By Integrating The Amplitude Of The Input Signal Patents (Class 701/46)
  • Patent number: 11932187
    Abstract: A method for detecting scratches and bumps applied to a vehicle uses an acceleration sensor. Signals of the sensor are analyzed and evaluated based on amplitude and frequency. Relationships between the amplitudes and frequencies provide a basis to classify a vehicle contact event as a bump or a scratch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Aptiv Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Rainer Bunse, Andreas Vogt, Vikas Kumar
  • Patent number: 11861715
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for generating an indication of whether a vehicle crash has occurred is presented. It may be determined whether data output by a base sensor(s) of a mobile computing device indicates that a vehicle crash condition has occurred. An additional sensor(s) of the mobile computing device may begin outputting additional sensor data when the data output by the base sensor(s) indicates that the vehicle crash condition has occurred. The additional sensor(s) may be caused to output the additional sensor data for an amount of time after the additional sensor(s) begins outputting the additional sensor data. An indication of whether a crash of a vehicle has occurred may be generated based on the additional sensor data output by the additional sensor(s) for the amount of time after the additional sensor(s) begins outputting the additional sensor data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Eric Bellas, Shawn M. Call, Gregory Dwayne Carter, Ronald R. Duehr, Jeffrey David Hevrin, Sara Elizabeth Collins
  • Patent number: 11807181
    Abstract: Vision-based airbag enablement may include capturing two-dimensional images of a passenger, segmenting the image, classifying the image, and determining seated height of the passenger from the image. Enabling or disabling deployment of the airbag may be controlled based at least in part upon the determined seated height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Itai Druker, Gila Kamhi, Michael Baltaxe, Kobi Nistel, Ruben Mergui, Dorel M. Sala, Lisa A. Fallon
  • Patent number: 11718226
    Abstract: In a vehicle control system, a risk frequency calculation unit counts the number of times that a risk level determination unit determines that a risk level is equal to or higher than a predetermined risk level within a predetermined period. Then, a warning frequency setting unit sets a frequency of warning in accordance with the number of times, counted by the risk frequency calculation unit, that the risk level of the driving operation by the driver is determined to be equal to or higher than the predetermined risk level within the predetermined period and activates a warning device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takaaki Nagatani
  • Patent number: 11608056
    Abstract: A first obstacle colliding with the ADV is detected. A minimum deceleration that is required for the ADV to avoid colliding with a second obstacle within a predetermined proximity of a moving direction is determined. A brake command is generated based on the minimum deceleration. Then, the brake command is applied to the ADV, such that the ADV avoids collision with the second obstacle and softens an impact of the collision with the first obstacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: BAIDU USA LLC
    Inventor: Fan Zhu
  • Patent number: 11521478
    Abstract: A vehicle information acquiring unit for acquiring vehicle information; a heat source information acquiring unit for acquiring heat source information; a stop determining unit for determining whether or not a vehicle is stopped on the basis of the vehicle information; a heat source determining unit for determining whether or not a heat source satisfying a target condition is generated in the vehicle on the basis of the heat source information, when the stop determining unit determines that the vehicle is stopped; an activation control unit for activating an imaging device, when the heat source determining unit determines that a heat source satisfying the target condition is generated; an image acquiring unit acquiring a captured image of inside of the vehicle from the imaging device; and a notification control unit outputting notification information to the outside of the vehicle, when a living body is detected in the captured image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Ogawa
  • Patent number: 11479196
    Abstract: Disclosed is a device for controlling an airbag, which includes a first sensor unit configured to detect surrounding vehicle information using at least one sensor, a second sensor unit configured to detect collision information of an ego-vehicle using at least one sensor, and a controller configured to calculate a target relative velocity and time to collision (TTC) based on sensing information detected by the first sensor unit, determine a collision risk of the ego-vehicle based on the calculated target relative velocity and TTC, maintain a threshold for airbag deployment by default or adjust the threshold, based on a result of the determination of the collision risk of the ego-vehicle, compare the maintained or adjusted threshold with the collision information received from the second sensor unit, and control whether to deploy the airbag based on whether the collision information is the maintained or adjusted threshold or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tae Ho Roh
  • Patent number: 11412970
    Abstract: A method for predicting an arousal level used by a computer of an arousal level prediction apparatus that predicts an arousal level of a user is provided. The method includes obtaining current biological information regarding the user detected by a sensor, and calculating a current arousal level of the user based on the current biological information. The method further includes obtaining current environment information indicating a current environment around the user, and predicting a future arousal level, which is an arousal level a certain period of time later, based on the current arousal level and the current environment information. Based on the predicted future arousal level, the method further issues a notification to the user, or controls an operation of a device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORPORATION OF AMERICA
    Inventors: Koichi Kusukame, Shinichi Shikii, Kazuki Funase
  • Patent number: 11390243
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method and an apparatus for processing a vehicle collision, a vehicle, a device and a storage medium. The method includes: obtaining vehicle state information of a target vehicle; the vehicle state information includes: acceleration information of the target vehicle and/or pressure information of a peripheral part in the target vehicle; determining whether a collision occurs to the target vehicle; sending, when it is determined that the collision occurs to the target vehicle, an ejection instruction is sent to an ejection execution mechanism in the target vehicle, the ejection instruction is used to instruct to eject a baffle located at a target position to contact the ground. The baffle is ejected immediately when the present disclosure detects that a collision occurs to the vehicle, which can avoid a secondary collision of the vehicle, thereby improving the safety performance of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Apollo Intelligent Driving Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wei Ouyang, Yongyi Sun, Peng Zhang, Dan Chen, Chengfa Wang, Yue Wang
  • Patent number: 11221219
    Abstract: A system is applied for calibrating a map data configured for a mobile platform to generate a calibration map after an impact, and includes a map-generating module, a positioning module, an impact-detecting module, an image-analyzing module, a coordinate-reconstructing module and a map data-calibrating module. The map-generating module generates a global map with a first coordinate system. The positioning module positions a mobile platform before the impact. The impact detecting module generates a reconstructing signal after the impact upon the mobile platform is detected. The image-analyzing module searches and analyzes an image of a feature object. The coordinate-reconstructing module re-establishes a second coordinate system, and the map data-calibrating module calibrates the global map to generate the calibration map after the impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: TECO ELECTRIC & MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chia-Jen Lin, Shih-Chang Cheu
  • Patent number: 11180143
    Abstract: A surroundings recognition unit recognizes the road environment and traffic participants around the host vehicle. A condition satisfaction determination unit determines whether or not first to fifth conditions are satisfied, on the basis of recognition results from the surroundings recognition unit. When causing the host vehicle to travel in a lane of a traveling road adjacent to the edge of the traveling road, a control unit changes travel control content and/or notification control content relating to automated driving, depending on whether or not the first to fifth conditions are satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Horii, Tadahiko Kanou, Takashi Kuboshima, Ken Hanayama, Jun Ochida
  • Patent number: 11181364
    Abstract: An object detection system for a motor vehicle is proposed. The system includes an array of electroluminescent light sources, an array of light sensors and a calculating unit. At least one of the electroluminescent light sources is able to emit a signal. At least one of the sensors is able to receive the emitted signal that has been reflected by an object. The calculating unit is able to calculate, by triangulation, the position of the object on the basis of the position, in one of the arrays of electroluminescent light sources, of at least one of the electroluminescent light sources able to emit a signal and on the basis of the position, in one of the arrays of light sensors, of at least one of the sensors able to receive the signal reflected by the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: VALEO VISION
    Inventors: Antoine De Lamberterie, Samira Mbata, Thomas Canonne, Guillaume Thin, Olivier-Sebastien Lesaffre
  • Patent number: 11161399
    Abstract: An axle drive unit may be employed by an electrically-driven motor vehicle having at least one drive axle. The axle drive unit may have at least one electric motor for generating a drive torque and at least one gearing (or transmission) for transmitting the drive torque to the drive axle. The electric motor and the gearing may form a structural unit. In short, the axle drive unit allows a drive train of a motor vehicle to have the simplest, weight-saving construction possible. Power electronics and an inductive charging receiver for a battery system may be integrated into the structural unit. The power electronics may be electrically connected to the inductive charging receiver and may be tuned to rectify an alternating voltage that can be induced in the inductive charging receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: JHEECO E-DRIVE AG
    Inventor: Philipp Matt
  • Patent number: 11002061
    Abstract: An electronic door system is disclosed for a door that selectively closes a door opening of a building structure. The electronic door system includes two or more of a gyroscope that senses angular velocity of the door, an accelerometer that senses acceleration of the door, a capacitive sensor that capacitively senses the building structure, or a microphone that senses sound of the door. The electronic door system also includes a controller that assesses a physical position of the door according to the two or more of the gyroscope, the accelerometer, the capacitive sensor, or the microphone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: PassiveBolt, Inc.
    Inventors: Kabir Zachary Maiga, Philip Michael Johnson, Simon Forster
  • Patent number: 10969401
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the estimation of a velocity of a first object using accelerometer signals, indicating an acceleration of the first object and/or a second object coupled to a first object. To this end, a characteristic frequency in the accelerometer signal spectrum may be determined, preferably by applying a parametric model or by performing a spectrum analysis, and used as a basis to estimate the velocity of the first object based on the determined characteristic frequency. The characteristic frequency may be determined by identifying the frequency having the maximum spectral amplitude or by identifying the fundamental frequency or a particular harmonic in the spectrum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: NIRA DYNAMICS AB
    Inventors: Rickard Karlsson, Fredrik Gustafsson
  • Patent number: 10940882
    Abstract: Some embodiments relate to a steer-by-wire-based vehicle steering control apparatus, vehicle steering apparatus, and vehicle steering method. The steer-by-wire-based vehicle steering control apparatus may include: a vehicle state information acquisition unit configured to acquire information associated with a state of operating a steering rack module, which is connected to a wheel and is mechanically separated from a steering column module connected to a steering wheel; and a steering reaction force control unit configured to determine a state of collision or contact with an external object based on the information associated with the state of operating the steering rack module and to control an operation of a steering reaction force motor, which is included in the steering column module and provides a steering reaction force to the steering wheel, according to the determination result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jung-Yeol Kim
  • Patent number: 10928297
    Abstract: A method includes receiving input indicating at least two of: (a) a coefficient of first sensitivity of an optical particle sizer (OPS) to a real part of a complex refractive index (CRI); (b) a coefficient of second sensitivity of the OPS to an imaginary part of the CRI; (c) a coefficient of a degree of monotonicity between intensity and particle size; (d) a coefficient of a dynamic range of the OPS; or (e) a coefficient of a limit of detection (LOD) of the OPS; determining ratings for the OPS using the at least two of (a)-(e) and at least two of (i) the first sensitivity, (ii) the second sensitivity, (iii) the degree of monotonicity, (iv) the dynamic range, or (v) the LOD; identifying an angle that corresponds to a maximum or minimum rating; and providing an OPS having a detection angle that is within 5 degrees of the identified angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
    Inventors: Igor V. Novosselov, Tomas Njalsson
  • Patent number: 10875483
    Abstract: In order to detect a vehicle accident in which a vehicle and an object crash into one another, wherein a motion variable assigned to the collision is so low that at least one active occupant protection system provided for accidents in the vehicle is not activated by the crash, it is provided, with respect to the collision event, that signals and/or data formed by sensors of the vehicle are processed in such a manner that the signals and/or data are filtered, feature data are formed based on the filtered signals and/or data, and the collision event is assigned to a classification in a classification database based on the feature data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Angelo De Silva, Johannes Malotta, Wolfgang Hundt
  • Patent number: 10789486
    Abstract: A method and device for the automated driving of a motorized transportation vehicle having at least one camera and an evaluation unit for evaluating the data captured by the camera, wherein lane markings are captured by the camera and the evaluation unit determines traffic lanes from the captured data of the camera, wherein the evaluation unit observes changes in the lane markings which will cause a new traffic lane to be determined over a predefined distance, wherein the new traffic lane is adopted only in response to the changed lane marking being captured over the predefined distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Bernd Rössler, Simon Grossjohann, Kai Homeier
  • Patent number: 10753067
    Abstract: A construction machine includes a vehicle body having, a moving section, a driving mechanism, a manipulation device that receives a manipulation, a controlling unit, a manipulation detecting unit that detects the manipulation given to the manipulation device, and an obstacle detecting device that detects an obstacle in a periphery of the vehicle body. The controlling unit executes emergency-stop-processing and continuous-stop-processing. The emergency-stop-processing is executed to stop the operation of the moving section regardless of a signal from the manipulation detecting unit upon detection of the obstacle by the obstacle detecting device when the controlling unit controls the driving mechanism to drive the moving section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: KOBELCO CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomofumi Okada, Ryuichi Hirose
  • Patent number: 10671079
    Abstract: The technology relates to controlling a vehicle in an autonomous driving mode. In one instance, sensor data identifying an object in an environment of the vehicle may be received. A first path of a first trajectory where the vehicle will pass the object may be determined. A function is used to determining a first maximum speed of the vehicle based on a predetermined minimum lateral clearance between the object and the vehicle. The first maximum speed may be used to determine whether an actual lateral clearance between the object and the vehicle will meet the predetermined minimum lateral clearance. The determination of whether the actual lateral clearance will meet the predetermined minimum lateral clearance may be used to generate a first speed plan for the first trajectory. The vehicle may be controlled in the autonomous driving mode according to the first trajectory including the first speed plan and the first path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Jared Stephen Russell, Mark Paskin
  • Patent number: 10422647
    Abstract: In a method and device for creating a moving route of a mobile body, a moving route that is appropriately shifted right or left with respect to a passage is created. The moving route creating method and device create a reference route on a passage present on an environment map representing an environment in which an autonomous mobile body moves, set a widthwise-shift attribute as an attribute region that is independent from the environment map, and create a traveling schedule for autonomous movement of the autonomous mobile body by shifting the reference route right or left based on the widthwise-shift attribute.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: MURATA MACHINERY, LTD.
    Inventors: Hideo Shitamoto, Shoji Tanaka, Hiroaki Ohmatsu
  • Patent number: 10417913
    Abstract: Light or moderate impacts against a vehicle are detected. Measured acceleration and yaw rate are compared to baseline thresholds in a baseline state. When the acceleration is above the threshold, a distance from an estimated impact location to a vehicle center-of-gravity is determined. When the determined distance is less than a vehicle edge distance, an impact-suspected state will be entered if at least one of the acceleration and yaw rate is above the respective threshold for a predetermined duration. In the impact-suspected state, a plurality of vehicle dynamic behaviors are monitored for confirming occurrence of the light impact. A return is made to the baseline state if the acceleration and yaw rate fail to remain above the respective threshold or if the calculated distance fails to remain less than the edge distance. The impact is detected when at least one of the behaviors confirms the occurrence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Smruti R. Panigrahi, Jianbo Lu, Sanghyun Hong, Jonathan Scott, Dimitar P. Filev
  • Patent number: 9834185
    Abstract: A vehicle braking control apparatus includes an obstacle detection unit configured to detect an obstacle ahead of a vehicle, and to detect a distance to the obstacle from the vehicle, and a relative speed of the obstacle with respect to the vehicle; an electronic control unit configured to generate a braking force of the vehicle automatically based on the distance and the relative speed, and to weaken the braking force when a value subtracting a deceleration amount of a vehicle speed of the vehicle since a start of generating the braking force, from a predetermined upper-limit deceleration amount is less than or equal to a predetermined threshold. The upper-limit deceleration amount is set to increase while an elapsed time increases since the start of generating the braking force, at least after a predetermined first time has passed since the start of generating the braking force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, ADVICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masayasu Tanase, Wataru Ike, Yosuke Ohmori
  • Patent number: 9569404
    Abstract: An in-vehicle controller includes: a first control element for outputting a first output, which corresponds to functional safety standards, in response to a input; a first platform element for controlling a first software in the first control element; a second control element for outputting a second output, which does not correspond to the functional safety standards, in response to the input; a second platform element for controlling a second software in the second control element; and a comparison coupling element for comparing and coupling the first output and the second output, and for outputting a coupled output to an external control object device. The first platform element controls the first software in the first control element independently from the second platform element, which controls the second software in the second control element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Aya Nakamura, Masayuki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9545896
    Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to a motor vehicle safety arrangement and method for positioning an occupant properly on a vehicle seat and restraining the occupant thus positioned in preparation of the vehicle potentially being subject to a rear-end collision. A safety belt is associated with the vehicle seat and an electric reversible safety belt retractor is associated with the safety belt. A rearward-looking detection system detects and classifies the collision risk for an approaching object. At least one sensor monitors one or more vehicle parameters. A control unit determines a driving state as critical or non-critical from the monitored vehicle parameters. The control unit controls the electric reversible safety belt retractor to apply a predetermined pullback force on the safety belt in response to the collision risk for an approaching object being classified as high within a predetermined time of an indicated critical driving state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: VOLVO CAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Andrew Backhouse, David Madas
  • Patent number: 9460626
    Abstract: A driving support device and a driving support method, which can appropriately determine whether driving support is necessary and perform effective driving support, are provided. A driving support device calculates TTC, which is a time required for the vehicle to arrive at an intersection point at which the vehicle and a moving object intersect in the traveling direction of the vehicle and in a direction intersecting with the traveling direction, and TTV required for the moving object to arrive at the intersection point, and performs driving support in the vehicle based on the relative relation between TTC and TTV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Minami Sato, Masayuki Shimizu, Shoichi Hayasaka
  • Patent number: 9283963
    Abstract: Method for operating a driver assist system of an automobile providing information regarding a passing maneuver, in particular a recommendation discouraging a passing maneuver, with a camera arranged on or in at least one outside mirror and oriented in the driving direction of the automobile, wherein the camera data are evaluated by the driver assist system and a length of an automobile in front and/or of an automobile convoy in front is determined in particular from the camera data and taken into consideration when determining the recommendation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignees: AUDI AG, AUDI ELECTRONICS VENTURE GMBH
    Inventor: Anil Taner
  • Patent number: 9254805
    Abstract: A system for deploying a side airbag of a vehicle comprises a front/side airbag controller for controlling processes of deploying a front airbag and a side airbag independently. The front/side airbag controller comprises a front signal monitoring unit converting a front acceleration signal received from the airbag controller into a speed according to time and then determining whether or not the speed according to time exceeds a first threshold. A threshold adjustment unit receives a threshold adjustment request signal from the front signal monitoring unit to lower a second threshold that is a threshold with respect to decision factors for deploying the side airbag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Hyung Wook Park, Sung Soo Kim
  • Patent number: 9234911
    Abstract: A sensor device for an electronic apparatus, including a sensing structure for generating a first detection signal, and a dedicated integrated circuit connected to the sensing structure for detecting a first event associated with the electronic apparatus and for generating a first interrupt signal upon detection of the first event. The dedicated integrated circuit detects the first event as a function of changes to the first detection signal over time (i.e., temporal evolution), and in particular as a function of values assumed by the first detection signal within one or more successive time windows, and of a relation between these values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventors: Giuditta Roselli, Michele Tronconi, Fabio Pasolini
  • Patent number: 9008909
    Abstract: In an in-vehicle device which is carried on an automotive vehicle, an operation unit causes the vehicle to execute a predetermined operation in response to a remote control request from a user. A detection unit detects existence of a moving object in a passenger compartment of the vehicle or in areas surrounding the vehicle. An operation inhibition unit inhibits execution of the predetermined operation by the operation unit when existence of the moving object is detected by the detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoki Taki, Takeshi Matsumura, Atsushi Watanabe, Mayumi Otsuka, Keizoh Kawaguchi
  • Patent number: 9002584
    Abstract: A vehicle system may include a plurality of exterior capacitive sensors, such as door handles, and a controller in communication with the plurality of capacitive sensors. The controller may be configured to identify a rain condition based on sensor data received from at least one of the exterior capacitive sensors of the vehicle; ensure an absence of a key fob in proximity of the at least one locked handle and an absence of a subsequent door opening occurrence when unlocked to confirm the rain condition; and initiate a closure action to a power actuator associated with an open vehicle window for a confirmed rain condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Patrick Kevin Holub
  • Patent number: 8989947
    Abstract: A SONAR system for use with a robotic vacuum having SONAR emitters and receivers thereon. The SONAR system comprises a waveguide or horn located in front of the emitters and receivers that can improve the overall target resolution and reduce the number of “dead zones” where targets are not easily resolved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas James Wethern
  • Publication number: 20150051796
    Abstract: An implementation determines crash severity quantifier values based on crash sensor samples and determining an air bag firing based at least on the crash severity quantifier values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2014
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Inventor: David LEVY
  • Patent number: 8954204
    Abstract: A collision sensor, a collision sensing system, and a method of mounting a collision sensor to a vehicle are disclosed herein. An embodiment of the collision sensor includes, but is not limited to, a processor and a three-axis accelerometer that is communicatively coupled with the processor. The three-axis accelerometer is configured to detect an acceleration experienced by a vehicle and to generate a signal indicative of the acceleration. The processor is configured to obtain the signal from the three-axis accelerometer and to determine when the vehicle has experienced a collision based, at least in part, on the signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: General Motors LLC
    Inventors: Charles A. Everhart, Lawrence D. Cepuran, Mark S. Frye, Steven Swanson, Wahaj Ahmed
  • Patent number: 8942891
    Abstract: A vehicle interior-exterior structure of the present invention is equipped with a main body formed from a resin foam material, a covering formed from a resilient material to cover the main body, and a void formed between the main body and the covering. The vehicle interior-exterior structure is also equipped with a front bumper cover supported by a vehicle body and a pressure sensor that outputs a signal corresponding to the internal pressure of the void. A reaction force is obtained from the main body when a colliding body collides with the location where the void is positioned in the front bumper and the void undergoes compression deformation. The degrees of freedom for the placement position of the void, namely for the placement position of an impact detection region, can accordingly be raised.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinya Watanabe, Akihiko Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 8942905
    Abstract: A safeguard system for a vehicle is provided which works as an unintended operation control system. The safeguard system works to calculate an accelerator-manipulated variable representing a degree to which an accelerator of the vehicle is manipulated. When it is found that the accelerator-manipulated variable has dropped at a given rate and then risen within a preselected rise time period, the safeguard system determines that such an operation is an unintended action and controls an operation of the vehicle such as acceleration or speed of the vehicle to minimize the probability of encountering a hazard to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Masakazu Doi, Mitsuhiro Tokimasa, Takumi Nagaya
  • Patent number: 8930105
    Abstract: In a method for setting a brake system of a vehicle, braking force is built up automatically in the event of a collision. In the process, the position of the collision on the vehicle is determined and the build-up of braking force is implemented as a function of the position of the collision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Ferah Cetinkaya
  • Patent number: 8924089
    Abstract: Disclosed are an automobile and a method of controlling an automobile, capable of deploying an airbag at an optimum time. To this end, an automobile according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a first sensor configured to detect a relative distance and a relative velocity with respect to a front obstacle of the automobile; a second sensor configured to detect an impact signal value when the automobile collides with the obstacle; and a controller configured to change a set impact critical value by using the relative distance and the relative velocity detected by the first sensor and deploy an airbag when the impact signal value detected by the second sensor is greater than the changed impact critical value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Byung Su Kim, Dong Hyun Nam
  • Patent number: 8924088
    Abstract: A collision detection apparatus that is mounted in a vehicle and that determines whether an object has collided with a side surface of the vehicle from outside the vehicle includes: an acceleration detection portion that detects acceleration in a transverse direction of the vehicle which is applied to a door portion of the vehicle from outside; an integration execution portion that starts integration of the acceleration detected by the acceleration detection portion and finds velocity by integrating the acceleration if the detected acceleration is greater than or equal to a pre-set positive first threshold value, or is less than or equal to a pre-set negative second threshold value; and a collision determination portion that determines whether an object has collided with a side surface of the vehicle based on the detected acceleration and the velocity found by the integration execution portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Denso Corporation, Fujitsu Ten Limited
    Inventors: Yusuke Mase, Motomi Iyoda, Tomoki Nagao, Hiroyoshi Takeuchi, Suguru Taniguchi
  • Patent number: 8903611
    Abstract: A vehicle-occupant protection system in a vehicle has a first sensor and a second sensor on a lateral side closer to a seat of an occupant. The first sensor is either forward of or lateral to the seat of the occupant in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. The second sensor is rearward of the first sensor. The system further includes a collision determination section, which concludes an occurrence of a collision when a signal of the first sensor exceeds a determination threshold value in a situation where a signal of the second sensor has not exceeded a determination threshold value. Upon concluding the occurrence of the collision, the collision determination section activates a movement restraint device to restrain the occupant from moving away from the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignees: Denso Corporation, Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuya Uchida, Noriyoshi Baba, Junichi Oorai, Shoji Doi, Mitsuhiro Tsujiguchi, Shinya Motomura
  • Patent number: 8880296
    Abstract: Vehicle control system and method in which restrictions on travel of the vehicle are determined based on an indication of the visibility of a driver and information about objects moving in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of the vehicle are considered. The travel restrictions include preventing a passing maneuver on a two-lane road when an oncoming vehicle precludes safely initiating or completing an already-initiated passing maneuver. A warning system is provided to warn a driver about the travel restrictions so that the driver will, hopefully, not attempt an unsafe maneuver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: American Vehicular Sciences, LLC
    Inventor: David S. Breed
  • Patent number: 8862312
    Abstract: A device controls a person protection system of a motor vehicle having a sensor system which, for detecting an object colliding with the motor vehicle, includes a hose arranged along a body section width of the vehicle and closed-off by a pressure sensor on at least one end. In the event of an impact with an object, a pressure change is caused in the hose interior due to deformation of the hose and is detectable as a pressure signal of the pressure sensor by an evaluating unit connected with the pressure sensor. The evaluating unit detects vibrations originating from the motor vehicle during a driving and testing operation and coupled into the hose, which vibrations result in pressure fluctuations in the hose interior which are lower than a pressure fluctuation caused by an impacting object, and evaluates these vibrations for a predefined time period for diagnostic purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Wolfgang Nehls
  • Publication number: 20140288784
    Abstract: A vehicle system may include a plurality of exterior capacitive sensors, such as door handles, and a controller in communication with the plurality of capacitive sensors. The controller may be configured to identify a rain condition based on sensor data received from at least one of the exterior capacitive sensors of the vehicle; ensure an absence of a key fob in proximity of the at least one locked handle and an absence of a subsequent door opening occurrence when unlocked to confirm the rain condition; and initiate a closure action to a power actuator associated with an open vehicle window for a confirmed rain condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2013
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Patrick Kevin Holub
  • Patent number: 8843275
    Abstract: An apparatus for determining a pitch-over condition of a vehicle comprises a first accelerometer for sensing acceleration in a Z-axis direction substantially perpendicular to both a front-to-rear axis of the vehicle and a side-to-side axis of the vehicle and for providing a first acceleration signal indicative thereof. A second accelerometer for senses acceleration in an X-axis direction substantially parallel to said front-to-rear axis of the vehicle and provides a second acceleration signal indicative thereof. A controller determines a Z-axis velocity value from the first acceleration signal and a pitch-over condition of the vehicle in response to both the determined Z-axis velocity value and the second acceleration signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: TRW Automotive U.S. LLC
    Inventors: Chek-Peng Foo, Huahn-Fern Yeh, Javier Backmann, Timur Uenlu, Harald Pfriender
  • Patent number: 8825305
    Abstract: The invention provides an effective technique for appropriately restraining a vehicle occupant at the time of a side collision of a vehicle. An occupant restraint system mounted to a vehicle comprises a camera, a side impact sensor, an acceleration sensor, an ECU, and an airbag module. The ECU changes a threshold value setting for collision velocity at the time of a side collision of the vehicle according to whether or not a colliding object involved in the side collision of the vehicle is a pole-like object, and controls the airbag module based on the set threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Takata Corporation
    Inventor: Yasuo Itoga
  • Patent number: 8798868
    Abstract: The automobile described herein employs an aerodynamic chassis control system to limit and/or control the affect of yaw and roll created by environmental and operating conditions on an automobile with minimal penalty to improve ride comfort and performance of the automobile. The aerodynamic chassis control system employs various movable stabilization elements to control yaw and roll. Moreover, aerodynamic chassis control system constantly monitors environmental and operating conditions of the automobile and adjusts the stabilization elements to provide ride comfort and automobile performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America
    Inventor: Mark E. Mares
  • Publication number: 20140207341
    Abstract: A first-collision predicting part determines if a possibility of a first collision, which happens between a human and a vehicle, is higher than a predetermined threshold. A first-collision-situation determining part determines a position of a head of the human and a relative speed of the head relative to the vehicle at a time of the first collision, when the first-collision predicting part determines the possibility of the first collision is higher than the predetermined threshold. A second-collision-situation estimating part estimates a collision situation of the head in a second collision, based on a determining result of the first-collision-situation determining part. An injury-degree predicting part predicts a degree of injury of the head based on an estimation result of the second-collision-situation estimating part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shingo Wanami
  • Patent number: 8788115
    Abstract: A method of detecting an abnormal driving includes receiving a RF signal transmitted from a vehicle in front; performing digital down conversion on the RF signal to obtain a baseband digital signal; performing frequency shift detection on the baseband digital signal to obtain frequency shift between the received RF signal and the RF signal transmitted from the vehicle in front; and determining that the abnormal driving condition in front exists response to determining that the frequency shift has reached a set threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Xin Hao Cheng, Guoqiang Hu, Li Jun Mei, Bo Yang, Yu Yuan
  • Patent number: 8781646
    Abstract: A method of detecting an abnormal driving includes receiving a RF signal transmitted from a vehicle in front; performing digital down conversion on the RF signal to obtain a baseband digital signal; performing frequency shift detection on the baseband digital signal to obtain frequency shift between the received RF signal and the RF signal transmitted from the vehicle in front; and determining that the abnormal driving condition in front exists response to determining that the frequency shift has reached a set threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Xin Hao Cheng, Guoqiang Hu, Li Jun Mei, Bo Yang, Yu Yuan