Failure Detection Initiates Subsequent Vehicle Control Patents (Class 701/29.2)
  • Publication number: 20150142228
    Abstract: A method according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, controlling a vehicle in response to a diagnostic test performed to detect an incorrect cable connection of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Richard Luedtke, Fazal Urrahman Syed, Jonathan Andrew Butcher, Rimma Paransky
  • 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: 9031733
    Abstract: A casualty monitoring system is provided in communication with a vehicle controller and configured to monitor and shut down an undersea vehicle. The casualty monitoring processor and the vehicle controller receives, but is not limited to receiving; sensing notification by a depth cutoff switch, a battery over-temperature switch, an over-pressure switch which responds to internal pressure of the vehicle; and a watchdog timer which responds to a failing casualty monitor processor. Before the casualty monitoring processor or the vehicle controller responds to a predetermined setting from these components; casualty logic of the monitoring system will have immediately removed power to the vehicle via a start-up circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Peter Licis, Michael B. Lockwood, Richard P. Berube, James A. DelSavio, Alan J. Basilica
  • Publication number: 20150120130
    Abstract: A system includes a contactor system, a vehicle control unit, and a fault diagnostic system. The contactor system includes one or more contactors. The vehicle control unit is coupled to the contactor system via a first connection and a second connection. The vehicle control unit is configured to provide a controlling signal to the contactor system through at least one of the first connection and the second connection to control the one or more contactors. The fault diagnostic system is configured to identify faults occurring in the first connection and the second connection. A method is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventors: Ronghui ZHOU, Jian ZHOU, Fei LI, Xi LU, Fengcheng SUN, Xiangming SHEN, Hai QIU, Pengju KANG
  • 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: 9008893
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to systems and methods for vehicle monitoring with processing interruption tolerance. One or more vehicle sensors can transmit one or more data streams to a primary data processing system via a data channel. A secondary data buffer can be coupled to the data channel to continuously capture the set of data streams and/or subsets thereof. During normal operation, the set of data streams are processed by the primary data processing system. After a limited-duration fault occurs in the primary data processing system, it can recover by accessing the backup data in the secondary data buffer. The lost data can be retrieved from the secondary data buffer using timestamp information to process the data in its original time context and to ensure that no already-processed data is included. The set of data streams can be downsampled or decimated in the secondary data buffer to extend storage capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Omnitracs, LLC
    Inventors: Charles Wallace, Ernest Basin, Eric DeWall, Sjef van Gool, Rajendra Somla, Daniel Deninger, Douglas Woody
  • Patent number: 9002543
    Abstract: A system and method for assisting flight crew recovery in the aftermath of an unexpected event is provided. A processor is used to detect that an unexpected event has occurred in an aircraft and, in response to detecting that the unexpected event has occurred, state data are stored in memory. The processor is also used to detect that the unexpected event has been resolved and, in response to detecting that the unexpected event has been resolved, the processor retrieves the state data from the memory, generates an aftermath plan that includes prompts to guide the flight crew to complete the aftermath plan, and continuously updates the aftermath plan until the aftermath plan is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Christian Dorneich, Chris Hamblin, William Rogers, Stephen Whitlow
  • Patent number: 9002573
    Abstract: A VIN storage electronic control unit stores a vehicle identification number (VIN). A standby RAM that holds data constantly with an electric power supplied by a battery stores failure diagnosis related information and a rewriting history flag. When the VIN storage electronic control unit rewrites the VIN upon receiving a request signal for rewriting the VIN, the standby RAM updates the rewriting history flag so as to switch into a set status indicating the rewriting is made. When receiving a request signal for eliminating the failure diagnosis related information, the failure diagnosis related information stored in the standby RAM is reset and the rewriting history flag is switched into a reset status. In addition, while the rewriting history flag is in the set status, a malfunction indicator lamp is turned on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshikuni Kawamura, Kokichi Shimizu, Kazunori Okada, Masayoshi Kondo
  • Patent number: 8996233
    Abstract: A vehicle control device controls a vehicle including a first oil pump adapted to be driven by power generated by a first drive source, automatically stop when a predetermined condition is satisfied, and supply oil to a power transmission unit and a second oil pump adapted to supply oil to the power transmission unit when the drive source is in an automatically stopped state, and includes a control unit adapted to continue an automatic stop until it is determined to restart the first drive source based on a parameter with which a reduction in drive force responsiveness to a drive force request from a driver, not including the stop of the first drive source, can be determined after an automatic stop command of the first drive source is output and if there is an abnormality in the second oil pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Jatco Ltd
    Inventors: Kousuke Waku, Hideshi Wakayama, Noritaka Aoyama
  • Patent number: 8996210
    Abstract: A vessel monitoring and control system. Data indicative of operational conditions for vessel systems is transmitted from the vessel to one or more remote sites and commands are received from the one or more remote sites for controlling the vessel systems. Multiple transmitting and receiving components are available on the vessel for communicating with a variety of different communications systems at the remote sites.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Sea-Watch Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Loretta Kish, Lamar McBryde
  • Publication number: 20150088362
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed that relate to an SCR aftertreatment system and incentives/inducements for an operator/user to maintain the SCR aftertreatment in compliance with operating requirements and/or regulations. An engine is operationally coupled to at least one of a DEF tank and an SCR aftertreatment system. An inducement signal value is determined in response to a threshold value being obtained relating to at least one of the DEF tank level indication, a DEF quality indication, and an SCR aftertreatment system malfunction indication. The inducement signal value initiates at least one derate value of the engine to incentivize or induce the operator to have the aftertreatment system maintained and avoid or prevent out-of compliance operation of the SCR aftertreatment system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventors: Tung-King See, W. Patrick Niehus, Brett D. Griffith
  • Publication number: 20150088361
    Abstract: A method for monitoring contactor health according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, storing wear data associated with a contactor, categorizing the wear data into at least a first bin and a second bin, assigning a first health level to the wear data associated with the first bin and assigning a second health level to the wear data associated with the second bin. Health information concerning the contactor is communicated to the vehicle operator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Derek HARTL, Ai KERAMIDAS
  • Patent number: 8989957
    Abstract: A vehicle behavior data storage control system is disclosed. The system includes a storage control device and an electronic control unit (ECU). The storage control device determines whether or not an unexpected behavior has occurred based on a behavior data. When the ECU determines that a change in the behavior data is attributed to control performed by the ECU, the ECU transmits a determination result to an in-vehicle network. At a time when the storage control device determines that the unexpected behavior has occurred, the storage control device records the behavior data at this time in the memory. When determining that the unexpected behavior relates to the control performed by the ECU, the storage control device deletes or permits overwriting the behavior data stored in the memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Tomohiro Kitagawa, Masayoshi Kondoh
  • Patent number: 8982207
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for inspecting an object. In response to a presence of the object in an inspection area, a volume containing the object is identified. The volume has a plurality of portions. A number of sensor systems is assigned to the plurality of portions of the volume. Each sensor system in the number of sensors systems is assigned to a number of portions in the plurality of portions of the volume based on whether each sensor system is able to generate data with a desired level of quality about a surface of the object in a particular portion in the plurality of portions. Data about the surface of the object is generated using the number of sensor systems assigned to the plurality of portions of the volume. A determination is made as to whether a number of inconsistencies is present on the surface of the object using data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Jung Soon Jang
  • Patent number: 8977430
    Abstract: An electronic stability control indication system including a bar-graph-type display, a processor, and a memory. The memory stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, control the operation of the electronic stability control indication system. The system receives a first signal from a yaw rate sensor indicative of an actual yaw rate of the vehicle. The system then determines a target yaw rate and a threshold difference for the vehicle. If the difference between the actual yaw rate and the target yaw rate exceeds the difference threshold, an electronic stability control system is activated. The system also provides a visual representation of the difference between the actual yaw rate and the target yaw ratio relative to the threshold difference on the bar-graph-type display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Kenta Mineo, Hirak Chanda
  • Publication number: 20150066284
    Abstract: A condition of an operator of a vehicle is detected. It is determined that the condition is an impaired condition. At least one autonomous operation is performed based on the impaired condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Wilford Trent Yopp
  • Patent number: 8972146
    Abstract: A device, system and method for controlling speed of a vehicle are provided. The device includes a locational information module for determining location information and speed; a storage module for storing at least one geographic map including at least one route and a speed limit for the at least one route; a processing module configured to receive the location information, retrieve at least one geographic map based on the location information, determine a speed limit based on the location information and compare the speed of the device to the determined speed limit; and a display module for alerting a user if the speed of the device exceeds the determined speed limit. The system and method can be for communicating a subject vehicle's speed to a central server where it can be utilized to analyze traffic congestion patterns or notify selected companies or individuals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Clayco Research Limited Liability Company
    Inventor: Leigh M. Rothschild
  • Publication number: 20150051778
    Abstract: A vehicle has at least one movement system which can influence the movement of the vehicle and which can operate in a normal mode or in at least one emergency mode. An availability coordinator is coupled to each movement system. A control system controls an autonomous driving process. The availability coordinator is coupled to the control system and is designed such that said coordinator monitors the availability of each movement system. The availability coordinator specifies whether each movement system is to operate in the normal mode or in one of the emergency modes dependent on at least one of the availabilities; and activates or deactivates the control system dependent on at least one of the availabilities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2012
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Inventor: Rolf Mueller
  • Patent number: 8954219
    Abstract: In a device installed in a vehicle for monitoring a target section in the vehicle, an executing unit executes a specific process for addressing an abnormality in the target section, and an instructing unit instructs the executing unit to execute the specific process when an abnormality occurs in the target section. A determining unit determines when the specific process is required to be checked. A checking unit instructs the executing unit to execute the specific process independently of whether an abnormality occurs in the target section each time it is determined that the specific process is required to be checked, thus checking whether an abnormality occurs in the specific process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Masayuki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8954220
    Abstract: A battery condition monitoring device has a control section for monitoring conditions of a high voltage battery on the basis of detection signals detected and transmitted by monitoring ICs. The control section has a main control section and a sub control section. When the main control section is in an abnormal condition, the sub control section detects the conditions of the high voltage battery, and instructs SMRs to turn on and off an electrical connection between the high voltage battery and a vehicle driving electric motor. The SMRs are arranged on connection lines through which the high voltage battery is connected to the vehicle driving electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Shunichi Kubo, Tsuneo Maebara
  • Publication number: 20150032325
    Abstract: A system and method for actively controlling a structure is disclosed. At least one non-optimal event is identified in real-time based on at least one real-time elasticity measurement, if an event threshold exceeds a predetermined value. In response to an active control command, a control mechanism is then activated in real-time to compensate for the non-optimal event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Harris O. Hinnant, JR., Darin W. Brekke, David J. Black, JR.
  • Patent number: 8942903
    Abstract: A method for predicting the temperature (Tin,p) of a wheel bearing of a vehicle wheel for a future moment (t+?tp) in relation to a present moment (t) or for a future time interval (t, t+?tp) in relation to a present moment (t), on the basis of a course of the temperature (Tin) of the wheel bearing in a past time interval (t??tb, t) in relation to the present moment (t), the predicted temperature (Tin,p) of the wheel bearing being determined from the sum of the temperature (Tin) of the wheel bearing at the present moment (t) and a corrective value (?TP) which is determined according to a change in at least one driving condition, such as the speed (?vtrain), and a change in the temperature (?Tb) of the wheel bearing within the past time interval (t??tb, t).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Knorr-Bremse Systeme fur Schienenfahrzeuge GmbH
    Inventors: Ulf Friesen, Ralf Furtwängler
  • Patent number: 8935044
    Abstract: Methods and systems for detecting a refueling event for diagnostics are disclosed. In one example approach a method comprises discontinuing leak diagnostics in response to a temperature change in a fuel vapor canister coupled to a fuel tank in an emission control system while the leak diagnostics are being performed in the emission control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dennis Seung-Man Yang, Mark Daniel Bunge, Aed M. Dudar
  • Patent number: 8935037
    Abstract: A controller for determining whether a previously-determined vehicle steering sensor malfunction still exists. The controller includes an electronic, non-volatile memory, and an electronic processing unit connected to the electronic, non-volatile memory. The electronic processing module includes a malfunction monitoring module, a failure handling module, and a signal checking module. The malfunction monitoring module monitors the operation of at least one vehicle sensor and generates a fault signal when the at least one sensor malfunctions. The failure handling module causes drive cycle information and the fault information to be stored in the electronic, non-volatile memory. The signal checking module performs a signal check on information from the at least one sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Henrik Bechtler, Ravi Bhadange, Nachiket Patil, Takeshi Tokonaga, Stefan Mallmann, Michael Schwab, Dietmar Stapel, Willy Klier, Joerg Eesmann
  • Patent number: 8925299
    Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement (1) for operating an exhaust gas post-treatment device, particularly of a motor vehicle, wherein the arrangement (1) comprises a plurality of consumers (3-12) and a controller (2), wherein the controller (2) comprises at least one switching device (13) for switching the consumers (3-12) on and off. According to the invention, the consumers (3-12) are grouped according to function, and connected to one switch (17-21) each of the switching device (13). The invention further relates to a method for operating an exhaust post-treatment device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Schelling, Patrick Bauer, Mehmet Oencel, Ralph Bauer, Thomas Holst, Georg Hoegele
  • Publication number: 20150006017
    Abstract: A fault diagnosing system method for a coolant switching device for a vehicle are provided. The fault diagnosing system includes a first coolant pipe line that passes through an electronic device and an interior heating device. A second coolant pipe line branches off the first coolant pipe line and passes through a radiator. In addition, a coolant switching device is disposed at a branching point at which the second coolant pipe line branches off the first coolant pipe line and an on-board charger charges a vehicle battery and is disposed on the second pipe line. A controller is configured to determine a failure of the coolant switching device and stop the on-board charger from charging the vehicle battery when a temperature of the on-board charger is greater than a first set temperature and a temperature of the electronic device is less than a second set temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Applicant: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Heon Young Kwak, Ju Man Yoon
  • Patent number: 8924070
    Abstract: Systems and methods for learning torque estimate errors and updating torque estimation models are presented. In one example, torque errors are learned during an engine shut-down, after a disconnect clutch coupled between an engine and an electric machine has been released. An updated torque estimation model is then used to control torque during subsequent engine operation to improve drive feel and vehicle performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alex O'Connor Gibson, Mark Steven Yamazaki, Jeffrey Allen Doering, Dennis Craig Reed, Adam Nathan Banker
  • Publication number: 20140379199
    Abstract: A method for operating a motor vehicle having at least one component which is subject to an operation-dependent aging process, in which the connection between a load profile of the at least one component and a damage resulting therefrom is determined, and the damage of the at least one component is estimated from the determined connection, and in which an operating strategy for operating the motor vehicle is set on the basis of the estimated damage of the at least one component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Udo SCHULZ, Christian STAENGLE, Bastian BISCHOFF, Jochen PFLUEGER, Oliver Dieter KOLLER
  • Patent number: 8914185
    Abstract: An ECU is connected to a multi-system shift sensor detecting a shift lever position in a shift direction associated with detection of the R position, and to a multi-system select sensor detecting a shift lever position in a select direction not associated with detection of the R position. When only one or more, but not all, of sensors in the select sensor are abnormal, the ECU controls the shift range according to the shift position detected based on the remaining proper sensor. When only one or more of sensors in the shift sensor are abnormal, the ECU maintains the current range until an operation of a shift lever is detected, and switches the shift range to the N range at the point of time of detecting an operation of the shift lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koki Ueno, Ichiro Kitaori, Takahiko Tsutsumi, Hiroatsu Endo, Takashi Yuma, Masayuki Matsui
  • Patent number: 8914186
    Abstract: A method of controlling thermal loading in a multi-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT) that is paired with an internal combustion engine in a vehicle is provided. The method includes detecting operation of the vehicle and ascertaining a degree of thermal loading on the DCT. The method also includes selecting a remedial action corresponding to the ascertained degree of thermal loading. Additionally, the method includes activating the selected remedial action such that the thermal loading on the DCT is reduced. A vehicle having a DCT, an internal combustion engine, and a controller configured to control thermal loading in the DCT is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Xuefeng Tim Tao, John William Boughner, Alfonso G. Hysko, Jonathan P. Kish, Matthew D. Whitton, Fei An, Steven P. Moorman
  • Patent number: 8909420
    Abstract: A system for monitoring a fill level of a plurality of tires of a vehicle includes a situation detecting unit set up for detecting a situation in which adaptation of a fill level of at least one of the tires of the vehicle is expected. The system further includes a fill level adaptation assistant set up for autonomously assisting a user of the vehicle during the adaptation of the fill level of the at least one tire when the situation is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Gregor Kuchler, Frank Fischer, Juergen Spotka
  • Patent number: 8903594
    Abstract: When an accelerator is put in an OFF state to decelerate a vehicle and perform inertia travel with supply of fuel being cut off, measurement of an accelerator OFF lapse time is started. When a travel speed falls down to be lower than a pre-stop speed, a measured lapse time is stored in a memory, with the measurement of the lapse time being further continued. After finishing a travel of a downward slope, the travel speed is reduced to fall down to the pre-stop speed again, a lapse time continuously measured up to that time is updated in the memory. When the travel speed falls to a stop speed, the measurement of the lapse time is finished and the continuously-measured lapse time is determined as a required stop time of the vehicle. As the required stop time increases, driving is diagnosed as being fuel-efficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasushi Sakuma, Yasuyuki Itoh, Kazunao Yamada, Yusuke Mizuno
  • Patent number: 8903574
    Abstract: In a system and method for communicating data in a locomotive consist or other vehicle consist (comprising at least first and second linked vehicles), a first electronic component in the first vehicle of the vehicle consist is monitored to determine if the component is in (or enters) a failure state. In the failure state, the first electronic component is unable to perform a designated function. Upon determining the failure state, data is transmitted from the first vehicle to a second electronic component on the second vehicle, over a communication channel linking the first vehicle and the second vehicle. The second electronic component is operated based on the transmitted data, with the second electronic component performing the designated function that the first electronic component is unable to perform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jared Klineman Cooper, Eugene A. Smith, Nick David Nagrodsky, William Cherrick Schoonmaker, Todd William Goodermuth
  • Publication number: 20140336864
    Abstract: An actuator control apparatus including a by-wire control circuit, a monitor circuit, a drive determination section, and a prohibition section is provided. The by-wire control circuit electrically controls an actuator acting as a drive source of an on-board apparatus. The monitor circuit monitors whether or not the by-wire control circuit is normally operating. The monitor circuit is provided separately from the by-wire control circuit. The drive determination section determines prohibition and permission of driving the actuator. The prohibition section prohibits the actuator from being driven when the permission of driving the actuator is not determined by the drive determination section. The prohibition section also prohibits the actuator from being driven when the monitor circuit determines that the by-wire control circuit is not normally operating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuhiro YOSHIDA, Jun YAMADA, Takuya TAMARU
  • Patent number: 8886390
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for managing and prioritizing for action fleets of mobile robots deployed at various locations. The system/method includes a plurality of homebase servers, each corresponding to a different location, with each of the homebase servers receiving operational parameter data (representing operational and navigational issues experienced by the mobile robot) from a plurality of mobile robots operating at the particular location where the homebase server is deployed. A central server receives the operational parameter data from the plurality of homebase servers. The central server included a data analysis module for processing the operational parameter data and prioritizing the mobile robots operating at the various locations for action by support staff. A list is generated ranking the mobile robots in order of importance for action by support staff.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Aethon, Inc.
    Inventors: David G. Wolfe, George F. Lucas, Mark Swaney
  • Patent number: 8880242
    Abstract: A system and method for actively controlling a structure is disclosed. At least one non-optimal event is identified in real-time based on at least one real-time elasticity measurement, if an event threshold exceeds a predetermined value. In response to an active control command, a control mechanism is then activated in real-time to compensate for the non-optimal event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Harris O. Hinnant, Jr., Darin W. Brekke, David J. Black, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8880275
    Abstract: A vehicle control system is provided that includes an internal communications system. The vehicle control system further includes a controller configured to communicate with a plurality of independent vehicle systems via the internal communications system. The controller stores and accesses a plurality of libraries of system processes having data associated with the plurality of vehicle components. The controller maintains an operational state for the vehicle during an operational failure of at least one of the plurality of independent vehicle systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: James A. Del Savio, Richard P. Berube, Stuart K. Beazley, Ryan K. Miller, Peter Licis, Alberico Menozzi
  • Patent number: 8880285
    Abstract: A telematics system provides a platform for generating coaching tips, feedback, and simple indices based on driving behavior, historical information, heursistics and expert knowledge. The coaching tips are displayed on the policyholder portal and text describing the tips is completely configurable by an administrator on the server for the application. Furthermore, both ‘driving behavior’ and ‘environmentally friendly (green) driving’ tips can be supported.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Intelligent Mechatronic Systems Inc.
    Inventors: William Ben Miners, Hani Hawari, Jason Toonstra, Daniel Evan Lajeunesse
  • Patent number: 8874304
    Abstract: A method for monitoring the state of a bogie of a railway vehicle having at least one wheel set, wherein the wheels of the wheel set are rigidly connected by an axle and have an approximately conical wheel profile, and signals corresponding to a sinusoidal run of the wheel set of the bogie based on the conical wheel profile of the wheels are filtered out of signals provided by sensors disposed on the bogie. The frequency of the sinusoidal run is determined relative to boundary conditions, such as the prevailing vehicle speed, and compared to a save value or range of values for the frequency of the sinusoidal run typical for the prevailing boundary conditions, wherein the deviation of the measured frequency from the saved value or range of values for the frequency is monitored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Knorr-Bremse Systeme fur Schienenfahrzeuge GmbH
    Inventors: Ulf Friesen, Thomas Burkhart
  • Patent number: 8868282
    Abstract: A method for diagnosing a device of a vehicle, includes: generating samples of a parameter of the device; indicating whether each of the samples passed or failed based on comparisons of the samples with one of a predetermined value and a predetermined range; tracking a first number of consecutive samples compared, a second number of the first number of samples that failed, a third number of the first number of samples that failed consecutively, and a fourth number of a last predetermined number of samples compared that failed; selecting one of a normal control mode, a temporary default action mode and a permanent default action mode based on the first, second, third, and fourth numbers; and selectively setting a diagnostic trouble code (DTC) in memory when in the permanent default action mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Inventors: Peter John Giles, John F. Van Gilder
  • Patent number: 8868281
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for assessing understeer for a vehicle having at least one rear wheel and at least one front wheel. Rear wheel speeds are measured from the rear wheels, and front wheel speeds are measured for the front wheels. A determination is made as to the understeer of the vehicle using a comparison of the front wheel speeds and the rear wheel speeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Hualin Tan
  • Patent number: 8868261
    Abstract: A monitoring device is disclosed for an actuation system of an aircraft for monitoring a guiding device of a regulating flap with a load sensor. An actuation system with the monitoring device and a method for reconfiguring such an actuation system are disclosed. The monitoring device includes an interface to the load sensor and an interface to a driving device for adjusting the regulating flap. The monitoring device can determine or receive in-flight information actively signaling a predefined flight attitude and/or a predefined operational state of the aircraft. The monitoring device can compare a load value corresponding to a sensor value acquired by the load sensor and a limiting value corresponding to a minimum operational load for the predefined flight attitude and/or the predefined operational state of the aircraft and a monitoring function. The monitoring function can assign a fault mode to the regulating flap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Recksiek, Mark Heintjes, Christoph Winkelmann
  • Patent number: 8849496
    Abstract: Systems and methods of providing road service to an operator of a vehicle are provided. Such systems and methods presuppose a navigation system of the vehicle is set to route the vehicle to a destination. A road service request from the vehicle is received and a waypoint along the route to the destination is calculated. The navigation system is remotely set to route the vehicle to the waypoint and road service at the waypoint is ordered. The road service includes swapping the vehicle with a new vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoya Miyamoto, David S. DeWitt, Ryan Douglas Roy Harty, Robert M. Uyeki
  • Publication number: 20140288760
    Abstract: A shutter mechanism is adapted to be provided to a grill opening in a vehicle body. Opening and closing operations of the shutter mechanism are controlled by an electronic control unit (ECU). The ECU determines whether a vehicle is in a traveling end state. If the vehicle is in the traveling end state, the ECU determines whether or not the shutter mechanism is in an open state. If the ECU determines that the open state of the shutter mechanism cannot be confirmed, the ECU controls the shutter mechanism to open the shutter mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshimasa Asano, Eri Yamamoto, Hitoshi Takayanagi
  • Patent number: 8843218
    Abstract: A method of controlling an actuator includes developing a sequence of actuation commands S(tx)=C(tx, tx), C(tx, tx+1), . . . , C(tx, tx+n) obtained from data sensed before time tx for controlling the actuator at different time intervals (tx, tx+1), (tx+1, tx+2), . . . , (tx+n?1, tx+n). The sequence of actuation commands is transmitted to and stored in memory of an actuation ECU, which then applies the actuation command for time interval (tx, tx+1). If a fault affects a sensor, a control ECU or data communication therebetween, the actuation ECU will not receive an updated sequence of actuation commands S(tx+1) at time tx+1. If the updated actuation command sequence, the actuation ECU applies the actuation command for the time intervals (tx+1, tx+2), . . . , (tx+n?1, tx+n) from the sequence of actuation commands S(tx) that is stored in the memory of the actuation ECU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Markus Jochim, Lawrence E. Peruski, Barbara J. Czerny, Joseph G. D'Ambrosio, Rami I. Debouk
  • Patent number: 8843264
    Abstract: For operation of a motor vehicle (2) having a propulsion system (4), when a critical operating state (STATE_CRIT) occurs and/or an operating error (ERROR) of the motor vehicle (2) and/or of the propulsion system (4) of the motor vehicle (2) occurs, the critical operating state (STATE_CRIT) and/or the operating error (ERROR) are signalled to a driver of the motor vehicle (2) by a reaction of the propulsion system (4) and/or by a reaction of the motor vehicle (2) which can be perceived by the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Johannes Feder, Björn Kattentidt, Stefan Maier, Martin Prenninger
  • Publication number: 20140277904
    Abstract: A method for monitoring a subsystem installed in a motor vehicle involves a diagnostic unit checking the subsystem for system errors at least during driving cycles of the motor vehicle, the check being carried out for an occurrence as well as for a correction of a system error. The diagnostic unit carries out a misuse assessment based on a frequency of detection of the occurrence and/or the correction of the system error in order to determine whether the detected occurrence and/or the detected correction of the system error is/are based on misuse. If occurrence of the system error is detected, a restricted operating mode is activated or an activated restricted operating mode is continued in which drivability of the vehicle is restricted after a predefinable number of driving cycles has elapsed or after a predefinable travel distance has passed without the correction of the system error being detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2011
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Herbert Schankula, Markus Richter
  • Patent number: 8831848
    Abstract: An electro-hydraulic clutch system for a motor vehicle includes a clutch mechanism that selectively engages an engine of the motor vehicle with a gear box, an actuator that pumps and retrieves hydraulic fluid to and from the clutch mechanism to activate the clutch mechanism, and a solenoid with a valve and/or a check ball that is disposed in the path of the hydraulic fluid between the actuator and the clutch mechanism. The solenoid has a normally closed position to prevent flow of the hydraulic fluid back to the actuator in the event of a system failure. The solenoid can also be used to reduce energy consumption in steady state conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth K. Lang, Hamid Vahabzadeh, Christian Rübsam
  • Patent number: 8831816
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electrical leakage diagnosis apparatus for a vehicle which uses an insulation resistance sensor. The apparatus includes an insulation resistance sensor; a main switching part; and a battery power management part configured to terminate the operation of a driving part so as to control a driving motor of a vehicle when the value of a first insulation resistance outputted from the insulation resistance sensor is less than a previously set threshold value, and to determine that an insulation breakage has occurred in one or more driving components when the value of a second insulation resistance, measured after terminations of the driving components, exceeds the threshold value and to terminate the operation of the vehicle by turning off the main switching part so that electrical power supplied from the high voltage battery to the electrical field loads of a vehicle is disconnected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Beomjoo Kwon, Hyunsoo Park, Oyoung Ahn, Kyungho Kim, Myeongsun Choi
  • Patent number: 8831815
    Abstract: A method and electrical system for detecting and compensating for a failure in a starter circuit that comprises first and second relays in a circuit path to a starter motor of a vehicle. The method and system determine if at least one of the first or second relays is in a closed position when it should be in an open position and disables a vehicle starter operation if it is determined that at least one of the first or second relays is in the closed position when it should be in the open position. The vehicle starter operation could be a stop-start operation of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventors: Mark L. Lott, Toufic R. Rtail