Trend Analysis Patents (Class 701/32.1)
  • Patent number: 11772823
    Abstract: A method and system method for estimating fatigue damage in a structure obtains fatigue damage data collected using at least one sensor associated with the structure during at least one test operation and also obtains structure use parameter data collected during the at least one test operation. The obtained fatigue data and the obtained use parameter data are used to compute coefficients of at least one generic polynomial function that outputs a fatigue damage value based on inputs representing use parameter data. The at least one generic polynomial function is used to output an estimated fatigue damage value based on inputs representing use parameter data collected during use of the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: BAE Systems plc
    Inventors: Monadl Abd Al-Abbas Mansour Al-Ameri, Bhadrayu Manherlal Ranat
  • Patent number: 11541898
    Abstract: A vehicle can have a user profile securely deployed in it according to a security protocol. The vehicle can include a body, a powertrain, vehicle electronics, and a computing system. The computing system of the vehicle can be configured to: retrieve information from a user profile according to a security protocol. The computing system of the vehicle can also be configured to receive a request for at least a part of the retrieved information from the vehicle electronics and send a portion of the retrieved information to the vehicle electronics according to the request. The computing system of the vehicle can also be configured to propagate information sent from the vehicle electronics back into the user profile according to the security protocol. And, the computing system of the vehicle can also be configured to store in its memory, according to the security protocol, information sent from the vehicle electronics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Tex Burk
  • Patent number: 11397212
    Abstract: According to the present invention, provided is a management device (10) including: a collection unit (11) that collects failure information indicating that a failure has occurred in each of a plurality of power storage systems; a computing unit (12) that computes a failure rate in a group in which the power storage systems each having a predetermined matter in common are collected; and an estimation unit (13) that estimates a characteristic of the failure indicated by the failure information, on the basis of the failure rate and a reference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinichiro Kosugi, Hiroshi Hanafusa, Yusuke Mori
  • Patent number: 11370322
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining a value of a parameter which characterizes the state of health of a battery made up of a plurality of cells and installed on-board a motorized land vehicle, as well as to an associated computer determination system (100).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: PSA AUTOMOBILES SA
    Inventor: Said Benane
  • Patent number: 11230296
    Abstract: In at least one embodiment, a class 7 or 8 vehicle is provided. A first controller is configured to control a vehicle operation and to detect one or more failures related to the vehicle operation. The first controller is configured to transmit first data indicative of the one or more failures. A vehicle interface controller is configured to receive the first data indicative of the one or more failures on the data communication bus and to receive a signal corresponding to at least one of vehicle speed or park brake status. The vehicle interface controller is further configured to retrieve at least one diagnostic screen and to display the at least one diagnostic screen after the signal indicates the at least one of the vehicle speed being equal to a predetermined vehicle speed or the park brake status indicating that a park brake is set in the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Shem, LLC
    Inventors: Chris Rood, Juan Higgs
  • Patent number: 11100732
    Abstract: A method of diagnosing a root cause for an exhibited vehicle failure, comprises initiating a vehicle health management (VHM) algorithm, repeatedly monitoring, at a specified time interval, the state of health (SOH) for at least one vehicle component, wherein the SOH for the at least one vehicle component is one of Green (normal operation), Yellow, and Red, calculating a number of consecutive Green SOH results for the at least one vehicle component, and providing an indication of likelihood that the at least one vehicle component is not a root cause of the exhibited vehicle failure based on the number of consecutive Green SOH results for the at least one vehicle component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Steven W. Holland, Varsha K. Sadekar, Joshua J. Sanchez
  • Patent number: 10457423
    Abstract: An aircraft component failure prediction apparatus including a database and an aircraft maintenance controller coupled to the database. The controller classifies operational data, in a first classification, as corresponding with at least one maintenance message to form at least one classified multidimensional operation data matrix including classified data. The controller classifies the classified data of the at least one classified multidimensional data matrix, in a second classification, to predict an occurrence of a future maintenance message for the aircraft component. The controller preprocesses the at least one classified multidimensional operation data matrix, and generates an output of at least one partial dependency function that explains prediction of the occurrence of the future maintenance message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Tsai-Ching Lu, Rashmi Sundareswara, David Huber, Alex Waagen
  • Patent number: 10289133
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for starting a test testing the operation of at least one fan designed to cool at least one computer of an aircraft turbojet engine, said method comprising steps of:—comparing (E1) the number of flights carried out by said aircraft since the last operation of the fan (N) with a first threshold (y),—comparing (E3) the number of flights carried out by said aircraft since the last operation of the fan (N) with a second threshold (x), said second threshold being greater than or equal to the first threshold,—acquiring an environmental parameter (T) and checking if the parameter satisfies a limit environmental condition of operation of the fan (E6),—controlling (E8) the starting of said fan operation test when the number of flights carried out by said aircraft since the last operation of the fan (N) is greater than or equal to said first threshold (y), less than said second threshold (x) and when the acquired parameter (T) satisfies said limit environmental condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Yannick Schini, Arnaud Rodhain
  • Patent number: 10223659
    Abstract: Disclosed is an approach for analyzing social media conversations related to one or more projects of an enterprise project management system. Integration is provided between a PPM application and an enterprise social networking application. Conversations generated around one or more social objects pertaining to one or more projects of the enterprise project management system are analyzed to estimate a social health of the project on the enterprise social network. The estimated social health is integrated back into the PPM application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: ORACLE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yash Babar
  • Patent number: 9971991
    Abstract: A system may receive an identifier for a new model product and identify a stored parts list associated with the identifier. The system may determine a code for one or more parts included on the parts list and may compare the code for a part, of the one or more parts included on the parts list, with codes for parts included in old model products. The system may determine that the part included on the parts list is comparable to one of the parts included in the old model products if the code for the part included on the parts list matches the code for the one of the parts included in the old model products. The system may use data associated with the one of the parts included in the old model products to generate a new spare parts forecast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Accenture Global Services Limited
    Inventors: Ashwini Kapil, ZahirAbbas N. Khaswala
  • Patent number: 9880892
    Abstract: A method of managing semiconductor manufacturing defects, the method including: determining a cumulative aging parameter for each of a plurality of first IC products produced with a particular manufacturing line, the cumulative aging parameter being dependent on a product operating condition; calculating an observed defect rate for the plurality of first IC products based on a difference between a predicted value of a aging parameter and the cumulative aging parameter for each of the plurality of first IC products; and adjusting a manufacturing reliability model for the particular manufacturing line in response to the observed defect rate being different from an initial predicted defect rate for the plurality of first IC products wherein the manufacturing reliability model reestablishes the initial predicted defect rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jeanne P. S. Bickford, Nazmul Habib, Baozhen Li, Pascal A. Nsame
  • Patent number: 9809210
    Abstract: A device includes at least one of a brake position sensor operationally coupled to a brake and providing a brake position signal, or a clutch position sensor operationally coupled to a clutch and providing a clutch position signal. The device further includes a controller having a communication module structured to interpret the at least one of the brake position signal or the clutch position signal, and a collection module structured to collect vehicle dynamics information. The controller further includes a vehicle dynamics module structured to interpret the vehicle dynamics information, and a sensor diagnostics module structured to determine a failure of at least one of the clutch position sensor or the brake position sensor in response to the vehicle dynamics information and at least one of the clutch signal or the brake signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Cummins, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin T. Books, Praveen Chitradurga Muralidhar
  • Patent number: 9732838
    Abstract: A monitoring system for a gearbox having at least one rotational component having a design lifetime and at least one design parameter is disclosed. The monitoring system may include a first sensor configured to generate a first signal indicative of a speed associated with the at least one rotational component, a second sensor configured to generate a second signal indicative of a torque associated with the rotational component, and a controller electronically connected to the first and second sensors. The controller may be configured to determine a remaining lifetime of the at least one rotational component based on the design lifetime, the at least one design parameter, and the first and second signals over a period of operating time, and generate a maintenance signal based on the remaining lifetime.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Marvin Grendel McKimpson, Richard Andrew Carpenter
  • Patent number: 9633489
    Abstract: A system and method of processing information onboard a vehicle. Execution attributes on the vehicle are read by a computer program running on a data processing system on the vehicle. The execution attributes define a number of information processing actions. The number of information processing actions are performed on the vehicle by the computer program running on the data processing system on the vehicle using the execution attributes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Jeffrey Alan Schmitz, Eric Lee Nicks, Timothy Joseph Wilmering, Javier Cortez, Jeanne C. Maggiore
  • Patent number: 9595123
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to methods and devices for displaying trends and variability in a physiological dataset. The method comprises obtaining the physiological dataset, applying a smoothing algorithm to the physiological dataset to obtain a trend of the physiological dataset, applying a variability algorithm to the physiological dataset to obtain the variability of the physiological dataset, outputting a graph of the trend of the physiological dataset, and outputting a graph of the variability of the physiological dataset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Respiratory Motion, Inc.
    Inventors: Jordan Brayanov, Malcolm Bock, Michael Lalli, Jenny Freeman, Colin M. MacNabb
  • 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: 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
  • Patent number: 9026305
    Abstract: A vehicle service or inspection system including a load roller for applying a radial load to a vehicle wheel assembly consisting of a tire mounted to a rim, with at least one sensor for acquiring measurements of acoustical energy generated by the wheel assembly during loaded rotational movement. The vehicle service or inspection system is configured with a programmed processor to evaluate the acquired measurements to provide a measure of tire road noise, identification of tire defects, and/or identification of sources of noise, vibrations, or acoustical energy on the tire surface such as tire flat spots, cupping, bubbles, embedded foreign objects, or other defects. The processor is further configured with software instructions to utilize the acquired measurements to provide a consumer with a figure of merit associated with the acoustics of the tire undergoing testing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Hunter Engineering Company
    Inventors: Gregory F. Meyer, Joel Clasquin, Timothy A. Strege
  • Patent number: 9026343
    Abstract: Operational efficiency and/or control systems and methods for vehicles are provided in order to improve fuel efficiency when traveling in a fuel powered vehicle from point A to point B. The systems and methods can determine the “best” or most efficient route to take based on one or more priorities, make driving recommendations to the operator, and/or automatically control one or more systems (e.g., engine, brakes, transmission, etc.) of the vehicle. The systems and methods can calculate the “best” route based on predefined trip requirements, including cost, schedule, route preferences, and/or risk of potential delays, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: PACCAR Inc
    Inventor: Wesley Mays
  • Patent number: 9002613
    Abstract: A target (not-to-exceed) speed for a vehicle over a road segment ahead of the vehicle is established based on a desired relationship with a speed profile of the segment. The speed profile is generated by analyzing a statistical distribution of historical speed data over the segment collected by probe vehicles. A driver alert is activated if the vehicle is likely to exceed the target speed based on at least one measured vehicle dynamic property. The target speed may be established by identifying a baseline road segment over which the vehicle has previously travelled and which is similar to the approaching road segment, comparing a past speed of the vehicle over the baseline segment with a speed profile of the baseline segment to determine a speed differential, and applying the speed differential to the speed profile of the approaching segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Edward Pilutti, Jeffrey Dan Rupp, Dorian Jack Spero
  • Patent number: 8989959
    Abstract: Vehicle operator performance history recording and reporting systems include devices and methods of automatically collecting and processing vehicle crash or event data over time to form a driver history report. A driver history report may include many factors to express performance or quality of driver service, and these may be reduced to a single value normalized expression in view of a collection of many drivers. Vehicle event recorders are arranged to capture data relating to a particular event. These vehicle event recorders are further coupled to systems which form an association between collected data and the vehicle operator in command of the vehicle at the event moment. Systems provide means for long-term storage of data particularly data in a structure which preserves the association between a driver and event records attributed to him/her.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: SmartDrive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: James Plante, Ramesh Kasavaraju, Gregory Mauro, Andrew Nickerson
  • Patent number: 8983710
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for determining a value of an event performance variable associated with a driving event, and/or for determining a session performance variable associated with at least one driving session. The method comprising: identifying a driving event which occurred during a driving session of a vehicle; providing a plurality of indicators associated with such a driving event; retrieving respective values for each of the plurality of indicators from one or more sensors located in the vehicle being driven; providing a mathematical relationship that represents the event performance variable as a function of the plurality of indicators, wherein the mathematical relationship represents an event of the type characterizing the identified driving event; and determining value of the event performance variable based on the mathematical relationship provided, by applying the values retrieved for each of the plurality of indicators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Greenroad Driving Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Ofer Nissim Raz, Oren Musicant
  • Publication number: 20150073650
    Abstract: A method for monitoring a degradation in an on-board device of an aircraft, comprising a step of comparing an abnormality score obtained for a given flight of said aircraft with a decision threshold (S) and a step of transmitting an alert in the event of said decision threshold (S) being exceeded, said decision threshold (S) being automatically determined for a given probability of alert Pa, corresponding to the probability of an alert being transmitted during the monitoring method when said on-board device is healthy, by means of a plurality of steps, including a step of reading the antecedent of the continuous adjusted division function for the value 1?Peac, said antecedent corresponding to said decision threshold (S), with Peac being the elementary probability of exceeding the threshold for confirmation per k exceedances of threshold during n consecutive flights and being a function of the probability of alert Pa.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Applicants: SNECMA, SAFRAN ENGINEERING SERVICES, UNIVERSITE DE TECHNOLOGIE DE TROYES
    Inventors: Jean-Remi Andre MASSE, Ouadie HMAD, Edith GRALL-MAES, Pierre Jean Emile BEAUSEROY
  • Patent number: 8977476
    Abstract: A system for automatically shutting down an engine of a motor vehicle includes a plurality of status indicators, each providing status data in response to an operational parameter of the vehicle, wherein the status data from each of the status indicators has a predetermined status value. A controller is responsive to the status data and is configured to (1) sum the status values of the status data received by the controller to determine an aggregated status value, (2) compare the aggregated status value to a predetermined shutdown threshold value, and (3) provide a shutdown signal if the aggregated status value is at least equal to the shutdown threshold value for a predetermined time interval. An engine control unit in signal communication with the controller is operable to shut down the engine in response to the shutdown signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Safety Shutdown, LLC
    Inventors: Michael W. Kirshon, Barry Kupferberg, Martin Schneider
  • Patent number: 8972101
    Abstract: A method of predicting a horizontal stabilizer system fault in an aircraft, where the method includes receiving data relevant to a characteristic of the pitch of the aircraft during flight, comparing the received data to a reference pitch characteristic, predicting a fault in the horizontal stabilizer system based on the comparison, and providing an indication of the predicted fault.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: GE Aviation Systems Limited
    Inventors: Christopher Joseph Catt, Mark John Robbins
  • Patent number: 8972138
    Abstract: A method for controlling a vehicle's speed by adopting a desired speed vset for the vehicle; determining a horizon for the intended itinerary made up of route segments, effecting the following during each of a number of simulation cycles (s) each comprising a number N of simulation steps conducted at a predetermined frequency f: first predicting the vehicle's speed vpred—cc along the horizon with conventional cruise control when vset is presented as reference speed, comparing the predicted vehicle speed vpred—cc in a range vmin to vmax, making a second prediction of the vehicle's speed vpred—Tnew along the horizon based on the vehicle's engine torque T; determining a reference value for how the vehicle's speed is to be influenced on the basis of at least one of the comparisons and the predicted vehicle speed vpred—Tnew; controlling the vehicle by the reference value. A module for the foregoing controls a vehicle's speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Scania CV AB
    Inventors: Oskar Johansson, Maria Södergren, Fredrik Roos
  • Publication number: 20150046056
    Abstract: A method for determining a value of a brake pressure modulated by a pneumatic channel of a braking value encoder having at least one electrical channel, in a braking device of a vehicle, including: (a) a first characteristic curve, in which the dependence of the signals, modulated by the at least one electrical sensor, on the degree of activation of the braking value encoder is represented, is determined and stored; (b) a second characteristic curve, in which the dependence of the brake pressure values, modulated by the channel, on the electrical signals detected by the sensor is represented, is determined and stored; and (c) the brake pressure value corresponding to a specific braking request as a result of activation of the encoder is determined based on the first and second characteristic curves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2013
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventor: Markus Schreiter
  • Patent number: 8954382
    Abstract: An operation arrangement work is accelerated by improving efficiency of generating an operation arrangement proposal and confirming whether the operation arrangement proposal is good or not. An operation support system has an operation arrangement proposal generation part (1110) which executes automatic generation of an operation arrangement proposal, a diagram prediction part which executes simulation of train operation in the future, a diagram display part (1120) which displays an operation schedule and the operation arrangement proposal as a diagram, and a user input part which receives input of a parameter from the user. System has a snapshot restoration part (1130) which restores snapshots of the operation arrangement proposal in an automatic generation process on the basis of a diagram change history outputted by the operation arrangement proposal generation part (1110), and a snapshot display input part (1140) which displays to the user a snapshot according to input from the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuichiro Sakikawa, Tatsuhiro Sato, Toyohisa Morita, Hirotake Yoshida
  • Patent number: 8954222
    Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus for retrieving trouble codes from a motor vehicle and retrieving only relevant diagnostic information relative to the returned codes from one or more remote diagnostic libraries. An electronic diagnostic library contains generalized diagnostic vehicle information tagged with trouble code identification ID's at a first location, and a diagnostic tool at a second location requests only relevant diagnostic information from the electronic library that is tagged with trouble code identification ID's corresponding to the retrieved trouble codes. The diagnostic tool receives the specific diagnostic vehicle information at the first location and may store the specific vehicle information locally prior to displaying an index to the information to a repair technician.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Mitchell Repair Information Company, LLC
    Inventor: David Costantino
  • Publication number: 20150032326
    Abstract: A failure diagnosis apparatus comprises a controller that is configured to execute a failure diagnosis process of the internal combustion engine based on a predetermined diagnosis requirement. The diagnosis requirement in a case where engine-operation-electric-power supply is executed is made different from the diagnosis requirement in a case where engine-normal-operation is executed such that a failure of the internal combustion engine in the case where the engine-operation-electric-power supply is executed is less likely to be detected or the failure of the internal combustion engine is less likely to be recognized by a driver than in the case where the engine-normal operation is executed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shunsuke Fushiki, Makoto Yamazaki, Keita Fukui
  • Patent number: 8942882
    Abstract: Systems and methods for managing the exchange of vehicle information between software modules with different safety importance. In one embodiment, a vehicle health management system includes a mission critical software module, a flight critical software module and a gatekeeper. The mission critical software module receives vehicle state information and provides it to the flight critical software module if the gatekeeper confirms the validity of the vehicle information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Kevin Swearingen, Kirby J. Keller
  • 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: 8935041
    Abstract: A diagnostic method for a torsional vibration damper in a drive train of a vehicle may include the steps of providing a drive train having a drive unit (e.g., an internal combustion engine) for generating a driving torque, a drive shaft (e.g., a crankshaft) coupled to the drive unit for transmitting the driving torque to an output shaft, and a torsional vibration damper connected to the drive shaft for damping torsional vibrations of the drive shaft, capturing a reference vibration signal of the drive shaft in a reference state, capturing an operating vibration signal of the drive shaft in an operating state deviating from the reference state, and comparing the reference vibration signal to the operating vibration signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Reinhold Hagel, Mehmet Tuna
  • Patent number: 8935040
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for analyzing a fault in a communication system. The system includes a diagnostic module. The diagnostic module has first through fifth control logics. The first control logic is configured to determine a topology of the communication system. The second control logic is configured to request a response from at least one module that is in electronic communication with the communication system. The third control logic is configured to receive the response. The fourth control logic is configured to analyze a characteristic of the response. The fifth control logic is configured to determine a characteristic of the fault based on the characteristic of the response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Timothy D. Julson, Robert F. Kirchhoff, Gary W. Taraski, John J. Flood, IV
  • Patent number: 8930046
    Abstract: A system for detecting degradation of a servo valve; having a controller, a servo valve, a position sensor, and a rate monitor. The controller receives inputs and transmits command data. The servo valve has an actuator and is conductively coupled to the controller to receive command data from the controller and move the actuator in response to the command data. The position sensor operably associated with the servo valve for measuring movement of the actuator and transmits corresponding movement data to the controller. The rate monitor coupled to the controller and position sensor for receiving the command data and the movement data as inputs respectively. The rate monitor processes the inputs to produce a steady state rate error signal. The rate monitor compares the steady state rate error signal to selected operational limits and produces a telemetry output when the operational limits are exceeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph M. Schaeffer
  • Publication number: 20140358356
    Abstract: Embodiments of techniques or systems for customization of, diagnostic assistance, and driving analytics related to snapshot data of a vehicle are provided herein. For example, a snapshot can be taken. The snapshot can be based on a snapshot package customized according to symptoms experienced by a driver of a vehicle, and analyzed individually or in conjunction with other snapshots to determine a trend. Additionally, the snapshot can be based on a configuration of a vehicle. In this scenario, the snapshot and the configuration of the vehicle can be used to provide an enhanced troubleshooting guide by removing non-suspect areas from consideration, thereby mitigating troubleshooting time. The snapshot can be setup to record parameters related to wear and tear on components of the vehicle. Suggestions can be made to a driver of the vehicle to reduce or mitigate actions that negatively impact wear and tear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2013
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tim R. Jones, Rich Shannon
  • Patent number: 8892327
    Abstract: A method for determining a functional state of a pressure build-up valve of a hydraulic brake booster of a brake system, having the following steps: comparing an activation intensity of an activation of a brake activating element of the brake system to a predefined minimum activation intensity; if the brake activation intensity is less than or equal to the minimum activation intensity, determining the functional state, taking into account a pressure change over time in at least a partial volume of the hydraulic brake booster; if the brake activation intensity is greater than the minimum activation intensity, determining the functional state, taking into account an operating mode which is predefined for a pressure reduction valve of the hydraulic brake booster. A function monitoring device for a pressure build-up valve of a hydraulic brake booster of a brake system is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Juergen Hachtel, Ralf Kinder
  • Patent number: 8886393
    Abstract: A method and system for providing a reminder message to a user associated with a vehicle via a vehicle telematics unit. The method carried out by the system involves sending to a user an email, web page or other communication that contains a user selectable reminder request, receiving the reminder request from the user, setting a reminder trigger in the vehicle, and then carrying out a requested action in response to occurrence of the trigger. The requested action can be presentation of a reminder message to the occupant and/or establishment of a call from the vehicle to a call center or other remote location to obtain services, such as telematics subscription renewal, or dealer service. The user-selectable reminder request can be implemented in the communication as a virtual button that mimics the look of a physical button installed in the car that is used to provide telematics services.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: General Motors LLC
    Inventors: Ryan M. Edwards, Heather C. Michalak
  • Patent number: 8886392
    Abstract: A method, device, and/or medium associated with managing vehicle maintenance activities may include monitoring data associated with an operating condition of a particular vehicle and updating historic operational data associated with the particular vehicle based on the data associated with the operating condition of the particular vehicle. The updated historic operational data may be updated with a predetermined maintenance standard associated with a substantially similar type of vehicle and a maintenance recommendation may be generated based, at least in part, on a result of the comparing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Intellectual Ventures Fund 79 LLC
    Inventor: Joon Maeng
  • Patent number: 8874307
    Abstract: A device for determining ageing of a hydraulic fluid in a hydraulic system with a multitude of hydraulic components is provided. The device comprises at least one temperature determination device and at least one ageing determination device, wherein the temperature determination device determines the respective temperature of each discrete fluid volume of the hydraulic fluid in the hydraulic system, and from the aforesaid the ageing determination device determines an increase in ageing. Generally, the temperature determination device carries out a numerical thermal simulation of the hydraulic system, component by component, including determining at least one temperature of at least one hydraulic component of the hydraulic system, which simulation is supported by measuring the temperatures of individual hydraulic components by means of temperature sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Robert Behr, Volker Baumbach
  • Patent number: 8868287
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a system for predicting maintenance operations on a current aircraft engine, comprising: processing means to compare a set of failure models (M1, . . . , Mn) adapted to said current engine to select a relevant failure model (Mi) with a failure age (T0) defining the age of said engine at the time of the failure; processing means to associate decision rules (R) about the workscope on said current engine with said relevant failure model (Mi), as a function of a set of parameters (P1, P2, Pi) related to said current engine; and processing means to determine the required maintenance workscope (Wf) to be applied to said current engine, as a function of said decision rules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Snecma
    Inventors: Guillaume Delaye, Jean-Philippe Autier, Eric Gendronneau
  • Patent number: 8843348
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for determining the health of an engine. The method includes a plurality of standard noise spectra collected from engines with known defects. A noise spectrum of the engine being monitored is sensed and compared to the plurality of standard noise spectra from the engines with known defects. From the comparison, a type and a degree of defect is identified based upon the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Victor Pascu, Jay M. Francisco
  • Patent number: 8818697
    Abstract: A vehicle having a driver statistic system for interfacing with a network includes a wheel speed sensor, an engine control unit, network interface hardware for communicating with a network, and an electronic control unit communicatively coupled therebetween. The electronic control unit includes a processor and memory storing a computer readable and executable instruction set. When the instruction set is executed by the processor, the electronic control unit processes sensor signals received from the wheel speed sensor and the engine control unit to determine fuel consumption of the vehicle. The electronic control unit transmits a vehicle status signal to the network interface hardware, where the vehicle status signal is indicative of the fuel consumption of the vehicle. The network interface hardware transmits the vehicle status signal to the network. The network interface hardware further receives a vehicle performance signal from the network indicative of a driver performance ranking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Lee Rovik, Charan S. Lota, Donald Anthony Restauri, III
  • Patent number: 8798850
    Abstract: A method and a measurement system are specified for localizing at least one wheel on a motor vehicle. In this case the operating situation of the motor vehicle and the wheel load of the at least one wheel and/or a variable dependent on this is determined. Then the at least one measured value of the wheel load is compared with a value assigned to the operating situation. As an alternative or in addition, the comparison of at least one parameter dependent on at least two measured values can be undertaken with at least one of the parameters assigned to this operating situation. Finally the point on the motor vehicle at which the wheel is mounted is determined on the basis of the comparison results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Alexander Fink, Thomas Haas, Gregor Kuchler
  • Publication number: 20140214750
    Abstract: A computer system and method for performing predictive analytics on telematics data regarding an entity. The computer system having a memory configured to store instructions and a processor disposed in communication with the memory. The processor upon execution of the instructions is configured to receive telematics data regarding an entity and analyze the received telematics data to identify a pattern of behavior. A behavioral conclusion and/or meaning is then determined for the entity based on analysis of the received telematics data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: United Services Automobile Association
    Inventors: Jodi J. Healy, Paul G. Canario, Steven T. Drawert, Christine M. Brown, Rod Gonzales, Robert K. Dohner, Joel Camarano
  • Patent number: 8781740
    Abstract: A storing unit stores traveling history information items on a vehicle, the traveling history information items being respectively associated with trips each being a segment from a start of a driving operation to an end of the driving operation. A determination unit determines whether to assign one of the traveling history information items, which is stored in the storing unit and associated with one trip, to a predetermined period, the one trip being partially included in the predetermined period. A driving operation diagnostic unit diagnoses a driving operation of a driver in the predetermined period according to the traveling history information item determined by the determination unit to be assigned to the predetermined period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Daiki Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 8768565
    Abstract: A rental/car-share (RCS) vehicle access and management system and method, in some embodiments, utilizes barcodes, QR codes (or NFC/RFID), GPS, and a mobile app coupled with a wireless network to enable customers to bypass the reservation desk and pickup and drop off reserved RCS vehicles using a mobile phone, tablet or laptop. The QR code, RFID, or NFC communication with the mobile application allows for identification of the vehicle by a mobile application, which, if authorized, can access the vehicle via a temporary access code issued by remote servers. The remote servers and/or mobile application communicates with a control module that plugs into the on-board diagnostics module of the rental/car-share (RCS) vehicle and includes a host processing unit with a processor, an accelerometer, data storage, a GPS with internal GPS antenna; a wireless modem with internal antenna, and CAN bus transceivers connected with the processor, and a USB programmable interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Enterprise Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: James E. Jefferies, Rod W. DeMay, Gurgen L. Lachinyan
  • Patent number: 8755985
    Abstract: A method of monitoring at least one limited-lifetime part. During an identification step (STP1), storage means (40) store a list including a reference for each limited-lifetime part of an engine (3). During an information-search step (STP2), the storage means (40) communicate with a centralized data system (DB) in order to store for each identified part the corresponding maintenance data. During a monitoring step (STP3), the wear of the engine is monitored by using the information stored in the storage means (40).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Airbus Helicopters
    Inventor: Hilario Vieira
  • Patent number: 8731767
    Abstract: The tyre includes a tyre tread configured so that, beyond a predetermined radial wear threshold, the tyre tread has a set of at least one wear indicator, including a so-called “sound” cavity arranged in a circumferential groove of the tyre tread. During the monitoring method, an acoustic signal that is able to include an acoustic footprint noise produced by the set during the running of the tyre on a ground beyond the predetermined threshold is detected by an acoustic sensor mounted on the vehicle, and information relating to the acoustic signal is emitted to a remote server not mounted on the motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignees: Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin, Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventor: Antoine Paturle
  • Patent number: 8731766
    Abstract: A process for updating the scheduling of a service stop for a machine includes determining, for at least one service operation, a service occurrence specification, monitoring the machine's usage severity, and setting an earliest occurrence point and a latest occurrence point for the service occurrence specification which are determined according to the machine usage severity monitored during a monitoring interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Renault Trucks
    Inventor: Samuel Artus