Vehicle Subsystem Or Accessory Control Patents (Class 701/36)
  • Patent number: 11554668
    Abstract: A control system and method for controlling a vehicle's functions using an in-vehicle gesture input, and more particularly, a system for receiving an occupant's gesture and controlling the execution of vehicle functions. The control system using an in-vehicle gesture input includes an input unit configured to receive a user's gesture, a memory configured to store a control program using an in-vehicle gesture input therein, and a processor configured to execute the control program. The processor transmits a command for executing a function corresponding to a gesture according to a usage pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sung Joon Ahn, Myung Bin Choi, Kyung Hoon Kim, Seung Hwan Lee
  • Patent number: 11554661
    Abstract: a vehicle cooling air introduction structure includes: an outer plate member that covers a front side, relative to a vehicle body, of a radiator; a cover member that is provided adjacent to an upper side, relative to the vehicle body, of the outer plate member and covers a front upper side, relative to the vehicle body, of the radiator; and an opening member that is moved in a rearward direction, relative to the vehicle body, by wind pressure during travel to thereby open an open portion at a lower end portion of the cover member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masataka Morimoto, Susumu Kitajima
  • Patent number: 11548372
    Abstract: Methods and system for operating a vehicle cooling system are described. In one example, the vehicle cooling system cools a heat generating device via a fan and pump. A speed of the fan is commanded by a feedback controller with possible neural network predictive control to track a variable temperature reference that is based on thermal load estimation. A disturbance observer may be applied to observe thermal load and an observer-based observer may be used to generate the temperature reference so that the power consumption of a fan is minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yixin Yao, Hassan Farhat, Rajit Johri, Ravi Gopal
  • Patent number: 11548444
    Abstract: A vehicular multi-camera surround view system includes a front camera, a driver-side camera, a passenger-side camera and a rear backup camera. Image data captured by the cameras is conveyed to an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is operable to combine image data conveyed from the front camera, the driver-side camera, the passenger-side camera and the rear backup camera to form composite video images, which are output for display at a display device. Rear backup video images are displayed no later than two seconds after the driver of the vehicle first changes propulsion of the vehicle during a new ignition cycle to reverse mode. Upon changing propulsion of the vehicle during the new ignition cycle to reverse mode to commence a backup event subsequent to the first backup event, the video display screen displays video images derived, at least in part, from image data captured by the rear backup camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Niall R. Lynam
  • Patent number: 11547500
    Abstract: A foot pedal assembly for controlling a robotic surgical system. The foot pedal assembly including a foot pedal base, a foot pedal and a sensor. The foot pedal moves relative to the foot pedal base and has a contact surface extending from a distal end to a proximal end of the foot pedal. The contact surface is to come into contact with a foot of a user during use of the foot pedal assembly for controlling the robotic surgical system and the distal end is farther away from a heel of the foot than the proximal end during use of the assembly for controlling the robotic surgical system. The sensor is coupled to the contact surface of the foot pedal at a position closer to the proximal end than the distal end, and the sensor is operable to sense a target object positioned a distance over the contact surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: VERB SURGICAL INC.
    Inventors: Taylor Cone, Joan Savall
  • Patent number: 11541843
    Abstract: A vehicle capable of being utilized by users other than a user assigned to the vehicle is described herein. Such a vehicle may operate in various modes, including a first mode in which the vehicle allows additional users to utilize the vehicle and a second mode in which the vehicle prohibits additional users from utilizing the vehicle. A vehicle may transition from the first mode to the second mode based on various environmental factors, such as, but not limited to, vehicle demand, geolocation, and the like. When operating in a mode in which the vehicle can be utilized by users other than a user assigned to the vehicle, a user who may have been assigned a different vehicle may utilize the vehicle when proximate to the vehicle. Trip information and other details may be provided to the vehicle for transport of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher John Stoffel
  • Patent number: 11535179
    Abstract: A vehicle communication system includes a switching hub incorporated in a vehicle and including a switch IC and an external CPU. The switch IC includes an internal CPU and performs a transfer process of transferring information to a communication device. The external CPU is provided outside the switch IC and connected to the switch IC, and has higher information processing capability than the internal CPU. The external CPU can perform a transfer order process of ordering to transfer information to the communication device and perform a security process of securing the security of the information to be transferred when the transfer order process is performed. The internal CPU monitors the operation of the external CPU and when the external CPU is abnormal, performs the transfer order process instead of the external CPU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takahiro Nakahara, Takayuki Ueda, You Yanagida
  • Patent number: 11529913
    Abstract: A vehicle is electrically connected to one or more accessories. The vehicle includes at least one controller that may be configured to identify the accessory based on accessory identification information. The controller may also be configured to provide one or more commands to control an operation of the accessory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua T. Weed, Aidan B. Shaughnessy, Brian D. Krosschell
  • Patent number: 11529900
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an artificial intelligence massage apparatus for determining a recommended massage setting including a communication modem, a driver comprising at least one motor, and a processor configured to receive, via the communication modem, identification information from a terminal of a user, identify the user using the received identification information, receive, via the communication modem, activity information of the identified user from the terminal or a health care server, determine a recommended massage setting in consideration of the received activity information and a massage setting log of the identified user, and control the driver based on the determined recommended massage setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Sangwon Kim, Jaehoon Lee
  • Patent number: 11529867
    Abstract: a vehicle cooling air introduction structure includes: an outer plate member that covers a front side, relative to a vehicle body, of a radiator; a cover member that is provided adjacent to an upper side, relative to the vehicle body, of the outer plate member and covers a front upper side, relative to the vehicle body, of the radiator; and an opening member that is moved in a rearward direction, relative to the vehicle body, by wind pressure during travel to thereby open an open portion at a lower end portion of the cover member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masataka Morimoto, Susumu Kitajima
  • Patent number: 11529948
    Abstract: A vehicle, and a method and system for operating the vehicle. The system includes a processor. The processor receives a driver input at the vehicle, determines a current lateral force on a tire of the vehicle for the driver input, determines a desired yaw rate and lateral velocity for the vehicle based on the current lateral force on the tire that operates the vehicle at a maximum yaw moment, and operates the vehicle at the desired yaw rate and lateral velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Seyedeh Asal Nahidi, SeyedAlireza Kasaiezadeh Mahabadi, James H. Holbrook, John R. Yost, Hualin Tan, Xueying Kang, Bakhtiar B. Litkouhi
  • Patent number: 11524881
    Abstract: An industrial vehicle remote operation system includes a forklift truck that includes a vehicle communication unit, a remote operation device that includes a remote communication unit performing wireless communication with the vehicle communication unit and is used for remotely operating the industrial vehicle, and a forced stop control unit configured to decelerate and forcibly stop traveling of the industrial vehicle while maintaining a steering angle of the industrial vehicle formed when a forced stop condition is met, in a case where the forced stop condition is met during a remote operation of traveling of the industrial vehicle using the remote operation device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Hironobu Okamoto, Takuma Ono, Koji Hika
  • Patent number: 11524581
    Abstract: The present invention provides an image output device which is mounted on a vehicle and a control method therefor. The image output device comprises a display and a processor which controls the display to output a timeline that displays events occurring while a vehicle is being driven, wherein the display is divided into a first area and a second area on the basis of the timeline, and the processor classifies the events into a first group and a second group according to a predetermined reference and controls the display to display a first graphic object navigating an event included in the first group on the first area, and display a second graphic object navigating an event included in the second group on the second area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Jaehoon Cho, Doyun Park, Dongkyu Lee, Heejeong Heo
  • Patent number: 11528027
    Abstract: Haptic devices are installed in a motorcycle's handlebars, footpegs and seat to provide the rider with alerts that relate to hazards. The alert is provided before the rider notices the hazard, or before the rider reacts to the hazard. By giving advance warning, a rider is given extra time to avert a potential accident. The alerts also provide a direct instruction to the rider as to what to do to avoid the accident.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Damon Motors Inc.
    Inventors: Damon Jay Giraud, Dominique Kwong
  • Patent number: 11518388
    Abstract: A method and system for determining lane change feasibility for autonomous vehicles is disclosed. The method includes the steps of tracking, in each frame, at least one neighboring vehicle from a plurality of neighboring vehicles in a current lane being used by the AV and in a plurality of adjacent lanes. The method further includes determining, in each frame, a set of kinematic parameters associated with each of the at least one neighboring vehicle, and assigning an occupancy state from a plurality of occupancy states to each of a plurality of voxels capturing a spatial information for each of the plurality of neighboring vehicles. The method may further includes determining an effective occupancy probability for each of the plurality of adjacent lanes, and determining feasibility of lane change for the AV to at least one adjacent lane from the plurality of adjacent lanes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Wipro Limited
    Inventors: A. Sindhuja, Amrit Paul, Raghottam Narayan Mannopantar
  • Patent number: 11518360
    Abstract: A controller includes a failure detection unit that detects a failure in a first power supply system, and a power supply system control unit that closes a relay in a case where an execution of an automatic parking function starts and, during the execution of the function, causes the first power supply system to supply power, without causing a second power supply system to supply power, to the electric brake device, by setting a target output voltage of the second power supply system lower than an output voltage of the first power supply system when the failure detection unit does not detect the failure, and operates the electric brake device by setting the target output voltage to a voltage within a range in which the electric brake device is operable when the failure detection unit detects the failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shu Nakayama
  • Patent number: 11521470
    Abstract: A haptic-communication system includes a fabric, a frame that supports the fabric, and a haptic element that is integral with a textile that forms the fabric. A transition of the haptic element between first and second states thereof provides communication with a person in contact with the haptic element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Cerence Operating Company
    Inventors: Nils Lenke, Rahel Flechtner, Karina Sonja Wirth
  • Patent number: 11511758
    Abstract: A vehicle control device includes a travel environment recognition device configured to recognize travel environment, a vehicle travel state detection device, and an autonomous/manual driving mode controller. The autonomous/manual driving mode controller includes a learning correction unit configured to store at least one of a plurality of control parameters indicating the vehicle travel state by operation of the driver in the autonomous driving mode, and to correct the control parameter in the autonomous driving mode according to the stored control parameter. When the stored control parameter is the control parameter changed by an operation by the driver midway in passing or after passing, the learning correction unit is configured to correct the control parameter in the autonomous driving mode so that an acceleration level or the deceleration level is increased midway in passing or after passing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Jatco Ltd
    Inventors: To Ko, Shusaku Katakura, Yukifumi Ootsuka
  • Patent number: 11511796
    Abstract: A method for damping dependent scaling for reducing wheel imbalance in a steering system includes determining roadwheel speed energy using a roadwheel speed signal and determining that the roadwheel speed energy is greater than a predetermined energy threshold, and in response: adjusting the roadwheel speed signal; and computing a wheel imbalance reduction command using the adjusted roadwheel speed signal. The method also includes determining that the roadwheel speed energy is not greater than the predetermined energy threshold, and in response computing the wheel imbalance reduction command using the roadwheel speed signal. The method also includes computing a motor torque command using the wheel imbalance reduction command, the motor torque command used to generate a corresponding amount of torque at a handwheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Apurv Naman, Rangarajan Ramanujam, Anthony J. Champagne
  • Patent number: 11505031
    Abstract: A thermal system of a vehicle, including: a heat exchanger; a accumulator and a compressor; a cabin evaporator; a cabin condenser; and a battery; wherein the heat exchanger, accumulator, compressor, cabin evaporator, cabin condenser, and battery are connected to allow refrigerant heat and cool a passenger cabin and the battery in a single closed and connected circuit directly without any dedicated heat exchanger; and wherein the heating and cooling of the cabin and the battery are controlled by settings of a plurality of valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Aikar Technology Inc.
    Inventor: Jiannan Tan
  • Patent number: 11499516
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for selectively inhibiting a stop-start controller of a vehicle based on a predicted anxiety of a driver of the vehicle on a road segment that includes one or more road attributes associated with increased levels of anxiety. In one example, selectively inhibiting a stop-start controller of a vehicle based on a predicted anxiety of a driver of the vehicle includes determining a driver classification for a driver operating the vehicle; predicting an anxiety level of the driver at an upcoming traffic condition, based on the driver classification; and selectively inhibiting an upcoming engine idle-stop event based on the predicted anxiety level of the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Alfred Ostrowski, Sanjay Abhyankar, Leopoldo Urbina, Sheida Malekpour, Christopher Leon Jones, David Michael Herman
  • Patent number: 11498570
    Abstract: A method for determining a road condition is carried out aboard a vehicle driving on the road and comprises the following steps: capturing the noise created by the friction between at least one tire and the road; analyzing the noise signal in the high frequency range to determine whether the road condition is dry or not; and, in case the road condition is not dry, analyzing the noise signal in the low frequency range to determine whether to road condition is wet or damp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN
    Inventors: Guillaume Chazal, Antoine Paturle, Remi Cote
  • Patent number: 11482020
    Abstract: A looking away determination device includes: a looking away determination unit that determines that a driver is in a looking away state when a proportion of an image in which a face having a degree of certainty equal to or greater than a threshold value is shown with respect to a plurality of images obtained by imaging the driver, the degree of certainty serving as an index of face likeness; and an updating unit that updates the threshold value based on a degree of certainty of a face shown in an image obtained by imaging the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nana Jumonji, Kazuki Inagaki
  • Patent number: 11472361
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a vehicle telematics system including a telematics device, wherein the telematics device detects, using a processor of a telematics device, a vehicle ignition off event and reconfigures at least one parameter of an accelerometer for a low power mode of operation while in the vehicle ignition off state, and places the telematics device in a sleep mode of operation, wherein an accelerometer generates an interrupt to wake the processor of the telematics device from the sleep mode of operation upon detecting an acceleration event that exceeds a threshold, and the processor of the telematics device analyzes the accelerometer data stored in a FIFO buffer of the accelerometer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: CalAmp Corp.
    Inventors: Jeff Jenkins, Peter Hergesheimer
  • Patent number: 11465553
    Abstract: When a pedestrian who is crossing a road or is about to cross a road is detected and it is determined that there is a risk of the own vehicle coming into contact with the pedestrian, a figure rendering forming optical unit provided in a housing of a head lamp emits a spot of light having a predetermined width and a predetermined length to a road surface ahead in a crossing direction including the pedestrian or the like. Accordingly, the pedestrian or the like knows the presence of an approaching vehicle and a driver knows the presence of the pedestrian or the like who is crossing a road or is about to cross a road.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kiyotaka Mochizuki, Naoki Tatara, Norihiko Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11458974
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for creating more organic lane change models for autonomous or semi-autonomous operation of a vehicle. A plurality of data associated with a plurality of driver-performed lane change maneuvers is collected from a plurality of different vehicle. Driver-performed lane change maneuvers are discarded when determined to fall outside a threshold of safety. A generic model is generated from the non-discarded data for average lane change maneuvers. Specific models can be generated for different drivers, vehicle types, and other metrics by comparison with the generic model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: John-Michael McNew
  • Patent number: 11448873
    Abstract: A system for removing debris from a vision-based sensor of an agricultural machine includes an agricultural machine and a vision-based sensor supported on the agricultural machine. The vision-based sensor is configured to generate vision data. The system further includes a vibration source configured to be a separate component frons the vision-based sensor. The vibration source is supported on the agricultural machine. Moreover, the vibration source is configured to oscillate the vision-based sensor to remove debris from the vision-based sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: CNH Industrial Canada, Ltd.
    Inventor: James W. Henry
  • Patent number: 11451749
    Abstract: A display control device includes a detection unit that detects a condition of a moving body and a control unit that controls a display mode of a display unit having a transmissive mode in which a landscape outside the moving body is displayed on at least a part of a display screen, on the basis of a detection result of the detection unit. The display unit has the transmissive mode and a non-transmissive mode in which a content movie is displayed by superimposing the content movie onto at least a part of the landscape outside the moving body or on the entire display screen, and the control unit sets the display unit to either the transmissive mode or the non-transmissive mode according to a detection result of the detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuma Yoshii, Yoshinori Nasada, Koji Nagata, Takehiko Tahira, Sho Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11442602
    Abstract: A method for manipulation of image data for a display screen that can be operated in two operating modes, viz B1 for a free viewing mode and B2 for a restricted viewing mode, comprising: a) switching on the operating mode B2, b) monitoring the eye position of a viewer in a given angular range A, with a signal S being set if the eye position signifies that the viewer is looking at the screen, and being deleted if not looking at the screen, c) manipulating the image data with regard to image parameters, wherein the said manipulation i) is performed to the effect that the quality of the restricted viewing mode B2 is enhanced, ii) is dynamically implemented in a control unit of the display screen, and iii) is performed exclusively while the signal S remains set, and d) repeating steps b) and c) until operating mode B2 concluded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: siOPTICA GmbH
    Inventors: André Heber, Markus Klippstein, Uwe Schroeter
  • Patent number: 11443388
    Abstract: The systems and methods may transmit a plurality of locationing pulse requests from a mobile device in a vehicle to an audio system of the vehicle during a period of operation of the vehicle. The audio system may have an array of speakers disposed inside the vehicle, and the locationing pulse requests may include a request to emit a locationing pulse from the array of speakers. The systems and methods may further receive the locationing pulse at a microphone of the mobile device; and determine, based upon receiving the locationing pulse, that the vehicle was in service of a TNC company, or otherwise operating as a TNC vehicle, during the period of operation based upon passengers entering and leaving the vehicle during the period of operation. Insurance covering the operation of the vehicle for TNC use may be verified, and/or alternatively, offered to facilitate insuring TNC vehicle operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Justin Davis, Kristopher Keith Gaudin, Craig Cope
  • Patent number: 11438248
    Abstract: An operation method of a communication node in a communication network may comprise receiving CAN signals from a plurality of CAN communication nodes; generating forward input data by performing forward preprocessing on the received CAN signals based on forward sampling times; generating forward mask data for the forward input data and forward time interval data according to the forward sampling times; generating backward input data by performing backward preprocessing on the CAN signals based on backward sampling times; generating backward mask data for the backward input data and backward time interval data according to the backward sampling times; and detecting an abnormal signal among the CAN signals by inputting the forward input data, forward mask data, forward time interval data, backward input data, backward mask data, and backward time interval data into a gated recurrent unit-decay (GRU-D) neural network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignees: Penta Security Systems Inc., Autocrypt Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seung Young Park, Sang Gyoo Sim, Duk Soo Kim, Seok Woo Lee, Myung Jin Kim, Eui Seok Kim
  • Patent number: 11436844
    Abstract: An in-vehicle monitoring device includes both forward facing and rear facing cameras. The in-vehicle monitoring device can detect occurrence of one or more triggering events and flag portions of captured videos. The flagged video portions may be transferred to other devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: KLASHWERKS INC.
    Inventors: Dan Carruthers, Christian Molson, Dan Crawford, David Kennedy, Robert Watson, Russell Ure, Shing Ho, Jeff Washer
  • Patent number: 11436864
    Abstract: A driver recognition system of a vehicle identifies a person approaching the vehicle as a driver or other user. In one approach, the driver recognition system collects data using one or more cameras of the vehicle. The collected data corresponds to the person approaching the vehicle. Based on the collected data, a computing device determines (e.g., using a machine-learning model) whether the person is a user (e.g., driver) associated with the vehicle. If the person is a user associated with the vehicle, then the computing device causes one or more actions to be performed for the vehicle (e.g., controller configuration, boot up of a computing device, updating software using over-the-air update, etc.).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Tex Burk, Robert Richard Noel Bielby
  • Patent number: 11427199
    Abstract: A system for assisting in aligning a vehicle for hitching with a trailer includes a vehicle steering system, an imager mounted with and directed to a rear of the vehicle and outputting image data, and a controller. The controller receives the image data, applies a location identifier of a vehicle hitch ball to the image data, and identifies a coupler of the trailer within the image data. The controller also outputs a steering control signal to the steering system in reversing of the vehicle to align the location identifier of the vehicle hitch ball in the image data with the coupler of the trailer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Luke Niewiadomski, Roger Trombley, Nikhil Nagraj Rao, Lihui Chen
  • Patent number: 11415983
    Abstract: A driving system for an automated drive for a motor vehicle has an indicator for marking regions on the steering wheel, in particular on the steering wheel rim. The indicator is preferably an optical steering wheel display which is integrated into the steering wheel rim for example. During an automated drive, the driving system is designed to ascertain that the vehicle has approached an end of the automated drive lying ahead in such a manner that a first approach condition has been satisfied. If the system has ascertained that the vehicle has approached the end of the automated drive in such a manner that the approach condition has been satisfied, the indicator for marking regions on the steering wheel are actuated in response thereto such that a left and a right marking region on the steering wheel are marked. The driver is thus prompted to position their hands on the marked regions of the steering wheel in order to take over the task of driving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Marc Breisinger, Nora Broy, Julian Eichhorn, Sebastian Hergeth, Philipp Kerschbaum, Hermann Kuenzner, Lutz Lorenz, Stephan Mueller, Julia Niemann, Frederik Platten, Wolfgang Spiessl, Philipp Suessenguth
  • Patent number: 11415028
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle including an engine, a drive motor, a first oil pump, and a second oil pump is configured to, during forward travel, supply components to be cooled or lubricated with oil discharged from a discharge port of the first oil pump and a discharge port of the second oil pump via an oil passage, while the hybrid vehicle is configured to, during reverse travel, compensate for a driving force by supplying oil discharged from the discharge port of the second oil pump to the discharge port of the first oil pump via the oil passage to cause the first oil pump to operate as a hydraulic motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tetsuo Hori, Shinichi Baba, Munehiro Katsumata, Toru Shibamoto
  • Patent number: 11414031
    Abstract: A system includes an ignition switch, a power source, a power outlet, and an electronic control unit communicatively coupled to the ignition switch. The electronic control unit is configured to: determine that the ignition switch is set to an OFF state, determine whether a state of charge of an electronic device coupled to the power outlet is below a target state of charge, and in response to determining that the ignition switch is set to the OFF state and determining that the state of charge is below the target state of charge, provide power to the electronic device, from the power source and through the power outlet, while the ignition switch is set to the OFF state until the state of charge of the electronic device reaches the target state of charge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Evan Vijithakumara
  • Patent number: 11410434
    Abstract: A vehicle control device includes a parking space candidate detection unit configured to detect a parking space candidate that is a candidate for a parking space where an own vehicle is parked, using a vehicle peripheral image acquired from a camera; a leaving path detection unit configured to detect, using the vehicle peripheral image, a leaving path on which another vehicle that is parked in an other vehicle parking space located in a periphery of the parking space candidate leaves the other vehicle parking space; and a nuisance parking determination unit configured to perform nuisance parking determination including determining, for each detected parking space candidate, whether the parking space candidate overlaps with the detected leaving path, and thereby classifying the parking space candidate into a nuisance parking space that overlaps with the leaving path or a non-nuisance parking space that avoids overlapping with the leaving path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kenta Onishi, Nariaki Takehara, Masahiro Yata
  • Patent number: 11407369
    Abstract: A server includes a memory storing a shared pool of user defined vehicle settings packages and may determine, from the shared pool, one or more settings packages meeting a search request. For each determined settings package, the server may determine compatibility of the determined settings package with configurable systems of a vehicle associated with the search request. The server may also present a selectable list of determined settings packages that are also determined to have a predefined minimum level of compatibility with the vehicle and download a selected settings package to the vehicle, responsive to selection of the selected settings package from the selectable list.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Lewis Boston, Ali Soloukmofrad, Nayaz Khalid Ahmed, Phillip Morris
  • Patent number: 11400811
    Abstract: Techniques are described for remotely controlling functions of a vehicle without an integrated touchscreen. According to an embodiment, an auxiliary device is provided comprising a display and a processor that executes computer executable components stored in at least one memory. The computer executable component can comprise a feature acquisition component that determines electronic features of the vehicle that are respectively controlled by electromechanical controls of the vehicle, and a display component that displays a graphical user interface via the display wherein the graphical user interface comprises one or more graphical controls for controlling one or more features of the electronic features of the vehicle. The computer executable components further comprising a remote-control component that remotely controls the one or more features via interaction with the one or more graphical controls as rendered via the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: VOLVO CAR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Mats Strandberg
  • Patent number: 11400943
    Abstract: A method for assisting in the driving of a vehicle on a fast road with carriageways separated by a safety rail in which the presence of the safety rail is detected is disclosed. The safety rail is modelled from measurements performed continuously by at least one laser scanner sensor mounted on the motor vehicle, with the determination of a confidence index associated with the detection by the laser scanner sensor, an automatic driving mode is activated when the confidence index ICONF is above a confidence threshold. This mode is maintained as long as a current confidence index associated with the detection is above the confidence threshold, and this mode is deactivated when the current confidence index passes below said confidence threshold. The density of traffic in front of the motor vehicle is estimated from images captured by an embedded camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Heitzmann, Thomas Liennard, Benazouz Bradai
  • Patent number: 11404900
    Abstract: A power supply device includes a combination of one power supply module of a plurality of power supply modules having different power supply performances and one controller of a plurality of controllers having different functions, which are selectively combined. Each of the plurality of power supply modules includes a power supply module side connection portion common to the plurality of power supply modules, and each of the plurality of controllers includes a controller side connection portion common to the plurality of controllers and connectable to the power supply module side connection portion, to allow the one power supply module and the one controller are selectively combined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignees: JTEKT CORPORATION, KYOHO MACHINE WORKS, LTD.
    Inventors: Takanori Onishi, Koji Nishi, Shinichi Sawada, Toyoki Sugiyama, Takumi Mio, Yukihiro Komatsubara, Satoshi Shinoda, Masafumi Kawano
  • Patent number: 11390293
    Abstract: A display device includes an electronic control unit configured to: obtain a traveling plan from an automatic driving system of a vehicle, the traveling plan including a course of the vehicle under automatic drive control of the automatic driving system; obtain, from the automatic driving system, a system confidence level of the automatic drive control calculated based on at least an external environment around the vehicle; and display, on a display, a pointer as an image indicating the course during the automatic drive control in a display mode set based on the system confidence level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Sayaka Ono, Yoshitaka Fuwamoto
  • Patent number: 11393215
    Abstract: A rescue system identifies and rescues a protection target, using information from a camera mounted on a movable body. The rescue system includes: a plurality of movable bodies; and a server configured to communicate with the plurality of movable bodies. The server is configured, when the protection target is identified, to (a) acquire positional information about each of the plurality of movable bodies and positional information about the protection target, and (b) select, as the protection target moves, a movable body which is to monitor the protection target, from the plurality of movable bodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroki Sawada, Masato Tamaoki, Eisuke Ando, Masato Endo, Kuniaki Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 11393444
    Abstract: A noise suppressor includes a memory; and a processor coupled to the memory, the processor is configured to: acquire a noise signal in a vicinity of a head region of an occupant seated in a vehicle seat; generate a control sound having an opposite phase to the acquired noise signal; acquire a sound signal having a predetermined frequency that is different from the noise signal; and output, as an output sound signal, the acquired sound signal in combination with the generated control sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tamami Yamada
  • Patent number: 11393339
    Abstract: A system for preventing collisions between users of the system. The system includes a central processing server receiving first path information relating to a first user and second path information relating to a second user. The central processing server determines a projected path of each user. The central processing server compares the projected paths identifies points of intersection, which are locations that put the users at risk of a collision. The central processing server sends navigation directions to avoid the collision to the first user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: United Services Automobile Association (USAA)
    Inventors: Andre Rene Buentello, Gregory David Hansen, Jose L. Romero, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11390258
    Abstract: An electrohydraulic motor vehicle control device, in particular for a motor vehicle brake system, including a hydraulic unit with electrically activated valves and a brake-pedal-activated master brake cylinder, an electronic control unit which comprises a first printed circuit board with electrical and/or electronic components for actuating the valves, and an electric motor for driving an electrically controllable, hydraulic pressure source which is arranged on a first side face of the hydraulic unit, wherein a second printed circuit board is provided which is arranged in a region of the first side face of the hydraulic unit, wherein a first sensor element for sensing activation of a brake pedal is arranged on the second printed circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL TEVES AG & CO. OHG
    Inventor: Hans-Jörg Feigel
  • Patent number: 11384412
    Abstract: A method is provided for forming a metal alloy. The method includes preparing a mixture of scandium oxide and a flux, thereby obtaining a flux-oxide mixture, wherein the flux contains less than 20% fluoride by weight, based on the total weight of the flux; mixing the flux-oxide mixture with molten aluminum, thereby obtaining a flux-metal mixture; cooling the flux-metal mixture; and separating at least a portion of the flux from the flux-metal mixture, thereby obtaining a metal alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Scandium International Mining Corporation
    Inventor: Nigel Ricketts
  • Patent number: 11383643
    Abstract: A camera system is installed on the front end of a vehicle, either on the left front, the right front, or both sides. The camera is linked via wired or wireless connection to an onboard computer and a navigation display that is located within the passenger compartment of the vehicle. The driver reviews a visual description on the display of any oncoming traffic in the form of motor vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists, animals and the like on the navigation display via a single screen, split screen or alternating screens. The camera system can include a speed sensor that detects when the vehicle reaches a threshold speed to activate or de-activate the camera. Alternatively, the computer can activate the system when a turn signal is activated, and de-activate the system when the turn signal is no longer activated. This camera system can be retrofitted into older vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Klear-View Camera LLC
    Inventors: Steven R. Petrillo, Robert Michael Roeger
  • Patent number: 11385640
    Abstract: One embodiment describes a control system in an automation system including a first portion located at a first vehicle, which includes a first autonomous module that autonomously controls operation of the first vehicle to perform operations in a first area based at least in part on a first target operation result while the first portion is in an autonomous mode; and a second portion located at a second vehicle, in which the second portion includes a second autonomous module that autonomously controls operation of the second vehicle to perform operations in a second area based at least in part on a second target operation result while the second portion is in the autonomous mode and a first command module that determines the first target operation result and the second target operation result based at least in part on a global plan that indicates a total target operation result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignees: CNH Industrial America LLC, Autonomous Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher A. Foster, John H. Posselius, Bret T. Turpin, Daniel J. Morwood