Patents by Inventor Kirk Matthew Englert

Kirk Matthew Englert 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).

  • Velocity sensitive passenger vehicle trailer brake controller
    Patent number: 8757735
    Abstract: A method of controlling a trailer brake system using a trailer brake controller positioned within a passenger vehicle is provided. The method includes obtaining intended braking inputs and developing an effective baseline trailer brake controller output profile based thereon. The method scales the effective baseline trailer brake controller output profile in response to an adjustable gain setting set by an operator. A vehicle velocity is obtained and used to calculate a correction factor to the effective baseline trailer brake controller output profile. The effective baseline trailer brake controller output profile is then adjusted using the correction factor to generate a corrected trailer brake controller output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies
    Inventors: Doug William Marsden, Erick Michael Lavoie, Greg Esper, Kirk Matthew Englert
  • VELOCITY SENSITIVE PASSENGER VEHICLE TRAILER BRAKE CONTROLLER
    Publication number: 20130311059
    Abstract: A method of controlling a trailer brake system using a trailer brake controller positioned within a passenger vehicle is provided. The method includes obtaining intended braking inputs and developing an effective baseline trailer brake controller output profile based thereon. The method scales the effective baseline trailer brake controller output profile in response to an adjustable gain setting set by an operator. A vehicle velocity is obtained and used to calculate a correction factor to the effective baseline trailer brake controller output profile. The effective baseline trailer brake controller output profile is then adjusted using the correction factor to generate a corrected trailer brake controller output signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies
    Inventors: Marsden William Doug, Erick Michael Lavoie, Greg Esper, Kirk Matthew Englert
  • Trailer sway control with reverse sensors
    Patent number: 8260518
    Abstract: Reverse proximity sensors are used to determine an angle between a towed trailer and the towing vehicle. The trailer sway control determines a trailer angle of sway based upon proximity sensor readings from the reverse proximity sensors and from a sensor reading of an angle of turn of a steering wheel of the towing vehicle. Provided the determined trailer angle of sway exceeds a range that can be tolerated, a controller sends instructions to apply necessary braking to the vehicle or trailer to mitigate the trailer sway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Kirk Matthew Englert
  • TRAILER SWAY CONTROL WITH REVERSE SENSORS
    Publication number: 20090198425
    Abstract: Reverse proximity sensors are used to determine an angle between a towed trailer and the towing vehicle. The trailer sway control determines a trailer angle of sway based upon proximity sensor readings from the reverse proximity sensors and from a sensor reading of an angle of turn of a steering wheel of the towing vehicle. Provided the determined trailer angle of sway exceeds a range that can be tolerated, a controller sends instructions to apply necessary braking to the vehicle or trailer to mitigate the trailer sway.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2008
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Inventor: KIRK MATTHEW ENGLERT