Storing Operational History (e.g., Data Logging, Etc.) Patents (Class 701/33.4)
  • Patent number: 8954226
    Abstract: A method, implemented in an electronic processing system that includes a memory and one or more processors, includes receiving, at the electronic processing system, sensor data representing information collected by a first sensor (i) located on or in a first vehicle and (ii) configured to sense an environment external to the first vehicle. The method also includes storing the received sensor data in the memory, and generating, via the one or more processors and using the stored sensor data, a virtual model of an event involving at least one vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company
    Inventors: Todd Binion, Joe Harr, Brian Fields, Steven Cielocha, Steve J. Balbach
  • Patent number: 8954225
    Abstract: A method for remotely monitoring and gathering information about a plurality of vehicles, including the steps of accessing the plurality of vehicles wherein each vehicle is individually operated, selecting vehicle data from the plurality of vehicles, communicating the vehicle data from the plurality of vehicles to a remote processor, and processing the plurality of vehicle data into population data by the remote processor. The individual operation of each vehicle preferably includes the steps of generating vehicle data, operating the vehicle based on the vehicle data with a vehicle controller, and storing the vehicle data in a database located on the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Mission Motor Company
    Inventors: Seth LaForge, Jon Wagner
  • Publication number: 20150039175
    Abstract: A computer in a vehicle is programmed to, during operation of the vehicle, identify data from one or more data collectors related to at least one stability event of the vehicle; determine a mitigation factor related to each at least one event; and determine a driving score for a driver of the vehicle based at least in part on the data related to the at least one stability event and the mitigation factor related to each at least one event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: Douglas Raymond Martin, Kenneth James Miller
  • Patent number: 8938331
    Abstract: An idle control system for a vehicle is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey L. Oakes
  • Publication number: 20150019070
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of analysing flight data recorded during N flights of at least one aircraft, by means of a flight data recorder of an aircraft, the data being grouped together by flight i in a signature vector of the flight Xi of size d, the components of which correspond to data recorded during said flight i of the aircraft, a flight i being thus defined by the signature vector Xi, the method comprising the following steps: Gaussian kernel entropy component analysis of the flight signatures Xi to obtain a zone of normal flights and classifying the flight signatures Xi with respect to their distance to said zone; determining, for each flight i, an abnormality score zi defined by the distance of a flight signature Xi with respect to the zone of normal flights; detecting, as a function of the abnormality score zi, at least one abnormal flight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Applicant: SAGEM DEFENSE SECURITE
    Inventor: Nicolas Chrysanthos
  • Patent number: 8930066
    Abstract: A customizable apparatus for controlling rotational movement of a turret of a vehicle is provided. The apparatus includes a memory that stores information relating to operation of the turret. A communication port of the apparatus is adapted to exchange communications relating to operation of the turret with an external computing device. A controller processes communications received at the communication port from the external computing device. The controller processes the communications, and the controller selectively provides access to the stored information relating to operation of the turret to the external computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Control Solutions LLC
    Inventors: Michael A. McKee, John E. Hayden
  • Patent number: 8924074
    Abstract: A driving assistance system for vehicle detects short-duration data representing a current traveling condition and drive operation, and intermediate-duration data representing a travelling condition and drive operation of this day. Drive diagnosis is carried out by comparing distribution of the short-duration data and distribution of the intermediate-duration data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Komori, Tomohiro Yamamura, Nobuyuki Kuge, Yasuhiko Takae, Takayuki Kondoh
  • Patent number: 8918243
    Abstract: A computer system and method for storing and processing GPS data for a plurality of vehicles to provide speed reports and alerts for fleets of vehicles, including alerts for speed data. The system and method can provide, for a graphic user interface, an alert when an operational metric for a vehicle meets or exceeds at least one predetermined criterion established for the operational metric, wherein the operational metric includes a speed metric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Fleetmatics IRL Limited
    Inventor: Peter Mitchell
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20140365070
    Abstract: A driving diagnosis device includes storage device which stores plural pieces of advice and a processor. The processor makes a diagnosis on driving by a driver according to vehicle information indicating at least one of behavior of a certain vehicle and an operation of the driver while the driver is driving the certain vehicle. The processor judges a degree of influence, on the diagnosis, of a driving experience of the driver before the driver drives the certain vehicle according to history information as for a history of the driver driving one or more different vehicles including the certain vehicle. And the processor determines to present to the driver a piece of advice stored in the storage device, from among plural pieces of advice, in association with a combination of a result of the diagnosis and the judged degree of influence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Katsutoshi Yano, Jun Kawai, Toshiaki Ando
  • Patent number: 8909439
    Abstract: An excavation control system includes a working unit having a bucket, a designed landform data storage part storing designed landform data, a bucket position data generation part that generates bucket position data, a designed surface data generation part, and an excavation limit control part. The designed surface data generation part generates superior and subordinate designed surface data based on the designed landform and bucket position data. The superior designed surface data indicates a superior designed surface corresponding to a prescribed position on the bucket. The subordinate designed surface data indicates a plurality of subordinate designed surfaces linked to the superior designed surface. The designed surface data generation part generates shape data based on the superior and subordinate designed surface data. The shape data indicates shapes of the superior designed surface and the plurality of subordinate designed surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Toru Matsuyama, Yoshiki Kami, Shin Kashiwabara, Masashi Ichihara
  • Publication number: 20140358358
    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
  • Publication number: 20140358357
    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
  • 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: 8903643
    Abstract: Marking apparatus and methods to mark ground, pavement or other surfaces to provide a visual indication of a presence or an absence of an underground utility in a dig area. An example marking tool has a hand-held housing, a marking dispenser coupled to the housing to dispense one or more markers in the dig area, and a triggering system to trigger the marking dispenser so as to dispense the marker(s). An example marking tool also may include a logging system to receive data associated with a marking event initiated by the triggering system, time tag the data, and store the time-tagged data in data storage in the marking tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: CertusView Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Steven Nielsen, Curtis Chambers, Jeffrey Farr
  • Patent number: 8897927
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a portable device, a supporting base associable with a vehicle and connecting means to lock, or release, the device in the base. The apparatus further includes detecting means for detecting at least an operating parameter of the vehicle, interface means for setting an operating state of the device and control means, connected to the detecting means and to the interface means to command the connecting means, as a function of the operating parameter and/or of the operating state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Datalogic Mobile S.R.L.
    Inventor: Alessandro Chiarini
  • Patent number: 8892297
    Abstract: A vehicle email notification system in which pre-delivery inspections by dealers can be automatically audited to help insure that vehicles are being delivered to customers with the proper initial values of such things as tire pressure and fluid levels. The notification system uses triggers to initiate the generation and transmission of email messages that provide diverse types of dynamic vehicle information to the owner or other authorized subscriber. This information is also used by the manufacturer to determine dealer compliance with pre-delivery inspection requirements. The email notifications are triggered by different events, some of which are independent of the vehicle (e.g., a monthly trigger), and others of which occur at the vehicle, such as a mileage or low oil life trigger. The notification system builds and sends to the subscriber an email message that contains the dynamic vehicle information and identifies any detected vehicle condition for which action is needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: General Motors LLC
    Inventor: Krishnaraj Inbarajan
  • Patent number: 8892341
    Abstract: A system and method for mentoring a driver of a vehicle can include a monitoring device in communication with an onboard diagnostics unit coupled to an engine, the monitoring device monitoring at least one of a plurality of vehicle parameters received from the onboard diagnostics unit including vehicle speed, fuel level, engine speed, load, mass air flow, manifold air pressure, and odometer reading, and using the at least one of a plurality of vehicle parameters to calculate a fuel efficiency and/or emissions of the engine; and an output coupled to the monitoring device, wherein the output notifies the driver when the fuel efficiency changes. The output can notify the driver when the fuel efficiency and/or emissions increases or decreases. The notification can be visual, audible, or a combination of the two.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: inthinc Technology Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Scott McClellan
  • Publication number: 20140336883
    Abstract: An articulated work machine determines the relative orientation of two members of the machine utilizing output from inertia sensors mounted on the members. The machine includes a first frame and a second frame having a body and a chassis, the body pivotally connected to the chassis at a pivot point. The first and second frames are connected by a coupling and are movable relative to each other in at least one direction. The machine includes a first multi-axis inertia sensor attached to the first frame providing an output relating to the position of the first frame, and a second multi-axis inertia sensor attached to the body providing an output relating to the position of the body. The machine further includes a controller configured to compare the outputs of the first and second multi-axis inertia sensors to calculate the position of the body and the first frame relative to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Inventors: Stephen Thompson, Gerard Owen McCann, David Brion Higdon
  • Publication number: 20140336871
    Abstract: A method of diagnosing a speed brake fault, where the method includes receiving a position signal from the at least one position sensor , determining a variation in the position signal relative to a reference position and diagnosing a fault in the speed brake system based on the variation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2013
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: GE Aviation Systems Limited
    Inventors: Christopher Joseph Catt, Julia Ann Howard
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20140330596
    Abstract: A system for monitoring operator and motor vehicle behavior, including at least one mobile device; application software resident on the mobile device, wherein the application software is operative to gather and record information relevant to both the behavior of a motor vehicle and the behavior of an operator of the motor vehicle, and wherein the application software is activated or deactivated based on certain predetermined trigger events; and at least one information processor in communication with and/or resident on the mobile device, wherein the information processor is operative to process and characterize the information gathered by the application software and communicate the processed and characterized information to a user of the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Inventors: Shailendra DEPURA, Bhavna Shailendra DEPURA, Jamna Lal DEPURA, Kanta DEPURA, Shalini MEMANI
  • Patent number: 8880284
    Abstract: A vehicle data acquisition system that stores, in a memory device, vehicle data acquired by way of a vehicle-mounted information processor. A data acquisition program assisting the acquisition of the vehicle data is dynamically incorporated in the vehicle-mounted information processor. A probe section, which can be replaced with another command, is positioned as an invalid command in one or a plurality of positions in an application program incorporated in advance in the information processor. The data acquisition program replaces the probe section with a vehicle data acquisition command and stores the acquired vehicle data in chronological order in the memory device. The data acquisition program re-replaces the probe section with an invalid command after the vehicle data is acquired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shinichiro Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 8880283
    Abstract: A deployable airfoil unit is disclosed. It has a housing comprising a front surface and a rear surface joined by a top surface, two opposing side surfaces, and a bottom surface. The top surface and the front surface form an acute angle, and the top surface is larger than the bottom surface. A memory is configured to store flight data or cockpit voice data. A center of mass in the unit is configurable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: DRS C3 & Aviation Company
    Inventors: Ari Kaufmann, Blake van den Heuvel, Mark Woozley
  • Patent number: 8880280
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for transmitting vehicle data in the form of kilometer readings of a motor vehicle (1) to a memory element (7) having a counter, which memory element is removable from the motor vehicle. At time intervals, the kilometer reading of the motor vehicle is transmitted to the memory element (7), and after each kilometer reading transmission, the difference between the last transmitted and the newly transmitted kilometer reading is added up in the counter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Audi Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Stephan Maas, Ingo Ledendecker
  • Patent number: 8880279
    Abstract: A vehicle event recorder is provided that includes a camera for capturing a video as discrete image frames, and that further includes a managed loop memory and a management system for generating a virtual ‘timeline dilation’ effect. To overcome size limits in the buffer memory of the video event recorder, the maximum time extension of a video series is increased by enabling a reduction in temporal resolution in exchange for an increase in the temporal extension. Memory cells are overwritten in an ‘interleaved’ fashion to produce a reduced frame rate for the recording of certain time periods connected to an event moment. In time periods furthest from the event moment, the resulting frame rate is minimized while in time periods closest to the event moment, the resulting frame rate is maximized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: SmartDrive Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: James Plante
  • Patent number: 8880281
    Abstract: An event data recorder (EDR) system includes an event identification module, a parameter selection module, and an event recorder module. The event identification module identifies occurrences of a first event and second event of M predetermined events based on operating conditions of an automotive vehicle. The parameter selection module selects a first set of parameters to record from N predetermined parameters when the first event occurs. The parameter selection module selects a second set of parameters to record from the N predetermined parameters when the second event occurs. The event recorder module records data corresponding to the first set of parameters when the first event occurs and records data corresponding to the second set of parameters when the second event occurs. M and N are integers greater than 1 and the first set includes at least one parameter that is different from the parameters included in the second set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Inventors: Peter John Giles, James T. Kurnik
  • Patent number: 8880282
    Abstract: A method and system for risk prediction for a support actuation system. The system includes a support actuation system for an automobile having a support actuation module and/or a risk prediction system. The risk prediction system includes a sensor, a processor, and/or a memory. The sensor detects images corresponding to identity data, environment data, event data, and/or behavior data, which are stored in the memory. The memory also stores a database including identities of users, environment risk values, event risk values, and/or behavior risk values. Using the identity data, the environment data, the event data, and/or the behavior data, the processor determines the environment risk value, the event risk value, the behavior risk value, and/or the total risk value for a user. When the total risk value is above a predetermined risk threshold, the support actuation module performs support actuation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Pujitha Gunaratne
  • Publication number: 20140324277
    Abstract: An electronic control apparatus includes a vehicle state storing processing part, which stores a vehicle state data when a predetermined trigger is generated, and a trigger setting processing part, which sets the trigger in correspondence to a designation from an external side. The electronic control apparatus further includes a data type setting part for setting, based on the designation from the external side, a stored vehicle state data type. The vehicle data storing part stores the vehicle state data in different addresses. The trigger setting part sets the trigger based on the address designated from the external side and a data length of the vehicle state data stored in the address. The data type setting part sets the stored vehicle state data type based on the address designated from the external side and the data length of the vehicle state data stored in the address.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinpei URASAWA, Kazunori OKADA
  • Publication number: 20140324281
    Abstract: A system for identifying a driver comprises an image capturing device, a processor, and a memory. The image is captured during vehicle operation and of an expected driver location. The processor is configured to detect a face of a driver in the image, determine a set of face data from the image, and identify the driver based at least in part on the set of face data. The memory is coupled to the processor and configured to provide the processor with instructions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: Lytx, Inc.
    Inventors: Syrus C. Nemat-Nasser, Andrew Tombras Smith
  • Publication number: 20140316640
    Abstract: A device to provide data of an autonomous system is configured to receive, from the autonomous system, data that are generated by the autonomous system, and to send the received data to an archiving device for storage. The archiving device is arranged external to the autonomous system and is independent of the operation of the autonomous system. The device provides the stored data for an independent evaluation device. An improved data provision is ensured by the storage of the data accumulating in the autonomous system, independent of the operation of the autonomous system. The provided data can be used for maintenance or setup of the autonomous system. An autonomous system includes such a device, and a method to provide data of an autonomous system; and a method to produce an autonomous system operate by using such a device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Sebastian Dippl, Robert Eidenberger
  • Patent number: 8868329
    Abstract: A parking position adjustment device that assists in correctly changing a parking position within a parking space in which a vehicle has already parked is provided. The parking position adjustment device includes: a current position setting unit that sets the position in which a vehicle is already parked as a current position; a parking space specification unit that specifies a parking space, in which the vehicle is parked, that includes the current position; a target parking position setting unit that sets, within the parking space, a target parking position to which the vehicle is to be moved from the current position; and a movement path calculation unit that calculates a movement path of the vehicle from the current position to the target parking position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keigo Ikeda, Yu Tanaka, Jun Kadowaki
  • Publication number: 20140309844
    Abstract: Method for controlling weighing of a vehicle travelling on a road by means of a weigh station alongside the road includes determining weight of the vehicle using a processor on-board the vehicle and transmitting from the vehicle using a telematics device, the determined weight of the vehicle to the weigh station. Determining the weight of the vehicle may entail processing inertial property data from an inertial measurement unit (IMU) into an indication of the weight of the vehicle. The inertial property data from the IMU may be multiple sets of inertial property data obtained over time. The IMU may be calibrated, using the processor, based differential motion of the vehicle over a period of time as determined by a location positioning system. A Kalman filter may also be used. A vehicle transmitting its determined weight avoids stopping at the weigh station.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Inventor: David S. Breed
  • Publication number: 20140309849
    Abstract: Methods and systems for tracking user behavior, the user behavior including one or more of: one or more user actions and one or more user interactions with a vehicle. A storage system stores the user behavior, where the tracked user behavior is associated with a driver and the storage system is capable of storing the tracked behavior for the driver from a plurality of vehicles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: Flextronics AP, LLC
    Inventor: Christopher P. Ricci
  • Patent number: 8862304
    Abstract: A network of collection, charging and distribution machines collects, charges and distributes portable electrical energy storage devices (e.g., batteries, supercapacitors or ultracapacitors). Vehicle diagnostic data of a vehicle using the portable electrical energy storage device is stored on a diagnostic data storage system of the portable electrical energy storage device during use of a respective portable electrical energy storage device by a respective vehicle. Once the user places the portable electrical energy storage device in the collection, charging and distribution machine, or comes within wireless communications range of a collection, charging and distribution machine, a connection is established between the collection, charging and distribution machine and the portable electrical energy storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Gogoro, Inc.
    Inventors: Ching Chen, Hok-Sum Horace Luke, Matthew Whiting Taylor, Yi-Tsung Wu
  • Patent number: 8862315
    Abstract: Systems and methods to process vehicle operation data are described. A data module associated with a vehicle can collect operation data relating to the gear operation of the vehicle. The data module can process the operation data to identify a top gear of the vehicle and determine the current gear at which the vehicle is operating. The data module can process the operation data to determine an amount of time that the vehicle operates in top gear. The data module can provide the data to an operator of the vehicle, or to a remote management center, for storage and/or further processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Omnitracs, LLC
    Inventors: Alfonso J. Espinosa, Rajendra K. Somia, Ernest Basin
  • Publication number: 20140297101
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a flight recorder, having a memory, a control device, which is coupled to the memory and which is configured to record flight data during the flight of an aircraft and to store said flight data in the memory, a transceiver device, which is coupled to the control device and which is configured to accept stored flight data signals from the control device and to convert them into acoustic signals, and an acoustic transducer, which is coupled to the transceiver device and which is configured to emit the acoustic signals of the transceiver device into a body of water, the control device being configured to receive control signals via the transceiver device and, depending on the control signals, to retrieve partial data areas of the stored flight data from the memory and to transfer them to the transceiver device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Inventors: Maurice GIROD, Uwe BARTELS
  • Patent number: 8849501
    Abstract: A Driver Risk Assessment System and Method Employing Selectively Automatic Event Scoring. The system and method provides robust and reliable event scoring and reporting, while also optimizing data transmission bandwidth. The system includes onboard vehicular driving event detectors that record data related to detected driving events, selectively store or transfer data related to said detected driving events. If elected, the onboard vehicular system will score a detected driving event, compare the local score to historical values previously stored within the onboard system, and upload selective data or data types to a remote server or user if the system concludes that a serious driving event has occurred. The system may further respond to independent user requests by transferring select data to said user at a variety of locations and formats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Lytx, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryon Cook, Peter Ellegaard, Louis Gilles
  • Patent number: 8849502
    Abstract: A Comprehensive and Retrofittable Occupant Sensor Suite (CROSS) for logging of accurate occupant dynamics during blast events encountered on the battlefield. The CROSS system is low cost, can be retrofit to any vehicle seat, will not restrict soldier mobility, and is highly expandable to include both wired and wireless sensors. The CROSS system reliably measures and sends all data channels to a vehicle data recorder (VDR), and internally stores data (with its own power backup) in case connectivity to the VDR or vehicle power is lost during a blast event. The CROSS system yields critical information for forensics analysis, the modeling of occupant dynamics during blast events, and the design of protective devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Inno Vital Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory J. Hiemenz, Datta Sheth, Murat Yasar
  • Publication number: 20140288768
    Abstract: Provided is an operation data collection device for construction machines that is capable of efficiently collecting operation data indicative of impending failure of a construction machine by reducing the amount of information to be collected and stored without degrading the quality of information used for maintenance. The device receives operation data containing values measured by a plurality of sensors, a value indicating the operating status and an operation data storage section. The device includes a normal reference value storage section that stores a normal reference value for each of the sensors generating the operation data, a deviation calculation section that calculates the deviation of each of the sensors from the normal reference value, and a stored sensor item extraction section that extracts sensor items of operation data to be stored in the operation data storage section in accordance with the calculated deviation of each sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Inventors: Junsuke Fujiwara, Hideaki Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20140277923
    Abstract: A deployable airfoil unit is disclosed. It has a housing comprising a front surface and a rear surface joined by a top surface, two opposing side surfaces, and a bottom surface. The top surface and the front surface form an acute angle, and the top surface is larger than the bottom surface. A memory is configured to store flight data or cockpit voice data. A center of mass in the unit is configurable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: DRS C3 & Aviation Company
    Inventors: Ari Kaufmann, Blake Vandenheuel, Mark Woozley
  • Publication number: 20140277924
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provides an automatic deployable flight recorder (ADFR) system that includes a deployable fight recorder, a plurality of crash sensors, and a recorder release unit. The recorder release unit is communicatively coupled to the deployable fight recorder and the plurality of crash sensors, and is configured to initiate deployment of the deployable flight data recorder from an aircraft when a deployment criteria that is adjusted based on a flight condition of the aircraft is satisfied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: DRS C3 & AVIATION COMPANY
    Inventors: Blake van den Heuvel, Ari Kaufmann, Vincent James O'Hara
  • Publication number: 20140277925
    Abstract: A vehicular system includes a master ECU, a first slave ECU, and a second slave ECU. The second slave ECU transmits a storing request to the master ECU on detection of a malfunction. The master ECU transmits a storing instruction for causing diagnostic information to be stored, on reception of the storing request. The first slave ECU generates diagnostic information on the first slave ECU, on reception of the storing instruction from the master ECU. The first slave ECU further stores the generated diagnostic information in a retention storage medium. The retention storage medium is configured to retain validity determination information in a condition where the first slave ECU is not supplied with electric power source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masahiko TANAKA, Mitsuyoshi NATSUME, Yasuyuki TAKAHASHI, Yuzo HARATA
  • Publication number: 20140277907
    Abstract: A diagnostic system configured to test the performance of a vehicle component may include a processor configured to process test information from the vehicle component and control the vehicle component to be tested. The system may also include a memory configured to store the test information of the vehicle component and software that operates the vehicle component and a capacitive element configured to supply power to perform the testing of the vehicle component, wherein the memory and the capacitive element are in communication with the processor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Manokar Chinnadurai, Garrett Miller
  • Patent number: 8836475
    Abstract: A monitoring device in accordance with the disclosure stores a serial number list in non-volatile memory, the serial number list including data indicative of at least one valid serial number associated with one or more key fobs permitted to interact with the monitoring device. The monitoring device is configured to receive a wakeup signal via a key fob interface configured to communicate with a key fob. The monitoring device reads a serial number from a key fob via the key fob interface and searches the stored serial number list for data indicative of a valid serial number matching the serial number read via the key fob interface. The monitoring device reads action data from the key fob via the key fob interface, the action data being indicative of an action to be taken by the monitoring device. The monitoring device, in response to the read serial number matching a valid serial number of the stored serial number list, takes an action based on the action data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Cubic Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Donlan, Michael Baumgartner, Norayr Minassian, Timothy Hester
  • Patent number: 8838326
    Abstract: A device for processing faults, that detects and identifies faults, including, for at least part of the identified faults: a mechanism storing a log of occurrences of faults having a same identification, in a course of a plurality of flights; a mechanism determining an impact of each identified fault, on availability of aircraft in a predetermined duration, a mechanism associating a hierarchical attribute with each fault detected in a course of a flight, the hierarchical attribute being dependent on the log and on the impact; and a mechanism displaying identified faults associated with part of the hierarchical attributes. The device enables, in particular, maintenance operations or operations preparatory to maintenance to be better scheduled by virtue of hierarchization of faults displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignees: Airbus, Airbus Operations S.A.S.
    Inventors: Vincent Gros, Frederic Martinez, Jose Dekneudt, Arnaud D'Ouince
  • Patent number: 8833861
    Abstract: A machine includes a frame and a dump body. An electronic controller is operably connected to the machine. At least one accelerometer is disposed to measure an acceleration of the frame and/or the dump body, and to provide an acceleration signal to the electronic controller. The electronic controller is disposed to receive and analyze the acceleration signal and provide a loading signal indicative of a severe loading condition to a remote control station and/or a loading machine performing the loading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron Donnelli, Andrew Whitten
  • Patent number: 8831806
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and vehicles are provided that provide for estimating a range of a vehicle with a rechargeable energy storage system (RESS). A sensor unit is configured to measure one or more input values pertaining to the RESS. A processor is coupled to the sensor unit, and is configured to determine an amount of energy available from the RESS using the input values and to obtain a time of day. An estimate of the range for the vehicle is determined based on the time of day and the amount of energy available.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Christopher A. Kinser, Todd P. Lindemann
  • Patent number: 8831834
    Abstract: In a vehicle information management system, a storage includes a storage region arranged to store abnormality data that includes diagnostic data, type information indicating a type of an abnormality, and occurrence number information that indicates the number of occurrences of each abnormality specified by the type information. When the type of an abnormality is specified by an abnormality specifying unit and a new diagnostic data is produced and if the abnormality data of the same type as the specified type is already stored in the storage region in the storage, an updating unit changes the occurrence number information to the latest information and overwrites and saves the diagnostic data in the storage region already stored with the abnormality data of the same type as the specified type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoko Fujime
  • Patent number: 8825272
    Abstract: A diagnostic system configured to test the performance of a vehicle component may include a processor configured to process test information from the vehicle component and control the vehicle component to be tested. The system may also include a memory configured to store the test information of the vehicle component and software that operates the vehicle component and a capacitive element configured to supply power to perform the testing of the vehicle component, wherein the memory and the capacitive element are in communication with the processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Bosch Automotive Service Solutions LLC
    Inventors: Manokar Chinnadurai, Garrett Miller