Patents by Inventor Joseph Carr Meyers

Joseph Carr Meyers 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: 20090187324
    Abstract: A vehicle stability control system comprises a 5-sensor cluster and a stability controller configured to communicate with the 5-sensor cluster and receive signals corresponding to a lateral acceleration, a longitudinal acceleration, a yaw rate, a roll rate, and a pitch rate from the 5-sensor cluster. The stability controller can also be configured to determine a braking amount or a throttle amount to maintain vehicle stability. The system also comprises a brake controller configured to communicate with the stability controller and receive a braking request from the stability controller, and a throttle controller configured to communicate with the stability controller and receive a throttle request from the stability controller. The system may also comprise a braking or throttling command computed based on various scenarios detected by measured and calculated signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2008
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Inventors: Jianbo Lu, Leonard K. Johnson, Joseph Carr Meyers
  • Publication number: 20090112435
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling vehicle stability may comprise determining whether a vehicle is oversteering or understeering and, if the vehicle is oversteering or understeering, determining an amount by which to reduce a speed of the vehicle to correct for understeering or oversteering and applying brake pressure to at least the rear brakes of the vehicle to reduce vehicle speed. The method and system also may comprise determining an engine torque reduction amount based on vehicle oversteer or understeer conditions, reducing engine torque by the determined amount or to zero if the determined amount of engine torque reduction is greater than an actual engine torque, and applying braking to at least the rear brakes of the vehicle if the determined amount of engine torque reduction is greater than the actual engine torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Inventors: Joseph Carr Meyers, Daniel Domek Eisele, Todd Allen Brown, Li Xu, Albert Chenouda Salib
  • Publication number: 20090037050
    Abstract: A control system (18) for an automotive vehicle (10) has a first roll condition detector (64A), a second roll condition detector (64B), a third roll condition detector (64C), and a controller (26) that uses the roll condition generated by the roll condition detectors (64A-C) to determine a wheel lift condition. Other roll condition detectors may also be used in the wheel lift determination. The wheel lift conditions may be active or passive or both.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2008
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Inventors: JIANBO LU, Michael Edward Brewer, Todd Allen Brown, Joseph Carr Meyers
  • Patent number: 7373227
    Abstract: A vehicle control system includes a housed sensor cluster generating a plurality of signals. An integrated controller includes a sensor signal compensation unit and a kinematics unit, wherein the sensor signal compensation unit receives at least one of the plurality of signals and compensates for an offset within the signal and generates a compensated signal as a function thereof. The integrated controller further generates a kinematics signal including a sensor frame with respect to an intermediate axis system as a function of the compensated signal and generates a vehicle frame signal as a function of the kinematics signal. A dynamic system controller receives the vehicle frame signal and generates a dynamic control signal in response thereto. A safety device controller receives the dynamic control signal and further generates a safety device signal in response thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Jianbo Lu, Todd Allen Brown, Li Xu, Joseph Carr Meyers
  • Patent number: 7323976
    Abstract: A control system (18) for an automotive vehicle (10) has a first roll condition detector (64A), a second roll condition detector (64B), a third roll condition detector (64C), and a controller (26) that uses the roll condition generated by the roll condition detectors (64A-C) to determine a wheel lift condition. Other roll condition detectors may also be used in the wheel lift determination. The wheel lift conditions may be active or passive or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Jianbo Lu, Michael Edward Brewer, Todd Allen Brown, Joseph Carr Meyers
  • Patent number: 7302331
    Abstract: A roll control system (16) for an automotive vehicle (10) is used to detect if one of the plurality of wheels (12) is lifted. The system generates a pressure request to determine if the wheel has lifted. A roll control pressure request may also be generated. The wheel lift pressure is suppressed in response to the roll control pressure request. The system may also store a peak wheel speed after the initiation of a build cycle so that the peak wheel speed is used in the wheel lift determination. Also, the system may have an ABS monitor mode which uses the build and release cycles of the ABS system to determine whether a wheel has lifted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Carr Meyers, Todd Allen Brown
  • Patent number: 7239949
    Abstract: A vehicle control system includes a housed sensor cluster generating a plurality of signals. An integrated controller includes a sensor signal compensation unit and a kinematics unit, wherein the sensor signal compensation unit receives at least one of the plurality of signals and compensates for an offset within the signal and generates a compensated signal as a function thereof. The integrated controller further generates a kinematics signal including a sensor frame with respect to an intermediate axis system as a function of the compensated signal and generates a vehicle frame signal as a function of the kinematics signal. A dynamic system controller receives the vehicle frame signal and generates a dynamic control signal in response thereto. A safety device controller receives the dynamic control signal and further generates a safety device signal in response thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jianbo Lu, Todd Allen Brown, Li Xu, Joseph Carr Meyers
  • Patent number: 7233236
    Abstract: A control system (18) and method for an automotive vehicle (10) used for detecting lift of a wheel includes a speed sensor (20) coupled to the wheel producing a wheel speed signal and a torque control system (57) coupled to the wheel for generating an operating input torque to the wheel. A controller (26) is coupled to the torque control system (57) and the wheel speed sensor (20). The controller (26) determines a wheel response to the operating input torque and generates a wheel lift signal as a function of the operating input torque, the wheel speed signal and the wheel response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jianbo Lu, Michael Edward Brewer, Todd Allen Brown, Joseph Carr Meyers
  • Patent number: 7222007
    Abstract: A system (18) for controlling a safety system (44) of an automotive vehicle (10) includes a longitudinal acceleration sensor (36), a vehicle speed sensor (20), a lateral acceleration sensor (32), a yaw rate sensor, and a controller (26). The controller (26) determines a reference pitch in response to the longitudinal acceleration signal and the vehicle speed signal and a reference roll angle in response to the yaw rate signal, the wheel speed signal and the lateral acceleration signal. The controller (26) determines a roll stability index and a pitch stability index. The controller (26) determines an adjusted pitch angle in response to the reference pitch angle and the pitch stability index and an adjusted roll angle in response to the reference roll angle and the roll stability index. The controller (26) controls the safety system (44) in response to the adjusted roll angle and the adjusted pitch angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Li Xu, Todd Allen Brown, Joseph Carr Meyers, Hongtei Eric Tseng
  • Patent number: 7136730
    Abstract: A yaw stability control system (18) is enhanced to include roll stability control function for an automotive vehicle and includes a plurality of sensors (28–39) sensing the dynamic conditions of the vehicle. The sensors may include a speed sensor (20), a lateral acceleration sensor (32), a yaw rate sensor (28) and a longitudinal acceleration sensor (36). The controller (26) is coupled to the speed sensor (20), the lateral acceleration sensor (32), the yaw rate sensor (28) and a longitudinal acceleration sensor (36). The controller (26) generates both a yaw stability feedback control signal and a roll stability feedback control signal. The priority of achieving yaw stability control or roll stability control is determined through priority determination logic. If a potential rollover event is detected, the roll stability control will take the priority.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jianbo Lu, Todd Allen Brown, Joseph Carr Meyers
  • Patent number: 7132937
    Abstract: A control system (18) and method for an automotive vehicle (10) used for detecting lift of a wheel includes a passive wheel lift detector (58) that generates a passive wheel lift signal, an active wheel lift detector (60) that generates an active wheel lift signal, and an integrated wheel lift detector (62) coupled to the passive wheel lift detector (58) and the active wheel lift detector (60). The integrated wheel lift detector (62) generates a final wheel lift signal in response to the passive wheel lift signal and the active wheel lift signal. The final wheel lift signal may be used to control a safety device such as a rollover prevention system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jianbo Lu, Joseph Carr Meyers, Keith Glenn Mattson, Todd Allen Brown
  • Patent number: 7109856
    Abstract: A control system (18) for an automotive vehicle (10) has a first roll condition detector (64A), a second roll condition detector (64B), a third roll condition detector (64C), and a controller (26) that uses the roll condition generated by the roll condition detectors (64A–C) to determine a wheel lift condition. Other roll condition detectors may also be used in the wheel lift determination. The wheel lift conditions may be active or passive or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jianbo Lu, Michael Edward Brewer, Todd Allen Brown, Joseph Carr Meyers
  • Patent number: 7027903
    Abstract: A stability control system (24) for an automotive vehicle as includes a plurality of sensors (28–37) sensing the dynamic conditions of the vehicle and a controller (26) that controls a distributed brake pressure to reduce a tire moment so the net moment of the vehicle is counter to the roll direction. The sensors include a speed sensor (30), a lateral acceleration sensor (32), a roll rate sensor (34), and a yaw rate sensor (20). The controller (26) is coupled to the speed sensor (30), the lateral acceleration sensor (32), the roll rate sensor (34), the yaw rate sensor (28). The controller (26) determines a roll angle estimate in response to lateral acceleration, roll rate, vehicle speed, and yaw rate. The controller (26) changes a tire force vector using brake pressure distribution in response to the relative roll angle estimate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Carr Meyers, Todd Allen Brown
  • Patent number: 7027902
    Abstract: A yaw stability control system (18) is enhanced to include roll stability control function for an automotive vehicle and includes a plurality of sensors (28–39) sensing the dynamic conditions of the vehicle. The sensors may include a speed sensor (20), a lateral acceleration sensor (32), a yaw rate sensor (28) and a longitudinal acceleration sensor (36). The controller (26) is coupled to the speed sensor (20), the lateral acceleration sensor (32), the yaw rate sensor (28) and a longitudinal acceleration sensor (36). The controller (26) generates both a yaw stability feedback control signal and a roll stability feedback control signal. The priority of achieving yaw stability control or roll stability control is determined through priority determination logic. If a potential rollover event is detected, the roll stability control will take the priority.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jianbo Lu, Todd Allen Brown, Joseph Carr Meyers
  • Patent number: 6904350
    Abstract: A method for controlling an automotive vehicle (10) having a plurality of wheels (12a), (12b), (13a), (13b) includes determining a yaw rate, determining a lateral acceleration, determining a roll rate, determining longitudinal acceleration; and determining a calculated angle relative to the vehicle. The method further includes generating a wheel lift signal or a wheel grounded signal as a function of yaw rate, lateral acceleration, roll rate and longitudinal acceleration, adjusting the calculated angle in response to the wheel lift or wheel grounded signal, and controlling a safety system in response to the calculated vehicle angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jianbo Lu, Joseph Carr Meyers, Michael Edward Brewer, Todd Allen Brown
  • Patent number: 6834218
    Abstract: A stability control system (24) for an automotive vehicle as includes a plurality of sensors (28-37) sensing the dynamic conditions of the vehicle and a controller (26) that controls a distributed brake pressure to reduce a tire moment so the net moment of the vehicle is counter to the roll direction. The sensors include a speed sensor (30), a lateral acceleration sensor (32), a roll rate sensor (34), and a yaw rate sensor (20). The controller (26) is coupled to the speed sensor (30), the lateral acceleration sensor (32), the roll rate sensor (34), the yaw rate sensor (28). The controller (26) determines a roll angle estimate in response to lateral acceleration, roll rate, vehicle speed, and yaw rate. The controller (26) changes a tire force vector using brake pressure distribution in response to the relative roll angle estimate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Carr Meyers, Todd Allen Brown
  • Publication number: 20040199314
    Abstract: A stability control system (24) for an automotive vehicle as includes a plurality of sensors (28-37) sensing the dynamic conditions of the vehicle and a controller (26) that controls a distributed brake pressure to reduce a tire moment so the net moment of the vehicle is counter to the roll direction. The sensors include a speed sensor (30), a lateral acceleration sensor (32), a roll rate sensor (34), and a yaw rate sensor (20). The controller (26) is coupled to the speed sensor (30), the lateral acceleration sensor (32), the roll rate sensor (34), the yaw rate sensor (28). The controller (26) determines a roll angle estimate in response to lateral acceleration, roll rate, vehicle speed, and yaw rate. The controller (26) changes a tire force vector using brake pressure distribution in response to the relative roll angle estimate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2004
    Publication date: October 7, 2004
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Carr Meyers, Todd Allen Brown
  • Publication number: 20040167701
    Abstract: A roll control system (16) for an automotive vehicle (10) is used to actively detect if one of the plurality of the driven wheels (12) is lifted. The system generates a pressure request to determine if the wheel has lifted. By comparing the change in wheel speed of a driven wheel to a change in wheel speed threshold the wheel lift status can be determined. The wheel speed change threshold may be dependent upon various vehicle operating conditions such as powertrain torque, braking torque and/or longitudinal force on the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2004
    Publication date: August 26, 2004
    Inventors: Keith Glenn Mattson, Todd Allen Brown, Joseph Carr Meyers, Michael Edward Brewer
  • Publication number: 20040117085
    Abstract: A yaw stability control system (18) is enhanced to include roll stability control function for an automotive vehicle and includes a plurality of sensors (28-39) sensing the dynamic conditions of the vehicle. The sensors may include a speed sensor (20), a lateral acceleration sensor (32), a yaw rate sensor (28) and a longitudinal acceleration sensor (36). The controller (26) is coupled to the speed sensor (20), the lateral acceleration sensor (32), the yaw rate sensor (28) and a longitudinal acceleration sensor (36). The controller (26) generates both a yaw stability feedback control signal and a roll stability feedback control signal. The priority of achieving yaw stability control or roll stability control is determined through priority determination logic. If a potential rollover event is detected, the roll stability control will take the priority.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2003
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Inventors: Jianbo Lu, Todd Allen Brown, Joseph Carr Meyers
  • Patent number: RE40268
    Abstract: A system for detecting wheel lift of an automotive vehicle has a speed sensor (22) coupled to a wheel (12) of automotive vehicle (10). A torque control system (20) is coupled to wheel (12) to change the torque at the wheel. A controller (18) is coupled to the torque control system and a speed sensor. The controller (18) determines lift by changing the torque of the wheel, measuring the change in torque and indicating lift in response to change in torque which may be indicated by wheel speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Carr Meyers, Todd Allen Brown