Vehicle Equipment Position Control (e.g., Seat, Mirror, Door, Window, Headrest, Or Headlamp) Patents (Class 701/49)
  • Publication number: 20140316660
    Abstract: A system includes a vehicle seat with an embedded presence detector that can detect a presence of an occupant and output a presence signal. A position controller is configured to receive the presence signal and adjust a position of the vehicle seat to a predetermined driving position in response to receiving the presence signal and prior to turning on a vehicle ignition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2013
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Jialiang Le, Johnathan Andrew Line, Manoharprasad K. Rao
  • Publication number: 20140316609
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for a customization control system for a vehicle having a cabin. The apparatus can include a source of vehicle location data, and a door coupled to the cabin and including a window movable relative to the door between a first, closed position and a second, opened position. The apparatus can also include a customization module that, based on the vehicle location data, outputs setting data for the vehicle that includes a movement for the window relative to the door.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2013
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Brandon L. WASHINGTON, Richard J. LANGE, Matthew TSIEN, Brian D. DRAKE
  • Publication number: 20140316663
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to systems configured to determine an amount of alcohol in an alcohol-containing liquid discharged from a drinking vessel or an amount of the alcohol-containing liquid discharged from the drinking vessel, drinking vessels configured to measure alcohol content or other property of an alcohol-containing liquid held therein, other related components such as mat devices that facilitate determining the amount, and related methods. The systems, drinking vessels, and methods disclosed herein facilitate determination of an amount of alcohol in an alcohol-containing liquid discharged from a drinking vessel or an amount of alcohol-containing liquid discharged from the drinking vessel, which may be indicative of an amount of alcohol consumed by a drinker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Inventors: Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Jordin T. Kare, Eric C. Leuthardt, Clarence T. Tegreene, Lowell L. Wood, JR., Victoria Y.H. Wood
  • Publication number: 20140316662
    Abstract: A portable, foldable, and multifunctional mobility aid apparatus that assists a user in standing, sitting, and/or walking process. The apparatus has an integrated power source and is based on 4 wheels. Users can stand on it and drive it as an electric mobility device, or disable it and use it as a passive walker. The apparatus has a pair of supporting beams with adjustable width to be placed under the user armpits and support the user in standing up, sitting down, and/or moving around. The apparatus can be controlled by a control panel mounted on a pair of handles, and its functions can be controlled by the user with no need for help from another person. The apparatus can be minimized by a combination of multiple telescopic vertical minimization mechanisms and multiple folding mechanisms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Inventor: Ahmad AlSayed M. ALGHAZI
  • Patent number: 8868299
    Abstract: In a method and a device (12) for automatically actuating a closing element (1) of a vehicle (10), the closing element is actuated when a movement of an object corresponding to a predefined movement profile is registered in an area surrounding the vehicle and when at the same time a vehicle key assigned to the vehicle is registered. In this case, it is firstly possible for the movement of the object in the area around the vehicle (10) to be monitored by the interaction between a capacitive sensor (5) and an optical sensor (4, 7), or for the movement profile first to have an approach to the vehicle (10) and a subsequent movement away from the vehicle (10), so that the closing element (1) is only actuated after the movement away from the vehicle (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Carsten Kroemke, Bernd Ette
  • Publication number: 20140309892
    Abstract: Methods and systems for a complete vehicle ecosystem are provided. Specifically, systems that when taken alone, or together, provide an individual or group of individuals with an intuitive and comfortable vehicular environment. The present disclosure includes a system that provides various outputs based on a user profile and determined context. An output provided by the present disclosure can change a configuration of a vehicle, device, building, and/or a system associated with the user profile. The configurations can include comfort and interface settings that can be adjusted based on the user profile information. Further, the user profiles can track health data related to the user and make adjustments to the configuration to assist the health of the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: Flextronics AP, LLC
    Inventor: Christopher P. Ricci
  • Publication number: 20140309893
    Abstract: Methods and systems for a complete vehicle ecosystem are provided. Specifically, systems that when taken alone, or together, provide an individual or group of individuals with an intuitive and comfortable vehicular environment. The present disclosure includes a system that provides various outputs based on a user profile and determined context. An output provided by the present disclosure can change a configuration of a vehicle, device, building, and/or a system associated with the user profile. The configurations can include comfort and interface settings that can be adjusted based on the user profile information. Further, the user profiles can track health data related to the user and make adjustments to the configuration to assist the health of the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: Flextronics AP, LLC
    Inventor: Christopher P. Ricci
  • Patent number: 8862336
    Abstract: In a method for controlling a headlamp system of a vehicle, road users are detected in front of the vehicle in the driving direction, and a total light pattern produced by the headlamp system is controlled such that it provides an illumination range in the direction of at least one detected road user that is less than the distance to the detected road user, and which provides an illumination range in another direction that is greater than the distance to the detected road user. The illumination range in the other direction is controlled as a function of the horizontal angle between the driving direction of the vehicle and the connecting line from the vehicle to the detected road user or to another detected road user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Karsten Dierks, Martin Freese, Bernd Jahrsau
  • Patent number: 8862334
    Abstract: A vehicle has a device for setting an open position of a tailgate, which can be pivoted upwards and, after an opening command to a first control unit, can be adjusted into a predefined open position via an adjusting device. The vehicle has a device for setting a predefined vehicle height, which device includes a second control unit for actuating an active wheel suspension system. Lowering of the vehicle height is performed at the same time as the opening of the tailgate, by way of a communications link between the first control unit and the second control unit and by way of corresponding programming of at least one of the two control units. The simultaneous opening of the tailgate and lowering of the vehicle height are prevented if a blocking command for this function is present in one of the two control units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Juergen Mayr
  • Patent number: 8862335
    Abstract: Device for the control of vertical cut-off lines for headlamps of a motor vehicle within a swivel range, wherein the control device (10) has a first input (12) for a first signal, which indicates the direction referring to a longitudinal axis (1) of the motor vehicle, in which the motor vehicle (F1) meets the oncoming light source of a motor vehicle (F2) or in which it moves in front of the motor vehicle (F1) in the same direction of travel, wherein the control device is suitable and equipped for the generation of a control signal for the right-hand headlamp (50) and a control signal for the left-hand headlamp (40) of the motor vehicle (F1) for the adjustment of a vertical cut-off line depending on the first signal, with which a right-hand vertical cut-off line and a left-hand vertical cut-off line can be adjusted to eliminate the dazzling effect on an oncoming motor vehicle (F2) or a motor vehicle (F2) driving ahead, wherein the control device (10) is suitable and equipped for the adjustment of the right
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Hella KGAA
    Inventors: Christian Schmidt, Tobias Irmscher, Sergej Schwarz, Georg Florissen, Christian Hüster, Carsten Wilks
  • Publication number: 20140303852
    Abstract: An automatic door operating device for a vehicle includes: an input unit which is provided in a portion of a vehicle and to which an instruction to automatically open a door of a vehicle is input by a user's touch; a door drive unit configured to automatically open the door based on the instruction input by the input unit; and a controller configured to control the door drive unit so as to automatically open the door only while the user touches the input unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomokazu SEKI, Norio Fukui
  • Publication number: 20140303853
    Abstract: An image pickup lens has a focal length far from a position of a transparent member. An image pickup device is put on the side of the transparent member the same as that of a light source and takes reflected light including regular reflection from an interface between an adhered object on the other surface of the transparent member and air. Assuming an incident angle of the emitted light on the transparent member when the light reflected in regular reflection by the other surface of the transparent member is incident on the image pickup lens being ?s, an incident angle of a typical light beam of the emitted light falls within ?s?30 deg through ?s and an incident angle of a main element of the emitted light is less than ?s.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Izumi Itoh, Hideaki Hirai
  • Patent number: 8855575
    Abstract: A device-vehicle interoperability verification method is disclosed herein. Vehicle information is obtained by a mobile communications device, and this vehicle information pertains to a vehicle within which the device is being used or is going to be used. The vehicle information and device identification information is transmitted from the device to a server. The transmission occurs in response to a command generated by an application resident on the device, which includes computer readable code, embedded on a tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium, for performing the transmission. A data aggregator at the server queries a database to obtain data pertaining to an interoperability between the device and the vehicle, and a communications module at the server sends a message to the device that includes at least the data pertaining to the interoperability between the device and the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: General Motors LLC
    Inventors: Richard F. Heines, Christopher L. Oesterling
  • Patent number: 8849505
    Abstract: Methods and systems for locating a vehicle are disclosed, including detecting one or more environmental conditions, the one or more environmental conditions being indicative of an occurrence of an environmental event, determining a probability of the occurrence of the environmental event in response to detecting the one or more environmental conditions, and effecting a preventive action in response to the probability being above a threshold probability, the preventive action being configured to protect the vehicle from the environmental event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Menard, Gabriel Castillo
  • Patent number: 8849506
    Abstract: The present invention provides an operation system for a vehicle capable of shortening an operation time, reducing an operation load, and improving visibility of a display section. The operation system includes an operation section on which a camera capturing a finger and a touch panel are installed, and a display section installed away from the operation section, and further includes a finger determination processor determining from an image captured by the camera whether or not an object approaching the operation section is a hand, a conversion processor converting a determination signal of the finger determination processor into a display instruction signal and outputting the converted result, and a pop-up processor displaying an operation button or an operation window on the display section before the hand is touched to the touch panel on the basis of the display instruction signal input from the conversion processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Japan R&D Center, Inc., Kia Motors Corporation, Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Ryo Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20140288788
    Abstract: An electric grill shutter control device includes: a control portion that performs an energization of a motor that drives a movable member that configures the electric grill shutter; a detection portion that detects a rotational speed of the motor; a determination portion that determines whether locking of the movable member is occurred based on whether the energization is performed and the rotational speed; and an identification portion that obtains a rotation amount of the motor in a period around the locking from the rotational speed in a case where the locking occurs and identifying a cause of the locking according to the rotation amount and the energization.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shunsuke Hayakawa
  • 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: 8843278
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for detecting the activation of a coupling in a damper actuator, the coupling engaging a drive motor and an adjustable damper with each other, so that the damper can be adjusted by means of the drive motor, and the engagement between the drive motor and the damper being disengaged if a force or a momentum acting on the damper exceeds a maximum value. The method comprises the following steps: detecting the indication of an adjustment rate, in particular a rotary speed of the drive motor; determining a gradient of the adjustment rate, in particular a rotary speed gradient, by the indication of the adjustment rate; determining the activation of the coupling by determining whether the determined gradient exceeds or falls below a predetermined threshold value of the gradient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Koberstaedt, Harrie Oirsouw, Murat Demir
  • Patent number: 8843270
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a wiper motor control system for a vehicle, which precisely controls the speed of the wiper motor to improve the wiper performance. The present disclosure implements a wiper motor control method in a new form, which precisely controls a speed of the wiper motor for each section through a scheme of improving a plate structure of the wiper motor and monitoring a state of a parking switch, and thus reduces a noise generated in an operation of a wiper device and increases the wiping performance through a differentiated speed for each section, which generally improves the wiper performance. More specifically, the present disclosure implements a smart ECW (Electric Control Wiper) control module inputting a remote control by a wireless transmitter, so that a driver can wirelessly control a wiper before getting into a vehicle, which makes the driver feel convenience and induces the driver to safely drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Mun Soon Kwon, Hyun Sub Kim, Nak Kyoung Kong
  • Patent number: 8843277
    Abstract: A method for operating the electrical system of a motor vehicle having a control unit with an operating mode and an energy-saving standby mode is described. A wake-up operator control event is detected by a sensor and has an associated time interval from the preceding wake-up operator control event. The time interval is ascertained when a wake-up operator control event is detected, and the control unit is woken up or not woken up. Each wake-up operator control event has an associated switch-off indicator which is ascertained each time a wake-up operator control event is detected, and the control unit is woken up or not woken up as a function of the level of the switch-off indicator with reference to a switch-off threshold. A change in the current switch-off indicator relative to the preceding switch-off indicator is all the greater the smaller the current time interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co. KG, Hallstadt
    Inventors: Thorsten Fuchs, Matthias Hering, Holger Wuerstlein, Thomas Schindhelm, Detlef Russ
  • Patent number: 8843268
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a motor vehicle having a steering wheel, the motor vehicle including a first display, integrated into the steering wheel, for the variable representation of information; a first touchscreen, situated over the first display, for the input of commands; a second display, integrated into the steering wheel and separated spatially from the first display, for the variable representation of information; and a second touchscreen, situated over the second display, for the input of commands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: William Brian Lathrop, Evan Small, Deborah Garcia
  • Publication number: 20140277953
    Abstract: A seat slide apparatus includes a lock device, which is switchable between locked and released states, and a control device, which controls the operation of the lock device. The control device includes a manipulation detection portion, a first control portion, which switches the lock device to the released state in response to the detection of the manipulation and switches the lock device to the locked state in response to the stoppage of the detection of the manipulation, a door opening-and-closing detection portion, which detects opening and closing of the vehicle door, and a second control portion. The second control portion determines whether a door open-time release condition under, which the movement of the vehicle seat should be permitted is satisfied when opening the vehicle door, and switches the lock device to the released state and maintains the released state if the door open-time release condition is satisfied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Soichiro Hozumi, Hitoshi Takayanagi, Toshiro Maeda
  • Publication number: 20140277952
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for controlling movement of a seat in a vehicle. A sensor assembly includes a sensor configured to sense a presence of an object and to generate an output signal representing a proximity of the object to the sensor. A control unit is configured to receive the sensor output signal and to generate a control signal for use in controlling movement of the seat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: LEAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mark A. Farquhar, David A. Hein, Arjun Yetukuri
  • Publication number: 20140277860
    Abstract: A method for controlling a vehicle system includes obtaining an off-board-based input speed of a vehicle system traveling along a curved segment of a first route. The off-board-based input speed is obtained from data provided by an off-board device disposed off the vehicle system. The method also includes determining a heading of the vehicle system from the data provided by the off-board device and calculating a curvature of the curved segment of the first route using the off-board-based input speed and the heading of the vehicle system while the vehicle system travels along the curved segment of the first route.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David Bradley Pulliam, Ajith Kuttannair Kumar, Bret Dwayne Worden, Jeremy Thomas McGarry, Kevin Ray Ruybal
  • Patent number: 8838343
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp controller, a vehicle lamp system, and a vehicle lamp control method are provided. The vehicle lamp system includes an acceleration sensor, a vehicle lamp, and the vehicle controller. The controller includes a receiver configured to receive an acceleration information detected by the acceleration sensor, a control unit configured to derive a vehicle longitudinal direction acceleration and a vehicle vertical direction acceleration from the acceleration information, and to generate a control signal for instructing an adjustment of an optical axis of the vehicle lamp, based on a variation in a ratio between a temporal change amount of the vehicle longitudinal direction acceleration and a temporal change amount of the vehicle vertical direction acceleration during at least one of an acceleration and a deceleration of a vehicle, and a transmitter configured to transmit the control signal to an optical axis adjusting portion of the vehicle lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yusuke Kasaba, Masashi Yamazaki, Atsushi Toda
  • Patent number: 8838332
    Abstract: In one example, a network device stores a mapping of application operation modes to vehicle conditions such as a first condition of the vehicle powered but not moving and a second condition of the vehicle moving. The network device receives a wirelessly transmitted request for a particular application to utilize an interface powered by the vehicle. The network device compares an application identifier specified by the received request to the mapping. The network device then identifies a portion of the vehicle interface according to the comparison and signals control software on the vehicle to grant the particular application access to only the identified portion of the vehicle interface itself. The application can reside on the mobile device and utilize the vehicle interface as an extended interface, or the application can reside on the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Airbiquity Inc.
    Inventors: Kamyar Moinzadeh, Leon L. Hong, Lee Zhao
  • Publication number: 20140257644
    Abstract: A method for controlling a headlamp of a vehicle includes performing an image evaluation to detect a reflection zone of an object located in the surroundings of the vehicle in at least one image of the surroundings of the vehicle. The method further includes providing a control signal for controlling the headlamp. The control signal is configured to intensify a light emission of the headlamp in the direction of the reflection zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2012
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Roland Galbas
  • Patent number: 8831827
    Abstract: Provided are a method and apparatus for projecting driving information in front of a vehicle with respect to a destination. The method for projecting driving information in front of the vehicle with respect to the destination may include obtaining driving information and controlling a driving information projecting apparatus on the basis of the obtained driving information. The driving information projecting apparatus may include a driving information display unit displaying the obtained driving information and a lighting unit used as a light source 100 for the driving information display unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Korea Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Ig Jae Kim, Jaewon Kim
  • Patent number: 8827466
    Abstract: An exterior rear view mirror housing, which consists of at least a first housing part and a second housing part, and which comprises an opening on its rear side for a mirror glass, whereby the second housing part contains the walls surrounding the opening. The first housing part and at least one of the walls of the second housing part surrounding the opening comprise inner surfaces which face each other oppositely. On at least one of the inner surfaces which face each other oppositely, at least one ridge is arranged, which runs parallel to the rear side and extends from the one inner surface up to a remaining clearance to the opposing inner surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: SMR Patents S.a.r.l.
    Inventors: Arne Schmierer, Raimund Negel, Andreas Herrmann, Istvan Szmolenszki
  • Patent number: 8831838
    Abstract: An electric actuator (electric motor) is thermally protected without causing any unfamiliar impression in steering a vehicle. A temperature compensation gain computing unit (25) reduces the manipulated variable of the electric actuator (40L, 40R) by using a gain that diminishes with the rise in the temperature of the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takashi Yanagi
  • Patent number: 8831794
    Abstract: Apparatuses for remote operation of a first object by a second object is disclosed that one or more sensors configured to be placed on the second object and to obtain ranging information; and a processing system configured to determine one or more movements of the second object from the ranging information; and generate one or more control signals related to the one or more movements for manipulating the first object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Anthony G. Persaud, Mark R. Storch, Adrian J. Prentice, George Joseph
  • Patent number: 8831839
    Abstract: Apparatus for moving an automotive vehicle seat along a track includes a motor, a first sensor sensing rotation of the motor, and a second sensor detecting presence of the seat at a reference position along the track. A controller determines a seat position based upon signals from the first sensor and calibrates the determined seat position based upon a signal from the second sensor indicating that the seat is at the reference position. This allows any error that as accumulated in the seat position as determined by the first sensor to be eliminated each time the seat reaches the known reference position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mark A. Cuddihy, Manoharprasad K. Rao
  • Patent number: 8831868
    Abstract: Watercraft automation and aquatic data are utilized for aquatic efforts. In one aspect, an anchor point is obtained and a watercraft position maintenance routine is actuated to control the watercraft to maintain association with the anchor point. In another aspect, prior aquatic effort data is obtained in association with an anchor point. In yet another aspect, current aquatic effort data is generated in association with an anchor point. In still another aspect, current aquatic effort data and prior aquatic effort data are utilized for prediction generation. In yet another aspect, current aquatic effort data and prior aquatic effort data are utilized to obtain another anchor point for a watercraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Inventors: Ted V. Grace, Ryan T. Grace
  • Patent number: 8831840
    Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for a guidance application capable of coordinating the interior features of a vehicle (e.g., the heating/cooling system, automatic windows, automatic seats, automatic sunroof, seat heaters, etc.) to produce the current environmental conditions (e.g., sunshine, heat, wind, etc.) displayed in a media asset being accessed in the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: United Video Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Walter R. Klappert, Michael R. Nichols, Satinderpal S. Sikh
  • Patent number: 8827027
    Abstract: A motor car (10) has windows (28, 49) which can have a first H1 fully closed position and a lower H2 position in which water tightness is still provided but opening of a frameless window assembly/door assembly can be achieved more quickly from the point in time in which the door handle 44, 46) is operated. The Hi position may be selected as the vehicle accelerates above a given speed and the H2 position may be selected when the vehicle door is closed, and the window may also have a short-drop H3 lower re-spool H4 position or in the case of a rear window a three quarter lowered H5 position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd.
    Inventors: Andrew John Syvret, Adrian Charles Morgan Jenkins, William Manuel Walsh
  • Publication number: 20140247348
    Abstract: A virtual rent-a-car system and method with an in-car device and related systems and methods are disclosed for providing customer service interactions, tools, and entertainment to a vehicle rental customer. The functions of the in-car device include, for example, navigational assistance, local recommendations, driving condition alerts, itinerary management, vehicle comfort controls, and entertainment media play controls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: Hertz System, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert D. Moore, JR., Nicolas Oxley Johnson, Arnaud Lejeune, Thierry Lucet, Thierry Lemoult, Guillaume Remond, Scott Alan Gaines
  • Patent number: 8825242
    Abstract: Vehicle system, comprising: —a hybrid powertrain (E, EMG, B) to drive the vehicle system and configured to generate electric energy; and —at least one electrically operable refrigerator unit (R) configured to cool at least one storage compartment of the system; wherein the refrigerator unit (R) is powered by electric energy generated by the hybrid powertrain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Nederlandse Organisatie voor toegepast-natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek TNO
    Inventor: Darren Leigh Foster
  • Patent number: 8825308
    Abstract: An opening/closing control device for a grille shutter is capable of appropriately opening and closing the grille shutter according to a vehicle outside environment and an operating state of an aircon while ensuring the operation of the aircon, and is capable of sufficiently improving vehicle operating efficiency. An aircon operating time ratio as a ratio of operation time of an aircon to overall time is calculated. When the calculated aircon operating time ratio is larger than the sum of a threshold value calculated according to an ambient air temperature and a hysteresis constant, the grille shutter is opened to promote cooling of refrigerant in the aircon and reduce motive power consumed by the aircon. Therefore, it is possible to appropriately open and close the grille shutter depending on the ambient air temperature and the operating ration of the aircon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eijiro Nishimura, Ryoji Ehara
  • Patent number: 8823311
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a method of controlling a step motor system includes operating the step motor system in a normal mode. In the normal mode, the step motor is advanced upon receipt of a step pulse. If a failure event is detected, the step motor is operated in a failure mode. In the failure mode, a failure counter is incremented upon receipt of the step pulse, and the step motor is not advanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Martin Barth
  • Patent number: 8818648
    Abstract: A hybrid construction machine includes a hydraulic pressure work element driven by hydraulic pressure generated by driving power of an internal combustion engine or a motor generator, and also includes an electric-motor work element driven by an electric motor. A superordinate control unit generates a control command which controls drive of the hydraulic pressure work element and the electric-motor work element. A subordinate control unit controls drive of the hydraulic pressure work element and the electric-motor work element based on the control command generated by the superordinate control unit. The subordinate control unit monitors an error in the superordinate control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignees: Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd., Sumitomo (S.H.I.) Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyoko Takanashi, Hideaki Yuasa, Kiminori Sano
  • Patent number: 8816815
    Abstract: A lock device for a power supplying plug arranged in a vehicle that performs wireless communication with an electronic key. The lock device includes a charge ECU that restricts unauthorized removal of the power supplying plug from an inlet of the vehicle. The vehicle includes antennas that transmit a wireless signal. A first one of the antennas relates to permission for removal of the power supplying plug. A second one of the antennas relates to unlocking or permission for unlocking of a door. A charge ECU stops transmitting the wireless signal from the first antenna when the vehicle is parked and the second antenna transmits the wireless signal. The charge ECU stops the transmission of the wireless signal related to the unlocking of the door when the wireless signal related to removal of the power supplying plug is transmitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Yuichi Kuramochi, Toshiharu Katagiri, Keiji Kahara, Naoto Kurumizawa, Takahiro Hirashita
  • Patent number: 8818646
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling and adjusting a motor-driven adjusting device, especially a window lifter, a seat adjusting device or a sliding roof of a motor vehicle, comprising an anti-jamming protection. The motor drive is switched off or blocked at a value below a predetermined load limit when said predetermined load limit is exceeded. The aim of the invention is to provide a method with which the adjusting device is subjected to as little loads as possible under all operating conditions. To this end, state variables of the motor drive are continuously detected and the load actually generated by the motor drive is determined from said state variables on the basis of a mathematical model of the drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co. KG, Coburg
    Inventors: Peter Heinrich, Mike Eichhorn
  • Patent number: 8818621
    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: April 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoki Taki, Takeshi Matsumura, Atsushi Watanabe, Mayumi Otsuka, Keizoh Kawaguchi
  • Patent number: 8818647
    Abstract: Heads-up display arrangements for vehicles including a seat in which an occupant sits, a system for forming an image of text and/or graphics in a field of view of the occupant, a determination arrangement for determining a position of the occupant (or a part thereof) and an adjustment system for adjusting the seat based on the occupant's determined position to thereby change the orientation of the occupant relative to the image. Change of the orientation of the occupant relative to the image may entail adjusting the seat and/or adjusting the image forming system, which is often a heads-up display system. Adjustment of the seat may involve moving the seat forward or backward and/or up or down, or any other direction or way possible given the construction of the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: American Vehicular Sciences LLC
    Inventor: David S. Breed
  • Patent number: 8818642
    Abstract: A method of triggering an active device of a vehicle at a pre-determined threshold comprises generating a steering wheel signal from steering angle rate of change of steering angle of the vehicle, the signal representing an advance in time in comparison to the steering wheel position and/or speed, and determining a conditioned vehicle lateral acceleration in dependence on the steering wheel signal and a measured vehicle lateral acceleration, the conditioned vehicle lateral acceleration being advanced in time in comparison with the measured vehicle lateral acceleration. An active device of the vehicle is triggered if the conditioned vehicle lateral acceleration exceeds a threshold lateral acceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Limited
    Inventor: Paul Bunker
  • Publication number: 20140236430
    Abstract: A danger sensing apparatus includes a data collecting unit disposed at each of a side rear-view mirror of the vehicle and an inner portion of the vehicle to collect image data of a side region of the vehicle and a situation of a door region of the inner portion of the vehicle as data; a data analyzing unit analyzing the data collected from the data collecting unit to analyze a danger object approaching an outer side of the vehicle and the situation of the door region of the inner portion of the vehicle; and a controlling unit controlling operations of a drive train of the vehicle and the door based on a signal analyzed from the data analyzing unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventor: Moo Seop KIM
  • Publication number: 20140229077
    Abstract: A surveillance module may be deployed from a vehicle. The vehicle to deploy the surveillance module includes a first portion configured to accommodate a user to operate the vehicle. A second portion includes a module configured to accommodate the user and comprising a roof and an entrance accessible through an interior of the vehicle from the first portion. The second portion also includes a lifting mechanism coupled to the module and operable to move the module vertically from a retracted position to an extended position. A third portion defines an opening to accommodate the module, wherein the roof of the module couples to a periphery of the opening in the retracted position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: TerraHawk LLC
    Inventors: Tom R. James, John R. Spence
  • Publication number: 20140229041
    Abstract: A stopping-time calculation module for a vehicle contains a communication device, which enables communication with one or more other vehicles in order to transmit the vehicle's own travel-related data and/or to receive travel-related data of another vehicle or vehicles. An evaluation device is connected to the communication device and is suitable for calculating an extended stopping time that exceeds the stopping time specified by the schedule in the event of a delay for the current stop or a following stop, in particular the next stop, indicated by the travel-related data of a vehicle driving ahead or behind on a common route equipped with stops, and for producing a control signal that indicates the calculated stopping time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Lars Egler, Michael Gottschalk, Bernd Hinze, Andreas Steingroever
  • Publication number: 20140222298
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for automatically adjusting a vehicle feature of a vehicle, where the system includes a first sensor, an onboard computer, a camera, a mirror, a controller; an actuator; and an algorithm. The algorithm instructs the onboard computer in steps for adjusting one or more vehicle features. The first sensor and the controller are in electronic communication with the onboard computer and the controller is in electronic communication with one or more actuators that connect to and adjust the various vehicle features. The onboard computer includes or accesses a database that correlates users, features, and vehicle feature settings. Such vehicle features include seat position and camera viewing angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2013
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Inventor: Michael H. Gurin
  • Patent number: RE45158
    Abstract: The invention relates to a control system for controlling a wheelchair having movable parts. The control system comprises a controller and a number of actuators for effectuating movements of the movable parts. The controller comprises a mathematical model of the kinematics of the movable parts and their respective at least one actuator, means for receiving an input signal from one or more of the actuators, and means for setting, based on the mathematical model, limiting positions of the actuators in response to the determined input signal. The invention also relates to a corresponding wheelchair and method of controlling a wheelchair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Permobil AB
    Inventor: Patrik Emilsson