Patents by Inventor Roger Arnold Trombley

Roger Arnold Trombley 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: 11964692
    Abstract: A vehicle hitching assistance system includes a controller executing an initial alignment process including searching for a trailer within a specified area of image data that is less than a total field of the image data in directions corresponding with both a longitudinal distance between the vehicle and the trailer and a lateral direction perpendicular to the longitudinal distance, presenting an indication to a driver of the vehicle to reposition the vehicle when the trailer is not identified within the specified area, and removing the indication when the trailer is identified within the specified area. The controller further executes an automated backing process upon identifying the trailer within the specified area, including identifying a coupler of the trailer and outputting a steering signal to the vehicle to cause the vehicle to steer to align a hitch ball of the vehicle with the coupler of the trailer during reversing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Luke Niewiadomski, Douglas Rogan, Shannon Brooks-Lehnert, Chen Zhang, Roger Arnold Trombley, Peter Ling, Kenneth Michael Mayer, Seyed Armin Raeis Hosseiny, Bo Bao, Steven Wayne Friedlander
  • Publication number: 20230415648
    Abstract: A system for assisting in aligning a vehicle for hitching with a trailer includes a controller that identifies at least one of the trailer or a coupling feature of the trailer within image data and determines that the at least one of the trailer or the coupling feature is outside of a target position area relative to the vehicle and outputs an instruction for movement of the vehicle determined to position the one of the trailer or the coupling feature within the target position area in response to identifying at least one indication of a user difficulty in positioning the one of the trailer or the coupling feature within the target position area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2023
    Publication date: December 28, 2023
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Seyed Armin Raeis Hosseiny, Bo Bao, Luke Niewiadomski, Roger Arnold Trombley
  • Patent number: 11787336
    Abstract: A system for assisting in aligning a vehicle for hitching with a trailer includes a first camera and a second camera and outputting image data to the rear of the vehicle and a controller identifying at least one of the trailer or a coupling feature of the trailer within the image data and assigning a trailer type to the trailer identified within the image data, the trailer type including a first trailer type and a second trailer type. The controller further causes a portion of the image data to be presented on a display within the vehicle, the portion of the image data corresponding with the first camera in response to the trailer being assigned the first trailer type and corresponding with the second camera in response to the trailer being assigned the second trailer type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES , LLC
    Inventors: Seyed Armin Raeis Hosseiny, Bo Bao, Luke Niewiadomski, Roger Arnold Trombley
  • Patent number: 11724736
    Abstract: A vehicle has a trailer backup steering input apparatus, a trailer backup assist control module coupled to the a trailer backup steering input apparatus, and an electric power assist steering system coupled to the trailer backup assist control module. The trailer backup steering input apparatus is configured for outputting a trailer path curvature signal approximating a desired curvature for a path of travel of a trailer towably coupled to the vehicle. The trailer backup assist control module is configured for determining vehicle steering information as a function of the trailer path curvature signal. The electric power assist steering system is configured for controlling steering of steered wheels of the vehicle as a function of the vehicle steering information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC, The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventors: Douglas Scott Rhode, David Dean Smit, Erick Michael Lavoie, Martin Fitzpatrick Frey, Thomas Edward Pilutti, Taehyun Shim, Matt Y. Rupp, Roger Arnold Trombley
  • Publication number: 20230158845
    Abstract: A vehicle hitching assistance system includes a controller acquiring image data from the vehicle and deriving a vehicle path to align a center of a hitch ball of the vehicle with a centerline of a trailer coupler within the image data. The controller also outputs a video image including a representation of a simplified path from the hitch ball to the coupler and outputs a steering signal to cause the vehicle to steer along the vehicle path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2023
    Publication date: May 25, 2023
    Inventors: Li Xu, Kyle Simmons, Shannon Brooks-Iehnert, Katherine Rouen, Roger Arnold Trombley, Bo Bao, Seyed Armin Raeis Hosseiny
  • Patent number: 11590815
    Abstract: A vehicle hitching assistance system includes a controller acquiring image data from the vehicle and deriving a vehicle path to align a center of a hitch ball of the vehicle with a centerline of a trailer coupler within the image data. The controller also outputs a video image including a representation of a simplified path from the hitch ball to the coupler and outputs a steering signal to cause the vehicle to steer along the vehicle path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Li Xu, Kyle Simmons, Shannon Brooks-Lehnert, Katherine Rouen, Roger Arnold Trombley, Bo Bao, Seyed Armin Raeis Hosseiny
  • Patent number: 11584177
    Abstract: A system for assisting in aligning a vehicle for hitching with a trailer includes a steering system that adjusts a vehicle steering angle, a braking system that adjusts a vehicle speed, an imaging system that receives image data of a drawbar assembly being receivable in a hitch receiver, and a controller. The controller is configured to detect an edge of the drawbar assembly from the image data, target an endpoint at a fixed offset from the edge and a stationary point on the vehicle, and maneuver, via the steering and braking systems, the vehicle along a path to align the endpoint with the trailer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Luke Niewiadomski, Nikhil Nagraj Rao, Lihui Chen, Roger Arnold Trombley
  • Publication number: 20230018061
    Abstract: A vehicle hitching assistance system includes a controller executing an initial alignment process including searching for a trailer within a specified area of image data that is less than a total field of the image data in directions corresponding with both a longitudinal distance between the vehicle and the trailer and a lateral direction perpendicular to the longitudinal distance, presenting an indication to a driver of the vehicle to reposition the vehicle when the trailer is not identified within the specified area, and removing the indication when the trailer is identified within the specified area. The controller further executes an automated backing process upon identifying the trailer within the specified area, including identifying a coupler of the trailer and outputting a steering signal to the vehicle to cause the vehicle to steer to align a hitch ball of the vehicle with the coupler of the trailer during reversing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2022
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Luke Niewiadomski, Douglas Rogan, Shannon Brooks-Lehnert, Chen Zhang, Roger Arnold Trombley, Peter Ling, Kenneth Michael Mayer, Seyed Armin Raeis Hosseiny, Bo Bao, Steven Wayne Friedlander
  • Publication number: 20220410804
    Abstract: A system for assisting in aligning a vehicle for hitching with a trailer includes a first camera and a second camera and outputting image data to the rear of the vehicle and a controller identifying at least one of the trailer or a coupling feature of the trailer within the image data and assigning a trailer type to the trailer identified within the image data, the trailer type including a first trailer type and a second trailer type. The controller further causes a portion of the image data to be presented on a display within the vehicle, the portion of the image data corresponding with the first camera in response to the trailer being assigned the first trailer type and corresponding with the second camera in response to the trailer being assigned the second trailer type.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2021
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Seyed Armin Raeis Hosseiny, Bo Bao, Luke Niewiadomski, Roger Arnold Trombley
  • Patent number: 11505124
    Abstract: A vehicle hitch assistance system includes a first image sensor in connection with a portion of the vehicle and positioned forward of a forward hitch disposed in a cargo bed of the vehicle. The system further includes a controller configured to capture first image data with the first image sensor. The first image data depicts a coupler of a trailer. The controller is further configured to identify a trailer type of the trailer based on the first image data. The trailer type is configured to connect to the forward hitch. The controller is further configured to acquire position data identifying a coupler position of the coupler in the first image data, derive a vehicle path aligning the forward hitch with the coupler, and control a maneuvering system driving the vehicle along the vehicle path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Luke Niewiadomski, Roger Arnold Trombley, Thomas Edward Pilutti
  • Patent number: 11485413
    Abstract: A vehicle hitching assistance system includes a controller acquiring image data from the vehicle and identifying a trailer within a specified area of the image data and then identifying a coupler of the trailer. The specified area is less than a total field of the image data. The controller then outputs a steering signal to the vehicle to cause the vehicle to steer to align a hitch ball of the vehicle with the coupler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Luke Niewiadomski, Douglas Rogan, Shannon Brooks-Lehnert, Chen Zhang, Roger Arnold Trombley, Peter Ling, Kenneth Michael Mayer, Seyed Armin Raeis Hosseiny, Bo Bao, Steven Wayne Friedlander
  • Patent number: 11479297
    Abstract: A vehicle system configured to control a trailer alignment routine includes a hitch mounted on a vehicle and a controller. The controller is configured to identify a coupler position of a trailer and control motion of the vehicle to toward an aligned position. The controller is further configured to control a braking procedure of the vehicle including a plurality of concurrent deceleration control procedures in response to a portion of the vehicle passing a gradual stopping distance. The concurrent deceleration procedures include monitoring an elapsed time following the portion of the vehicle passing the gradual stopping distance and monitoring a remaining distance to the aligned position based on a velocity of the vehicle and comparing the remaining distance to a rapid stopping distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Luke Niewiadomski, Li Xu, Donald Jacob Mattern, Mohamed El-sawah, Roger Arnold Trombley, Douglas Rogan, Nikhil Nagraj Rao, Arnav Sharma
  • Patent number: 11440474
    Abstract: A vehicle is provided that includes a trailer hitch, a camera oriented to capture images of the trailer hitch, and a controller processing the captured images, detecting a trailer safety chain associated with a trailer, determining a connection state of the trailer safety chain to the vehicle, and generating an output indicative of the determined connection state of the trailer safety chain to the vehicle. The vehicle may determine a change in a scene of the captured image following placement of a trailer coupler onto a vehicle hitch and determine a trailer connection state based on the change in scene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Luke Niewiadomski, Roger Arnold Trombley, Lihui Chen
  • Patent number: 11433722
    Abstract: A vehicle system includes a vehicle brake system, an accelerometer mounted on the vehicle, and a controller. The controller receives a first signal from the accelerometer and, during reversing of the vehicle in a longitudinal direction, transmits an actuation signal to the vehicle brake system when the first signal from the accelerometer indicates a deceleration in the longitudinal direction above a predetermined rate within a predetermined time interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Arnav Sharma, Douglas Rogan, Luke Niewiadomski, Shannon Brooks-Lehnert, Roger Arnold Trombley
  • Patent number: 11358639
    Abstract: A system for assisting in aligning a vehicle for hitching with a trailer includes a controller that receives the scene data and identifying the trailer within the area to the rear of the vehicle, derives a backing path to align a hitch ball mounted on the vehicle to a coupler of the trailer, outputting a powertrain control signal to the vehicle powertrain control system, and a brake control signal to the vehicle brake system to maneuver the vehicle, including reversing along the backing path and stopping the vehicle at an endpoint of the path, and outputs a video image to the vehicle human-machine interface including a graphical overlay on the image data. The graphical overlay indicates potential movement of the hitch ball past the coupler and being positioned in the image data between a bumper of the vehicle and the hitch ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Seyed Armin Raeis Hosseiny, Luke Niewiadomski, Roger Arnold Trombley, Donald Jacob Mattern, Craig Schmatz, Li Xu, Arnav Sharma
  • Patent number: 11285768
    Abstract: A vehicle has a trailer hitch, a vehicle electrical connector configured to electrically connect to a trailer electrical connector, and an imaging system oriented to captures images proximate to the trailer hitch. The vehicle also includes a proximity sensing system arranged to sense objects proximate to the trailer hitch and generate a proximity signal, an electrical connection detection system to detect an electrical connection to the vehicle trailer connector and generate an electrical connection signal, and a controller processing the captured images, the proximity signal and the electrical connector signal and determining a connection state of a trailer to the vehicle based on the captured images, the proximity sensor and the electrical connector signal, and generating an output indicative of the determined connection state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Luke Niewiadomski, Donald Jacob Mattern, Douglas Rogan, Roger Arnold Trombley, Bruno Sielly Jales Costa
  • Patent number: 11279187
    Abstract: A hitch assist system for a vehicle is provided herein. The hitch assist system includes a sensing system configured to detect a hitch assembly and a coupler. A controller is configured to determine an offset between the hitch assembly and the coupler. The controller is further configured to generate a command for maneuvering the vehicle forward based on the offset exceeding an offset threshold. The controller is further configured to generate a command for subsequently maneuvering the vehicle rearward along an alignment path. The controller is configured to prompt termination of the forward maneuver of the vehicle based on a determination that alignment of the hitch assembly with the coupler is feasible via execution of the alignment path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Luke Niewiadomski, Roger Arnold Trombley, Kyle Simmons, Shannon Brooks-Lehnert
  • Patent number: 11247520
    Abstract: A vehicle maneuvering apparatus includes an imaging device configured to capture image data and a controller in communication with a vehicle maneuvering system. The controller is configured to identify a coupler position of a trailer in the image data and compare a coupler height of the coupler position with a hitch height of a hitch ball. In response to the coupler height being insufficient to clear the hitch height, the controller is further configured to calculate a target position laterally offset from the coupler position and communicate the target position to the vehicle maneuvering system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Luke Niewiadomski, Roger Arnold Trombley, George Edmund Walley
  • Publication number: 20210347410
    Abstract: A system for assisting in aligning a vehicle for hitching with a trailer includes a vehicle steering system, a detection system outputting a signal including scene data of an area to a rear of the vehicle, and a controller that controls the vehicle steering system to maneuver the vehicle according to an initial alignment maneuver that positions the vehicle relative to the trailer, such that the trailer is within the area to the rear of the vehicle. The controller further receives the scene data and identifies the trailer within the area to the rear of the vehicle, derives a backing path to align a hitch ball mounted on the vehicle to a coupler of the trailer, and controls the vehicle steering system to maneuver the vehicle including reversing along the backing path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2020
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Luke Niewiadomski, George Edmund Walley, Arnav Sharma, Roger Arnold Trombley, Frederic Christen, Kyle Simmons, Li Xu, Eric Hongtei Tseng
  • Patent number: 11155133
    Abstract: A vehicle control system comprises a sensor configured to capture sensor data and a controller configured to identify a coupler position of a trailer in the sensor data. The controller is further configured to control a vehicle alignment routine aligning the hitch with the coupler position and control an emergency braking operation in response to detecting an obstruction in the sensor data. The controller is configured to suppress the emergency braking operation in response to the obstruction corresponding to the coupler in the sensor data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Luke Niewiadomski, Eric L. Reed, Roger Arnold Trombley, Robert D. Klosek