Vehicle Equipment Position Control (e.g., Seat, Mirror, Door, Window, Headrest, Or Headlamp) Patents (Class 701/49)
  • Patent number: 12252041
    Abstract: A vehicle comprising a body, a seat assembly comprising, in turn, a seat for a driver, and a guide coupled to the body and to the seat assembly so as to constrain the seat assembly relative to the body allowing for a translation movement of the seat assembly along a moving direction, characterized in that the moving direction is lateral relative to a driving direction of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Assignee: FERRARI S.p.A.
    Inventor: Fabrizio Favaretto
  • Patent number: 12252134
    Abstract: The described methods and systems enable automatic detection of a driver's identity based on an analysis of position or orientation data pertaining to elements of a cockpit that the driver tends to personalize when driving according to her preferences. Example position or orientation data may include data pertaining to seat or mirror position or orientation. Some of the disclosed embodiments utilize machine-learning techniques to train a machine-learning (ML) model to automatically detect or predict a driver's identity based on learned patterns (e.g., based on preferred positions or orientations the ML model has learned for the driver.) If desired, one or more embodiments may implement unsupervised learning techniques, supervised learning techniques, or both unsupervised and supervised learning techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Suriya Kopula, Jeffrey Wilson Stoiber
  • Patent number: 12254702
    Abstract: A system and method for surround view egress assistance that includes detecting, by a sensor in a vehicle, an obstacle in a swing path of a vehicle door. The method includes predicting, based on a geometrical analysis, one or more potential collision zones between the obstacle and the vehicle door. The predicting also includes determining a bank angle of the vehicle in the predicting of one or more potential collision zones. The method further includes estimating, based on data from an inertial measurement unit, a severity of an impact of the vehicle door with the obstacle. The method also includes detecting a color and height of a curb and potential collisions with a vehicle door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Gurmeet S. Sidhu, Akram M. Abdel-Rahman, Mansoor Alghooneh, Russell A Patenaude, Patrick G. G. DiGioacchino
  • Patent number: 12247848
    Abstract: An autonomous mobile device includes a main body, a protruding element disposed at a top portion of the main body, and a protection cover disposed at an outer side of the protruding element to cover the protruding element. The protection cover is movable relative to the protruding element when collided. The autonomous mobile device also includes a joystick sensor including a housing, a joystick, and a parameter detecting device. The autonomous mobile device further includes a position restoring device connected with the protection cover and configured to restore, after the protection cover experiences a displacement caused by an external force, the protection cover to a position where the protection cover is free from the external force. A first end of the joystick is connected to an inner portion of the housing. A second end of the joystick is connected to the protection cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2025
    Assignee: QFEELTECH (BEIJING) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xingguo Xing, Xin Wu
  • Patent number: 12240572
    Abstract: A system and method for precise and consistent control of automated systems for deployment of boat fenders. The system comprises a computing device, one or more sensors, a motor controller, and a motor driver for operating motorized systems for deployment and/or retrieval of boat fenders. Various embodiments of the system use sensors and corresponding compensators to adjust the time of operation of a motor of the motorized system to ensure that the boat fender is deployed and/or retrieved to the proper height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2024
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Inventor: Shmuel Sam Arditi
  • Patent number: 12236781
    Abstract: A position estimation system for a vehicle including a magnetic sensor which measures magnetism acting from a road surface side forming a surface of a traveling road to estimate an own vehicle position includes a map DB which stores a map (1) associated with a road-surface magnetic distribution (M2), which is a distribution of quantities of magnetism at respective points on the road surface, a magnetic distribution generation part which acquires magnetic measurement values from the magnetic sensor and generates a measured magnetic distribution, which is a distribution of magnetic measurement values, and a position estimation part which specifies an area corresponding to the measured magnetic distribution in the road-surface magnetic distribution (M2) associated with the map stored in the map DB and estimates the own vehicle position based on a position of the area corresponding to the measured magnetic distribution on the map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: AICHI STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michiharu Yamamoto, Hitoshi Aoyama
  • Patent number: 12209448
    Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for controlling a vehicle for convenient trunk use. The method, performed by a device of a vehicle, for controlling the vehicle, includes recognizing a request to use a trunk, obtaining parking status information of the vehicle, controlling the vehicle to secure a trunk working space for trunk use based on the parking status information of the vehicle, and opening a door of the trunk in response to securing the trunk working space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hee Gun Yang
  • Patent number: 12209440
    Abstract: A latch assembly for a closure panel of a motor vehicle and corresponding method of operation are provided. The latch assembly includes a latch housing for attachment to the closure panel and contains an actuation group to latch and unlatch the closure panel. An electronic control circuit that has a latch controller is disposed within the latch housing and is coupled to the at least one actuation group. The electronic control circuit includes a motor voltage and current sensing circuit for sensing a motor current and a motor voltage of a remote electric motor disposed remotely from the latch housing. The latch controller monitors and controls the actuation group and determine at least one of a motor rotational position and a motor speed of the remote electric motor based on at least one of the motor current signal and the motor voltage signal and controls the remote electric motor accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: Magna Closures Inc.
    Inventor: Marco G. Marlia
  • Patent number: 12202413
    Abstract: A vehicle may have a vehicle body and one or more movable sensors mounted to the body. A movable sensor may be rotated, linearly translated, or otherwise moved between multiple positions in response to location information, driving mode information, vehicle speed, and/or other information. The movable sensor may be moved to track objects, to provide pedestrians and others with visual feedback, to allow the sensor to gather desired sensor information to support driver assistance and autonomous driving operations, to place the sensor in a stowed position, and to perform other functions. The movable sensor may be protected with a movable cover. A cleaner may clean the sensor. The sensor may be a radar sensor, lidar sensor, camera, or other sensor. Information from the sensor may be used to detect roadway obstructions, to detect objects near the vehicle, to monitor pedestrians, and to monitor other conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt R Stiehl, Christopher P Child, Michael C Wharton, Romain A Teil, Stephen B Lynch
  • Patent number: 12194913
    Abstract: Systems and methods for a global headlamp. An example method includes obtaining configuration information indicative of a jurisdiction associated with a vehicle. Headlamp state information is accessed which includes multiple headlamp states. A current headlamp state of the multiple headlamp states is determined based on the configuration information. A propagation is output via a pixelated light source in a headlamp of the vehicle, the propagation representing a particular beam pattern which is compliant with the jurisdiction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Flynn
  • Patent number: 12179655
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp provided in a vehicle that travels at a corner by tilting a vehicle body includes: a light source unit; a sensor configured to detect information on outside of the vehicle; and a housing that houses the light source unit and the sensor. The vehicle lamp is disposed at a central portion of the vehicle body in a left-right direction, and wherein the sensor is disposed in the housing at a central portion in the left-right direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takashi Hori
  • Patent number: 12179730
    Abstract: A system for braking a vehicle includes an operator interface that transmits a brake command signal when actuated by a vehicle operator. When the interface is not actuated and does not transmit the signal, a controller receives signals indicative of whether the vehicle is in an active or inactive state from two different sources and determines that the vehicle is in the inactive state if both of the signals indicate the vehicle is in the inactive state. The controller receives another signal indicative of a speed of the vehicle and determines whether the speed of the vehicle meets a predetermined condition relative to a predetermined speed of the vehicle. The controller generates a control signal to apply a wheel parking brake on the vehicle after determining that the vehicle is the inactive state and determining that the speed of the vehicle meets the predetermined condition relative to the predetermined speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC
    Inventors: Daniel S. Reifman, Amit N. Chincholi, Meviltan Mendis, Pinak Paralkar, Niket Mokashi, Abhir Agashe
  • Patent number: 12162404
    Abstract: A system for creating vehicle lighting atmosphere of a vehicle is provided. The system includes ambient lighting including a plurality of lights configured for illuminating an interior of the vehicle or an exterior of the vehicle with a selectable light color. The system further includes a computerized vehicle lighting controller, including programming to monitor an input useful to select an ambient lighting theme, select an ambient lighting theme based upon the input, and generate a command to control the ambient lighting based upon the ambient lighting theme.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Srinath Pendikatla, Gary J. Rushton, Luke J. Popiel, Gaurav Talwar, Anthony J. Sumcad
  • Patent number: 12151594
    Abstract: A vehicle provided with a vehicle interior including an interior surface and at least one interior object provided for arrangement and fixation in the vehicle interior, an electronic detection device is provided, which is adapted to detect a position of the interior object on the interior surface. The at least one interior object includes at least one drive device for a non-mechanically guided displacement of the interior object on the interior surface of the vehicle, and the electronic detection device adapted to detect the reaching of a specified fixing position on the interior surface by the interior object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile SE & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft, Coburg
    Inventors: Christian Herrmann, Matthias Gempel, Volker Deinhard, Eike Fröhlich, Markus Bauernfeind, Manfred Stenzel, Thomas Weingärtner, Wolfgang Uebel
  • Patent number: 12153738
    Abstract: A system for controlling in-flight services using gestures is disclosed. The system comprises: a gesture detection device; an actuator; and a controller. The controller is configured to: receive a detected free space gesture from the gesture detection device; compare the detected free space gesture to a plurality of identified free space gestures; responsive to identifying a free space gesture from the plurality of identified free space gestures, identify an associated in-flight service based on the identified free space gesture; and responsive to identifying the associated in-flight service, send a first command to the actuator to perform the associated in-flight service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: GOODRICH LIGHTING SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Kingshuk Roy, Vaitheeshwari Jaisankar
  • Patent number: 12151536
    Abstract: A method for controlling a comfort component of a vehicle includes setting a comfort component, while a passenger is occupying the vehicle, to an active state to adjust a temperature within the vehicle to a passenger desired temperature based on receiving an input from the passenger. The method further includes maintaining, after the passenger exited the vehicle, the comfort component in an active state based on a likelihood of the passenger returning to the vehicle satisfying an active state condition. The method still further includes capturing, after the passenger exited the vehicle, an image of a person approaching the vehicle via one or more sensors of the vehicle. The method also includes adjusting the comfort component from the active state to a default state based on an identity of the person being different from an identity of the passenger, the identity of the person being determined based on the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC.
    Inventors: Hiromitsu Urano, Kentaro Ichikawa, Junya Ueno
  • Patent number: 12145521
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to keeping a vehicle within a safety envelope. In one embodiment, a method includes determining a safety envelope having a boundary, determining a risk level for an environment surrounding the vehicle, and associating an index value with a location within the safety envelope based on at least one of the risk level and a relationship between the location and the boundary. The method includes, in response to a vehicle being located at the location, tilting a vehicle seat to a tilt angle relative to a floor of the vehicle. The tilt angle can be based on the index value associated with the location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: Toyota Research Institute, Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yasuda, Manuel Ludwig Kuehner
  • Patent number: 12122362
    Abstract: In an object recognition apparatus to be mounted to a vehicle equipped with a driving assistance apparatus. In the object recognition apparatus, a distance detector is configured to repeatedly detect an instantaneous distance from the vehicle to an object located around the vehicle. A distance change determiner is configured to perform a determination regarding the instantaneous distance that is a determination as to whether the currently detected instantaneous distance to the object is less than the previously detected instantaneous distance to the same object and an amount of change in instantaneous distance between the currently detected instantaneous distance and the previously detected instantaneous distance is greater than a predetermined amount-of-change threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Sho Okumura
  • Patent number: 12122271
    Abstract: A system and method that establishes a confidence in a vehicle position determined by a vehicle position determination system and uses the established confidence to change a behavior of an active suspension system of a plant in the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: ClearMotion Acquisition I LLC
    Inventors: Lawrence D. Knox, Antonio Sangermano, II
  • Patent number: 12103552
    Abstract: A light emission control device comprises a memory; and a processor coupled to the memory. the processor is configured to acquire information related to a target object in surroundings of a vehicle, and perform control so as to interlock light emission of a plurality of light emitting units provided inside the vehicle in a case in which the target object is present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tsutomu Hattori
  • Patent number: 12103764
    Abstract: An adjustable transportation container system is provided including a container including a plurality of container segments defining a geometry, a container adjustment device interconnecting the plurality of container segments, one or more processors, and one or more memory modules. The one or more memory modules include a computer-readable medium storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to identify a weight distribution of the container, identify an adjusted geometry of the container, and actuate the container adjustment device to change the geometry of the container to conform to the adjusted geometry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: Toyota Motor North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Armin Lange
  • Patent number: 12104921
    Abstract: System and methods for separating the computation of map feature derivation from the traditional computing pipeline. One or more mapping variables for a sensitive location on a roadway are calculated ahead of time using mapping data derived from previously identified map feature data. When a real time request for processing near the sensitive location is received, the mapping system calculates one or more classification variables for the sensitive location using sensor data included in the request and the previously calculated mapping variables. The classification variables are input into a model configured to output a classification for one or more location features at the sensitive location. The classification is then provided in response to the request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: HERE Global B.V.
    Inventors: Zhenhua Zhang, Sharleen Sun
  • Patent number: 12094166
    Abstract: A discriminative mode generation unit generates a discriminative model that discriminates a target object included in an image using a target object image, which includes the target object and to which a label of the target object is applied, and a non-target object image, which includes a non-target object. An interest area detection unit inputs the target object image to the discriminative model, and detects an interest area which is an area that is predicted to include the target object. A rectangle generation unit generates a rectangle circumscribing the target object based on the interest area. A learning data output unit outputs learning data including a label of the target object and the rectangle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jun Piao
  • Patent number: 12091899
    Abstract: A method for controlling an opening device and to an opening device for a motor vehicle door element, having a control unit, an electric drive, and an actuating element, wherein the actuating element can be actuated by means of the drive, and the door element can be opened by means of the actuating element. The opening device can be controlled on the basis of a position, in particular the inclination of the motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: Kiekert AG
    Inventor: Christian Sturm
  • Patent number: 12078495
    Abstract: The present application is directed to an Autonomous Vehicle Enhancement System (AVES) and method for monitoring and managing a virtual or existing fleet of autonomous vehicles in a transportation network and dispatching the autonomous vehicles to users. The AVES includes an AVES Central Operations Center (COC) that communicates with AVES vehicle equipment installed in the autonomous vehicles and AVES applications installed on computing devices accessible by the users. The AVES improves the operating efficiency of a transportation network by monitoring the condition of autonomous vehicles, optimizing the geographical distribution of the autonomous vehicles and optimizing assignment of the autonomous vehicles to users requesting services. The AVES COC monitors and controls the autonomous vehicles via the AVES vehicle equipment. The AVES COC communicates with the users via the AVES applications to provide services to the users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Inventors: Arnold Chase, William Chase
  • Patent number: 12065197
    Abstract: An active aero panel assembly including at least one deployable panel, at least one drive mechanism, and at least one actuator. The active aero panel assembly improves aerodynamics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: Magna Exteriors Inc.
    Inventors: Michael McAfee, Martin R. Matthews, Braendon R. Lindberg
  • Patent number: 12067046
    Abstract: Systems and methods for image exploration are provided. One aspect of the systems and methods includes identifying a set of images; reducing the set of images to obtain a representative set of images that is distributed throughout the set of images by removing a neighbor image based on a proximity of the neighbor image to an image of the representative set of images; arranging the representative set of images in a grid structure using a self-sorting map (SSM) algorithm; and displaying a portion of the representative set of images based on the grid structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: ADOBE INC.
    Inventors: Sachin Madhav Kelkar, Ajinkya Gorakhnath Kale, Alvin Ghouas, Baldo Antonio Faieta
  • Patent number: 12041705
    Abstract: A method for managing image data in a vehicle lighting system that includes a lighting module and a multiplexed bus for transmitting compressed image data to the lighting module. The method includes receiving an instruction to trigger at least one lighting function to be generated by the at least one lighting module. Determining a required data rate level for transmitting the compressed image data over the multiplexed bus. Comparing the determined data rate level with a data rate threshold value of the multiplexed bus. Compressing the image data of the lighting function according to: the first frequency when the determined data rate level is lower than or equal to the data rate threshold value and according to a second frequency selected within the frequency range such that the second frequency is lower than the first frequency when the determined data rate level is greater than the data rate threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventors: Yasser Almehio, Hafid El Idrissi, Constantin Prat
  • Patent number: 12030575
    Abstract: A rider-posture changing device for a human-powered vehicle comprises a first member, a second member, a detector, and a controller. The second member is configured to be movable relative to the first member. The detector is configured to detect position information of the second member relative to the first member. The controller is configured to obtain movement information of the second member relative to the first member based on the position information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Yuki Sakagawa, Toyoto Shirai, Akihiro Nozaki, Satoshi Shahana, Hitoshi Takayama, Noor Ashyikkin Binti Mohd Noor
  • Patent number: 12017558
    Abstract: Proposed are a plurality of motors respectively performing seat control functions and a plurality of switching elements provided to supply the plurality of motors with power, in which the plurality of motors are connected to share at least a part of the switching elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: HYUNDAI TRANSYS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Sang Kyung Koh, In Gyu Jang
  • Patent number: 12009652
    Abstract: Systems and techniques are disclosed that monitor an area adjacent to power system components and detect objects that may pose a probable risk of causing a fault, for example, making contact with the power system component. Various embodiments initiate a preventative, a corrective, and/or a mitigative action in advance of the fault. Examples of possible actions include, but are not limited to, an audible alert, a visual alert, a tactile alert, a remote notification, a limiting of machinery motion, a stopping of machinery motion, a reversing of machinery motion, de-energization of the power system component, or combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: Avista Corporation
    Inventor: Greg Johnson
  • Patent number: 12000196
    Abstract: An opening and closing body control apparatus includes a motor driving unit and a control unit. The motor driving unit outputs a predetermined application voltage to the motor, based on a control command from the control unit. The control unit is configured to: when an opening and closing body reaches a first position in front of a closing-up position, set a target speed of the motor to a closing-up time target speed at which a torque required for closing-up the opening and closing body is secured, and perform feedback control on the motor driving unit; and when the opening and closing body reaches a second position closer to the closing-up position than the first position, stop the feedback control, and control the motor driving unit so that the application voltage of the motor at the time is held.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: NIDEC MOBILITY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Noriyoshi Machii
  • Patent number: 11993182
    Abstract: A management device includes a processor. The processor is configured to acquire setting information for onboard equipment used by a user in a vehicle, vehicle model information for the vehicle, and identification information for the user, convert the setting information that has been acquired into new setting information based on the vehicle model information, and provide the new setting information to onboard equipment used by the user corresponding to the identification information in a new vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Sugimoto, Jun Ikeda
  • Patent number: 11988032
    Abstract: A vehicle door control system includes a door assembly, which includes a side door and a liftgate. The door assembly includes an actuation assembly that adjusts each of the side door and the liftgate between opened and closed positions. A sensor assembly defines a rear sensor field, a first side sensor field, and a second side sensor field. A controller determines whether a person in at least one of the rear sensor field, the first side sensor field, and the second side sensor field is a recognized passenger, determines a speed of the recognized passenger, determines whether the recognized passenger is carrying an object, and activates the actuation assembly to open at least one of the liftgate and the side door based on whether the recognized passenger is carrying an object, where timing of activation of the actuation assembly is based on the speed of the recognized passenger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Aaron Halonen, Annette Lynn Huebner, Kristin Ann Hellman, David Brian Glickman, Kristopher Karl Brown
  • Patent number: 11987207
    Abstract: A vehicle including a powered running board, a motor for positioning the powered running board between a stowed position and a deployed position, a sensor configured to capture data of activity around the vehicle, and an electronic control unit configured to process the data captured by the sensor to detect an unauthorized event around the vehicle, and operate the motor to repeatedly move the powered running board in a predetermined pattern based on at least one of position and a speed in response to the sensor detecting an unauthorized event around the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Clinton Williams, Alexander L. Paradis
  • Patent number: 11970168
    Abstract: Techniques for determining to modify a trajectory based on an object are discussed herein. A vehicle can determine a drivable area of an environment, capture sensor data representing an object in the environment, and perform a spot check to determine whether or not to modify a trajectory. Such a spot check may include processing to incorporate an actual or predicted extent of the object into the drivable area to modify the drivable area. A distance between a reference trajectory and the object can be determined at discrete points along the reference trajectory, and based on a cost, distance, or intersection associated with the trajectory and the modified area, the vehicle can modify its trajectory. One trajectory modification includes following, which may include varying a longitudinal control of the vehicle, for example, to maintain a relative distance and velocity between the vehicle and the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: ZOOX, INC.
    Inventors: Andrew E. Beller, Janek Hudecek, William Anthony Silva
  • Patent number: 11970088
    Abstract: A seat control system for a vehicle includes a seat, a seat position changer, a door sensor, and a controller. When an occupant performs registration operation after an ignition switch is turned on, the controller is configured to: if the door sensor senses a closed state, store a current seat position of the seat as a driving position, in association with the information of the occupant; and, if the door sensor senses an open state, store the current seat position as a get-out position at a time when the occupant gets off the vehicle, in association with the information. After the registration operation is performed, the controller is configured to: change the seat position to the driving position by controlling the seat position changer before the vehicle travels; and change the seat position to the get-out position by controlling the seat position changer when the occupant gets off the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yusuke Otsuka, Osamu Okada
  • Patent number: 11958508
    Abstract: A control system for an electrically-operated railroad car end door includes, an actuator, a processor, and a memory storing program instructions that cause the processor to instruct the actuator to begin generating a braking force applied to the railroad car end door in response to an opening of the railroad car end door, and determine whether the railroad car end door is being manually opened by a person based on information related to a state of the railroad car end door while the braking force is being generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Satoru Ozaki
  • Patent number: 11959326
    Abstract: A vehicle operation detection device includes processing circuitry configured to output a command causing an opening-closing body of a vehicle to open and close in reference to capacitances of sensor electrodes arranged so as to form a row. The processing circuitry is configured to determine that a first operation has been performed when one of the sensor electrodes of which the capacitance increases is sequentially shifted in a first direction from an operation start electrode and determine that a second operation has been performed when the shifting is performed in a second direction. The sensor electrodes include an adjacent electrode adjacent to the operation start electrode. The processing circuitry is configured to determine that the capacitance of the adjacent electrode has increased when the capacitance becomes greater than or equal to a second determination value that is greater than a first determination value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: AISIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenta Enya, Takashi Kaino, Shiho Nakayama, Ryo Asami, Toshihiro Kaneda, Kenichiro Kagawa
  • Patent number: 11959800
    Abstract: An automotive headlight is disclosed including: an optical unit including a plurality of optical elements, each optical element having a different central direction; a segmented light-emitting diode (LED) chip including a plurality of LEDs that are separated by trenches formed on the segmented LED chip and arranged in a plurality of sections, each section being aligned with a different respective optical element, and each section including at least one first LED and at least one second LED; and a controller configured to: apply a forward bias to each of the first LEDs, apply a reverse bias to each of the second LEDs, and change a brightness of the first LEDs in any section based on a signal generated by the second LED in that section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Lumileds LLC
    Inventors: Erik Charles Nelson, Isaac Wildeson, Parijat Deb, Kenneth Vampola
  • Patent number: 11955039
    Abstract: The present application discloses a method and apparatus for controlling display in a screen projection scenario, a device, a medium and a program product, relating to the technical fields of autonomous driving, Internet of Vehicles, intelligent voice, and screen projection in artificial intelligence. The specific implementation is: receiving a voice interaction instruction corresponding to a voice application; if a first page corresponding to a first application in at least one non-voice application has been projected onto a screen of a terminal device, adding to-be-displayed content corresponding to the voice application to the first page to obtain a to-be-projected page corresponding to the first application; and projecting the to-be-projected page onto the screen of the terminal device. The above process can reduce a delay in displaying an image projected on the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: APOLLO INTELLIGENT CONNECTIVITY (BEIJING) TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Rong Liu
  • Patent number: 11952806
    Abstract: A motor vehicle latch, in particular a motor vehicle door latch, is equipped with a locking mechanism consisting substantially of a catch and a pawl. An electromotive drive for a coupling lever is further provided as part of a power locking unit. In addition, a first operating lever is provided, wherein in the “unlocked” position of the power locking unit, said first operating lever works on the coupling lever that is then engaged in order to open the locking mechanism, and wherein in the “locked” position of the power locking unit, said first operating lever performs an idle stroke relative to the coupling lever that is then disengaged. According to the invention, the electromotive drive works with a linear thrust member on the coupling lever, wherein the linear thrust member is held in at least one position with the aid of a blocking levers).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Kiekert AG
    Inventors: Rob Hunt, Scott Brown
  • Patent number: 11938896
    Abstract: Devices, systems and processes for the detection of unsafe cabin conditions that provides a safer passenger experience in autonomous vehicles are described. One example method for enhancing passenger safety includes capturing at least a set of images of one or more passengers in the vehicle, determining, based on the set of images, the occurrence of an unsafe activity in an interior of the vehicle, performing, using a neural network, a classification of the unsafe activity, and performing, based on the classification, one or more responsive actions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Alpine Electronics of Silicon Valley, Inc.
    Inventors: Rocky Chau-Hsiung Lin, Thomas Yamasaki, Koichiro Kanda
  • Patent number: 11935415
    Abstract: A method for assisting an occupant exiting a vehicle includes: receiving opening data describing an imminent opening of a door of the vehicle; receiving object data describing positions and speeds of objects in the vehicle environment; determining a time-to-collision between the opening of the door and a possible collision of a first object with the door, based on the opening data and the object data; outputting an urgent warning signal if the time-to-collision falls below a predetermined minimum duration; using the object data to check whether the first object is followed by a second object; classifying the second object as a first following object if a time-gap between the first object and the second object is below a predetermined limit; and outputting a warning signal after the output of the urgent warning signal in the event that the second object is classified as the first following object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Tomasz Siekierka, Werner Tschoepe
  • Patent number: 11932092
    Abstract: A power door device includes: a motor actuator to open/close a vehicle door; a controller to control driving of the motor actuator and include an abnormal state dealing unit; an information unit to acquire information about a vertical vehicle acceleration, and a motor load for the motor actuator; and a diagnostic unit to generate an abnormal signal when the motor load exceeds a predetermined load threshold and when the vertical acceleration does not exceed an predetermined acceleration threshold. When the motor load exceeds the load threshold and the vertical vehicle acceleration does not exceed a predetermined acceleration threshold, the diagnostic unit diagnoses an abnormality generates the abnormal signal. The abnormal state dealing unit performs the abnormal dealing control including stop movement during the door opening/closing in response to the abnormal signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshihiro Kaneda, Mitsunori Nishino, Nobuyuki Kishikawa
  • Patent number: 11933915
    Abstract: A radar detection system for activation of a powered closure member of a vehicle and corresponding method are provided. The system includes a radar sensor assembly having a radar transmit antenna for transmitting radar waves and a radar receive antenna for receiving the radar waves after reflection from an object in a detection zone. The radar sensor assembly outputs a sensor signal corresponding to the motion of the object in the detection zone. An electronic control unit is coupled to the radar sensor assembly and includes a data acquisition module to receive the sensor signal and a plurality of analysis modules to analyze the sensor signal to detect extracted features and determine whether extracted features are within predetermined thresholds representing a valid activation gesture. The electronic control unit initiates movement of the closure member in response to the extracted features being within the predetermined thresholds representing the valid activation gesture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: MAGNA CLOSURES INC.
    Inventors: Wassim Rafrafi, Samuel R. Baruco
  • Patent number: 11912284
    Abstract: An alighting assistance device D of the present disclosure may be a device moving a driver seat rearward in a case where a determination may be made that an occupant seated on the driver seat of a vehicle alights. The device may include a height changer which changes a height of a steering wheel, a sitting height acquirer which acquires a sitting height of the occupant, and a steering wheel controller 33 as one example of a height controller which controls the height changer such that the height of the steering wheel becomes lower as the sitting height acquired by the sitting height acquirer may be higher in the case where a determination is made that the occupant alights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshito Hirata, Tomonori Ohtsubo, Hiroki Uemura, Kengo Iwata, Masato Maeda, Hiroaki Matsuda, Masahito Kashihara, Chieko Nakagami
  • Patent number: 11910099
    Abstract: The invention provides an autonomous vehicle with a video camera that merges images taken a different light levels by replacing saturated parts of an image with corresponding parts of a lower-light image to stream a video with a dynamic range that extends to include very low-light and very intensely lit parts of a scene. The high dynamic range (HDR) camera streams the HDR video to a HDR system in real time—as the vehicle operates. As pixel values are provided by the camera's image sensors, those values are streamed directly through a pipeline processing operation and on to the HDR system without any requirement to wait and collect entire images, or frames, before using the video information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Contrast, Inc.
    Inventors: Willie C. Kiser, Nora Tocci, Michael D. Tocci
  • Patent number: 11900747
    Abstract: Methods and enhanced apparatus used in such methods are described that a dispatched logistics operation for a deliverable item from a hold-at-location (HAL) logistics facility having a secured storage and using a modular autonomous bot apparatus assembly and a dispatch server. The bot apparatus assembly picks up and delivers the item from the HAL facility in response to a delivery dispatch command from the dispatch server. In response, the MAM of the bot verifies compatibility of modular components for the operation, controls receiving of the deliverable item from the secured storage at the HAL facility, then autonomously causes movement to the delivery destination. The MAM notifies the customer before delivery of the approaching delivery, authenticates delivery is to the authorized customer, provides access to the item within the bot apparatus assembly, monitors unloading of the item, then autonomously moves back to the HAL facility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: FEDEX CORPORATE SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Ole-Petter Skaaksrud, Frank Mayfield, Daniel Gates
  • Patent number: 11893830
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for connecting through on-vehicle Bluetooth, and a storage medium includes: acquiring a first face image of a driver in response to an on-vehicle Bluetooth apparatus being on; determining a first face identifier corresponding to the driver by performing face recognition on the first face image; querying a first correspondence according to the first face identifier, in which the first correspondence indicates a correspondence between face identifiers and Bluetooth identifiers of terminals; in response to determining a first Bluetooth identifier matching the first face identifier, establishing, according to the first Bluetooth identifier, a Bluetooth connection between the on-vehicle Bluetooth apparatus and a first terminal Bluetooth apparatus corresponding to the first Bluetooth identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: APOLLO INTELLIGENT CONNECTIVITY (BEIJING) TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Fanguang Zeng