Patents by Inventor Paul A. VanOphem

Paul A. VanOphem 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: 20150329091
    Abstract: A braking control system for a vehicle includes at least one sensor having a field of view exterior of the vehicle. A control, after actuation of the vehicle brake system, determines the speed of the vehicle and relative speed of the vehicle to another vehicle or object, and, responsive to the speed of the vehicle and the relative speed, the control controls the vehicle brake system. Responsive to a determination that at least one of (i) a collision has occurred, (ii) the vehicle speed is greater than a threshold amount and (iii) the relative speed is greater than a threshold amount, the system determines if the vehicle driver is impaired, and, responsive to a determination that the driver is impaired, the control controls braking of the subject vehicle, and responsive to a determination that the driver is not impaired, the control allows the driver to override the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2015
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Inventors: Nathaniel S. Johnson, William J. Chundrlik, JR., Paul A. VanOphem, Christopher L. Van Dan Elzen
  • Patent number: 9090234
    Abstract: A braking control system for a vehicle includes at least one sensor having a field of view exterior of the vehicle. A control, after actuation of the vehicle brake system, determines the speed of the vehicle and relative speed of the vehicle to another vehicle or object, and, responsive to the speed of the vehicle and the relative speed, the control controls the vehicle brake system. Responsive to a determination that at least one of (i) a collision has occurred, (ii) the vehicle speed is greater than a threshold amount and (iii) the relative speed is greater than a threshold amount, the system determines if the vehicle driver is impaired, and, responsive to a determination that the driver is impaired, the control controls braking of the subject vehicle, and responsive to a determination that the driver is not impaired, the control allows the driver to override the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Nathaniel S. Johnson, William J. Chundrlik, Jr., Paul A. VanOphem, Christopher L. Van Dan Elzen
  • Publication number: 20140375476
    Abstract: A system of a vehicle may provide a parking assist function and/or an alert function. The system includes a sensor, a control and a display. The sensor is disposed at a vehicle and is operable to, at least in part, determine a geographical location of the vehicle. The control may be responsive to an output of the sensor and at least one of (i) a database and (ii) a communication from a remote server. Responsive to an input, the control may display parking information pertaining to parking spaces at or near the current geographical location of the vehicle. The system may be part of a plurality of networked vehicles equipped with respective sensors and controls. The control of the equipped vehicle may be operable to communicate information pertaining to a determination of an event or break-in to other nearby vehicles of the plurality of networked vehicles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: Nathaniel S. Johnson, Paul A. VanOphem
  • Publication number: 20140156157
    Abstract: A braking control system for a vehicle includes at least one sensor having a field of view exterior of the vehicle. A control, after actuation of the vehicle brake system, determines the speed of the vehicle and relative speed of the vehicle to another vehicle or object, and, responsive to the speed of the vehicle and the relative speed, the control controls the vehicle brake system. Responsive to a determination that at least one of (i) a collision has occurred, (ii) the vehicle speed is greater than a threshold amount and (iii) the relative speed is greater than a threshold amount, the system determines if the vehicle driver is impaired, and, responsive to a determination that the driver is impaired, the control controls braking of the subject vehicle, and responsive to a determination that the driver is not impaired, the control allows the driver to override the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Nathaniel S. Johnson, William J. Chundrlik, Jr., Paul A. VanOphem, Christopher L. Van Dan Elzen
  • Publication number: 20140085472
    Abstract: A vision system for a vehicle includes a rearward facing camera disposed at a rearward portion of a vehicle. With a trailer attached to the vehicle and rearward of the vehicle, a processor is operable to process captured images and, responsive at least in part to the processing, is operable to determine a plurality of trailer and vehicle-trailer interface parameters. The system is operable to calculate a calculated trailer angle based at least in part on calculations involving the parameters and a steering angle of the vehicle. Responsive to processing of images captured by the camera, the system is operable to determine a determined trailer angle of the trailer relative to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle. Responsive to the determined trailer angle and the calculated trailer angle, the system is operable to determine a degree of offset between the calculated trailer angle and the detected trailer angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Yuesheng Lu, Steven V. Byrne, Paul A. VanOphem, James D. Harris