Patents by Inventor Alex Maurice Miller
Alex Maurice Miller has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 9802566Abstract: A vehicle has a restraint system with at least two restraint devices. A sensor detects a potential collision object and outputs a signal representing a relative position of the potential collision object to the vehicle. A processing device suppresses deployment of at least one of the restraint devices based at least in part on the signal output by the at least one sensor.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2016Date of Patent: October 31, 2017Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Gerald H. Engelman, Alex Maurice Miller, Brian Robert Spahn, Richard Lee Stephenson, Levasseur Tellis, Timothy D. Zwicky
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Patent number: 9666069Abstract: A vehicle includes an autonomous driving sensor configured to detect a road condition and output at least one road condition signal representing the road condition, an autonomous mode controller configured to control the vehicle according to the at least one road condition signal, and a communication module configured to broadcast the road condition signal.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2014Date of Patent: May 30, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Gerald H. Engelman, Alex Maurice Miller, Richard Lee Stephenson, Levasseur Tellis, Timothy D. Zwicky
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Patent number: 9610945Abstract: An intersection of a host vehicle and a target vehicle is identified. Data relating to the target vehicle are collected. A map of a surrounding environment is developed. A driver intent probability is determined based at least in part on the map. A threat estimation is determined based at least in part on the driver intent probability. At least one of a plurality of safety systems is activated based at least in part on the threat estimation.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2016Date of Patent: April 4, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Alex Maurice Miller, Roger Arnold Trombley, Kun Deng, Thomas Edward Pilutti, Patrick Piastowski
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Publication number: 20160362104Abstract: An intersection of a host vehicle and a target vehicle is identified. Data relating to the target vehicle are collected. A map of a surrounding environment is developed. A driver intent probability is determined based at least in part on the map. A threat estimation is determined based at least in part on the driver intent probability. At least one of a plurality of safety systems is activated based at least in part on the threat estimation.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 25, 2016Publication date: December 15, 2016Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Alex Maurice Miller, Roger Arnold Trombley, Kun Deng, Thomas Edward Pilutti, Patrick Piastowski
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Patent number: 9335162Abstract: A vehicle system for estimating a trailer length is disclosed. The system incorporates at least one sensor configured to measure a wheel steer angle and a trailer angle in communication with a processor. The processor is operable to determine a first length by a first computation method and determine a second length by a second computation method. The processor is further operable to validate an estimated trailer length based on the first length and the second length and perform a back-up function for the trailer based on the estimated trailer length.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2014Date of Patent: May 10, 2016Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Christos Kyrtsos, Thomas Edward Pilutti, Alex Maurice Miller, Douglas Scott Rhode
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Publication number: 20160121835Abstract: A vehicle has a restraint system with at least two restraint devices. A sensor detects a potential collision object and outputs a signal representing a relative position of the potential collision object to the vehicle. A processing device suppresses deployment of at least one of the restraint devices based at least in part on the signal output by the at least one sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 13, 2016Publication date: May 5, 2016Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Gerald H. Engelman, Alex Maurice Miller, Brian Robert Spahn, Richard Lee Stephenson, Levasseur Tellis, Timothy D. Zwicky
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Publication number: 20160096514Abstract: A vehicle impact is determined to be likely to occur. Determinations are made that a vehicle speed is below a first predetermined threshold, that a vehicle pedal condition is met, and that a vehicle acceleration is below a second predetermined threshold. At least one instruction is then provided that includes at least one of an instruction to override an acceleration request and an instruction to suppress a throttle.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 3, 2014Publication date: April 7, 2016Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Alex Maurice Miller, Stephen William Rouhana
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Patent number: 9266487Abstract: A vehicle has a restraint system with at least two restraint devices. A sensor detects a potential collision object and outputs a signal representing a relative position of the potential collision object to the vehicle. A processing device suppresses deployment of at least one of the restraint devices based at least in part on the signal output by the at least one sensor.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2014Date of Patent: February 23, 2016Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Gerald H. Engelman, Alex Maurice Miller, Brian Robert Spahn, Richard Lee Stephenson, Levasseur Tellis, Timothy D. Zwicky
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Patent number: 9218739Abstract: A method for assisting a driver includes determining that a host vehicle and first and second surrounding vehicles are approaching an intersection on at least two different road segments; determining when the first and second vehicles have stopped at the intersection; determining when the first and second vehicles proceed through the intersection; and identifying an actual order-of-progression of the first and second vehicles through the intersection. Simultaneously or sequentially with determination of the actual order-of-progression, attempting to determine a present geographic location of the host vehicle and consulting an on-board database to attempt to identify a regulatory order-of-progression for the present geographic location. If the regulatory order-or-progression is identified, the driver is advised regarding the regulatory order-of-progression. If the attempt to identify the regulatory order-or-progression is not successful, the driver is advised regarding the actual order-of-progression.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2012Date of Patent: December 22, 2015Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Roger Arnold Trombley, Alex Maurice Miller
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Patent number: 9174649Abstract: A vehicle sub-system controller is configured to receive a first message and a second message, wherein the first message includes at least a command for the controller, and the second message includes at least a target value for the controller to achieve. A fault may be detected with respect to the first message; and an adjustment to the sub-system may be locally determined in the sub-system controller to achieve the target value.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2014Date of Patent: November 3, 2015Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Rajit Johri, Andrew Brown, Scott J. Lauffer, Sarra Awad Yako, Shane Elwart, Douglas Scott Rhode, Alex Maurice Miller, Tobias John Pallett, John A. Lockwood
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Publication number: 20150268341Abstract: A vehicle includes a fascia, a sensor array disposed on the fascia, and a processing device. The sensor array has a plurality of ultrasonic sensors, each configured to output a sensor signal. The processing device is configured to process the sensor signals and control operation of the sensor array to generate a three dimensional image of an object near the vehicle based at least in part on the sensor signals.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 21, 2014Publication date: September 24, 2015Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Christos Kyrtsos, Thomas Edward Pilutti, Alex Maurice Miller
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Publication number: 20150258954Abstract: A vehicle has a restraint system with at least two restraint devices. A sensor detects a potential collision object and outputs a signal representing a relative position of the potential collision object to the vehicle. A processing device suppresses deployment of at least one of the restraint devices based at least in part on the signal output by the at least one sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2014Publication date: September 17, 2015Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Gerald H. Engelman, Alex Maurice Miller, Brian Robert Spahn, Richard Lee Stephenson, Levasseur Tellis, Timothy D. Zwicky
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Patent number: 9123251Abstract: An improved vision-based system generates object detection corresponding to different viewing areas based on vehicle speed. At lower vehicle speeds, the system covers a wider field of view and a near zone while at higher vehicle speeds the system covers a normal or narrower field of view and a far zone. The system includes a lens package having a movable lens, an image sensor and an image transformer. The movable lens is movable between a first position representing a wide angle view and a second position representing a normal angle view. Each of these views generates an image such that a wide angle view generates a wide angle image and a normal angle view generates a normal angle image. The wide angle view is associated with the vehicle's passive safety systems while the normal angle view is associated with the vehicle's active safety systems.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2013Date of Patent: September 1, 2015Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC.Inventors: Jialiang Le, Manoharprasad K. Rao, Alex Maurice Miller
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Publication number: 20150241226Abstract: First and second sets of data are collected in a vehicle from respective data sources. Each of the first and second sets of data are provided for determinations respectively selected from first and second categories of autonomous vehicle operations. A determination is made to take an autonomous action selected from the first category of autonomous vehicle operations. Data is used from each of the first and second data sets relating respectively to the first and second categories of autonomous vehicle operations to determine the autonomous action.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 19, 2015Publication date: August 27, 2015Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Gerald H. Engelman, Alex Maurice Miller, Richard Lee Stephenson, Levasseur Tellis, Timothy D. Zwicky
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Publication number: 20150235557Abstract: A vehicle includes an autonomous driving sensor configured to detect a road condition and output at least one road condition signal representing the road condition, an autonomous mode controller configured to control the vehicle according to the at least one road condition signal, and a communication module configured to broadcast the road condition signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 14, 2014Publication date: August 20, 2015Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Gerald H. Engelman, Alex Maurice Miller, Richard Lee Stephenson, Levasseur Tellis, Timothy D. Zwicky
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Publication number: 20150197281Abstract: A system for backing a vehicle and a trailer is provided herein. The system includes an imaging system configured to detect contiguous lane markers while imaging an operating environment of the vehicle and trailer. The system also includes a user interface configured to display the contiguous lane markers in relation to the vehicle and trailer wherein the user is enabled to select a target space bounded by the contiguous lane markers. A backup assist system is also provided to determine a steering trajectory into the target space.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 25, 2015Publication date: July 16, 2015Inventors: Alex Maurice Miller, Michael Hafner, Sudipto Aich
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Patent number: 9079587Abstract: A computer in a first vehicle is programmed to receive a first set of data from at least one sensor in the first vehicle and to receive a second set of data from at least one second vehicle. The second set of data is from at least one sensor in the at least one second vehicle. The computer is further programmed to use both the first set of data and the second set of data to identify at least one feature of a road being traversed by the first vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2014Date of Patent: July 14, 2015Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Matt Y. Rupp, Gerald H. Engelman, Alex Maurice Miller, Timothy D. Zwicky, Levasseur Tellis, Richard Lee Stephenson
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Publication number: 20150166069Abstract: A vehicle includes at least one autonomous driving sensor configured to monitor at least one condition while the vehicle is operating in an autonomous mode. A processing device is configured to control at least one vehicle subsystem while the vehicle is operating in the autonomous mode. The processing device is configured to control the at least one vehicle subsystem according to a driver preference.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2013Publication date: June 18, 2015Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Gerald H. Engelman, ALEX MAURICE MILLER, THOMAS EDWARD PILUTTI, MATT Y. RUPP, RICHARD LEE STEPHENSON, LEVASSEUR TELLIS, ROGER ARNOLD TROMBLEY, ANDREW WALDIS, TIMOTHY D. ZWICKY
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Publication number: 20150055120Abstract: An improved vision-based system generates object detection corresponding to different viewing areas based on vehicle speed. At lower vehicle speeds the system covers a wider field of view and a near zone while at higher vehicle speeds the system covers a normal or narrower field of view and a far zone. The system includes a lens package having a movable lens, an image sensor and image transformer. The movable lens is movable between a first position representing a wide angle view and a second position representing a normal angle view. Each of these views generates an image such that a wide angle view generates a wide angle image and a normal angle view generates a normal angle image. The wide angle view is associated with the vehicle's passive safety systems while the normal angle view is associated with the vehicle's active safety systems.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 20, 2013Publication date: February 26, 2015Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Jialiang Le, Manoharprasad K. Rao, Alex Maurice Miller
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Publication number: 20140267688Abstract: A vehicle and trailer display system is disclosed. The display system includes a plurality of imaging devices disposed on the vehicle, each having a field of view. The display system further includes a screen disposed in the vehicle operable to display images from the imaging devices. A controller is in communication with the imaging devices and the screen and is operable to receive a hitch angle corresponding to the angle between the vehicle and the trailer. Based on the hitch angle, the controller is operable to select a field of view of an imaging device to display on the screen.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 29, 2014Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Sudipto Aich, Roger Arnold Trombley, John Shutko, Alex Maurice Miller