Patents by Inventor John Shutko

John Shutko 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).

  • Patent number: 9102272
    Abstract: A vehicle trailer backup assist system and method includes a hitch angle detection apparatus and a target monitor controller. The target monitor controller processes images acquired of the trailer towed by a towing vehicle to assist with placement of a target on the trailer. The target monitor controller also monitors the target and provides feedback to the user as to proper positioning of the target on the trailer. A target move detection routine detects movement of a target by processing the pixels of the image to determine if a new trailer has been connected. Further, a trailer connection monitoring routine monitors for a changed trailer based on loss of the hitch angle or target for a predetermined time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Roger Arnold Trombley, Eric L. Reed, John Shutko, Christopher Scott Nave
  • Publication number: 20150203156
    Abstract: A display system for a vehicle attached to a trailer is provided herein. The system includes a display configured to show an aerial view of the vehicle and the trailer and a plurality of waypoints, each indicating a possible parking location for the trailer. The system also includes a device that interfaces with the display and is operable to select one of the plurality of waypoints and set a trailer orientation for the selected waypoint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2015
    Publication date: July 23, 2015
    Inventors: Michael Hafner, John Shutko, Thomas Edward Pilutti, Roger Arnold Trombley
  • Patent number: 9073574
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a steering wheel located in a passenger compartment. The steering wheel is configured to be moved from an operational position to a stowed position. In the event of a collision, a first airbag is configured to deploy when the steering wheel is in the operational position and a second airbag is configured to deploy when the steering wheel is in the stowed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mark A. Cuddihy, Christopher Attard, Jeff Allen Greenberg, Rajit Johri, Devinder Singh Kochhar, Jialiang Le, Manoharprasad K. Rao, Matthew Y. Rupp, John Shutko, Roger Arnold Trombley, Hongtei Eric Tseng, Andrew Waldis
  • Publication number: 20150175070
    Abstract: Data may be collected relating to autonomous operation of a vehicle. A first confidence assessment concerning whether the vehicle should operate autonomously may then be generated, and it may be determined whether the first confidence assessment meets or exceeds a predetermined threshold. An alert may be provided via a user interface in the vehicle relating to ending autonomous operation of the vehicle if the first confidence assessment meets or exceeds the predetermined threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Attard, Shane Elwart, Jeff Allen Greenberg, Rajit Johri, Devinder Singh Kochhar, Doug Scott Rhode, John Shutko, Hongtei Eric Tseng
  • Publication number: 20150178998
    Abstract: Data is collected during operation of a vehicle. A determination is made that a confidence assessment of at least one of the data indicates at least one fault condition. A first autonomous operation affected by the fault condition is discontinued, where a second autonomous operation that is unaffected by the fault condition is continued.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Attard, Shane Elwart, Jeff Allen Greenberg, Rajit Johri, John P. Joyce, Devinder Singh Kochhar, Douglas Scott Rhode, John Shutko, Hongtei Eric Tseng
  • Publication number: 20150149017
    Abstract: A vehicle operator is identified. Based at least in part on the operator's identity, one or more parameters are determined specifying a mode for autonomously operating the vehicle. The vehicle is autonomously operated at least in part according to the one or more parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Attard, Shane Elwart, Jeff Allen Greenberg, Rajit Johri, John P. Joyce, Devinder Singh Kochhar, Douglas Scott Rhode, John Shutko, Louis Tijerna, Eric Hongtei Tseng, Wilford Trent Yopp
  • Publication number: 20150149088
    Abstract: A vehicle is operated at least partially autonomously. A predicted path of the vehicle is monitored to identify an object with which the vehicle is likely to collide. A graphical user interface (GUI) is provided that includes the predicted path, a proposed path for the vehicle to avoid a collision with an object, and the vehicle. A selection is made to follow one of the predicted path and the proposed path. The GUI is updated to include the selected one of the predicted path and the proposed path, along with a location of the vehicle on the selected one of the predicted path and the proposed path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Attard, Shane Elwart, Jeff Allen Greenberg, Rajit Johri, John P. Joyce, Devinder Singh Kochhar, Thomas Edward Pilutti, Douglas Scott Rhode, Matt Y. Rupp, John Shutko, Roger Arnold Trombley, Louis Tijerina, Hongtei Eric Tseng, Andrew Waldis
  • Publication number: 20150149023
    Abstract: A vehicle includes at least one autonomous driving sensor configured to monitor at least one condition while operating in an autonomous mode. The vehicle further includes a processing device configured to identify at least one occupant, select a profile associated with the occupant, and autonomously operate at least one subsystem according to the selected profile and the at least condition monitored by the at least one autonomous driving sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Attard, Shane Elwart, Jeff Allen Greenberg, Rajit Johri, Devinder Singh Kochhar, Douglas Scott Rhode, John Shutko, Eric Hongtei Tseng
  • Publication number: 20150149018
    Abstract: A wearable computing device in a vehicle is identified by a vehicle in a computer. Collected data is received relating to autonomous operation of the vehicle. A message is sent to the wearable computing device based at least in part on the collected data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Attard, Shane Elwart, Jeff Allen Greenberg, Rajit Johri, John P. Joyce, Devinder Singh Kochhar, Thomas Edward Pilutti, Douglas Scott Rhode, Matt Y. Rupp, John Shutko, Roger Arnold Trombley, Hongtei Eric Tseng, Andrew Waldis
  • Patent number: 9042603
    Abstract: A system includes a processor configured to receive a trailer image. The processor is also configured to identify an axle in the trailer image and identify a tongue-end in the trailer image. Further, the processor is configured to receive a tire image, including a wheel diameter provided on a tire. The processor is additionally configured to retrieve the wheel diameter from the tire image. The processor is also configured to identify a wheel, having an indentified diameter corresponding to the wheel diameter, in the first image. Additionally, the processor is configured to calculate a distance from the axle to the tongue-end using the identified diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Shane Elwart, John Shutko, Kenneth Michael Mayer, Roger Arnold Trombley, Christopher Nave
  • Publication number: 20150142246
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a steering wheel located in a passenger compartment. The steering wheel is configured to be moved from an operational position to a stowed position. In the event of a collision, a first airbag is configured to deploy when the steering wheel is in the operational position and a second airbag is configured to deploy when the steering wheel is in the stowed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mark A. Cuddihy, Christopher Attard, Jeff Allen Greenberg, Rajit Johri, Devinder Singh Kochhar, Jialiang Le, Manoharprasad K. Rao, Matthew Y. Rupp, John Shutko, Roger Arnold Trombley, Hongtei Eric Tseng, Andrew Waldis
  • Patent number: 9037340
    Abstract: A driver performance mapping system for a vehicle system is disclosed. The system may include a GPS receiver generating GPS data indicative of a current location of the vehicle. In addition, the system may also have a radar device generating current gap data indicative of a current gap distance from the vehicle to a lead vehicle. Further, the system may include an electronic controller configured to generate learned gap data based on the current gap data and stored gap data, and then assign the learned gap data with the GPS data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Shane S. Elwart, Aaron L. Mills, John Shutko, Thomas Edward Pilutti, John Ottavio Michelini
  • Patent number: 9037349
    Abstract: A system and method for configuring a trailer backup assist system. The system and method communicates predetermined trailer parameters, which are embedded on a tag attached to the trailer, to a controller in the trailer backup assist system. A trailer backup assist system is configured using the predetermined trailer parameters and the configured trailer backup assist system is activated to operate using the trailer parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies
    Inventors: Roger Arnold Trombley, Thomas Edward Pilutti, Erick Michael Lavoie, Christopher Nave, John Shutko, Rich Lanoue, Bradley G. Hochrein, Nate Rolfes
  • Publication number: 20150066296
    Abstract: A system and method for configuring a trailer backup assist system. The system and method communicates predetermined trailer parameters, which are embedded on a tag attached to the trailer, to a controller in the trailer backup assist system. A trailer backup assist system is configured using the predetermined trailer parameters and the configured trailer backup assist system is activated to operate using the trailer parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies
    Inventors: Roger Arnold Trombley, Thomas Edward Pilutti, Erick Michael Lavoie, Christopher Nave, John Shutko, Rich Lanoue, Bradley G. Hochrein, Nate Rolfes
  • Patent number: 8930140
    Abstract: A vehicle trailer backup assist system and method includes a hitch angle detection apparatus and a target monitor controller. The target monitor controller processes images acquired of the trailer towed by a towing vehicle to assist with placement of a target on the trailer. The target monitor controller also monitors the target and provides feedback to the user as to proper positioning of the target on the trailer. A target move detection routine detects movement of a target by processing the pixels of the image to determine if a new trailer has been connected. Further, a trailer connection monitoring routine monitors for a changed trailer based on loss of the hitch angle or target for a predetermined time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Roger Arnold Trombley, Christopher Scott Nave, Thomas Edward Pilutti, John Shutko, Shane Elwart, Kenneth Michael Mayer
  • Publication number: 20150002669
    Abstract: A system includes a camera that captures an image of a trailer attached to a vehicle and outputs a signal representing the captured image. A user interface device presents the captured image to a user and receives a user input. A processor associates collected vehicle data to the trailer based at least in part on the user input. A method includes capturing the image of the trailer, receiving a signal representing the captured image, presenting the captured image to a user, receiving a user input, and associating, via a processor, collected vehicle data to the trailer based at least in part on the user input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2013
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: Eric L. Reed, Roger Arnold Trombley, John Shutko
  • Publication number: 20140379217
    Abstract: The trailer backup assist system has a human machine interface coupled to a controller having a setup module, a calibration module, an activation module and a control module configured to receive trailer measurements, apply trailer measurements, activate and control vehicle systems to calibrate and implement a curvature control algorithm that controls the reverse movement of the vehicle-trailer combination in a manner consistent with a driver request. When incorrect trailer measurements have been entered, the trailer backup assist system recognizes the error, initiates a warning and requests corrective action to correct the trailer measurements. Default values for a maximum controllable curvature limit and a maximum controllable angle replace the limits calculated and applied by the calibration model that used incorrect trailer measurements, until corrected trailer measurements may be entered by the driver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: Matt Y. Rupp, David Dean Smit, Roger Arnold Trombley, Thomas Edward Pilutti, Erick Michael Lavoie, Christopher Scott Nave, John Shutko, Kenneth Michael Mayer, Martin Fitzpatrick Frey, Douglas Scott Rhode
  • Publication number: 20140358424
    Abstract: A path input system is provided. The path input system includes at least one imaging device for generating image data. A GPS device is included for generating satellite image data. A controller generates an aerial view of a vehicle and a trailer based on the image data and the satellite data. A display is included for displaying the aerial view and registering a touch event thereon that inputs an intended path for the vehicle and the trailer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventors: Erick Michael Lavoie, John Shutko, Roger Arnold Trombley
  • Publication number: 20140358429
    Abstract: A method of inputting a path is provided. The method includes the steps of generating an aerial view of a vehicle and a trailer based on at least one of image data and satellite image data, displaying the aerial view on a display having a touch screen, and registering a touch event on the touch screen that inputs an intended path for the vehicle and the trailer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventors: John Shutko, Roger Arnold Trombley, Matt Y. Rupp, Michael Hafner
  • Publication number: 20140309888
    Abstract: A display system for a vehicle and trailer is disclosed. The system comprises an interface configured to receive a directional input and a controller in communication with the interface and a screen. The controller is operable to receive a hitch angle and determine a heading direction of the trailer. The controller is further operable to determine a predicted heading of the vehicle aligned with the trailer based on the hitch angle. The predicted heading of the trailer is then displayed by the controller on the screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Inventors: David Dean Smit, Matthew Y. Rupp, Roger Arnold Trombley, Thomas Edward Pilutti, John Shutko, Douglas Scott Rhode