as a body styling part that is arranged on an exterior of the vehicle body and extends in the horizontal direction all the way along a front end and/or all the way along a rear end of the vehicle and/or all the way or partially along a longitudinal side of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Hella GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Marc Kaup, Heinrich Schaefer
  • Patent number: 11952071
    Abstract: A first lamp unit and a second lamp unit arranged in a given direction are provided, luminous intensity of the second lamp unit in a lamp forward direction is set to be higher than luminous intensity of the first lamp unit in the lamp forward direction, and the first lamp unit and the second lamp unit are turned on sequentially with time difference. Thus, since the first lamp unit and the second lamp unit having different luminous intensity and being arranged in the given direction are turned on sequentially with time difference, it is visually recognized that emitted light flows from one side to the other, and the light is emitted from both the first lamp unit and the second lamp unit that has higher luminous intensity than that of the first lamp unit. Thus, it is possible to ensure high conspicuity in addition to improvement of functionality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Riri Hikosaka, Yuji Ishihara
  • Patent number: 11922739
    Abstract: Systems and methods for dynamically assessing vehicle operation are described. According to certain aspects, an electronic device may accumulate telematics data associated with operation of a vehicle, where the telematics data indicates a location of the vehicle. The electronic device may retrieve additional telematics data of additional vehicles operating at or near the location, and compare the accumulated telematics data to the additional telematics data. The electronic device may dynamically generate and display a data visualization indicating the analysis for review by an operator of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: BLUEOWL, LLC
    Inventors: Steven J. Harris, Kenneth J. Sanchez, Eric Dahl
  • Patent number: 11905743
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a storage compartment having a door panel movable between closed and open positions allowing access to the storage compartment, a user input device located within the storage compartment, and a latch assembly for latching the door panel in the closed position. The latch assembly includes a first release stage in the closed position allowing the door panel to move to an intermediate position between the open and closed positions and a second release stage allowing the door panel to move to the open position. The vehicle also includes a vehicle speed sensor sensing vehicle speed and a controller monitoring the sensed vehicle speed and detecting a user input to the user input device and controlling the latch assembly to selectively allow the door panel to move to one of the intermediate and open positions based on the sensed vehicle speed and the detected user input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Annette Lynn Huebner, Kristin Ann Hellman, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Peter Phung
  • Patent number: 11890986
    Abstract: A notification device provided in a vehicle including an autonomous driving system which causes the vehicle to travel by autonomous driving and to evacuate the vehicle when a failure occurs, includes a display unit configured to display information toward an outside of the vehicle, and a display controller configured to control the display unit. The display controller causes the display unit to be turned on or flicker when a failure occurs and changes a display of the display unit in at least one of a time when an evacuation starts and a time when an evacuation is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Junichi Morimura, Tomoyuki Kuriyama
  • Patent number: 11859782
    Abstract: An AC two-wire LED high voltage lamp string with synchronous dimming and color adjustment comprises a high voltage controller and a lamp string group, wherein the high voltage controller comprises a control box, and a first power supply module, a switch control circuit and a first microcontrol unit which are arranged in the control box and connected in sequence; the first power supply module is connected with the switch control circuit and the first microcontrol unit; a second microcontrol unit. The present invention modulates and encodes a high voltage sine wave using the switch control circuit at the controller end and demodulates the sine wave at a bulb end to realize the functions of color change timing, flashing, timing and light control of lamp strings. The lamp strings can be used individually or connected in series and in parallel for use, to satisfy different needs of consumers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Inventors: Xueren Zeng, Jiawei Li, Rongqu Tang, Jianping Yan, Lizong Hu, Wei Yi, Xiaofeng Tang
  • Patent number: 11813977
    Abstract: A safety system for a motor vehicle equipped with a power take-off (PTO) drive assembly includes an electrical circuit coupled to a hazard warning system of the motor vehicle. The hazard warning system includes at least one flasher lamp electrically powered by a battery of the motor vehicle and a control switch for activating and deactivating the at least one flasher lamp. The electrical circuit includes an electrical relay coupled to the actuating or control element in which the electrical relay is triggered only when the flasher lamp(s) are energized. In one version, the control or actuating element is an air solenoid operatively coupled to the electrical relay and further disposed relative to an air line between the cab control and an air shifter of the PTO drive assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: DEL Hydraulics, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Zdzislaw Zawadzki, Paul Henry Martin, Matthew Jacob Czerniejewski
  • Patent number: 11813984
    Abstract: An alighting support device performs warning to notify a vehicle occupant of presence of a moving body having a possibility to come into contact with a right door or a left door of the vehicle. The alighting support device performs the warning when a warning condition is satisfied. When the right door or the left door is opened or is about to be opened while the moving body is moving in a right warning area set on the right side of the vehicle or a left warning area set on the left side of the vehicle, the alighting support device determines that the warning condition is satisfied. When the moving body enters the right warning area or the left warning area with the right door or the left door being open to a predetermined degree or more, the alighting support device determines that the warning condition is not satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koji Takeuchi, Noriyuki Saitoh, Iwao Izumikawa, Junya Fukuta
  • Patent number: 11813979
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a vehicle approach notification device and a picking truck. The vehicle approach notification device includes a first illumination portion provided on a cab capable of elevation; a second and a third illumination portion provided on a vehicle body incapable of elevation; and a control unit that (1) turns on the first illumination portion and off other illumination portions when a travel state of the vehicle body is backward travel and an elevation position is lower than a predetermined threshold value; (2) turns on the second illumination portion and off other illumination portions when the travel state is backward travel and the elevation position is equal to or higher than the threshold value; (3) turns on the third illumination portion and off other illumination portions when the travel state of vehicle is forward travel; and (4) turns off all illumination portions when the travel state is travel stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Logisnext Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ryohei Terao
  • Patent number: 11797787
    Abstract: Vehicle mounted Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) systems and associated methods are provided. An example vehicle mounted RFID system is configured to operate an RFID system in a high-power mode. The example vehicle mounted RFID system is further configured to determine that an operating state of a vehicle switched from an active charging state to an inactive state. The example vehicle mounted RFID system is further configured to, in response to determine that the operating state of the vehicle switched from the active charging state to the inactive state, initialize a timer for a period of time. The example vehicle mounted RFID system is further configured to, in response to an elapse of the period of time, switch the RFID system to a low-power mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: INTERMEC IP CORP.
    Inventors: Bruce Morton, Rene Martinez, Richard Blair
  • Patent number: 11787346
    Abstract: A system for providing security functions to a vehicle may comprise a chassis and a drone. The chassis may be configured to be mounted on top of the vehicle. The chassis may include a drone port for housing a drone. The drone may include a camera. The camera of the drone may be configured to capture images of objects outside of the chassis while the drone is positioned in the drone port. A device including the chassis may be a light bar and further include lights positioned at a periphery of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Axon Enterprise, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick W Smith, Gabriel Othman, Brandy Shaffer
  • Patent number: 11784589
    Abstract: A safety switching system and method for braking an electric motor in a mobile device. A multi-phase shorting system brakes the motor by diverting power from the motor windings. Multiple independent switching units each include a switch control unit controlling multiple normally-closed switches which, in response to a safety controller, close to connect a respective motor winding to electrical ground. An electromechanical brake system mechanically brakes the motor. An independent switching unit includes two normally-open switches which, in response to the safety controller, opens to activate an electromechanical brake. A feedback system communicates to the safety controller a switch failure of any of the switches either as a short circuit fault or an open circuit fault. The feedback system may include an analog and/or a digital feedback system. If a switch failure is detected, the safety controller may activate the multi-phase shorting system and the electromechanical brake system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Nidec Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Cosma Pabouctsidis, Nikolaos Adamopoulos, Dimitrios Papathanasopoulos, Steven C. Bartz
  • Patent number: 11772645
    Abstract: A system for predicting a door opening event of a vehicle includes an identity recognition device associated with an individual occupant profile. The system also includes one or more controllers in electronic communication with the identity recognition device, where the one or more controllers store one or more individual occupant profiles in memory of the one or more controllers that includes historical occupant behavior exhibited by one or more occupants associated with the identity recognition device. The one or more controllers execute instructions to determine a predetermined condition has occurred, where the predetermined condition indicates the vehicle is undergoing a potential engine off event. The one or more controllers determine a door opening event probability value based on at least the gear position probability value and the engine off probability value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Mohammad Naserian, Donald K. Grimm, Norman J. Weigert, Fan Bai, Vivek Vijaya Kumar, Akram M. Abdel-Rahman
  • Patent number: 11756353
    Abstract: A method includes detecting an event occurring on a vehicle. The vehicle includes at least one computing device that controls at least one operation of the vehicle. The at least one computing device includes a first computing device comprising system memory. In response to detecting the event, data is downloaded from the system memory to a non-volatile memory device of the vehicle. In some cases, a control action for the vehicle is implemented based on analysis of the downloaded data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Inventor: Junichi Sato
  • Patent number: 11745648
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a vehicle approach notification device and a picking truck. The vehicle approach notification device includes a first illumination portion provided on a cab capable of elevation; a second and a third illumination portion provided on a vehicle body incapable of elevation; and a control unit that (1) turns on the first illumination portion and off other illumination portions when a travel state of the vehicle body is backward travel and an elevation position is lower than a predetermined threshold value; (2) turns on the second illumination portion and off other illumination portions when the travel state is backward travel and the elevation position is equal to or higher than the threshold value; (3) turns on the third illumination portion and off other illumination portions when the travel state of vehicle is forward travel; and (4) turns off all illumination portions when the travel state is travel stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Logisnext Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ryohei Terao
  • Patent number: 11690151
    Abstract: A switched capacitor array having a plurality of capacitors arranged in a plurality of branches having different numbers of capacitors, and a plurality of switches connected to selectively couple the capacitors across the input or the output may be used for powering a variety of loads. A switched LED array may be dynamically configured based on a voltage supplied thereto, which may be supplied by a switched capacitor array. A lighting apparatus may be provided with first and second blocks, each block comprising a switched capacitor array, a switched LED array, and a control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: SIGNIFY HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Milen Moussakov, Gregory Bernard Sheehan
  • Patent number: 11676431
    Abstract: An improved black box data recorder for use with autonomous driving vehicles (AVD). In one embodiment, two cyclic buffers are provided to record vehicle sensors data. A first cyclic buffer records raw vehicle sensor data on a volatile memory, while a second cyclic buffer records the same vehicle sensor data, as compressed data, on a non-volatile memory. In a case of a collision or near collision, in one embodiment the buffers are flushed into a non-volatile (NV) storage for retrieval. As long as there is no power interruption, the raw vehicle sensor data will be accessible from the NV storage. If a power interruption occurs, the raw vehicle sensor data held in the volatile memory of the first cyclic buffer will be lost and only the compressed form of the vehicle sensor data from the second cyclic buffer will survive and be accessible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Gil Golov
  • Patent number: 11655955
    Abstract: The present invention provides a vehicle lamp structure, which includes a base, a circuit board, at least one first light-emitting element, a ring block, a first optical element and an optical cover. The circuit board is disposed above the base. The first light-emitting element is disposed on a top surface of the circuit board. The ring block is disposed above the circuit board. The first optical element is disposed above the first light-emitting element. The optical cover hoods the first optical element. Wherein, the ring block surrounds the first light-emitting element, and the first optical element and the optical cover are spaced by a distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Min Hsiang Corporation
    Inventors: Shang-Kuei Tai, Ying-Fang Tseng, Tung-Sheng Hsieh, Chih-Wei Shih
  • Patent number: 11648872
    Abstract: A display device provided in a vehicle that travels autonomously includes: a display unit configured to display information to an outside of the vehicle; a determination unit configured to determine whether a travel state of the vehicle is any one of a deceleration state, a stop state, and a start state, based on a detection result of an internal sensor of the vehicle; and a display control unit configured to display on the display unit the information corresponding to each of the deceleration state, the stop state, and the start state, based on a determination result of the determination unit. In response to the determination unit having determined that the vehicle is in the deceleration state, the display control unit is configured to display on the display unit the information including a display moving from an upper side to a lower side along a vertical direction of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Junichi Morimura
  • Patent number: 11639132
    Abstract: A traffic system including a first vehicle and a second vehicle. The first vehicle includes a communication unit, a detection device detecting an external situation around the first vehicle, and a microprocessor configured to perform recognizing a moving object based on the external situation detected, determining whether there is an approach risk indicating that a distance from the second vehicle to the moving object becomes equal to or shorter than a predetermined value, and outputting an approach signal when it is determined that there is the approach risk. The second vehicle includes a communication unit, a warning unit issuing an alarm outside of the second vehicle, and a microprocessor configured to perform controlling the warning unit so as to issue the alarm when the approach signal output from the first vehicle is received through the communication unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuki Yamoto
  • Patent number: 11634068
    Abstract: A display device provided in a vehicle that travels autonomously includes: a display unit configured to display information to an outside of the vehicle; a determination unit configured to determine whether a travel state of the vehicle is any one of a deceleration state, a stop state, and a start state, based on a detection result of an internal sensor of the vehicle; and a display control unit configured to display on the display unit the information corresponding to each of the deceleration state, the stop state, and the start state, based on a determination result of the determination unit. In response to the determination unit having determined that the vehicle is in the deceleration state, the display control unit is configured to display on the display unit the information including a display moving from an upper side to a lower side along a vertical direction of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Junichi Morimura
  • Patent number: 11634007
    Abstract: A waste service management system, method, and computer program product improve waste services by responding to air quality that is outside and inside a waste service vehicle. A controller monitors at least one exterior air quality sensor that is mounted to, and exposed to air exterior to, the waste service vehicle. The controller monitors at least one interior air quality sensor that is mounted to the waste service vehicle and exposed to air interior to a waste hauling body that is one of carried and attached to the waste service vehicle. The controller compares measurement levels of exterior and interior airborne chemical constituents to one or more corresponding air quality thresholds. The controller presents a notification on a user interface device indicating any exceedance of the air quality threshold and an associated origin of one of the exterior air and the interior air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Rubicon Technologies, LLC.
    Inventor: Philip Rodoni
  • Patent number: 11631330
    Abstract: A vehicle control device includes an external situation recognition unit configured to recognize a crossing person who crosses over a path of a vehicle and acquire information on the crossing person and information on an environment where the crossing person crosses, a scheduled departure time deciding unit configured to decide a scheduled departure time of the vehicle based on the information on the crossing person and the environment where the crossing person crosses when the crossing person is recognized by the external situation recognition unit, and an informing controller configured to perform a control to inform an outside of the vehicle of the scheduled departure time. The scheduled departure time deciding unit predicts a crossing completion time at which the crossing person recognized by the external situation recognition unit completes the crossing and decides the scheduled departure time based on the crossing completion time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Junichi Morimura, Junya Watanabe, Seiji Arakawa
  • Patent number: 11624501
    Abstract: A high voltage control box with light sensing and timing functions is formed by matching an upper cover and a bottom plate; the upper cover is provided with a rocker switch, a light guide column and a knob; a button switch and a knob switch are arranged in the high voltage control box; the button switch is matched with the rocker switch; the knob switch is matched with the knob; a circuit board is arranged in the high voltage control box; and the button switch and the knob switch are arranged on the circuit board. The high voltage control box with light sensing and timing functions in the present invention controls the switch of the bulbs and the switch time through light sensing and timing of the plurality of lamp strings, enhances intelligence of the lamp strings without manual control, and enhances the market competitiveness of products while saving power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Inventors: Xueren Zeng, Zhenzhong Kong, Chunlai Ge, Shengfeng Ge
  • Patent number: 11597361
    Abstract: A method of braking a host vehicle traveling behind a second vehicle includes acquiring visual images of the second vehicle and determining an actual deceleration of the second vehicle based on the visual images. Non-visible light emitted by the second vehicle is detected. A commanded deceleration of the second vehicle is determined based on the detected light. A first signal is produced indicative of the actual deceleration. A second signal is produced indicative of the commanded deceleration. Braking of the host vehicle is initiated in response to at least one of the first and second signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventor: Stephen Osterhoff
  • Patent number: 11590887
    Abstract: A system provides for strobing or high conspicuity signaling with vehicle hazard and other lights depending upon inputs and parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: ESS-Help, Inc.
    Inventors: David M. Tucker, Stephen T. Powers, Andrew Coetzee, Mike Incorvaia, Julian Dench, Michael O'Brien, Daniel Anthony Tucker, Austin Reece Tucker, James Sullivan
  • Patent number: 11554733
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of a vehicle body shield having a light mount. The vehicle body shield can protect portions of a vehicle from damage when the vehicle is in motion and also provide illumination to regions around or in front of a vehicle via light sources supported by the light mount. The vehicle body shield can have a protection surface facing away from the vehicle, an attachment surface facing towards the vehicle, and a light mount extending upward from at least a portion of the attachment surface and between first and second ends of the vehicle body shield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Lund, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Gauci, Carlos Gutierrez
  • Patent number: 11518298
    Abstract: A system has a microcontroller with operative control of a set of vehicle lights including an ability to flash all of the set of vehicle signal lights simultaneously as hazard flashers and an ability to strobe all of the set of vehicle signal lights as high conspicuity emergency lighting. Upon receipt of an indication from a vehicle data bus that the vehicle is slowing as a result of a stopping event, the microcontroller determines a speed of the vehicle and strobes the set of vehicle signal lights as high conspicuity emergency lighting if the speed of the vehicle is below a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: ESS-Help, lnc.
    Inventors: John Zachariah Cobb, Daniel Anthony Tucker, David M. Tucker, Stephen T. Powers, Austin Reece Tucker, Kenneth E. Wagner, Mike Incorvaia
  • Patent number: 11511660
    Abstract: A system and method of controlling a surrounding lamp system of a vehicle are provided. The method includes sensing an approach of the user to the vehicle acquiring an image of the user with respect to a vehicle body, when the user approaches the vehicle body. A motion of the user, the motion having directionality with respect to the vehicle body is determined from the image and a surrounding lamp is then operated based on the motion having directionality with respect to the vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Dong Eun Cha, Jin Ho Hwang, Sang Heon Lee, Julliana Cho, Jin Seok Seo, Byoung Oh Choi
  • Patent number: 11465555
    Abstract: A safety lighting system for use with trailers is described herein. In some embodiments, the trailer lighting system comprises a sensor, a controller, and safety lights. The safety lighting system may be used for illuminating trailers while being towed, for example, in shipping yards, construction yards, and shipping and receiving docks. The safety lighting system may be activated upon connection of a pneumatic system with a spotting tractor and deactivated upon establishing an electrical connection from a tractor to the trailer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: IdeaTek Equity Group, LLC
    Inventor: Steven Adam Schrag