Vehicle Diagnosis Or Maintenance Determination Patents (Class 701/29.1)
  • Patent number: 9359989
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a starter used for starting an engine and including an actuator performing an engagement operation with a pinion gear and a motor rotating the pinion gear that are separately controllable. When starting the engine by the user's key operation, a start request signal caused by the key operation is delayed in a delay circuit to output a control signal for driving the motor. When restarting an engine after the engine is automatically stopped, a malfunction detection unit detects a malfunction in the delay circuit based on a control signal for driving the actuator and the control signal for driving the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kouki Moriya, Jumpei Kakehi, Hasrul Sany Bin Hashim
  • Patent number: 9354798
    Abstract: A control method causes a processor of an information apparatus to display an operation icon for causing an operation screen for an electric shutter device to be displayed. An operation screen is displayed which includes a shutter image representing a shutter of the electric shutter device when selection of the operation icon is sensed. When a swipe operation is sensed, a movement control command for moving the shutter in a swipe direction is outputted, and the shutter represented in the shutter image is moved in accordance with a swipe amount of the swipe operation. When stop information is received and the shutter represented in the shutter image is varied into a closed state, the shutter represented in the shutter image is retuned in a second direction opposite to a first direction which is a moving direction of the shutter represented in the shutter image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORPORATION OF AMERICA
    Inventors: Takamitsu Sasaki, Eiichi Naito
  • Patent number: 9342935
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for monitoring a vehicle. Some embodiments include: capturing and securely storing OBD and location data from the vehicle, maintaining the data on storage in control of a user for a user-specified amount of time, securely transmitting the stored data to an internet-based server, storing the data on the internet server and processing the data for retrieval, retrieving the data from the internet server for display via a web server or specialized application, and performing remote diagnostics in the vehicle based on the VIN. Some embodiments include extracting a make and model of the vehicle from the VIN; wirelessly transmitting the make and model to a server; wirelessly receiving, from the server, a particular set of on-board-diagnostic (OBD) queries to perform to determine whether any abnormal measurements exist for this make and model; and executing a plurality of queries from the particular set of OBD queries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Diamond 18 Ltd.
    Inventors: Soren K. Lundsgaard, John K. Hefferan, Niels C. Lundsgaard
  • Patent number: 9342933
    Abstract: A system that enables a fleet of vehicles to be maintained is provided. The disclosed system allows a fleet operator to review the history of the vehicles in the fleet along with vehicle sensor data to identify earmarks in the vehicle sensor data that are predictive of faults that the vehicles have experienced. The operator develops statistical algorithms that can detect an earmark in vehicle sensor data. The system then collects vehicle sensor data and applies the statistical algorithms the vehicle data to determine if a potential fault is going to occur in a vehicle. In response to determining that a potential fault is going to occur, the disclosed system automatically alerts the vehicle driver, automatically schedules a maintenance visit, automatically checks the fleet inventory for components required for a maintenance visit and orders unavailable components, and automatically dispatches the components to the mechanic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: United Parcel Service of America, Inc.
    Inventors: John A. Olsen, III, Matthew S. Hendrix, Helen M. Bush, David L. Bradley
  • Patent number: 9326089
    Abstract: A projected architecture system may include a first device, associated with a driver of a vehicle, which drives the display of content on the infotainment screen of the vehicle. A passenger in the motor vehicle may have a second device that the passenger can utilize to transmit an instruction to the first device. The instruction may cause the display of the infotainment system to be altered. The passenger may, for example, utilize the second device to cast a point of interest or navigation direction to the infotainment display via the first device. Thus, the driver does not need to search, browse, and/or view functions and/or content on the infotainment system's display and can concentrate on operating the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: GOOGLE INC.
    Inventors: Lily Xia, Nicholas Julian Pelly
  • Patent number: 9308821
    Abstract: A combination (10) of a power-supply control device (12) and at least one light-control device (14) of a motor vehicle operates at least one semiconductor light source (36, 38). The control device (12) supplies the light-control device (14) with power via a supply line (18) connected to a first connection pin (20) of the control device (12), monitors current flowing through connection pins of the control device (12), and makes use of diagnoses thereof. The light-control device (14) is connected to an additional connection pin (28) of the control device (12) via an error line (26) and checks function of the connected semiconductor light source (36, 38) and, in the case of a malfunction, triggers a current flow in the error line (26). The control device (12) reacts to the triggered current flow with generation of an error message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: AUTOMOTIVE LIGHTING REUTLINGEN GMBH
    Inventors: Michael Schnerr, Dirk Blum
  • Patent number: 9306912
    Abstract: Methods and systems for managing tunneled endpoints are provided. One method includes preventing a user from accessing an endpoint that was previously accessed by the user via a first URL including an address with a first port designation, creating a constructive bookmark to the previously accessed endpoint, and establishing a tunnel to the previously accessed endpoint based on the constructive bookmark. Another method includes preventing a user from bookmarking a URL to an endpoint. A system includes a processor coupled to a memory a module for managing tunneled endpoints that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform one or more of the above methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: LENOVO ENTERPRISE SOLUTIONS (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Mark E. Molander, Michael H. Nolterieke, David B. Roberts
  • Patent number: 9297721
    Abstract: A diagnostic tool that can communicate with a computing device such as smart phone is provided. The diagnostic tool can include a power management system that allows the dynastic tool to enter lower power state in order to prevent the power drain of vehicle battery. The diagnostic tool can also AutoID a vehicle or use a “fingerprinting” process to identify the vehicle. A crediting system is provided that can be used to credit a 3rd party for software purchased for use by the diagnostic tool or smart phone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Bosch Automotive Service Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Bertosa, Michael Gessner
  • Patent number: 9286736
    Abstract: An automobile including a self-diagnostic monitoring server and healing can be implemented. The vehicle monitoring system can include an automobile system comprising a self-powered motor vehicle used for transportation. The vehicle system can include a sensor system arranged on a set of components of the automobile system and coupled to an energy providing system in the automobile system to be provided with energy by said energy providing system, said sensor system obtaining data about at least one property for each component of the set of components of the automobile system and converting the data into signals. The vehicle system can include a communication system in the automobile system. The vehicle system can include an analytics system to receive the data and determine a state of each component of the automobile system based on the at least one property of each component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Inventors: Manish Punjabi, Peter Eymard Baccay
  • Patent number: 9285240
    Abstract: The present disclosure involves determining charging equipment availability through crowdsourcing. Information is gathered from a plurality of electrically powered vehicle in a geographical region. The charging stations in the geographical region are displayed. A request is received, from a user, to determine occupancy of the electrical charging equipment at one or more of the charging stations during a specified future time window. A calculation is performed based on the information gathered from the electrically powered vehicles. The calculation calculates a probability of the electrical charging equipment at the one or more charging stations being unoccupied during the specified future time window. As a part of the calculation, a weighted probability is assigned to each charging station of being visited by at least one of the electrically powered vehicles. The probability is communicated to the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Rao Sanyasi Yenamandra, Naveen Kalla
  • Patent number: 9253845
    Abstract: One or more operating conditions of an LED device is sensed, and the sensed condition is communicated to an LED driver by modulating a load thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: TerraLUX, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey Paul Davies
  • Patent number: 9251628
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a processor and a plurality of on-board diagnostic (OBD) interfaces, in communication with the processor. The exemplary apparatus also includes a configurable housing, adapted to flexibly present an orientation of an OBD interface. The apparatus further includes persistent and non-persistent memory, in communication with the processor and a non-OBD I/O interface, in communication with the processor. The processor is configured to detect external device communication through a first OBD interface and function as a pass-through to a second OBD interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Henry Thomas Ubik, Darren Peter Shelcusky, Vijay Sankaran, William Jude Coughlin
  • Patent number: 9241235
    Abstract: A system for a vehicle including: a bluetooth receiver configured to be installed in a vehicle and connected with an electronic system of the vehicle; and a phone including a long-range radio frequency (RF) transceiver configured to transmit signals to and receive signals from a cellular network and a bluetooth transmitter configured to communicate with the bluetooth receiver in the vehicle within a predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: VOXX INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Joseph Santavicca
  • Patent number: 9202317
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided including a processor, a memory, and a vehicle tracking portal. The vehicle tracking portal is configured to obtain vehicle identification information regarding a vehicle. Then diagnostic information regarding the vehicle can be obtained. Then, based on the vehicle identification and the diagnostic information, a recommended service for the vehicle can be determined. A user can then be alerted to the recommended service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: eBay Inc.
    Inventors: Marc Peter Hosein, Steve Yankovich, Steve Romero, Selina Lam, Krystal Rose Higgins
  • Patent number: 9177426
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for diagnosing the state of health of a vehicle and for providing the operator of the vehicle with a substantially real-time indication of the efficiency of the vehicle in performing an assigned task with respect to a predetermined goal. A processor on-board the vehicle monitors sensors that provide information regarding the state of health of the vehicle and the amount of work the vehicle has done. In response to anomalies in the data from the sensors, the processor records information that describes events leading up to the occurrence of the anomaly for later analysis that can be used to diagnose the cause of the anomaly. The sensors are also used to prompt the operator of the vehicle to operate the vehicle at optimum efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Inventor: LeRoy G. Hagenbuch
  • Patent number: 9157383
    Abstract: A system, method and computer program for simulating vehicle energy use is provided. Drive cycle data collected during real-world driving of at least one vehicle is received by at least one computing device, and engine torque information associated with the real-world driving of the at least one vehicle is also received. Vehicle payload mass of the at least one vehicle is estimated based at least partly on the respective received engine torque information, and energy use of the at least one vehicle is estimated based at least partly on the respective drive cycle data, the respective torque information, and the estimated vehicle payload mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: CROSSCHASM TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: Matthew Stevens, Christopher J. Mendes
  • Patent number: 9135760
    Abstract: An information sharing system (1) including a plurality of on-vehicle diagnosis terminals (10) and one or a plurality of display terminals (20) and sharing diagnostic information over wireless communication. The terminals (10, 20) include a first determination unit S7, S8 and a second determination unit S34, S35 configured to determine whether or not predetermined times T1, T2 have passed from stored clock times C1, C2 at which data sets DS are acquired from the any of the other terminals (10, 20). When the predetermined times have passed, new data sets DS are acquired and the storing into an other-vehicle data storing unit 15B and a data storing unit 25A is performed. When the predetermined times have not passed, new wireless communication is established with communication units (13, 23) of the terminals (10, 20) capable of establishing wireless communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Go Yuasa, Michael J. Ramirez, Masashi Tsuzuki
  • Patent number: 9114669
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for locating the wheels (R1, R2, R3, R4) of a motor vehicle (1), each one including a wheel unit (WU1, WU2, WU3, WU4) having its own identifier and the vehicle including at least three antennas. The determination of the location of the wheel unit by the central processing unit (2) of the vehicle includes: applying, for each identifier and to the number of signals received by the central processing unit, a transfer function specific to each antenna; calculating a number by multiplying the transfer function by one another such that they represent the specific front right, front left, rear right and rear left positions on the vehicle (1); and locating the wheel units by determining, for each specific position represented by the transfer functions, the identifier corresponding to the highest number P.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignees: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE FRANCE, CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventor: Olivier Gerardiere
  • Patent number: 9110775
    Abstract: An in-vehicle infotainment device includes a first processor for executing a web application, and a second processor for outputting vehicle data to the first processor. The first processor includes a first-processor-side inter-node communication (INC) interface module for transmitting and receiving information to and from the second processor, the second processor includes a second-processor-side INC interface module for transmitting and receiving information to and from the first processor, and the first processor provides the vehicle data received from the second processor to the web application if a request for vehicle data is received from the web application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jongseon Park, Joonhyung Kim, Hyungjin Jeon, Chunsung Jung
  • Patent number: 9110560
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing shop order instances for an aircraft. The shop order instances for the aircraft are identified. A current state of assembly of the aircraft is identified. A status of the shop order instances is identified. Parts present in the aircraft are identified for the current state of assembly of the aircraft. Graphical representations of the parts present for the current state of assembly for the aircraft for a group of shop order instances in a graphical user interface are displayed on a display device using a model of the aircraft. A set of graphical indicators in association with the graphical representations of the parts displayed in the graphical user interface are displayed. The set of graphical indicators indicates the status of the shop order instances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventor: Christopher J. Senesac
  • Patent number: 9068527
    Abstract: A monitoring computer for monitoring a processor, on which processor a computing element is executed. The computing element essentially includes three program modules by which the performance of the motor vehicle is influenced. The processor includes a functional computer and a monitoring computer that is physically independent of the functional computer, wherein the monitoring computer includes two monitoring units that are independent of each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Conti Temic Microelectronic GmbH
    Inventors: Malte Jacobi, Edwin Böhm
  • Publication number: 20150149047
    Abstract: A work machine management device includes: a receiving unit that receives, from a work machine, sensor data indicating states of various sections of the work machine, and alarm data indicating that the work machine has determined that an abnormality has occurred in the work machine; and an operating level classifying unit that, based on the sensor data received by the receiving unit, classifies an operating state of the work machine as being any one of a plurality of predetermined operating levels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2013
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Applicant: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuki Kubota, Hiroyuki Adachi, Shohei Kamiya, Yutaka Watanabe, Hiroshi Sazanami, Masashi Shoji
  • Publication number: 20150149024
    Abstract: A method of latency tolerant fault isolation is provided. The method includes receiving, by a maintenance data computer, evidence associated with a test failure. The maintenance data computer accesses metadata to identify a system failure mode associated with the evidence and other potential evidence associated with the system failure mode. The maintenance data computer determines a maximum predicted latency to receive the potential evidence associated with the system failure mode based on the metadata. The method also includes waiting up to the maximum predicted latency to determine whether one or more instances of the potential evidence associated with the system failure mode are received as additional evidence. The maintenance data computer diagnoses the system failure mode as a fault based on the evidence and the additional evidence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Applicant: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation
    Inventor: James S. Magson
  • Publication number: 20150149025
    Abstract: An indicator indicates a vehicle state value in accordance with a rotational position between a zero position and a maximum position. A step motor rotationally drives the indicator on application of a drive signal in accordance with an electrical angle to a field winding. A control unit that controls the electrical angle of the drive signal applied to the field winding performs a leave-zero control operation which varies the electrical angle to rotate the indicator from the zero position to the maximum position and determines presence or absence of abnormal rotation of the indicator based on the electrical angle at the time of detecting the stopping of the indicator during the leave-zero control operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventor: Keiichi Iwashima
  • Publication number: 20150149026
    Abstract: A crane monitoring system is for determining crane service conditions is disclosed. The crane monitoring systems includes a sensor for measuring acceleration, a processing unit operably coupled to the sensor and a data store storing computer executable instructions. The computer executable instructions, when executed by the processing unit, cause the processing unit to perform a plurality of functions including determining at least one crane service condition dependent upon a signal from the sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2013
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventors: Matthew T. Oswald, Jeffrey S. Blair, James A. Alger, Brian G. Bilke
  • Patent number: 9037331
    Abstract: A two-wheeled inverted pendulum vehicle includes: single-winding first and second motors respectively rotating one of two wheels; first and second control systems respectively supplying drive currents to the first and second motors; a sensor detecting a physical quantity that varies with a turn of the vehicle; a dynamic brake unit being able to switch between active and inactive states of dynamic brake being applied to the first motor; and a control unit, when the control unit has determined that the vehicle is turning about the second motor side on the basis of the physical quantity while supply of drive current from the first control system to the first motor is inhibited, activating dynamic brake in the dynamic brake unit. The first control system, when an abnormality has been detected in the first control system, inhibits supply of drive current from the first control system to the first motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tetsuya Taira, Hiroshi Bitoh
  • Patent number: 9035755
    Abstract: A method and system are provided in which maintenance vehicles collect information from sensors and operators, forward the collected information to a server, and, in response, receive maps and operator instructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Concaten, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Rennie, Kevin K. Groeneweg
  • Publication number: 20150134186
    Abstract: An information sharing system (1) including a plurality of on-vehicle diagnosis terminals (10) and one or a plurality of display terminals (20) and sharing diagnostic information over wireless communication. The terminals (10, 20) include a first determination unit S7, S8 and a second determination unit S34, S35 configured to determine whether or not predetermined times T1, T2 have passed from stored clock times C1, C2 at which data sets DS are acquired from the any of the other terminals (10, 20). When the predetermined times have passed, new data sets DS are acquired and the storing into an other-vehicle data storing unit 15B and a data storing unit 25A is performed. When the predetermined times have not passed, new wireless communication is established with communication units (13, 23) of the terminals (10, 20) capable of establishing wireless communication.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Go YUASA, Michael J. RAMIREZ, Masashi TSUZUKI
  • Publication number: 20150127210
    Abstract: A main control section of a mobile information terminal determines a traveling state of a vehicle between a stopped state and a traveling state. When the vehicle is stopped, an acquisition purpose of various types of information by a user is to acquire detailed information, and the main control section displays, on a display on the vehicle side, information acquired from an information providing center in a display mode permitting a touch operation equivalent to that of the mobile information terminal. On the other hand, when the vehicle is traveling, an acquisition purpose of various types of information by a driver is to acquire information necessary for traveling, and the main control section displays, on the display on the vehicle side, information acquired from the information providing center in a display mode permitting a touch operation limited to be simplified compared with the touch operation of the mobile information terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shinichi Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20150127228
    Abstract: A user device includes a storage device that stores a program for a vehicular service, a signal generation unit that generates a certain sound wave signal depending on the vehicular service, and a signal emission unit that emits the generated sound wave signal. When one component of a vehicle receives and recognizes the emitted sound wave signal, the vehicle provides the vehicular service based on the emitted sound wave signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2014
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Hee Suk JEONG, Hyung Yup LEE, Se Hun CHIN, Jong Sang TACK
  • Publication number: 20150127212
    Abstract: A rollover detection system is provided that comprises a device, a sensor and/or a group of sensors and a warning system for use in a vehicle to reduce or prevent the likelihood of a rollover during operation of the vehicle. The rollover detection system can provide a driver of a vehicle, information that informs the driver of the risk and imminence of a rollover and allows the driver to take corrective action to reduce the risk or imminence of a rollover. The rollover detection system can also allow for the review of information collected by a device by a driver or other individual during and after a risk of a rollover is detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Applicant: DESARROLLO TECHOLOGICO AGROINDUSTRIAL
    Inventors: Fernando Chacon, Gregorio Blanco, Jesus Gil, Mateo Hermosin, Juan Luis Gamarra, Jose Candido Garcia
  • Patent number: 9026271
    Abstract: The data recording assembly for monitoring and recording the activity of a vehicle includes an accelerometer coupled to the vehicle. A first transceiver is coupled to the accelerometer. A recorder is coupled to the vehicle. A processor is coupled to the recorder. An electronic memory is coupled to the recorder. A second transceiver is coupled to the recorder and is in communication with the first transceiver. A gps is coupled to the recorder. The gps is in communication with a satellite. A clock is coupled to the recorder. A remote unit is provided. A remote processor is coupled to the remote unit. A remote electronic memory is coupled to the remote unit. A remote transceiver is coupled to the remote unit and is in communication with the second transceiver. A display is coupled to the remote unit. An actuator is coupled to the remote unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Inventor: Glenn Madden
  • Publication number: 20150120129
    Abstract: A method for controlling vehicle driving is provided. The method for controlling vehicle driving enables stable continuation of driving or stable stopping even when a communication fault occurs. The method for controlling vehicle driving includes: determining whether a fault has occurred in a first network between a master controller and a first slave controller; and if it is determined that a fault has occurred in the first network between the master controller and the first slave controller, controlling the master controller to transmit information, which is directed to the first slave controller, a second slave controller through the first network between the master controller and the second slave controller, and controlling the second slave controller to transmit the information received from the master controller to the first slave controller through a second network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: SAMSUNG TECHWIN CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Seong Jun LEE
  • Patent number: 9020658
    Abstract: A system for detecting a mass tamper event affecting a vehicle mass record for a vehicle being monitored includes a body bounce frequency estimator configured to estimate body bounce frequency for the vehicle and a mass estimator configured to estimate a vehicle mass, m, according to the equation (I), where k is a constant relating to a suspension system in the vehicle and ?b is the estimated body bounce frequency. A first comparator compares the estimated vehicle mass value with an alternative vehicle mass value and identifies a mass tamper event when the estimated vehicle mass value differs from the alternative vehicle mass value by more than a pre-determined amount. An interface communicates mass tamper event data to a remote device. A system and method for recording vehicle mass data are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Transport Certification Australia Limited
    Inventors: Charles Karl, David Dajia Cai, Lloyd Davis, Chris Blanksby
  • Patent number: 9020616
    Abstract: In a microcomputer, by virtue of the function of one input signal judgment module in the application layer, with respect to whether the situation is such that operation is to be requested to a controlled object from each of a plurality of applications, judgment processing onto input signals representing status information of controlled objects or detection information from sensors or the like is made common. The object-oriented architecture is introduced into an embedded computer program so that the memory is saved and the apparatus is simplified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignees: Autonetworks Technologies, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuri Kishita, Kazuhito Fujita
  • Patent number: 9020689
    Abstract: A system and methods for real-time model based vehicle structural anomaly detection are disclosed. A real-time measurement corresponding to a location on a vehicle structure during an operation of the vehicle is received, and the real-time measurement is compared to expected operation data for the location to provide a modeling error signal. A statistical significance of the modeling error signal to provide an error significance is calculated, and a persistence of the error significance is determined. A structural anomaly is indicated, if the persistence exceeds a persistence threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Timothy A. Smith, James M. Urnes, Sr., Eric Y. Reichenbach
  • Patent number: 9020684
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for monitoring the function of a safety monitoring system of a control unit of an actuator system of a motor vehicle, wherein it is checked by the function monitoring whether the safety monitoring is performed faultlessly, wherein the safety monitoring is carried out by a first monitoring entity and the function monitoring is carried out by a second monitoring entity, wherein the first monitoring entity sends a result of the safety monitoring as an information item to the second monitoring entity at defined time intervals, wherein the first monitoring entity and the second monitoring entity are free of a common interface, wherein the information item is received by the second monitoring entity by utilizing an interface between the second monitoring entity and the control unit, and wherein the information item is coded in a format which cannot be interpreted by the control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Pfaffeneder, Alexander Kalbeck, Stefan Goss
  • Patent number: 9020683
    Abstract: A diagnostic system for diagnosing faults in a trailer electrical system generally includes a mode determination module that determines a current operating mode to be one of a sleep mode, a normal mode, a situational awareness mode, and an adaptive calibration mode. A first mode module operates when the current operating mode is the normal mode and during operation, diagnoses an open circuit fault of the trailer electrical system based on a comparison of a current load on the trailer electrical system and an average load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Yazaki North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian E. Johnson, Jamie A. Mleczko, Kang Li
  • Publication number: 20150112539
    Abstract: A device may receive a first type of measurement associated with a vehicle and receive a second type of measurement associated with a power source connected to the vehicle. The second type of measurement may be different than the first type of measurement. The device may determine a key-on or a key-off status of the vehicle based on the first type of measurement and the second type of measurement without communicating with a vehicle diagnostic system associated with the vehicle. The key-off status may correspond to an engine of the vehicle being powered off and the key-on status may correspond to the engine of the vehicle being powered on. The device may initiate communications with the vehicle diagnostic system based on determining the key-on status.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Applicant: HTI IP, LLC
    Inventors: Dedeepya KALINADHABHOTLA, Sneha Akula, Benjamin J. Hamby, Alex D. Berkobin
  • Patent number: 9014910
    Abstract: A system and method that reports vehicle data to one or more third parties using an onboard telematics unit. The method includes the steps of selecting a type of data to be reported and identifying a third party to receive the selected type of data. The onboard telematics unit receives a portion of the data that is classified as the type of data to be received by the third party. The vehicle information is then associated with the received data to create a report. The report is then transmitted to the third party using the onboard telematics unit allowing the third party to analyze the report. Several reports for various types of data may be generated to be disseminated to various third parties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: General Motors LLC
    Inventors: Thomas P. Grau, Sanjay Khunger, Chester A. Huber
  • Patent number: 9014906
    Abstract: A network device includes a memory, a processor, a display, and a network communication module configured to receive vehicle data, driver information, and driver communications, at pre-determined times, from at least one portable wireless data transfer and display device via a long-range wireless network. The network device is configured to present the vehicle data, driver information, driver communication, driver summary electronic report to a user via the display. The network device is configured to remotely update of at least one portable wireless data transfer and display device or at least one data acquisition devices associated with a portable wireless data transfer and display device via the network communication module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: XRS Corporation
    Inventors: Charles Mohn, Christopher A. Sekula, Sarat Kakumanu, Odell R. Tuttle, Daniel P. Fuglewicz, Peter S. Anderson, Thomas J. Martin, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9014907
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided that allow an off-the-shelf USB flash memory device to be used with a scan tool. The USB flash memory device can have a different operating system then the proprietary operating system of the scan tool. The method and apparatus allows the scan tool to read from and write on the USB flash memory device regardless of the formatted operating system on the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Bosch Automotive Service Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Edward Lipscomb, Manokar Chinnadurai, Corneliu Boac
  • Patent number: 9014926
    Abstract: A method and system for diagnosing an operating status of an assisted start-up mode for a motor vehicle. The system includes a driving engine, a transmission including a mechanism determining a piece of engine rotation speed information, a piece of information on a position of an accelerator pedal of the vehicle, a piece of information on a position of a transmission, and a piece of information on torque transmitted to wheels, a detection mechanism producing a malfunction signal for the assisted start-up using the information received, a plurality of encoding mechanisms to produce a follow-up signal for each piece of calculated information received, and a memory saving the follow-up signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Renault S.A.S.
    Inventor: Alessandro Monti
  • Publication number: 20150106141
    Abstract: A method for controlling pesticide distribution for at least one grown agricultural product comprises the steps of: a) defining a grid for the land in which the grown agricultural product is to be harvested; b) Providing an open communication network accessible information storage device adapted to receive input of real time data specific to each grid relating to at least one of the grown agricultural product's production from at least one source; c) Inputting said data into said information storage device; and d) utilizing said data as at least: one of a real time decision making tool and a predictive modeling tool to ascertain which section within the grid designation unit need the application of the pesticidal compound. The method may further include the step of maintaining a pesticide pedigree for the grown agricultural products throughout production and distribution of the agricultural product via the open communication network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventor: Maris Klavins
  • Patent number: 9008891
    Abstract: A method of rationalizing a plurality of temperature sensors associated with a plurality of electrical systems of a vehicle includes: maintaining each of the respective electrical systems of the vehicle in a non-operational state for a predetermined period of time; receiving a temperature reading from each of the plurality of temperature sensors following the predetermined period of time; computing a master-reference temperature value from the plurality of received temperature readings; determining a difference between each of the respectively received temperature readings and the computed master-reference temperature value; comparing each determined difference to a threshold; and providing an indicator if one or more of the determined differences exceeds the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Kevin P Houle, Andrew M. Zettel, Kathryn E Mulligan, Paul A Adam
  • Patent number: 9008895
    Abstract: A system and method for supplying a corrective maintenance plan for a system includes supplying diagnostic data to a processor. The diagnostic data are representative of a set of two or more potential independent faults within the system, and each of the potential independent faults in the set has a unique corrective maintenance plan associated therewith. The diagnostic data are processed, in the processor, to select only one of the corrective maintenance plans. Maintenance plan data representative of the selected corrective maintenance plan are generated in the processor. For identical sets of two or more potential independent faults, the selected maintenance plan is not always the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Ravindra Patankar
  • Patent number: 9008892
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses for scheduling aircraft maintenance events. One system includes a user interface and at least one processor. The system is configured to receive an indication that an unscheduled maintenance event for an aircraft is to be scheduled, and to determine, using the at least one processor, a maintenance schedule for completing the unscheduled maintenance event on the aircraft, a modified flight schedule for the aircraft, and a modified aircraft schedule for the aircraft based on the unscheduled maintenance event, an initial flight schedule, an initial aircraft schedule, and at least one selectable parameter indicative of user preferences to reduce a total cost of operating the at least one aircraft. The system is configured to provide at least one of the maintenance schedule, the modified flight schedule, and the modified aircraft schedule to the user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Srinivas Bollapragada, Jon David Petersen, Weiwei Chen, Mark Thomas Harrington
  • Patent number: 9008877
    Abstract: A controller executes an engine intermittent operation to stop operation of an engine when a given engine operation stop condition is satisfied and to start the engine when a given engine start condition is satisfied, makes an in-cylinder injection valve abnormality determination while causing a total amount of fuel to be injected from the in-cylinder injection valve, and makes a port injection valve abnormality determination while causing the total amount of fuel to be injected from the port injection valve. The controller inhibits execution of the engine intermittent operation until the in-cylinder injection valve abnormality determination has been made and the port injection valve abnormality determination has been made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Daigo Ando, Yukio Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20150100195
    Abstract: A method of task management for a vehicle telematics unit, including the steps of receiving at a vehicle task manager (VTM) a requested vehicle telematics unit task; receiving at the task manager a first evaluation event for a first condition having a THEN relation with a second condition, the first evaluation event being associated with the requested task; providing the first evaluation event to the first condition; and THEN-blocking any evaluation of second evaluation events for the second condition until the first condition evaluates as TRUE.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2013
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: General Motors LLC
    Inventors: James J. Kelly, III, Jeffrey J. Olsen
  • Publication number: 20150100196
    Abstract: A system and method displays information using a vehicle-mount computer. The system includes (i) an input device and a display device for inputting and displaying information; (ii) a motion detector for detecting vehicle motion; (iii) a proximity sensor for detecting proximity to an item; and (vi) a vehicle-mount computer in communication with the input device, the display device, the motion detector, and the proximity sensor, the vehicle-mount computer including a central processing unit and memory. The vehicle-mount computer's central processing unit is configured to store information associated with user-selected information from the input device and to display a zoomed view of the user-selected information on the display device. Further, the vehicle-mount computer's central processing unit is configured to override screen-blanking when user-selected information is displayed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventor: Linda F. Hollifield