Patents by Inventor Manoharprasad K. Rao

Manoharprasad K. Rao 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).

  • COLLISION SENSING APPARATUS
    Publication number: 20150367799
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a center component defining a center chamber therein and first and second side components defining first and second chambers therein, respectively. The first and second side components are coupled to opposing ends of the center component with the first and second chambers in fluid communication with the center chamber. The center, first side and second side components are configured to extend substantially across a width of a vehicle. The apparatus further includes first, second and third pressure sensors in communication with the first, second and center chambers, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Publication date: December 24, 2015
    Inventors: Jialiang Le, Manoharprasad K. Rao, David James Tippy
  • Bumper assembly including airbag
    Patent number: 9216708
    Abstract: A bumper assembly for a vehicle includes a bumper beam and an energy absorbing member adjacent the bumper beam. An airbag module includes an inflator coupled to the bumper beam and an airbag coupled to the inflator. The airbag is disposed between the bumper beam and the energy absorbing member. The airbag is deployed during an impact between the vehicle and an object to modify the stiffness of the bumper assembly during the impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Iskander Farooq, Manoharprasad K. Rao, Jialiang Le
  • CONNECTED VEHICLE PREDICTIVE QUALITY
    Publication number: 20150356794
    Abstract: A vehicle system includes a communication interface and a processing device. The processing device is configured to receive performance data associated with at least one of a plurality of vehicle subsystems and generate a message that includes the performance data. The communication interface is configured to transmit the message to a remote aggregation server. The remote aggregation server is configured to receive the performance data from multiple vehicles, aggregate the performance data, and identify a trend associated with various vehicle subsystems based at least in part on the performance data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2014
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Inventors: Kwaku O. Prakah-Asante, Manoharprasad K. Rao, Jialiang Le, Hsin-hsiang Yang, Perry Robinson MacNeille
  • BUMPER ASSEMBLY INCLUDING AIRBAG
    Publication number: 20150343989
    Abstract: A bumper assembly for a vehicle includes a bumper beam and an energy absorbing member adjacent the bumper beam. An airbag module includes an inflator coupled to the bumper beam and an airbag coupled to the inflator. The airbag is disposed between the bumper beam and the energy absorbing member. The airbag is deployed during an impact between the vehicle and an object to modify the stiffness of the bumper assembly during the impact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Iskander Farooq, Manoharprasad K. Rao, Jialiang Le
  • VEHICLE OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEM FOR OBLIQUE IMPACT
    Publication number: 20150343983
    Abstract: An occupant restraint system for a vehicle includes an airbag module disposed in a column cover. The column cover covers a steering column of the vehicle. The airbag module includes an inflator within the column cover and an airbag coupled to the inflator. The airbag is moveable between a deflated position within the cover and a deployed position exiting the cover to the left and upwardly for deployment toward an A-pillar of the vehicle during an oblique impact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2014
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jialiang Le, Manoharprasad K. Rao, Robert William McCoy, James Chih Cheng
  • Autonomous vehicle with reconfigurable seats
    Patent number: 9199553
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a passenger compartment with an instrument panel located near a front of the passenger compartment. The vehicle further includes at least one seat located in the passenger compartment. The seat can be stowed under the instrument panel for when the vehicle is operating in an autonomous mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies
    Inventors: Mark A. Cuddihy, Manoharprasad K. Rao
  • METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE COMPUTING SYSTEM COMMUNICATING TO A SOCIAL MEDIA SITE
    Publication number: 20150334506
    Abstract: A vehicle computing system comprising at least one controller configured with a transceiver to connect with a server via a communication network connection. The controller may be configured to login to the server via a vehicle identification comprising at least one of a user-name and password for access to profile data. The controller is further configured to transmit at least one of contact identification, a message to communicate with a contact, and vehicle information. The controller is further configured to receive at least a portion of a contact and vehicle profile based on at least one of the contact and vehicle identification. The controller is further configured to transmit the at least a portion of the contact and vehicle profile to one or more systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Manoharprasad K. RAO, Kwaku O. PRAKAH-ASANTE, Mark A. CUDDIHY
  • Vehicle occupant restraint system for oblique impact
    Patent number: 9180834
    Abstract: An occupant restraint system for a vehicle includes an airbag module disposed in a column cover. The column cover covers a steering column of the vehicle. The airbag module includes an inflator within the column cover and an airbag coupled to the inflator. The airbag is moveable between a deflated position within the cover and a deployed position exiting the cover to the left and upwardly for deployment toward an A-pillar of the vehicle during an oblique impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Jialiang Le, Manoharprasad K. Rao, Robert William McCoy, James Chih Cheng
  • DRIVER BEHAVIOR BASED VEHICLE APPLICATION RECOMMENDATION
    Publication number: 20150307106
    Abstract: A vehicle computing system may execute a recommendation application to identify driver characteristics descriptive of the driving style of a driver of the vehicle based at least in part on captured vehicle data, determine an application recommendation for a mobile application to be installed by the driver based on the driver characteristics, and to send the application recommendation to the driver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2014
    Publication date: October 29, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Manoharprasad K. RAO, Kwaku O. PRAKAH-ASANTE
  • DRIVER-ENTRY DETECTOR FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE
    Publication number: 20150301175
    Abstract: Driver-detection technology includes various systems, methods, and apparatuses. For example, an active infrared (IR) sensor might be affixed in a motor-vehicle driver footwell and detect the driver's entry into the vehicle. The detection of the driver by the IR sensor is usable to personalize motor-vehicle features, such as seat position, steering-wheel position, interior lighting, radio controls, mirror angles, and touch-screen configuration, among others.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: MANOHARPRASAD K. RAO, MARK A. CUDDIHY, CARLA ANN GALE
  • Vehicle front end airbag assembly and system
    Patent number: 9150175
    Abstract: A vehicle front end assembly includes a radiator assembly, a fascia component overlapping the radiator assembly, and a grill laterally aligned with the radiator assembly. The grill and radiator assembly define an airflow space longitudinally therebetween. The vehicle front end assembly further includes an airbag coupled between the fascia component and the radiator assembly, and the airbag is disposed outside of the airflow space in both deflated and inflated configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Iskander Farooq, Mohammed Omar Faruque, Manoharprasad K. Rao, Dean M. Jaradi
  • Seatbelt restraint system for reversible vehicle seat
    Patent number: 9150178
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a back and a cushion. A mounting assembly supports the cushion and includes a first mounting arm coupled with the back and rotatable with respect to the cushion such that the back is translatable over the cushion. The vehicle seat further includes a first restraint arm coupled with the seat back and operatively coupled with the first mounting arm such that translation of the seat back drives corresponding rotation of the first restraint arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mangala A. Jayasuriya, Manoharprasad K. Rao
  • LIGHTED VEHICLE BIN ASSEMBLY AND METHOD OF CALIBRATING SAME
    Publication number: 20150274069
    Abstract: A lighted vehicle bin assembly that activates a light source based on motion and recalibrates a sensor is provided. The lighted vehicle bin assembly includes a vehicle storage bin, a light source arranged to illuminate the bin, and a proximity sensor for sensing an object in the bin based on a sensor signal relative to a threshold. The lighted vehicle bin assembly also includes a controller that activates the light source when the sensor signal exceeds a threshold and recalibrates the sensor when the sensor signal exceeds the threshold for a time period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mark A. Cuddihy, Manoharprasad K. Rao, Carla Ann Gale, Hubert Szawarski
  • PEDESTRIAN PROTECTION SENSING SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE HAVING METAL BUMPERS
    Publication number: 20150274107
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling deployment of the pedestrian head protection devices on a motor vehicle having a metal bumper is disclosed. The disclosed inventive concept involves strategic placement of accelerometer sensing devices and the derivation of a real time impact signal from the signals generated by the accelerometers. This real time impact signal is used along with thresholds and time window to control deployment. The apparatus includes a metal bumper, two support brackets attaching the bumper to the vehicle and at least two accelerometers fitted to the bumper proximate the brackets. The derivation and use of a single impact signal from said first and second signal-generating accelerometers is achieved by taking the larger of two absolute values derived from the accelerometers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jialiang Le, Manoharprasad K. Rao, Yeruva Satya Reddy, Kowling Cheng
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ENABLING TOUCHSCREEN BY PASSENGER IN MOVING VEHICLE
    Publication number: 20150268746
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling the performance of complex operations on a dashboard-mounted touchscreen in a vehicle moving above a predetermined minimal speed. The system includes a sensor for determining that the touchscreen is intended or going to be touched by driver and/or front seat passenger. A control, responsive to operation of the sensor, disallows or allows the touchscreen to be responsive to a touching. The touchscreen is not allowed to perform a complex operation when the vehicle is moving above the minimal speed if the touchscreen is touched by the driver. The touchscreen is allowed to perform a complex operation when the vehicle is moving above the minimal speed if the touchscreen is not going to be touched by the driver and is touched by the passenger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Publication date: September 24, 2015
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Mark A. Cuddihy, Manoharprasad K. Rao, Louis Tijerina, Walter Joseph Talamonti, Devinder Singh Kochhar
  • SEATBELT RESTRAINT SYSTEM FOR REVERSIBLE VEHICLE SEAT
    Publication number: 20150258955
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a back and a cushion. A mounting assembly supports the cushion and includes a first mounting arm coupled with the back and rotatable with respect to the cushion such that the back is translatable over the cushion. The vehicle seat further includes a first restraint arm coupled with the seat back and operatively coupled with the first mounting arm such that translation of the seat back drives corresponding rotation of the first restraint arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Mangala A. Jayasuriya, Manoharprasad K. Rao
  • AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE WITH AUTOMATIC WINDOW SHADE
    Publication number: 20150261219
    Abstract: A vehicle includes at least one autonomous driving sensor and an autonomous mode controller configured to receive signals generated by the autonomous driving sensor. The autonomous mode controller controls at least one vehicle subsystem based at least in part on the signals received. Furthermore, the autonomous mode controller is configured to shade at least one vehicle window when the vehicle is operating in an autonomous mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mark A. Cuddihy, Thomas Edward Pilutti, Manoharprasad K. Rao, Andrew Waldis, Roger Arnold Trombley, Matthew Y. Rupp, Wilford Trent Yopp
  • AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE WITH RECONFIGURABLE SEATS
    Publication number: 20150251566
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a passenger compartment and at least one seat located in the passenger compartment. The seat can be moved from a front-facing position to a rear-facing position for when the vehicle is operating in an autonomous mode. The vehicle may further include autonomous driving sensors and an autonomous controller that receives signals generated by the autonomous driving sensors and controls at least one vehicle subsystems according to the signals received.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2015
    Publication date: September 10, 2015
    Inventors: Mark A. Cuddihy, Manoharprasad K. Rao, Jialiang Le
  • AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE WITH ADAPTIVE SIDE VIEW MIRRORS
    Publication number: 20150253536
    Abstract: A vehicle includes at least one side view mirror assembly configured to move to a folded position. A processing device is configured to command the at least one side view mirror assembly to move to the folded position when the vehicle is operating in an autonomous mode. A method includes determining whether a vehicle is operating in an autonomous mode and commanding at least one side view mirror assembly to move to a folded position if the vehicle is operating in the autonomous mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Publication date: September 10, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jialiang Le, Thomas Edward Pilutti, Manoharprasad K. Rao, Matthew Y. Rupp, Roger Arnold Trombley, Andrew Waldis
  • Flexible optical impact detection sensor for front rail mounted airbag
    Patent number: 9127968
    Abstract: A flexible optical impact detection sensor is mounted on an outboard portion of the front bumper for signaling an offset rigid barrier impact event to a forward corner of a motor vehicle and deployment of a small offset rigid barrier airbag mounted on the front rail. The airbag is attached proximate a distal end of a front rail. The flexible optical impact detection sensor, attached to a rear surface of an outboard portion of the front bumper, generates a signal upon a corner impact event, whereby a controller processes the signal generated by the impact detection sensor and electrically actuates an inflator upon a predetermined impact severity. The airbag in the inflated condition acts against the offset rigid barrier to generate a lateral force against the offset rigid barrier to push the motor vehicle away from the barrier and thereby redirect impact energy by lateral movement of the motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Mark A. Cuddihy, Manoharprasad K. Rao, Jialiang Le