Tire, Tread Or Roadway Patents (Class 73/146)
  • Patent number: 12044598
    Abstract: A load prediction method for a component of a vehicle includes a model creation process. A load model is created using an identification method based on a training-drive data group, a training vehicle data group and a training load group. The training-drive data group contains training-drive data sets, each containing route data and/or accompanying drive data for a training drive of a training vehicle on a training route. The training vehicle data group comprises vehicle data from the training vehicle used on the training drive. The training load group includes training load data including a load of the component that corresponds to a training-drive data set. The load model approximates the occurring load on a predetermined training route or with predetermined accompanying drive data or according to predetermined vehicle data. In a model evaluation process, the load prediction is determined using the load model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Compredict GmbH
    Inventors: Stéphane Foulard, Rafael Fietzek, Ousama Esbel
  • Patent number: 12036828
    Abstract: A tire electronics assembly includes a base and a plurality of modules. The base is mechanically attached to the tire and includes an electronic device. The base also includes a plurality of mechanical attachment elements arranged side-by-side in a row. Each module includes an electronic device and a mechanical attachment element. Each mechanical attachment element on a module is configured to releasably mechanically attach to any one of the mechanical attachment elements on the base. In this configuration, the modules are interchangeably mechanically attachable to the base in side-by side positions in row. The base further includes a plurality of electrical contacts arranged side-by-side in a row. Each module has an electrical contact that is configured to releasably electrically connect with any one of the electrical contacts on the base, whereby the modules are interchangeably electrically connectable with the base in side-by-side positions in a row.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin E. Scheifele, Hans R. Dorfi
  • Patent number: 12036726
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides various aspects for mobile and automated processing utilizing additive manufacturing. The present disclosure includes methods for adding strengthening features to a roadway surface. In some examples, the strengthening features may include fibers, nanofibers and nanotubes as examples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Inventors: Robert A. Flitsch, Frederick A. Flitsch
  • Patent number: 12031855
    Abstract: A method to calibrate a Weigh in Motion (WIM) sensor that is arranged in a road flush with a road surface for determining a force exerted on the road surface by a vehicle's wheel transgressing the WIM sensor uses an evaluation unit that calculates the wheel force upon receiving the vehicle's velocity and a distance signal from a first device fixed on the vehicle and coordinates the wheel force with a synchronized signal from the WIM sensor to generate a calibrate function for the WIM sensor. The evaluation unit continuously adjusts the wheel force to take into account one or more of wheel pressure, wheel temperature, wheel tilt and vehicle acceleration. A system employing the method includes the vehicle, the evaluation unit, the first device, a synchronization device such as a GPS unit, and sensors for one or more of pressure, temperature, tilt and acceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: Kistler Holding AG
    Inventor: Biruk Hailesilassie
  • Patent number: 12024091
    Abstract: A tire state management system (10) is provided with an image data acquisition unit (210) for acquiring 1st image data acquired by imaging the outer surface at a first timing and second image data acquired by imaging the outer surface at a second timing later than the first timing, a damage portion acquisition unit (220) for acquiring a damage included in the 1st image data and a damage included in the 2nd image data, a vehicle operation information acquisition unit (230) for acquiring operation information of a vehicle on which a tire is mounted, and a maintenance prediction unit (240) for estimating a progress speed based on the damage included in the 1st image data and the progress speed included in the 2nd image data and predicting a maintenance timing for the tire based on the progress speed and the operation information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kanae Fujikake, Hideyuki Kaneda, Teppei Mori, Masafumi Daifuku, Kei Tsuchiya
  • Patent number: 12017625
    Abstract: The current invention relates to a method for monitoring a wear of a brake element (6) of a rail wagon (1) by means of a monitoring system (9, 4), said rail wagon (1) comprising a brake assembly (2) comprising said brake element (6), said brake assembly (2) further comprising a brake regulator device (7) comprising a first part (71) at a first end and a second part (72) at a second end for automatic adjusting of a clearance (13) with respect to said brake element (6), said clearance (13) relating to a braking of a wheel (3) of said rail wagon (1), said method comprising a plurality of steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: OVINTO CVBA
    Inventor: Frederick Ronse
  • Patent number: 12005748
    Abstract: A tire having a transponder comprises: a crown which has a crown reinforcement with an axial end at each edge, joined at each of its axial ends to a bead, which has an inner end, by a sidewall; a carcass reinforcement which is formed of adjacent first wires and is anchored in each bead around a spiral formed by second wires; the transponder comprising a core defining a first axis, a first cover wire helically wound around the core and an electrical insulation device; and the first cover wire comprising at least two conductive wire elements galvanically connected to an electronic chip comprising a radiofrequency transceiver component. The thickness of the elastomer mixture separating the outer cover wire, which is located furthest outwards from the first axis, and the reinforcements is greater than 0.5 millimeter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN
    Inventors: Julien Destraves, Pierre Guinault, Michel Robert
  • Patent number: 12000718
    Abstract: A rotation sensor system includes a rotatable target object configured to rotate about a rotational axis in a rotation direction; a first millimeter-wave (mm-wave) metamaterial track coupled to the rotatable target object, where the first mm-wave metamaterial track is arranged around the rotational axis, and where the first mm-wave metamaterial track includes a first array of elementary structures having at least one first characteristic that changes around a perimeter of the first mm-wave metamaterial track; at least one transmitter configured to transmit a first electro-magnetic transmit signal towards the first mm-wave metamaterial track, where the first mm-wave metamaterial track converts the first electro-magnetic transmit signal into a first electro-magnetic receive signal; at least one receiver configured to receive the first electro-magnetic receive signal; and at least one processor configured to determine a rotational parameter of the rotatable target object based on the received first electro-magne
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Alexander Schossmann, Alexander Bergmann, Dirk Hammerschmidt, Christof Michenthaler
  • Patent number: 11999397
    Abstract: A system for railroad directive management is presented. The system can receive a myriad of data related to a directive, track segments, and/or vehicle events on the track and/or track segments. Vehicle- and/or event-specific data can be compared with one or more thresholds, including force thresholds, temporal thresholds, environmental thresholds, and/or event thresholds to determine whether and what kind of directive modification should be instantiated. Specialized algorithms can be implemented to trace vehicle paths along the track to determine whether directive-related segments are traversed, and specialized clustering algorithms can be utilized to cluster data unique to a particular segment on a per-segment basis. The system can be integrated with existing track infrastructure and can further generate alerts to notify coupled systems and/or personnel of directives and/or modification thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: BNSF Railway Company
    Inventors: Christopher Neil Pickard, Kyle Keilty Williams, Gregory Harrison, James Helm
  • Patent number: 11993492
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wheel system having a running wheel and a support body which at least partially surrounds the running wheel and in which the running wheel is mounted and from which the running wheel projects in order to come into contact with a rail. In order to allow predictive maintenance of the wheel system with a low inspection effort, it is proposed that a mechanical device for detecting and/or determining wear on the running wheel is mounted on the support body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Konecranes Global Corporation
    Inventors: Tony Hong, Henry Chen, Thomas Düllmann, Gregor Jansen, Lukas Pieper, Ralph Eising, Christoph Greger
  • Patent number: 11994438
    Abstract: A communication device of an embodiment includes a normal operation mode and a low-power consumption mode and includes a first memory unit, a second memory unit, and a control unit. The first memory unit includes a work area for execution of firmware configured to perform basic control of the communication device. The second memory unit stores software for communication with an external device. When transition is performed from the normal operation mode to the low-power consumption mode, the control unit stops voltage supply to the first memory unit and performs control to reduce voltage supplied to the second memory unit to lower than a voltage in the normal operation mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshimitsu Shimojo, Kiichiro Oya
  • Patent number: 11981165
    Abstract: A method for locating wheels of a motor vehicle. The vehicle including at least one central processing unit which includes a main ultra-wideband radio frequency transceiver and a plurality of wheel units, each including a secondary ultra-wideband radio frequency transceiver adapted for communicating with the main transceiver. The method includes at least one step of measuring the distance between the main transceiver and the secondary transceiver to be located, by analyzing the propagation time of an exchanged message, and a step of locating the wheel unit associated with the secondary transceiver to be located, on the basis of the distance measured in the measurement step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Stéphane Billy, Rachid Benbouhout, Jérôme Lee
  • Patent number: 11975572
    Abstract: An in-tire electric device having a bracket and an electric circuit unit detachably held by the bracket includes: an engagement protrusion and an engagement hole provided on the electric circuit unit and the bracket to engage with each other to restrict, through a two-step operation where the electric circuit unit is moved in a first direction and then moved or rotated in a second direction intersecting the first direction, all movements and rotations except for a reverse of the second direction; a retainer mounted on the bracket from a direction intersecting the second direction and facing the electric circuit unit in the second direction to restrict the electric circuit unit from moving in the second direction; and retainer locking portions formed on the bracket and the retainer and engage with each other by elastic deformation of one of the retainer locking portions to lock the retainer to the bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: PACIFIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hirohisa Yamada, Hiroki Isowa
  • Patent number: 11964515
    Abstract: An integrated tread wear sensor and tire pressure monitoring system sensor unit container for a tire includes a tread wear sensor plug and a sensor container. The tread wear sensor plug includes a cylindrical projection extending through an opening formed in a selected tread element of the tire. A flange extends outwardly from the projection and includes a contact surface that is mounted to an innerliner of the tire. A conductive wire is disposed in the tread wear sensor plug and includes proximal ends disposed in the flange and a distal end disposed near a radially outer surface of the projection. The sensor container includes a wall extending radially from the flange of the tread wear sensor plug and terminating in a lip. A container cavity is defined by the flange, the wall, and the lip, and receives a tire pressure monitoring system sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey McKay West, Arun Kumar Byatarayanapura Gopala, Michael William Kestner, Junling Zhao, Peter Jung-min Suh
  • Patent number: 11959889
    Abstract: An apparatus for testing paving samples includes a base that includes a paving sample tray about the cabinet and configured for translation relative to the cabinet. A roller is configured for imparting compressive forces to a sample carried by the sample tray. An arm is configured for moving the roller from a stowed position to an in-use position where the roller contacts the sample. A cylinder assembly having a piston therein supplies pressure forces to the arm to move the arm from the stowed position to the in-use position, wherein a depth of travel of the arm is limited by the sample. As the sample is compressed, the depth of travel increases. A measurement device is in communication with the cylinder for determining an amount of travel of the arm to thus determine an amount of compression of the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Troxler Electronic Laboratories Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Marchese, William Sanders, Yan Zhang, Robert Ernest Troxler
  • Patent number: 11945266
    Abstract: A system for estimating a tire load of a tire includes a pressure sensor configured to generate a tire pressure signal; an acceleration sensor configured to generate a tire acceleration signal; a temperature sensor configured to generate a tire temperature signal; and at least one processor configured to calculate a duration of a contact patch based on the tire acceleration signal, calculate a vehicle speed based on the tire acceleration signal, determine at least one system model coefficient based on the tire pressure signal and the tire temperature signal, and calculate the tire load of the tire using a linear system model that relates tire pressure, the duration of the contact patch, and the vehicle speed to the tire load of the tire, where the linear system model further includes the at least one system model coefficient for calculating the tire load of the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Christoph Steiner
  • Patent number: 11933687
    Abstract: A device for detecting a rail load fits into a bore of a rail and includes a sensor that generates a load signal under an action of the rail load caused when rail vehicles with wheels travel on the rail and the wheels exert a load onto the rail. The load signal is a measure for the rail load. The sensor includes at least one piezoelectric sensor element that generates electric polarization charges as the load signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: KISTLER HOLDING AG
    Inventor: Kim Pfluger
  • Patent number: 11927447
    Abstract: A method for primarily sensor-based navigation includes: in a first time period, collecting geophysical position data using a GPS receiver of a navigation device; in the first time period, collecting a first set of accelerometer data using an accelerometer of the navigation device; analyzing the first set of accelerometer data to produce a first set of vertical vehicular motion data; generating a mapping association between the first set of vertical vehicular motion data and the geophysical position data; in a second time period after the first time period, collecting a second set of accelerometer data using the accelerometer; analyzing the second set of accelerometer data to produce a second set of vertical vehicular motion data; and calculating an estimated location of the vehicle by analyzing the second set of vertical vehicular motion data in light of the mapping association.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Zendrive, Inc.
    Inventors: Romit Roy Choudhury, Jayanta Pal, Pankaj Risbood, Jonathan Matus
  • Patent number: 11905033
    Abstract: A method of determining whether a landing event of an aircraft is hard may comprise: receiving, by a controller via a stroke position sensor, a stroke profile as a function of time for a shock strut; receiving, by the controller via a gas pressure sensor, a gas pressure in a gas chamber of the shock strut; receiving, by the controller via a wheel speed sensor, a wheel speed of a tire in a landing gear assembly; calculating, by the controller, multiple time dependent functions based on the stroke profile of the shock strut, based on the gas pressure, a shock strut temperature, and the wheel speed; and comparing, by the controller, the multiple time dependent functions to respective predetermined thresholds to determine whether the landing event is hard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Adnan Cepic, Ebenezer Kielstra, Amir Fazeli
  • Patent number: 11904642
    Abstract: A TPMS inflation valve for a commercial vehicle includes an inflation valve body, an inflation valve seat and a sensor subassembly. The inflation valve body and the inflation valve seat are components split apart from each other. The inflation valve is mounted on an automobile rim by means of the inflation valve seat, and the inflation valve body is provided with an installation portion for a valve core. The inflation valve body and the inflation valve seat are assembled and connected to form an airflow channel for communication. A cavity located outside the automobile rim and close to the automobile rim is formed at the position where the inflation valve body and the inflation valve seat are assembled and connected. The sensor subassembly is arranged in the cavity in communication with the airflow channel of the inflation valve or located on the airflow channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: HAMATON AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jianer Zhang
  • Patent number: 11897296
    Abstract: A tire monitoring apparatus comprises a sensor housing having a connection part integrated with the sensor housing, the connection part having an elongated opening and a corresponding mounting feature in a wheel rim, wherein a screw extends through the elongated opening and connects with the corresponding mounting feature in the wheel rim, thereby when the screw is not tightened fully, the sensor housing can be rotated with respect to the corresponding mounting feature in the wheel rim, and when the screw is tightened fully, the sensor housing is secured in place and does not rotate with respect to the corresponding mounting feature in the wheel rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: SENSATA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Michael D. Weston, Thomas J. O'Brien
  • Patent number: 11900629
    Abstract: In various examples, surface profile estimation and bump detection may be performed based on a three-dimensional (3D) point cloud. The 3D point cloud may be filtered in view of a portion of an environment including drivable free-space, and within a threshold height to factor out other objects or obstacles other than a driving surface and protuberances thereon. The 3D point cloud may be analyzed—e.g., using a sliding window of bounding shapes along a longitudinal or other heading direction—to determine one-dimensional (1D) signal profiles corresponding to heights along the driving surface. The profile itself may be used by a vehicle—e.g., an autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle—to help in navigating the environment, and/or the profile may be used to detect bumps, humps, and/or other protuberances along the driving surface, in addition to a location, orientation, and geometry thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: NVIDIA Corporation
    Inventors: Minwoo Park, Yue Wu, Michael Grabner, Cheng-Chieh Yang
  • Patent number: 11879809
    Abstract: In a vehicle action simulation method according to the present invention, a behavior of an actual vehicle during travel is predicted, and an attitude of a tire and a rotational speed of a rotary drum are changed to reproduce a transient change in a tire attitude that occurs during the travel of the actual vehicle on the tire while the predicted behavior of the actual vehicle during travel is reflected, stress applied to the tire in contact with the rotary drum of a tire ground contact characteristic measuring portion is measured, tire ground contact characteristics are calculated, the behavior of the actual vehicle during travel is predicted while vehicle characteristics predicted from the tire ground contact characteristics are reflected, and the prediction, the reproduction, the measurement of stress, and the calculation are performed in parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takahisa Kamikura, Hiroshi Kato
  • Patent number: 11874198
    Abstract: A tire inspection device includes a gas sensor disposed outside of a tire and facing an outer surface of the tire. The gas sensor detects a gas that fills the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: YAMAHA FINE TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuichi Doki, Takeshi Kato, Akane Iizuka
  • Patent number: 11867588
    Abstract: A tire testing device includes a carriage configured to rotatably hold a test wheel provided with a test tire and being capable of travelling on a base along a road surface in a state where the test wheel is made to contact the road surface, and a driving system configured to drive the test wheel and the carriage. The driving system includes a carriage driving part configured to drive the carriage with respect to the road surface in a predetermined speed, a test wheel driving part configured to drive the test wheel in a rotating speed corresponding to the predetermined speed, a driving part configured to generate power to be used to drive the carriage and the test wheel, and a power distributing part configured to distribute power generated by the driving part to the carriage driving part and the test wheel driving part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: KOKUSAI KEISOKUKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Sigeru Matsumoto, Hiroshi Miyashita, Kazuhiro Murauchi, Shuichi Tokita
  • Patent number: 11861819
    Abstract: A system and method for calibrating a machine vision system on the undercarriage of a rail vehicle while the rail vehicle is in the field is presented. The system enables operators to calibrate the machine vision system without having to remove the machine vision system from the undercarriage of the rail vehicle. The system can capture, by a camera of an image capturing module, a first image of a target. The image capturing module and a drum can be attached to a fixture and the target can be attached to the drum. The system can also determine a number of lateral pixels in a lateral pitch distance of the image of the target, determining a lateral object pixel size based on the number of lateral pixels, and determining a drum encoder rate based on the lateral object pixel size. The drum encoder rate can be programmed into a drum encoder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: BNSF Railway Company
    Inventor: Darrell R. Krueger
  • Patent number: 11850895
    Abstract: A method is provided for dynamically determining a tire longitudinal force. The method includes determining a tire acceleration variable by an acceleration sensor arranged in a tire bead, determining a first time interval between a tire contact patch entry point and an acceleration vertex by a processor unit, and determining a second time interval between the acceleration vertex and a tire contact patch exit point by the processor unit. The method also includes determining a magnitude or direction of a tire longitudinal force variable comprising a tire longitudinal force by the processor unit from a symmetry shift detected between the first and second time intervals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Florian Schott, Norbert Fritz
  • Patent number: 11846339
    Abstract: A method of balancing an assembly of a wheel and a tire, may include measuring a maximum-value position of RFV of a tire and marking the measured maximum-value position, as a tire reference position, measuring each of the internal runout and external runout of the wheel, extracting a primary component of a waveform of the measured internal runout and a primary component of a waveform of the measured external runout and setting the former and latter measured primary components to be internal and external runout waveforms, respectively, synthesizing the internal and external runout waveforms and marking a minimum-value position on a synthesis waveform resulting from the synthesizing, as a wheel reference position, and aligning the tire reference position on the tire and the wheel reference position on the wheel to have the same phase and assembling the wheel and the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Young Sam Yoon
  • Patent number: 11845540
    Abstract: An apparatus for determining tire pressure of an aircraft tire. The apparatus includes a processing system configured to: obtain a first set and a second set of tire measurement data for an aircraft, wherein the first set is from a start of a flight cycle and the second set is from a time before the first set; and determine a steady state tire pressure based on the first and second sets of measurement data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Airbus Operations Limited
    Inventor: Michael Robertson
  • Patent number: 11842168
    Abstract: An electronic system includes a mapping circuit configured to receive input samples of a dataset within a defined range of values. The mapping circuit is configured to perform comparisons that compare each input sample to each of a plurality of comparison values selected from the defined range of values. For each comparison, the mapping circuit generates an indication value specifying whether the input sample used in the comparison is greater than or equal to the comparison value used in the comparison. The system includes an adder circuit configured to generate a sum of the indication values for each comparison value and a memory configured to maintain counts corresponding to the comparison values. The counts are updated by the respective sums. The system includes a threshold detection circuit configured to determine, for the dataset, a threshold value or threshold range based on the counts read from the memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Xilinx, Inc.
    Inventors: Sai Lalith Chaitanya Ambatipudi, Vamsi Krishna Nalluri, Sandeep Jayant Sathe, Chaithanya Dudha, Krishna Kishore Bhagavatula
  • Patent number: 11840242
    Abstract: A method and a device for ascertaining a dynamic tire circumference of a transportation vehicle. The method includes: receiving a first signal representing a yaw rate of the transportation vehicle, a second signal representing a wheel rotation speed of a wheel of the transportation vehicle, a third signal representing a steering angle of the transportation vehicle, and a fourth signal representing a dynamic track width of the transportation vehicle; ascertaining a first output signal of a first Kalman filter that represents the dynamic tire circumference of the wheel, using the first signal, the second signal, the third signal, and the fourth signal as input signals for the first Kalman filter; and using the first output signal in a control unit of the transportation vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Stepan Kroupa, Ussama Lazouane, Fabian Stein, Harald Michi
  • Patent number: 11834081
    Abstract: A track recording vehicle for detecting the resilience of a rail track has a machine frame supported on two rail-mounted undercarriages. A first measuring system detects a vertical distance of the rail track under load and a second measuring system detects a vertical distance of the rail track under no load or with reduced load. The first measuring system is coupled to an evaluation device for calculating the course of a first vertical sine and the second measuring system determines a course of a second vertical sine, relative to a common reference base defined by two outer measuring points under load, at an interposed central measuring point without or with reduced load. The evaluation device calculates a subsidence of the rail track under load from the two vertical sines. The track recording vehicle detects a subsidence of the rail track under load in a single measuring run.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Plasser & Theurer Export von Bahnbaumaschinen GmbH
    Inventor: Florian Auer
  • Patent number: 11835421
    Abstract: Sensor assemblies and systems comprise a housing configured with an electrical sensor device retained therein to protect the sensor device. The housing may include display indicia relating to some aspect of the sensor assembly. The electrical sensor device include electrical components useful for the purpose of monitoring and transmitting desired data relating to operating parameters/conditions of the dynamic article that the sensor assembly is attached with. The data is transmitted wirelessly from the electrical sensor device. The housing is removably attached with a retaining member that is also attached with the dynamic article or an element connected thereto. A receiver external from the dynamic article receives the data to determine such operating parameter/or conditions, when the dynamic article is a vehicle tire, as outside diameter, tread depth, pressure, radial load, vehicle camber and/or toe alignment variations, and tire/vehicle location, which may be stored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Inventor: Keith George Ferry
  • Patent number: 11830297
    Abstract: To provide an enhanced method to determine from a driving characteristics of the vehicle a long term mechanical stress of a vehicle, it is proposed that during operation of the vehicle an acceleration of the vehicle is detected by an acceleration sensor in the vehicle and evaluated by a vehicle analyzing system in the vehicle, wherein a driving parameter occurring during an acceleration event in which the vehicle acceleration is above a predetermined threshold is used to determine a driving characteristics value of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Inventor: Walter Steven Rosenbaum
  • Patent number: 11814189
    Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring a tire and/or a wheel including a sensor system; a wireless communication interface; a processor connected to the sensor system and the wireless communication interface; a power source; and a mounting system for attaching the apparatus to a wheel. The mounting system is configured to allow movement of the sensor system relative to the wheel in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Airbus Operations Limited
    Inventor: Andrew Bill
  • Patent number: 11807291
    Abstract: A method can be used to adapt a steering torque for controlling a feedback actuator of a steer-by-wire motor vehicle steering system. The method may involve providing a basic steering torque, providing a rack-force-based steering torque, determining a difference between the basic steering torque and the rack-force-based steering torque, and if the difference exceeds a predetermined limit value adapting the basic steering torque to the rack-force-based steering torque and transmitting a resulting steering torque to control the feedback actuator. However, if the difference remains below the predetermined limit value, then the method may involve transmitting the basic steering torque to control the feedback actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignees: thyssenkrupp Presta AG, thyssenkrupp AG
    Inventor: Manuel Rohrmoser
  • Patent number: 11809788
    Abstract: A method for simulating the physical behavior of a tire comprises, to calculate a resultant force transmitted by the tire between the ground and the vehicle at a given instant: modelling (Ea) of the contact area in the form of a square surface, discretization (Eb) by a subdivision in slices orthogonal to the direction of travel of the tire, determination (Ec) of the nature of the contact, gripping or sliding, as a function of the steering lock angle, calculation (Ed) of the elementary force exerted on the slice by application of predetermined equations, tire, and calculation (Ee) of the resultant force by integration of the elementary forces over the entire square surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN
    Inventor: Jeremy Vayssettes
  • Patent number: 11801726
    Abstract: Systems and methods for determining the location of a vehicle are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for localizing a vehicle includes driving over a first road segment, identifying by a first localization system a set of candidate road segments, obtaining vertical motion data while driving over the first road segment, comparing the obtained vertical motion data to reference vertical motion data associated with at least one candidate road segment, and identifying, based on the comparison, a location of the vehicle. The use of such localization methods and systems in coordination with various advanced vehicle systems such as, for example, active suspension systems or autonomous driving features, is contemplated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: ClearMotion, Inc.
    Inventors: Vijayaraghavan Sridhar, John Parker Eisenmann, Yu Jiang, David Francis Weatherwax
  • Patent number: 11787454
    Abstract: A railcar acoustic monitoring system including a first trackside frame assembly that includes a first outer frame assembly, a second outer frame assembly, and a first inner frame assembly. The first outer frame assembly including a first microphone assembly positioned on a first outer side of the first rail of the railroad track, the first microphone assembly oriented to receive acoustic signals associated with the passing train. The second outer frame assembly including a second microphone assembly positioned on a second outer side of a second rail of the railroad track, the second microphone assembly oriented to receive acoustic signals associated with the passing train. The first inner frame assembly including a first housing, a third microphone assembly oriented to receive acoustic signals emanating from the first rail, and a fourth microphone assembly oriented to receive acoustic signals associated with the passing train.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: VOESTALPINE SIGNALING USA INC.
    Inventors: James R. Bilodeau, John D. Ritchey, Eric C. Sprengle, Jody Lutz
  • Patent number: 11787242
    Abstract: Embodiments included herein are directed towards systems and methods for tire pressure monitoring. Embodiments may include transmitting a first Bluetooth Low Energy (“BLE”) event at a Phase Auto-Location (“PAL”) block associated with a vehicle electronic control unit (“ECU”). Embodiments may further include generating a random number to be used for an inter-event delay associated with a BLE system, wherein the inter-event delay includes a fixed time and a randomized delay. Embodiments may also include calculating a time for the randomized delay and adding the time to an encoded Look Back Time (“LBT”) from the first BLE event to generate frame contents. Embodiments may further include providing the frame contents and the random number to a stack for transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: SENSATA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Samuel D. Houston, Jonathan Edward Barr, Nevin R. Molyneaux
  • Patent number: 11787240
    Abstract: A tire air pressure warning device includes a tire air pressure sensor and at least one controller that warns a driver that a tire air pressure detected by the tire air pressure sensor has dropped to or below a first prescribed pressure. The at least one controller further notifies the driver is reduction in the tire air pressure upon determining that the tire air pressure has dropped to or below a second prescribed pressure, which is above the first prescribed pressure. The at least one controller further determines whether the tire air pressure has dropped to or below the second prescribed pressure based on when the tire air pressure is at or below the second prescribed pressure in an ignition switch on state, and whether the tire air pressure has dropped to or below the second prescribed pressure when the ignition switch is turned off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takahisa Arai
  • Patent number: 11780276
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a tyre with a monitoring device fixed on an inner surface at a crown portion, wherein the monitoring device includes an electronic unit and an electric power supplier, wherein the electronic unit includes a sensor for detecting at least one of temperature, pressure, acceleration, deformation; a processing unit; a transceiver, wherein the monitoring device includes a flexible support on which the electronic unit and the electric energy supplier are fixed, and wherein an acute angle (A) formed between a main development direction (L) of the flexible support and a direction of intersection of the equatorial plane of the tyre with the inner surface of the tyre is greater than or equal to 20° and lower than or equal to 70°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: PIRELLI TYRE S.p.A.
    Inventors: Cristiano Puppi, Ivan Gildo Boscaino, Andrea Natta
  • Patent number: 11780273
    Abstract: A method for extracting changes in characteristics of a tire supporting a vehicle is provided. The method includes extracting selected tire characteristics from at least one sensor mounted on the tire. The selected tire characteristics are transmitted to a remote processor and are stored in a historical data log that is in communication with the remote processor. At least one tire characteristic of interest is selected, and a time series decomposition model is applied to data from the historical data log to delineate exogenous inputs from an underlying trend in the selected tire characteristic of interest. A learning model is applied to the underlying trend in the selected tire characteristic of interest to model a relationship between the selected tire characteristic of interest and a condition of the tire. A prediction value for a condition of the tire is output from the learning model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Kanwar Bharat Singh, Mustafa Ali Arat
  • Patent number: 11761811
    Abstract: A measurement method includes: a step of acquiring, based on observation information obtained by an observation device, first observation point information including a time point when each of a plurality of parts of a moving object passes a first observation point of a structure and a physical quantity which is a response to an action of each of the plurality of parts on the first observation point; a step of acquiring, based on the observation information, second observation point information including a time point when each of the plurality of parts passes a second observation point and a physical quantity which is a response to an action of each of the plurality of parts on the second observation point; a step of calculating, based on the first observation point information, the second observation point information, a predetermined coefficient, and an approximate expression of deflection of the structure, a deflection waveform of the structure generated by each of the plurality of parts; and a step of calc
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11761852
    Abstract: A road simulation test system and method for testing torsional strain input to an axle assembly having an input shaft and a suspension system, including a torque input module configured to apply rotary torque to the axle assembly. The torque input module includes a rotary actuator, a torsional load cell, a drive shaft connection portion, and a controller in communication with the rotary actuator and the torsional load cell, wherein upon receipt of an instruction from the controller, the rotary actuator is configured to rotate the input shaft to apply the rotary torque to the axle assembly, and as the rotary actuator rotates the input shaft, a signal indicative of a torsional load is communicated by the torsional load cell to the controller to monitor the rotary torque applied to the axle assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Duic, Dan Pereira, Dan Pannunzio, Steven Fabischek
  • Patent number: 11761812
    Abstract: A measurement method includes: a step of acquiring first observation point information including a time point when each part of a moving object passes a first observation point and a physical quantity which is a response to an action; a step of acquiring second observation point information including a time point when the each part passes a second observation point and a physical quantity which is a response to an action; a step of calculating a deflection waveform of a structure generated by the each part; a step of adding the deflection waveforms to calculate a moving object deflection waveform, and calculating a path deflection waveform based on the moving object deflection waveform; a step of calculating a displacement waveform by twice integrating an acceleration of a third observation point; and a step of calculating, based on the path deflection waveform, a value of each coefficient of a polynomial approximating an integration error, and correcting the displacement waveform based on the value of each c
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11761857
    Abstract: The device for rotating and inspecting tires includes a housing having opposed upper and lower surfaces, with a ramp portion of the upper surface being inclined and a support portion of the upper surface having a depression formed therein. A pair of spaced apart slots are formed through the upper surface within the depression. A pair of rollers are mounted within the housing beneath the pair of spaced apart slots. Each of the rollers has an adjustable height such that the pair of rollers may be selectively raised and lowered through the pair of spaced apart slots. The rollers are driven to rotate by motors or the like such that, in use, each tire may be lifted off the upper surface of the housing by raising the rollers, and the rollers may be driven to rotate the tire. Optical sensors are provided to inspect the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: KING FAISAL UNIVERSITY
    Inventor: Mohieddine Rahmouni
  • Patent number: 11759187
    Abstract: A foot switch (1, 26) for use with a medical device (16, 27, 28) comprises an interface (10) for a communications link between the foot switch (1, 26) and a control unit (12) of the device (16, 27, 28) and comprises at least one pedal (2, 3) for operating the foot switch (1, 26) using a foot. An operation sensor (17) captures an operation of the foot switch (1, 26) for switching a function of the medical device (16, 27, 28). The control unit (12) assigns the function to the pedal (2, 3) via the interface (10) and the assigned function is displayed on the foot switch (1, 26) by a multicolor LED (4, 5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: KARL STORZ SE & CO KG
    Inventors: Alexander Sabo, Carina Zimmermann
  • Patent number: 11760140
    Abstract: A method for checking the tire pressure of a vehicle (1), which vehicle comprises at least one vehicle wheel (3) and a vehicle body (2) which is supported elastically on the vehicle wheel (3). The wheel includes a tire (7), filled with gas, on which wheel the vehicle stands on a subsurface (8). The vehicle body (2) is loaded with an additional mass and thereby the vehicle body is stimulated into a mechanical oscillation (16) relative to the subsurface (8). A response signal (A), that characterizes the mechanical oscillation (16), is measured and analyzed, whereby at least one response value that characterizes the current gas pressure in the tire is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Dennis Pape, Peter Hofmann
  • Patent number: RE49844
    Abstract: A surface profiler including at least one front support wheel and at least one rear support wheel for travelling along the surface of a profile to be measured, the rotational axes of said wheels being longitudinally spaced, and the wheels contacting the surface being profiled in a collinear manner. A frame carried on the wheels carries at least one inclinometer and at least two vertical distance measuring apparatus such as lasers, and may also carry an optical encoder. The lasers are collinear with each other and with the wheels. Incremental to measurements of inclination angles provided by the inclinometer, together with incremental measurements of distance to the surface being measured provided by the lasers, produce a continuous, high resolution mathematical series of elevations representing the surface profile, including reproduction of surface features that are smaller than the distance between the wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Inventor: Paul Toom