Suspension Control Patents (Class 701/37)
  • Patent number: 10928826
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving sensor data from one or more sensors of each of one or more vehicles, processing a combination of the sensor data to generate an assessment of an area surrounding the one or more vehicles based on one or more points-of-view of the area, the one or more points-of-view of the area generated based on synchronizing the combination of the sensor data, and detecting an occurrence of an event based on the assessment of the area. The method further includes identifying one or more instructions corresponding to the event, the instructions associated with a particular vehicle and sending one or more executable instructions based on the instructions to the particular vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Lyft, Inc.
    Inventors: Farzad Cyrus Foroughi Abari, Romain Clément, Roxie Lynn Paine
  • Patent number: 10913491
    Abstract: A control system for a steering system of a vehicle, the control system comprising: a processing module configured to obtain an indication of a proximity of a road wheel of the vehicle to a limit of adhesion, and to generate a driver feedback signal in the event that the road wheel is at or beyond the limit of adhesion; and an output arranged to issue the driver feedback signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: JAGUAR LAND ROVER LIMITED
    Inventors: Robbie Lesbirel, Riccardo Ficca, Gustavo Jaramillo-Moscoso
  • Patent number: 10894542
    Abstract: A method includes, responsive to determining a vehicle is operational, receiving vehicle data associated the operational vehicle. The method receives driver data associated with a driver of the operational vehicle. The method receives environmental data associated with a location for the operational vehicle. The method calculates a drivability score based on the vehicle data, the driver data, and the environmental data, wherein the drivability score is a measure of optimal driving conditions. Responsive to determining the drivability score is below a drivability score threshold, the method performs an action based on the drivability score.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Eric V. Kline, Sarbajit K. Rakshit, Richard B. Finch
  • Patent number: 10875378
    Abstract: An air management system for a vehicle having a first pneumatic circuit and a second pneumatic circuit, in which the first and second pneumatic circuits are pneumatically connected in a neutral position via a cross-flow mechanism. The first pneumatic circuit includes a first leveling valve configured to adjust independently the height of a first side of the vehicle. The second pneumatic circuit includes a second leveling valve configured to adjust independently the height of a second side of the vehicle. The first and second leveling valves are configured to establish pneumatic communication between the first and second pneumatic circuits when the first leveling valve is not independently adjusting the height of the first side of the vehicle and the second leveling valve is not independently adjusting the height of the second side of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Base Air Management Limited
    Inventors: Matthew Vaughan, David Bryan Lewis, Joseph Calaway, George Arrants
  • Patent number: 10828955
    Abstract: A suspension system for controlling movement of a vehicle wheel may include a spring and damper assembly coupling the wheel to the vehicle chassis for movement of the wheel relative to the vehicle chassis. The spring and damper assembly may include a spring coupled to a damper member configured to extend and retract the wheel relative to the vehicle chassis. The suspension system may further include a damper actuator located remotely from the spring and damper assembly and configured to modify an amount of damping and/or wheel extension. The suspension system may also include a spring actuator integrated with the damper actuator and configured to control an amount of deflection of the spring and/or to alter a spring rate. The damper actuator may be provided at a location in the vehicle separated from the spring and damper assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventors: Johannes Edren, Ahditya Melkote, Phillip Newport Kuys, Andrew James Webb, Paul Choin
  • Patent number: 10821796
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a transport device with a platform that pivots relative to a frame of the transport device. A pivot angle of the platform is altered with an actuator controlled by a transport computer. The pivot angle is based, at least in part, on a predicted change in velocity, a determined change in ground surface, a determined ground slope, and a center of gravity of a user and of the transport device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Aurelien Lagrandcourt, Navneet Bhasin
  • Patent number: 10812952
    Abstract: A method for determining the position in a vehicle of a first device in communication with a microprocessor may include receiving, at the microprocessor, a first set of inertial data from at least one sensor of the first device; receiving, at the microprocessor, a second set of inertial data from at least one sensor of a reference device disposed within the vehicle; and determining, using the microprocessor, the position of the first device in the vehicle by comparing the first set of inertial data with the second set of inertial data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignees: RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY, STEVENS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Marco Gruteser, Richard P. Martin, Yingying Chen, Yan Wang
  • Patent number: 10773671
    Abstract: A method and computing system for determining whether a DTC set in a vehicle involved in a collision is collision-related or non-collision-related. The method can include determining a vehicle model associated with the vehicle, determining a DTC set within an ECU in the vehicle, determining a damaged portion in the vehicle, determining the DTC is collision-related, and outputting a collision report that indicates the DTC is collision-related. The determined damaged portion indicates where the vehicle was damaged by the collision. Determining the DTC is collision-related can include determining the damaged portion in the vehicle matches a reference vehicle portion associated with both a component attributable to setting the DTC and the vehicle model associated with the damaged vehicle. The collision report can indicate that a different DTC set by the same or a different ECU in the vehicle is non-collision-related.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Snap-on Incorporated
    Inventors: Roy S. Brozovich, Patrick S. Merg, Joshua C. Covington, Joshua D. Williamson, Oswaldo Neri
  • Patent number: 10759247
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed that assist a user in performing proper setup of a vehicle suspension. A user may utilize a device equipped with an image sensor to assist the user in proper setup of a vehicle suspension. The device executes an application that prompts the user for input and instructs the user to perform a number of steps for adjusting the suspension components. In one embodiment, the application does not communicate with sensors on the vehicle. In another embodiment, the application may communicate with various sensors located on the vehicle to provide feedback to the device during the setup routine. In one embodiment, the device may analyze a digital image of a suspension component to provide feedback about a physical characteristic of the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventors: Mario Galasso, Joseph Franklin, Andrew Laird, Charles Bass, Ryan Bavetta
  • Patent number: 10739444
    Abstract: Methods and systems for combining return signals from multiple channels of a LIDAR measurement system are described herein. In one aspect, the outputs of multiple receive channels are electrically coupled before input to a single channel of an analog to digital converter. In another aspect, a DC offset voltage is provided at the output of each transimpedance amplifier of each receive channel to improve measured signal quality. In another aspect, a bias voltage supplied to each photodetector of each receive channel is adjusted based on measured temperature to save power and improve measurement consistency. In another aspect, a bias voltage supplied to each illumination source of each transmit channel is adjusted based on measured temperature. In another aspect, a multiplexer is employed to multiplex multiple sets of output signals of corresponding sets of receive channels before analog to digital conversion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: VELODYNE LIDAR, INC.
    Inventors: David S. Hall, Rajanatha Shettigara, Nathan Slattengren, Aaron Chen, Anand Gopalan
  • Patent number: 10723333
    Abstract: A brake fluid pressure control device for a includes a wheel speed acquisition device that acquires a wheel speed, a slippage amount calculation device that calculates a wheel slippage amount, and a bad road determination device that determines whether a road surface of travel is a bad road. The bad road determination device determines whether the road surface of travel is a bad road using a bad road determination threshold value, and a value that relates to wheel behavior that is calculated based at least upon the wheel speed. The bad road determination threshold value is modified according to the wheel slippage amount. The present invention can appropriately set a bad road determination threshold value that is in accordance with a slippage amount, which corresponds to braking power, and can improve bad road determination precision without depending on variation in change of wheel speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: NISSIN KOGYO CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Teruyoshi Yamakawa
  • Patent number: 10696121
    Abstract: Method for adjusting the damping force of shock absorbers connected between a vehicle body and a wheel at vehicle corners of a motor vehicle, wherein at least one damping force (FLIFT, FPITCH, FROLL) which is referred to a center of gravity of the vehicle body and is divided between axles of the vehicle and between the shock absorbers of the axles is determined as a function of at least one variable which represents a movement of the vehicle body and/or a movement of the respective wheel. For at least one of the damping forces which are referred to the center of gravity of the vehicle body, at least one division factor for the division of the damping forces is calculated between a front axle and a rear axle, and the division of the respective damping force (FLIFT, FPITCH, FROLL) is adapted on the basis of this division factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Jochen Liebold, David Caredda
  • Patent number: 10670106
    Abstract: A method for controlling vehicle motion is described. The method includes: comparing a measured acceleration value associated with a movement of a vehicle component of a vehicle with a predetermined acceleration threshold value that corresponds to the vehicle component to determine if the vehicle is experiencing a free-fall, wherein the vehicle component is coupled with a frame of the vehicle via at least one vehicle suspension damper; monitoring a state of at least one valve within at least one vehicle suspension damper of the vehicle, wherein the state controls a damping force within the at least one vehicle suspension damper; and based on the comparing and the monitoring, regulating damping forces within the at least one vehicle suspension damper by actuating the at least one valve to adjust to a soft mode and to provide a cushioned landing for the vehicle, such that an acceleration of the frame is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventors: Everet Owen Ericksen, George O'Neal, Matt McLellan
  • Patent number: 10654333
    Abstract: A method for regulating an active chassis of a motor vehicle as a function of road elevation profile data which lie within a prognosis for a trajectory of the motor vehicle. The prognosis of the trajectory is calculated by a mathematical model at least on the basis of steering angle data of a steering angle sensor of the motor vehicle. The prognosis of the trajectory is assigned to the road elevation profile data detected by at least one environmental sensor. Based on the prognosis, at least one actuator of the active chassis is controlled, and the prognosis of the trajectory is then used exclusively to control the active chassis when the trajectory lies in an area that was classified as navigable based on the environmental data that was detected by at least one environment sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Andreas Schindler, Bodo Kleickmann
  • Patent number: 10618367
    Abstract: There is provided a damper control device and a suspension apparatus that are capable of effectively preventing a posture change such as pitching or rolling of the body of a vehicle. To achieve the above object, a damper control device of the present invention is designed to control a damping force of a damper in accordance with a rate of change in acceleration or a rate of change in angular acceleration. If there is a time delay in the rising of the acceleration acting on the vehicle body with respect to the driving operation being performed by the driver of the vehicle, the rate of change in the acceleration has a phase lead relative to the acceleration, and accordingly, the rate of change has only a short time delay with respect to the driving operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: KYB CORPORATiON
    Inventor: Koichiro Awano
  • Patent number: 10584975
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus processes information regarding autonomous driving, considering the state of a battery in a vehicle. The information processing apparatus obtains power consumption information indicating an amount of power consumption of a module used in autonomous driving of the vehicle using unit-power consumption information of the module and destination information indicating a place to which the vehicle is to travel. Then, the information processing apparatus obtains output information using the power consumption information and outputs the output information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORPORATION OF AMERICA
    Inventors: Ryota Fujimura, Yasunori Ishii, Hiroaki Urabe
  • Patent number: 10559302
    Abstract: A domestic appliance includes a user interface for a user to input commands, a camera for taking an image of an operating area from which the user interface can be operated by the user, a speech recognition device for detecting a speech command, and a control device configured to determine a level of security depending on the image that was taken by the camera and to execute the speech command detected by the speech recognition device depending on the level of security that has been determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: BSH Hausgeräte GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Beifuss, Uwe Has
  • Patent number: 10556638
    Abstract: An electronic device controls at least one bicycle component in correspondence with operation of an operation device. The electronic device includes a receiver, a memory, a first wireless transmitter, a memory and an electronic controller. The receiver receives operation information corresponding to the operation of the operation device. The memory stores an actuation command of the bicycle component in correspondence with the operation information. The electronic controller receives the operation information and transmits the actuation command corresponding to the received operation information from the first wireless transmitter. The memory is configured to allow the actuation command stored in correspondence with the operation information to be changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Taketoshi Sato, Hideki Ikemoto, Takao Harada, Daisuke Noborio, Kazuhiro Takeda, Ryuji Abe
  • Patent number: 10507825
    Abstract: A system for vehicle pitch control during braking includes a pitch component and a rebound component. The pitch component is configured to determine that a vehicle has a forward pitch during braking. The rebound component is configured to, in response to the vehicle achieving a substantially zero forward velocity, apply brake pressure to one or more non-driven wheels using one or more brakes and apply reverse torque to one or more driven wheels using a motor or engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Hans Gangwar, Zachary Konchan, Alexander Mccollough, Leonard Eber Carrier
  • Patent number: 10449821
    Abstract: An automobile cornering rollover prevention control system includes a controller, four hydraulic oil cylinders, a deflection measuring instrument and a rotation speed measuring instrument. The controller is mounted inside the automobile, and includes a data acquisition module, a data processing module and a data execution module, wherein the data acquisition module and the data execution module are connected to the data processing module, an input end of the data acquisition module is electrically connected to the deflection measuring instrument and the rotation speed measuring instrument, and an output end of the data execution module is connected to control ends of the four hydraulic oil cylinders respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Yancheng Institute of Technology
    Inventor: Fuhao Liu
  • Patent number: 10442461
    Abstract: Power equipment such as a riding mower 2 is provided with a center pivot axle 16 for non-driven wheels 9 thereof and a rigid axle 14 for driven wheels 8. A control unit 1 of the power equipment is configured to accelerate the left driven wheel when a right end up roll angle of the center pivot axle is detected by an axle sensor 25, and to accelerate the right driven wheel when a left end up roll angle of the center pivot axle is detected by the axle sensor when substantially no steering input of a steering device 22 is detected by a steering sensor 24 so that the power equipment may maintain a straight course.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Koji Kuriyagawa, Hajime Yoshimura, Norikazu Shimizu, Shota Tanabe
  • Patent number: 10373077
    Abstract: A multi-modal meter of a vehicle obtains information from multiple sources to determine the most accurate values of motion parameters of the vehicle. The multi-modal meter obtains data describing motion of a vehicle from various sources including an on-board diagnostics (OBD) and global positioning system (GPS.) The dynamically evaluates the signal sources for their accuracy as the vehicle travels. The multi-modal meter selects different signal sources for different portions of a ride and uses the data from the selected signal sources to determine the most accurate motion parameters. The multi-modal meter use machine learning techniques to generate metadata used by an engine configured to determine the most accurate values of motion parameters of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: ATHENA VISION, LLC
    Inventors: Purshotam Rajani, Gaurav R. Nukala, Gokulnath Coimbatore Kannan, Blair R. Essy
  • Patent number: 10360896
    Abstract: A vehicle noise canceller includes a road surface condition observation unit, a speaker, and an operation controller. The road surface condition observation unit is configured to observe road surface conditions in a traveling direction of a vehicle. The speaker is configured to generate a canceling sound for canceling road noise entering a vehicle cabin of the vehicle. The operation controller is configured to control the canceling sound generated from the speaker on a basis of information received from the road surface condition observation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Katsuya Shinno, Masahiko Sato, Atsushi Horikawa, Shinji Nakabayashi, Shintaro Hanawa
  • Patent number: 10301867
    Abstract: An anomaly detection system is provided in connection with a transport service. The anomaly detection system can monitor progress of the transport service using received location data from driver and/or user mobile devices. During the progress of the transport service, the anomaly detection system can determine a probable anomaly by determining that a geographic position of the driver's vehicle has remained static for a period of time exceeding a threshold period of time, and in response to determining the probable anomaly, transmit a notification message to at least one of the driver and user mobile devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Truong, David Purdy, Rami Mawas
  • Patent number: 10286745
    Abstract: A system for damping control for a vehicle includes a parameter component and a damping adjustment component. The parameter component is configured to determine one or more driving parameters of a vehicle. The one or more driving parameters include a velocity of the vehicle. The damping adjustment component is configured to adjust damping of suspension of the vehicle during driving based on the one or more driving parameters. The damping adjustment component is also configured to adjust damping of suspension at a zero velocity for a threshold time period in response to transitioning from a non-zero velocity to the zero velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: David Michael Russell, Charles Gavin McGee, Ben Bulat, Russ Lee Norton, John Keller, Darrell Erick Butler
  • Patent number: 10266163
    Abstract: A vehicle combination comprising a tractor vehicle and a trailer vehicle, each vehicle including wheels on different sides of the vehicle and wheel brakes associated with the wheels. A method for controlling the vehicle combination includes determining a yaw rate difference between a yaw rate of the tractor vehicle and a yaw rate of the trailer vehicle; determining, on the basis of the yaw rate difference, that an orientation of one of the vehicles deviates from an intended travel direction of the vehicle combination; and activating a wheel brake of the vehicle on only one side of the vehicle in order to counter the orientation deviation of the vehicle relative to the intended travel direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Cosmin Tudosie
  • Patent number: 10259473
    Abstract: The vehicle including an active suspension system (22) parameterized by a set of adjustment parameters. The railway track is cut into segments. For each segment (T), the method includes campaigns for optimization of the set of parameters, such that: during the first campaign, to each passage of the suspension system (22) on the segment (T), a first set of parameters, specific to this passage, is predefined and applied to the suspension system (22), and a comfort quality index is calculated, and then a metaheuristic algorithm is applied for determining second sets of parameters, and during each following optimization campaign, at each passage of the suspension system over the segment, one of the determined sets of parameters by the previous optimization campaign is applied to the suspension system, and the comfort quality index is calculated, and then the metaheuristic algorithm is applied in order to determine new sets of parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: ALSTOM TRANSPORT TECHNOLOGIES
    Inventor: Frédéric Hallonet
  • Patent number: 10241328
    Abstract: A near-to-eye display device includes a spatial light modulator and a microdisplay. The spatial light modulator provides a high-resolution focused image for central vision. The microdisplay provides a low-resolution defocused image for peripheral vision. The display has a large field of view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: CY Vision Inc.
    Inventors: Hakan Urey, Erdem Ulusoy
  • Patent number: 10232846
    Abstract: Example ride control systems and methods are described. In one implementation, a method receives a request to initiate a drive session to help a baby fall asleep in a vehicle. The method identifies a driving route for the drive session and implements the drive session by following the driving route. One or more vehicle-mounted sensors determine whether the baby in the vehicle has fallen asleep during the drive session.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Scott Vincent Myers, Mohamed Ahmad, Jinesh J Jain, Lisa Scaria
  • Patent number: 10183588
    Abstract: A battery system includes a lithium ion battery that couples to an electrical system. The battery system also includes a battery management system that electrically couples to the lithium ion battery and controls one or more recharge parameters of the lithium ion battery. Additionally, the battery management system monitors one or more parameters of the lithium ion battery. Further, the battery management system controls the recharge parameters of the lithium ion battery based on at least one lithium plating model and the monitored parameters. Furthermore, the at least one lithium plating model indicates a relationship between the one or more parameters of the lithium ion battery and a likelihood of lithium plating occurring in the lithium ion battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Zhihong Jin, Zhenli Zhang, Timur L. Aliyev, Brian C. Sisk, Miaomiao Ma
  • Patent number: 10137964
    Abstract: An electrical bicycle operating system comprises a first switch to generate a first transmission control signal, a second switch to generate a second transmission control signal, and a control unit to electrically operate at least one of an electrical bicycle seatpost assembly, an electrical suspension, and a driving unit configured to output an assist force when both the first switch and the second switch are operated concurrently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Yuta Kurokawa, Atsushi Komatsu
  • Patent number: 10118609
    Abstract: A sprung vibration estimation unit is configured to calculate a pitch rate of a vehicle body based on the wheel speeds detected by wheel speed sensors. A vibration suppression driving force calculation unit is configured to calculate a vibration suppression driving force for suppressing pitching of the vehicle body based on the pitch rate. An integration unit is configured to calculate a vehicle body speed based on a driver required driving force. A second sprung vibration estimation unit is configured to calculate a pitch rate of the vehicle body (vehicle body speed pitch rate) generated by a change in the vehicle body speed. A determination unit is configured to output a cutoff command for the vibration suppression driving force to an adjustment unit when the vehicle body speed pitch rate is more than a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hirofumi Momose
  • Patent number: 10119705
    Abstract: Systems and methods for use with water-fuel supply to industrial engines are provided. A method for controlling water supplied to an engine may include using both a desired water-fuel ratio, and a compensated fuel flow. This compensated fuel flow may be calculated by a controller-implemented complementary filter, which may include receiving, by the controller, a first signal and a second signal. The complementary filter may subtract the second signal from the first signal to create an error signal, lag the error signal to create a lagged error signal, and add the lagged error signal to the second signal to create a compensated signal. The controller may calculate a water flow request using a desired water-fuel ratio and the compensated signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Andrew B. Thompson
  • Patent number: 10123199
    Abstract: An anomaly detection system is provided in connection with a transport service. The anomaly detection system can construct routine route profiles for individual users of the transport service using historical route data. The anomaly detection system can monitor a current route traveled by a user. The anomaly detection system can further identify a matching routine route profile of the respective user. The anomaly detection system can utilize the matching routine route profile to identify a probable anomaly in the current route. In response to detecting the probable anomaly, the anomaly detection system can enable a safety protocol to perform a number of actions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Truong, David Purdy, Rami Mawas
  • Patent number: 10112607
    Abstract: A driving support device includes a processing device that performs driving support by controlling in-vehicle equipment having an influence on running of a subject vehicle equipped with the driving support device. The processing device is configured to repeatedly obtain and store, at a predetermined time interval or a predetermined distance interval, a pair of values of longitudinal acceleration and lateral acceleration that are generated as a result of a driving operation performed by a driver, the longitudinal acceleration being an acceleration in a traveling direction of the subject vehicle, the lateral acceleration being an acceleration in a direction orthogonal to the traveling direction, and set at least one parameter of a support operation for performing the driving support, on the basis of a plurality of pairs each being the pair of the values of the longitudinal acceleration and the lateral acceleration repeatedly obtained and stored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yuki Nakada
  • Patent number: 10086668
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a chassis and a vehicle body supported by the chassis. At least one dynamically adjustable body mount connects the vehicle body to the chassis. The at least one dynamically adjustable body mount includes a selectively adjustable parameter. One or more vehicle sensors is associated with the vehicle. The one or more vehicle sensors is operable to detect one or more vehicle parameters. A control system is operatively connected to the at least one dynamically adjustable body mount and the one or more vehicle sensors. The control system is operable to alter the selectively adjustable parameter of the at least one dynamically adjustable body mount to substantially isolate the body from road and vehicle induced vibration in response to at least one of the one or more vehicle parameters and the one or more road surface parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Wallace J. Hill, Mark A. Gehringer, Michael E. McGuire
  • Patent number: 10040481
    Abstract: A trailer angle detection system for a vehicle includes a camera disposed at a rear portion of the vehicle and viewing rearward of the vehicle. A plurality of ultrasonic sensors is disposed at the rear portion of the vehicle and sense rearward of the vehicle. A control has at least one processor operable to process image data captured by the camera. Responsive to processing of image data captured by the camera, the control detects a trailer rearward of the vehicle and in the field of view of the camera. The at least one processor is operable to process sensor data captured by the ultrasonic sensors to determine a distance to portions of the trailer rearward of the vehicle. Responsive to processing of captured image data and processing of captured sensor data, the trailer angle detection system is operable to determine an angle of the trailer relative to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Krishna Koravadi
  • Patent number: 9934572
    Abstract: A system for locating an imaged hitch point between a vehicle and a trailer is provided herein. An imaging device is configured to capture images of the trailer. A controller is configured to select two images captured by the imaging device and derive an edge map for each of the two images. The controller determines the location of the imaged hitch point based on differences in pixel intensity associated with a number of predefined pixel positions common to the two images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Zheng Hu, John P. Joyce
  • Patent number: 9925842
    Abstract: A damper system and method for a vehicle includes a shock absorber and a damper module. The shock absorber includes a plurality of digital valves. The shock absorber is operable at one of multiple damping states based on a valve state of the digital valves. The damper module is coupled to each of the digital valves and controls each of the digital valves to a desired state based on a damper setting. The damper module determines a target damping state, where the target state is one of the multiple damping states. The damper module performs a switch operation to control the valve state of the plurality of digital valves to a given desired state when the target damping state is different from a present damping state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.
    Inventors: Scott S. Dunaway, David R. Blankenship, Karl C. Kazmirski, Jeroen K. Paenhuysen, Jeffrey T. Gardner
  • Patent number: 9902311
    Abstract: A control system of a self-driving vehicle (SDV) can process sensor data from a sensor system of the SDV to autonomously control acceleration, steering, and braking systems of the SDV along a current route. Based on the current route, the control system can dynamically determine a set of immediate actions to be performed by the SDV. Based on the set of immediate actions, the control system can generate a set of intention outputs on a lighting strip of the SDV, the set of intention outputs indicating the set of immediate actions prior to the SDV executing the set of immediate actions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Sweeney, Thomas Pilarski, William Payne Ross, Chenggang Liu
  • Patent number: 9889717
    Abstract: A damping force control apparatus controlling a damping force control value for a damper whose damping force is set by the damping force control value includes: a relative velocity estimation device estimating a relative velocity of a vehicle wheel with respect to a vehicle body; and a damping force calculation device determining the damping force control value to control vibration of the vehicle body based on control input variables of the vehicle body and an estimated relative velocity, wherein the relative velocity estimation device includes an estimated damping force calculation section, a delay correction section, and a relative velocity calculation section, and the delay correction section corrects the estimated damping force and varies delay correction terms to reduce divergence between an actual measured relative velocity and the estimated relative velocity in different damping coefficients of the damper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akihito Yamamoto, Wataru Tanaka, Takafumi Makino
  • Patent number: 9883371
    Abstract: An anomaly detection system is provided in connection with a transport service. The anomaly detection system can construct routine route profiles for individual users of the transport service using historical route data. The anomaly detection system can monitor a current route traveled by a user. The anomaly detection system can further identify a matching routine route profile of the respective user. The anomaly detection system can utilize the matching routine route profile to identify a probable anomaly in the current route. In response to detecting the probable anomaly, the anomaly detection system can enable a safety protocol to perform a number of actions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Truong, David Purdy, Rami Mawas
  • Patent number: 9836901
    Abstract: A method of managing student arrival and student dismissal is executed within a remote server as the remote server is communicably coupled with at least one automobile identification (AI) device. The AI device scans an incoming vehicle in order to identify at least one authorized profile. The authorized profile is assigned to a student profile and recognize as one of the driver profiles within the remote server. Upon validation of the authorized profile, the remote server generates an updated instruction that includes at least one student management instruction and at least one additional instruction that are accessed and defined by parent profiles or faculty profiles. Then the updated instruction is sent from the remote server to a selected computing device so that the student arrival and student dismissal can be processed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Inventor: Mark H. Ruiters
  • Patent number: 9831922
    Abstract: A system for determining tread wear of a tire includes a first wireless communication chip located at an inner surface of the tire and a second wireless communication chip located at an outer surface of the tire. The second chip resides in a slot extending through a housing located in a groove in a tread of the tire. The second chip moves in the slot toward the bottom of the groove in response to the tread wear. Methodology entails transmitting a first signal from a first chip, receiving the first signal at the second chip, transmitting a second signal from the second chip in response to receipt of the first signal, receiving the second signal at the first chip, computing a time delay between transmission of the first signal and receipt of the second signal, and determining tread wear of the tire in response to the time delay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventor: Robert Lindsay Robinson
  • Patent number: 9723469
    Abstract: An anomaly detection system is provided in connection with a transport service. The anomaly detection system can construct routine route profiles for individual users of the transport service using historical route data. The anomaly detection system can monitor a current route traveled by a user. The anomaly detection system can further identify a matching routine route profile of the respective user. The anomaly detection system can utilize the matching routine route profile to identify a probable anomaly in the current route. In response to detecting the probable anomaly, the anomaly detection system can enable a safety protocol to perform a number of actions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Truong, David Purdy, Rami Mawas
  • Patent number: 9643466
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a suspension corner connecting the vehicle's road wheel to the vehicle's body and characterized by a ride height at the suspension corner. An actuator at the suspension corner is configured to selectively extend and contract in response to a volume of received pressurized fluid to selectively increase and reduce the ride height. The actuator includes a locking device configured to selectively restrain the piston in a predetermined position and release the piston, and includes an actuation mechanism for activating the device to restrain the piston in the predetermined position. A controller is configured to determine if a change in the ride height is required and to assess if the piston is restrained by the locking device. If the piston is restrained by the locking device and the change in ride height is required, the controller releases the piston via the device and then changes the ride height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Brian D. Christoff, John K. Dagg, Robert G. Izak, Christian E. Thomas
  • Patent number: 9640165
    Abstract: An active vibration noise control apparatus is provided. When a vehicle speed changes thereby to change frequency characteristics (peak-amplitude frequency) of vibration noise, the active vibration noise control apparatus refers to a vehicle speed versus frequency correspondence table representing a correspondence relation between a vehicle speed of a vehicle and a frequency of a reference signal, and changes the frequency of the reference signal that is used by an adaptive notch filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kosuke Sakamoto, Toshio Inoue
  • Patent number: 9628001
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling force of a magnetic lead screw actuator includes a magnetic lead screw actuator, an external control module and at least one sensor device integrated within the magnetic lead screw actuator. The magnetic lead screw actuator includes an electric machine, a rotor, and a translator. The rotor includes a rotor magnet assembly forming first helical magnetic threads along the rotor and the translator includes a translator magnet assembly forming second helical magnetic threads along the translator. Rotation of the rotor by the electric machine effects linear translation of the translator by interaction of the first and second helical magnetic threads. The external control module is electrically operatively coupled to an electric machine controller of the magnetic lead screw actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignees: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC, AALBORG UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Klaus Trangbaek, Vladimir Suplin, Rasmus Koldborg Holm, Nick Ilso Berg, Peter Omand Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 9597940
    Abstract: A method of on-demand energy delivery to an active suspension system is disclosed. The suspension system includes an actuator body, a hydraulic pump, an electric motor, a plurality of sensors, an energy storage facility, and a controller. The method includes disposing an active suspension system in a vehicle between a wheel mount and a vehicle body, detecting a wheel event requiring control of the active suspension; and sourcing energy from the energy storage facility and delivering it to the electric motor in response to the wheel event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: ClearMotion, Inc.
    Inventors: Zackary Martin Anderson, Marco Giovanardi, Clive Tucker, Jonathan R. Leehey, Colin Patrick O'Shea, Johannes Schneider, Vladimir Gorelik, Richard Anthony Zuckerman, Patrick W. Neil, Tyson David Sawyer, Ross J. Wendell
  • Patent number: 9555813
    Abstract: A method of preventing instability in a vehicle-trailer combination (10) is provided. The method comprises monitoring relative movement between the vehicle (20) and the trailer (30) using optical sensing means; determining a trailer yaw condition in dependence on a signal output from the optical sensing means; comparing the determined trailer yaw condition to a predetermined threshold yaw condition; and when the determined trailer yaw condition is equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold yaw condition, outputting an alert signal indicative of the onset of instability in the vehicle-trailer combination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Limited
    Inventor: Giovanni Strano