Patents by Inventor Jeremy Alan Rawlings
Jeremy Alan Rawlings 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: 20230265708Abstract: This disclosure describes systems and methods for hands-free liftgate activation. An example method may include receiving a liftgate activation signal. The example method may also include receiving first data from a sensor of a vehicle at a first time and second data from the sensor at a second time. The example method may also include determining that a first difference between a second value associated with the second data and a first value associated with the first data is greater than a first threshold amount. The example method may also include disabling, based on the determination that the first difference is greater than the first threshold amount, activation of a liftgate of the vehicle. The example method may also include receiving third data from the sensor. The example method may also include determining that a second difference between a third value associated with the third data and the first value is less than a second threshold amount.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2022Publication date: August 24, 2023Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Pietro Buttolo, Kirsen J. Quan, Jeremy Alan Rawlings
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Patent number: 10486645Abstract: A system for a vehicle includes a gear and a plate fixed to the gear. The gear is driving by a motor for providing relative rotation between a steering wheel and steering shaft of the vehicle in an adaptive front steering system. The system includes a solenoid including a coil and a pin moveable relative to the coil to engage the plate based on a signal. A sensor is configured to detect a change in current through the coil associated with initial movement of the pin relative to the coil. The system includes a controller programmed to change the duty cycle signal in response to the change in current to slow movement of the pin to reduce or eliminate a clicking noise associated with the pin seating in an extended position or retracted position.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2015Date of Patent: November 26, 2019Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Oliver Nehls, Joshua Guerra, Jeremy Alan Rawlings, Lodewijk Wijffels
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Patent number: 10435063Abstract: A method for detecting steering misalignments in an adaptive steering system of a motor vehicle, wherein the adaptive steering system has a steering wheel angle sensor for detecting a value representative of a steering wheel angle, an adaptive angle unit for detecting a value representative of an adaptive angle, and a wheel angle detection unit for detecting a value representative of a wheel angle. The method including detecting a value representative of the steering wheel angle, detecting a value representative of the adaptive angle, detecting or determining a value representative of the wheel angle, and computing a comparison value.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2017Date of Patent: October 8, 2019Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Attila Benak, Lodewijk Wijffels, Sergio Codonesu, Oliver Nehls, Jeremy Alan Rawlings
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Patent number: 10315691Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to correct clear vision errors in a vehicle steering system are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a first sensor and a second sensor to measure a current position of a steering column and a current position of a steering wheel in a vehicle steering system. The example apparatus further includes a non-uniformity manager to map the current position to an offset, and an active steering system to apply the offset to adjust the current position of the steering wheel to a nominal position of the steering wheel to compensate for a clear vision error.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2017Date of Patent: June 11, 2019Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Lodewijk Wijffels, David Michael Russell, Jeremy Alan Rawlings, Attila Benak, Timothy Cannon, Joseph Park
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Publication number: 20180281845Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to correct clear vision errors in a vehicle steering system are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a first sensor and a second sensor to measure a current position of a steering column and a current position of a steering wheel in a vehicle steering system. The example apparatus further includes a non-uniformity manager to map the current position to an offset, and an active steering system to apply the offset to adjust the current position of the steering wheel to a nominal position of the steering wheel to compensate for a clear vision error.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2017Publication date: October 4, 2018Inventors: Lodewijk Wijffels, David Michael Russell, Jeremy Alan Rawlings, Attila Benak, Timothy Cannon, Joseph Park
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Publication number: 20180134310Abstract: A method for detecting steering misalignments in an adaptive steering system of a motor vehicle, wherein the adaptive steering system has a steering wheel angle sensor for detecting a value representative of a steering wheel angle, an adaptive angle unit for detecting a value representative of an adaptive angle, and a wheel angle detection unit for detecting a value representative of a wheel angle. The method including detecting a value representative of the steering wheel angle, detecting a value representative of the adaptive angle, detecting or determining a value representative of the wheel angle, and computing a comparison value.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 10, 2017Publication date: May 17, 2018Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Attila Benak, Lodewijk Wijffels, Sergio Codonesu, Oliver Nehls, Jeremy Alan Rawlings
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Publication number: 20170144627Abstract: A system for a vehicle includes a gear and a plate fixed to the gear. The gear is driving by a motor for providing relative rotation between a steering wheel and steering shaft of the vehicle in an adaptive front steering system. The system includes a solenoid including a coil and a pin moveable relative to the coil to engage the plate based on a signal. A sensor is configured to detect a change in current through the coil associated with initial movement of the pin relative to the coil. The system includes a controller programmed to change the duty cycle signal in response to the change in current to slow movement of the pin to reduce or eliminate a clicking noise associated with the pin seating in an extended position or retracted position.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 20, 2015Publication date: May 25, 2017Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Oliver Nehls, Joshua Guerra, Jeremy Alan Rawlings, Lodewijk Wijffels
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Patent number: 9567002Abstract: A steering locking system is provided for a motor vehicle that includes a pin, a locking disc to receive the pin, an actuation device, and a control unit. The actuation device is configured to control movement of the pin. The control unit is configured to control rotation of the locking disc and movement of the pin via the actuation device. Further, the control unit is configured to permit movement of the pin into the pocket after the occurrence of a predetermined event. The steering locking system can further include a motor operatively associated with the locking disc. The control unit may be configured to control the motor at a first power level to maintain the motor in a state of readiness and to control the motor at a second power level, different from the first power level, when the locking system detects a torque applied to the steering system.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2015Date of Patent: February 14, 2017Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Jeremy Alan Rawlings, Oliver Nehls, Lodewijk Wijffels, Joshua Guerra
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Publication number: 20160257338Abstract: A steering locking system is provided for a motor vehicle that includes a pin, a locking disc to receive the pin, an actuation device, and a control unit. The actuation device is configured to control movement of the pin. The control unit is configured to control rotation of the locking disc and movement of the pin via the actuation device. Further, the control unit is configured to permit movement of the pin into the pocket after the occurrence of a predetermined event. The steering locking system can further include a motor operatively associated with the locking disc. The control unit may be configured to control the motor at a first power level to maintain the motor in a state of readiness and to control the motor at a second power level, different from the first power level, when the locking system detects a torque applied to the steering system.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 5, 2015Publication date: September 8, 2016Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Jeremy Alan RAWLINGS, Oliver NEHLS, Lodewijk WIJFFELS, Joshua GUERRA
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Patent number: 9038760Abstract: A vehicle including an active front steer system including a locking mechanism having a solenoid actuated locking pin and a spring for biasing the pin toward an extended or locked position for engaging a locking disc of the active front steer system wherein the active front steer system further includes a current sensor for sensing the motion of the pin of the solenoid when the engine of the vehicle is shut down and pulse width modulated current to the solenoid is reduced and when the pin movement is sensed, the pulse width modulated current is increased (fed forward duty cycle) to reduce the movement of the pin to reduce the noise made when the metal pin makes when contacting the metal locking disc. The end of the pin and/or the locking disc may also include an insulating material to further reduce any remaining noise made when the metal pin makes when contacting the metal locking disc.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2013Date of Patent: May 26, 2015Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Oliver Nehls, Jeremy Alan Rawlings, Joshua Guerra, Lodewijk Wijffels
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Publication number: 20150129344Abstract: A vehicle including an active front steer system including a locking mechanism having a solenoid actuated locking pin and a spring for biasing the pin toward an extended or locked position for engaging a locking disc of the active front steer system wherein the active front steer system further includes a current sensor for sensing the motion of the pin of the solenoid when the engine of the vehicle is shut down and pulse width modulated current to the solenoid is reduced and when the pin movement is sensed, the pulse width modulated current is increased (fed forward duty cycle) to reduce the movement of the pin to reduce the noise made when the metal pin makes when contacting the metal locking disc. The end of the pin and/or the locking disc may also include an insulating material to further reduce any remaining noise made when the metal pin makes when contacting the metal locking disc.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 12, 2013Publication date: May 14, 2015Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Oliver Nehls, Jeremy Alan Rawlings, Joshua Guerra, Lodewijk Wijffels