The Supplementary Measurement Being An Inertial Measurement; E.g., Tightly Coupled Inertial (ipc) Patents (Class 342/357.3)
  • Patent number: 11846713
    Abstract: A Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) positioning techniques is provided. A method to improve the time required to compute a position measurement in a GNSS receiver, and the time required to make this position measurement accurate is also provided. The method comprises computing a snapshot PVT (Position Velocity and Time) measurement, and use it to reduce the time required to acquire new signals to compute a conventional PVT measurement. A receiver implementing the method is further provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: CENTRE NATIONAL D'ETUDES SPATIALES
    Inventor: François-Xavier Marmet
  • Patent number: 11656366
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for performing positioning using a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) with a state machine based localization engine are provided. When the apparatus receives GNSS signals, the apparatus provides the localization engine to process the GNSS signals, and determines, based on a GNSS status and a position-velocity-time (PVT) status, a state of the localization engine. Specifically, the state of the localization engine is switchable between at least 3 states, including a dead reckoning state, a tightly coupling state, and a loosely coupling state. Once the state is determined, the localization engine may determine a local accuracy status based on the state of the localization engine. Thus, a downstream module on the apparatus may use the local accuracy status to perform a corresponding downstream action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: GUANGZHOU XIAOPENG AUTOPILOT TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Pengluo Wang, Hairuo Zhuang, Amit Bansal, Xue Li, Venkatesan Nallampatti Ekambaram, Vignesh Sethuraman
  • Patent number: 11624841
    Abstract: A global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver can include a code generator, a signal correlator circuit, and a processor. The code generator can generate samples of a plurality of ranging codes associated with corresponding GNSS transmitters. The signal correlator circuit can receive, according to a first clock rate, samples of a signal from a GNSS transmitter, and update, according to a second clock rate and a time division multiplexing scheme, cross-correlation values indicative of cross-correlations between the signal and a subset of the plurality of ranging codes. The second clock rate can be equal to at least multiple times the first clock rate. The signal correlator circuit can determine final results of the cross-correlation values based on the updating of the cross-correlation values, and a processor can identify the GNSS transmitter among the plurality of GNSS transmitters based on the final results of the cross correlation values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: John E. Acheson, Thomas V. Dewulf
  • Patent number: 11598885
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for adaptive identification of erroneous GPS observed value, including: acquiring positioning information of a vehicle from a GPS sensor, and extracting first observed value data; acquiring posture information and speed information of the vehicle to acquire dead reckoning trajectory data of the vehicle; eliminating the erroneous GPS observed values based on respective data on data status value, heading significant bit, the number of satellites used and horizontal dilution of precision in the first observed value data to obtain second observed value data; constructing pose graph data based on the second observed value data and acquiring processing result information; analyzing and optimizing the processing result information to eliminate the erroneous GPS observed values of which the cost function exceeds a preset cost function threshold to obtain third observed value data; and constructing a high-precision map based on the third observed value data and three-dimensional scene map data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Beijing IDRIVERPLUS Information Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Guoqi Peng, You Huang, Guolong Zhang, Fang Zhang, Xiaofei Li, Dezhao Zhang, Xiao Wang, Shuhao Huo
  • Patent number: 11536856
    Abstract: Techniques provided herein are directed toward virtually extending an updated set of output positions of a mobile device determined by a VIO by combining a current set of VIO output positions with one or more previous sets of VIO output positions in such a way that ensure all outputs positions among the various combined sets of output positions are consistent. The combined sets can be used for accurate position determination of the mobile device. Moreover, the position determination further may be based on GNSS measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Urs Niesen, Jubin Jose, Lei Zhang
  • Patent number: 11513225
    Abstract: A position determination system for determining a position of a device movable in an environment comprises a position determination unit and a memory unit. An environmental map of the environment is stored in the memory unit. The position determination unit is configured to receive measured distance values of an environmental sensor of the movable device and to determine the position of the movable device by a comparison of the measured distance values with the environmental map. The stored environmental map comprises at least one block, with the block comprising an arrangement of map values representing the environment and with the map values representing distance values from a margin of the environment. The block of the environmental map is stored in the memory unit as a coefficient of a linear combination of basis functions, with the linear combination of the basis functions approximating the map values of the block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: SICK AG
    Inventor: Patric Beinschob
  • Patent number: 11487024
    Abstract: In certain embodiments, a mobile device includes a sensor, one or more processors, and a memory. The memory stores computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations including determining a first geographic location based on wireless signals received as part of a wireless-based mobile device positioning system. The operations include accessing a geographic database that includes data representing a number of geographic locations and properties associated with the geographic locations, and a mapping between measureable values of a type and particular geographic locations. The operations include determining, using the geographic database, candidate geographic locations for adjusting the first geographic location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: FUTUREWEI TECHNOLOGIES, INC
    Inventor: Andrew Hazlett
  • Patent number: 11454515
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a gyro sensor calibration method based on vehicle velocity, which can extract a weighting factor in consideration of vehicle velocity, apply the extracted weighting factor to an extended Kalman filter, and accurately calibrate a gyro sensor in real time, in order to prevent accumulation of scale factor calibration errors, which may occurs as a turning radius is changed depending on vehicle velocity in a turning section, when a GNSS-based dead reckoning (DR) system calibrates a scale factor of the gyro sensor through the extended Kalman filter using GNSS information received in the turning section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: HYUNDAI AUTOEVER CORP.
    Inventors: Myung Hwan Seo, Jeong Dong Min
  • Patent number: 11353596
    Abstract: A global positioning system (GPS) receiver and system for determining a geographical location associated with the GPS receiver using less than four GPS signals. The system can comprise a constraint module configured to receive one or more constraints that describe at least one characteristic of a GPS receiver when a number of GPS satellites within a line of sight to the GPS receiver is below a defined value. The system can further comprise a pseudo range calculation module configured to calculate a plurality of pseudo ranges between the GPS receiver and the number GPS satellites, wherein the plurality of pseudo ranges are to various orbital positions of the GPS satellites over a period of time; and a geographical location module configured to determine the geographical location of the GPS receiver using the plurality of pseudo ranges and known constraints of motion associated with the GPS receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Ian S. Robinson, Andrew M. Hautzik, Brandon Crow
  • Patent number: 11336989
    Abstract: An earpiece includes an earpiece housing, a processor disposed within the earpiece, a speaker operatively connected to the processor, a microphone operatively connected the processor, and a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver disposed within the earpiece. A system may include a first earpiece having a connector with earpiece charging contacts, a charging case for the first earpiece, the charging case having contacts for connecting with the earpiece charging contacts, and a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver disposed within the charging case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: BRAGI GmbH
    Inventors: Darko Dragicevic, Peter Vincent Boesen
  • Patent number: 11181646
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods provide anti-spoofing capability from a first global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver to a second GNSS receiver. These GNSS receivers can be, for example, global positioning satellite (GPS) receivers. Via an authentication technique, signals from authentic GNSS sources are distinguished from signals from spoofers. Timing information, such as numerically-controlled oscillator (NCO) settings, used for tracking authenticated signals are then used to generate replica GNSS signals, which are then provided to the second GNSS receiver. As a result, the second GNSS receiver can provide accurate positioning system information in the presence of GNSS spoofers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Interstate Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Derek Michael Loomer Boyer, Steven B. Alexander, Richard F. Redhead
  • Patent number: 11176737
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for receiving a two-dimensional (2D) image comprising a 2D object; identifying a contour of the 2D object; generating a three-dimensional (3D) mesh based on the contour of the 2D object; and applying a texture of the 2D object to the 3D mesh to output a 3D object representing the 2D object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Snap Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel Edward Hare, Andrew James McPhee, Daniel Moreno, Kyle Goodrich
  • Patent number: 11041725
    Abstract: A method for estimating the motion, orientation, position, and trajectory of an object, comprising acquiring sensor data, estimating an attitude of the object, estimating an altitude of the object, extracting a feature, classifying a motion, selecting a motion model, and estimating a motion parameter. Systems for executing the method are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: NAVISENS, INC.
    Inventor: Ashod Donikian
  • Patent number: 10935665
    Abstract: A satellite radiowave receiving device includes a receiver and a processor. The receiver receives radiowaves from a positioning satellite. The processor performs a positioning operation based on the radiowaves received by the receiver to obtain a current position. The processor calculates an error range at the current position based on a positioning accuracy and a deviation. The positioning accuracy is obtained by combining each position of a plurality of positioning satellites and receiving state of radiowaves from each of the plurality of positioning satellites, and the deviation is a deviation of the current position and a predicted position calculated in accordance with a travelling state of the satellite radiowave receiving device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takeshi Matsue, Tatsuya Sekitsuka, Ryuji Shingyoji
  • Patent number: 10866325
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods permit the use of a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) oscillator in a satellite positioning system receiver, such as a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver. Techniques to ameliorate jitter or phase noise disadvantages associated with MEMS oscillators are disclosed. For example, a receiver can use one or more of the following techniques: (a) use another source of information to retrieve ephemeris information, (2) perform advanced tight coupling, and/or (3) use a phase-locked loop to clean up the jitter or phase noise of the MEMS oscillator. With respect to advanced tight coupling, an advanced tight coupling processor can include nonlinear discriminators which transform I and Q data into linear residual measurements corrupted by unbiased, additive, and white noise. It also includes an amplitude estimator configured to operate in rapidly changing, high power noise; a measurement noise variance estimator; and a linear residual smoothing filter for input to the navigation filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Interstate Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: David Duane Chapman, Steven B. Alexander
  • Patent number: 10859711
    Abstract: A railway positioning method, based on the movement of a train determined by a signal receiver of a satellite navigation system embedded onboard the train, and on the movement of the train determined by an odometer embedded onboard the train, and a map of the railway tracks, by determination of the ionospheric propagation bias corresponding to a propagation bias of the signal carrier phase of the satellite navigation system, comprises the steps of, by line of sight of the satellites of the navigation system: estimating the biased ionospheric drift by difference between an integrated Doppler term determined by the receiver and a biased estimation of the movement of the train by the odometer; estimating the odometer drift bias and the drift bias of the local clock of the receiver, by least squares resolution of the speed determined by the satellite navigation system, of the drift bias of the local clock of the receiver, and of the odometer drift bias; correcting the estimation of the ionospheric drift, by subtr
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: THALES
    Inventor: Marc Revol
  • Patent number: 10830595
    Abstract: A method for providing data for a geometric map for autonomous or automated driving of a vehicle includes collecting and/or determining odometry data of the vehicle when driving along a respective specified route section of a plurality of route sections using specified vehicle sensors. The respective specified route section has a maximum driving length that is dependent on at least one of a detection precision of odometry data using a specified vehicle sensor system, and on a reproducibility of provided odometry data using specified vehicle actuators and/or vehicle actuating drives. The method also includes providing the collected and/or determined odometry data to a specified vehicle interface, and transmitting the collected and/or determined odometry data by the specified vehicle interface to an evaluation device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Reinhard Jurk
  • Patent number: 10816676
    Abstract: Embodiments of systems and methods for GNSS and INS integration are described In an embodiment, the method includes receiving a GNSS signal from a GNSS signal source at an antenna coupled to a GNSS receiver. The method may also include generating GNSS data in response to the GNSS signal. Additionally, the method may include communicating the GNSS data to an INS system. The method may also include generating an IMU signal with an IMU sensor. The method may further include generating IMU data in response to the IMU signal. Also, the method may include integrating the IMU data with the GNSS data in a navigation processing unit of an INS. The method may further include generating INS data in response to the integrated IMU data and the GNSS data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: UTI Limited Partnership
    Inventor: Yang Gao
  • Patent number: 10788334
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an omni wheel mileage calibration method and apparatus, as well as a robot using the wane. The method includes: (a) calibrating the omni wheel through a linear motion to obtain a straight line calibration result; (b) calibrating the omni wheel through a rotational motion to obtain a rotation calibration result; (c) performing error verification to the straight line calibration result and the rotation calibration result along a preset movement trajectory having a loop to obtain an error verification result; (d) determining a straight line calibration corresponding to the straight line calibration result and a rotation calibration corresponding to the rotation calibration result being successful in response to the error verification result meeting a preset precision requirement. The present disclosure provides a mileage calibration method for an omni wheel system, which improves the operation precision of a robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: UBTECH ROBOTICS CORP
    Inventors: Youjun Xiong, Xiangbin Huang
  • Patent number: 10757539
    Abstract: A system is for mapping an interior of a building. The system may include a mobile device having a PDR circuit configured to generate PDR positions as a user moves within the interior of the building, and a ranging circuit configured to generate ranging mapping data of the interior of the building as the user moves within the interior of the building. The system also may include a server configured to map the interior of the building and generate a location of the mobile device within the interior of the building based upon the PDR positions and the ranging mapping data from the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: EAGLE TECHNOLOGY, LLC
    Inventors: Dennis R. Layne, Brian R. Carlson, Alan D. Thiessen
  • Patent number: 10677932
    Abstract: According to the embodiments provided herein, a trajectory determination device for geo-localization can include one or more relative position sensors, one or more processors, and memory. The one or more processors can execute machine readable instructions to receive the relative position signals from the one or more relative position sensors. The relative position signals can be transformed into a sequence of relative trajectories. Each of the relative trajectories can include a distance and directional information indicative of a change in orientation of the trajectory determination device. A progressive topology can be created based upon the sequence of relative trajectories; this progressive topology can be compared to map data. A geolocation of the trajectory determination device can be determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Ohio State Innovation Foundation
    Inventors: Alper Yilmaz, Ashish Gupta
  • Patent number: 10616723
    Abstract: A system is for mapping an interior of a building. The system may include a mobile device having a PDR circuit configured to generate PDR positions as a user moves within the interior of the building, and a ranging circuit configured to generate ranging mapping data of the interior of the building as the user moves within the interior of the building. The system also may include a server configured to map the interior of the building and generate a location of the mobile device within the interior of the building based upon the PDR positions and the ranging mapping data from the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: EAGLE TECHNOLOGY, LLC
    Inventors: Dennis R. Layne, Brian R. Carlson, Alan D. Thiessen
  • Patent number: 10455431
    Abstract: Techniques for establishing a establishing of a high-bandwidth data connection with an aircraft using highly directional EM beam shaped transmissions are provided. In one example, a method comprises: determining a first line of sight that is unobstructed to an antenna of an aircraft, establishing a wireless data connection having a defined data transfer rate between the aircraft and the communication device using highly directional EM beam shaped transmissions along the unobstructed line of sight, transferring a defined amount of data between the aircraft and the communication device using the wireless data connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: GE Aviation Systems LLC
    Inventors: Steven Lane Misenheimer, Joseph Steffler
  • Patent number: 10310090
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and machine-readable media for determining a location of a mobile device from different sources of location data is provided. The system may be configured to store current location data of a mobile device, the current location data associated with a first source of location data. The system may also be configured to obtain location data from a second source of location data, determine whether a first accuracy indicator of the current location data overlaps with a second accuracy indicator of the obtained location data from the second source, and update the current location data of the mobile device with the obtained location data from the second source if the first accuracy indicator of the current location data does not overlap with the second accuracy indicator of the obtained location data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Indika Charles Mendis, Philip Cheeran Verghese, Ana Maria Ulin Vazquez, Chris Lambert
  • Patent number: 10209076
    Abstract: Systems and a related method for internally monitored navigation replace one or more inertial reference units (IRU) of an aircraft navigation system with GNSS-assisted multi-mode receivers (MMR) including dual-antenna receivers. Each MMR may validate inertial position data generated by a remaining IRU by detecting drift errors in the inertial position data or latent faults in the IRU. The system may include, in place of one or more IRUs, attitude heading and reference systems (AHRS) incorporating lower-grade high-performance inertial sensors. Internal monitoring of the remaining IRUs or the inertial position data generated thereby may alternatively be carried out by the AHRS. Based on internal monitoring by the MMRs and/or AHRS, user display and flight control systems of an aircraft can exclude a faulty IRU, preventing the use of position solutions incorporating erroneous inertial data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey B. McNamara, James H. Doty, Vladislav Gavrilets, Jesse W. Oltrogge
  • Patent number: 10133994
    Abstract: In a computer implemented method for management of materials on a construction site, a status of a project which uses at least one material is determined by a computer system. A report is generated by the computer system. The report identifies a vehicle, from a vehicle pool, to be utilized to move the material and defines a load of the material which is to be moved by the vehicle, according to a mass haul plan, from a first location to a second location. The vehicle is identified based on results of a simulation. The status of the project is automatically updated by the computer system based on an actual size and an actual drop-off location of the load of the material moved by the vehicle. The computer system updates the report based on the updating of the status of the project.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Trimble Inc.
    Inventors: Mark E. Nichols, Bryn Fosburgh, Christopher David Richardson, Peter Graham Gipps, George Derrick Darby, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10101466
    Abstract: According to the embodiments provided herein, a trajectory determination device for geo-localization can include one or more relative position sensors, one or more processors, and memory. The one or more processors can execute machine readable instructions to receive the relative position signals from the one or more relative position sensors. The relative position signals can be transformed into a sequence of relative trajectories. Each of the relative trajectories can include a distance and directional information indicative of a change in orientation of the trajectory determination device. A progressive topology can be created based upon the sequence of relative trajectories; this progressive topology can be compared to map data. A geolocation of the trajectory determination device can be determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: OHIO STATE INNOVATION FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Alper Yilmaz, Ashish Gupta
  • Patent number: 10085082
    Abstract: An earpiece includes an earpiece housing, a processor disposed within the earpiece, a speaker operatively connected to the processor, a microphone operatively connected the processor, and a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver disposed within the earpiece. A system may includes a first earpiece having a connector with earpiece charging contacts, a charging case for the first earpiece, the charging case having contacts for connecting with the earpiece charging contacts, and a glob& navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver disposed within the charging case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: BRAGI GmbH
    Inventors: Darko Dragicevic, Peter Vincent Boesen
  • Patent number: 10060743
    Abstract: A method of correcting an output value of a geomagnetic sensor that recursively calculates a state estimate, an estimate gain vector, and an estimate error co-variance based on the output value of the geomagnetic sensor that is acquired sequentially and corrects the output value of the geomagnetic sensor based on the value includes acquiring a kth output value of the geomagnetic sensor, calculating a kth estimate gain vector based on a k?1th estimate error co-variance and the kth output value, calculating a kth state estimate based on the calculated kth estimate gain vector and the kth output value and a k?1th state estimate, calculating the kth estimate error co-variance using the kth estimate gain vector and a k?1th estimate error co-variance, and correcting the output value of the geomagnetic sensor based on the kth state estimate, wherein k is a natural number larger than 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: HAECHITECH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Dong Yoon Kim, Byung Ki Kim, Seung Hwan Park, Hyung Sik Shin, Kyoung Suck Ki, Jo An Na, Young Joon Kim, Yeon Soo Choi
  • Patent number: 9975648
    Abstract: In aspects herein, if GPS signals used as inputs into a GPS landing system become unreliable, an aircraft instead uses signals derived from radar data to operate the GPS landing system. Generally, GPS signals are unreliable if they cannot be received or if the signals are corrupted. Instead of using GPS signals, the landing system uses radar derived location data as inputs. In one example, the radar derived location data is generated using a radar system located at the intended landing site—e.g., an airport or aircraft carrier. The landing site transmits this data to the aircraft which processes the data using its GPS landing system that outputs control signals for landing the aircraft. Thus, even when GPS signals are unreliable, the aircraft can use the GPS landing system to land.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventor: Larry Dean Arnold
  • Patent number: 9970772
    Abstract: A method for localizing a vehicle in a digital map. GPS raw measurement data is retrieved from satellites. A digital map of a region traveled by the vehicle based on the raw measurement data is retrieved from a database. The digital map includes a geographic mapping of a traveled road and registered roadside objects. The registered roadside objects are positionally identified in the digital map by earth-fixed coordinates. Roadside objects are sensed in the region traveled by the vehicle using distance data and bearing angle data. The sensed roadside objects are matched on the digital map. A vehicle position is determined on the traveled road by fusing raw measurement data and sensor measurements of the identified roadside objects. The position of the vehicle is represented as a function of linearizing raw measurement data and the sensor measurement data as derived by a Jacobian matrix and normalized measurements, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Shuqing Zeng, Jeremy A. Salinger, Bakhtiar B. Litkouhi, Joel Pazhayampallil, Kevin A. O'Dea, James N. Nickolaou, Mark E. Shields
  • Patent number: 9880020
    Abstract: In some embodiments, techniques for trip routing include determining a set of refueling stations, each of which is less than a threshold distance of deviation from a route; determining a fuel price and a deviation cost for each of the set of refueling stations, wherein the deviation cost is based on a unit distance of deviation from the route for each respective refueling station; calculating an imputed cost for each of the set of refueling stations, wherein the imputed cost is based on a combination of the fuel price and the corresponding deviation cost at each respective refueling station; selecting a first refueling station from among the set of refueling stations, wherein the first refueling station has a minimum imputed cost; updating the route to include the first refueling station; and presenting information relating to the updated route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Inventor: Aaron Emigh
  • Patent number: 9851449
    Abstract: Methods that determine position of network devices in a robust manner may include a method for determining a position of a remote radio head. The method may include generating position values of the remote radio head based on signals received by a satellite positioning system (SPS) receiver, and generating additional position values of the remote radio head from a supplemental positioning unit. The method may include determining whether an error of at least one of the position values exceeds a threshold, and storing a last position value from position values having an error within the threshold, in response to determining that the error of at least one of the position values exceeds the threshold. The method may further include calculating an updated position value of the remote radio head based on at least one of the additional position values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Donna L. Polehn, Thomas H. Tan
  • Patent number: 9849978
    Abstract: Techniques for determining whether data associated with an autonomous operation of an unmanned vehicle may be trusted. For example, a first set of data may be provided from a source external to the unmanned vehicle. A second set of data may be accessed. This second set may be provided from a source internal to the unmanned vehicle and may be associated with the same autonomous operation. The two sets may be compared to determine whether the first set of data may be trusted or not. If untrusted, the autonomous navigation may be directed based on the second set of data and independently of the first set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Gerard Carmack, Narasimha Rao Lakkakula, Nima Sharifi Mehr
  • Patent number: 9847033
    Abstract: Techniques for determining whether data associated with an autonomous operation of a first unmanned vehicle may be trusted. For example, the first unmanned vehicle may receive an indication related to the data and originating from a second unmanned vehicle over a network. For instance, the indication may indicate that similar data for a similar autonomous operation of the second unmanned vehicle may be untrusted. Based on a level of trust accorded to the indication, the first unmanned vehicle may determine that the data may be untrusted and the autonomous navigation may be directed independently of the data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Gerard Carmack, Narasimha Rao Lakkakula, Nima Sharifi Mehr
  • Patent number: 9817102
    Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products for determining and filtering potential outliers in RF signals used in radionavigation are described. A radionavigation subsystem of a mobile device can determine a first location estimate of the mobile device. The mobile device can determine a free direction from the first location estimate. The free direction can be a direction along which RF signals may cause greater position errors than RF signals from other directions may cause. The mobile device can determine a potential outlier among the received RF signals, the potential outlier being an RF signal from a signal source in the free direction. The mobile device can indicate to the radionavigation subsystem that a weight of the potential outlier shall be reduced when determining a second location estimate of the mobile device using the RF signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Isaac Thomas Miller, Glenn Donald MacGougan, Kumar Gaurav Chhokra
  • Patent number: 9733091
    Abstract: This disclosure provides techniques for the creation of maps of indoor spaces. In these techniques, an individual or a team with no mapping or cartography expertise can contribute to the creation of maps of buildings, campuses or cities. An indoor location system can track the location of contributors in the building. As they walk through indoor spaces, an application may automatically create a map based on data from motion sensors by both tracking the location of the contributors and also inferring building features such as hallways, stairways, and elevators based on the tracked contributors' motions as they move through a structure. With these techniques, the process of mapping buildings can be crowd sourced to a large number of contributors, making the indoor mapping process efficient and easy to scale up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: TRX Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Kamiar Kordari, Benjamin Funk, Carole Teolis, Jared Napora, John Karvounis, Dan Hakim, Christopher Giles, Carol Politi
  • Patent number: 9714841
    Abstract: A satellite and/or dead-reckoning navigation integrated positioning device with improved accuracy including position, velocity, etc. is disclosed. A tracking processing module performs, based on a GPS signal, acquisition and tracking thereof and demodulation of a navigation message. A GPS calculation module calculates position, velocity, and the like based on pseudo-range and Doppler frequency observations, and ephemeris data and gives the calculations to output judgment and tracking processing modules. Based on external support information including inertial sensor output, map information or information about differences between map position and measured position, along with the pseudo-range and Doppler observations, an integrated positioning calculation module estimates position, velocity, and the like, and gives the estimates to the output judgment module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: FURUNO ELECTRIC COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Toda, Masaki Suyama, Hiroshi Hamada, Mika Tanaka (Ninomiya), Kunihiko Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 9658070
    Abstract: This disclosure describes inverse filtering and square root inverse filtering techniques for optimizing the performance of a vision-aided inertial navigation system (VINS). In one example, instead of keeping all features in the system's state vector as SLAM features, which can be inefficient when the number of features per frame is large or their track length is short, an estimator of the VINS may classify the features into either SLAM or MSCKF features. The SLAM features are used for SLAM-based state estimation, while the MSCKF features are used to further constrain the poses in the sliding window. In one example, a square root inverse sliding window filter (SQRT-ISWF) is used for state estimation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Regents of the University of Minnesota
    Inventors: Stergios I. Roumeliotis, Kejian J. Wu
  • Patent number: 9435653
    Abstract: A method and system for localizing a vehicle in a digital map includes generating GPS coordinates of the vehicle on the traveled road and retrieving from a database a digital map of a region traveled by the vehicle based on the location of the GPS coordinates. The digital map includes a geographic mapping of a traveled road and registered roadside objects. The registered roadside objects are positionally identified in the digital map by longitudinal and lateral coordinates. Roadside objects in the region traveled are sensed by the vehicle. The sensed roadside objects are identified on the digital map. A vehicle position on the traveled road is determined utilizing coordinates of the sensed roadside objects identified in the digital map. The position of the vehicle is localized in the road as a function of the GPS coordinates and the determined vehicle position utilizing the coordinates of the sensed roadside objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Shuqing Zeng, Jeremy A. Salinger, Bakhtiar B. Litkouhi, Joel Pazhayampallil, Kevin A. O'Dea, James N. Nickolaou, Mark E. Shields
  • Patent number: 9432964
    Abstract: Methods, systems, computer-readable media, and apparatuses for determining locations of access points (AP) are presented. Techniques are described for determining relative and absolute locations of APs. In one embodiment, a device may send and receive messages to one or more APs for from various locations for determining the distance between the device and the AP. The device may additionally keep track of its own displacement for the purposes of determining the location of the one or more APs. In one embodiment, the device also determines the turnaround calibration factor (TCF) for the AP that compensates for the processing time at the AP may also be used for increasing the accuracy of the determination of the location of the AP.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Lionel Jacques Garin, Xiaoxin Zhang
  • Patent number: 9366540
    Abstract: Location determination is facilitated based on motion data accumulated at a vehicle in cases in which a beacon is not available. One method includes receiving, by a first device, first information about a vehicle indicative of a position and a direction of the vehicle. The position is measured by the vehicle based on a measured angular rotation rate and radius of a wheel of the vehicle and the direction of the vehicle is measured by the vehicle based on a measured amount of a turn radius of a steering wheel device of the vehicle. The method also includes determining a previously determined location of the vehicle. The method also includes generating second information about a location of the first device based on the previously determined location of the vehicle and the first information. Error estimates for the location and/or tuning bias for sensors at the vehicle can also be determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: AT&T MOBILITY II LLC
    Inventor: Ginger Chien
  • Patent number: 9360560
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide a cross coupled position engine architecture for sensor integration in a Global Navigation Satellite System. In one embodiment, a data processing engine for processing inertial sensor data within a positioning system receiver is disclosed. The data processing engine includes a first input for receiving the sensor data, and a second input for receiving a positioning data. The data processing system also includes a memory and a processor. The processor of the data processing system is coupled to the memory and to the first and second input. The processor of the data processing system is configured to calculate a net acceleration profile data from the inertial sensor data and from the positioning data. The net acceleration profile data calculated by the processor of the data processing system is used for the Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver to subsequently calculate a position and a velocity data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Goutam Dutta, Tarkesh Pande, Sandeep Rao, Deric W. Waters
  • Patent number: 9279235
    Abstract: A method, system, and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for calibrating an implement actuation sensor of a machine are disclosed. The method may include calculating a first elevation value of an implement of the machine in a gravity reference frame of the machine. The method may further include calculating a second elevation value of a ground-engaging device of the machine in the gravity reference frame of the machine. The method may further include determining a difference between the first elevation value and the second elevation value. The method may further include calibrating the implement actuation sensor based on the determined difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Troy Kenneth Becicka, Paul Russell Friend
  • Patent number: 9253751
    Abstract: In a baseband processing circuit unit, a reception signal type determination unit determines whether or not a reception signal in a GPS reception unit is an indirect wave. A movement speed calculation unit calculates a movement speed of the GPS reception unit using a correction coefficient of a relative speed determined in accordance with the determination of whether or not the reception signal is an indirect wave, a transmission frequency of a GPS satellite signal and a reception frequency in the GPS reception unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson, Corporation
    Inventors: Tsubasa Shirai, Yoshitaka Yamagata
  • Patent number: 9164179
    Abstract: Implementations relate to systems and methods for generating compensated speed values for a Doppler-enabled device. A portable wireless device can contain a GPS navigation engine (110) to capture position data (120) and Doppler speed data (118) from positioning satellites. The device can also generate position-based speed values from successive position readings and time intervals, to determine the current speed independently of the Doppler-based speed values. During degraded signal conditions, the Doppler-based speed values can drop to invalid levels. The device incorporates a combiner module (450) which compares the position-based and Doppler-based speed values and performs combination operations on those quantities to produce a compensated speed value (490). By selecting the maximum or otherwise combining those values, extreme excursions in speed values are avoided and accuracy promoted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: GOOGLE TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS LLC
    Inventors: Julius S Gyorfi, Amitkumar N Balar, Shakil Barkat, Sajid I Dalvi, Hideki Yoshino
  • Patent number: 9151620
    Abstract: Device for determining location information, primary references consolidated for an aircraft, comprising a chain for determining location information comprising means for measuring radionavigation data, suitable means for consolidating, suitable means for computing parameters and suitable means for consolidating the parameters. The device also comprises a chain for determining inertial primary references comprising means for measuring inertial data, suitable means for consolidating, suitable means for computing parameters and suitable means for consolidating the parameters. The device finally comprises a chain for determining anemo-barometric data comprising means for measuring anemo-barometric data, suitable means for consolidating the measured anemo-barometric data, suitable means for computing parameters, and suitable means for consolidating the reference parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Thales
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Arethens, Dominique Bouard
  • Patent number: 9030356
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide a cross coupled position engine architecture for sensor integration in a Global Navigation Satellite System. In one embodiment, a data processing engine for processing inertial sensor data within a positioning system receiver is disclosed. The data processing engine includes a first input for receiving the sensor data, and a second input for receiving a positioning data. The data processing system also includes a memory and a processor. The processor of the data processing system is coupled to the memory and to the first and second input. The processor of the data processing system is configured to calculate a net acceleration profile data from the inertial sensor data and from the positioning data. The net acceleration profile data calculated by the processor of the data processing system is used for the Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver to subsequently calculate a position and a velocity data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Goutam Dutta, Tarkesh Pande, Sandeep Rao, Deric W. Waters
  • Patent number: 9020755
    Abstract: A method of determining a position of a moving vehicle. A global position is detected by a global positioning device of at least one parked vehicle in a vicinity of the moving vehicle. The global position is determined as a function of signals broadcast by a plurality of satellites. Errors associated with the broadcast signals are determined. A correction error that provides a solution for eliminating the errors associated with the broadcast signals is determined. The correction error is transmitted to the moving vehicle. The correction error is applied to a received global positioning signal received by the moving vehicle. A global position of the moving vehicle is determined as a function of the correction error. The determined global position of the moving vehicle is applied in a vehicle application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Ran Y. Gazit, Kobi J. Scheim
  • Patent number: 9000978
    Abstract: A process for determination of navigation parameters of a carrier by a hybridisation device comprising a bank (3) of Kalman filters, each working out a hybrid navigation solution from inertial measurements calculated by a virtual platform (2) and raw measurements of signals emitted by a constellation of satellites supplied by a satellite-positioning system (GNSS), characterised in that it comprises the steps of: determination for each satellite of at least one probability ratio between a hypothetical breakdown of given type of the satellite and a hypothetical absence of breakdown of the satellite, declaration of a breakdown of given type on a satellite as a function of the probability ratio associated with this breakdown and of a threshold value, estimation of the impact of the breakdown declared on each hybrid navigation solution, and correction of hybrid navigation solutions as a function of the estimation of the impact of the breakdown declared.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Sagem Defense Securite
    Inventors: Didler Riedinger, Sébastien Vourc'h, Ghaleb Hoblos