Patents by Inventor Michael Robertson

Michael Robertson 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).

  • INSIGHT ENGINE
    Publication number: 20210224339
    Abstract: Provided are systems and methods for providing insights to users of a mobile application based on triggers that may be detected from within the data or externally. In one example, a method may include receiving, via a message transmitted to a uniform resource locator (URL) of a host platform, information about a user of a software application, reading a plurality of records associated with the user from the received information, the plurality of records comprising data and a plurality of timestamps, respectively, generating derived data based on the data included in the plurality of records, converting the plurality of timestamps into a single timing identifier that represents all of the plurality of timestamps, and transmitting, to a computing system, a notification comprising the derived data and the new timing identifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2021
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Inventors: Marcel Crudele, John Michael Robertson, Kien Lam, Jeff Chelko, Nikhil Gorantla, Thaddeus Gholston, Andrew Toloff, Winn Martin
  • VEHICLE MOONROOF SYSTEMS FOR DOCKING AND COOLING UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES
    Publication number: 20210122497
    Abstract: This disclosure details exemplary moonroof systems for vehicles. An exemplary moonroof system may include a pod assembly that may be received within an opening of a headliner. The pod assembly may be utilized to dock, deploy, and land an unmanned aerial vehicle relative to the moonroof system. The pod assembly may include a charging and cooling system for charging and cooling the unmanned aerial vehicle when it is docked within the pod assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Publication date: April 29, 2021
    Inventors: Michael ROBERTSON, JR., Segundo BALDOVINO, Venkatesh KRISHNAN, Raghuraman SURINEEDI
  • ENHANCED VEHICLE SENSOR CLEANING
    Publication number: 20210109345
    Abstract: A computer includes a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to identify a contaminant on a lens of a sensor upon determining a force applied to the lens based on an electric current exceeding a threshold and to actuate a cleaning component to remove the contaminant from the lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2019
    Publication date: April 15, 2021
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Robertson, JR., James Pizzimenti, Tyler D. Hamilton, Ashwin Arunmozhi
  • SENSOR-COOLING APPARATUS
    Publication number: 20210103036
    Abstract: A sensor apparatus includes a sensor having a field of view, a sensor window through which the field of view extends; an air nozzle positioned to direct airflow across the sensor window; a surface fixed relative to the sensor window, the surface including a plurality of heat-dissipation fins; and a cover extending over the fins and including an inlet. The inlet is positioned at an opposite edge of the sensor window from the air nozzle. The air nozzle is aimed at the inlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2019
    Publication date: April 8, 2021
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Robertson, JR., Tyler D. Hamilton, Ashwin Arunmozhi, Raghu Raman Surineedi
  • VEHICLE SENSOR CLEANING WITH ADDITIVES
    Publication number: 20210061233
    Abstract: A sensor system includes a sensor including a sensor window; a nozzle aimed at the sensor window; a supply line to supply fluid to the nozzle; a primary reservoir to supply fluid to the supply line; a first valve actuatable to inject fluid from a first reservoir into the supply line; a second valve actuatable to inject fluid from a second reservoir into the supply line; a third valve actuatable to inject fluid from a third reservoir into the supply line; and a computer communicatively coupled to the sensor and the valves. The computer is programmed to actuate the first valve in response to determining a first condition based on data from the sensor, actuate the second valve in response to determining a second condition based on data from the sensor, and actuate the third valve in response to determining a third condition based on data from the sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Robertson, Jr., Tyler D. Hamilton, Ashwin Arunmozhi, Venkatesh Krishnan
  • Vehicle sensor assembly
    Patent number: 10928225
    Abstract: An assembly includes a housing defining a chamber. The assembly includes a sensor supported by the housing. The assembly includes a deflector forward of the sensor and having a front surface designed to direct air upward and a rear surface opposite the front surface. The housing has a vent in fluid communication with the chamber and aimed at the rear surface of the deflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Venkatesh Krishnan, Raghu Raman Surineedi, Matthew Dennis Smith Boswell, Rashaun Phinisee, Michael Robertson, Jr.
  • VEHICLE WINDOW CONTROL
    Publication number: 20210032922
    Abstract: A method includes predicting an environmental condition at a location to which a vehicle is travelling, the environmental condition including at least one of water, dust, and pollution, determining that an object within the vehicle is at a distance greater than a threshold distance from an unobstructed window of the vehicle, and then actuating the unobstructed window to a closed position based on the environmental condition and the object being at the distance from the window greater than the threshold distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2019
    Publication date: February 4, 2021
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: DAVID MICHAEL HERMAN, ASHWIN ARUNMOZHI, MICHAEL ROBERTSON, JR., TYLER D. HAMILTON
  • Sensor airflow apparatus
    Patent number: 10908002
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a housing defining a chamber and including a panel including an aperture, a sensor fixed inside the chamber and having a field of view through a lens and the aperture, and an annular disc attached to the sensor concentrically around the lens and including a radially outer edge contactlessly exposed to the chamber. An annular slot is defined by the disc. The slot extends at least 180° around the lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Robertson, Jr., Venkatesh Krishnan, Sunil Patil, Rashaun Phinisee
  • SENSOR DRAINAGE SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20210025982
    Abstract: A sensor assembly includes a cylindrical sensor housing extending vertically upward from a sensor-housing bottom, a gutter elongated circumferentially around the sensor-housing bottom, a drain channel extending radially outward from the gutter, at least one air nozzle positioned radially outside the gutter and directed radially inward, and a panel extending above and radially inward from the air nozzle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2019
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Robertson, JR., Venkatesh Krishnan, Segundo Baldovino, Sunil Reddy Patil, Rashaun Phinisee
  • SENSOR ASSEMBLY WITH CLEANING
    Publication number: 20200393550
    Abstract: A sensor assembly includes a housing including a first chamber and a second chamber fluidly connected to the first chamber, a first sensor disposed in the second chamber and including a first sensor window facing outward from the second chamber, and a second sensor outside and fixed relative to the first chamber and the second chamber. The second sensor includes a second sensor window. The housing includes an intake from an exterior environment to the first chamber, a first outlet from the second chamber to the exterior environment, and a second outlet from the second chamber to the exterior environment. The first outlet is positioned to direct air across the first sensor window, and the second outlet is positioned to direct air across the second sensor window.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Publication date: December 17, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: TYLER D. HAMILTON, MICHAEL ROBERTSON, Jr., ASHLEY LUCAS, VENKATESH KRISHNAN
  • SENSOR ASSEMBLY WITH MOVABLE NOZZLE
    Publication number: 20200391231
    Abstract: A sensor assembly includes a first sensor window defining a first plane, a second sensor window fixed relative to the first sensor window and defining a second plane different than the first plane, and a nozzle positioned to deliver fluid to the first and second sensor windows. The nozzle is translatable along a first axis, rotatable about the first axis, and rotatable about a second axis transverse to the first axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2019
    Publication date: December 17, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ashwin Arunmozhi, Michael Robertson, JR., Tyler D. Hamilton
  • SENSOR-DRAINAGE APPARATUS
    Publication number: 20200355807
    Abstract: A sensor apparatus includes a cylindrical sensor window defining an axis oriented vertically, at least one air nozzle positioned below the sensor window and aimed upward, and a cap positioned above the sensor window and including a topside and an underside. The topside and the underside are disposed radially outward from the sensor window. The underside includes a first groove having a cross-section elongated circumferentially around the axis, and the cross-section of the first groove curves from a lower end upwardly and outwardly to an upper end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2019
    Publication date: November 12, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: RASHAUN PHINISEE, SUNIL REDDY PATIL, VENKATESH KRISHNAN, SEGUNDO BALDOVINO, MICHAEL ROBERTSON, JR., RAGHU RAMAN SURINEEDI
  • SENSOR ASSEMBLY WITH CLEANING
    Publication number: 20200346255
    Abstract: A system includes a sensor window, a sensor having a field of view through the sensor window, a piezoelectric vibrator positioned to impart vibrations to the sensor window, and a computer communicatively coupled to the sensor and the piezoelectric vibrator. The computer is programmed to identify a type for an obstruction of the sensor window based on data from the sensor, and instruct the piezoelectric vibrator to vibrate the sensor window with vibrations having a vibration profile. The vibration profile has at least one of frequency or phase velocity chosen according to the identified type of obstruction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2019
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: MICHAEL ROBERTSON, JR., ASHWIN ARUNMOZHI, VENKATESH KRISHNAN, SEGUNDO BALDOVINO, RASHAUN PHINISEE
  • Network traffic optimization using in-situ notification system
    Patent number: 10819571
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosed technology address the problems of manually identifying and optimizing service function chaining (SFC) performance in response to changes in traffic profiles. In one aspect of the present disclosure, a method includes monitoring, by a first network component, incoming data packets; detecting, by the first network component, a change in a traffic profile of the incoming data packets; generating, by the first network component, in-band information on changes in the traffic profile; and transmitting, by the first network component, the in-band information with one or more data packets of the incoming data packets, the in-band information being used by a second network component to adjust one or more corresponding settings for servicing the incoming data packets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: CISCO TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Jay Kemper Johnston, David C. White, Jr., Magnus Mortensen, Michael Robertson
  • Cleaning apparatus for sensor
    Patent number: 10802121
    Abstract: A sensor apparatus includes a LIDAR sensor, a camera having a field of view encompassing a volume directly forward of the LIDAR sensor, a nozzle aimed at least partially upward and positioned forward of the LIDAR sensor, and a computer programmed to increase output from the nozzle upon determining that an object is traveling rearward through the field of view based on data received from the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Venkatesh Krishnan, Raghuraman Surineedi, Matthew Dennis Smith Boswell, Rashaun Phinisee, Michael Robertson, Jr.
  • SERVICE FUNCTION CHAIN OPTIMIZATION USING LIVE TESTING
    Publication number: 20200287792
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosed technology address the problems of manually identifying and optimizing service chain (SC) performance bottlenecks by providing solutions for automatically identifying and tuning various SC parameters. In some aspects, a SC optimization process of the disclosed technology includes the replication or cloning of a SC for which traffic flow is to be optimized. Traffic flows for the production chain can then be simulated over one or more SC clones to identify and tune individual system parameters, for example, to determine if the simulated changes produce a positive, negative, or neutral change in flow performance. Systems and machine-readable media are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2020
    Publication date: September 10, 2020
    Inventors: Jay Kemper Johnston, Michael Robertson, Magnus Mortensen, David C. White, JR.
  • SENSOR AIRFLOW APPARATUS
    Publication number: 20200247329
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a housing defining a chamber and including a panel including at least one aperture, at least one sensor fixed inside the chamber and having a field of view through a lens and the aperture, at least one annular disc attached to the sensor concentrically around the lens and including a radially outer edge contactlessly exposed to the chamber, and at least three vanes extending from the disc to the panel and arranged radially asymmetrically around the disc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Robertson, JR., Segundo Baldovino, Venkatesh Krishnan, Sunil Patil, Raghuraman Surineedi
  • Service function chain optimization using live testing
    Patent number: 10673698
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosed technology address the problems of manually identifying and optimizing service chain (SC) performance bottlenecks by providing solutions for automatically identifying and tuning various SC parameters. In some aspects, a SC optimization process of the disclosed technology includes the replication or cloning of a SC for which traffic flow is to be optimized. Traffic flows for the production chain can then be simulated over one or more SC clones to identify and tune individual system parameters, for example, to determine if the simulated changes produce a positive, negative, or neutral change in flow performance. Systems and machine-readable media are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: CISCO TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Jay Kemper Johnston, Michael Robertson, Magnus Mortensen, David C. White, Jr.
  • SENSOR AIRFLOW APPARATUS
    Publication number: 20200149933
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a housing defining a chamber and including a panel including an aperture, a sensor fixed inside the chamber and having a field of view through a lens and the aperture, and an annular disc attached to the sensor concentrically around the lens and including a radially outer edge contactlessly exposed to the chamber. An annular slot is defined by the disc. The slot extends at least 180° around the lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: MICHAEL ROBERTSON, JR., VENKATESH KRISHNAN, SUNIL PATIL, RASHAUN PHINISEE
  • SUSTAINED AUTHENTICATION OF A CUSTOMER IN A PHYSICAL ENVIORNMENT
    Publication number: 20200074816
    Abstract: A system for use in allowing a user to conduct one or more transactions at one or more touchpoints in a business facility includes an authentication component, a tracking component, and a control component. The authentication component is configured to authenticate the user as a person allowed to conduct the one or more transactions. The tracking component is configured to track the user's location within the facility as the user moves through the facility. The control component is configured (a) to receive authentication information from the authentication component, (b) to receive location information from the tracking component, (c) to use the location information to recognize that the user has moved into position to engage one of the touchpoints, and (d) to deliver a message to the touchpoint authorizing the touchpoint to engage in one or more transactions with the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2019
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Inventor: Michael Robertson McNamara