Control Of Vehicle Safety Devices (e.g., Airbag, Seat-belt, Etc.) Patents (Class 701/45)
  • Patent number: 10206631
    Abstract: provided is an automotive key device connected, in the form of a holder, to a mechanism of opening or shutting an automotive door or merged with the mechanism of opening or shutting the automotive door. The automotive key device includes an electrocardiogram (ECG) sensor having a first body signal electrode and a second body signal electrode and a contact terminal electrically connected to the ECG sensor. The contact terminal is configured to serve as a passage for electrical connection with devices within a vehicle. A steering wheel docking station and a system configured to include the steering wheel docking station and the automotive key device are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: HUINNO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yeong Joon Gil, Min Yong Shin
  • Patent number: 10195987
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a motor vehicle having one or more flashing light devices for generating a turn signal light or a blinking hazard light, one or more elongated interior lighting devices for emitting visible light in a form of moving light in the interior of the motor vehicle, and a control device associated with the interior lighting devices, and the control device is configured to to control the one or more interior lighting devices such that, during the time the turn signal light or the blinking hazard light is being generated by the one or more flashing light devices, visible light in the form of a moving light will be emitted by the one or more interior lighting devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventors: Stephan Berlitz, Friedrich-Uwe Tontsch, Julia Kastner
  • Patent number: 10192126
    Abstract: Provided is a behavior recognition apparatus, including a detection unit configured to detect, based on a vehicle interior image obtained by photographing a vehicle interior, positions of a plurality of body parts of a person inside a vehicle in the vehicle interior image; a feature extraction unit configured to extract a rank-order feature which is a feature based on a rank-order of a magnitude of a distance between parts obtained by the detection unit; and a discrimination unit configured to discriminate a behavior of an occupant in the vehicle using a discriminator learned in advance and the rank-order feature extracted by the feature extraction unit. Also provided is a learning apparatus to learn the discrimination unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masao Yamanaka, Toshifumi Nishijima
  • Patent number: 10183641
    Abstract: In one embodiment, perception data is received perceiving a driving environment surrounding an ADV, including an object in front of the ADV. In response the perception data, a collision detection system determines a relative speed and distance between the ADV and the object based on the perception data. The collision detection system determines whether a collision between the ADV and the object is avoidable in view of the physical driving limitation associated with the ADV. The physical driving limitation may include a maximum braking capability or a maximum deceleration rate that can be applied to the ADV. If it is determined that such a collision is unavoidable, an airbag is deployed prior to the collision between the ADV and the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: BAIDU USA LLC
    Inventor: Fan Zhu
  • Patent number: 10179605
    Abstract: A vehicle traveling control apparatus includes a setter, a detector, and a determiner. The setter sets a lane-change route through which an own vehicle change lanes from a current target route to an adjacent lane. The detector detects a road surface pattern by irregularities on a road to which a lane change is to be made. The determiner determines whether the own vehicle interferes with the road surface pattern, and instructs correction of the set lane-change route based on a result of the determination. When there is not the interference, the determiner permits the lane change through the lane-change route. When there is the interference, the determiner instructs the setter to correct the lane-change route. The determiner permits the lane change through the corrected lane-change route when there is not the interference on the corrected lane-change route, and prohibits or cancels the lane change when there is still the interference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Subaru Corporation
    Inventor: Yuichiroh Tamura
  • Patent number: 10150447
    Abstract: An image storage device based on an input sound signal comprises: an acceleration sensor unit for outputting an acceleration sensor value according to an impact event; a microphone unit for receiving an input of an impact sound according to the impact event; a camera unit for photographing an external image; and a processing unit for, if an impact event is sensed by the acceleration sensor unit and the impact sound inputted by the microphone unit corresponds to a valid sound which is previously set and stored, storing, in a storage unit, the images photographed by the camera unit in a certain time period both before and after the point in time when the impact event occurred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: CENTER FOR INTEGRATED SMART SENSORS FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Jin Young Yang, Ji Hoon Park, Jin Yeon Lim, Chong Min Kyung
  • Patent number: 10137887
    Abstract: A method for controlling at least one safety function for a motor vehicle includes: a step of determining seat occupancy information, which indicates whether a seat of the vehicle is occupied by a child or not, based on sensor signals originating from a seat belt buckle sensor of the seat and from a weight sensor in the seat; and a step of applying a control signal, which includes child safety settings, depending on the seat occupancy information, to an interface for at least one vehicle safety device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventor: Sushil Kumar Upadhyay
  • Patent number: 10140855
    Abstract: A framework for precision traffic analysis combines traffic sensor data from multiple sensor types, combining the strengths of each sensor type within various conditions in an intersection or roadway in which traffic activity occurs. The framework calibrates coordinate systems in images taken of the same area by multiple sensors, so that fields of view from one sensor system are transposed onto fields of view from other sensor systems to fuse the images taken into a combined detection zone, and so that objects are properly detected and classified for enhanced traffic signal control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: ITERIS, INC.
    Inventors: Dilip Swaminathan, Manu P. Jain, Yan Gao, Todd W. Kreter, Michael T. Whiting
  • Patent number: 10132971
    Abstract: A vision system for a vehicle includes a camera configured to be disposed at a vehicle so as to have a field of view exterior of the vehicle. The camera includes a lens and an imager, and light passing through the lens is received at the imager via an optic path from the lens to the imager. The camera includes at least two spectral filters, each having a respective cutoff wavelength and (i) passing visible light below the respective cutoff wavelength, (ii) attenuating light above the respective cutoff wavelength. A control is operable to move the spectral filters relative to the optic path. The control positions a selected one of the spectral filters in the optic path so that the imager images visible light below the respective cutoff wavelength of the selected spectral filter. An image processor is operable to process image data captured by the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Umer Shahid
  • Patent number: 10131255
    Abstract: A capacitive sensor configured for connection between a heating element and a heating current supply comprises a common mode choke (CMC) for AC-decoupling the heating element from the heating current supply. The CMC comprises first and second inductively coupled windings, the first winding for connection between a first terminal of the heating current supply and a first terminal of the heating element and the second winding for connection between a second terminal of the heating element and a second terminal of the heating current supply. The capacitive sensor further comprises a control and evaluation circuit for injecting an AC signal into the heating element via a measurement node, measuring a voltage on and/or a current across the measurement node, and to derive an impedance between the heating element and a counter electrode from the measurement. The CMC comprises a third winding inductively coupled with the first and second windings, the third winding being operatively coupled with the measurement node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: IEE International Electronics & Engineering S.A.
    Inventors: Laurent Lamesch, Michael Virnich, Michael Puetz
  • Patent number: 10124644
    Abstract: A damper control device includes a rate sensor that detects a pitching angular velocity of a vehicle body, a vehicle speed sensor, a steering angle sensor and a calculation unit that detect a roll angle and a yaw angular velocity of the vehicle body, a pressure sensor that detects a pressure of a contraction-side chamber in a front-wheel side damper, a pressure sensor that detects a pressure of a contraction-side chamber in a rear-wheel side damper, and a correction unit that corrects the pitching angular velocity. The pressures are controlled on the basis of the corrected pitching angular velocity and the pressures. The vehicle speed sensor, the steering angle sensor and the calculation unit detect the roll angle and the yaw angular velocity on the basis of a traveling speed and a steering angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: KYB Corporation
    Inventor: Norihiko Kurita
  • Patent number: 10121291
    Abstract: A system includes a processor configured to request vehicle sensor data upon crash detection. Further, the processor is configured to assemble the data into a graphic representation of a vehicle, including graphic representations of conditions represented by sensor data. The processor is also configured to send the graphic representation to an emergency operator in communication with a vehicle computing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mark A. Cuddihy, Manoharprasad K. Rao
  • Patent number: 10112511
    Abstract: A method and a system are configured to control an actuator for imposing forces in an adjusting direction, in particular a vehicle longitudinal direction from a vehicle front towards a vehicle rear, onto a loading surface, such as a vehicle seat, which is adjustably mounted on a body of a motor vehicle. A collision-based event is anticipate or detected. An actuator is activated in response to detection of the collision-based event in order to activate an actuator-driven movement of the loading surface relative to the body in adjusting direction for influencing, and in particular decelerate a collision-based movement of the loading surface relative to the body against the adjusting direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Markus Frommann, Oleg Mazur
  • Patent number: 10115025
    Abstract: Example blind spot detection systems and methods are described. In one implementation, a primary vehicle detects a secondary vehicle ahead of the primary vehicle in an adjacent lane of traffic. A method determines dimensions of the secondary vehicle and estimates a vehicle class associated with the secondary vehicle based on the dimensions of the secondary vehicle. The method also identifies a side-view mirror location on the secondary vehicle and determines a blind spot associated with the secondary vehicle based on the vehicle class and the side-view mirror location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Jinesh J Jain, Harpreetsingh Banvait
  • Patent number: 10093261
    Abstract: A method for activating a safety actuator of a motor vehicle, including: ascertaining an endangerment model of the motor vehicle with the aid of an anticipatory sensor system and at least one characteristic value of a driving operation of the motor vehicle; ascertaining a controllability of the motor vehicle by a driver of the motor vehicle with the aid of the at least one characteristic value; and activating the safety actuator to an extent which is a function of the endangerment model and the controllability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GmbH
    Inventors: Heiko Freienstein, Marcel Maur
  • Patent number: 10093253
    Abstract: A system and method for notifying a user about a temperature condition of a passenger compartment of a vehicle after a lapse of a remote start of a drive system of the vehicle. The system and method include retrieving a weather forecast for an area in which the vehicle is located and estimating a future temperature of the passenger compartment in response to a remote start request. The future temperature of the passenger compartment is a temperature of the passenger compartment after a lapse of a predetermined runtime. In response to determining that the estimated future temperature is outside of the predetermined temperature range a notice is sent to a computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Sergei Gage, Arata Sato
  • Patent number: 10094906
    Abstract: A method includes identifying a reference target with both a vehicle sensor and an infrastructure position signal. A position of a host vehicle with respect to the reference target is then determined. A localized position error between the host vehicle position and the determined position with respect to the object is then calculated with a vehicle controller. Finally, a vehicle positioning system is compensated to account for the localized position error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Vivek Vijaya Kumar, Hariharan Krishnan
  • Patent number: 10091465
    Abstract: A vehicular scalable integrated control system includes a plurality of cameras having respective fields of view exterior of the vehicle. Image data captured by the cameras is processed by an image processor of a vehicular scalable integrated control unit. A display screen for displaying video images derived, at least in part, from captured image data. The system is operable to fuse captured image data with data captured by a radar device, an ultrasonic sensor and/or an infrared sensor. The system is part of an overall active safety sensing system, which includes fusion of outputs from a plurality of sensing devices to achieve environmental awareness at and surrounding the vehicle. The overall active safety sensing system is operable to at least one of (i) at least partially control the vehicle as the vehicle is driven along a road and (ii) provide alert warnings to a driver of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Nikolaus Dellantoni, Bernhard Schinkowitsch, André Schoenekaes, Axel Nix, Niall R. Lynam
  • Patent number: 10081324
    Abstract: Provided are an automatic alerting device and an automatic alerting method capable of producing an alert indicating that there has been a vehicle accident to those nearby the site of the accident. The automatic alerting device has: a state-detecting unit for detecting a vehicle state; an accident-determining unit for determining, on the basis of the vehicle state detected by the state-detecting unit, whether or not a vehicle accident has occurred; an alerting unit for producing an alert to the outside of the vehicle; and a control unit for controlling the alerting unit. The alerting unit has: an alarm that emits a sound to the outside of the vehicle; and a hazard lamp that emits light on the outside of the vehicle. When the accident-determining unit determines that there has been a vehicle accident, the control unit makes the alarm emit a sound and the hazard lamp emit light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Hisashi Obuchi
  • Patent number: 10081270
    Abstract: A seating assembly for a vehicle includes a seat having an extendable leg support. A seatback is operably coupled with the seat. The seating assembly includes an occupant detection system. A rear seat lift device is disposed in the seat and operable between a lowered position and a heightened position. A rear portion of the seat is elevated relative to the seatback to minimize a height difference between the rear portion of the seat and a bottom portion of the seatback when the seatback is in a fully reclined position. A control module is in communication with the occupant detection system, the seat, and the seatback. The control module is configured to activate an actuation assembly of the seatback to rotate the seatback rearward, extend the extendable leg support forward, and raise the rear seat lift device to provide optimal rest conditions for the occupant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, Marcos Silva Kondrad, Kevin Wayne Preuss, Daniel Ferretti, Keith Allen Godin
  • Patent number: 10077052
    Abstract: A system for operating a vehicle is disclosed. The vehicle is operated in a first driving state corresponding to a first set of logic for operating the vehicle, the first set of logic including logic for performing a first action at the vehicle in response to a determination that a first condition exists in the surroundings of the vehicle. That state change criteria for transitioning from the first driving state to a second driving state are satisfied is determined. In response to the determination, the vehicle is operated in the second driving state corresponding to a second set of logic, different from the first set of logic, for operating the vehicle, the second set of logic including logic for performing a second action, different from the first action, at the vehicle in response to a determination that the first condition exists in the surroundings of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: FARADAY&FUTURE INC.
    Inventors: Bibhrajit Halder, Chongyu Wang, Kenneth X. Xie
  • Patent number: 10073879
    Abstract: A system for a vehicle includes a non-volatile memory device, a database, a plurality of vehicle data sources, and a processor. The database has data stored therein that are representative of at least terrain or man-made obstacles the vehicle may potentially impact. Each vehicle data source is configured to supply vehicle parameter data that are representative of a vehicle parameter. The processor is coupled to acquire data from the database and to receive the vehicle parameter data and is configured to store at least selected portions of the vehicle parameter data and internally processed parameters in a history data file in the non-volatile memory device. The processor is also configured to determine if the vehicle will impact terrain or a man-made obstacle within a predetermined time, and stop storing data in the history data file upon determining that the vehicle will experience an impact within the predetermined time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventor: Freddy Richard Auf der Springe
  • Patent number: 10071748
    Abstract: Various aspects of a system and method to provide driving assistance to safely overtake a vehicle are disclosed herein. In accordance with an embodiment, an electronic control unit used in a first vehicle is configured to detect a second vehicle in front of the first vehicle. A first position associated with the first vehicle and a second position associated with the detected second vehicle is determined for a first time instance. It may be determined whether a lateral distance between the determined first position and the determined second position is below a pre-defined threshold distance. A first alert is generated when the determined lateral distance is below the pre-defined threshold distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Manish Gupta, Ramesha Chelur Ramachandra Sastry, Pramod Chintalapoodi, Sho Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10071687
    Abstract: A vision system for a vehicle includes multiple cameras disposed at a vehicle each having a field of view exterior of the vehicle. A display device is operable to display, for viewing by a driver of the vehicle, at least one of (a) video images captured by at least some of the cameras and (b) a composite image formed from image data captured by at least some of the cameras. The image data captured by at least some of the cameras is sent to a central video/image processor and the sent image data is substantially unmodified and is as captured by the respective ones of the camera or cameras. At least one of the cameras may have a tunable lens. The camera may provide almost raw image data to the display device and a graphic engine may run as a routine at the display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Joern Ihlenburg, Andreas Koppe, Achim Gieseke, Hossam Mahmoud, Horst D. Diessner
  • Patent number: 10054682
    Abstract: With a sensor device for detecting at least one contact event on a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, with at least one impact sound sensor for detecting at least one impact sound signal, at least one impact sound sensor comprises at least one signal-transferring connection to at least one signal processing means already existing in the vehicle and associated with at least one other sensor means. With this arrangement at least one impact sound sensor comprises an impact-sound-transmitting connection to a section of the outer shell of the vehicle. This allows contact events on the vehicle to be detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: HELLA GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Klaas Hauke Baumgartel, Thomas Niemann
  • Patent number: 10053088
    Abstract: A vehicle control system includes variable maneuvering limits based at least in part on whether the vehicle is carrying cargo (i.e., passengers or other cargo). The system can include a cargo classification system comprising one or more internal sensors, an imager, and an image interpreter. The cargo classification system can determine if the vehicle is carrying cargo and classify the cargo (e.g., passengers or other cargo). Based at least in part on this classification, the vehicle control system can set various vehicle maneuvering limits. When the vehicle is empty, the vehicle control system can maneuver the vehicle at, or near, the actual maneuvering limits for the vehicle (e.g., maximum longitudinal acceleration, braking and lateral acceleration that can be generated by the vehicle). When the vehicle is carrying cargo, the vehicle control system can maneuver the vehicle at a lower threshold to prevent passenger discomfort and/or cargo damage or discomfort.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventor: Jacob Lee Askeland
  • Patent number: 10046735
    Abstract: Methods and systems detect motion of a motor vehicle and detect whether the driver, and/or other occupants, are wearing their safety belts. A third party can be notified, in real-time, that the vehicle is being driven without the safety belts engaged. The user can then deliver an audio message to the user, either pre-recorded or live, to remind the user to fasten their safety belts. The third party also has an option of delivering a consequence to the user as a result of the detection of the safety belt not being engaged. Such consequence can include automatically limiting access to certain applications of the driver's smart phone for a certain period of time. The system can include a seat belt application detector, a vehicle motion detector, and wireless communication means to send a signal of safety belt application to the third party.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Inventor: Marco Johnson
  • Patent number: 10037681
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process of detecting if a handheld device (10) has been exposed to acceleration above a predetermined threshold by receiving a signal from an accelerometer (13) comprised in the handheld device and comparing the signal from the accelerometer with the predetermined threshold, and if the handheld device have been exposed to acceleration above the predetermined threshold sending, an alarm signal, via a wireless communication unit (16) comprised in the handheld device, to an alarm server, indicating that the handheld device has been subjected for an accident, the process being implemented as a program recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, the program being executed on the handheld device having processing capabilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: iRezQ AB
    Inventors: Werner Hilliges, Tor Sjödin
  • Patent number: 10035432
    Abstract: A seat occupancy determination apparatus includes a seatbelt attachment detection device, a first load detection device and a second load detection device arranged under a vehicle seat and each detecting part of a load acting on the vehicle seat, a control processor obtaining a first load value and a second load value, the control processor including a sum load value calculation portion computing a sum load value, a no-occupancy determination portion, a slope way determination portion determining that a vehicle is stopped on a slope way, a seatbelt attachment determination portion, a tentative determination portion tentatively making a seat occupancy determination, a forward movement determination portion determining that the vehicle starts moving forward and runs steadily on a flat ground, and a definite determination portion determining that an adult is seated and determining that a child safety seat is fastened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Fujii, Yoshiaki Tomatsu
  • Patent number: 10005415
    Abstract: An occupant determination apparatus includes a weight sensor configured to detect a weight on a seat in a vehicle, a lateral acceleration sensor configured to detect lateral acceleration being acceleration in a width direction of the vehicle and having a positive or negative sign based on the width direction, a processing unit, and a storage unit configured to store a lateral acceleration threshold and a table in which an occupant region for use in the occupant determination is set. The lateral acceleration threshold indicates whether occupant determination for an occupant on the seat is to be conducted and has a positive or negative sign. The table is based on the weight and the lateral acceleration. The processing unit is configured to conduct the occupant determination on the basis of the weight, the lateral acceleration, and the table when the lateral acceleration is higher than the lateral acceleration threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yusuke Muramatsu
  • Patent number: 10001390
    Abstract: A sensor system for furnishing a D-dimensional measured signal encompasses at least N sensors (where D<N) sensors that have measurement directions linearly independent of one another; a stimulus source for furnishing a periodic stimulus signal for each of the sensors, the stimulus signals having mutually orthogonal frequencies; and a processing device for removing the stimulus signals from the sensor signals and for furnishing the D-dimensional measured signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Jan Scheuing, Siegbert Steinlechner, Jo Pletinckx
  • Patent number: 10003773
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a shock sensing device for vehicle and method for controlling thereof. The present invention can minimize battery consumption with faster handling of occurred accident more than prior art when camera was installed at a side of a vehicle to film a blind spot since the present invention can film information of a vehicle blind spot with camera of only 1 channel or 2 channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: INDUSTRY ACADEMIC COOPERATION FOUNDATION OF YEUNGNAM UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Dal Hyun Jang, Seung Hwan Lee, Young Tak Kim, Sang Woon Suh, Ho Youl Jung, Chang Hyeon Park
  • Patent number: 9963143
    Abstract: A computer for, e.g., a mass market passenger vehicle operable by a virtual driver in autonomous and/or semi-autonomous mode, is programmed to determine that a current vehicle braking capacity exceeds each of a first braking target and a mitigation threshold at a current vehicle speed. The computer is further programmed to compare the current vehicle speed to an engine breaking threshold and generate a transmission control message providing data to operate a vehicle transmission. Where the current vehicle speed is above the engine braking threshold, the transmission control message provides data to operate the vehicle transmission to inhibit transfer of an input torque through the vehicle transmission. Additionally, where the current vehicle speed is below a wheel lock threshold, the transmission control message further provides data to operate the vehicle transmission to inhibit rotation of an output shaft of the vehicle transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Jianbo Lu, Dimitar Petrov Filev
  • Patent number: 9950684
    Abstract: A method for checking a sensor signal suitable for actuating a passenger protection arrangement of a vehicle. The method includes a step of carrying out a comparison between the sensor signal and at least one reference signal, repeatedly within a predetermined time interval, in order to obtain a plurality of comparison results, and a step of evaluating the sensor signal based on the plurality of comparison results, in order to detect a fault in the sensor signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Steffen Berndt, Martin Schweizer, Stefan Lottholz, Werner Nitschke, Monika Nitschke
  • Patent number: 9950642
    Abstract: A pinching detection apparatus of a vehicle seat includes: a reverse load determining unit that determines whether or not a vehicle seat is in a reverse load state in which the vehicle seat is lifted upward based on a seat load detected by a load sensor provided on a lower side of the vehicle seat; and a pinching determining unit that determines that a foreign material is pinched on the lower side of the vehicle seat when determining that the vehicle seat is continuously in the reverse load state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Ryota Nakanishi
  • Patent number: 9948295
    Abstract: A sensor device for a motor vehicle includes a multi-layer circuit board on which a plurality of metallized planes are formed. A capacitive sensor electrode is formed on one of the planes for detection by capacitive approachment sensing. A control device controls the sensor electrode as a capacitive sensor electrode in order to detect approaches of a user towards the sensor electrode via an evaluation device. At least one planar electrode region is formed on each of the metallized planes, wherein each of the electrode regions is coupled to the control device. At least two of the electrode regions on different metallized planes are activated and evaluated as sensor electrodes and at least two of the electrode regions on different planes are activated and evaluated as the ground in a temporally offset manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Huf Huelsbeck & Fuerst GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Hubert Bextermoeller, Peter Van Gastel, Andreas Peschl
  • Patent number: 9934625
    Abstract: A network computing system receives local device data from a mobile computing device of a person within a vehicle. The local device data may include sensor data from one or more sensors of the mobile computing device, and location data determined from a position-determination resource of the mobile computing device. The network computing system may detect a vehicle collision event based on the local device data. Additionally, the network computing system may determine a classification of the vehicle collision event based on the local device data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Karim Wahba, Dhruv Tyagi, Andrew Beinstein, Amritha Prasad, Audrey Lawrence, Jose Alvarez, Steve Pennington, Corin Trachtman
  • Patent number: 9908531
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting a size of a person at an exterior of the space to be occupied are provided. The method includes: detecting, at an exterior of a vehicle, a size of a person approaching the vehicle to enter the vehicle; and adjusting a position of at least one from among a vehicle control, a vehicle mirror, and a vehicle seat based on the detected size of the person approaching the vehicle. The method and apparatus may be used to detect the size of a person intending to occupy a vehicle and to adjust positioning of various elements and controls based on the detected size prior to entering the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Mark R. Claywell, Maqsood Rizwan Ali Khan, Pulasti Bandara
  • Patent number: 9908436
    Abstract: A new approach is proposed that contemplates system and method to backseat child safety in a passenger vehicle by preventing locking of the vehicle in a parked state when at least one of its backseats is occupied. Specifically, one or more backseat sensors are each configured to detect if one of the backseats of the vehicle is occupied by a passenger. Upon accepting signals from the backseat sensors indicating that at least one of the backseat is occupied, a vehicle controller is configured to disallow locking of the vehicle in the parked state. The vehicle controller is configured to only enable locking of the vehicle when a backdoor corresponding to the occupied backseat has been opened as detected by one of a plurality of backdoor sensors, which generates and provides a backdoor signal to the vehicle controller when the corresponding backdoor to the occupied backseat is opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Inventor: Gail Yvette Jones
  • Patent number: 9896073
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for carrying out one or more collision-avoiding measures of a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle. In the method, the positions of static and dynamic objects 11 are detected in a step 10, and one or more trajectories 21 which avoid collisions with the detected objects 11 are determined for the vehicle in a step 20. According to the invention, a danger value 23 for the determined trajectory 21 or for each of the determined trajectories 21, is determined continuously or periodically in a further step 22. This danger value 23 constitutes a measure for the forces which act on the vehicle when the respective trajectory 21 is passed through. The collision-avoiding measures are then carried out in a step 27 if the determined danger value 23, or the determined danger values 23, is/are above a selected or predefined threshold value 26. In addition, the invention relates to a device for carrying out the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: VALEO Schalter und Sensoren GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Spencer, Michael Koehler
  • Patent number: 9889797
    Abstract: An intersection information acquisition unit acquires detection information by an object detection sensor including at least one of a vehicle detection sensor and a human detection sensor. A support processor performs driving support processing for outputting an alarm when the support processor determines that an own vehicle intends to cross the opposite lane and determines based on the acquired detection information that an object exists or the object is approaching in a direction in which the own vehicle travels to cross the opposite lane at the intersection. The support processor performs the driving support processing when the intersection information acquisition unit acquires detection information by the vehicle detection sensor. On the other hand, the support processor does not perform the driving support processing when the intersection information acquisition unit acquires detection information by the human detection sensor and does not acquire detection information by the vehicle detection sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Katsuhiro Matsuoka, Kazuhiro Morimoto
  • Patent number: 9889796
    Abstract: An alarm controller generates an alarm output instruction when an own vehicle state determination unit determines that an own vehicle intends to cross the opposite lane at an intersection, and the object state determination unit determines that an oncoming vehicle or a person exists or moves in a direction in which the own vehicle crosses the opposite lane at into the intersection. A shift position detector detects a shift lever position. When the shift position detector detects that a shift lever is in a parking position or a reverse position, the alarm controller does not generate the alarm output instruction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Katsuhiro Matsuoka, Kazuhiro Morimoto
  • Patent number: 9886841
    Abstract: A system for notifying emergency services of a vehicular crash may (i) receive sensor data of a vehicular crash from at least one mobile device associated with a user; (ii) generate a scenario model of the vehicular crash based upon the received sensor data; (iii) store the scenario model; and/or (iv) transmit a message to one or more emergency services based upon the scenario model. As a result, the speed and accuracy of deploying emergency services to the vehicular crash location is increased. The system may also utilize vehicle occupant positional data, and internal and external sensor data to detect potential imminent vehicle collisions, take corrective actions, automatically engage autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle features, and/or generate virtual reconstructions of the vehicle collision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company
    Inventors: Cole Nave, Nathan Tofte
  • Patent number: 9865413
    Abstract: In a switching control device of a vehicle control device, when a vehicle is in a non-traveling condition, an operating method for a pressing operation, which is carried out with respect to a push switch in relation to a switching control for switching an operating state of a drive source of the vehicle or a power supply state to a vehicle mounted device of the vehicle, in a case that the operating state of the drive source of the vehicle or the power supply state to the vehicle mounted device of the vehicle is switched from off to on, differs from an operating method for a pressing operation in a case that the operating state or the power supply state is switched from on to off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Junpei Noguchi, Shinichi Arie, Masayuki Yamazaki, Tomonori Watanabe, Masayuki Habaguchi, Kentaro Yoshimura
  • Patent number: 9836965
    Abstract: A method and system for logging and reporting on slow drivers in fast and middle lanes is disclosed. The system detects a slow vehicle in front of an automobile based on speed data from an OBD system, stores images of a rear of the slow vehicle using a forward facing video camera, detects passing of the slow vehicle on the left side of the automobile using a proximity sensor, stores images of a front of the slow vehicle using a rear facing video camera, after the automobile has passed the slow vehicle, stores global position data of the automobile using a GPS system, and transmits the speed data, the images of the rear of the slow vehicle, images of the front of the slow vehicle and the global position data that was taken and stored to the third party via the communications network, using the transmitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Inventors: Bertram V Burke, Michaela C Burke
  • Patent number: 9834153
    Abstract: A method of dynamically calibrating a given camera relative to a reference camera of a vehicle includes identifying an overlapping region in an image frame provided by the given camera and an image frame provided by the reference camera and selecting at least a portion of an object in the overlapped region of the reference image frame. Expected pixel positions of the selected object portion in the given image frame is determined based on the location of the selected object portion in the reference image frame, and pixel positions of the selected object portion are located as detected in the given image frame. An alignment of the given camera is determined based on a comparison of the pixel positions of the selected object portion in the given image frame to the expected pixel positions of the selected object portion in the given image frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Nikhil Gupta, Hilda Faraji, Daan He, Ghanshyam Rathi
  • Patent number: 9830124
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a Peripheral Sensor Interface (PSI5) system. The PSI5 system includes a PSI5 controller and an audio converter. The audio converter is configured to receive signals from the PSI5 controller and to convert the received signals into audio signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Harman Becker Automotive Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Franz Lorenz, Gerhard Pfaffinger
  • Patent number: 9821744
    Abstract: A method and system for operating restraint devices in a vehicle during a fast roll event or a slow roll event includes a lateral acceleration sensor and an angular rate sensor. When the angular rate and a vertical acceleration of the vehicle predict a vehicle rollover, the system integrates the lateral acceleration from the lateral acceleration sensor to obtain a roll rate velocity. When the lateral acceleration is greater than a fast lateral acceleration threshold and the roll rate velocity is greater than a fast roll rate velocity threshold, the system provides a fast roll event output. When the lateral acceleration is less than the fast lateral acceleration threshold and greater than a slow lateral acceleration threshold while the roll rate velocity is greater than a slow roll rate velocity threshold, the system provides a slow roll event output. The system operates restraint devices based on the roll event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Treplan Gergely, Attila Sagi, Markus Laumann
  • Patent number: 9789834
    Abstract: A method for triggering at least one passenger protection means. The method includes a step of reading in a control signal which contains a command for carrying out an activation of the passenger protection means. Furthermore, method includes a step of releasing an activation of the passenger protection means as a response to the read-in control signal. Furthermore, the method includes a step of evaluating the control signal for the identification of the command for carrying out the activation of the passenger protection means and activating the passenger protection means as a response to an identified command for carrying out the activation of the passenger protection means to trigger the passenger protection means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Markus Rapp, Ralf Henne
  • Patent number: 9792506
    Abstract: A junction (JC) entry determining method and a lane change determining method are provided. The JC entry determining method includes acquiring, by a controller, positional information of a vehicle surrounding object using radar and determining whether a junction entrance is present using the positional information. A width of a right space of the vehicle is determined using the positional information and a vehicle surrounding environment image is captured. The controller is also configured to determine a type of right lane of the vehicle using the captured image and determine whether the vehicle enters the JC based on whether the JC entrance is present, the width of the right space of the vehicle, and the type of lane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Dong Gu Lee, Hyun-Jae Yoo, Sihyoung Lee, Chang Ho Kim, Minyong Shin