Patents by Inventor John Robert Van Wiemeersch

John Robert Van Wiemeersch 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).

  • Publication number: 20230374743
    Abstract: In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a passenger motor vehicle including a robotic arm configured for use in performing an additive manufacturing operation. A method is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2022
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Inventors: Brendan Diamond, David Brian Glickman, Keith Weston, Stuart C. Salter, John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Ellen Cheng-chi Lee
  • Publication number: 20230350621
    Abstract: A system includes a display screen positioned to display on an exterior of a host vehicle, a user interface of the host vehicle, and a computer communicatively coupled to the display screen and the user interface. The computer is programmed to, in response to detecting a target vehicle having prespecified indicia, instruct the user interface to output an instruction to an occupant of the host vehicle, and in response to detecting personnel from the target vehicle, instruct the display screen to output a message to the personnel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2022
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Hussein H. Berry, Lucretia Williams, Monica Lam, John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Clay Carpenter
  • Publication number: 20230343101
    Abstract: The disclosure generally pertains to systems and methods for providing a vehicle-and-drone-based security service. In an example method, a first area of interest and a second area of interest associated with a structure may be determined. The first area of interest may then be determined to be monitored at the vehicle. The second area of interest may also be determined to be monitored at a drone associated with the vehicle. A route may be identified for the drone to travel along, where the route is configured for the drone to monitor the second area of interest. The drone may then be launched via the vehicle to travel along the route to monitor the second area of interest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2022
    Publication date: October 26, 2023
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Brendan Diamond, John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Tarik Safir, Sam Harris
  • Patent number: 11793902
    Abstract: Sanitizing devices and control strategies based on wavelength are provided herein. An example device includes an enclosure for receiving an object, a first cleaning element that emits radiation at a first wavelength adapted to sanitize or sterilize contaminants on the object, a contaminant exposing element that emits radiation at a second wavelength that illuminates the contaminants on the object, a notification element that emits visible light within the enclosure, the visible light having a selected hue, and a controller for executing a cleaning cycle that includes illuminating contaminants present on the object using the contaminant exposing element prior to sanitizing or sterilizing the contaminants present on the object using the first cleaning element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Michael Hrecznyj, Paul Kenneth Dellock
  • Patent number: 11787290
    Abstract: A system includes a camera aimed externally to a vehicle, a window of the vehicle, a projector positioned to project on the window, and a computer communicatively coupled to the camera and the projector. The computer is programmed to, upon receiving data from the camera indicating a first person outside the vehicle, instruct the projector to project an image on the window depicting a second person inside the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Kristopher Karl Brown, John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Hussein H. Berry
  • Patent number: 11787397
    Abstract: This disclosure details cargo management systems for monitoring the regulatory compliance of cargo positioned on a vehicle. Exemplary cargo management systems may be configured to estimate a distance an item of cargo extends beyond a perimeter of the vehicle and then compare the estimated distance with a cargo-related regulation to confirm compliance of the item of cargo with the cargo-related regulation. The cargo management system may further be configured to detect positional changes of the item of cargo to ensure continued compliance of the item of cargo with the cargo-related regulation during vehicle operation. The cargo management system may issue an alert when the item of cargo is determined to be non-compliant with the cargo-related regulation or when the item of cargo shifts during vehicle operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Aaron Gould, Stuart C. Salter, John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Paul Kenneth Dellock, David Brian Glickman
  • Publication number: 20230319033
    Abstract: Upon determining a first user of an object is authorized via first biometric data, object components are controlled based on user data for the first user. A second user is permitted to access the object based on detecting a presence of the second user within a predetermined time of detecting an absence of the first user. Then, upon determining a delay parameter is satisfied, a user status of the second user is determined via second biometric data. The user status is one of authorized or not authorized. The object components are controlled based on the user status of the second user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2022
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ryan Edwin Hanson, John Robert Van Wiemeersch
  • Publication number: 20230306806
    Abstract: Systems and methods of performing a vehicle action based on an interior radar sensor that may be used to detect a user outside of the vehicle are provided. The interior radar sensor may be installed behind the center line of a headliner of the vehicle, and detect the user's head and/or an upper-body gesture through any window of the vehicle, e.g., upon detection of a key fob carried by the user outside the vehicle. Upon detection of a valid gesture, e.g., a predetermined pattern of movement, by the user, the vehicle action may be performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2023
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Jun Lin, Jialiang Le, Saeed David Barbat
  • Patent number: 11766921
    Abstract: A computer includes a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to heat a passenger cabin of a vehicle and to actuate a vehicle security subsystem to prevent entry into the vehicle upon initiation of a cabin sanitizing operation, wherein the sanitizing operation includes actuating a heater to heat the passenger cabin above a temperature threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Erick Michael Lavoie
  • Patent number: 11766993
    Abstract: A power door system for a vehicle including a plurality of power-operated doors is provided. The system includes a passive remote entry device configured to emit a signal to one or more cooperating vehicle receivers and a controller configured to cause the power door system to open the at least one power-operated door when the passive remote entry device signal is received and an individual is detected in a predefined activation zone for a predetermined period of time. The system further includes a vehicle-mounted user detection device. The passive remote entry device may be selected from the group consisting of a key fob, a smart key, a key card, a cellular telephone or smartphone configured with a phone-as-a-key function, a Bluetooth®-activated and vehicle-recognized cellular telephone, a Bluetooth®-activated and vehicle-recognized smartphone, and a Bluetooth®-activated and vehicle-recognized smartwatch. Methods for controlling a power door system for a vehicle are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Howard Paul Tsvi Linden, John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Onoyom Essien Ekanem, Laura Viviana Hazebrouck, David Toppenberg
  • Publication number: 20230264686
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a vehicle during a remote trailer parking operation include receiving, via a processor, a control instruction from a first mobile device indicative of a first curvature command providing directional control of a vehicle, and a first user engagement indicator. The processor may receive, from a second mobile device, a second control instruction from a second mobile device, the second control instruction can include a second user engagement indicator. The system may determine, based on the first user engagement indicator that first user engagement meets a threshold, and determine, based on the second user engagement indicator that second user engagement meets a threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2022
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Erick Michael Lavoie, Hamid M. Golgiri
  • Publication number: 20230256909
    Abstract: A motor vehicle according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a running board assembly including a deck, and a linkage assembly configured to guide movement of the deck. The vehicle further includes a motor configured to move the linkage assembly to adjust a position of the deck, and a sensor configured to obtain information indicative of activity adjacent an exterior of the motor vehicle. Additionally, the vehicle includes a controller configured to interpret the information from the sensor to determine a length of at least a portion of a leg of a person. The controller is configured to instruct the motor to adjust the position of the deck based on the determined length.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2022
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, David Brian Glickman, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Brendan Diamond, John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Lawrence Amadi, Manda Mustaine
  • Publication number: 20230260301
    Abstract: Output can be provided from a selected biometric analysis task that is one of a plurality of biometric analysis tasks based on an image provided from an image sensor. The selected biometric analysis task can be performed in a deep neural network that includes a common feature extraction neural network, a plurality of biometric task-specific neural networks and a plurality of expert pooling neural networks that perform the plurality of biometric analysis tasks by inputting the image to the common feature extraction network to determine latent variables. The latent variables can be input to the plurality of biometric task-specific neural networks to determine a plurality of first outputs. Concatenated first output results can be formed and the concatenated plurality of first result outputs and the latent variables can be input to the plurality of expert pooling neural networks to determine one or more biometric analysis task outputs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2022
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ali Hassani, Hafiz Malik, Zaid El Shair, John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Justin Miller
  • Publication number: 20230251372
    Abstract: A vehicle including a first ultra-wideband (UWB) sensor and a second UWB sensor is disclosed. The first UWB sensor may be positioned at a vehicle front portion, and the second UWB sensor may be positioned at a vehicle rear portion. The vehicle may further include a memory and a processor configured to receive at least one of a first signal from the first UWB sensor and a second signal from the second UWB sensor. The processor may be configured to determine whether the vehicle is at an incline position based on at least one of the first signal and the second signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2023
    Publication date: August 10, 2023
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Vivekanandh Elangovan, Ryan Hanson, Ryan Gorski
  • Patent number: 11708714
    Abstract: A vehicle having powered door assist includes a plurality of powered doors, each powered door having an actuator for moving the door between closed and open door positions, and a plurality of sensors located on the vehicle for sensing objects proximate to the vehicle including one or more potential passengers expected to enter the vehicle and for sensing an obstacle within or proximate to a swing path of at least one of the plurality of powered doors. The vehicle also includes a controller determining an estimated weight of the one or more potential passengers, detecting expected height of the plurality of powered door with the estimated weight added to the vehicle, detecting height of a sensed obstacle within the swing path of one of the powered doors and determining whether the expected height of the one powered door will interfere with the sensed obstacle in the swing path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Kristopher Karl Brown, Howard Paul Tsvi Linden, Heather Woycik, John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Hussein H. Berry
  • Patent number: 11710358
    Abstract: A method for localizing a user device using a Time of Flight (ToF) antenna array disposed on a vehicle, the method includes determining, via a ToF localization controller, that the user device is less than a threshold distance from the vehicle, determining an angle of arrival via the ToF localization controller and the ToF antenna array, and generating an unlock signal that unlocks a vehicle door responsive to determining that the user device is less than the threshold distance from the vehicle door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Vaccariello, Vivekanandh Elangovan, John Robert Van Wiemeersch
  • Publication number: 20230219527
    Abstract: A vehicle is provided that includes an imaging device located on the vehicle and oriented to capture images, memory storing one or more pet profiles, and a controller processing the captured images to detect a pet and determining at least one of an estimated pose of the pet and a gait of the pet, wherein the processor determines a bone structure of the pet from the at least one estimated pose and gait and compares the bone structure to the one or more pet profiles to detect an authorized pet, the controller controlling one or more vehicle related features based on the detected authorized pet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2022
    Publication date: July 13, 2023
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Lawrence Amadi, Stuart C. Salter, John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Hussein H. Berry, Annette Lynn Huebner, Marguerite Lynn Kimball
  • Publication number: 20230222912
    Abstract: This disclosure describes systems and methods for virtual parking lot space allocation. An example method may include receiving, by a processor and from a first vehicle, sensor data relating to a first location. The example method may also include generating, by the processor and based on the sensor data, a first virtual parking space of a virtual parking location within the first location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2022
    Publication date: July 13, 2023
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jordan Barrett, Brendan Diamond, Michael Alan Mcnees, Keith Weston, Andrew Denis Lewandowski, Stuart C. Salter, John Robert Van Wiemeersch
  • Publication number: 20230222898
    Abstract: Upon identifying a plurality of target regions for a monitored region, priority levels for the respective target regions are determined based on a user input. Vehicle sensors that are available to monitor the respective target regions are determined based on the priority levels for the respective target regions and parameters for the respective vehicle sensors. Based on the available vehicle sensors and the priority levels for the respective target regions, a pose is determined for a vehicle that optimizes monitoring of the target regions. The vehicle is operated to the pose.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2022
    Publication date: July 13, 2023
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Brendan Francis Diamond, Tarik Safir, Sam Harris
  • Publication number: 20230219529
    Abstract: Upon detecting a user departing a passenger cabin of a vehicle, a pose of the user id determined relative to the vehicle. A classification for a vehicle door is determined based on the pose. The classification is one of monitored or unmonitored. A sensor is controlled to monitor the vehicle door based on the classification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2022
    Publication date: July 13, 2023
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Brendan Francis Diamond, Hussein H. Berry, John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Timothy John Zuraw