Steering Control Patents (Class 701/41)
  • Patent number: 11754725
    Abstract: A vehicle location and control system determines a signal-derived separation distance between antennas disposed onboard a vehicle based on signals received by the antennas from an off-board source. The system determines an input-derived separation distance between the antennas based on input offset distances of the antennas from a designated location on the vehicle, determines a difference between the input-derived separation distance and the signal-derived separation distance, and activates or deactivates an automated route identification system that determines which route of several different routes that the vehicle is disposed upon based on the difference that is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: WESTINGHOUSE AIR BRAKE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. Kernwein, Brett Trombo-Somerville, Matthew Vrba
  • Patent number: 11745752
    Abstract: A vehicle control system can have an in-vehicle camera that monitors a state of the driver; a center display and a meter device that notify the occupant of information; and a controller that executes automatic stop control in the case where the driver abnormality is determined. The controller can perform: a first operation to decelerate the vehicle to a specified speed when the abnormality is determined; a second operation to further decelerate and stop the vehicle after the first operation; a third operation to change a lane of the vehicle between the first operation and the second operation; and a fourth operation to move the vehicle to a road shoulder between the first operation and the second operation. The controller can notify the operation performed, and notify of a stop of the operation in the case where the operation performed is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akira Kaino, Yoshitaka Fujihara
  • Patent number: 11745796
    Abstract: A driving support Electronic Control Unit (ECU) initializes a target trajectory calculation parameter at a start of Lane Change Assist Control (LCA), calculates, based on the target trajectory calculation parameter, a target trajectory function representing a target lateral position in accordance with an elapsed time from the start of LCA; and calculates a target control amount according to the target trajectory function. When it is determined that the own vehicle has crossed a boundary white line, the driving support ECU again initializes the target trajectory calculation parameter, and calculate the target trajectory function based on the target trajectory calculation parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shota Fujii
  • Patent number: 11745726
    Abstract: Techniques for using a set of non-steering variables to estimate an angle of a wheel are described. For example, a yaw rate, a linear velocity of a wheel, and vehicle dimensions (e.g., offset between the wheel and a turn-center reference line), can be used to estimate the angle of the wheel. Among other things, estimating angles based on non-steering variables may provide redundancy (e.g., when determined in parallel with steering-based command angles or other commanded angles) and/or may be used to validate commanded angles based on steering components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Carsten Bosse, Brice Rebsamen
  • Patent number: 11745785
    Abstract: A vehicle control system is used for a vehicle in which steering control is executable. The vehicle control system includes an operation element configured to receive a driving operation by an occupant; a contact sensor configured to detect a contact operation on the operation element from either a first side or a second side in a vehicle width direction; and a travel control unit configured to change a travel position of the vehicle in the vehicle width direction within a travel path where the vehicle is traveling if the contact sensor detects the contact operation in a state where the steering control is executable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ryo Yamazaki, Yosuke Shimizu, Takeyuki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11738801
    Abstract: A method for steering a motor vehicle by a steering mechanism. The steering mechanism has an actuating element, a manual actuator, a steering actuator, at least one transmission component, and a steering feel function. The steering actuator is connected to at least one steerable wheel of the motor vehicle via the at least one transmission component. The actuating element and the manual actuator are mechanically connected to each other. Operating values of a total transmission force acting on the at least one transmission component are transmitted to the steering feel function, which is used to determine input values of a manual force for the manual actuator from the determined operating values for the entire transmission force. The input values are transmitted to a system function for limiting the input values and compared to a predefined maximum value and a predefined minimum value for the actuating force by the system function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: André Wesenberg, Sebastian Loos, Thorsten Groh
  • Patent number: 11738794
    Abstract: A steering device includes a frame including an upper portion and a lower portion, and a runner moveable relative to the frame at the upper portion of the frame. The runner includes a plurality of segments longitudinally spaced between a first end and a second end. A sensor is configured to detect at least a first segment of the segments. A controller is communicatively coupled to the sensor. The controller is configured to determine a position of the runner based on the detection of at least the first segment and generate one or more signals based on the position of the runner for use in turning one or more wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinji Maeshiro
  • Patent number: 11731613
    Abstract: A parking assistance device including a recognition part configured to acquire recognition information through recognition of surroundings, a parking region determiner configured to determine a space between other vehicles as a parking region of the host vehicle based on the recognition information, an automatic parking controller configured to perform a parking operation to park the host vehicle in the parking region, and a parking location determiner. In response to determining that an entry width of the parking region is less than a predetermined value, the parking location determiner is configured to determine a parking location of the host vehicle in the parking region that is at a central location as viewed from an entry side of the parking region. In response to determining that the entry width is equal to or greater than the predetermined value, the parking location determiner is configured to determine the parking location that is closer to one of the other vehicles as viewed from the entry side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuki Nakada, Hiroshi Yamanaka, Yuki Hara, Yasushi Shoda, Syoichi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11731632
    Abstract: A travel control method for executing autonomous lane change control of a vehicle includes, before performing two or more successive lane changes, presenting the driver with first lane change information as to whether or not to accept execution of autonomous control of the successive lane changes; when detecting a first acceptance input made by the driver indicating that the driver accepts the execution of the autonomous control, executing first autonomous lane change control; then presenting the driver with second lane change information as to whether or not to accept execution of the autonomous lane change control after the first lane change; and when detecting a second acceptance input made by the driver, executing the autonomous lane change control after the first lane change. An action load of the second acceptance input is set smaller than an action load of the first acceptance input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhisa Hayakawa, Takahiko Oki
  • Patent number: 11731648
    Abstract: The techniques of this disclosure relate to a vehicle lateral-control system with dynamically adjustable calibrations. The system includes a controller circuit that receives weather data for a geographic region traveled by a vehicle. The controller circuit receives image data from a camera of a roadway traveled by the vehicle in the geographic region. The controller circuit receives vehicle-state data from one or more vehicle sensors indicating an operating condition of the vehicle on the roadway in the geographic region. The controller circuit adjusts a calibration of vehicle lateral-control features based on the weather data, the image data, and the vehicle-state data. The controller circuit operates the vehicle on the roadway based on the adjusted calibration. The system can increase passenger comfort or reduce an error from a lane centerline when the vehicle is operated in an autonomous-driving mode, which can improve operational safety.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Aptiv Technologies Limited
    Inventor: Pardis Khayyer
  • Patent number: 11731642
    Abstract: A controller includes a control section configured to actually control a hardware unit, an identification model including a hard model obtained by modeling a dynamic characteristic of the hardware unit and a soft model configured to execute same processing as processing performed on the hard model by the control section, and an adjustment section configured to update a dynamic characteristic of a model of the hardware unit in the hard model such that an output value of the hard model obtained by processing of the soft model matches an actual output value of the hardware unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Harada
  • Patent number: 11731686
    Abstract: A method is described for position control for an electromechanically assisted steering system of a motor vehicle, which has electromechanical steering assistance with an electric motor and at least one controller, wherein a torque to be applied by the electric motor is the controlled variable of the at least one controller, and wherein the controlled system for the design of the at least one controller comprises at least a lower part of the steering system containing the electric motor. A frequency response of the controlled system is determined based on a mathematical model of the controlled system and/or by measuring the controlled system. Controller parameters of the at least one controller are adjusted based on the frequency response of the controlled system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: ZF Automotive Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Emad Farshizadeh, Martin Scherberich
  • Patent number: 11731694
    Abstract: In a steering control apparatus, a reaction force torque command value is calculated so that a detection value of a torque sensor follows a target value obtained by adding at least a viscosity command value and a return command value to a steering torque command value, and an electric current that flows to a reaction force rotary electric machine is controlled based on the reaction force torque command value. Whether a steering state is a turning state or a returning state is determined by comparing a physical quantity corresponding to an output torque of a reaction force device and the detection value of the torque sensor. Characteristics of one or more of a reaction force amount operation, a viscosity amount operation, and a return amount operation are made differ between the turning state and the returning state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takashi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11731695
    Abstract: Provided is a control apparatus for a vehicle configured to perform steering assist control and driving support control based on a motor control amount, the control apparatus being further configured to correct the motor control amount such that a specific steering amount in a second period becomes smaller than that in a first period, the specific steering amount being an amount of change in a steering angle required for a magnitude of a steering torque to reach a torque threshold, the first period being a period from a first time point at which a driving support operation state is changed to an on state to a second time point at which a driving operation switching request is issued, and the second period being a period from the second time point to a third time point at which the driving support operation state is changed to an off state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takahiro Kojo, Yoji Kunihiro, Hisaya Akatsuka
  • Patent number: 11731699
    Abstract: A method and processor for controlling steering of a Self-Driving Car (SDC) are disclosed. The method includes: acquiring SDC state data associated with vertices in a graph-structure, using the SDC state data for building a polynomial curve, using the polynomial curve for simulating a candidate trajectory of the SDC as if the SDC is steered in accordance therewith and such that a closest allowed steering wheel position to a non-allowed steering wheel position is used instead of the non-allowed steering wheel position, determining an offset between the simulated state and a target state of the SDC, selecting candidate steering profile as a target steering profile of the SDC based on the offset, and using the target steering profile of the SDC for controlling steering of the SDC. A method of training a Machine Learning Algorithm for predicting steering wheel positions to control steering of the SDC is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: YANDEX SELF DRIVING GROUP LLC
    Inventor: Andrei Yurievich Valchok
  • Patent number: 11736058
    Abstract: Provided is a method for relocating a solar power unit in response to a redeployment event. A first location of a deployed solar power unit may be determined. A processor may detect a redeployment event for the solar power unit at the first location. In response to the redeployment event, the processor may determine a new location for the solar power unit. The method may further comprise relocating the solar power unit to the new location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Igor S. Ramos, Angelo Danducci, II, Hilary Ricky, Denny Nguyen
  • Patent number: 11724598
    Abstract: An operation device for an autonomous vehicle includes a touch panel configured to display at least one of a start button and a deceleration button, and a notification button on the same screen. The autonomous vehicle is autonomously drivable. The start button is a button for starting driving of the autonomous vehicle in an autonomous drive mode. The deceleration button is a button for decelerating the autonomous vehicle during the autonomous drive mode. The notification button is a button for performing notification to an outside of the autonomous vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuchi Yamanouchi, Masaharu Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 11724736
    Abstract: A vehicle has a trailer backup steering input apparatus, a trailer backup assist control module coupled to the a trailer backup steering input apparatus, and an electric power assist steering system coupled to the trailer backup assist control module. The trailer backup steering input apparatus is configured for outputting a trailer path curvature signal approximating a desired curvature for a path of travel of a trailer towably coupled to the vehicle. The trailer backup assist control module is configured for determining vehicle steering information as a function of the trailer path curvature signal. The electric power assist steering system is configured for controlling steering of steered wheels of the vehicle as a function of the vehicle steering information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC, The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventors: Douglas Scott Rhode, David Dean Smit, Erick Michael Lavoie, Martin Fitzpatrick Frey, Thomas Edward Pilutti, Taehyun Shim, Matt Y. Rupp, Roger Arnold Trombley
  • Patent number: 11726437
    Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and methods are provided for the utilization of vehicle control systems to cause a vehicle to take preventative action responsive to the detection of a near short term adverse driving scenario. A vehicle control system may receive information corresponding to vehicle operation data and ancillary data. Based on the received vehicle operation data and the received ancillary data, a multi-dimension risk score module may calculate risk scores associated with the received vehicle operation data and the received ancillary data. Subsequently, the vehicle control systems may cause the vehicle to perform at least one of a close call detection action and a close call detection alert to lessen the risk associated with the received vehicle operation data and the received ancillary data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Allstate Insurance Company
    Inventor: Sunil Chintakindi
  • Patent number: 11724689
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling a vehicle are provided. The systems and methods include a sensor system and a processor configured to execute program instructions, to cause the at least one processor to: receive yaw rate values, lateral acceleration values and longitudinal velocity values for the vehicle from the sensor system, determine side slip angle parameter values based on the yaw rate values, lateral acceleration values and longitudinal velocity values, determine phase portrait angles based on the side slip angle parameter values and the yaw rate values, wherein the phase portrait angles each represent an angle between yaw rate and side slip angle for the vehicle in a phase portrait of yaw rate and side slip angle, detect or predict vehicle instability based at least on the phase portrait angles, and when vehicle instability is detected or predicted, control motion of the vehicle to at least partly correct the vehicle instability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Ehsan Asadi, Seyedeh Asal Nahidi, SeyedAlireza Kasaiezadeh Mahabadi, Yubiao Zhang, Hualin Tan, Naser Mehrabi
  • Patent number: 11726124
    Abstract: Devices, systems and methods for using system-level malfunction indicators to monitor the operation and resiliency of the autonomous driving system components are described. One example of a method for diagnosing a fault in a component of an autonomous vehicle includes receiving, from an electrical sub-component of the component, an electrical signal, receiving, from an electronic sub-component of the component, a message, and determining, based on the electrical signal and the message, an operational status of the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: TUSIMPLE, INC.
    Inventors: Xiaoling Han, Yu-Ju Hsu
  • Patent number: 11718306
    Abstract: The present application discloses a method and an apparatus for acquiring sample deviation data and an electric device, which relate to the fields of artificial intelligence technology, automatic driving technology, intelligent transportation technology and deep learning technology. The specific implementation solution is: in case of acquiring the sample deviation data, a first driving behavior parameter of a vehicle and a second driving behavior parameter of the vehicle in a simulated automatic driving mode are respectively acquired in the manual driving mode; and it is determined whether there is a deviation between the first driving behavior parameter and the second driving behavior parameter, and if there is a deviation, the vehicle is controlled to acquire the sample deviation data within a preset time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: BEIJING BAIDU NETCOM SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Houqiang Zhu, Pengfei Wei, Jia Song, Jianxin Jiang, Songtao Chang
  • Patent number: 11718294
    Abstract: A lane departure prevention control apparatus includes a recognizer that recognizes environment ahead of a vehicle and detects left and right lane markers of a lane where the vehicle is traveling based on the environment, a first detector that detects vehicle behavior, a determiner that predicts whether the vehicle will depart from the lane markers based on the lane markers and the vehicle behavior, a setting unit that sets a range for permitting lane departure prevention control from the lane markers, a calculator that transmits a signal corresponding to steering torque for preventing the vehicle departure from the lane markers to a steering controller when the vehicle departs from the lane markers and the vehicle is within the control permission range, and a second detector that detects a shape change in the lane. The unit variably sets the control permission range based on the shape change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Omikawa, Ryo Hajika
  • Patent number: 11713073
    Abstract: A smart steering control system a paving or texturing machine receives path elements corresponding to current and future positions of the machine. By comparing the current and future elements, an expected completion time is derived for exiting the current position and entering the future position; the smart steering control system synchronizes adjustments of the machine's steerable tracks from the current path to the future path. The smart steering control system functions as a virtual tie rod, preventing damage, enhancing the traction control and pulling power of the machine, and preserving the operating life of its components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Gomaco Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas C. Farr, Raymond J. Bumann, III, Chad M. Schaeding
  • Patent number: 11713077
    Abstract: Systems and methods for track vehicle control are provided. In one embodiment, a method comprises: receiving a steering control signal; inputting a first rotation signal from a first encoder representing a rotational frequency and phase of a first electric motor coupled to a first continuous track mechanism; inputting a second rotation signal from a second encoder representing a rotational frequency and phase of a second electric motor coupled to a second continuous track mechanism; and outputting motor control signals to a first and second motor controllers in response to the steering control signal and differences between the rotational frequency and phase for the first electric motor and the rotational frequency and phase for the second electric motor, wherein the first motor controller is coupled to the first electric motor and the second motor controller is coupled to the second electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Vortrex LLC
    Inventor: Michael J. Hermel
  • Patent number: 11714193
    Abstract: One variation of a method for registering distance scan data includes: accessing a first distance scan recorded, at a first time, by a first depth sensor defining a first field of view; accessing a second distance scan recorded, at approximately the first time, by a second depth sensor defining a second field of view overlapping a portion of the first field of view; calculating a first set of lines represented by points in a first portion of the first distance scan overlapping a second portion of the second distance scan; calculating a second set of lines represented by points in the second portion of the second distance scan; calculating skew distances between each pair of corresponding lines in the first and second sets of lines; and calculating an alignment transformation that aligns the first distance scan and the second distance scan to minimize skew distances between corresponding pairs of lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Inventors: Paul Foster, Joel Pazhayampallil, Lei Liu
  • Patent number: 11708069
    Abstract: Provided is an obstacle avoidance apparatus that can specify a distance between a subject vehicle and an obstacle when making the subject vehicle avoid the obstacle. An obstacle avoidance apparatus includes: an obstacle movement predictor that predicts movement of the obstacle; and a constraint generator that establishes a constraint on a state quantity or a control input of the subject vehicle by determining whether to steer right or left around the obstacle and defining a no-entry zone for preventing the subject vehicle from colliding with the obstacle. The constraint generator incorporates, into the no-entry zone, an area to the left of the obstacle when determining to steer right around the obstacle, and incorporates, into the no-entry zone, an area to the right of the obstacle when determining to steer left around the obstacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kenta Tominaga, Tomoki Uno, Shota Kameoka, Masaya Endo
  • Patent number: 11708111
    Abstract: A vehicular trailer assist system includes a camera disposed at a rear portion of a vehicle and viewing a portion of a trailer hitched at a hitch of the vehicle. During a reversing maneuver of the vehicle and hitched trailer, the vehicular trailer assist system, responsive to processing at an electronic control unit (ECU) of image data captured by the camera, determines a trailer angle of the trailer relative to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle. Based at least in part on the determined trailer angle, the vehicular trailer assist system determines a trailer direction of movement of the trailer while the vehicle is reversing with the trailer hitched at the hitch of the vehicle. The vehicular trailer assist system determines a virtual destination location rearward of the trailer and in the determined trailer direction and controls steering of the vehicle to reverse the trailer towards the virtual destination location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Magna Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Jyothi P. Gali
  • Patent number: 11702138
    Abstract: A method for providing lane keeping support to enable improved one-hand operation of a vehicle is described. The method includes detecting a one-hand location of a vehicle operator on a steering wheel of the vehicle. The method also includes determining a level of control of the vehicle operator on the steering wheel during the one-hand operation of the vehicle. The method further includes adjusting a level of compensation applied to the steering wheel to facilitate the one-hand operation of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yasuda, Manuel Ludwig Kuehner
  • Patent number: 11702139
    Abstract: A driving support ECU initializes a target trajectory calculation parameter at a start of LCA; calculates, based on the target trajectory calculation parameter, a target trajectory function representing a target lateral position which is a target position of an own vehicle in a lane width direction in accordance with an elapsed time from the start of LCA; calculates a target control amount based on the target trajectory function; when a steering operation by a driver has been detected, again initializes the target trajectory calculation parameter; and recalculates the target trajectory function based on the target trajectory calculation parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shota Fujii
  • Patent number: 11701934
    Abstract: A towing assist device includes an imaging device configured to capture a rear area from a towed vehicle when a towing vehicle moves backward, the towed vehicle being connected to the towing vehicle via a connector; a monitor device including a display screen configured to display a captured image which is captured by the imaging device, a touch screen function for detecting a touch position to the display screen; and a controller that is connected to the imaging device and the monitor device and is configured to control a display of the monitor device when the towing vehicle moves backward. The controller includes a display setting processing portion, a model display processing portion, a touch operation detection portion, and a movement direction model display processing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: CLARION CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yuki Matsushita
  • Patent number: 11702140
    Abstract: A system and method for reliably determining lanes of a roadway includes an optical sensing arrangement for sensing metallic striping from photoelectric effect. The location of the striping that defines a border of a traffic lane is determined and the location of the striping is displayed on a graphical user interface. The location can be used to provide lane control to ensure the vehicle maintains proper position in a traffic lane, lane warning assistance, collision avoidance, parking control, and guidance for autonomous driving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Corneille
  • Patent number: 11702125
    Abstract: A steer-by-wire steering system for motor vehicles includes an electronically controlled steering actuator acting on steered wheels of the vehicle responsive to a steering demand and a feedback actuator transmitting retroactive effects of the road to a steering wheel, wherein the feedback actuator and the steering actuator have a redundant power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignees: THYSSENKRUPP PRESTA AG, THYSSENKRUPP AG
    Inventors: Imre Szepessy, Botond Hamori, Peter Kakas
  • Patent number: 11702133
    Abstract: A yaw stability control system is provided for a motor vehicle. The system includes one or more cameras, a plurality of wheel speed sensors, a yaw angle sensor, and a steering angle sensor. The system further includes an electric motor connected to a reaction wheel. The system further includes a processor and a memory including instructions such that the processor is programmed to: determine a desired yaw angle of the motor vehicle based on a video signal, speed signals, a yaw signal, and a steering signal. The processor is further programmed to generate an actuation signal associated with the desired yaw angle. The electric motor angularly rotates the reaction wheel at a predetermined angular rate in a predetermined rotational direction to produce a counter-acting torque that rotates the motor vehicle to the desired yaw angle, in response to the electric motor receiving the actuation signal from the processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Insu Chang, Jun-mo Kang, SeungHwan Keum
  • Patent number: 11697416
    Abstract: A vehicle travel assistance method executed by a processor comprises: setting a travel lane in which a subject vehicle travels based on detection information of a sensor equipped in the subject vehicle, identifying a preceding vehicle traveling ahead of a subject vehicle based on detection information of a sensor, calculating, based on the detection information, a first evaluation value indicating a possibility that the subject vehicle can return to the travel lane from an adjacent lane adjacent to the travel lane after overtaking the preceding vehicle, calculating a shortening width of travel time shortened by overtaking the preceding vehicle based on the vehicle speed of the subject vehicle and the vehicle speed of the preceding vehicle, and determining whether or not to overtake the preceding vehicle based on the first evaluation value and the shortening width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiro Takamatsu, Yohei Mishina, Takato Kurokawa
  • Patent number: 11691622
    Abstract: An adaptive lane-keeping system for a commercial vehicle, including: an input module for entering sensor data from at least one sensor which is configured to detect the surroundings of the commercial vehicle; an evaluation module for evaluating the sensor data to determine a relative position of the commercial vehicle on a road; a lane-keeping module for controlling a steering system of the commercial vehicle based on a lane-keeping profile that defines a torque to be applied to a steering wheel of the commercial vehicle to support keeping in a lane; and a change module for changing the lane-keeping profile in response to a change in the detected environment. Also described is a related commercial vehicle, method, and computer readable medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: KNORR-BREMSE SYSTEME FUER NUTZFAHRZEUGE GMBH
    Inventors: Hagen Layer, Thomas Hackl
  • Patent number: 11685385
    Abstract: The techniques of this disclosure relate to a driver-monitoring system. The system includes a controller circuit that receives monitoring data from a driver-monitor sensor that is configured to monitor a driver of a vehicle while the vehicle operates in an autonomous-driving mode. The controller circuit determines a score of one or more driver-supervisory metrics based on the monitoring data, each of the driver-supervisory metrics being indicative of whether the driver is supervising the operation of the vehicle. The controller circuit determines a supervision score based on the score of the driver-supervisory metrics. The supervision score is indicative of whether the driver is ready to resume control of the vehicle. The controller circuit indicates a driver-awareness status on a display in a field of view of the driver based on the supervision score. The system can improve vehicle safety by alerting the driver when the driver exhibits reduced driver awareness behavior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Aptiv Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Yang Yang, Douglas L. Welk
  • Patent number: 11679805
    Abstract: Technical solutions are described for mitigating traction steer using an electric power steering system (EPS). A control system for a power steering system including a processor and memory are provided. The memory includes instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to generate a motor command as a function of a handwheel velocity, and to modify the motor command based upon a traction torque signal. A method for controlling a power steering system is also provided. The method includes generating a motor command as a function of a handwheel velocity; modifying the motor command based upon a traction torque signal; and applying the motor command to an actuator of the power steering system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey R. Meyer, Kameron M. Carey
  • Patent number: 11682247
    Abstract: A vehicle control system includes: an operation unit disposed in a vehicle and operable by a driver; an operation detection unit configured to detect an operation on the operation unit, and including a displacement unit that is displaced according to an operation amount of the operation unit, and a detection unit that detects a displacement amount of the displacement unit and that outputs a continuous signal according to the displacement amount; and a control unit that inputs the continuous signal detected by the detection unit and performs a predetermined control corresponding to the continuous signal is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: ASAHI DENSO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Michiyuki Suzuki, Syunsuke Omura
  • Patent number: 11679807
    Abstract: A control device is applied to a vehicle including a steering device changing a tire angle in synchronization with a change in a steering angle while assisting in steering by driving an electric machine. The control device performs a steering support control for controlling a tire angle and a steering angle by driving the electric machine. The control device includes a control drive amount calculation unit calculating a control drive amount based on the target tire angle in a state where the steering support control is executed. The control device includes a steering drive amount calculation unit calculating a steering drive amount being a drive amount of the electric machine related to a steering torque. The control device includes a control unit that controls the electric machine based on the cooperative drive amount, during steering movement of the driver in a state where the steering support control is executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: ADVICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yosuke Ohmori
  • Patent number: 11678040
    Abstract: A vehicular trailering assist system includes a camera and an image processor operable to process image data captured by the camera. The vehicular trailering assist system iteratively predicts a plurality of predicted trailer angles based on a corresponding plurality of potential trailer beam lengths ranging between an upper dimension above a baseline trailer beam length and a lower dimension below the baseline trailer beam length and selects a trailer angle from the plurality of predicted trailer angles that least deviates from a current trailer angle determined via processing by the image processor of image data captured by the camera. The potential trailer beam length that corresponds to the selected trailer angle that least deviates from the determined current trailer angle is used in determining trailer angles for that trailer during future drives of the vehicle when towing that particular trailer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Magna Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jyothi P. Gali, Nikhil Gupta, Galina Okouneva
  • Patent number: 11677930
    Abstract: An approach is provided for determining an optimal alignment of a device. The approach, for example, involves receiving image data from a device mounted in a vehicle. The approach also involves presenting an alignment template in a user interface of the device as an overlay on the image data, wherein the alignment template provides one or more guidelines indicating a target alignment of the device to capture images from the vehicle for an application. The approach further involves processing the image data against the alignment template to determining an alignment of the device in relation to the target alignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: HERE Global B.V.
    Inventor: Brad Keserich
  • Patent number: 11667278
    Abstract: A platooning control apparatus, a system including the same, and a method thereof are provided. disclosure The platooning control apparatus may include: a processor configured to determine a possibility of a collision during platooning, and when the possibility of the collision exists, perform collision avoidance control or braking control depending on whether an anti-lock brake system (ABS) is operated; and a storage configured to store data obtained by the processor and an algorithm for driving the processor, wherein the apparatus may calculate a depressurization amount of the braking pressure depending on a vehicle speed, a vehicle weight, and a state of a road surface when the avoidance control is possible during ABS operation, and may control eccentric braking depending on the depressurization amount of the braking pressure, to perform the avoidance control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jung Wan Kim
  • Patent number: 11667216
    Abstract: A safety system for a vehicle seat in a commercial vehicle operating a vehicle seat motion actuation when the commercial vehicle is colliding with an obstacle, comprising: —at least one actuator unit that comprises at least one seat actuator to move the vehicle seat from a driving position to a safety position—at least one control unit connected to said actuator unit to control the at least one seat actuator—at least one proximity sensor connected to said control unit and configured to detect an obstacle before the commercial vehicle collides it characterized in that the control unit is provided with a calculator device retrieving specific data (Dw, Dw?, Ds, Do) to determine the requested seat's motion speed profile and the requested seat's motion triggering moment to control, upon receiving an imminent and unavoidable collision alert signal from the proximity sensor, the at least one seat actuator to move the vehicle seat to the safety position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Volvo Truck Corporation
    Inventors: Raphaël Ribero, Thomas Partarrieu
  • Patent number: 11667275
    Abstract: A control apparatus of a vehicle includes: a steering apparatus (6) including a steering wheel (11) operated in order to turn a vehicle (1) and a steering angle sensor (8) that detects a steering angle of the steering wheel (11), the steering apparatus (6) steering a front wheel (steered wheel) (2) of the vehicle (1) in accordance with operation of the steering wheel (11); and a controller (14) that sets a steering angle acceleration based on the steering angle detected by the steering angle sensor (8) and controls vehicle motion when the steering wheel (11) is operated to be turned. In particular, the controller (14) suppresses a rise of lateral acceleration of the vehicle (1) based on the steering angle acceleration in order to control the vehicle motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignees: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION, IKUTOKU GAKUEN
    Inventors: Takatoshi Tsukano, Masato Abe, Makoto Yamakado, Yoshio Kano, Kazuki Sato
  • Patent number: 11662219
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a perception module of an autonomous driving vehicle (ADV) detects a temporary traffic control device (TTCD) located within a first lane of a multi-lane roadway. The first lane is added to a black list of one or more lanes that the ADV is not permitted to drive within. A rerouting request is made to a planning module of the ADV to route the ADV to a second lane in the multi-lane roadway. The ADV navigates to the second lane and continues navigating along the requested rerouting. The ADV monitors for additional TTCDs. One or more boundary lines of the first lane can be marked “do not cross” so that the ADV does not navigate, even partially, back into the first lane. If there are no more TTCDs in the first lane for a predetermined distance ahead of the ADV, the first lane is deleted from the black list.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: BAIDU USA LLC
    Inventor: Fan Zhu
  • Patent number: 11661109
    Abstract: A method increases fidelity of a lane localization function aboard a motor vehicle by receiving input signals indicative of a relative position of the vehicle with respect to a roadway. The input signals include GPS and geocoded mapping data, and an electronic turn signal indicative of activation of the turn signal lever. Sensor-specific lane probability distributions are calculated via the lane localization function using the input signals. The various distributions are fused via the localization function to generate a host lane assignment. The host lane assignment corresponds to a lane of the roadway having a highest probability among a set of possible lane assignments. An autonomous steering control action is performed aboard the motor vehicle using an Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) in response to the host lane assignment. A motor vehicle has a controller that performs the method, e.g., by executing instructions from computer-readable media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Haley M. Dalzell, Andrew C. Huster
  • Patent number: 11661063
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining a lane change for a driver assistance system (100) of a vehicle (1), which method comprises calculating (220) a probability that other vehicles (2) are driving at a higher speed in a lane (L2) which is adjacent to a current lane (L1) of the vehicle (1), applying (240) a hysteresis to the calculated probability based on a driving parameter dependent on a last lane change, and issuing (250) a command to change lanes depending on the probability. The invention further relates to a driver assistance system and a vehicle which can carry out such a method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Till Nattermann, Christian Wissing, Manuel Schmidt, Andreas Homann, Christian Lienke, Niklas Stannartz, Torsten Bertram
  • Patent number: 11664759
    Abstract: Provided is a method for relocating a solar power unit in response to a redeployment event. A first location of a deployed solar power unit may be determined. A processor may detect a redeployment event for the solar power unit at the first location. In response to the redeployment event, the processor may determine a new location for the solar power unit. The method may further comprise relocating the solar power unit to the new location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Igor S. Ramos, Angelo Danducci, II, Hilary Ricky, Denny Nguyen
  • Patent number: RE49650
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate generally to detecting discrete actions by traveling vehicles. The features described improve the safety, use, driver experience, and performance of autonomously controlled vehicles by performing a behavior analysis on mobile objects in the vicinity of an autonomous vehicle. Specifically, an autonomous vehicle is capable of detecting and tracking nearby vehicles and is able to determine when these nearby vehicles have performed actions of interest by comparing their tracked movements with map data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Jiajun Zhu, David I. Ferguson, Dmitri A. Dolgov