Steering Control Patents (Class 701/41)
  • 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: 11661062
    Abstract: A driving assist method executes a lane change assist based on a generated target travel route. Upon determining the host vehicle is traveling in a road having several lanes, an determination is made as to whether or not the host vehicle is traveling in a first area where an autonomous lane change can be executed. Next, upon determining that the host vehicle is traveling in the first area, an determination is made as to whether or not the host vehicle is traveling in a predetermined range from an area border, which is a boundary between the first area and a second area where the autonomous lane change cannot be executed. Upon determining the host vehicle is traveling in a predetermined range from the area border, a control for the autonomous lane change is performed so that the host vehicle travels in a traveling lane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yohei Taniguchi
  • Patent number: 11654776
    Abstract: A method for controlling a rotating electrical machine of a motor vehicle is disclosed. The motor vehicle includes a thermal drive chain including a heat engine connected to a gearbox by means of a clutch. The electrical machine is integrated in the thermal drive chain or in a drive chain independent of the heat engine. When the clutch is open and the rotating electrical machine operates in motor mode in order to ensure the electrical operation of the motor vehicle, the method includes: generating a setpoint torque corresponding to a desire of the driver to accelerate; determining a pulsed compensation torque for torque oscillations generated by the drive chain; combining the setpoint torque and the previously determined pulsed compensation torque in order to obtain a resulting modified setpoint torque; and applying the resulting modified setpoint torque to the rotating electrical machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Valeo Equipements Electriques Moteur
    Inventor: Joachim Laupa
  • Patent number: 11654952
    Abstract: A steering device includes: a sensor drive unit configured to drive a sensor element provided in a steering to detect a gripped state of the steering; and a heater drive unit configured to drive a heater provided in the steering, in which the sensor drive unit executes driving of the sensor element periodically at an interval, the heater drive unit executes heater driving alternately with sensor driving by the sensor drive unit, and the interval of sensor driving is expanded in a state where the steering is gripped, compared with a state where the steering is not gripped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: AISIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuki Hayashi, Takaaki Koizumi
  • Patent number: 11658601
    Abstract: A motor control device includes a power converter that supplies a three-phase voltage to two motors being connected in parallel, a three-phase power line that connects between one of the two motors and the power converter, a branch three-phase power line that connects between the other of the two motors and the power converter, a switching device having two switches that are provided on the branch three-phase power line, a current detection device that detects three-phase currents flowing in the two motors, and a controller. The controller performs a failure determination of the switching device by identifying a phase of a power line in which no current flows in the three-phase power line and the branch three-phase power line, and, when a failure is detected in one of the two switches in the failure determination, controls to change a state of the other switch, which operates normally, to coincide with a state of the failed switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiki Asai, Akihiro Tsumura, Yasuhiko Wada, Junji Morimoto, Shigeo Takata
  • Patent number: 11650600
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling driving of a vehicle are disclosed. The disclosed method includes: determining, by a determinator, whether smart cruise driving of a vehicle is performed; determining, by the determinator, whether a rear vehicle performs a lane change when the vehicle is in a smart cruise driving state; determining, by the determinator, a collision possibility based on whether the rear vehicle performs the lane change; determining, by the determinator, whether a front vehicle is present; based on the determined collision possibility; and calculating, by a controller, a target distance or a target speed when there is a front vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jin Kyeom Cho, Sung Bae Jeon, Hui Un Son
  • Patent number: 11651510
    Abstract: A method for determining features of a trailer being towed by a vehicle includes initiating a calibration drive of the vehicle and capturing frames of image data via a vehicle camera, and, via processing by an image processor of frames of captured image data, determining features of the trailer being towed by the vehicle during the calibration drive. The features of the trailer are determined by determining features that have similar changes between a current frame of captured image data and a previous frame of captured image data captured during the calibration drive. The features are tracked over multiple frames of captured image data for different angular positions of the trailer relative to the vehicle to determine trailer length from the hitch ball of the vehicle to an axle of the trailer. The trailer angle is determined based on the determined trailer length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Horst D. Diessner, Jyothi P. Gali, Nikhil Gupta, Hilda Faraji, Galina Okouneva, Akinyele O. Ikuseru
  • Patent number: 11644848
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling platooning and a method for planning a path are provided. The apparatus includes: a communication device to receive information on a preceding vehicle from the preceding vehicle through Vehicle to Vehicle (V2V) communication; a recognition device to obtain information on an nth following vehicle through a sensor mounted in a vehicle body; and a processor to generate third line information by matching first line information, which is in the information on the preceding vehicle, to second line information, which is in the information on the nth following vehicle, and to plan a platooning path by utilizing the third line information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Chanhwa Lee
  • Patent number: 11640174
    Abstract: Smart car method for autonomous navigation by creating a 3D model based on outputs of the camera and sensor; accessing a high definition map database and generating a trip with travel segments from origin to destination; detecting a freeway entrance or an exit lane based on a road marking using a camera and a sensor; if the travel segment passes the freeway entrance or exit, then follow the current lane without exiting; and otherwise following the freeway entrance or exit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Inventor: Ha Q. Tran
  • Patent number: 11639193
    Abstract: Systems and methods for steering a vehicle that adjust how quickly a selected steering input is achieved based on a speed at which the vehicle is traveling are disclosed. The systems and methods include receiving a steering input, detecting a vehicle speed, and selecting a steering ramp rate that defines how quickly a steering amount corresponding to the steering input is achieved by one or more steerable components of the vehicle. In some implementations, the steering ramp rate may be affected as a result of whether the steering input is greater than or less than a previous steering input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Scott R. Stahle, Kevin W. Campbell, Matthew J. Sbai, Joel D. Banninga
  • Patent number: 11639194
    Abstract: A vehicle control system includes a steering input member rotatably supported by a vehicle body of a vehicle, a primary capacitive sensor provided along an outer edge of a steering input member and configured to detect a position on the steering input member at which a contact is made by a vehicle operator, a rotational angle sensor configured to detect a rotational angle of the steering input member, and a control unit configured to control a steering unit of the vehicle according to a signal from the rotational angle sensor and a signal from the primary capacitive sensor, wherein the control unit is configured to operate in a first operation mode and a second operation mode, the steering unit being controlled according to the signal from the rotational angle sensor in the first operation mode, and according to the signal from the primary capacitive sensor in the second operation mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ryo Yamazaki, Takashi Yanagi, Takeyuki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11639191
    Abstract: A turning apparatus includes tie rods, a wheel turning shaft, two motors, two ball screws, a transmission mechanism, and two controllers. The wheel turning shaft turns steered wheels of a vehicle. A first controller that is any one of the two controllers computes a current command value and allocates the current command value to the motors at a ratio that varies with a position of the wheel turning shaft in an axial direction. The two controllers each supply any one of the motors, which is an object to be controlled by a corresponding one of the controllers, with a current according to a corresponding of individual current command values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshiaki Ogata, Fumio Kishida, Yoshio Kondo, Keishi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 11640715
    Abstract: A display system for a paving machine can include a plurality of cameras configured to provide a 360° bird's-eye view of a paving machine and an area surrounding the paving machine; a display operatively coupled to the plurality of cameras showing the 360° bird's-eye view; and a controller coupled to the display, the controller further coupled to a sensor on the paving machine positioned to measure a height of a paving material at one or more locations on the paving machine, wherein when the material height falls below a pre-determined level, the controller sends a warning to the display such that the display shows the 360° bird's-eye view with the material height warning incorporated into the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventor: Kent A Hoisington
  • Patent number: 11639982
    Abstract: A LIDAR system for use in a vehicle is provided. The LIDAR system may include at least one processor configured to control at least one light source for illuminating a field of view and scan a field of view by controlling movement of at least one deflector at which the at least one light source is directed. The at least one processor may also be configured to receive, from at least one sensor, reflections signals indicative of light reflected from an object in the field of view. The at least one processor may further be configured to detect at least one temporal distortion in the reflections signals, and determine from the at least one temporal distortion an angular orientation of at least a portion of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: Innoviz Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Amir Day, Guy Zohar, Julian Vlaiko, Nir Osiroff, Ronen Eshel
  • Patent number: 11634128
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a vehicle towing a trailer within a lane of a roadway that include: reconstructing, via a processor onboard the vehicle, lane markings for the trailer using lane markers as sensed via camera data; transforming the reconstructed lane markings, using additional sensor data, to a perspective of the trailer; localizing the trailer within the transformed lane markers using historical camera lane marking information, articulated vehicle dynamics, hitch angle, and trailer dimensions, without needing to add additional trailer lane sensing cameras to the trailer; calculating a time to lane crossing (T-TTLC) value for the trailer and vehicle; generating candidate blended paths of the trailer and the vehicle with a centerline of the lane of the roadway; and controlling operation of the vehicle, the trailer, or both, via instructions provided by the processor to keep the vehicle, the trailer, or both within a lane of travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Reza Zarringhalam, Amir Takhmar, Carlos E. Arreaza, Shiv G. Patel, Mohammed Raju Hossain, Dorothy Lui, Kibrom Yohannes
  • Patent number: 11628880
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an ADK attachable to and removable from a vehicle main body, the ADK issuing an instruction for autonomous driving, a VP including a plurality of functional units that perform a plurality of prescribed functions of the vehicle main body, and a VCIB that issues a control instruction to the functional units in accordance with an instruction from the ADK. One of the plurality of functional units is a steering system that steers the vehicle main body. The steering system specifies a limit value of a steering rate in accordance with a prescribed reference and transmits the specified limit value to the ADK through the VCIB. The ADK calculates a target steering angle to satisfy the limit value received from the steering system and transmits an instruction for the calculated steering angle to the steering system through the VCIB.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ikuma Suzuki, Satoshi Katoh, Ryo Irie
  • Patent number: 11628844
    Abstract: Vehicle alert and control systems and methods taking into account a detected road friction at a following vehicle and a predicted road friction by the following vehicle. The detected road friction between the following vehicle tires and the road surface may be assessed using a variety of methodologies and is used to compute a critical safety distance between the following vehicle and the preceding vehicle and a critical safety speed of the following vehicle. The predicted road friction ahead of the following vehicle may also be assessed using a variety of methodologies (lidar, camera, and cloud-based examples are provided) and is used to compute a warning safety distance between the following vehicle and the preceding vehicle and a warning safety speed of the following vehicle. These functionalities may be applied to vehicle/stationary object warning and response scenarios as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventors: Saurabh Gawande, Srikar Muppirisetty, Sohini Roy Chowdhury, Minming Zhao
  • Patent number: 11628826
    Abstract: A method to control, while driving along a curve, a road vehicle with a variable stiffness and with rear steering wheels. The method comprises the steps of: determining an actual attitude angle of the road vehicle; establishing a desired attitude angle; determining an actual yaw rate of the road vehicle; establishing a desired yaw rate; and changing, in a simultaneous and coordinated manner, the steering angle of the rear wheels and the distribution of the stiffness of the connection of the four wheels to the frame depending on a difference between the actual attitude angle and the desired attitude angle and depending on a difference between the actual yaw rate and the desired yaw rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: FERRARI S.p.A.
    Inventors: Alessandro Flumeri, Francesca Mincigrucci, Stefano Varisco
  • Patent number: 11628750
    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: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Volvo Truck Corporation
    Inventors: Raphaël Ribero, Thomas Partarrieu
  • Patent number: 11628881
    Abstract: An autonomous driving system configured to perform an autonomous driving of a vehicle includes a lane change determination unit configured to determine a necessity of an operation intervention for a lane change of the vehicle by a driver of the vehicle during the autonomous driving, a lane change request unit configured to request the driver to perform the operation intervention for the lane change of the vehicle when the lane change determination unit determines that it is necessary to perform the operation intervention for the lane change of the vehicle by the driver, and a mode switching unit configured to switch a steering torque mode for a lane keep control in the autonomous driving from a normal steering torque mode to a weak steering torque mode when the driver is requested to perform the operation intervention for the lane change of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ko Igarashi, Atsuki Kinoshita, Yuki Mori
  • Patent number: 11628859
    Abstract: This application is directed to aerial view generation for vehicle control. A vehicle obtains a forward-facing view of a road captured by a front-facing camera of a vehicle and applies a machine learning model to process the forward-facing view to predict determine a trajectory of the vehicle and a road layout based on a Frenet-Serret coordinate system of the road for the vehicle. The trajectory of the vehicle is combined with the road layout to predict an aerial view of the road, and the aerial view of the road is used to at least partially autonomously drive the vehicle. In some embodiments, the machine learning model is applied to process the forward-facing view to determine a first location of an obstacle vehicle in the Frenet-Serret coordinate system. The obstacle vehicle is placed on the aerial map based on the first location of the obstacle vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: PlusAI, Inc.
    Inventor: Mianwei Zhou
  • Patent number: 11628863
    Abstract: A method includes receiving, iteratively over time, sets of data including vehicle dynamics data, image data, sound data, third-party data, and wind speed sensor data, each detected at an autonomous vehicle and associated with a time period. The method also includes estimating a first wind speed and a first wind direction for each time period, in response to receiving the sets of data and based on the sets of data, via a processor of the autonomous vehicle. The method also includes iteratively modifying a lateral control and/or a longitudinal control of the autonomous vehicle based on the estimated first wind speed and the estimated first wind direction, via the processor of the autonomous vehicle and during operation of the autonomous vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: PlusAI, Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaoyu Huang, Siva Bhargav Ravella, Chaozhe He
  • Patent number: 11628825
    Abstract: A system and method for actively compensating excessive noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) in a vehicle front suspension is provided. The method includes sensing a vibration in the vehicle front suspension; generating an input signal representing the vibration in the vehicle front suspension; filtering the input signal using a bandpass filter; and calculating a compensation signal using a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller. The method also includes generating a compensation torque, based on the compensation signal, by an electric power steering (EPS) system motor, with the motor coupled to the vehicle front suspension. Method steps for enabling and disabling the active compensation system are also provided. The active compensation is enabled in response to a turn-on criteria being satisfied. The turn-on criteria may include suspension vibration above a threshold, and the suspension vibration being not caused by driver input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: CHINA AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Haimian Cai, Wei Jiang
  • Patent number: 11623645
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to improving vehicle behavior planning to avoid undertaking maneuvers. In one embodiment, a method includes generating a driving context from sensor data about a surrounding environment of an ego vehicle. The driving context identifying lanes of a roadway and a position of the ego vehicle in the lanes. The method includes, in response to determining that the driving context and a state of a nearby vehicle satisfy a merge threshold, generating a trajectory for the ego vehicle that avoids undertaking the nearby vehicle. The method includes controlling the ego vehicle according to the trajectory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignees: DENSO International America, Inc., DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yu Yan
  • Patent number: 11626017
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure include methods, apparatuses, and computer readable media for receiving a plurality of requests, from a plurality of user equipments (UEs), to exit a parking area comprising a plurality of vehicles, wherein each of the plurality of UEs is associated with a corresponding vehicle of the plurality of vehicles, determining an exit order for the plurality of vehicles to exit the parking area, and transmitting, to the plurality of UEs, a plurality of exit commands, based on the exit order, for the plurality of vehicles to exit the parking area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: QUALCOMM incorporated
    Inventors: Dan Vassilovski, Gene Wesley Marsh, Deviprasad Putchala, Shailesh Patil
  • Patent number: 11623664
    Abstract: An autonomous vehicle can obtain sensor data. Upon determining that the autonomous vehicle is in a lane adjacent a shoulder, and there is an object in the shoulder, the autonomous vehicle can determine if performing a lane change maneuver out of the lane prior to the autonomous vehicle being positioned adjacent to the object is feasible. If it is, the lane change maneuver can be performed. If it is not, a nudge maneuver and/or a deceleration can be performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: PlusAI, Inc.
    Inventors: Anurag Ganguli, Amit Kumar, Timothy P. Daly, Jr., Anurag Paul, Inderjot Singh Saggu, Lichun Yang
  • Patent number: 11623630
    Abstract: A system may comprise one or more processors, and a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, causing the system to perform receiving, from a first sensor coupled to a front part of a vehicle, a first set of sensor data that include data of a first edge of a body part, or from a second sensor coupled to the front part of the vehicle, a second set of sensor data that include data of a second edge of the body part. The system may perform calculating, based on the first or second set of the sensor data, location of the first edge or the second edge of the body part relative to the front part, and determining whether the relative location of the first edge or the second edge is within an expected location range. The system may perform sending a notification that driving adjustment of the vehicle is required if the relative location is outside the expected location range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Inceptio HONGKONG Limited
    Inventor: Chenyu Peng
  • Patent number: 11618500
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of controlling steering of a vehicle (1), comprising the steps of: acquiring (S1) a signal indicative of a driver request indicative of a desired wheel angle of a turnable vehicle wheel (5); determining (S2), based on the signal indicative of the driver request, a control signal for an actuator (13) coupled to the turnable vehicle wheel to achieve the desired wheel angle; controlling (S3) the actuator (13) using the control signal; detecting (S4) an abrupt wheel disturbance event; and in response to detecting the abrupt wheel disturbance event: acquiring (S5), from a lane detecting arrangement (19), a signal indicative of a lane curvature ahead of the vehicle (1); and controlling (S6) the actuator (13) based on the lane curvature ahead of the vehicle (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Volvo Truck Corporation
    Inventors: Gustav Neander, Jan-Inge Svensson, Mats Fagergren
  • Patent number: 11618436
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus includes a steering device, a steering controller, a steering input member, a front-rear driving force distribution unit, and a behavior controller. The steering device steers front wheels of a vehicle. The steering controller controls and causes the steering device to perform steering automatically. The steering input member receives a steering operation inputted by a driver. The front-rear driving force distribution unit changes a front-rear driving force distribution ratio. The behavior controller predicts, if a steering operation is performed via the steering input member during the automatic steering, a behavior of the vehicle to be exhibited after steering corresponding to the steering operation, and causes, if an oversteer behavior is predicted to occur, the front-rear driving force distribution unit to change the driving force distribution ratio to a front-wheel biased distribution ratio as compared with a case where the oversteer behavior is not predicted to occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Harunobu Horiguchi, Ryoichi Mizutani, Akihisa Osada, Yohei Kawashima, Yuki Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 11618435
    Abstract: A vehicle control system executes vehicle stability control and driving assist control. The vehicle control system calculates an unstable state quantity representing instability of the vehicle and an activation threshold of the vehicle stability control, based on a vehicle state detected by a sensor installed on the vehicle. A state change amount is an amount of increase in the unstable state quantity from an average unstable state quantity that is obtained when a lateral acceleration of the vehicle is within a predetermined range. A threshold change amount is an amount of increase in the activation threshold from an average activation threshold that is obtained when the lateral acceleration is within the predetermined range. When the driving assist control is in execution, the vehicle control system activates the vehicle stability control in response to the state change amount becoming larger than the threshold change amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takemi Murayama
  • Patent number: 11615711
    Abstract: A location and governance system and method for light electric vehicles that includes on-board sensors and receivers for providing readings used to compute absolute and relative vehicle position information, and combining the absolute and relative position information to compute a determined vehicle position, and a current surface type being traveled on by the vehicle. Governance commands for the vehicle can be generated based on the current surface type. Positioning system receivers, inertial measuring units, cameras and other sensor can be used. Vibration analysis, image processing, transition detection and other methods can be used to determine vehicle position and surface type, and spatial databases and other resources can be used. Determining a current surface type the vehicle is travelling on can include determining whether the vehicle is traveling on a sidewalk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Drover, Inc.
    Inventors: Asif Ahmed, Timothy Everett
  • Patent number: 11614740
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method is provided. The method includes determining a first reference line representing a path through an environment for an autonomous driving vehicle. The method also includes determining a speed constraint function based on a set of speed limits associated with the environment, a set of curvatures of the path, and a set of obstacles in the environment, wherein the speed constraint function comprises a continuous function. The method further includes determining a set of speeds for the path through the environment based on the speed constraint function. The method further includes controlling the autonomous driving vehicle based on the path and the set of speeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: BAIDU USA LLC
    Inventor: Yajia Zhang
  • Patent number: 11613238
    Abstract: A vehicle steering system comprises: a motor assembly operably coupled to a steering rack, the motor assembly comprising a motor having a rotor and a motor position sensor configured to sense a rotor angle of the motor in a single-turn range; and a rotary-to-linear conversion mechanism operably coupled between the motor assembly and the steering rack, the rotary-to-linear conversion mechanism comprising a rotor operably coupled to the rotor of the motor. A processor calculates an absolute angular position of the pinion in a full-turn range of rotation of the pinion based on the sensed rotor angle of the motor and a pinion angle sensed by a pinion angle sensor in a single-turn range, or based on the sensed rotor angle of the motor and an angle of the rotor of the rotary-to-linear conversion mechanism sensed by an angular position sensor in the single-turn range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: HL MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tony Alan Dodak
  • Patent number: 11608107
    Abstract: A motor driven power steering system includes: a power source for generating a steering assistance force assisting the steering of a vehicle; a transfer gear positioned between a power source and a column for transferring the steering assistance force generated by the power source to the column; a parameter estimation unit for estimating a friction parameter of a dynamic friction model based on the actual friction torque actually generated in the transfer gear; and a state estimation unit for calculating a state variable of the dynamic friction model based on a contact surface moving speed of the transfer gear and for estimating expected friction torque according to the dynamic friction model by using the calculated state variable and the friction parameter of the dynamic friction model estimated by the parameter estimation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION, IUCF-HYU (Industry-University Cooperation Foundation Hanyang University)
    Inventors: Kyu Won Kim, Chung Choo Chung, Yong Woo Jeong, Seung Hi Lee
  • Patent number: 11608087
    Abstract: Techniques are described for transitioning control of a steering system from an autonomous mode in a vehicle to a driver-controlled mode where the driver can control the steering wheel of the steering system. A method includes receiving values that describe an amount of torque and a direction of torque in response to a torque applied to a steering wheel of a steering system operated in an autonomous mode, determining that the values are either greater than or equal to a threshold value or are less than or equal to a negative of the threshold value, determining that the values are measured over a period of time greater than or equal to a pre-determined amount of time, and transitioning the steering system from being operated in the autonomous mode to being operated in a driver-controlled mode in which the steering system is under manual control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: TUSIMPLE, INC.
    Inventors: Kaixin Zheng, Xiaoling Han, Zehua Huang, Charles A. Price
  • Patent number: 11603125
    Abstract: An apparatus for estimating a column torque in a motor-driven power steering system includes a vehicle speed sensing unit configured to sense a vehicle speed; a steering sensing unit configured to sense a steering state of a driver; a yaw rate sensor configured to output a measured yaw rate by sensing a tilted state of a vehicle; and a column torque estimation unit configured to calculate a self-aligning torque and an estimated yaw rate based on the vehicle speed and the steering state inputted from the vehicle speed sensing unit and the steering sensing unit, estimate a column torque by adjusting angular velocity compensation gains with respect to a steering angular velocity for each of the estimated yaw rate and the vehicle speed, and output a final column torque by adjusting the estimated column torque according to a difference between the measured yaw rate and the estimated yaw rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tae Hong Kim
  • Patent number: 11602969
    Abstract: A suspension control system includes: a first electric current setting unit configured to set a first electric current based on an actual damping speed; a second electric current setting unit configured to set a second electric current based on a model damping speed; a weight coefficient setting unit configured to set a weight coefficient based on the actual damping speed; and a target electric current setting unit configured to set a sum of a first value and a second value as a target electric current of the damper, the first value being obtained by multiplying the second electric current by the weight coefficient, the second value being obtained by multiplying the first electric current by a value obtained by subtracting the weight coefficient from one. The first electric current setting unit is configured to make the first electric current smaller than the second electric current in a prescribed case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Naoto Okubo
  • Patent number: 11605295
    Abstract: A trailer flank object contact avoidance system for a vehicle towing a trailer includes a sensor system configured to detect objects in an operating environment of the vehicle and a controller. The controller processes information received from the sensor system to monitor a relative position of at least one object with respect to the vehicle during driving and determines an instantaneous path of the trailer based on a vehicle steering angle and whether the instantaneous path of the trailer would bring the trailer into contact with the at least one object. The controller issues a coaching notification to the driver that reverse driving is required to prevent contact between the trailer and the vehicle when a corrective steering angle cannot prevent contact of the trailer with the at least one object during forward driving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Luke Niewiadomski, Li Xu, Seyed Armin Raeis Hosseiny, Bo Bao, Alexander Lee Hunton
  • Patent number: 11597379
    Abstract: An integrated chassis control system includes a first sensor configured to sense a first vehicle driving in a lane adjacent to a lane in which an own vehicle is driving and to sense behavior information of the first vehicle, a second sensor configured to sense a variation in behavior of the own vehicle, a first determinator configured to determine a degree of influence of a side wind, which is predicted to occur due to the first vehicle, based on the behavior information of the first vehicle, a second determinator configured to determine a variance in abnormal behavior of the own vehicle based on information sensed by the second sensor, a first controller configured to perform a semi-active chassis system control, and a second controller configured to perform an active chassis system control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Young Sik Yoon
  • Patent number: 11597403
    Abstract: An apparatus for displaying a driving state of a vehicle, a system including the same and a method thereof is provided. The apparatus includes a processor that determines a change in a state of a lane change assistance function and controls a step-by-step notification based on the change in the state of the lane change assistance function, and a display controlled by the processor to display the step-by-step notification based on the change in the state of the lane change assistance function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Dong Eon Oh, Hoi Won Kim, Doo Jin Um, Beom Jun Kim, In Wan Kang, Dae Young Kim, Jin Su Jeong
  • Patent number: 11591021
    Abstract: A method for preparing and/or performing a steering intervention. The method includes detecting a traffic-influencing object and continuously recording object information, determining whether the object is tangential to a current trajectory of the vehicle, monitoring a lateral distance to the object or a predicted time available until a countersteering intervention is necessary before the object is reached. The method additionally includes checking whether the driver performs a countersteering intervention, for the case that the lateral distance or the available time falls below a first threshold value, of pilot controlling at least one actuator that influences the trajectory, so that a steering pretorque is applied if no steering intervention is performed by the driver, and triggering the steering actuator, so that a steering torque is applied to the steering, if the lateral distance or the available time additionally falls below a second threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Chengxuan Fu, Oezguer Sen
  • Patent number: 11591022
    Abstract: A parking assistance device includes an imager that captures an image of a surrounding of a vehicle, and a display that displays a guidance image for guiding the vehicle from a parking start position to a target parking position and displays a moving area in which the vehicle can move during a parking operation. An area and dimension of the moving area displayed on the display changes based on a change in a steering angle of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hirotaka Kamiyama
  • Patent number: 11590928
    Abstract: A control device for a seat belt of a vehicle includes a retracting unit configured to retract the seat belt, a departure detection unit configured to detect a departure of the vehicle from a lane; a vehicle speed sensor configured to measure a vehicle speed; and an electronic control unit configured to operate the retracting unit when both a first condition and a second condition are satisfied. The first condition is a condition that the departure detection unit detects the departure of the vehicle from the lane, and the second condition is a condition that the vehicle speed is equal to or higher than a prescribed speed, and the electronic control unit is configured not to operate the retracting unit when the first condition is satisfied and the second condition is not satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takuya Nezaki, Motoki Sugiyama, Fumihito Komeno