With Control Of Brakes Or Steering Patents (Class 342/71)
  • Patent number: 11577721
    Abstract: A method detects a risk of collision between a motor vehicle and a secondary object located in traffic lanes adjacent to the main traffic lane of the vehicle, in the event of a lane change by the vehicle, which involves detecting objects in a predetermined danger zone, and estimating a time-to-collision between the vehicle and a detected object. Detecting objects in a danger zone involves: calculating the actual distance between the vehicle and each object detected by the radar, the actual distance corresponding to the length of an arc between two points; determining a danger zone as a function of lines of the main traffic lane and a width of the main traffic line; and checking, for each object detected by the radar, whether its coordinates are inside the predetermined danger zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignees: Renault s.a.s., NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Alain Haddad, Geoffrey Bruno, Etienne Menanteau
  • Patent number: 11488389
    Abstract: In some implementations, a method of verifying operation of a sensor is provided. The method includes causing a sensor to obtain sensor data at a first time, wherein the sensor obtains the sensor data by emitting waves towards a detector. The method also includes determining that the detector has detected the waves at a second time. The method further includes receiving the sensor data from the sensor at a third time. The method further includes verifying operation of the sensor based on at least one of the first time, the second time, or the third time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignees: BAIDU USA LLC, BAIDU.COM TIMES TECHNOLOGY (BEIJING) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shuai Wang, Manjiang Zhang, Yaoming Shen, Xiangfei Zhou, Lingchang Li, Xianfei Li
  • Patent number: 11332126
    Abstract: When one sensors fails and thus malfunctions during automatic parking of a vehicle, only the other sensor functions. Accordingly, depending on the behavior of the vehicle, the detection characteristics of the other sensor cause degradation in recognition of the vehicle, hindering the automatic parking from being continued. In processing S401, a determination is made whether or not an external recognition device, such as a camera or sonar, malfunctions. In processing S402, based on the determination on malfunction of the external recognition device, a determination is made whether or not to restrict vehicle speed or to restrict a path, with reference to restriction information for parking control. The restriction information for parking control provides information for restricting the vehicle speed in accordance with the malfunction of the camera, and for restricting the path in accordance with the malfunction of the sonar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.
    Inventors: Masashi Seimiya, Satoshi Matsuda, Tomoyasu Sakaguchi, Yusuke Kogure, Yoshitaka Fukasawa
  • Patent number: 11299148
    Abstract: The present invention provides a travel control apparatus for controlling traveling of a self-vehicle to avoid another vehicle on a front side, the apparatus comprising: a calculation unit for calculating a relative speed between the self-vehicle and the other vehicle; a state detection unit for detecting an operation state of the other vehicle; and a control unit for controlling avoidance processing of avoiding the other vehicle and causing the self-vehicle to pass a lateral side of the other vehicle, wherein the control unit changes a separation distance to separate the self-vehicle and the other vehicle in the avoidance processing in accordance with the relative speed calculated by the calculation unit and the operation state detected by the state detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shohei Yamashita
  • Patent number: 11151447
    Abstract: This disclosure describes methods, apparatuses, and systems for network training and testing for evaluating hardware characteristics and for hardware selection. For example, a sensor can capture a dataset, which may be transformed into a plurality of modified datasets to simulate changes to hardware. Each of the plurality of modified datasets may be used to individually train an untrained neural network, thereby producing a plurality of trained neural networks. In order to evaluate the trained neural networks, each neural network can be used to ingest an evaluation dataset to perform a variety of tasks, such as identifying various objects within the dataset. A performance of each neural network can be determined and compared. A performance curve can be determined for each characteristic under review, facilitating a selection of one or more hardware components and/or configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Chen, Jesse Sol Levinson, Ryan McMichael, James William Vaisey Philbin, Maxwell Yaron
  • Patent number: 11117571
    Abstract: A vehicle control device includes a communicator which communicates with a management device that guides a vehicle capable of automatedly traveling to a target parking space with reference to management information representing parking states of a plurality of parking spaces, a recognizer which recognizes a surrounding state of the vehicle, and a generator which generates parking state information including information representing whether other vehicles are parked in parking spaces which the vehicle passes on the basis of a result recognized by the recognizer and transmits the parking state information to the management device using the communicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Junpei Noguchi, Chie Sugihara, Yuta Takada, Ryoma Taguchi
  • Patent number: 11113966
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method and system that receives sensor information from each of a plurality of sensors. Each sensor in the plurality is associated with a vehicle. The sensor information includes location coordinates of each vehicle in the plurality. The sensor information associated with each vehicle in the plurality then is translated to parking statistics information. In one embodiment, the translation is based on an aggregate of sensor information corresponding to the plurality of vehicles. The system then communicates parking statistics information to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY
    Inventors: Marco Gruteser, Suhas Mathur
  • Patent number: 11007879
    Abstract: A method for operating a motor vehicle including a traction electric motor, wherein the traction electric motor can be actuated for producing a creep torque that brings about a slow movement of the motor vehicle, wherein a plurality of creep torques of different magnitude can be set by a user of the motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Jörg Hornischer, Roberth Eichner
  • Patent number: 10933798
    Abstract: A fog detecting system for a vehicle includes a camera disposed at a vehicle and having a field of view forward of the vehicle, and a non-imaging sensor disposed at the vehicle and having a field of sensing forward of the vehicle. The camera captures image data and the non-imaging sensor captures sensor data. A control includes at least one data processor operable to process image data captured by the camera and sensor data captured by the non-imaging sensor. The control, responsive to processing of image data captured by the camera and processing of sensor data captured by the non-imaging sensor, determines presence of fog ahead of the vehicle and in the field of view of the camera and in the field of sensing of the non-imaging sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Reinhard Juette
  • Patent number: 10906544
    Abstract: A variety of methods, controllers and algorithms are described for controlling a vehicle to closely follow one another safely using automatic or partially automatic control. The described control schemes are well suited for use in vehicle platooning and/or vehicle convoying applications, including truck platooning and convoying controllers. In one aspect, a power plant (such as an engine) is controlled using a control scheme arranged to attain and maintain a first target gap between the vehicles. Brakes (such as wheel brakes) are controlled in a manner configured to attain and maintain a second (shorter) target gap. Such control allows a certain degree of encroachment on the targeted gap (sometimes referred to as a gap tolerance) before the brakes are actuated. The described approaches facilitate a safe and comfortable rider experience and reduce the likelihood of the brakes being actuated unnecessarily.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Peloton Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: James B. Kuszmaul, Austin B. Schuh, Stephen M. Erlien, Joshua P. Switkes
  • Patent number: 10911721
    Abstract: A vehicular vision system for a vehicle includes a camera and an image processor operable to process image data captured by the camera. During a maneuver of the vehicle, the vehicular vision system, responsive at least in part to an output of a radar sensor, detects an object that is located within the radar sensor's field of sensing and outside of the camera's field of view and determines movement of the object relative to the vehicle. During the maneuver of the equipped vehicle, information pertaining to movement of the detected object toward an area within the field of view of said camera is provided to said vehicular vision system. During the maneuver of the equipped vehicle, and responsive to the provided information and with the detected object present within the camera's field of view, the vehicular vision system determines that the detected object is an object of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Axel Nix, Christopher L. Van Dan Elzen, Carl W. Shonk
  • Patent number: 10891449
    Abstract: In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for a system and method for a wireless computing device monitoring data stored in a data memory store by a monitoring function executed by a set of instructions stored on the wireless computing device, the wireless computing device comprising an antenna, an analog block for receiving and transmitting an RF signal through the antenna wherein energy from the received RF signal provides power to the wireless computing device, and a data processing and controller block adapted to store the set of instructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: TEGO, INC.
    Inventors: Timothy P. Butler, Leonid Mats, David Puleston
  • Patent number: 10737667
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for braking control of a host vehicle includes detecting a panic brake operation based on a change of a braking pressure of a braking system of the host vehicle with respect to time. The method includes detecting a second vehicle driving behind the host vehicle and in the same lane as the host vehicle, and determining a time-to-collision value between the host vehicle and the second vehicle. Further, the method includes determining a deceleration rate of the host vehicle based on a driver braking pressure provided by operation of a brake pedal of the braking system. The method includes controlling the braking system based on the time-to-collision value and the deceleration rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jovin D'sa, Shigenobu Saigusa, Yoshikazu Sato
  • Patent number: 10625742
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for controlling a host vehicle relative to a first vehicle positioned immediately ahead of the host vehicle, including, detecting a second vehicle driving behind the host vehicle and in the same lane as the host vehicle. The method including detecting a braking operation initiated by the vehicle system of the host vehicle. The braking operation causes the host vehicle to decelerate based on an acceleration control rate in order to maintain a preceding headway reference distance with the first vehicle. The method includes, determining a relative rear headway distance between the host vehicle and the second vehicle with respect to a rear headway reference distance and modifying the acceleration control rate based on the relative rear headway distance and the rear headway reference distance. Further, the method includes controlling the vehicle system according to the modified acceleration control rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jovin D'sa, Shigenobu Saigusa, Zeljko Medenica
  • Patent number: 10144418
    Abstract: A disclosed control apparatus used for a host vehicle includes a radar apparatus, a control execution part configured to perform a predetermined control to reduce a probability of a collision between the object and the host vehicle based on information about the object from the radar apparatus; and a prevention part configured to prevent the predetermined control related to a first object when the radar apparatus simultaneously detects the first object and a second object at different distances and a difference between a lateral position of the first object and the lateral position of the second object is smaller than a predetermined value, the first object being closer to the host vehicle than the second object, the lateral position being determined in a lateral direction with respect to a traveling direction of the host vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasutaka Matsunaga, Yuma Hoshikawa
  • Patent number: 10144424
    Abstract: A sensor arrangement structure includes a vehicle framework member having a hollow cross-section, a vicinity information detection sensor and a cover. The vicinity information detection sensor is attached to the vehicle framework member. At least a portion of the vicinity information detection sensor is disposed inside the hollow cross-section of the vehicle framework member. A detection portion that detects vicinity information of a vehicle is oriented toward a vehicle outer side of the vehicle framework member. The cover is disposed to oppose the detection portion and allows transmission of a detection carrier that is detected by the detection portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Hara, Kazuki Sugie, Kosuke Sakakibara, Motoya Sakabe
  • Patent number: 10073178
    Abstract: A sensor placement structure has: a vehicle skeleton member of a vehicle, the vehicle skeleton member having a hollow cross-section; a peripheral information detecting sensor that is mounted to a vehicle outer side of the vehicle skeleton member, the peripheral information detecting sensor having a detecting section that detects information about a periphery of the vehicle; and a cover that covers the peripheral information detecting sensor from a vehicle outer side of the peripheral information detecting sensor, the cover being composed of a material that is transmissive of a detection medium that is detected by the detecting section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Hara
  • Patent number: 9939523
    Abstract: According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a vehicle type radar system includes: a camera unit configured to photograph a front of a vehicle to detect a lane; a radar unit configured to detect an object based on a reflected radar signal which is transmitted to the front of the vehicle and then returns and calculate a position, a speed, and a distance of the detected object; a sensor unit configured to detect weather conditions around the vehicle; a control unit configured to recognize a lane using the camera unit and recognize whether the detected object is a vehicle or a non-vehicle to perform a control to remove the object if it is determined that the detected object is the non-vehicle and display the recognized lane and vehicle; and a display unit configured to display the recognized lane and object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Mando Corporation
    Inventors: Ho Young Jin, Gi-Hyun Seo
  • Patent number: 9903951
    Abstract: Sensor information is processed in a vehicle by transforming sensor data acquired with at least one sensor of the vehicle from a current environment of the vehicle into a curved coordinate system, by continuously updating the sensor data while the vehicle is moving, and by dynamically adapting the curved coordinate system to a current situation of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventor: Mohamed Essayed Bouzouraa
  • Patent number: 9274222
    Abstract: A radar apparatus that focuses a subset of transmit beams within a field of view (FOV) is provided. The radar apparatus has a phased array transmitter that is operable to generate a transmit beam within the FOV, and a phased array receiver that is operable to receive a receive beam reflected from within the FOV. The apparatus also has a radar controller with an electronic circuit and electronic memory, the electronic memory having a plurality of pre-calculated beam density curves. The radar controller is operable to execute each of the plurality of pre-calculated beam density curves and steer at least one transmit beam generated from a particular executed beam density curve towards a sub-area of the FOV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Donald Schmalenberg, Tsuyoshi Nomura, Jae Seung Lee
  • Patent number: 9274221
    Abstract: A method for remote object sensing on-board a vehicle includes employing compressive sensing to analyze a waveform originating from an on-vehicle low-resolution radar imaging system and reflected from a remote object. The compressive sensing includes generating a matrix including a temporal projection, a Fourier transform, and an integral term configured to analyze the reflected waveform. Leading and trailing edges of the remote object are identified by employing a norm minimization procedure to reconstruct a range profile based upon the reflected waveform analyzed by the compressive sensing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Guy Raz, Igal Bilik
  • Patent number: 9150199
    Abstract: A safety device for motor vehicles is provided having a sensor system for locating objects in the area in front of the vehicle and at least in the lateral surroundings of the vehicle, a prediction unit for detecting a risk of collision with an object coming from the side, a detection unit for detecting an area in front of the vehicle which is clear of potential collision objects, and a control unit which is configured to suppress braking of the host vehicle when a risk of collision with an object coming from the side is detected and when the area in front of the vehicle is recognized as being clear if this would presumably make a collision with the object coming from the side avoidable. A method for intervening in the longitudinal guidance of a motor vehicle is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Roman Schleicher, Enrico Rath
  • Patent number: 9110164
    Abstract: There is provided a radar apparatus. A first determining section is configured to determine whether there exists a continuing stationary target at a side of a lane in which a vehicle is traveling. A second determining section is configured to determine whether there exists a moving target in a specific range which is in front of the vehicle and on an opposite side of the stationary target with respect to a position of the vehicle. A changing section is configured to change position information of the moving target to a position obtained by folding back a specific position which is the position of the moving target in the specific range with the stationary target therebetween in a case where the stationary target exists and the moving target exists in the specific range. The changed position is used for deriving the position information of the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: FUJITSU TEN LIMITED
    Inventors: Takumi Moriuchi, Masayuki Kishida
  • Patent number: 9020750
    Abstract: A drive assist device includes a light source that irradiates a detection target with light, a first lens having a first area through which the irradiated light from the light source passes, a second lens having a second area through which reflected light reflected from the detection target passes, and a light receiving element that receives the reflected light that passes the second lens. The first area and the second area are arranged to be in align with each other, in width direction of the drive assist device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuru Nakajima, Shuichi Suzuki, Motoyasu Murai
  • Patent number: 9014939
    Abstract: A system incorporating one or more interrogators or readers on heavy construction equipment (e.g., loaders) detect signals emanating from signal transmitters on clothing or equipment of construction workers. Responsive to the detection of a signal emanating from behind the heavy equipment, or in another position relative to the heavy equipment, the driver is notified audibly of the danger such that the driver may stop the movement of the heavy equipment or causes the brakes to be applied and transmission to be disengaged automatically without operator involvement. In another version, a wet brake system (also known as a hydraulic brake system) is triggered automatically responsive to the detection of one or more signals emanating from behind a heavy piece of equipment, or in another position relative to the piece of heavy equipment. A hydraulic cylinder is configured to depresses a de-clutch brake pedal when personnel are identified in a danger zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Inventor: Robert L. Mendenhall
  • Publication number: 20140347207
    Abstract: A system and method for providing target selection and threat assessment for vehicle collision avoidance purposes that employ probability analysis of radar scan returns. The system determines a travel path of a host vehicle and provides a radar signal transmitted from a sensor on the host vehicle. The system receives multiple scan return points from detected objects, processes the scan return points to generate a distribution signal defining a contour of each detected object, and processes the scan return points to provide a position, a translation velocity and an angular velocity of each detected object. The system selects the objects that may enter the travel path of the host vehicle, and makes a threat assessment of those objects by comparing a number of scan return points that indicate that the object may enter the travel path to the number of the scan points that are received for that object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2013
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Shuqing Zeng, Wende Zhang, Mark E. Shields
  • Publication number: 20140300505
    Abstract: A method for avoiding collisions with an aircraft ground-services vehicle includes using a proximity sensor attached to the ground-services vehicle to generate a proximity signal, and using a processor that stores a three-dimensional map of the ground-services vehicle's outer geometry. The three-dimensional map is modifiable upon in-use changes to the 3-D geometry of the ground-services vehicle. The processor uses the three-dimensional map and the proximity signal to determine whether a predetermined 3-D envelope around the vehicle has been breached, and notifies the vehicle of a breach.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventor: Eric B. Gilbert
  • Patent number: 8847792
    Abstract: Provided is an object detection apparatus capable of accurately estimating the movement amount of the position, which moves within an oncoming vehicle, of a reflection point of an electromagnetic wave radiated from a radar apparatus, and using the movement amount for collision possibility determination. The object detection apparatus provided in a vehicle includes: a relative position detection section radiating the electromagnetic wave to an object in front of the vehicle, and receiving a reflection wave from the object, thereby detecting the relative position, to the vehicle, of an electromagnetic wave reflection point on the object reflecting the electromagnetic wave; and a movement amount estimation section capable of, based on the relative position to the vehicle of the electromagnetic wave reflection point, estimating, as continuous values, a movement amount of the electromagnetic wave reflection point on the object from a predetermined timing until the object approaches the vicinity of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Jun Tsunekawa
  • Patent number: 8849522
    Abstract: A system incorporating one or more interrogators or readers on heavy construction equipment (e.g., loaders) detect signals emanating from signal transmitters on clothing or equipment of construction workers. Responsive to the detection of a signal emanating from behind the heavy equipment, or in another position relative to the heavy equipment, the driver is notified audibly of the danger such that the driver may stop the movement of the heavy equipment or causes the brakes to be applied and transmission to be disengaged automatically without operator involvement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Inventor: Robert L. Mendenhall
  • Patent number: 8838322
    Abstract: A vehicle may operate in an autonomous mode in an environment during a test period. The vehicle may include at least one sensor coupled to the vehicle, configured to acquire sensor data during the test period. The sensor data may include data representative of a target object in the environment. The vehicle may operate the sensor to obtain the sensor data. The vehicle may define a movement of the vehicle, determine a predicted movement of the target object in the sensor data based on the defined movement, initiate the defined movement of the vehicle at an initiation time during the test period, complete the defined movement of the vehicle at a completion time during the test period, analyze the sensor data obtained during the test period, and determine a latency of the at least one sensor based on the analyzed data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Jiajun Zhu, David I. Ferguson
  • Patent number: 8825259
    Abstract: In an example implementation, an autonomous vehicle is configured to detect closures and lane shifts in a lane of travel. The vehicle is configured to operate in an autonomous mode and determine a presence of an obstacle substantially positioned in a lane of travel of the vehicle using a sensor. The lane of travel has a first side, a second side, and a center, and the obstacle is substantially positioned on the first side. The autonomous vehicle includes a computer system. The computer system determines a lateral distance between the obstacle and the center, compares the lateral distance to a pre-determined threshold, and provides instructions to control the autonomous vehicle based on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: David I. Ferguson
  • Patent number: 8823580
    Abstract: In a method for frequency matching in an FMCW radar sensor, a plurality of frequencies, which are derived on various modulation ramps, and which respectively are shown by the radar sensor in a d-v space as geometrical locations, represent possible combinations of a distance d and a speed v of the respective object. In order to identify the objects located on the various modulation ramps, coincidences between the geometrical locations which belong to frequencies derived on various modulation ramps are searched for. The search for coincidences is initially restricted in a first step to a subspace of the d-v space, and in a subsequent step, the search is extended to other regions of the d-v space, while suppressing the frequencies that are associated with the objects found in the first step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Volker Gross, Wolf Steffens, Stephan Leinbaum, Goetz Kuehnle, Andre Treptow
  • Patent number: 8793034
    Abstract: Methods and systems for a complete vehicle ecosystem are provided. Specifically, systems that when taken alone, or together, provide an individual or group of individuals with an intuitive and comfortable vehicular environment. The present disclosure includes a system to recognize the drivers and/or passengers within the automobile. Based on the recognition, the vehicle may change a configuration of the automobile to match predetermined preferences for the driver and/or passenger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Flextronics AP, LLC
    Inventor: Christopher P. Ricci
  • Patent number: 8766846
    Abstract: A vehicle with an accident prevention system is disclosed. The vehicle also has a foot brake for stopping the vehicle. The system includes a sensor arrangement for sensing an object behind a rear end of the vehicle that generates an object recognition signal when it senses an object within range behind the vehicle. The sensor arrangement includes passive IR sensors or reflected pulse sensors such as sonar or radar sensors on the rear end. A controller generates an accident prevention response signal on receiving an object recognition signal from the sensor arrangement. A brake applicator is operatively coupled to the brake to stop the vehicle when the controller generates a response signal. Conveniently the system includes an alarm for sounding an alarm signal. A method for preventing an accident where a vehicle which is reversing at low speed collides with a person is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Surveillance Guard Co Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Bruce Leigh Kiehne
  • Patent number: 8736483
    Abstract: A collision avoidance apparatus capable of executing an appropriate vehicle control in order to avoid a collision between an own vehicle and a movable object is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Koji Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 8731815
    Abstract: Holistic cybernetic vehicle control enables the results of machine sensing and decision making to be communicated to a vehicle operator through the various senses of the operator. By providing machine advice to the operator through various vehicle functions and by integrating the machine advice with what the operator senses and perceives, holistic cybernetic control can result in much better and safer vehicle operation. The invention integrates human and machine vehicle control action to improve vehicle operation and, particularly, to avoid collision events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Inventor: Charles Arnold Cummings
  • Patent number: 8686893
    Abstract: A signal processing unit in a radar device calculates a change amount Y (=log(P)?log(Pb)) between a power P of a current arrival echo and a power of a previous arrival echo arrived before an observation period TSW. A memory unit in the radar device stores, every type of objects, a probability distribution of the change amount Y calculated from the arrival echo from the object. On the basis of the calculated change amount Y and the probability distribution, the signal processing unit determines a probability Pr to obtain the change amount Y every type of object, and determines that the object having the maximum probability Pr is the object which transmits the current arrival echo.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Yuu Watanabe, Koichiro Suzuki, Chiharu Yamano
  • Patent number: 8655551
    Abstract: A method and a device for the assisted parking of a motor vehicle into a parking space are provided. The method comprises the following method steps: approaching the parking space; measuring the parking space using sensors situated on the motor vehicle; calculating a setpoint parking path and indicating the setpoint parking path on a display; indicating the actual parking path on the display such that the actual parking path may be adapted to the setpoint parking path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Danz, Jan Egelhaaf, Wei-Chia Lee, Benjamin Steiner
  • Patent number: 8633849
    Abstract: A vehicle mounted radar device operable to scan a transmission wave to detect a detection point representing a position of an object disposed around the vehicle on the basis of a reflected wave of the transmission wave from the object. The radar device includes a reading unit, a continuity determination unit, a setting unit, anti an object determination unit that are configured to prevent the radar device from erroneously determining different pieces of object information as a single object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited
    Inventors: Shinichi Shibata, Hideki Kajioka, Hiroyuki Ishimori
  • Patent number: 8577550
    Abstract: A control system and method to mitigate intersection crashes is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system includes an electronic control module equipped with memory and in communication with at least one radar sensor system, at lest one environmental sensor system, at least one vehicle stability system, an operator advisory system, a brake control system, a controllable steering system, and a powertrain control system. In one embodiment, the method may include determining whether a vehicle is entering an intersection, determining whether the operator is responding correctly to the sensed conditions in the intersection, activating the controlled brakes, determining any intersection threat, determining whether any sensed threat is imminent, activating the accident mitigation adviser, reducing engine torque while in the intersection, and actuating steering and brake control systems while in the intersection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jianbo Lu, Priya Prasad, Panagiotis Tsiotras, Efstathios Velenis, Dimitar Petrov Filev
  • Publication number: 20130201053
    Abstract: A crash avoidance system is provided for a vehicle. The system utilizes thrusters to decrease the vehicle's velocity and brake time. The thrusters can also maneuver the vehicle from a possible crash. The system consists of a controller system which communicates with the thrusters that are strategically placed on the vehicle and at least one camera and radar sensors. The system also consists of an on-board pressurized gas source for the thrusters to produce a force to great and quick enough to avoid crashes. In case the driver loses traction and control for any reason, the system also communicates with the vehicle's traction control system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Inventor: Jeffrey Saing
  • Patent number: 8504283
    Abstract: A host-vehicle risk acquisition device includes a host-vehicle path acquisition portion that acquires a path of a host-vehicle, and an obstacle path acquisition portion that acquires a plurality of paths of an obstacle existing around the host-vehicle. A collision risk acquisition portion acquires an actual collision risk, which is a collision risk between the host-vehicle and the obstacle when the host-vehicle is in a travel state based on the path of the host-vehicle and the plurality of paths of the obstacle. An offset risk acquisition portion acquires an offset risk, which is a collision risk between the host-vehicle and the obstacle in an offset travel state, which is offset from the travel state of the host-vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuaki Aso, Toshiki Kindo, Masahiro Harada
  • Patent number: 8473173
    Abstract: An automatic vehicle braking system prohibits vehicle propulsion upon detection of a triggering event, and includes sensors that detect the triggering event, a processor. A logic gate and a vehicle gear sensor cooperate with the processor to automatically activate and deactivate a vehicle braking system, which includes a solenoid switch responsive to an output signal from the logic gate. An air valve is activates the vehicle braking system by permitting air to pass downstream of the air valve and to existing vehicle brake pads. An outlet port is situated downstream from the inlet port of the air valve casing. A piston is linearly reciprocated within the casing such that the inlet port is in fluid communication with the existing air tank of the vehicle. In this manner, the outlet port may be adapted to be in fluid communication with an existing brake pad of the vehicle braking system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Inventor: William Robles
  • Patent number: 8473171
    Abstract: A vehicle has wheels, sensors for generating an input data set, and a controller. The controller is in communication with the sensors, including a first sensor for detecting an obstacle on a road surface in a first manner, and adapted to monitor a boundary of the road surface to determine when the wheels are crossing the boundary. A second sensor detects the obstacle in a second manner, and additional sensors determine inertial data of the vehicle. The controller compares the input data set to calibrated thresholds, and determines an appropriate control response such as autonomous braking based on the results. A method optimizes a collision preparation response in the vehicle by measuring the inertial data, detecting the obstacle using a radar or LiDAR device, and monitoring the boundary using an electro-optical device. A supplemental braking force is automatically applied when the vehicle crosses the boundary while the obstacle is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Chad T. Zagorski
  • Patent number: 8427361
    Abstract: The radar apparatus includes a target candidate detecting means for detecting a peak frequency at which the intensity of the power spectrum of a beat signal peaks as a target candidate, a road shape recognizing means to sequentially connect, along a predetermined direction, the target candidates detected to be stationary and present within a reference distance from one of the target candidates set as a reference target candidate for one or more measurement cycles and recognize an area formed by the sequentially connected target candidates as an edge of the road, a cruise environment estimating means to determine whether the cruise environment is a closed space or an open space based on the power spectrum, and a reference distance correcting means to shorten the reference distance when the cruise environment is determined to be a closed space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Koichi Sato
  • Patent number: 8396655
    Abstract: A control system for a motor vehicle includes: (a) at least one driving data sensor for acquiring driving data characterizing a driving state of the motor vehicle; (b) at least one camera for capturing images of the surroundings; (c) an accident recorder that can record the images of the surroundings in a buffer; and (d) an electronic controller for controlling the driving data sensor, the camera, and the accident recorder. The electronic controller is programmed to trigger an autonomous braking action of the motor vehicle based on driving data and/or images of the surroundings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: WABCO GmbH
    Inventors: Karsten Breuer, Thomas Dieckmann, Hartmut Kitterer
  • Patent number: 8392104
    Abstract: Provided is an avoidance maneuver calculation device that calculates a driving maneuver amount that enables an automotive vehicle to avoid an obstacle within a travelable range of a road. The device includes: a road boundary detector for detecting a road 13 where a vehicle 12 is traveling and a boundary section thereof; an obstacle detector for detecting an obstacle 14 existing on the road 13; an automotive vehicle information detector for detecting information on the vehicle 12; and an avoidance maneuver calculator 28 for calculating a maneuver amount for avoiding the obstacle 14 on the road 13.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hikaru Nishira, Yoshitaka Deguchi
  • Patent number: 8391336
    Abstract: To generate a pulse for ranging, a kernel is convolved with a spreading sequence. The spreading sequence is parametrized by one or more ordered (length, sparsity) pairs, such that the first sparsity differs from the bit length of the kernel and/or a subsequent sparsity differs from the product of the immediately preceding length and the immediately preceding sparsity. Alternatively, a kernel is convolved with an ordered plurality of spreading sequences, all but the first of which may be non-binary. The pulse is launched towards a target. The reflection from the target is transformed to a received reflection, compressed by deconvolution of the spreading sequence, and post-processed to provide a range to the target and/or a direction of arrival from the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: A.P.M. Automation Solutions Ltd
    Inventor: Alex Chiskis
  • Patent number: 8378883
    Abstract: A device and method for correcting a position of at least one target point relative to a motor vehicle depending on a movement of the motor vehicle over a given number of cycles; starting from at least one target point, forming a first group with adjacent target points depending on a first given characteristic; verifying if the first group is homogeneous depending on a second given characteristic; and calculating a position of a formed group relative to the motor vehicle over the given number of cycles, a formed group corresponding to a target object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventor: Siav Kuong Kuoch
  • Publication number: 20120326917
    Abstract: A vehicle with an accident prevention system is disclosed. The vehicle also has a foot brake for stopping the vehicle. The system includes a sensor arrangement for sensing an object behind a rear end of the vehicle that generates an object recognition signal when it senses an object within range behind the vehicle. The sensor arrangement includes passive IR sensors or reflected pulse sensors such as sonar or radar sensors on the rear end. A controller generates an accident prevention response signal on receiving an object recognition signal from the sensor arrangement. A brake applicator is operatively coupled to the brake to stop the vehicle when the controller generates a response signal. Conveniently the system includes an alarm for sounding an alarm signal. A method for preventing an accident where a vehicle which is reversing at low speed collides with a person is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: PRESERVATION SOLUTIONS PTY LTD.
    Inventor: Bruce Leigh KIEHNE