Patents by Inventor Keith Weston

Keith Weston 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: 11745559
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a system and method for isolating an interior of a motor vehicle from poor outdoor air quality. More particularly, this disclosure relates to a system and method configured to identify conditions associated with poor outdoor air quality and to respond to those conditions by isolating the interior of the motor vehicle from the outdoor environment. An example system includes a selector configured to permit a user to select a drive mode of the motor vehicle, a location system configured to detect a location of the motor vehicle, and a controller configured to issue one or more commands to isolate an interior of the motor vehicle from an environment outside the motor vehicle based on either a selected drive mode or a detected location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Keith Weston, Brendan Diamond, Michael Alan McNees
  • Patent number: 11746871
    Abstract: A method for mitigating torque steer in a vehicle having a steering axle with a limited slip differential and a pair of output members. The limited slip differential includes a pair of differential outputs and a clutch. The method includes: operating the limited slip differential with the clutch in the first condition; determining that the vehicle is in a state in which a torque steer condition is occurring or is likely to occur; and operating the clutch to reduce a torque differential between the differential outputs to mitigate the torque steer condition. A vehicle with a steering axle and a controller that is configured to operate a clutch in the steering axle to attenuate torque steer is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Keith Weston, Jonathan Michael Graves, Andrew Monticello, Brent Clark
  • Publication number: 20230264569
    Abstract: A system comprises a computer having a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to monitor conditions of a roadway as a vehicle travels the roadway while an adaptive cruise control feature of the vehicle is active, identify an expected condition change based on the monitoring the conditions of the roadway, determine a preferred power state for an engine of the vehicle based on the expected condition change, determine that an engine power state transition is planned for the engine, the engine power state transition including transitioning the engine from a current power state to a planned power state, and resolve the engine power state transition based on the preferred power state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2022
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jordan Barrett, Keith Weston, Brendan Francis Diamond, Andrew Denis Lewandowski
  • Patent number: 11731477
    Abstract: An assembly includes a leadscrew defining a central axis, a strut movable along the leadscrew upon rotation of the leadscrew, a camber angle of a wheel changeable according to movement of the strut along the leadscrew, and a motor drivably connected to the leadscrew, the motor defining a motor axis, wherein the central axis of the leadscrew is transverse to the motor axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Keith Weston, Jeffrey John Ley, Justin DeSordi, Matthew Johnson, Nicholas Anthony Quatrano
  • Patent number: 11731640
    Abstract: Controlling maximum appliable positive and negative torque for a vehicle is provided. Vehicle data indictive of a driver torque request is received. Maximum appliable positive and negative torques for the vehicle are estimated. Responsive to the driver torque request being positive, the driver torque request is limited to the maximum appliable positive torque. Responsive to the driver torque request being negative, the driver torque request is limited to the maximum appliable negative torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Keith Weston, Brendan F. Diamond, Ryan O'Rourke
  • Publication number: 20230262430
    Abstract: A system receives indication of a request for a vehicle characteristic from a requesting party. The system determines candidate gathering vehicles for processing the request, based at least in part on one or more characteristics of the requesting party. The system sends instructions to the candidate gathering vehicles to search for the vehicle characteristic using onboard sensors. Further, the system receives sensor data from the candidate gathering vehicles and analyze the sensor data to determine sensor data indicating the vehicle characteristic. The system saves instances of the sensor data as candidate locations for a vehicle having the vehicle characteristic, along with location data included with the instances of the sensor data when the sensor data was received. The system determines a locality of the vehicle based on the saved location data saved with the instances and provides the locality to the requesting party.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2022
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Inventors: Brendan F. Diamond, Jordan Barrett, Andrew Denis Lewansowski, Keith Weston, Michael Alan Mcnees
  • Publication number: 20230260295
    Abstract: A system receives identification of an item to be loaded into a vehicle and determines dimensions of the item. The system adds the item to a total load for an identified vehicle and, based on known dimensions of available space in the identified vehicle, determines one or more candidate placement options for each of one or more items comprising the total load, within available space within the vehicle, wherein candidate placement options for each item are determined so as not to overlap with placement options for another of the one or more items within a given configuration representing placement options for all of the one or more items comprising the total load. Additionally, the system presents a visual rendering of at least one given configuration that successfully allows the total load to fit within the available space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2022
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Inventors: Keith Weston, Brendan F. Diamond, Michael Alan McNees, Jordan Barrett, Andrew Denis Lewandowski
  • Publication number: 20230256786
    Abstract: A method of controlling a vehicle may include determining a proximity to a stuck condition based on measured vehicle motion parameters and a wheel speed measured by a wheel speed sensor associated with one or more wheels of the vehicle. The method may further include generating a notification to a driver of the vehicle in response to the proximity to the stuck condition indicating that the vehicle is either in a stuck condition or a nearly stuck condition, and responsive to driver selection of an unstuck mode, executing an unstuck algorithm to automatically control operation of the vehicle to achieve a free condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2022
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Inventors: Matthew Johnson, Keith Weston, Jonathan Sullivan, David Michael Russell, Rohit Hippalgaonkar
  • Publication number: 20230256856
    Abstract: Success rate and usage monitoring for charging vehicles is provided. A charger request is received from a requesting device, the charger request requesting charger recommendations for a vehicle. One or more vehicle attributes are identified from the charger request. The charger recommendations are determined based on charger statistics computed based on charger histories that correspond to the one or more vehicle attributes, the charger histories being descriptive of vehicle charges performed to one or more vehicles by one or more charging stations and further including information descriptive of the one or more vehicles receiving the vehicle charges. The charger recommendations corresponding to the one or more vehicle attributes are sent to the requesting device, responsive to the request.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2022
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Inventors: Brendan F. DIAMOND, Keith WESTON, Andrew Denis LEWANDOWSKI, Jordan BARRETT
  • Patent number: 11724596
    Abstract: Systems and methods for road disturbance detection and torque vectoring control. A vehicle may comprise: a torque vectoring system for independently varying torque to a plurality of wheels, an external sensor suite, and an electronic control unit. The control unit may comprise one or more processors and memory storing executable instructions that, as a result of execution by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to implement an appropriate torque vectoring strategy. The torque vectoring strategy may comprise biasing torque towards or away from a wheel/motor/axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brendan Diamond, Keith Weston, Aaron L. Mills, Jordan Barrett
  • Publication number: 20230249746
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to control a vehicle trailer using torque vectoring are disclosed. An example apparatus to control a trailer of a vehicle includes condition determination circuitry to determine, based on data from sensors on at least one of the trailer or the vehicle, whether a condition associated with the vehicle is satisfied, and torque control circuitry to adjust, in response to the condition being satisfied, a first torque of a first motor and a second torque of a second motor, the first motor operatively coupled to a first wheel of the trailer, the second motor operatively coupled to a second wheel of the trailer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2022
    Publication date: August 10, 2023
    Inventors: Keith Weston, Lorne Forsythe, Brendan Diamond, Andrew Denis Lewandowski, Michael Alan McNees, Jordan Barrett
  • Patent number: 11719146
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for routing secondary air to engine an exhaust system during a cold-start condition to reduce tail pipe emissions. In one example, a method may include operating a pump of an evaporative leak check module (ELCM) in a positive pressure mode and routing pressurized air to the exhaust passage upstream of an exhaust catalyst via an air conduit housing a first valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Aed Dudar, Keith Weston, Jim Stevens
  • Patent number: 11708075
    Abstract: While operating a host vehicle in a lane, a target vehicle is detected entering the lane in front of the vehicle. A trajectory of the target vehicle is predicted based on sensor data. Upon determining that the target vehicle will pass through the lane based on the predicted trajectory, the host vehicle is operated based on determining a presence or an absence of a lead vehicle. Upon determining that the target vehicle will remain in the lane based on the predicted trajectory, the host vehicle is operated with the target vehicle as the lead vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Denis Lewandowski, Jordan Barrett, Grant Patrick Mayer, Tim Beck, Keith Weston, Brendan F. Diamond
  • Patent number: 11708073
    Abstract: A system receives confirmation that a vehicle has accepted automatic control imposition for a drive within a geo-fenced boundary. The system tracks travel of a plurality of vehicles, including the vehicle, within the geo-fenced boundary. The system may determine that the vehicle has a threshold likelihood of encountering at least one of another vehicle or a boundary of the geo-fence at a threshold speed or above and responsive to the determination, impose automatic control on the vehicle, including at least one of controlled braking or speed limiting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Brown, Brendan F. Diamond, Joshua Sharpe, Keith Weston
  • Publication number: 20230226866
    Abstract: A controller commands an electric machine of a vehicle to produce propulsive torque with energy from a traction battery of the vehicle and, at a same time, commands an electric machine of a trailer coupled with the vehicle to produce regenerative torque such that a speed of the vehicle does not change.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2022
    Publication date: July 20, 2023
    Inventors: Brendan F. DIAMOND, Keith WESTON, Andrew Denis LEWANDOWSKI, Shehan HAPUTHANTHRI
  • Patent number: 11705006
    Abstract: The disclosure generally pertains to systems and methods for issuing a hazard warning to an animate object located in a vicinity of a vehicle. In an example method, a processor in a warning system of a vehicle, detects an animate object (a person or an animal) in the vicinity of a first vehicle and determines a hazard posed to the animate object. The hazard, which may be caused by the first vehicle or another vehicle that is moving in a collision course with the animate object, can be evaluated by determining a trajectory of the animate object and a trajectory of the vehicle. If the probability of intersection of the two trajectories exceeds a threshold intersection probability level, the processor recognizes a hazard and issues a warning to the animate object (a horn beep, flashing lights, or a text message to a smart device of the person).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Keith Weston, Jordan Barrett, Andrew Denis Lewandowski, Brendan Diamond
  • Publication number: 20230221724
    Abstract: A vehicle for assisting a docking operation for a marine vessel. The vehicle includes a position sensor operable to detect a position of the marine vessel. A first controller is communicatively coupled with the position sensor. The first controller is operable to receive a first instruction from a second controller corresponding to the marine vessel to monitor the position sensor. The first controller is further operable to receive positional data corresponding to the position of the marine vessel relative to a dock. The first controller is further operable to communicate the positional data to the second controller to assist with the docking operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2022
    Publication date: July 13, 2023
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Denis Lewandowski, Jordan Barrett, Brendan Diamond, Keith Weston
  • 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: 20230196304
    Abstract: The disclosure is generally directed to systems and methods for nonvehicle based repair and maintenance identification by a vehicle including receiving, by the vehicle having one or more sensors including at least a camera, an image of a region of interest captured by the one or more sensors, identifying one or more maintenance and/or repair metrics associated with the region of interest, identifying a portion of the image associated with one or more maintenance and/or repair metrics, determining that a first metric of the one or more maintenance and repair metrics is exceeded by a feature included in the portion of the image, and transmitting data indicative of a location associated with the region of interest and the first metric, the region of interest requiring maintenance and/or repair associated with the metrics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2021
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brendan Diamond, Andrew Denis Lewandowski, Jordan Barrett, Keith Weston, Michael Alan Mcnees
  • Publication number: 20230182700
    Abstract: A vehicle includes wheels, brakes, and a controller. The wheels are configured to propel the vehicle. The brakes are configured to generate a braking torque at the wheels. The controller is programed to, in response to (i) a commanded braking torque and (ii) a relative jounce between two of the wheels exceeding a threshold, operate the brakes to increase the braking torque to less than the commanded braking torque. The controller is further programed to, in response to (i) the commanded braking torque and (ii) a droop of at least one of the wheels exceeding a threshold, operate the brakes to increase the braking torque to less than the commanded braking torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2021
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Inventors: Keith Weston, Filip Tomik, Brendan F. Diamond, Andrew Denis Lewandowski, Jordan Barrett, Michael Alan Mcnees, Matthew Johnson