Hazard Warning Or Distress Signalling Patents (Class 340/471)
  • 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
  • Patent number: 11459215
    Abstract: A safety system for a load carrying machine including: a controller, a location sensing arrangement in electronic communication with the processor, the location sensing arrangement configured to determine a location parameter of a load, a monitoring arrangement, the controller configured to receive the location parameter and determine a projected area of the load and control the monitoring arrangement to focus on the projected area to monitor the projected area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Hong Kong R&D Centre for Logistics and Supply Chain Management Enabling Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Kwong Yeung Simon Wong, Chun Wai Lai, Chi Wai Leung
  • Patent number: 11419196
    Abstract: A warning light control system based on dangerous behavior detection includes a plurality of red light-emitting diodes, a plurality of blue light-emitting diodes, a control element, a circuit board, and a lampshade. The plurality of red light-emitting diodes and the plurality of blue light-emitting diodes are disposed at one end of the circuit board. The control element is disposed at another end of the circuit board. The lampshade is disposed above the plurality of red light-emitting diodes, the plurality of blue light-emitting diodes, the control element, and the circuit board. The lampshade comprises a lens for concentrating and emitting light uniformly. The lampshade is fixed on a top of a police car. Wherein, the number of the plurality of red light-emitting diodes is equal to the number of the plurality of blue light-emitting diodes. The system acts a deterrent effect on the dangerous behavior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: YUYAO FEITE PLASTIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shanqin Zhang
  • Patent number: 11390497
    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: April 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: BECHTEL ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES & SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Robert Churchill, John Manuel, Ivan Ku, Justin Monson
  • Patent number: 11368284
    Abstract: A system is disclosed that may comprise: one or more processors of a center node, wherein the center node is a vehicle computer; and memory of the center node, wherein the memory stores instructions executable by the one or more processors, the instructions comprising to: determine a first network comprising the center node and a plurality of member nodes based on a mesh network of the center node and the plurality of member nodes; add at least one virtual node to the first network; and using the first network, exchange cryptographic data between the at least one virtual node, the center node, and the plurality of member nodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Perry Robinson MacNeille, John Michael Galan Ferrer, Prashant Rao, Taylor Hawley, Joseph Wisniewski, Fling Finn Tseng
  • Patent number: 11366476
    Abstract: Systems and methods are directed to deploying warning devices by an autonomous vehicle. In one example, a system includes one or more processors and memory including instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations. The operations include obtaining data indicating that a vehicle stop maneuver is to be implemented for an autonomous vehicle. The operations further include determining whether one or more warning devices should be dispensed from the autonomous vehicle during the vehicle stop maneuver based in part on the obtained data. The operations further include, in response to determining one or more warning devices should be dispensed from the autonomous vehicle, determining a dispensing maneuver for the one or more warning devices, and providing one or more command signals to one or more vehicle systems to perform the dispensing maneuver for the one or more warning devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: UATC, LLC
    Inventors: Zac Vawter, Alden James Woodrow
  • Patent number: 11312333
    Abstract: Examples provide a multicolor light device having a plurality of lockable functions, such as color combinations and flash pattern functions. At production, one or more of the available functions are placed in a locked state in which the locked function is inoperable. The dealer or user can obtain an unlock code to unlock one or more light colors and/or flash patterns when desired. Thus, if a user wants the red and blue lights to be operable, the user can obtain one or more unlock codes to unlock the red and/or blue lights in the user-selected flash patterns and color combinations. When unlocked, the selected function operates normally. A data storage device on the multicolor light device stores an assigned UID, a set of available functions associated with the plurality of LED lights, and a lock status of each function in the set of available functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Feniex Industries
    Inventors: Hamza Deyaf, Kyle Hale, Nicholas Cameron Marth, Aaron Brown, Geoffrey Salazar
  • Patent number: 11034283
    Abstract: Device for controlling at least a first light source of a motor vehicle, the motor vehicle at least comprising the first light source being configured to provide a first light function and a second light source configured to provide a second light function, the device comprising: electrical means configured to detect activation of the second light source, and to deactivate the first light source after detection of activation of the second light source. Also, method for controlling at least a first light source of a motor vehicle, the motor vehicle comprising the first light source being configured to provide a first light function and a second light source configured to provide a second light function, the method comprising: electrically detecting activation of the second light source; and electrically deactivating the first light source after detecting activation of the second light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: VALEO ILUMINACION
    Inventors: Juan-Jose Santaella, Miguel-Angel Pena, Maria Marin, Antonio Domingo Illan, Juan Lara-Cabeza
  • Patent number: 10916165
    Abstract: A display system that produces an image that encodes both machine-readable and human-readable data is described. The image has two underlying patterns that are changed at two different rates. The rapidly changing image encodes the machine-readable data and the slower changing image encodes the human-readable data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Research Foundation of the City University of New York
    Inventor: Mark D. Feuer
  • Patent number: 10814779
    Abstract: A device for managing at least two light functions accommodated in a same motor vehicle light device, the managing device comprising a block of light sources for each light function, wherein the managing device further comprises: an input block configured to: provide a power supply common to the at least two light functions; indicate if the at least two light functions are activated or deactivated; a bias block configured to supply a stabilized reference voltage common to the at least two light functions; a switching block for each light function, one switching block of which is configured to deactivate one of the at least two light functions that is defined as secondary with respect to the other of the at least two light functions that is defined as having priority if the latter is activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: VALEO VISION BELGIQUE
    Inventors: Yves Dubois, Alexandre Franc, Arthur Guillaume Renaudeau
  • Patent number: 10766411
    Abstract: An electronic control unit (ECU) is disclosed. The ECU may receive a command associated with a vehicle. The ECU may actuate one or more lights on the vehicle in a first mode based on receiving the command. The ECU may transmit, while actuating the one or more lights in the first mode, the command to a vehicle controller associated with the vehicle. The ECU may actuate the one or more lights in a second mode based on receiving an acknowledgement of the command from the vehicle controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: James McKnight, David Bumpus
  • Patent number: 10595373
    Abstract: A dimming light emitting diode (LED) system comprises an LED driver. A switch-mode power supply controller is coupled to the LED driver to drive an LED light source array. The LED driver is configured to output an LED drive command to the switch-mode power supply controller to dim the LED light source array based on one or more LED parameters. The one or more LED parameters include a photometric response parameter, a gamma parameter, an aging parameter, a temperature parameter, or any combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: FULHAM COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventor: Mark Rumer
  • Patent number: 10424178
    Abstract: A child safety assembly includes a wristband that is selectively worn around a child's wrist. A lock is movably coupled to the wristband and the lock is selectively manipulated. The lock is selectively positioned in a locked position to retain the wristband on the wrist. The lock is selectively positioned in an unlocked position to facilitate the wristband to be removed from the wrist. An alert unit is coupled to the wristband and the alert unit is in thermal communication with the wristband's environment. The alert unit selectively emits an audible alarm and the alert unit is in wireless electrical communication with an electronic device. The alert unit emits the audible alarm when the alert unit detects a temperature of the wristband's environment falls below or rises above a trigger temperature. In this way the alert unit alerts a caregiver to a potential hazard with respect to the child.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Inventor: Alicia Thalhofer
  • Patent number: 10308169
    Abstract: The auxiliary vehicle direction light is an optical signaling system. The auxiliary vehicle direction light is adapted for use with an emergency vehicle. The auxiliary vehicle direction light is a visual display that indicates the intended direction of the emergency vehicle when the emergency vehicle is in route to its dispatched destination. The auxiliary vehicle direction light comprises one or more displays, a logical device, and a plurality of inputs. The emergency device provides the plurality of inputs to the logical device. The logical device converts the plurality of inputs into a plurality of control signals that are used to control the plurality of display. Each of the plurality of control signals instructs a display selected from the one or more displays to illuminate a directional signal selected from a plurality of directional signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Inventors: Bryon Weedon, Gail Weedon
  • Patent number: 10293744
    Abstract: An automatic turn-signal system including a steering wheel, a first turn-signal switch and a second turn-signal switch. The steering wheel is associated with a vehicle. The first turn-signal switch is mounted to the steering wheel. The second turn-signal switch is mounted to the steering wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Inventor: Jan H. Lovlie
  • Patent number: 10266102
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for configuring automotive lamp illumination control are provided. One example method includes, at a computing device, generating a graphical user interface for configuring at an automotive lamp illumination pattern. The graphical user interface includes user input elements and is displayed by way of a display device. An input command is received by way of at least one of the plurality of user input elements. The input command corresponds to the at least one of the user input elements. A message is transmitted to an automotive lamp control device by way of a communication path including a first communication port of the computing device and a second communication port of the automotive lamp control device, based on the received input command. The message is received at the automotive lamp control device, and an action is performed in response to receiving the message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Inventor: Joseph P. Zizzadoro
  • Patent number: 10152875
    Abstract: An unexpected event detection system is provided for a rider operating an electric bicycle. The system includes a bicycle data unit configured to receive bicycle data from the electric bicycle; a wireless device data unit configured to receive device data from a wireless device; an unexpected event module coupled to receive the bicycle data from the bicycle data unit and to receive the device data from the wireless device, the unexpected event module configured to identify an unexpected event associated with the electric bicycle based on the bicycle data and the device data and to generate an alert message upon identification of the unexpected event; and an alert module coupled to the unexpected event module and configured to initiate sending the alert message to an assistance center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Sepehr Pourrezaei Khaligh, Norman J. Weigert, Scott Calnek
  • Patent number: 10127742
    Abstract: A portable controller device having an OBD-II port interface and a microcontroller that interacts with a vehicle network through the interface, including programming for querying successively the vehicle network for one or more parameter, and for retrieving values for the parameter returned from the network. The retrieving values for the parameter returned from the network is compared with an inferring response or parameter value, such as an absence of a response to query of the monitoring parameter, that if satisfied can infer that the journey status of the vehicle has changed from ‘underway’ to ‘ended’, and identifies the monitoring parameter as a candidate parameter. The journey status can be confirm as ‘ended’ when successive querying of the candidate parameter returns the same an absence of a response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: SEIBERT WILLIAMS GLASS, LLC
    Inventor: Joseph J. Seibert
  • Patent number: 10035481
    Abstract: The Independent lighting and signalling kit (10) is an innovative light system of semi-trailers trailers (7), campers and trucks that uses the best technologies. It is able to recover alternative energy and convert it into electric energy, accumulating it in the appropriate batteries (4), if necessary in situations that ensure road safety is improved, saving human lives. It is a system that is completely independent of the structure of the vehicle that can be installed subsequently. The disclosed device is able to improve road safety, reduce road accidents involving vehicles that collide against trailers or semitrailers parked in rest areas with poor or no visibility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Inventor: Domenico Amabile
  • Patent number: 9928714
    Abstract: A child tracking bracelet includes a bangle, and a body or locking mechanism which locks the bangle in place. The body is provided with a GPS positioning chip allowing a parent or guardian to track the location of a child bearing the bracelet if the child becomes lost. In some embodiments, the body comprises a receiver, a transceiver, and/or a speaker. The tracking bracelet, in some embodiments, is programmable to emit an alert when a child wanders beyond a determined distance from a separate device or when the bracelet is cut or removed. The GPS positioning chip is in logical connectivity with a control circuit, and powered by a battery. The specific position of a child can be accurately determined. The bracelet may be alternatively locked to an ankle, backpack, or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Inventor: Jens Lovell
  • Patent number: 9888885
    Abstract: A mobile terminal includes a terminal body that is wearable on a part of a user's body. A wireless communication unit of the mobile terminal connects to an e-Call system of a vehicle and receives information related to a state of the vehicle. A detecting unit of the mobile terminal detects a biometric signal of the user that is sensed by at least one sensor provided in the terminal body. A controller is configured to, based on an accident event of the vehicle being detected from the received information related to the state of the vehicle, analyze the detected biometric signal to obtain state information of the user. Based on a predetermined condition being satisfied, the controller cooperates with the e-Call system of the vehicle and transmits the obtained state information of the user and the information related to a state of the vehicle to a call center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sungje An, Kwangjae Lee, Seungman Kim
  • Patent number: 9884631
    Abstract: Arrangements relating to the transitioning of a vehicle between operational modes are described. The vehicle can transition between a first operational mode and a second operational mode. The second operational mode has a greater degree of manual involvement than the first operational mode. For instance, the first operational mode can be an unmonitored autonomous operational mode, and the second operational mode can be a monitored autonomous operational mode or a manual operational mode. It can be determined whether an operational mode transition event has occurred while the vehicle is operating in the first operational mode. In response to determining that an operational mode transition event has occurred, a time buffer for continuing in the first operational mode before switching to the second operational mode can be determined. A transition alert can be presented within the vehicle. The transition alert can represent the determined time buffer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Michael R. James, Katsuhiro Sakai, Toshiki Kindo, Danil V. Prokhorov, Masahiro Harada
  • Patent number: 9867022
    Abstract: A method and system for providing emergency location detection service for a vehicle is disclosed. The method and system comprise receiving one or more dual tone multi frequency (DTMF) signals by a vehicle via an active communication channel. The one or more DTMF signals are decoded and perform a corresponding vehicle function. A system and method in accordance with the present invention allows Public Safety Answering Point or 3rd party emergency service provider to send (DTMF) signals over a communication channel to activate vehicle system functions remotely such as engaging vehicle horn, flashing of headlights and/or taillights or emitting radio signals for the purpose of identification of location of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Aeris Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: George Edward L. Schaefer, Jr., Robert B. Fultz, Steven A. Millstein