Patents by Inventor Erick Michael Lavoie

Erick Michael Lavoie 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).

  • USER INPUT CONFIGURED DYNAMIC SHUTTLE
    Publication number: 20190370701
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for reserving a vehicle with a desired vehicle characteristic are disclosed herein. A system includes a receiver to receive a request to reserve a vehicle, wherein the request indicates a desired vehicle characteristic. The system includes a controller configured to determine a change to the vehicle that will satisfy the vehicle characteristic, and the system includes an implementation component configured to implement the change to the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2017
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Inventors: Lisa SCARIA, Candice XU, Brielle REIFF, Henry Salvatore SAVAGE, Sarah HOUTS, Jinhyong OH, Erick Michael LAVOIE
  • Input signal management for vehicle park-assist
    Patent number: 10493981
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for input signal management for vehicle park-assist. An example vehicle includes an autonomy unit, a communication module, and a controller. The controller is to perform, via the autonomy unit, remote parking upon receiving, via the communication module, a remote parking signal from a mobile device. The controller also is to receive an unlock request during the remote parking from a first key fob, determine a number of key fobs within a tethering range, and prevent processing of the unlock request when the number of key fobs is one.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Erick Michael Lavoie, Ali Hassani, Alyssa Chatten, John Robert Van Wiemeersch
  • Vehicle boundary detection
    Patent number: 10489662
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a camera and processor(s) configured to: record images via the camera; combine the recorded images; identify edges in the combined image by comparing each pixel of the combined image to a threshold; update dimensions of the vehicle based on the identified edges; execute an automatic parking routine based on the updated dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Erick Michael Lavoie, Zheng Hu
  • Trailer backup offset determination
    Patent number: 10471989
    Abstract: A system for calibrating a backup assist system for a trailer attached to a vehicle is provided which includes a hitch sensor continuously measuring a hitch angle between the vehicle and the trailer. A controller is configured to determine an offset of the measured hitch angle. The controller is configured to calculate and store in memory a forward offset if no reverse offset is stored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Erick Michael Lavoie, Joseph M. Raad, Donald Jacob Mattern
  • User configurable vehicle parking alert system
    Patent number: 10467905
    Abstract: A parking place alert system may include an interface, and a controller configured to generate an alert to be displayed via the interface and identifying a set of available park assist features selected in response to an indication that an available parking place is of a user identified type that defines a desired vehicle orientation and position relative to other parked vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Erick Michael Lavoie, Miguel A. Bahena
  • TRAILER BACKUP ASSIST CURVATURE CONTROL
    Publication number: 20190308663
    Abstract: A vehicle has a trailer backup steering input apparatus, a trailer backup assist control module coupled to the a trailer backup steering input apparatus, and an electric power assist steering system coupled to the trailer backup assist control module and. The trailer backup steering input apparatus is configured for outputting a trailer path curvature signal approximating a desired curvature for a path of travel of a trailer towably coupled to the vehicle. The trailer backup assist control module is configured for determining vehicle steering information as a function of the trailer path curvature signal. The electric power assist steering system is configured for controlling steering of steered wheels of the vehicle as a function of the vehicle steering information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2019
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC, The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventors: Douglas Scott Rhode, David Dean Smit, Erick Michael Lavoie, Martin Fitzpatrick Frey, Thomas Edward Pilutti, Taehyun Shim, Matt Y. Rupp, Roger Arnold Trombley
  • INPUT SIGNAL MANAGEMENT FOR VEHICLE PARK-ASSIST
    Publication number: 20190308612
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for input signal management for vehicle park-assist. An example vehicle includes an autonomy unit for remote parking, a communication module, a sensor, and a controller. The controller is to designate a mobile device responsive to determining the remote parking is inactive and receiving an activation request from the mobile device. When the mobile device is designated, the controller also is to process remote parking signals of the mobile device, stop the remote parking when the sensor detects engagement of a door handle, and prevent processing of other nonemergency requests.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2018
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Inventors: Erick Michael Lavoie, Ali Hassani, Alyssa Chatten, John Robert Van Wiemeersch
  • INPUT SIGNAL MANAGEMENT FOR VEHICLE PARK-ASSIST
    Publication number: 20190308614
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for input signal management for vehicle park-assist. An example vehicle includes an autonomy unit, a communication module, and a controller. The controller is to perform, via the autonomy unit, remote parking upon receiving, via the communication module, a remote parking signal from a mobile device. The controller also is to receive an unlock request during the remote parking from a first key fob, determine a number of key fobs within a tethering range, and prevent processing of the unlock request when the number of key fobs is one.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2018
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Inventors: Erick Michael Lavoie, Ali Hassani, Alyssa Chatten, John Robert Van Wiemeersch
  • INPUT SIGNAL MANAGEMENT FOR VEHICLE PARK-ASSIST
    Publication number: 20190308613
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for input signal management for vehicle park-assist. An example vehicle includes a door, an autonomy unit, a communication module, a vehicle speed sensor for monitoring a vehicle speed, and a controller. The controller is to cause the autonomy unit to perform remote parking upon receiving, via the communication module, a remote parking signal. The controller also is to receive an unlock request during performance of the remote parking and prevent unlocking of the door responsive to determining the vehicle speed is greater than a threshold speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2018
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Inventors: Erick Michael Lavoie, Ali Hassani, Alyssa Chatten, John Robert Van Wiemeersch
  • VEHICLE REMOTE PARK-ASSIST COMMUNICATION COUNTERS
    Publication number: 20190308615
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for vehicle remote park-assist communication counters. An example vehicle includes an autonomy unit for remote parking, a communication module, and a controller. The controller is to implement a counter into remote parking communication between the communication module and a mobile device and, when the counter exceeds a threshold, monitor for a reset vehicle event and a reset mobile event. The controller also is to reset the counter responsive to detecting at least one of the reset vehicle event and the reset mobile event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2018
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Inventors: Erick Michael Lavoie, Alyssa Chatten, Vivekanandh Elangovan, Joby Jester
  • Hitch assist system with hitch coupler identification feature and hitch coupler height estimation
    Patent number: 10427717
    Abstract: A hitch assist system and method are provided herein. An imager is configured to capture one or more images containing a trailer having a hitch coupler. A touchscreen display is configured to show a view of the trailer and register one or more touch events thereon for specifying a location of the hitch coupler. A controller is configured to generate an icon at the specified location of the hitch coupler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yi Zhang, Erick Michael Lavoie
  • VEHICLE ROUTE PLANNING
    Publication number: 20190293442
    Abstract: A system includes a computer including a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to determine a route based on at least one of (a) an amount of snow accumulation, and (b) a predicted amount of remediation material, for each of a plurality of road segments, actuate a vehicle to follow the route, and actuate at least one of a snow plow and a material spreader on the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Luke Niewiadomski, Erick Michael Lavoie, Roger Arnold Trombley
  • Handwheel obstruction detection and inertia compensation
    Patent number: 10421490
    Abstract: A vehicle steering system includes a first sensor sensing a pinion angle of a handwheel and a second sensor sensing a torsion bar windup angle. An autonomous steering module generates a steering command having an input torque signal. A steering angle controller is configured to determine a filtered handwheel acceleration based on the pinion angle and the windup angle. The steering angle controller also determines an offset torque based on the filtered handwheel acceleration. Further, the steering angle controller applies the offset torque to the input torque signal to define a refined torque signal that compensates for inertia and off-center mass of the handwheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Erick Michael Lavoie, Darrel Alan Recker, Michael Richard Johnson
  • Initiation of vehicle liftgate actuation
    Patent number: 10407970
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for initiation of vehicle liftgate actuation. An example vehicle includes a liftgate, a proximity sensor for monitoring an activation area of the liftgate, a camera to capture an image of the activation area upon the proximity sensor detecting an object within the activation area, and a liftgate controller. The liftgate controller is to determine, based on the image, whether the object is a leg of a user and actuate the liftgate responsive to determining that the object is the leg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Erick Michael Lavoie, William McRoy, Eric L. Reed, John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Adil Nizam Siddiqui
  • Park assist with tire radius consideration
    Patent number: 10399562
    Abstract: A vehicle, a vehicle parking assist system, and a parking method, is provided. A powertrain and a steering system may be operated to guide the vehicle into a parking location to complete a drive cycle based on a default tire radius, a tire angular velocity acquired during a drive cycle in response to a steering angle of the steering system exceeding a threshold value, and wheel and GPS vehicle speeds for the drive cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Erick Michael Lavoie, Kerem Bayar, Michael Edward Brewer
  • MITIGATING KEY FOB UNAVAILABILITY FOR REMOTE PARKING ASSIST SYSTEMS
    Publication number: 20190258238
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for mitigating key fob error for remote parking assist systems. An example vehicle includes wireless modules that communicatively couple to a key fob and a mobile device and a processor. The processor, when the key fob is usable, estimates a location of an operator based on the key fob, and operate an autonomous parking system in a first mode. Additionally, the processor, when the key fob is not usable, estimates the location of the operator based on the mobile device, and operate the autonomous parking system in a second mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2018
    Publication date: August 22, 2019
    Inventors: Erick Michael Lavoie, John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Alyssa Chatten
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TIRE WEAR PROGNOSTICS
    Publication number: 20190255891
    Abstract: A storage maintains coefficients that map histogram data elements to tire wear, the coefficients being trained based on a correlation of histogram data to measured tire wear. A processor is programmed to receive a wear data histogram from a vehicle, utilize the coefficients to translate the wear data histogram into a measure of physical tire wear; and send an alert message indicating the estimated tire wear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Publication date: August 22, 2019
    Inventors: Omar MAKKE, Oleg Yurievitch GUSIKHIN, Erick Michael LAVOIE
  • TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING FOR VEHICLE PARK-ASSIST
    Publication number: 20190256143
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for tire pressure monitoring for vehicle park-assist. An example vehicle includes tires, pressure sensors, and a controller. The controller is to identify a target position within a parking spot for park-assist, determine a tire index based on tire pressure measurements, and identify whether the tire index is within a low range, a caution range, or a normal operating range. The controller also is to adjust, responsive to the tire index being within the caution range, the target position to facilitate access to one of the tires having low pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Publication date: August 22, 2019
    Inventors: Erick Michael Lavoie, John Robert Van Wiemeersch
  • DEAD ZONE MITIGATION FOR A PASSIVE ENTRY SYSTEM OF A VEHICLE
    Publication number: 20190256049
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for dead zone mitigation for a passive entry system of a vehicle. An example vehicle includes antenna modules to measure signal strengths of broadcasts from a mobile device. The example vehicle also includes a wireless module to, when the mobile device is in a dead zone, generate first and second predictors and enable passive entry when the first and second predictors match and indicate that the mobile device is in a passive entry zone, and a sensor detects a user. The example vehicle also includes a body control module to unlock a door when passive entry is enabled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2018
    Publication date: August 22, 2019
    Inventors: Jalal Jawany, Vivekanandh Elangovan, Ali Hassani, Patricia Seashore, Timothy Thivierge, JR., Yasmin Jawad, Erick Michael Lavoie
  • Vehicle driver locator
    Patent number: 10384641
    Abstract: A vehicle may include: a motor, nodes, sensors, puddle lights, and processor(s) configured to: command the nodes to produce high power signal patterns to link with a mobile device; command at least some of the nodes to produce low power signal patterns to link with the mobile device based detecting the high power link; activate at least some of the puddle lights based on the low power link. The vehicle may activate at least some of the puddle lights based on the low power link by running processing software on measurements captured by the nodes based on the low power link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David McNabb, Vivekanandh Elangovan, Erick Michael Lavoie, John Robert Van Wiemeersch