Drive Capability Patents (Class 340/576)
  • Patent number: 11793468
    Abstract: A system and method of deploying a portable monitoring device. The method comprises inferring a rate of motion associated with the portable monitoring device; initiating, at a display screen of the portable monitoring device when the rate of motion is above a predetermined threshold, an image capture request; determining, responsive to the image capture request, a violation; and reporting the violation to a remote server communicatively coupled to the portable monitoring device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Consumer Safety Technology, LLC
    Inventor: Kimberly Williams
  • Patent number: 11789009
    Abstract: Embodiments include breath intoxicant monitoring systems and methods of operating a breath intoxicant monitoring system. In an embodiment, a breath intoxicant monitoring system, includes a first detection element, a second detection element, and a control module. The first detection element can be operable to detect a level of an intoxicant in a user's breath and to provide a continuous signal indicating the level of intoxicant. The second detection element can be operable to detect a level of the intoxicant. The second detection element includes a different type of element than the first detection element. The second detection element can have greater accuracy than the first detection element. The control module to selectively operate the second detection element based on the signal received from the first detection element, and to indicate whether the level of intoxicant in the user's breath exceeds a threshold. Other embodiments are also included herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Consumer Safety Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Scott Ruland, Douglas Edward DeVries
  • Patent number: 11787417
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method of assessing driver capability for operating an autonomous vehicle includes identifying a human operator of the autonomous vehicle, the human operator being associated with a driving capability profile. The method further includes signaling to the human operator with the signal, the signal requesting a response from the human operator. The method also includes updating, based on the response from the human operator to the signal, the driving capability profile to indicate a level of skill of the human operator at responding to the signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Brian Mark Fields, Leo Nelson Chan, Kristopher Keith Gaudin, Aaron Williams
  • Patent number: 11787415
    Abstract: A method of monitoring for circumvention of an ignition interlock system is described herein including detecting an electrical parameter associated with an electrical power state of a vehicle electrical system in a vehicle comprising an ignition interlock device that includes at least a relay device and a controller device electrically interconnected within the vehicle electrical system, measuring a rate of degradation associated with the electrical parameter of the vehicle electrical system, and comparing the electrical parameter to a threshold condition. The method further includes comparing the rate of degradation of the electrical parameter to a threshold rate. Depending on the rate of degradation, a violation state may be generated, a violation state may be reversed, a violation state may be maintained, a log entry may be generated, or more than one of these may occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Consumer Safety Technology, LLC
    Inventors: David Livingston Smith, Carol A. Vokes, Jennifer Johnson, Brian Clark
  • Patent number: 11786422
    Abstract: A support device has a main support surface for a person's body, including an auxiliary device influencing the main support surface shape. The auxiliary device includes: a group of supports supporting the main support surface, positioned on the side of the main support surface facing away from the body-supporting side, the supports each including a sub-support surface; an adjuster for each sub-support surface influencing the height of each sub-support surface. The device also includes a monitor for each sub-support surface monitoring the height of the respective sub-support surface; and a programmable control unit controlling the adjuster. The supports include an elastically bendable plate connected to the adjuster. The bending plate is connected to the sub-support surface to influence its height depending on the extent of bending imposed by the adjuster. The adjuster includes an electromotor on the concave side of the bending plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignees: HANS VOORWINDE BEHEER B.V., TINKE 7 MEI B.V.
    Inventors: Hans Voorwinde, Cornelis Willem Tinke
  • Patent number: 11780446
    Abstract: A vehicle device may execute one or more neural networks (and/or other artificial intelligence), such as based on input from one or more of the cameras and/or other sensors associated with the dash cam, to intelligently detect safety events in real-time. The vehicle device may further pass the input to a backend server for further analysis and the backend server can detect safety events based on the input. The vehicle device may analyze the output of the vehicle device and the output of the backend server to determine whether the output of the vehicle device is correct. If the output of the vehicle device is incorrect, the vehicle device can adjust how the vehicle device identifies safety events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Samsara Inc.
    Inventors: Sharan Srinivasan, Brian Tuan, John Bicket, Jing Wang, Muhammad Ali Akhtar, Abner Ayala Acevedo, Bruce Kellerman, Vincent Shieh
  • Patent number: 11783710
    Abstract: The systems and methods disclosed herein provide a risk prediction system that uses trained machine learning models to make predictions that a VRU will take a particular action. The system first receives, in a video stream, an image depicting a VRU operating a micro-mobility vehicle and extract the depictions from the image. The extraction process may be determined by bounding box classifiers trained to identify various VRUs and micro-mobility vehicles. The system feeds the extracted depictions to machine learning models and receives, as an output, risk profiles for the VRU and the micro-mobility vehicle. The risk profile may include data associated with the VRU/micro-mobility vehicle determined based on classifications of the VRU and the micro-mobility vehicles. The system may then generate a prediction that the VRU operating the micro-mobility vehicle will take a particular action based on the risk profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: HUMANISING AUTONOMY LIMITED
    Inventors: Raunaq Bose, Leslie Cees Nooteboom, Maya Audrey Lara Pindeus
  • Patent number: 11780458
    Abstract: A smart driver safety system for a vehicle is described. The system includes a drowsy driver detector, an attention diversion monitor, an automatic mirror adjustment subsystem, and a plurality of actuators. The drowsy driver detector determines a head position of the driver and detects an eye position of the driver's eyes. When the driver's eyes are closed, the drowsy driver detector determines a time duration of an eye closure and compares the time duration to a drowsiness threshold. When the eye closure exceeds the drowsiness threshold, the drowsy driver detector generates a drowsiness alert signal. The attention diversion monitor detects an attention diversion based on the eye position and the eye closure and generates an attention diversion alert signal. The automatic mirror adjustment subsystem adjusts a side mirror of the vehicle based on the eye position and the head position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University
    Inventors: Ahmed Abul Hussain, Saifullah Shafiq, Ahmed Abul Hasanaath, Tyma Amin Alnasser, Lujain Shaker Alawami, Lama Khalid Alrimali, Reem Raed Alkhater
  • Patent number: 11783613
    Abstract: Poses or gestures of actors within a scene may be detected and tracked using multiple imaging devices aligned with fields of view that overlap at least in part. Images captured by the imaging devices may be synchronized and provided to a classifier to recognize body parts within the images, and score maps indicative of locations of peak probabilities that the images include the respective body parts may be generated. Locations of peak values within the score maps may be correlated with one another to confirm that a given body part is depicted in two or more fields of view, and vectors indicative of distances to or ranges of motion of body parts, with respect to the given body part, may be generated. Motion of the body parts may be tracked in subsequent images, and a virtual model of the body parts may be generated and updated based on the motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jean Laurent Guigues, Leonid Pishchulin
  • Patent number: 11772674
    Abstract: A system for increasing the safety of voice conversations between drivers and remote parties is shown. The system includes an in-vehicle subsystem and a remote subsystem. The system includes a plurality of sensors which are configured to generate monitoring data. The system includes a computing device, which may be distributed between the subsystems and is configured to calculate a risk level as a function of the monitoring data. The computing device may engage an automatic safety response as a function of the risk level, that may include suspension or termination of on-going conversations among the parties, together with notification about the status of the communication channel. The safety response may be communicated to the driver by generating an alert. The in-vehicle and the remote subsystems communicate using a wireless connection and collaborate in engaging the automatic safety response and communicating any alerts to the driver and remote party using notifications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: TeleLingo LLC
    Inventors: Roberto Valter Sicconi, Malgorzata Elzbieta Stys, Cesar Gonzales
  • Patent number: 11772670
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to assisted driving of a vehicle. The response time of the driver may be measured and control operations may be adjusted to accommodate or compensate the response time of the driver. Predictive actions in anticipation of a slightly delayed input from the driver may be taken to avoid potentially dangerous conditions. A vehicle may be controlled to slow down to allow more time to a potential event to accommodate a slow response from the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Richard Noel Bielby
  • Patent number: 11767021
    Abstract: System, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to remotely assisting an operator that is impaired using alerts from a vehicle. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, by a first vehicle using a communications network, assistance information about an operator and a second vehicle near the first vehicle, wherein the assistance information indicates a state of the operator and a position of the second vehicle. The method also includes, upon approving an action according to the state and the position, selecting an alert that changes the state according to the position and attributes determined according to sensor data of the first vehicle. The method also includes activating the alert by the first vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Toyota Research Institute, Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yasuda, Manuel Ludwig Kuehner
  • Patent number: 11745744
    Abstract: A system and method for determining object-wise situational awareness that includes receiving data associated with a driving scene of a vehicle, an eye gaze of a driver of the vehicle, and alerts that are provided to the driver of the vehicle. The system and method also includes analyzing the data and extracting features associated with dynamic objects located within the driving scene, the eye gaze of the driver of the vehicle, and the alerts provided to the driver of the vehicle. The system and method additionally includes determining a level of situational awareness of the driver with respect to the each of the dynamic objects based on the features. The system and method further includes communicating control signals to electronically control at least one component of the vehicle based on the situational awareness of the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Teruhisa Misu, Chun Ming Samson Ho, Kumar Akash, Xiaofeng Gao, Xingwei Wu
  • Patent number: 11738758
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a control system for a vehicle, the vehicle (800) being operable in an at least partly autonomous mode and a manual mode, the control system comprising input means (291, 292) for receiving a gaze signal (211) indicative of a direction of a gaze of an occupant of the vehicle (800), and a contact signal (212) indicative of physical contact between the occupant and a control of the vehicle, control means (250, 260, 270, 280, 290) configured to determine an estimate of the occupant's attention to a driving task in the at least partly autonomous mode in dependence on the gaze signal (211) and to determine when the occupant is at least partly obscured relative to the at least one imaging means (150, 220), wherein the control means (250, 260, 270, 280, 290) is configured to determine the estimate of the occupant's attention to the driving task in dependence on the contact signal when it is determined that the occupant is at least partly obscured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: JAGUAR LAND ROVER LIMITED
    Inventors: Andrew Fairgrieve, Paul King, Rebecca Matthias, John Simlett, Nicolas Iacovou
  • Patent number: 11738780
    Abstract: Provided is a driving assistance apparatus (a control unit (100)) for a vehicle capable of hands-off driving that lets a driver take his or her hands off the steering wheel. The driving assistance apparatus includes a processor (10) configured to determine, on the basis of sensor information indicating a state of the driver, whether or not the driver is in a state unsuitable for the surrounding monitoring of the vehicle during the hands-off driving, warn the driver through a notification device when it is determined that the driver is in a state unsuitable for the surrounding monitoring, and notify the driver, through the notification device, of a request for holding the steering wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenichiroh Hara, Naruhisa Yoshida, Kazuhiro Tomosue, Shunichiroh Sawai, Naoki Nishimura, Takanori Kusakabe, Tomoyuki Yoshida, Shogo Konishi, Hirofumi Mori
  • Patent number: 11731636
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a system and method for determining responsiveness of a driver of a vehicle to feedback regarding driving behaviors. The system may include a sensor configured to generate output signals conveying first driving behavior information, which may characterize operation of the vehicle by the driver. The system may include one or more processors configured to obtain the first driving behavior information. The one or more processors may effectuate provision of feedback defined by feedback information based on the first driving behavior. The sensor may be configured to output signals conveying second driving behavior information, which may characterize operation of the vehicle by the driver during and/or subsequent to the provision of the feedback. The one or more processors may be configured to obtain the second driving behavior information and assess responsiveness of the driver to the feedback based on the second driving behavior information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: SmartDrive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Palmer, Mark Freitas, Daniel A. Deninger, David Forney, Slaven Sljivar, Alekh Vaidya, Jeffrey Griswold
  • Patent number: 11734896
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a display system comprising a head-mountable, augmented reality display is configured to perform a neurological analysis and to provide a perception aid based on an environmental trigger associated with the neurological condition. Performing the neurological analysis may include determining a reaction to a stimulus by receiving data from the one or more inwardly-directed sensors; and identifying a neurological condition associated with the reaction. In some embodiments, the perception aid may include a reminder, an alert, or virtual content that changes a property, e.g. a color, of a real object. The augmented reality display may be configured to display virtual content by outputting light with variable wavefront divergence, and to provide an accommodation-vergence mismatch of less than 0.5 diopters, including less than 0.25 diopters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Magic Leap, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicole Elizabeth Samec, Christopher M. Harrises, Mark Baerenrodt, Stephen Vincent Mangiat, Nastasja U. Robaina, Adam Carl Wright
  • Patent number: 11724702
    Abstract: A system for preventing an unauthorized and/or hazardous use of a vehicle. The system may include a first sensor; a driver recognition module in communication with the first sensor, the driver recognition module is configured to determine an identity of a driver based on readings of the first sensor; a second sensor; a driver condition determination module in communication with the second sensor, the driver condition determination module is configured to determine a condition of the driver based on readings of the second sensor; and a hazardous driving prevention module in communication with the driver recognition module and driver condition determination, the hazardous driving prevention module is configured to determine and perform one or more actions of a predetermined set of actions based on the determined identity and determined condition of the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: DYM SENSE LTD.
    Inventor: Dor Zarbel
  • Patent number: 11726340
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed that include a video processing system associated with a vehicle. The video processing system receives video data from at least one camera mounted to the vehicle, the video data representing an external scene, receives motion data, a virtual gaze direction of viewing of the external scene and a direction of facing of a head of a user. The video data is transformed based at least on a disparity between the virtual gaze direction and the direction of facing and based on the motion data. The transformed video data is displayed on a display device of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: John Suddreth, Kenneth Leiphon
  • Patent number: 11723571
    Abstract: A vehicle may include: a feedback device; a bio-signal sensor configured to measure a bio-signal of a user; and a controller operatively coupled to the feedback device and the bio-signal sensor, the controller including a memory configured to store at least one program instruction and processor configured to execute the at least one program instruction. The controller may be configured to: determine information characterizing a current emotional state of the user based on the bio-signal; calculate, based on a difference value between the current emotional state and a target emotional state, an operation ratio between a first mode for controlling operation of the feedback device to decrease a degree of excitability of the user and a second mode for controlling the operation of the feedback device to increase a degree of positivity of the user; and control the operation of the feedback device for a predetermined time based on the operation ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Jinmo Lee, Kaangdok Yee, Jung Keun You, Joongkwan Kim
  • Patent number: 11718307
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus to be applied to a vehicle includes a driver state-value detection processor, a road-surface-state detection processor, a threshold setting processor, a dangerous-driving determination processor, and a determination threshold changing processor. The driver state-value detection processor detects a state value of a driver who drives the vehicle. The road-surface-state detection processor detects a road-surface state of a road on which the vehicle is traveling. The threshold setting processor decides, based on the state value, one or more determination thresholds of a state to be determined as occurrence of dangerous driving. The dangerous-driving determination processor determines that the dangerous driving is occurring in a case where the state value is present within a range outside any of the one or more determination thresholds for a predetermined time period or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Fumiya Sato, Hideyuki Takao, Yui Ota
  • Patent number: 11709488
    Abstract: Vehicles may have the capability to navigate according to various levels of autonomous capabilities, the vehicle having a different set of autonomous competencies at each level. In certain situations, the vehicle may shift from one level of autonomous capability to another. The shift may require more or less driving responsibility from a human operator. Sensors inside the vehicle collect human operator parameters to determine an alertness level of the human operator. An alertness level is determined based on the human operator parameters and other data including historical data or human operator-specific data. Notifications are presented to the user based on the determined alertness level that are more or less intrusive based on the alertness level of the human operator and on the urgency of an impending change to autonomous capabilities. Notifications may be tailored to specific human operators based on human operator preference and historical performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Brian Mark Fields, Leo Nelson Chan, Kristopher Keith Gaudin, Aaron Williams
  • Patent number: 11707971
    Abstract: Embodiments generally relate to a method, an apparatus, and a machine-readable medium for delivering an at least one alerting scent to a cabin of a vehicle. In particular, embodiments relate to a method comprising obtaining information on an environment of the vehicle, determining an alert condition based on the information on the environment of the vehicle, and delivering the at least one alerting scent to the cabin of the vehicle based on the alert condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Etienne Iliffe-Moon, Brian Mok, Annabelle Coffinet
  • Patent number: 11706377
    Abstract: A unified imaging device used for detecting and classifying objects in a scene including motion and micro-vibrations by receiving a plurality of images of the scene captured by an imaging sensor of the unified imaging device comprising a light source adapted to project on the scene a predefined structured light pattern constructed of a plurality of diffused light elements, classifying object(s) present in the scene by visually analyzing the image(s), extracting depth data of the object(s) by analyzing position of diffused light element(s) reflected from the object(s), identifying micro-vibration(s) of the object(s) by analyzing a change in a speckle pattern of the reflected diffused light element(s) in at least some consecutive images and outputting the classification, the depth data and data of the one or more micro-vibrations which are derived from the analyses of images captured by the imaging sensor and are hence inherently registered in a common coordinate system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoav Zuta, Gideon Carmon, Roi Levy, Guy Raz
  • Patent number: 11685390
    Abstract: A driving assistance device executes processing relating to a behavior model of a vehicle. Detected information from the vehicle is input to a detected information inputter. An acquirer derives at least one of a travel difficulty level of a vehicle, a wakefulness level of a driver, and a driving proficiency level of the driver on the basis of the detected information that is input to the detected information inputter. A determiner determines whether or not to execute processing on the basis of at least one information item derived by the acquirer. If the determiner has made a determination to execute the processing, a processor executes the processing relating to the behavior model. It is assumed that the processor does not execute the processing relating to the behavior model if the determiner has made a determination to not execute the processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Koichi Emura
  • Patent number: 11689889
    Abstract: The described methods and systems decrease instances of distracted driving, encourage more frequent use of vehicle tracking services, and generally improve the risk profile of a driver and vehicle. These benefits are achieved by way of a vehicle computer system that incentivizes users to place mobile devices in a do-not-disturb (DND) mode and to activate vehicle tracking services. The vehicle computer system encourages these behaviors by enabling content delivery for devices within the vehicle based on the status of the mobile device(s) and the status of the vehicle tracking service(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: BlueOwl, LLC
    Inventor: Joel Peterson
  • Patent number: 11679777
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle travel control apparatus configured to, when a specific scene has not been detected, start deceleration control after a first set time has elapsed since alert processing is started, the vehicle travel control apparatus being further configured to, when the specific scene has been detected, start the deceleration control before the first set time has elapsed since the alert processing is started.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroshi Watanabe, Hiroki Yabushita, Masato Takagi
  • Patent number: 11670167
    Abstract: A method for providing a driver alert including receiving a traffic signal phase state and a time remaining in the traffic signal phase state, determining a move forward time in response to the traffic signal phase state being red and the time remaining in the traffic signal phase state, displaying the move forward time to a driver, determining a driver attentiveness level, and generating a driver alert in response to the driver attentiveness level being below a threshold attentiveness level and the move forward time being less than a threshold time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Mohammad Naserian, Feiyu Cong, Jie Zhu, Curtis L. Hay, Priya B. Abraham
  • Patent number: 11661195
    Abstract: An in-flight risk management system includes an eye sensor, a seat sensor, and one or more in-flight risk management computers that perform operations including: obtaining history information for a flight crew member, obtaining flight information associated with a flight on which the flight crew member will be present, determining, based on the history information and the flight information, a predicted fatigue profile for the flight crew member, determining, based on the predicted fatigue profile for the crew member, one or more fatigue indicator profiles for the flight crew member, obtaining, from at least one of the eye sensor or seat sensor, one or more measured fatigue indicator values associated with the flight crew member, generating, based on the one or more measured fatigue indicator values, one or more updated fatigue indicator profiles, and generating, based on the one or more updated fatigue indicator profiles, an updated predicted fatigue profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Federal Express Corporation
    Inventor: Suresh Rangan
  • Patent number: 11654931
    Abstract: The present invention provides a driving assistance device that assists driving of a vehicle, the driving assistance device including a notification unit configured to perform notification for recognition of a risk associated with traveling of the vehicle present in a surrounding situation to a driver of the vehicle, a determination unit configured to determine a degree of recognition of the risk by the driver based on a period of time from when a first detector no longer detects an accelerator operation to when a second detector detects the brake operation in response to the risk present in the surrounding situation, and a control unit configured to control the notification unit so that the notification according to the degree of recognition determined by the determination unit is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroko Adachi, Ryo Kimura, Takahiro Matsuoka, Tsuyoshi Nojiri
  • Patent number: 11654922
    Abstract: Driver attention and hand placement systems and methods are disclosed herein. An example method includes providing warning messages to a driver of a vehicle based on steering wheel input or hand-wheel contact by the driver. The warning messages are provided according to a first scheme when the steering wheel input is above a threshold value and according to a second scheme when the steering wheel input is below a threshold value and images obtained by a camera in the vehicle indicate that at least one hand of the driver is on the steering wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Keith Weston, Michael Alan Mcnees, Andrew Denis Lewandowski, Brendan Diamond, Jordan Barrett
  • Patent number: 11653864
    Abstract: A method quantitatively determines fusion capacity in conjugate eye movements of a subject. Visual stimuli are provided for stereopsis as a task for the subject, the stimuli being generated at a viewing angle relative to the primary viewing direction of the subject such that the subject must execute a movement of the viewing direction of the eyes away from the primary viewing direction. Each stimulus is presented for a period of time so that the subject perceives the respective stimulus. The subject reacts to the respective stimulus perceived thereby within a reaction time. The reaction time is determined as the duration between presentation of the relevant stimulus and the subject's motor response to the stimulus. The steps are carried out continuously with stimuli for stereopsis at varying cognitive degrees of difficulty. A series of measurements of reaction times is generated at different cognitive degrees of difficulty.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Inventor: Georg Michelson
  • Patent number: 11650727
    Abstract: A vehicle gesture control system for a host vehicle, the host vehicle including an adaptive cruise control or autonomous drive arrangement, the system including a sensor to detect gestures performed by a driver on the surface of a steering wheel grip in the host vehicle, the steering wheel grip including a circular tube surrounding a steering wheel that rotates about a steering column, and a processor receiving outputs from the sensor and connected to a memory unit storing instructions for the processor to activate a plurality of features of the adaptive cruise control or autonomous drive arrangement in response to a respective plurality of different gestures detected by the sensor, wherein two of the gestures represent “up” and “down” commands and include movement of the driver's thumb in opposite directions, respectively, around a lateral section of the steering wheel grip that faces the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: NEONODE INC.
    Inventors: Björn Alexander Jubner, Björn Thomas Eriksson, Gunnar Martin Fröjdh, Simon Greger Fellin, Stefan Johannes Holmgren
  • Patent number: 11647925
    Abstract: Techniques to detect a non-alert state of a user may include receiving sensor data from an ear-worn electronic device worn by a user, automatically determining whether to initiate an alertness mode of the ear-worn electronic device based on the sensor data, and determining an alertness state of the user in response to determining to initiate the alertness mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Justin R. Burwinkel, Kyle Olson, Jeffrey Paul Solum, Yoshi Kasahara, Gregory J. Haubrich, Christine Tan
  • Patent number: 11643087
    Abstract: A vehicle may include a steering angle sensor; and a controller configured to be electrically connected to the steering angle sensor. The controller may be configured to identify a change amount in a steering angular speed of the vehicle according to an output of the steering angle sensor, and to identify careless driving of a driver of the vehicle according to a first maximum change amount in which the steering angular speed changes in a first direction and a second maximum change amount in which the steering angular speed changes in a second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Chiyoung An
  • Patent number: 11643010
    Abstract: A state of a driver operating a vehicle based at least on a rest pattern of the driver and a driver safety score and vehicle characteristic associated with the vehicle are determined. A risk of a planned route is received based on environment information. A safety risk for at least one location along the planned route is determined based on the received risk. Based on the safety risk, a use of available driver attention determined based on the state of the driver, possible modification of the planned route and vehicle state may be planned that minimize the safety risk. It may be determined that the driver is approaching a location along the planned route having a safety risk. Responsive to determining that the driver is approaching a location along the planned route having a safety risk, alert may be caused to be sent to the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy M. Lynar, Jorge Andres Moros Ortiz, John Wagner
  • Patent number: 11643129
    Abstract: At a rim portion of a steering wheel, a shielding layer is disposed between a sensor electrode and a rim metal core portion. The shielding layer extends with respect to the sensor electrode. Therefore, generation of capacitive coupling between the sensor electrode and the rim metal core portion can be suppressed properly by the shielding layer, and parasitic capacitance that is generated at the sensor electrode can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKAI-RIKA-DENKI-SEISAKUSHO
    Inventors: Tetsushi Urushibata, Ryohei Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 11636201
    Abstract: A method used in an on-board network system, having electronic controllers that exchange messages and a fraud detecting electronic controller. The method includes determining whether a message transmitted conforms to fraud detection rules, and querying an external device whether there is delivery data for updating the fraud detection rules. When there is the delivery data for updating the fraud detection rules, receiving from an external device the delivery data, including updated fraud detection rules and network type information indicating a network type that the updated fraud detection rules are to be applied. The method also includes determining whether a vehicle in which the on-board network system is installed is running, and whether the network type information indicates a drive network that is connected to an electronic controller related to travel of the vehicle. When the network type information does not indicate the drive network, updating the fraud detection rules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORPORATION OF AMERICA
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Ujiie, Hideki Matsushima, Tomoyuki Haga, Yuji Unagami, Takeshi Kishikawa
  • Patent number: 11623065
    Abstract: A vehicle may include: a feedback device; a bio-signal sensor configured to measure a bio-signal of a user; and a controller operatively coupled to the feedback device and the bio-signal sensor, the controller including a memory configured to store at least one program instruction and processor configured to execute the at least one program instruction. The controller may be configured to: determine information characterizing a current emotional state of the user based on the bio-signal; calculate, based on a difference value between the current emotional state and a target emotional state, an operation ratio between a first mode for controlling operation of the feedback device to decrease a degree of excitability of the user and a second mode for controlling the operation of the feedback device to increase a degree of positivity of the user; and control the operation of the feedback device for a predetermined time based on the operation ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Jinmo Lee, Kaangdok Yee, Jung Keun You, Joongkwan Kim
  • Patent number: 11618454
    Abstract: A vehicular driver monitoring system includes a camera and an electronic control unit. The camera is disposed at an interior rearview mirror assembly of the vehicle so as to view at least the face of a driver of the vehicle. The camera captures image data and the captured image data includes image data representative of the face of the driver. The vehicular driver monitoring system detects changes at the driver's eyes via processing by the image processor of image data captured by the camera, and determines driver attentiveness based at least in part on detected changes at the driver's eyes. The vehicular driver monitoring system functions as a remote Photoplethysmography system, and monitors a heart rate of the driver based at least in part on processing at the electronic control unit of image data captured by the camera, and determines impairment of the driver's capability to operate the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Yuesheng Lu
  • Patent number: 11609225
    Abstract: Electrochemical sensors commonly used in breath alcohol testing devices detect a concentration of alcohol in a sample of fluid. The sample of fluid is introduced into the electrochemical sensor and a current is generated by the oxidation of the alcohol within the fluid. The electrical output from the electrochemical sensor, plotted over time, forms an output curve, which may be used to estimate the concentration of alcohol in the fluid sample. The technology disclosed herein includes various methods for determining the quantity of an electrochemically convertible substance in a fluid sample using a breath alcohol content device, including detecting water saturation level of the fluid sample. The disclosed technology involves measuring electrochemical sensor outputs to quantify alcohol content of the fluid sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: LIFELOC TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Wayne Robert Willkomm, Mark Anthony Lary
  • Patent number: 11610140
    Abstract: The example embodiments are directed to a system and method which can predict a degradation in the health of an asset that heals based on data sensed from a machine or equipment operated by the asset that heals and in consideration of healing of the asset. In one example, a method may include one or more of storing time-series data of an operation of a machine, predicting a fatigue value of an operator of the machine via a predictive model that comprises a Rainflow counting algorithm that determines a degradation of the operator based on a changing attribute in the time-series data and a healing function that determines a healing component of the operator based on rest of the operator, and outputting information about the predicted fatigue value via a user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Alexander Graf, David Sulkin
  • Patent number: 11587335
    Abstract: A method for influencing a system for monitoring alertness of an operator when operating a device includes providing one or more representations of features of the operator in a detection region of the system, where each of the one or more representations reproduces at least one feature of the operator and where the influencing is based on the detection of the one or more representations by the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Sebastian Hergeth
  • Patent number: 11577745
    Abstract: An information processing device acquires question information. The information processing device acquires vehicle state information representing a state of the vehicle. The information processing device acquires answer information in response to the question information, the answer information including an image for display. The information processing device, in a case in which the vehicle state information represents that the vehicle is traveling, stores the answer information in a storage. The information processing device, in a case in which the information processing device acquires vehicle state information representing that the vehicle is stopped, outputs the answer information stored in the storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keiko Nakano, Eiichi Maeda, Chikage Kubo, Hiroyuki Nishizawa
  • Patent number: 11579040
    Abstract: A damage diagnosis device is provided with: a detection unit for detecting that, immediately after a vehicle crossing a bridge has exited from the bridge, another vehicle is not crossing the bridge; a determination unit for determining whether the weight of the vehicle satisfies a criterion; and a diagnosis unit that, when the detection unit has detected that no other vehicle is crossing the bridge and the determination unit has determined that the weight of the vehicle satisfies the criterion, diagnoses damage to the bridge on the basis of information representing free vibration generated in the bridge due to the crossing of the vehicle, thereby improving the precision of diagnosis when damage to a bridge is diagnosed on the basis of information representing free vibration generated in the bridge due to the crossing of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shohei Kinoshita, Shigeru Kasai, Yu Kiyokawa
  • Patent number: 11577734
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments include a onboard driver distraction determination system. The determination system includes a onboard sensing and computing system(s), which includes inertial sensor(s), internal sensor(s), and external sensor(s). The onboard system samples data from the sensor(s) during a driving session to determine steering activity metrics and driver behavior. A steering activity metric is a representation of the steering inputs by the driver during the driving session. Driver behavior is a representation of how distracted the driver is during the driving session. By performing the above mentioned steps, the system can provide an analysis of driver distraction and optionally, take control of the vehicle to avoid aberrant behavior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Nauto, Inc.
    Inventor: Erwin R. Boer
  • Patent number: 11579574
    Abstract: A control customization system 80 customizes a plant control. A profiler 81 predicts actions of a user depending on situations of the plant or the user. A planner 82 determines an appropriate set of objectives which represent tasks desired by the user, and objective terms representing elements for controlling the plant so as to realize the objectives, and tunes the objective terms based on predictions of the profiler 81.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Wemer Wee, Yoshio Kameda
  • Patent number: 11572096
    Abstract: A steering control method including: applying a steering reaction force obtained by adding a first steering reaction force according to a steering angle of a steering wheel and a second steering reaction force according to a steering angular acceleration of the steering wheel to the steering wheel; determining a possibility that an emergency steering operation of the steering wheel by a driver will be performed; and when it is determined that there is the possibility of the emergency steering operation being performed, making the second steering reaction force small compared with when it is not determined that there is the possibility of the emergency steering operation being performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Taku Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11565587
    Abstract: A method and a system of deploying ignition interlock device functionality. The method comprises receiving data in authentication of a user account associated with the IID; rendering a user interface at the mobile computing device, the user interface including indication of a status of the user account associated with the IID; and receiving a selection of a user action responsive to the status of the user account associated with the IID.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Consumer Safety Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Jennifer Ringgenberg, Mark Behl, Thomas John Chess
  • Patent number: 11568434
    Abstract: One or more computing devices, systems, and/or methods for executing feedback actions based upon vehicle practices are provided. For example, sensor data is collected from sensors configured to collect sensor data associated with vehicles. The sensor data is synthesized to attribute sensor data to vehicle motion of the vehicle in relation to other objects. The vehicle motion is synthesized to determine driving actions of the vehicle, such as switching lanes, making a left hand turn, running a red light, etc. Vehicle practices of the vehicle are defined based upon the driving actions, such as a vehicle practice of a driver running red lights. A feedback action is executed to either reward the vehicle practices or incentivize a change in the vehicle practices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Theodore Bax, Kimberly Williams, Lisa Giaffo, John Donald, Teppo Veikko Salonen