Patents by Inventor Eric L. Reed
Eric L. Reed 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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Publication number: 20240027568Abstract: A system includes a plurality of wireless transmitters and a processor configured to: receive, from a mobile device, signal strengths of signals from the wireless transmitters as detected by the mobile device. The processor is also configured to determine a location of the mobile device in a vehicle, based on a distance from the mobile device to each of the wireless transmitters, as indicated by the received signal strengths and store the location of the mobile device as an occupant location.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 3, 2023Publication date: January 25, 2024Inventors: Mark A. CUDDIHY, Eric L. REED, Manoharprasad K RAO, Thomas Lee MILLER
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Patent number: 11869737Abstract: Systems and methods are described for a push-button switch assembly with the ability to diagnose faults. The push-button switch assembly comprises a first circuit comprising a first resistor arranged in series with a first switch, and a second resistor arranged in parallel with the first resistor and the first switch, and a second circuit comprising a third resistor arranged in series with a second switch, and a fourth resistor arranged in parallel with the third resistor and the second switch, wherein the first switch and the second switch are each closable by displacement of a push-button of the push-button switch assembly.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2021Date of Patent: January 9, 2024Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Paul Braithwaite, Martin Scheck, James Michael Weinfurther, Gabriel Dascalu, Eric L Reed
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Patent number: 11815614Abstract: A system includes a plurality of wireless transmitters and a processor configured to: receive, from a mobile device, signal strengths of signals from the wireless transmitters as detected by the mobile device. The processor is also configured to determine a location of the mobile device in a vehicle, based on a distance from the mobile device to each of the wireless transmitters, as indicated by the received signal strengths and store the location of the mobile device as an occupant location.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2022Date of Patent: November 14, 2023Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Mark A. Cuddihy, Eric L. Reed, Manoharprasad K Rao, Thomas Lee Miller
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Publication number: 20230178323Abstract: Systems and methods are described for a push-button switch assembly with the ability to diagnose faults. The push-button switch assembly comprises a first circuit comprising a first resistor arranged in series with a first switch, and a second resistor arranged in parallel with the first resistor and the first switch, and a second circuit comprising a third resistor arranged in series with a second switch, and a fourth resistor arranged in parallel with the third resistor and the second switch, wherein the first switch and the second switch are each closable by displacement of a push-button of the push-button switch assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 8, 2021Publication date: June 8, 2023Inventors: Paul Braithwaite, Martin Scheck, James Michael Weinfurther, Gabriel Dascalu, Eric L. Reed
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Publication number: 20230178310Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for interfacing between a push-button switch assembly for a motor of a vehicle and a starter control device. The push-button switch assembly has plural contacts arranged to close when a driver operates the push-button switch assembly, the interface being arranged to respond to closure of the contacts within a predetermined interval to emit a signal for commanding starting of the motor of the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 8, 2021Publication date: June 8, 2023Inventors: Paul Braithwaite, Martin Scheck, James Michael Weinfurther, Gabriel Dascalu, Eric L. Reed
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Patent number: 11613277Abstract: Neighborhood monitoring is performed by configuring a cluster server within a public network to maintain a cluster directory identifying cluster members including a neighborhood of smart listening devices and user vehicles. The neighborhood includes a cluster of dwellings, and the user vehicles includes an autonomous vehicle. The surroundings of the smart listening devices and the user vehicles are monitored using sensors in the smart listening devices and the user vehicles. When an alerting event is detected with one of the sensors, a corresponding one of the smart listening devices and the user vehicles that detected the alerting event initiates a message to another cluster member based on the cluster directory. A responsive action is executed in response to the detected alerting event which includes commanding the at least one autonomous vehicle to autonomously relocate to a designated location.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2021Date of Patent: March 28, 2023Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Robert B. Kleve, Eric L. Reed, John R. Van Wiemeersch
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Publication number: 20220326339Abstract: A system includes a plurality of wireless transmitters and a processor configured to: receive, from a mobile device, signal strengths of signals from the wireless transmitters as detected by the mobile device. The processor is also configured to determine a location of the mobile device in a vehicle, based on a distance from the mobile device to each of the wireless transmitters, as indicated by the received signal strengths and store the location of the mobile device as an occupant location.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2022Publication date: October 13, 2022Inventors: Mark A. CUDDIHY, Eric L. REED, Manoharprasad K. RAO, Thomas Lee MILLER
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Patent number: 11414050Abstract: A computing device can be programmed to, upon determining that a location of a vehicle is within a set of boundaries associated with a wireless network and that a user device is authenticated to the network, authorize the user device to control the vehicle. The computing device can be further programmed to, upon determining that the vehicle is not within the boundaries, authorize the user device to control the vehicle based on transmitting an authentication credential to a server and receiving an authorization certificate.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2017Date of Patent: August 16, 2022Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Eric L. Reed, Jonathan Diedrich, John Moore, Bradley Smith
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Patent number: 11391810Abstract: A system includes a plurality of vehicle-deployed wireless transmitters and a processor. The processor is configured to receive, from a mobile device, signal strengths of signals from the wireless transmitters as detected by the mobile device. The processor is further configured to determine a location of the mobile device in a vehicle, based on the distance from the mobile device to each of the respective transmitters, as indicated by the received signal strengths and store the location of the mobile device as an occupant location.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2016Date of Patent: July 19, 2022Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Mark A. Cuddihy, Eric L. Reed, Manoharprasad K. Rao, Thomas Lee Miller
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Publication number: 20220073110Abstract: Neighborhood monitoring is performed by configuring a cluster server within a public network to maintain a cluster directory identifying cluster members including a neighborhood of smart listening devices and user vehicles. The neighborhood includes a cluster of dwellings, and the user vehicles includes an autonomous vehicle. The surroundings of the smart listening devices and the user vehicles are monitored using sensors in the smart listening devices and the user vehicles. When an alerting event is detected with one of the sensors, a corresponding one of the smart listening devices and the user vehicles that detected the alerting event initiates a message to another cluster member based on the cluster directory. A responsive action is executed in response to the detected alerting event which includes commanding the at least one autonomous vehicle to autonomously relocate to a designated location.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 22, 2021Publication date: March 10, 2022Inventors: Robert B. Kleve, Eric L. Reed, John R. Van Wiemeersch
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Patent number: 11210929Abstract: Crowd-sourcing of vehicles and smart listening devices is used for neighborhood monitoring. A cluster server is configured within a public network to maintain a cluster directory identifying cluster members including a neighborhood of smart listening devices and user vehicles, wherein the neighborhood is associated with a cluster of dwellings. The surroundings of the smart listening devices and the user vehicles are monitored using sensors in the smart listening devices and the user vehicles. Upon detecting an alerting event with one of the sensors, a corresponding one of the smart listening devices and the user vehicles that detected the alerting event initiates a message to another cluster member based on the cluster directory. The cluster member receiving the message initiates its own responsive action to the alerting event.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2020Date of Patent: December 28, 2021Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Robert B. Kleve, Eric L. Reed, John R. Van Wiemeersch
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Patent number: 11155133Abstract: A vehicle control system comprises a sensor configured to capture sensor data and a controller configured to identify a coupler position of a trailer in the sensor data. The controller is further configured to control a vehicle alignment routine aligning the hitch with the coupler position and control an emergency braking operation in response to detecting an obstruction in the sensor data. The controller is configured to suppress the emergency braking operation in response to the obstruction corresponding to the coupler in the sensor data.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2019Date of Patent: October 26, 2021Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Luke Niewiadomski, Eric L. Reed, Roger Arnold Trombley, Robert D. Klosek
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Patent number: 11079487Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for communication of infrastructure information to a vehicle via ground penetrating radar. A vehicle comprising an antenna positioned to broadcast radio waves below the vehicle, a ground penetrating radar system, and an active safety module. The ground penetrating radar system determines types of reflectors and a spatial relationship between the reflectors based on radar cross-sections detected by the antenna, and generates a signature based on the shapes and the spatial relationship. The active safety module determines environmental data based on the signature, and autonomously control the vehicle based on the environmental data.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2017Date of Patent: August 3, 2021Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Eric L. Reed, Jonathan Diedrich, Adil Nizam Siddiqui, Thomas Michael McQuade
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Publication number: 20210231798Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for communication of infrastructure information to a vehicle via ground penetrating radar. A vehicle comprising an antenna positioned to broadcast radio waves below the vehicle, a ground penetrating radar system, and an active safety module. The ground penetrating radar system determines types of reflectors and a spatial relationship between the reflectors based on radar cross-sections detected by the antenna, and generates a signature based on the shapes and the spatial relationship. The active safety module determines environmental data based on the signature, and autonomously control the vehicle based on the environmental data.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 13, 2021Publication date: July 29, 2021Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Eric L. Reed, Jonathan Diedrich, Adil Nizam Siddiqui, Thomas Michael McQuade
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Patent number: 10962980Abstract: A vehicle system comprises a hitch ball mounted on a vehicle. The system further comprises a plurality of sensor devices comprising an ultrasonic sensor and an image sensor. A controller is configured to process image data from the image sensor identifying a coupler position of a trailer. The controller is further configured to process ultrasonic data from the ultrasonic sensor identifying a proximity of the trailer. Based on the proximity of the trailer, the system is configured to identify the trailer in a detection range of the image sensor.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2018Date of Patent: March 30, 2021Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Luke Niewiadomski, Erick Michael Lavoie, Eric L. Reed, Chen Zhang, Roger Arnold Trombley, Douglas J. Rogan, Bruno Sielly Jales Costa
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Publication number: 20210049896Abstract: Crowd-sourcing of vehicles and smart listening devices is used for neighborhood monitoring. A cluster server is configured within a public network to maintain a cluster directory identifying cluster members including a neighborhood of smart listening devices and user vehicles, wherein the neighborhood is associated with a cluster of dwellings. The surroundings of the smart listening devices and the user vehicles are monitored using sensors in the smart listening devices and the user vehicles. Upon detecting an alerting event with one of the sensors, a corresponding one of the smart listening devices and the user vehicles that detected the alerting event initiates a message to another cluster member based on the cluster directory. The cluster member receiving the message initiates its own responsive action to the alerting event.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 2, 2020Publication date: February 18, 2021Inventors: Robert B. Kleve, Eric L. Reed, John R. Van Wiemeersch
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Patent number: 10913396Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for adjustment of vehicle rearview mirror displays. An example vehicle includes a rearview camera for capturing an image, a rearview mirror display positioned at a fixed orientation that is to present a portion of the image, a housing to rotate behind the rearview mirror display, and a sensor to detect a orientation of the housing. The example vehicle also includes a controller to adjust, based upon the orientation of the housing, the portion of the image presented via the rearview mirror display.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2017Date of Patent: February 9, 2021Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Jonathan Diedrich, Eric L. Reed, Adil Nizam Siddiqui
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Patent number: 10825332Abstract: A smart listening device comprises an audio detector responsive to speech and ambient sounds to provide digital audio signals. A distributed controller is coupled to the audio detector to execute responsive actions in response to the digital audio signals. A communications circuit establishes a first communication link with a backend. A vehicle database identifies at least one user transport vehicle and at least one responsive action corresponding to the user vehicle. The distributed controller has a monitoring mode for detecting preconfigured alerting events and has an alert/response mode for executing responsive actions associated with the detected alerting events. The communications circuit establishes a second communication link with the user vehicle when an executed responsive action is associated with a detected alerting event corresponding to the user vehicle in order to initiate the responsive action.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2019Date of Patent: November 3, 2020Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Robert B. Kleve, Eric L. Reed, John R. Van Wiemeersch
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Patent number: 10748012Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed to facilitate environmental visibility determination. An example vehicle comprises a sensor and a processor and memory. The sensor is to generate road image information. The processor and memory are in communication with the sensor and are configured to: detect vanishing points of lane markings in the road image information, convert an average pixel row value of the vanishing points to a distance value, and if the distance value is below a threshold, stop execution of at least one road condition monitoring feature.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2018Date of Patent: August 18, 2020Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Jonathan Diedrich, Eric L. Reed, Adil Nizam Siddiqui, Mark Gehrke
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Publication number: 20200247197Abstract: A vehicle control system comprises a sensor configured to capture sensor data and a controller configured to identify a coupler position of a trailer in the sensor data. The controller is further configured to control a vehicle alignment routine aligning the hitch with the coupler position and control an emergency braking operation in response to detecting an obstruction in the sensor data. The controller is configured to suppress the emergency braking operation in response to the obstruction corresponding to the coupler in the sensor data.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 4, 2019Publication date: August 6, 2020Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Luke Niewiadomski, Eric L. Reed, Roger Arnold Trombley, Robert D. Klosek