07th week of 2014 patent applcation highlights part 55 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20140046504 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONTROLLING AN AERIAL UNIT - An aerial unit, a method and a system are provide, the system includes a ground unit; an aerial unit and a connecting element arranged to connect the ground unit to the aerial unit. The ground unit may include a connecting element manipulator, a ground unit controller for controlling the connecting element manipulator; and a ground unit location sensor arranged to generate ground unit location information indicative of a location of the ground unit. The wherein the aerial unit may include a first propeller, a frame, a first propeller motor, at least one steering element; and an aerial unit location sensor arranged to generate aerial unit location information indicative of a location of the aerial unit. At least one of the ground unit and the aerial unit includes a controller that is arranged to control, at least in response to a relationship between the aerial unit location information and the ground unit location information, at least one of the first propeller motor and the at least one steering element to affect at least one of the location of the aerial unit and an orientation of the aerial unit. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046505 | MOBILE OBJECT, SYSTEM, AND STORAGE MEDIUM - There is provided a mobile object including an input detection unit configured to detect an input from an outside, an acquisition unit configured to acquire environmental information detected by a sensor in a remote location, in accordance with a content of detection performed by the input detection unit, and a control unit configured to control an actuator other than a driving actuator in accordance with the environmental information acquired by the acquisition unit, the driving actuator relating to movement of the mobile object. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046506 | METHOD OF AUTONOMOUS MOVEMENT OF A VEHICLE IN A PARKING AREA - In a method of autonomous driving a vehicle on a parking area, a movement of a vehicle is controlled by an external stationary control device which is located in or in vicinity of the parking area and capable of steering the vehicle autonomously to or from an assigned parking space. An impending or actual collision with another moving or parked vehicle is detected by at least one sensor of the vehicle; and data generated by the sensor is analyzed by an evaluation unit. In response to the situation at hand, the control device makes a behavioral decision, such as, e.g., triggering an alert signal or maneuvering the vehicle. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046507 | COLLABORATIVE AUTOMATED MOBILE PLATFORM - A collaborative robotized system comprises: a mobile platform furnished with running means, with an electric motor propulsion assembly, and with a longitudinal mechanical linkage assembly comprising an articulation; an electrical power source; manual means of control of the system; means of remote control of the system; a computer assembly of at least one computer; hardware-incorporating means suitable for integrating sensors and effectors, and software-incorporating means suitable for integrating software elements; and management means for managing integrated sensorimotor behaviors, suitable for arbitrating implementations of several sensorimotor behaviors in parallel. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046508 | PROVIDING VEHICLE SERVICES AND CONTROL OVER A CELLULAR DATA NETWORK - Providing vehicle services and control over a cellular data network is disclosed. Vehicle maintenance and operation information may be provided to a vehicle. An instruction to remotely control locks or a horn of the vehicle based on security levels and other criteria is also disclosed. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046509 | VEHICLE-USE SIGNAL INFORMATION PROCESSING DEVICE AND VEHICLE-USE SIGNAL INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD, AS WELL AS DRIVING ASSISTANCE DEVICE AND DRIVING ASSISTANCE METHOD - A signal information processing device and a signal information processing method for calculating the state of a traffic light for driving assistance for traffic lights for which signal information is not transmitted from a roadside apparatus, and a driving assistance device and a driving assistance method for performing driving assistance on the basis of the calculated state of the traffic light. A driving assistance ECU of a vehicle acquires signal information corresponding to a first traffic light and information indicating the driving environment of the vehicle corresponding to a second traffic light placed at a position different from the first traffic light. The driving assistance ECU is provided with a signal information processing unit, which estimates signal information of the second traffic light by performing a computation on the basis of the signal information corresponding to the first traffic light and the information indicating the driving environment of the vehicle. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046510 | ESTIMATING A WIND VECTOR - Methods and devices for calculating an estimate of a wind vector. A maneuver of a platform may be identified as a steady-straight motion maneuver, a partial turn maneuver, or a full turn maneuver. A preliminary estimate of a wind vector corresponding to a wind condition prevailing near the platform may be calculated by applying a maneuver-specific calculating method. A gain associated with the preliminary estimate of the wind vector may be calculated by applying a state-specific calculation method. A filtered estimate of the wind vector may be updated based, at least in part, on the preliminary estimate of the wind vector and the gain associated with the to preliminary estimate of the wind vector. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046511 | SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING ENGINE INLET AIR TEMPERATURE - A system for controlling engine inlet air temperature may include a compressor configured to increase pressure of air at an engine air inlet and at least one aftercooler configured to reduce the engine inlet air temperature. The system may also include a temperature sensor configured to provide signals indicative of ambient air temperature and a pressure sensor configured to provide signals indicative of ambient air pressure. The system may include a controller configured to receive signals indicative of the ambient air temperature and the ambient air pressure and determine a desired engine inlet air temperature based on the signals indicative of the ambient air temperature and the ambient air pressure. The controller may be configured to control operation of the at least one aftercooler based on the desired engine air inlet temperature. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046512 | AUTOMATED DELIVERY VEHICLE, SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR AUTOMATED DELIVERY - Provided is a delivery vehicle and methods and systems for automated delivery using the delivery vehicle. The automated delivery method comprises receiving, by a processing device, an order from a buyer. The order specifies one or more products to be delivered to the buyer and itinerary information. The processing device transmits the order to a placer robot. The placer robot positions the one or more products to a delivery vehicle. Then, the delivery vehicle may transport the products to a delivery destination based on the order. The delivery vehicle may be driverless and lightweight and move automatically. The delivery vehicle may move on a flat track using itinerary information of the order. Additionally, the delivery vehicle may use a Global Positioning System to determine own location and compare it to the itinerary information. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046513 | Route Examining System And Method - A route examining system includes an application device, a control unit, a detection unit, and an identification unit. The application device is onboard a first vehicle of a first vehicle system traveling along a route. The control unit controls supply of electric current from a power source to the application device in order to electrically inject an examination signal into the route via the application device. The detection unit is off-board of the first vehicle and monitors electrical characteristics of the route in response to the examination signal being injected into the route. The identification unit is off-board of the first vehicle and examines the one or more electrical characteristics of the route in order to determine whether a section of the route extending between the first vehicle and the detection unit is potentially damaged based on the one or more electrical characteristics. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046514 | ACTUATOR FOR A BRAKE SYSTEM OF A RAIL VEHICLE - An actuator for a brake system of a rail vehicle has a set-value detection unit that outputs a set value or a set value corrected by a reducing signal of an anti-skid control device for a decelerating force or a decelerating torque to a set-value control device. The latter controls the set value to a first output set value. A switch-over device connects an output of the set-value control device to a input of a set-value/force conversion device in a first switching position. In a second switching position, the set-value/force conversion device receives the signal from a fall-back unit. Braking devices convert an actual value of the force into an actual value of the decelerating force or decelerating torque. When impermissible deviations from a fast braking set value in a fast-braking operation are found, the switch-over device switches from the first to the second switching position. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046515 | MARINE VESSEL PROPULSION CONTROL DEVICE, MARINE VESSEL PROPULSION APPARATUS, AND MARINE VESSEL - A marine vessel propulsion control device includes a marine vessel maneuvering pattern storage section that stores a plurality of marine vessel maneuvering patterns corresponding to a plurality of combinations of a propulsion device attached to a marine vessel and an operation device attached to the marine vessel, a selection information storage section that stores selection information that specifies one marine vessel maneuvering pattern selected from the plurality of marine vessel maneuvering patterns, and a control section programmed to read out from the marine vessel maneuvering pattern storage section a marine vessel maneuvering pattern corresponding to selection information stored in the selection information storage section, and to output a command signal to the propulsion device according to an operation signal of the operation device based on the read-out marine vessel maneuvering pattern. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046516 | Electric Lawn Tractor Roll Away Prevention System - An electric lawn tractor roll away prevention system includes a brushless DC electric motor powering a traction drive wheel on the electric lawn tractor. The motor is connected to phase wires and provides a back EMF voltage on the phase wires if the electric lawn tractor roils and turns the traction drive wheel without electric power from the motor. A three phase inverter rectifies the back EMF voltage, turns on the traction controller if the rectified voltage reaches a pre-specified threshold, and applies a voltage to the phase wires to reduce the speed of the electric lawn tractor by regenerative braking. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046517 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING A MULTI-MODE POWERTRAIN SYSTEM - A powertrain system includes a multi-mode transmission configured to transfer torque among an engine, torque machines, and a driveline. A method for controlling the powertrain includes executing a dual closed-loop control scheme that includes determining an engine-based output torque range employed in a first feedback loop and simultaneously determining a control acceleration-based output torque range employed in a second feedback loop. Engine commands are controlled responsive to the engine-based output torque range and simultaneously a control acceleration is controlled responsive to the control acceleration-based output torque range to achieve an output torque of the powertrain system responsive to an output torque request. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046518 | METHOD OF SELECTING MODES OF OPERATION FOR A HYBRID VEHICLE - A method for enabling a user of a hybrid vehicle to assign different modes of operation to different segments of a particular route instead of, for example, simply operating the vehicle in an electric mode until its battery is depleted and then switching to an engine or charge-sustaining mode. This method may be useful in situations where a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) is being frequently driven on a particular route whose distance exceeds the PHEV's electric mode range. The customized route, complete with operating mode selections for certain route segments, can be stored at the vehicle and automatically implemented when the vehicle recognizes the stored route. Other potential features include evaluating the route after it has been developed and/or driven and providing the user with some feedback so that they can make it more efficient. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046519 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING A SOLUTION TO A LINEAR CONSTRAINTS PROBLEM IN A MULTI-MODE POWERTRAIN SYSTEM - A method for operating a powertrain system includes determining an objective function for an object component of interest of the powertrain system. Constraints are determined for a plurality of independent variables and dependent variables. Permutations of the objective function are evaluated with reference to the independent variables and the dependent variables. The objective function is evaluated to determine maximum and minimum values for the objective function for each of the permutations. Overall minimum and maximum values for the objective function are determined based upon the maximum and minimum values for the objective function for each of the permutations. Operation of the powertrain system associated with the object component of interest is controlled based upon the overall minimum and maximum values for the objective function. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046520 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING HYBRID FUNCTIONALITY IN A VEHICLE - A method and apparatus for providing hybrid functionality aboard a vehicle having a high voltage (HV) energy storage system (ESS) electrically connected to a VITM and a battery disconnect unit (BDU) including a precharge contactor and a high voltage (HV) contactor, a voltage sensor and a controller is provided. The method includes detecting an ESS/HV bus data fault, measuring and storing an initial HV bus voltage, closing the precharge contactor in the BDU, measuring a present HV bus voltage when the precharge contactor has been closed a predetermined short time and indicating if an actual ESS/HV bus fault exists, measuring the present HV bus voltage until either the present HV bus voltage is greater than the predetermined high voltage indicating that no actual ESS/HV bus fault exists or the time the precharge contactor is closed is greater than a predetermined maximum time indicating that an actual ESS/HV bus fault exists. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046521 | METHOD AND APPARATUS TO STABLIZE SELECTION OF OPERATING STATES USING ENERGY BASED STABLIZATION STRATEGY FOR HYBRID POWERTRAIN SYSTEMS - A method for stabilizing selection between a plurality of operating range states of an electro-mechanical transmission configured to transfer torque among an engine, at least one electric machine, and a driveline includes requesting execution of a shift from a first operating range state to a second operating range state. Costs associated with operating the transmission in each of the plurality of operating range states including the first and second operating range states are monitored and an energy differential between the first and second operating range states is determined based on the monitored costs. The shift from the first operating range state to the second operating range state is executed only if the energy differential achieves an integration threshold. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046522 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR STATE SELECTION STABILIZATION FOR ELECTRIFIED POWERTRAINS - A method for stabilizing selection between a plurality of operating range states of an electro-mechanical multi-mode transmission configured to transfer torque among an engine, at least one electric machine, and a driveline includes requesting operation of the transmission in a preferred operating range state while a shift from a first operating range state to a second operating range state is in progress prior to achieving the second operating range state. Powertrain information is monitored and compared to a driver perception threshold only if a change of mind condition is detected. The shift to the second operating range state is avoided and a shift to the preferred operating range state is commanded if the powertrain information does not violate the driver perception threshold. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046523 | ENHANCED METHOD FOR CHOOSING OPTIMAL ENGINE SPEED AND TORQUE - A method for determining a preferred engine speed and a preferred engine torque of a selected operating range state of an electro-mechanical multi-mode transmission configured to transfer torque among an engine, at least one electric machine and a drive includes selecting between of a first search window and a second search window. Each of the first and second search windows includes a two-dimensional search window definable by a first axis having minimum and maximum engine speed values and a second axis having minimum and maximum engine torque values. A plurality of candidate operating points within the selected one of the first and second search windows is iteratively generated. One of the plurality of candidate operating points within the selected one of the first and second search windows is iteratively determined as an optimum operating point. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046524 | BATTERY PACK CONDENSATION PREVENTION - A battery control system for an electric vehicle including a battery pack includes a dew point calculation module that receives at least a first signal indicative of humidity within the battery pack and a second signal indicative of temperature within the battery pack, and that calculates a dew point within the battery pack based on the humidity and the temperature. A coolant system control module receives the dew point and a requested coolant temperature, sets a desired coolant temperature based on the dew point and the requested coolant temperature, and selectively operates a coolant system of the battery pack based on the desired coolant temperature. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046525 | START CONTROL APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR A HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLE - Disclosed is a start control apparatus and method for a hybrid electric vehicle which provides starting of a second gear ratio or a first ratio based on an inclination of a road surface, a travel environment, and a state of the vehicle when the hybrid electric vehicle stops and then starts. The method includes: determining a state of the hybrid electric vehicle, a travel environment condition, and a state of charge (SOC) of a battery when a start request is detected in a stopped state while the vehicle maintains ignition on; determining whether the state of the hybrid electric vehicle, the travel environment condition, and the SOC of the battery satisfy start conditions of a second gear ratio; and when the start conditions are satisfied, controlling output torques of a motor and an engine corresponding to a torque requested from an accelerator pedal in an EV mode or an HEV mode. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046526 | VEHICLE CONTROL DEVICE - A vehicle control device is disclosed which calculates a drive torque requirement Treq as a target running force output value for a vehicle on the basis of the amount of driving operation by a driver; calculates a correction torque ΔTreq for suppressing vehicle sprung body vibration; controls an engine and an electric motor on the basis of a post-correction drive torque requirement Tareq which is derived by correcting the drive torque requirement Treq with the correction torque ΔTreq, and controls the indication of the operation state of the electric motor. The correction torque ΔTreq includes at least a feed-back control amount ΔTfb as a disturbance-based correction amount. The indication of the operation state of the electric motor is conducted on the basis of a target running force output value for display in which the influence of the feed-back control amount ΔTfb is reduced as compared with the value Tareq. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046527 | DRIVE CONTROL APPARATUS FOR HYBRID VEHICLE - An object of the present invention is to improve drivability and traveling feeling without influence of torque variation of an internal combustion engine on a drive torque while ensuring the compatibility with a driving force and charge/discharge by control. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046528 | Method And Electronic System For The Automatic Management Of The Energy Autonomy Of A Vehicle Particularly Of Electric Vehicles - A method is described for the automatic management of the energy autonomy of a vehicle, and includes receiving a signal for indicating a distance and/or a path to cover, and dividing the distance and/or path into space intervals; calculating an allowable variation of energy capacity in a space interval based on energy capacity detected by the sensors and on variation laws of the energy capacity; determining limit conditions for the speed and/or acceleration of the vehicle, on the basis of a map, chosen among a plurality of maps of speed-acceleration-variation of energy capacity; generating a regulated instantaneous torque request on the basis of the speed and/or acceleration detected by the plurality of sensors, of the determined limit conditions for the speed and/or acceleration and of the instantaneous torque request generated by the first central control unit. An electronic system capable of implementing such a method is described. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046529 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR OPERATING A DRIVELINE DISCONNECT CLUTCH - Systems and methods for improving operation of a hybrid vehicle are presented. In one example, application of a driveline disconnect clutch to start an engine is described. The approach applies the driveline disconnect clutch to rotate an engine and at least partially disengages the driveline disconnect clutch to reduce the possibility of a reduction in torque applied to vehicle wheels. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046530 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PLANNING A TURN PATH FOR A MACHINE - A system for controlling a first machine performing a turn includes a controller configured to identify a desired turn for the first machine. The desired turn is formed by two adjacent traffic lanes. The two traffic lanes include a first traffic lane and a second traffic lane. The controller is further configured to receive information regarding a second machine and determine whether to control the first machine to follow a lane crossing path for performing the desired turn based on the received information. The lane crossing path includes a portion of the first traffic lane and a portion of the second traffic lane such that the first machine changes between the first traffic lane and the second traffic lane to perform the desired turn. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046531 | REMOTE DISTRIBUTION OF SOFTWARE UPDATES IN A TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT NETWORK - A network device includes a memory, a processor, a display, and a network communication module configured to receive vehicle data, driver information, and driver communications, at pre-determined times, from at least one portable wireless data transfer and display device via a long-range wireless network. The network device is configured to present the vehicle data, driver information, driver communication, driver summary electronic report to a user via the display. The network device is configured to remotely update of at least one portable wireless data transfer and display device or at least one data acquisition devices associated with a portable wireless data transfer and display device via the network communication module. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046532 | ABNORMALITY DETERMINATION DEVICE AND METHOD OF LONGITUDINAL ACCELERATION SENSOR - The running control device and method according to the present invention are those for determining abnormality of a longitudinal acceleration sensor which detects vehicular longitudinal acceleration that is used in a vehicle running control. An integrated value of a vehicular longitudinal acceleration that is detected by the longitudinal acceleration sensor is calculated, and determination whether or not the longitudinal acceleration sensor is abnormal is conducted on the basis of the integrated value and a vehicle speed based on vehicle wheel speeds. The calculation of the integrated value is initiated when a situation where the vehicle speed based on vehicle wheel speeds is zero and the increasing rate of the detected vehicular longitudinal acceleration is equal to or larger than a reference value for the increasing rate continues for a period which is equal to or larger than a reference value for the initiation of calculation. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046533 | AUTOMATED INSPECTION OF AIRCRAFT LANDING GEAR INTERNAL FLUID LEVELS - A system for use in monitoring, measuring, computing and displaying the volumes of internal gas within a telescopic aircraft landing gear strut. Pressure sensors and temperature sensors and motion sensors are mounted in relation to each of the landing gear struts to monitor, measure and record the impact movement and rates of internal landing gear strut fluids; experienced by landing gear struts, as the aircraft landing gear initially come into contact with the ground. The computer of this system measures the compression experienced by each landing gear strut and determines if the landing gear strut is improperly serviced with either excess or deficient volumes of nitrogen gas. Additional features include automating the inspections required to aircraft landing gear, prior to flight, during flight and during landing events. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046534 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ISOLATING VOLTAGE SENSOR AND CONTACTOR FAULTS IN AN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - A method for isolating voltage sensor errors from contactor errors in an electrical system includes measuring a voltage between ground and a voltage bus rail when a contactor is open, and comparing the measured voltage to a first threshold voltage corresponding to a calibrated voltage reading that is expected when the contactor is closed. A first diagnostic code is recorded with a stuck-in-range status for the sensor when the measured voltage is greater than 0 and less than the first threshold voltage. A second diagnostic code is recorded with a stuck-closed status for the contactor when the measured voltage is equal to the first threshold voltage. The measured voltage may be compared to a second threshold voltage that exceeds the first threshold voltage, with a third diagnostic code recorded with a shorted value for the sensor when the measured voltage exceeds the first threshold voltage or is less than 0. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046535 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS TO DETERMINE NAVIGATION STATES OF A PLATFORM - Systems and methods to determine navigation states of a platform are disclosed. An example system includes a first processing node to determine a first aeroelastic navigation state of a platform at a first structural location of the platform with respect to a first aeroelasticity reference, a second processing node to determine a second aeroelastic navigation state of the platform at a second structural location of the platform with respect to the first aeroelasticity reference or a second aeroelasticity reference, and a storage device to store a platform navigation state based on at least one of the first or second aeroelastic navigation states. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046536 | BATTERY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND BATTERY REPLACEMENT METHOD - A battery management system includes: measuring a surface pressure of a vehicle-mounted secondary battery (battery cell) for driving the vehicle with a lapse of time; calculating a high-rate driving frequency coefficient on the basis of the measured surface pressure at intervals of a predetermined period (24 hours); deriving a high-rate driving frequency on the basis of the number of times that the calculated high-rate driving frequency coefficient has exceeded a predetermined threshold; and selecting a replacement battery from among batteries including a high-power battery on the basis of the derived high-rate driving frequency. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046537 | ELECTRONIC STROKE SENSOR FOR AIR DISC BRAKE - A vehicle brake monitor assembly for an air disk brake includes a brake actuator having a pushrod projecting from inside a chamber of said brake actuator. The pushrod releasably actuates a lever arm of a caliper thereby moving the disk brake into a braking position when the pushrod is in an extended position and releasing the disk brake from the braking position when the pushrod is in a retracted position. The pushrod includes a pushrod shaft and a contact member biased in a telescoping relationship relative to the pushrod shaft and the lever arm of the caliper abuts the contact member counteracting the bias of the contact member. A sensor is integrated with the assembly proximate the contact member and detects movement of the pushrod relative to the lever arm and to the pushrod shaft. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046538 | System and Method for Efficiently Operating Multiple Flywheels - A flywheel assembly may include first and second flywheels having respective first and second flywheel parasitic load profiles. Operating speeds of the first and second flywheels may be selected based at least in part on the first and second flywheel parasitic loads. The operating speeds may be determined such that an aggregate of the first and second flywheel parasitic loads is minimized, thereby increasing the efficiency of the flywheel assembly. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046539 | STABLIZATION METHOD FOR VEHICLES - Stabilization method and system for performing dynamic chassis control in a vehicle. An electronic stability control (ESC) includes an ESC sensor set; at least one chassis actuator; and a dynamic controller operably connected to at the least one chassis actuator. The ESC sensor set generates one or more sensor fault signals. Then, the method employs a dynamic controller to evaluate the signals corresponding to the sensor fault at least after a first fast fault signal, or a second slow fault signal. If the first fast fault signal is detected, the dynamic controller generates a signal for at least one of partially or completely temporarily switching off the at least one chassis actuator, while maintaining ESC in an active state. Conversely, if the second slow fault signal is detected, the dynamic controller generates a signal for temporarily switching off the ESC. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046540 | MINING TRUCK SPOTTING UNDER A SHOVEL - This disclosure is generally drawn to methods, systems, devices and/or apparatus related to aligning a mining truck with a shovel. Specifically, some of the disclosed example methods, systems, devices and/or apparatus relate to semi-automatic and/or automatic alignment of mining trucks relative to shovel during mining loading operations. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046541 | ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST DEVICE AND DRIVING METHOD FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE - An electric power assist device and a driving method for an electric vehicle are provided. The electric power assist device adapted for the electric vehicle includes an angle sensing unit, a driving module, and a control module. The angle sensing unit senses a tilting angle of the electric vehicle on the road. The driving module includes a power driving unit and a motor. The driving module receives a control signal for driving the electric vehicle by the motor. The control module is coupled to the angle sensing unit and the driving module. The control module adjusts the control signal according to a change of the tilting angle to increase a torque force of the motor when the electric vehicle is on an uphill road. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046542 | SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING STEERING ASSIST TORQUE BASED ON A LATERAL POSITION COMMAND - A steering system providing an assist torque to a handwheel is provided, and includes a lateral position module and a torque command module. The lateral position module determines a lateral position command based on a curvature of a lane and a near field heading angle. The torque command module determines the torque assist based on the lateral position command. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046543 | MOVABLE CARRIAGE - A movable carriage having front wheels and rear wheels includes, a detection unit detecting a direction caused by the operator pushing or pulling a grip unit, a rear-wheel steering angle changing unit changing a steering angle to cause a phase of the rear wheel to be the same as or opposite to the phase of the front wheel according to whether an angle between the detected direction and a center axis of the movable carriage is a predetermined angle or smaller, and a front-wheel steering angle changing unit changing a steering angle to cause a phase of the front wheel to be the same as or opposite to the detected direction according to whether the detected direction is a direction in which the movable carriage is pushed or pulled, when the angle between the detected direction and the center axis of the carriage exceeds the predetermined angle. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046544 | PARKING ASSISTANCE APPARATUS AND PARKING ASSISTANCE METHOD THEREOF - Disclosed herein are a parking assistance apparatus and a parking assistance method thereof. The parking assistance apparatus includes a sensing unit sensing at least one of forward and backward access distances to a current surrounding object, a controller performing an electronic parking brake operation and including predetermined forward and backward access distance ranges to a reference surrounding object, a first judgment unit judging whether or not at least one access distance deviates from at least one access distance range, a display unit displaying the at least one access distance and the at least one access distance range, if the first judgment unit judges that the at least one access distance deviates from the at least one access distance range, and a steering driving unit driving an electronic steering driving apparatus until the at least one access distance enters the at least one access distance range. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046545 | DETECTION OF AND COUNTER-MEASURES FOR JACKKNIFE ENABLING CONDITIONS DURING TRAILER BACKUP ASSIST - A trailer backup control system includes a jackknife enabling condition detector and a jackknife counter-measures controller. The jackknife counter-measures controller alters a setting of at least one vehicle operating parameter for alleviating an adverse jackknife condition during backing of the trailer by the vehicle when the jackknife enabling condition detector determines that a jackknife enabling condition has been attained at a particular point in time during backing of the trailer by the vehicle, restricts a trailer backup steering input apparatus and issues a warning to the driver using the trailer backup steering input apparatus. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046546 | VEHICLE WITH A SAFETY SYSTEM INVOLVING PREDICTION OF DRIVER TIREDNESS - A vehicle ( | 2014-02-13 |
20140046547 | SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING STEERING ASSIST TORQUE BASED ON A PROPORTIONAL GAIN VALUE - A steering system providing an assist torque to a handwheel is provided, and includes a proportional gain module and a torque command module. The proportional gain module determines a proportional gain value. The proportional gain value is scheduled as a function of a lateral position error and at least one of the following: a near field heading angle, a far field heading angle, a curvature of the lane, and a lateral position of the vehicle. The torque command module determines the torque assist based on the proportional gain value. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046548 | CONTROL SYSTEM AND VEHICLE STEERING CONTROL SYSTEM - A control system calculates inputs to a control target that has m inputs and n outputs (m=n, each of m and n is a natural number that is more than one), while designating a plurality of combinations of the inputs and the outputs. A feedback controller calculates, with respect to each designated combination, a control input to a non-interference controller based on a difference between a target value and a current value of the control quantity to make the current value follow the target value. The non-interference controller executes, with respect to each designated combination, a non-interference control to reduce influence due to mutual interference between n control quantities. This reduces the number of combinations of the inputs and the outputs, the combinations whose mutual interference needs considering; thereby, the non-interference control may be easily achieved. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046549 | Method for compensating for a disturbance yaw moment in a vehicle having at least two wheel-individual drives - A device for compensating for a disturbance yaw moment in a vehicle having at least two wheel-individual drives is described. In particular in vehicles having multiple wheel-individual electric drives, wear or heavy use may result in a defect of a single drive. Since this drive is coupled to a single wheel of the vehicle, a strong disturbance yaw moment may be generated thereby which may result in the vehicle breaking away if countermeasures are not taken. It is provided to compensate for the disturbance yaw moment at least partially by effectuating a compensation yaw moment by retarding one or multiple of the other wheels of the vehicle in a targeted manner, when an event is detected which indicates a disturbance yaw moment of the vehicle and in which one wheel of the vehicle is excessively retarded due to a defect on a wheel-individual drive assigned to the wheel. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046550 | Vehicle Event Playback Apparatus and Methods - Vehicle event data playback systems have been devised and invented to provide authorized users means for advanced visual review. Detailed circumstances relating to vehicle operation are visually presented in these unique playback systems. In particular, a group of cooperating visual display devices operate in conjunction with each other to effect a detailed visual presentation of a vehicle's operational states. An interested party is afforded a high level of access to many data types in highly graphical and intuitive arrangements. Further, data replay access is enhanced by slow motion, fast forward, loop repeat, among others which have never before been associated with these data types nor with the compound visual presentations first taught in the accompanying disclosure. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046551 | VEHICLE DOOR STRUCTURE - A vehicle door structure | 2014-02-13 |
20140046552 | ELECTRIC DRIVE UNIT FOR CONSTRUCTION MACHINE - An electric drive unit for a construction machine is capable of increasing the operating time of the construction machine. The electric drive unit has an electricity storage device, a hydraulic pump of the fixed displacement type which is driven by a motor/generator, a plurality of directional control valves which respectively control the flow of hydraulic fluid supplied to a plurality of hydraulic actuators, a bidirectional converter which performs variable control on the revolution speed of the motor/generator, and an LS control device which controls the bidirectional converter so that LS differential pressure Pls equals a target value Pgr. The bidirectional converter performs regeneration control for converting the inertial force of the rotor of the motor/generator into electric power thereby charging the electricity storage device when the revolution speed of the motor/generator is decreased in response to an excess of the LS differential pressure Pls over the target value Pgr. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046553 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING AN ACCUMULATOR BASED ON VEHICLE CONDITIONS - A system and method for controlling an accumulator in a transmission of a motor vehicle includes the steps of determining whether the motor vehicle has been turned off, sensing at least one operating condition of the motor vehicle, and comparing the at least one operating condition to a reference condition. If the at least one operating condition of the motor vehicle fulfills the reference condition and if the motor vehicle has been turned off then the accumulator is discharged. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046554 | AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION APPARATUS AND STRADDLE-TYPE VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH THE APPARATUS - An automatic transmission apparatus includes a clutch including a drive side rotator to which torque of an engine is transmitted and a driven side rotator, a multi-gear transmission mechanism including a dog clutch, at least one actuator to drive the clutch and the transmission mechanism, a torque changing device to change the torque of the engine, a gear shifting command output device to output a gear shifting command, and a transmission control system to control the at least one actuator and the torque changing device. The transmission control system includes a shock reduction control unit to execute control to, upon receiving the gear shifting command from the gear shifting command output device, reduce the engine torque by controlling the torque changing device and thereafter to start to disengage the clutch by controlling the at least one actuator. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046555 | GEAR BOX - A gearbox has a first shaft with at least two journalled gearwheels, a first gearwheel to drive the first shaft in a first direction and a second gearwheel to drive the first shaft in a second direction. Devices selectively lock the gearwheels situated on the first shaft for joint rotation. A second has at least two fixed gearwheels, one second gearwheel cooperates with the first gearwheel for operation in the first direction. A third shaft with a third gearwheel which selectively in or out of engagement with the first and second gearwheels for operation in the first direction. The first gearwheel intended for operation in the first direction is also in engagement with one or more further power-transmitting device used for connecting at least one form of extra equipment, e.g. a retarder or a power take-off. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046556 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SELECTING AN ENGINE OPERATING STATE FOR A MULTI-MODE POWERTRAIN SYSTEM - A powertrain system includes a multi-mode transmission configured to transfer torque among an engine, torque machines, and a driveline. A method for controlling operation of the powertrain system includes determining a bias engine speed based upon an engine speed. A search is executed including determining a respective candidate power cost for operating the powertrain system in response to an output torque request, and determining a respective candidate driveability cost for the candidate engine speed based upon the bias engine speed. The search also selects one of the candidate engine speeds and candidate engine torques that achieves a minimum of a combination of the respective candidate driveability cost and the respective candidate power cost as a preferred engine speed and preferred engine torque. Operation of the powertrain system is controlled based upon the preferred engine speed and preferred engine torque. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046557 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A VEHICLE POWERTRAIN - A system and method for controlling a vehicle powertrain includes a controller that is operative to automatically control at least one powertrain function other than engine torque based on a measured torque and a predetermined torque range. The predetermined torque range is based on a first engine torque estimate. The measured torque is related to actual engine torque, and can be measured directly at the engine crankshaft, or in another location in the powertrain and then transferred to the engine space. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046558 | VIBRATION REDUCTION CONTROL METHOD AND APPARATUS OF POWER TRAIN BY CONTROLLING MOTOR TORQUE OF ELECTRIC VEHICLE - The present invention relates to a vibration control method and apparatus of a power train in a vehicle for reducing the vibrations in a power train when driving on a protruded portion of a road surface using a motor torque control. The apparatus comprises a processor configured to determine the generation of vibrations in a power train as the vehicle passes on the protruded portions of the road surface; and calculate a compensation torque for a vibration reduction of the power train when vibrations occur in the power train as the vehicle passes on the protruded portions of the road surface. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046559 | VEHICLE - A vehicle includes a friction clutch located between an engine and a driving wheel; a clutch actuator arranged to disengage and engage the friction clutch; a clutch actuator control section arranged and programmed to control the clutch actuator; a slip detection section arranged to detect a slip of the driving wheel; and an engine control section arranged and programmed to decrease an output of the engine when the slip of the driving wheel is detected by the slip detection section. When the friction clutch is in a half clutch state and the slip of the driving wheel is detected, the clutch actuator control section is arranged and programmed to control the clutch actuator so as to maintain a pushing force of the friction clutch at a fixed or substantially fixed level. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046560 | CONTROLLER AND CONTROL METHOD FOR VEHICLE - In a vehicle control, an automatic transmission is shifted using a predetermined shift model, which determines control operation amounts for achieving shift target values, by setting the shift target values on the basis of a torque on an output shaft-side rotating member and a speed variation amount of an input shaft-side rotating member, setting the control operation amounts on the basis of a torque on the input shaft-side rotating member, a torque capacity of an engaged-side engagement device during shifting and a torque capacity of a released-side engagement device during shifting and setting torque shares of a transmission torque between the engaged-side engagement device and the released-side engagement device during shifting when the transmission torque is converted to the torque on the input shaft-side rotating member, and timing at which the torque shares are varied is changed on the basis of a shift pattern. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046561 | AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION APPARATUS AND STRADDLE-TYPE VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH THE APPARATUS - An automatic transmission apparatus includes a transmission mechanism, an actuator arranged to rotate a shift drum, and a control device. The control device includes a determining unit arranged to detect a state of a straddle-type vehicle and to determine whether the straddle-type vehicle is in a first state in which an engaging force between the transmission gears is estimated to be equal to or greater than a predetermined value or in a second state in which the engaging force is estimated to be less than the predetermined value; a first gear shifting control unit arranged and programmed to control the actuator so that, if in the first state, the rotational speed of the shift drum becomes a first rotational speed; and a second gear shifting control unit arranged and programmed to control the actuator so that, if in the second state, the rotational speed of the shift drum becomes a second rotational speed that is lower than the first rotational speed. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046562 | VEHICLE - A vehicle includes a friction clutch located between an engine and a driving wheel; a clutch actuator arranged to disengage and engage the friction clutch; a clutch actuator control section arranged and programmed to control the clutch actuator; a slip detection section arranged to detect a slip of the driving wheel; and an engine control section arranged and programmed to decrease an output of the engine when the slip of the driving wheel is detected by the slip detection section. When the friction clutch is in a half clutch state and the slip of the driving wheel is detected at the time of starting of the vehicle, the clutch actuator control section controls the clutch actuator so as to change a pushing force of the friction clutch and thus to keep the rotation speed of the engine at a fixed level. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046563 | VEHICLE - A vehicle includes a cruise control section arranged and programmed to perform control to maintain the vehicle speed at a prescribed vehicle speed while a clutch is engaged. A clutch actuator control section performs control to disengage the clutch when the value of a parameter becomes equal to or lower than a first threshold value, in the case where the cruise control section is determined to not be performing the control to maintain the vehicle speed at a prescribed vehicle speed; and performs the control to disengage the clutch when the value of the parameter becomes equal to or lower than a second threshold value, which is lower than the first threshold value, in the case where the cruise control section is determined to be performing the control to maintain the vehicle speed at a prescribed vehicle speed. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046564 | CONTROL DEVICE FOR FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLE - In a control device for four-wheel drive vehicle, yaw moment for suppressing understeer tendency of the vehicle is calculated as target yaw moment. If the average wheel speed of right and left wheels of a front shaft is more than the wheel speed of a turning outer wheel of a rear shaft, a control unit performs control as follows: when the target yaw moment Mzt is applied to the vehicle, a wheel clutch of the turning outer wheel is engaged, and a wheel clutch of a turning inner wheel is disengaged, so that the engaging force of a transfer clutch | 2014-02-13 |
20140046565 | INTEGRATED TRAILER BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD USING A LEARNED RELATIONSHIP - A trailer brake control method for a vehicle towing a trailer. The method may include determining a number (N) of vehicle operating points during a first braking event when the vehicle is not towing the trailer by determining N brake operating points; determining an acceleration operating point for each of the N brake operating points; and determining a first relationship between brake pressure and vehicle acceleration based on the N vehicle operating points. The method also includes determining a number (M) of vehicle operating points during a second braking event when the vehicle is towing the trailer; determining a current brake operating point; and determining a trailer brake command signal based on at least the first relationship, the M vehicle operating points, and the current brake operating point. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046566 | INTEGRATED TRAILER BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A BRAKE FORCE - A trailer brake control method that includes determining, based on information from a vehicle speed sensor, a current vehicle speed of a vehicle; and regardless of the current vehicle speed, determining, using a processing unit, a minimum trailer brake control value (MTBCV) based on the equation MTBCV=R1−Cth root(the current vehicle speed)/R2, wherein the minimum trailer brake control value corresponds to a minimum braking force at the current vehicle speed, R1 is a real number less than 1.0, C is an integer greater than 2, and R2 is a real number greater than 1.0. The method also includes determining, using the processing unit, a trailer brake command signal based on the minimum trailer brake control value; and operating brakes of a trailer connected to the vehicle at or above the minimum braking force by transmitting the trailer brake command signal from the vehicle to a trailer. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046567 | METHOD FOR OPERATING A VEHICLE AND DRIVER ASSISTANCE DEVICE - The invention relates to a method for operating a vehicle ( | 2014-02-13 |
20140046568 | TORQUE DISTRIBUTION APPARATUS, TORQUE DISTRIBUTION METHOD, TORQUE DISTRIBUTION VALUE GENERATION METHOD, AND PROGRAM - A torque distribution apparatus includes an instructed torque acquiring unit that acquires input instructed torque, a determining unit that determines whether to perform power running control or regenerative braking, an efficiency map acquiring unit that based on a determination result, acquires a motor efficiency map, a vehicular speed detecting unit, a drive wheel rotational speed detecting, a slip rate calculating unit that calculates slip rate at drive wheels, a calculating unit that based on the slip rate, creates an efficiency variation expression that indicates efficiency values on a performance curve that indicates relations between drive wheel rotational speed and torque, a distributing unit that calculates based on the slip rate, the instructed torque, and the torque optimizing efficiency, torque distribution values such that overall efficiency during power running and during regeneration are maximized, and a control unit that controls torque distribution to the motors. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046569 | TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES - A system for communicating fleet vehicle information may include a data acquisition device configured to mount inside a vehicle and provide a wired connection to the vehicle for gathering vehicle data during operation of the vehicle. The system may also include a portable wireless data transfer and display device having a short-range wireless communication device to wirelessly communicate with the data acquisition device when the data acquisition device and the portable wireless data transfer and display device are in close proximity to each other. The portable wireless data transfer and display device may also include a long-range communication module configured to provide a cellular or satellite communication link with a remote network device and provide real-time or approximately real-time vehicle information and driver information associated with the vehicle information to the remote network device. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046570 | VEHICLE DATA ACQUISITION FOR TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT - A data acquisition device includes a wired module configured to provide a wired connection to a vehicle for gathering vehicle data from the vehicle during operation of the vehicle. The data acquisition device is configured to be mounted inside the vehicle. The data acquisition device further includes short-range wireless communication module configured to wirelessly send the vehicle data in real-time to a portable wireless data transfer and display device in close proximity to the data acquisition device during operation of the vehicle. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046571 | CYLINDER TO CYLINDER BALANCING USING FULLY FLEXIBLE VALVE ACTUATION AND CYLINDER PRESSURE FEEDBACK - A control system for an engine includes an valve actuator, a cylinder pressure module, and a valve control module. The valve actuator opens a valve of a cylinder at a first target opening timing during a first combustion cycle of the cylinder. The cylinder pressure module receives a cylinder pressure measured by a cylinder pressure sensor of the cylinder and, at a predetermined crankshaft angle after the valve opens during the first combustion cycle, sets a valve opening pressure equal to the cylinder pressure. The valve control module receives a reference cylinder pressure and generates a second target opening timing for a second combustion cycle of the cylinder based on the valve opening pressure and the reference cylinder pressure. The second combustion cycle is after the first combustion cycle. During the second combustion cycle, the valve actuator opens the valve at the second target opening timing. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046572 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CORRECTING ENGINE TORQUE BASED ON VEHICLE LOAD - A method and a system for correcting an engine torque based on a vehicle load may include: determining whether a vehicle load determination condition is satisfied continuously for a predetermined maintaining time, determining an average engine torque for the predetermined maintaining time if the vehicle load determination condition is satisfied continuously, determining whether the average engine torque is larger than a predetermined engine torque, determining a ratio of the average engine torque and the predetermined engine torque if the average engine torque is larger than the predetermined engine torque, determining a correction factor using the ratio of the average engine torque and the predetermined engine torque, and determining the engine torque using the correction factor and a predetermined normal torque filter. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046573 | CONTROL DEVICE AND CONTROL METHOD FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE - An electronic control unit for an internal combustion engine that includes an engine-driven alternator diagnoses on the bases of an air-fuel ratio correction amount in air-fuel ratio feedback control whether a rich abnormality that the air-fuel ratio of air-fuel mixture is excessively rich is occurring in a fuel injection system. When the state of charge of a battery charged with electric power generated by the alternator is higher than or equal to a predetermined value, charging control for setting a voltage generated by the alternator at a voltage lower than a normal generated voltage is executed. When the state of charge of the battery is higher than or equal to the predetermined value, charging control for charging the battery at the voltage is prohibited when a degree of mixing of fuel in lubricating oil of the internal combustion engine is higher than or equal to a predetermined degree. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046574 | ENGINE CONTROL USING AN ASYNCHRONOUS DATA BUS - An engine control unit with distributed processing includes a main ECU and remote modules with sensor inputs and ignition and injector outputs. A bidirectional asynchronous CAN data bus and a square wave timing signal operatively connect the components. Synchronous ignition and ignition data and asynchronous sensor and control data are concurrently transmitted between components using CAN messaging. Synchronicity is accomplished using the timing signal. The rising edge of each pulse triggers dwell and injection start times, and the falling edge triggers ignition. Injection and dwell time values, the cylinders to dwell and fire, and the injectors to energize, are transmitted using CAN messaging. The remote modules process the control messages and timing signal and generate the appropriate ignition, injector, and pulse width modulation control signals. Alternatively, time stamp capabilities of the CAN bus topology are used for synchronization. The system and methodology simplify interconnection, using fewer wires and enhancing aesthetics. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046575 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING OPERATION OF INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE - In a method for controlling operation of an engine in which an EGR system is incorporated therein, when the engine is in a pressure-accumulable operational state in which EGR gas can be pressure-accumulated in an EGR passage between an EGR control valve and an on-off valve, these valves are brought into a full closed state, respectively. In addition, when an intake pressure transmitted from an air intake passage to the engine becomes more than or equal to a target value of the intake pressure set based on an operational state of the engine, the on-off valve is switched to a full open state, and then the on-off valve is switched to the full closed state again after elapse of a predetermined time, and high-pressure EGR gas of a low oxygen concentration is temporarily stored in the EGR passage. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046576 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ENGINE UNBURNED HYDROCARBON CONTROL - Methods and systems are provided for detecting hydrocarbon ingestion into an engine based on the simultaneous monitoring of cylinder imbalance and an elevated exhaust exotherm. Crankshaft acceleration data is monitored during steady-state and transient engine conditions while exhaust temperatures are estimated during non-regeneration conditions. Engine speed and load is limited to reduce further hydrocarbon ingestion. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046577 | INITIATING PREPARATIONS FOR ENGINE AUTOSTOP PRIOR TO VEHICLE STOP - A stop/start vehicle includes at least one controller that, in response to predicting a vehicle stop, initiates an engine pre-shutdown protocol such that vehicle subsystems begin to prepare for engine shutdown prior to a speed of the vehicle reaching approximately zero to reduce time between the speed of the vehicle reaching approximately zero and engine shutdown. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046578 | SUPPORTING A DRIVER OF A MOTOR VEHICLE IN UTILIZING AN AUTOMATIC START-STOP SYSTEM - A method and a device for supporting a driver of a motor vehicle in utilizing an automatic engine start-stop system of the vehicle is provided. A method includes predetermining or determining a first limit value t | 2014-02-13 |
20140046579 | SUPPORTING A DRIVER OF A MOTOR VEHICLE IN UTILIZING AN AUTOMATIC START-STOP SYSTEM - A method and a device for supporting a driver of a motor vehicle in utilizing an automatic engine start-stop system of the motor vehicle is provided. The method includes registering and storing, for at least one operating time of the motor vehicle and for each engine stop of a total number initiated by the automatic engine start-stop system in the operating time, at least the respective time durations where k=0, 1, 2, . . . P, where P ∈ [0, 1, 2, . . . ]. A first ratio value that is dependent on the operating time and the added time durations determined: | 2014-02-13 |
20140046580 | ELECTRONIC APPARATUS AND METHOD OF RECEIVING INFORMATION, AND RECORDING MEDIUM FOR RECORDING PROGRAM EXECUTING METHOD OF RECEIVING INFORMATION - The present invention relates to an electronic apparatus and method for receiving various pieces of information, after setting various search conditions, based on the set search conditions. According to the present invention, the electronic apparatus comprises: a communication unit; and in the case that a particular event occurs, a control unit transmitting search conditions including at least one of a search direction, search range and search region, related to the event through the communication unit, and receiving information corresponding to the search conditions. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046581 | DRIVE ASSISTANCE DEVICE - A stopping vehicle estimating unit estimates one of a number of stopping vehicles and a length of a stopping vehicle line of different vehicles that are stopping at a traffic light along an estimated driving route ahead of the own vehicle closer to the traffic light than the own vehicle, based on a position information of a site at which a traffic light is provided, an own vehicle position, an own vehicle speed, and traffic information. A passable time zone estimating unit estimates a passable time zone during which the own vehicle is able to pass by the traffic light, based on the one of the number of stopping vehicles and the length of the stopping vehicle line that have been estimated by the stopping vehicle estimating unit, and on schedule information. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046582 | METHOD FOR UPDATING A DIGITAL ROAD MAP - Methods are provided for updating a digital road map in which road segments having segment lengths are stored. At least two vehicles are equipped with at least one respective onboard unit generating position readings. If a first set of position readings of a first onboard unit can be associated with a road segment, a first path length is determined based on the position readings of the first set. If a second set of position readings of a second onboard unit can be associated with the road segment, a second path length is determined based on the position readings of the second set. An average path length is calculated based on at least the first and second path lengths. If the average path length deviates from the stored segment length, the average path length is stored as an updated stored segment length of this road segment in the digital road map. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046583 | METHOD FOR DETERMINING THE LENGTH OF A PATH TRAVELED BY A VEHICLE - Methods are provided for determining the length of a path traveled by a vehicle using an onboard unit that generates a sequence of position readings and a related position quality index for each position reading. A set of consecutive position readings is extracted from the sequence. Position readings are discarded having position quality indices falling below a threshold. A set quality index is determined based on the number of position readings of the set or on the position quality indices. If the set quality index exceeds a threshold, the path length is determined based on mutual distances of consecutive position readings of the set. Otherwise, the path length is determined using a digital road map composed of road segments by associating the position readings of the set with at least one road segment, and determining the path length based on the segment length of the at least one road segment. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046584 | NON-UNIFORM WEIGHTING FACTOR AS ROUTE ALGORITHM INPUT - The present invention provides a method of determining a route between two locations in a navigation device by calculating the cost of paths between the two locations using a cost function. The cost function applies different weighting factors for the same type of attribute to line segments when the line segments are located in different areas of a map. As such, when the cost of a path is being assessed, the same type of attribute may be associated with different levels of penalty or bonus in different areas. This means that the route determined is less likely to avoid line segments that have a certain negative attribute in areas where the attribute has a less adverse affect. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046585 | REAL-TIME COMPUTATION OF VEHICLE SERVICE ROUTES - A route scheduling system for a vehicle or fleet of vehicles can recalculate a scheduled route based on input received after the formulation and/or dispatch of the initial route. The additional inputs can be used for recalculation and changes in route selection, which may include a variety of inputs, such as weather conditions, traffic conditions, customer needs, vehicle inventory, and emergency situations. The recalculation of the routes can allow for route selection to be performed in real-time in order for fleets and vehicles to optimize the allocation of resources. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046586 | DEDUCED RECKONING NAVIGATION WITHOUT A CONSTRAINT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ORIENTATION OF A SENSOR PLATFORM AND A DIRECTION OF TRAVEL OF AN OBJECT - Systems, methods, and apparatus for performing deduced reckoning navigation without a constraint relationship between orientation of a sensor platform and a direction of travel of an object are described herein. A sensor fusion component can be configured to receive data from sensors of a sensor platform coupled to a pedestrian; and generate world coordinate information based on the data. Further, a gait recognition component can be configured to record one or more walking patterns of the pedestrian in a training database; and determine whether the world coordinate information is associated with a walking pattern of the one or more walking patterns. Furthermore, a position estimation component can be configured to estimate a position of the pedestrian based on the world coordinate information if the world coordinate information is associated with the walking pattern, regardless of an orientation of the sensor platform with respect to the position of the pedestrian. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046587 | TECHNIQUES FOR POSITIONING A VEHICLE - A system for determining a location of a vehicle in an environment provided with at least two landmarks whose location is known. The system includes at least one scanning distance sensor installed in the vehicle and configured to measure distance and direction from the vehicle to the at least two landmarks, as well as a data processing device configured to store in its memory the location of the at least two landmarks; and determine the location of the vehicle on the basis of at least the location of the at least two landmarks as well as the distance and direction from the vehicle to the at least two landmarks. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046588 | WEARABLE ELECTRONIC APPARATUS, DATA ANALYZER, AND TRAVEL RECORD CONTROL METHOD - An electronic apparatus refers to location measurement information measured in the past at each time when the latest location measurement information is output from a location measurement module with a predetermined measurement period, if measurement accuracy is good and it is regarded that a direction change has been made, determines the latest location measurement information as saving “necessary” and stores the information. If the measurement accuracy is no good or it is regarded that a positioning point shown by the latest location measurement information is an intermediate point during linear traveling, the latest location measurement information is not saved. Therefore, a data size to be saved is made smaller than that in related art and draining of a battery taken for writing of data is reduced. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046589 | MEASURING SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING 3D COORDINATES OF AN OBJECT SURFACE - A measuring system for determining 3D coordinates of measurement points on an object surface which has a scanning apparatus for measuring the measurement points on the object surface and for determining inner measurement point coordinates in an inner scanning coordinate system. Furthermore, a referencing arrangement for producing referencing information for referencing the inner measurement point coordinates in the outer object coordinate system and an evaluation unit for determining the 3D coordinates of the measurement points in the outer object coordinate system on the basis of the inner measurement point coordinates and the referencing information are provided such that the inner measurement point coordinates are in the form of 3D coordinates in the outer object coordinate system. The scanning apparatus is in this case carried in an unmanned, controllable, automotive air vehicle. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046590 | METHOD, SYSTEM, AND DEVICE FOR TO-DO-LIST BASED NAVIGATION - A method, system, and device for to-do-list based navigation includes identifying a selection of tasks to be completed from the to-do-list. The selected tasks may be prioritized or ordered based on navigation data and context data associated with each of the selected tasks to develop a trip plan for completing the selected tasks. The context data may include attributes, such as constraint data, associated with one or more of the selected tasks. In some embodiments, a status update for the current task may be periodically or occasionally communicated to one or more mobile computing devices to inform a user of the mobile computing device of the status of completion of the current task. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046591 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING GROUP ROUTE RECOMMENDATIONS - An approach is provided for providing alternative route recommendations for a group of nearby users in a privacy preserving manner. A recommendation platform determines at least one group of one or more users within proximity of at least one location-based service, at least one location-based event, or a combination thereof. A recommendation platform processes and/or facilitates a processing of one or more datasets associated with the group to cause, at least in part, a determination of whether to recommend the at least one location-based service, the at least one location-based event, or a combination thereof to the group. A recommendation platform causes, at least in part, a presentation of the at least one location-based service, the at least one location-based event, or a combination thereof to the group, the one or more users, or a combination thereof based, at least in part, on the determination of whether to recommend. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046592 | Method For Operating a Hybrid Drive - A method operates a hybrid drive operable selectively in a first operating mode powered by only an internal combustion engine or in a second operating mode powered by only an electric motor. Prior to starting a trip, for which a route that leads from a start to a destination is determined, the entire route to be traveled is segmented, according to pre-defined logic, into a plurality of route sections. These route sections are used to select certain route sections that are ever taken into consideration, based on certain route section criteria, for driving in the second mode. From, the selected certain route sections, those are used to identify and to drive on the route in the second mode in which route travel in the second mode yields a total maximum fuel economy advantage compared to driving the route in the first or any other mode. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046593 | Efficient K-Nearest Neighbor Search in Time-Dependent Spatial Networks - The class of k Nearest Neighbor (k NN) queries in spatial networks has been studied in the literature. Existing approaches for k NN search in spatial networks assume that the weight of each edge in the spatial network is constant. However, real-world edge-weights are time-dependent and vary significantly in short durations, hence invalidating the existing solutions. The problem of k NN search in time-dependent spatial networks, where the weight of each edge is a function of time, is addressed herein. Two indexing schemes (Tight Network Index and Loose Network Index) are proposed to minimize the number of candidate nearest neighbor objects and reduce the invocation of the expensive fastest-path computation in time-dependent spatial networks. We demonstrate the efficiency of our proposed solution via experimental evaluations with real-world data-sets, including a variety of large spatial networks with real traffic-data. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046594 | MOBILE-BODY NAVIGATION DEVICE AND MOBILE-BODY NAVIGATION SYSTEM - A mobile-body navigation device includes a route search unit | 2014-02-13 |
20140046595 | ROUTE PLANNING DEVICE - A route planning device plans plural routes from a current location to a destination, calculates an amount of electricity consumed by a motor during driving to the destination along each planned route in each of plural drive modes, calculates an amount of electricity consumed by electric equipment during driving to the destination along each planned route for each of plural operational settings of the electric equipment, calculates an estimated amount of charge remaining in a battery on arrival at the destination, calculates, for each of the planned routes, a total comfort level score for each of the drive modes and/or each of the operational settings of the electrical equipment, selects plural operation plans each formed from a combination of the route, drive mode, and operational setting on the basis of the calculated total comfort level score, and displays the selected operation plans on a display. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046596 | DRINKING WATER REMINDING SYSTEM AND REMINDING METHOD THEREOF - Disclosed is a drinking water reminding system and the reminding method thereof. The water intake of user is measured by the operation of a reminder of the drinking water reminding system, and a collector of the drinking water reminding system is provided for adjusting the daily drinking water demand of user according to environmental parameters or the physiological parameters of user. The drinking water reminding system reminds the user to drink water if the drinking water reminding system determines that the user has taken insufficient water according to predetermined conditions and measurement results, drinking water reminding system. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046597 | System And Method For Bounding Accuracy On Correlated Overhead Sky Clearness For Use In Photovoltaic Fleet Output Estimation - Statistically representing point-to-point photovoltaic power estimation and area-to-point conversion of satellite pixel irradiance data are described. Accuracy on correlated overhead sky clearness is bounded by evaluating a mean and standard deviation between recorded irradiance measures and the forecast irradiance measures. Sky clearness over the two locations is related with a correlation coefficient by solving an empirically-derived exponential function of the temporal distance. Each forecast clearness index is weighted by the correlation coefficient to form an output set of forecast clearness indexes and the mean and standard deviation are proportioned. Additionally, accuracy on correlated satellite imagery is bounded by converting collective irradiance into point clearness indexes. A mean and standard deviation for the point clearness indexes is evaluated. The mean is set as an area clearness index for the bounded area. For each point, a variance of the point clearness index is determined and the mean and standard deviation are proportioned. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046598 | WEATHER FORECAST DATA DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM AND METHOD - An artificial satellite receives a broadcast signal transmitted from a broadcast transmitter. The broadcast signal is relayed towards earth by the artificial satellite. On-earth stations receive the broadcast signal. The artificial satellite receives response signals, to the broadcast signal, from the on-earth stations, respectively. Each response signal includes at least position data of the respective on-earth station. The response signals from the on-earth stations are evaluated to generate both a local and wide-area weather forecast. The artificial satellite distributes the local and wide-area weather forecast towards the earth. Each response signal may also include an amount of attenuation caused between the artificial satellite and each on-earth station, respectively. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046599 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF A RESERVOIR MONITORING SYSTEM - Reservoir monitoring system. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods comprising installing a hydrocarbon reservoir monitoring system in a marine environment. The installing may be by: placing a base unit at the sea floor, the base unit communicatively coupled to a computer system at the surface, the communicative coupling by way of an umbilical cable; mechanically coupling a first termination module to the base unit, the termination module coupled to a first sensor cable; and communicatively coupling the first sensor cable to the umbilical cable. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046600 | SIM CARD BASED MEDICAL TESTING AND DATA TRANSMISSION SYSTEM - The present invention is a system for measuring and transmitting measuring a characteristic of a physiological fluid and transmitting said characteristic to a receiver, having a card constructed and arranged to perform analysis of a physiological fluid and said card configured to convert said analysis to an electronic file; a transmission device constructed and arranged to receive said card and transmit said electronic data file; and a receiver configured to be operatively associated with said transmission device for receiving said data transmitted thereto, wherein said receiver prepares an output based on reception of said electronic data. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046601 | METHOD FOR CALIBRATION AND QA - The present invention relates to the field of radiation therapy. In particular, the invention concerns a method of calibrating a positioning system in a radiation therapy system comprising a radiation therapy unit having a fixed radiation focus point. The method comprises the steps of: —releasably attaching a calibration tool to the fixation arrangement; —performing an image scanning procedure with the imaging system; —determining a position of the calibration tool in a coordinate system related to the imaging system; and —calculating a position difference between the determined position of the calibration tool in the coordinate system related to the imaging system and a position of the calibration tool in the stereotactic fixation unit coordinate system, thereby determining a relationship between the coordinate system related to the imaging system and the position of the calibration tool in the stereotactic fixation unit coordinate system. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046602 | TIRE PRESSURE DECREASE DETECTION APPARATUS AND METHOD, AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM THEREFOR - A tire pressure decreased detection apparatus comprising rotation speed information detection means, rotation acceleration information calculation means, resonance frequency estimate means for time-series estimating a torsional resonance frequency of the rotation speed information, correlation calculation means for, regarding left and right wheels of driving wheels, calculating a time series correlation of the rotation acceleration information of the left and right wheels, and determination means for determining a decrease in pressure of the tires based on the estimated torsional resonance frequency. In a case where the correlation exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the resonance frequency estimate means stops estimating the torsional resonance frequency. | 2014-02-13 |
20140046603 | ESTIMATING LOSSES IN A SMART FLUID-DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM - A method and associated systems for estimating losses in a fluid-distribution system, in which the fluid-distribution system may represented as a binary tree from which is generated a set of linear or nonlinear equations that express fluid losses as functions of measurements of characteristics of fluid flowing through the fluid-distribution system. Operations performed upon these equations to minimize measurement errors yield solutions that, when bounded by conditions derived from known physical and historical characteristics of the fluid-distribution system, allow inference of accurate loss locations and rates in the fluid-distribution system, even when the losses have not been measured directly or when measurements related to these leak losses contain measurement errors. | 2014-02-13 |