Patents by Inventor Benjamin MAUS
Benjamin MAUS 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: 11851058Abstract: At least one object is detected, via a sensor, in a direction of movement ahead of a host vehicle. A current sensor range is determined based on the detected at least one object. A maximum sensor range is determined based on the sensor. The current sensor range is compared with the maximum sensor range. Upon determining the current sensor range is less than the maximum sensor range by at least a predetermined threshold, driving parameters of the host vehicle are updated based on the current sensor range.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2021Date of Patent: December 26, 2023Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Akshat Rajvanshi, Benjamin Maus, Jens Kotte, Nitendra Nath
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Patent number: 11794787Abstract: While operating a host vehicle in a first lane on a road, respective first statistical probabilities of a) an average speed of a plurality of vehicles, including the host vehicle, operating in the first lane, b) an average distance between the vehicles operating in the first lane, and c) an average number of braking events performed by the vehicles operating in the first lane are determined based on sensor data. A high traffic density probability for the road is determined based on the first statistical probabilities. A host vehicle assist feature is transitioned between an enabled state and a disabled state based on the high traffic density probability for the road being greater than a threshold probability.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2020Date of Patent: October 24, 2023Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Akshat Rajvanshi, Benjamin Maus, Nitendra Nath
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Publication number: 20220169289Abstract: Practicing a takeover of vehicle control of a vehicle 100 from an autonomous mode includes generating a takeover command for performing the takeover of the vehicle control without the existence of a reason for a takeover, and outputting the takeover command to a driver of the vehicle, wherein information about the non-existence of a reason for takeover is not output to the driver.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 23, 2021Publication date: June 2, 2022Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Daniel Bauer, Peter W. A. Zegelaar, Guido Weitkus, Andreas Puetz, Patrick Piastowski, Benjamin Maus
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Patent number: 11334081Abstract: A computer includes a processor and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor. The instructions include to rank a list of minimal risk maneuvers for a vehicle by expected risk score; for each minimal risk maneuver, update a distance from a present location of the vehicle to a respective end location, wherein each end location satisfies a minimal risk condition corresponding to the respective minimal risk maneuver; in response to a first anomalous condition selected from a set of anomalous conditions, determine a distance limit based on the first anomalous condition; then select the minimal risk maneuver ranked best for the expected risk score from the minimal risk maneuvers for which the respective distances are below the distance limit; and then instruct the vehicle to perform the selected minimal risk maneuver.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2020Date of Patent: May 17, 2022Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Benjamin Maus, Dhivya Srinivasan, Jens Kotte
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Publication number: 20220119016Abstract: While operating a host vehicle in a first lane on a road, respective first statistical probabilities of a) an average speed of a plurality of vehicles, including the host vehicle, operating in the first lane, b) an average distance between the vehicles operating in the first lane, and c) an average number of braking events performed by the vehicles operating in the first lane are determined based on sensor data. A high traffic density probability for the road is determined based on the first statistical probabilities. A host vehicle assist feature is transitioned between an enabled state and a disabled state based on the high traffic density probability for the road being greater than a threshold probability.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 19, 2020Publication date: April 21, 2022Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Akshat Rajvanshi, Benjamin Maus, Nitendra Nath
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Publication number: 20220024454Abstract: At least one object is detect, via a sensor, in a direction of movement ahead of a host vehicle. A current sensor range is determined based on the detected at least one object. A maximum sensor range is determined based on the sensor. The current sensor range is compared with the maximum sensor range.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 7, 2021Publication date: January 27, 2022Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Akshat Rajvanshi, Benjamin Maus, Jens Kotte, Nitendra Nath
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Patent number: 11214257Abstract: It is determined that (a) a first vehicle is driving on a curve on a first road or, (b) by detecting a second road, a road boundary of the first road. It is further determined that there is (c) parallel traffic by determining that a second vehicle is moving in a lane of the second road adjacent to the first road, or (d) tangential traffic by detecting a third vehicle is moving tangentially to the curve. Upon determining that there is simultaneously at least one of (a) the first vehicle driving on the curve on the first road or (b) the road boundary of the first road, and at least one of (c) parallel traffic or (d) tangential traffic, then it is determined that the first vehicle is driving on an on-ramp.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2019Date of Patent: January 4, 2022Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Benjamin Maus, Guido Weitkus, Andreas Meyer, Peter W. A. Zegelaar, Christoph Schlaug
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Publication number: 20210294336Abstract: A computer includes a processor and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor. The instructions include to rank a list of minimal risk maneuvers for a vehicle by expected risk score; for each minimal risk maneuver, update a distance from a present location of the vehicle to a respective end location, wherein each end location satisfies a minimal risk condition corresponding to the respective minimal risk maneuver; in response to a first anomalous condition selected from a set of anomalous conditions, determine a distance limit based on the first anomalous condition; then select the minimal risk maneuver ranked best for the expected risk score from the minimal risk maneuvers for which the respective distances are below the distance limit; and then instruct the vehicle to perform the selected minimal risk maneuver.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 20, 2020Publication date: September 23, 2021Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Benjamin Maus, Dhivya Srinivasan, Jens Kotte
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Patent number: 11124188Abstract: The invention concerns an adaptive speed controller for a motor vehicle, with a stop-and-go system for an automatic or driver-confirmed restart following a standstill of the motor vehicle because of a vehicle ahead coming to a standstill and starting again, wherein if the motor vehicle comes to a standstill the stop-and-go system then enters a dynamic standstill state (t0 to t1) from which an automatic dynamic restart is possible, and wherein a preset period of time after the motor vehicle has come to a standstill and remains therein, the stop-and-go system enters a confirmation standstill state (>t4) from which an automatic restart is only possible after a driver's confirmation.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2019Date of Patent: September 21, 2021Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Benjamin Maus, Guido Weitkus
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Patent number: 10915103Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for capturing a traffic lane. A traffic lane data set is evaluated to capture an abrupt change of the traffic lane. The traffic lane data set is divided into a new traffic lane data set that represents a new traffic lane boundary and an old traffic lane data set that represents an old traffic lane boundary. A difference data set is determined between the old traffic lane data set and the new traffic lane data set. The difference data set is added to the new traffic lane data set to form a resulting data set, wherein the difference data set is weighted with a plurality of weighting factors.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2018Date of Patent: February 9, 2021Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Andreas Meyer, Guido Weitkus, Patrick Glet, Benjamin Maus, Manuel Merz
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Patent number: 10843705Abstract: A method is disclosed to operate a motor vehicle using a driver assistance system. The driver assistance system includes, for at least one driver assistance system function, at least one criterion relating to a vehicle environment. The at least one criterion is defined for an adaptation of the driver assistance system function, a number of features of the environment of the vehicle are detected, a probability of the occurrence of at least one criterion is estimated on the basis of a combination of the detected features, and the driver assistance system function is adapted on the basis of the estimated probability.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2018Date of Patent: November 24, 2020Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Benjamin Maus, Reid James Steiger, Andreas Meyer, Manuel Merz, Guido Weitkus
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Publication number: 20200282991Abstract: A method for operating a motor vehicle having an adaptive cruise control system with a stop-and-go function, having the steps of: bringing the motor vehicle to a stop upon detecting that a vehicle in front has stopped, providing a start signal within a predetermined first time period upon starting of the vehicle in front, reading safety-relevant data after the first time period has ended and if the vehicle in front is still stopped, and suppressing a start signal if the safety-relevant data indicate a hazardous traffic situation.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 4, 2020Publication date: September 10, 2020Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Benjamin Maus, Andreas Meyer, Guido Weitkus, Goetz-Philipp Wegner, Armin Mueller-Lerwe, Samantha Medenbach
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Patent number: 10688996Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method and system to operate a motor vehicle with a congestion assistant. The congestion assistant enters sensor data, which serves as input data of the congestion assistant. The sensor data is evaluated, via an evaluation unit, in order to define a value representing a signal roughness of the sensor data. The value is compared, via a comparison unit, with a threshold value. A suppression signal is generated, via a signal detection unit, to prevent automatic activation of the congestion assistant if the value is greater than the threshold value.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2018Date of Patent: June 23, 2020Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Guido Weitkus, Andreas Meyer, Manuel Merz, Benjamin Maus, Mohamed Benmimoun, Fabian Kuzaj
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Publication number: 20190351905Abstract: The invention concerns an adaptive speed controller for a motor vehicle, with a stop-and-go system for an automatic or driver-confirmed restart following a standstill of the motor vehicle because of a vehicle ahead coming to a standstill and starting again, wherein if the motor vehicle comes to a standstill the stop-and-go system then enters a dynamic standstill state (t0 to t1) from which an automatic dynamic restart is possible, and wherein a preset period of time after the motor vehicle has come to a standstill and remains therein, the stop-and-go system enters a confirmation standstill state (>t4) from which an automatic restart is only possible after a driver's confirmation.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 15, 2019Publication date: November 21, 2019Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Benjamin Maus, Guido Weitkus
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Publication number: 20190241187Abstract: It is determined that (a) a first vehicle is driving on a curve on a first road or, (b) by detecting a second road, a road boundary of the first road. It is further determined that there is (c) parallel traffic by determining that a second vehicle is moving in a lane of the second road adjacent to the first road, or (d) tangential traffic by detecting a third vehicle is moving tangentially to the curve. Upon determining that there is simultaneously at least one of (a) the first vehicle driving on the curve on the first road or (b) the road boundary of the first road, and at least one of (c) parallel traffic or (d) tangential traffic, then it is determined that the first vehicle is driving on an on-ramp.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 22, 2019Publication date: August 8, 2019Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Benjamin Maus, Guido Weitkus, Andreas Meyer, Peter W.A. Zegelaar, Christoph Schlaug
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Publication number: 20190023280Abstract: A method is disclosed to operate a motor vehicle using a driver assistance system. The driver assistance system includes, for at least one driver assistance system function, at least one criterion relating to a vehicle environment. The at least one criterion is defined for an adaptation of the driver assistance system function, a number of features of the environment of the vehicle are detected, a probability of the occurrence of at least one criterion is estimated on the basis of a combination of the detected features, and the driver assistance system function is adapted on the basis of the estimated probability.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 19, 2018Publication date: January 24, 2019Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Benjamin MAUS, Reid James STEIGER, Andreas MEYER, Manuel MERZ, Guido WEITKUS
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Publication number: 20180334168Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method and system to operate a motor vehicle with a congestion assistant. The congestion assistant enters sensor data, which serves as input data of the congestion assistant. The sensor data is evaluated, via an evaluation unit, in order to define a value representing a signal roughness of the sensor data. The value is compared, via a comparison unit, with a threshold value. A suppression signal is generated, via a signal detection unit, to prevent automatic activation of the congestion assistant if the value is greater than the threshold value.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 11, 2018Publication date: November 22, 2018Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Guido WEITKUS, Andreas MEYER, Manuel MERZ, Benjamin MAUS, Mohamed BENMIMOUN, Fabian KUZAJ
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Publication number: 20180215305Abstract: A motor vehicle has an internal compartment for housing a rolling appliance (such an and unmanned ground vehicle) that is operable separately from the motor vehicle. A lift mechanism is secured to or within the vehicle adjacent to the compartment and is movable between a lowered condition wherein it alternatively receives/engages the rolling appliance when the rolling appliance is located beneath the compartment, and a raised condition wherein it has lifted the rolling appliance into the compartment, thereby moving the rolling appliance between the ground and the compartment. The compartment is immediately below a traditional cargo area of the vehicle and has a pass-through via which objects can be moved between the vehicle cargo area and a loading area of the rolling appliance.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 24, 2018Publication date: August 2, 2018Applicant: FORD MOTOR COMPANYInventor: Benjamin MAUS
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Patent number: 9908532Abstract: A method for determining an adaptive reaction time of a driver of a motor vehicle, wherein the adaptive reaction time is determined from the activity of the driver by determining the driving behavior of a vehicle driving ahead by a surroundings sensor system, determining activities of the driver of the motor vehicle, determining chronological correlations between the driving behavior of the vehicle driving ahead and the activities of the driver, and determining the driver's activity from the chronological correlations. The method is applied in assistance systems with observation of the surroundings in front of the motor vehicle, in which systems the driver's reaction time is used to determine a warning time.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2016Date of Patent: March 6, 2018Assignee: Volkswagen AGInventors: Stefan Milch, Benjamin Maus, Frank Schroven
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Publication number: 20170101107Abstract: A method for determining an adaptive reaction time of a driver of a motor vehicle, wherein the adaptive reaction time is determined from the activity of the driver by determining the driving behavior of a vehicle driving ahead by a surroundings sensor system, determining activities of the driver of the motor vehicle, determining chronological correlations between the driving behavior of the vehicle driving ahead and the activities of the driver, and determining the driver's activity from the chronological correlations. The method is applied in assistance systems with observation of the surroundings in front of the motor vehicle, in which systems the driver's reaction time is used to determine a warning time.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 7, 2016Publication date: April 13, 2017Inventors: Stefan MILCH, Benjamin MAUS, Frank SCHROVEN