Patents by Inventor Scott Christensen
Scott Christensen 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).
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Patent number: 11972487Abstract: Vehicle costs may be allocated between users of a vehicle, including autonomous vehicles. A vehicle cost allocation (VCA) computing device receives an anticipated trip report associated with an anticipated future trip, the anticipated trip report associated with at least one vehicle user including an anticipated driver of the vehicle and an anticipated passenger, the anticipated trip report including at least one of an anticipated destination and a distance of the anticipated future trip. The VCA computing device is also configured to determine one or more anticipated vehicle costs for the anticipated future trip. The vehicle costs may include usage-based or trip-based insurance. The VCA computing device is also configured to allocate a respective portion of the vehicle cost to the anticipated driver and passenger and transmit the anticipated vehicle costs to for review by the anticipated driver.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2021Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANYInventors: Gregory Hayward, Scott Christensen
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Publication number: 20240095719Abstract: A network node in a peer-to-peer network of nodes includes at least one processor, at least one memory, and at least one network interface. The at least one processor is configured to receive a request to transfer a security token and execute a plurality of compliance rules associated with the security token. At least one of the compliance rules is implemented using at least one smart contract. The at least one smart contract references a global registry. The at least one processor is also configured to transfer the security token based on the execution of the compliance rules. The global registry includes personally identifiable information (PII) hash(es) for each of at least one investor associated with the transfer of the security token. The hashes are committed to the distributed ledger and updated when PII of a respective one of the at least one investor changes.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 27, 2023Publication date: March 21, 2024Applicant: tZERO IP, LLCInventors: Scott Overholser, Robert Christensen, Nicole Sanders, Justin Wilson, Robert Valmassoi, Chase Lester, Michael William Stuart Smith, Andrew Warner
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Patent number: 11912279Abstract: Systems and methods for limiting functionality of a vehicle are described. In one example, vehicle feature modules may specify vehicle behaviors and vehicle operation is limited according to the specified behaviors. Vehicle actuators may be adjusted to limit vehicle operation according to the specified vehicle behaviors. The vehicle behaviors may apply to powertrain systems, navigation systems, climate control systems, lighting systems and other vehicle systems.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2021Date of Patent: February 27, 2024Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Scott Thompson, David Hancock, Scott Christensen, John Rollinger, Jeremy Russell, Jeffrey Tumavitch, Dennis Light, David Schmitt
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Patent number: 11897437Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for heat sanitizing a vehicle. In one example, a method may include, responsive to receiving a request for sanitization of a vehicle interior, activating an ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) system and operating a heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system to heat the vehicle interior above an upper threshold temperature for a threshold duration. In this way, the HVAC system may be advantageously used to expose the vehicle interior to temperatures that kill or inactive microbes while the UVGI system may supplement the heat sanitizing.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2020Date of Patent: February 13, 2024Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Alan Gutowski, Curtis Jones, Fred Koberstein, Stephen White, Peter Mitchell Lyon, John Rollinger, Scott Thompson, M. Scott Christensen, David Hancock, Adam Richards, Steve Skikun, Frank Fusco
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Patent number: 11807072Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for heat sanitizing a vehicle. In one example, a method may include, while receiving power from an external power source and responsive to receiving a request for cleaning an interior of a vehicle, operating an electric heater of a heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system to heat the interior above an upper threshold temperature for a first threshold duration using the power received from the external power source. In this way, the HVAC system may be advantageously used to expose the vehicle interior to temperatures that kill or inactive microbes while vehicle battery power and fuel are conserved by using power supplied from the external power source.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2020Date of Patent: November 7, 2023Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Alan Gutowski, Curtis Jones, Fred Koberstein, Stephen White, Peter Mitchell Lyon, John Rollinger, Scott Thompson, M. Scott Christensen, David Hancock, Adam Richards, Steve Skikun, Frank Fusco
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Patent number: 11727733Abstract: A plurality of operator controls can, in an operation mode, operate a machine, and, in a validation mode, be disabled to operate the machine and selectable to provide inputs for a candidate key. A computing device can initialize the validation mode, including initializing the candidate key and, according to a number base, and a maximum storage length, of a stored key, an input multiplier; receive a plurality of inputs to the operator controls in the validation mode; determine respective numeric values of the inputs; add the candidate key to a product of the multiplier and the numeric value of a first input to update the candidate key; for each of one or more second inputs to the operator controls after the first input to the operator controls, determine whether the candidate key matches a stored key; and upon determining that the candidate key matches the stored key, output an authorization.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2021Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventor: Scott Christensen
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Patent number: 11673535Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for heat sanitizing a vehicle. In one example, a method may include, responsive to receiving a request for sanitization of a vehicle interior, operating a heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system to heat the vehicle interior above an upper threshold temperature for a threshold duration. In this way, the HVAC system may be advantageously used to expose the vehicle interior to temperatures that kill or inactive microbes.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2020Date of Patent: June 13, 2023Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Alan Gutowski, Curtis Jones, Manfred Koberstein, Stephen White, Peter Mitchell Lyon, John Rollinger, Scott Thompson, M. Scott Christensen, David Hancock, Adam Richards, Steve Skikun, Frank Fusco, Venkatesh Krishnan
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Publication number: 20230070435Abstract: Systems and methods for limiting functionality of a vehicle are described. In one example, vehicle feature modules may specify vehicle behaviors and vehicle operation is limited according to the specified behaviors. Vehicle actuators may be adjusted to limit vehicle operation according to the specified vehicle behaviors. The vehicle behaviors may apply to powertrain systems, navigation systems, climate control systems, lighting systems and other vehicle systems.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 8, 2021Publication date: March 9, 2023Inventors: Scott Thompson, David Hancock, Scott Christensen, John Rollinger, Jeremy Russell, Jeffrey Tumavitch, Dennis Light, David Schmitt
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Publication number: 20220366741Abstract: A plurality of operator controls can, in an operation mode, operate a machine, and, in a validation mode, be disabled to operate the machine and selectable to provide inputs for a candidate key. A computing device can initialize the validation mode, including initializing the candidate key and, according to a number base, and a maximum storage length, of a stored key, an input multiplier; receive a plurality of inputs to the operator controls in the validation mode; determine respective numeric values of the inputs; add the candidate key to a product of the multiplier and the numeric value of a first input to update the candidate key; for each of one or more second inputs to the operator controls after the first input to the operator controls, determine whether the candidate key matches a stored key; and upon determining that the candidate key matches the stored key, output an authorization.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 11, 2021Publication date: November 17, 2022Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventor: Scott Christensen
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Publication number: 20220284523Abstract: A control system includes a server computing device and a control hub. The control hub is in communication with the server computing device and with a distributed network of telematics devices and a wireless communication device physically located at a property. Each telematics device includes a sensor and collects sensor data representing utility consumption. The wireless communication device collects wireless pairing data including timestamps associated with wireless pairing of the wireless communication device with any user computing device. The control hub receives sensor data and wireless pairing data, and transmits the same to the server computing device, which processes the received data to associate portions of an overall utility usage at the property with a presence of user computing devices, and displays, within a graphical user interface of an application executed on each user computing device, the portion of utility usage associated with the presence of that user computing device.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 25, 2022Publication date: September 8, 2022Inventors: Scott Christensen, Greg Hayward, Jeffrey Kinsey, Jeffrey W. Stoiber
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Patent number: 11345350Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a vehicle that may be driven to or sold in different geographical locations that may have different engine emissions and fuel economy standards are described. The systems and methods may adjust vehicle operation to comply with standards that may be enforced where the vehicle is geographically located. The standards may apply to countries, treaty zones, race track areas, off-road areas, and other geographically related standards.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2020Date of Patent: May 31, 2022Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Michael Scott Christensen, John Eric Rollinger, Adam Joseph Krach, Nicholas Herhusky, Michael Bastanipour, Scott Steadmon Thompson
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Patent number: 11324656Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a method and a device for increasing blood flow and controlling the temperature of a mammal by applying a desired pressure to extremities of a mammal. The device generally includes a pliant body element that is adapted to receive a portion of an extremity of the mammal therein, and then apply a pressure to a portion of the extremity when a pressure is provided to a region in which the extremity is positioned within the pliant body element. By evacuating the region in which the extremity is enclosed, a contact surface area between the extremity of a mammal and the pliant body element is increased, due to the external atmospheric pressure acting on the pliant body element against the skin of the extremity of the mammal. The application of pressure assures that sufficient contact and thermal heat transfer (heating or cooling) is provided to the extremity of the mammal.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2019Date of Patent: May 10, 2022Assignee: AVACORE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: John Roy Kane, Scott A. Christensen, Nathan Hamilton, Stephen J. Williams
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Publication number: 20220118822Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for heat sanitizing a vehicle. In one example, a method may include, while receiving power from an external power source and responsive to receiving a request for cleaning an interior of a vehicle, operating an electric heater of a heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system to heat the interior above an upper threshold temperature for a first threshold duration using the power received from the external power source. In this way, the HVAC system may be advantageously used to expose the vehicle interior to temperatures that kill or inactive microbes while vehicle battery power and fuel are conserved by using power supplied from the external power source.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 19, 2020Publication date: April 21, 2022Inventors: Alan Gutowski, Curtis Jones, Fred Koberstein, Stephen White, Peter Mitchell Lyon, John Rollinger, Scott Thompson, Scott Christensen, David Hancock, Adam Richards, Steve Skikun, Frank Fusco
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Publication number: 20220118952Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for heat sanitizing a vehicle. In one example, a method may include, responsive to receiving a request for sanitization of a vehicle interior, activating an ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) system and operating a heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system to heat the vehicle interior above an upper threshold temperature for a threshold duration. In this way, the HVAC system may be advantageously used to expose the vehicle interior to temperatures that kill or inactive microbes while the UVGI system may supplement the heat sanitizing.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 19, 2020Publication date: April 21, 2022Inventors: Alan Gutowski, Curtis Jones, Fred Koberstein, Stephen White, Peter Mitchell Lyon, John Rollinger, Scott Thompson, Scott Christensen, David Hancock, Adam Richards, Steve Skikun, Frank Fusco
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Publication number: 20220118951Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for heat sanitizing a vehicle. In one example, a method may include, responsive to receiving a request for cleaning an interior of a vehicle, adjusting a position of a sun shade based on at least one of an ambient temperature outside of the vehicle and a sun load of the vehicle, and operating a heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system to heat the interior above an upper threshold temperature for a first threshold duration. In this way, the HVAC system may be advantageously used to expose the vehicle interior to temperatures that kill or inactive microbes.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 19, 2020Publication date: April 21, 2022Inventors: Alan Gutowski, Curtis Jones, Fred Koberstein, Stephen White, Peter Mitchell Lyon, John Rollinger, Scott Thompson, Scott Christensen, David Hancock, Adam Richards, Steve Skikun, Frank Fusco
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Patent number: 11280303Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for enhancing and delivering engine sounds to a vehicle cabin based on a selected mode. In one example, a method may include adjusting openings of one or more valves fluidically coupling one or more corresponding engine regions to a sound tube of a sound enhancing system based on the selected mode. Throttle opening may also be adjusted to compensate for air routed from the engine regions to the sound tube instead of flowing to the engine cylinders.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2020Date of Patent: March 22, 2022Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: M. Scott Christensen, Nicholas Herhusky, Michael Bastanipour, Hani Ayesh
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Publication number: 20220009447Abstract: Example embodiments described in this disclosure are generally directed to the use of a multi-zone geofence for key-free vehicle operations management. The multi-zone geofence may include a first zone where vehicles can be operated without the use of keys or key fobs, and a second zone surrounding the first zone where a first set of functional restrictions are imposed upon the vehicles. The first set of functional restrictions can include an upper speed limit that is automatically imposed upon a vehicle. The multi-zone geofence can include additional zones having functional restrictions, such as a third zone surrounding the second zone wherein key-free vehicle operations are permitted with a second set of restrictions. The second set of restrictions may include a directional speed feature involving an automatic speed reduction upon a vehicle travelling towards a periphery of the third zone and lifting the speed reduction if the vehicle turns back.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 10, 2020Publication date: January 13, 2022Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Robert Bruce Kleve, John Robert Van Wiemeersch, John Eric Rollinger, Scott Steadmon Thompson, Nicholas Herhusky, Scott Christensen, Adam J. Richards
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Publication number: 20210398220Abstract: Vehicle costs may be allocated between users of a vehicle, including autonomous vehicles. A vehicle cost allocation (VCA) computing device receives trip reports and/or vehicle telematics data associated with trips performed by vehicle users using a vehicle. The VCA computing device is also configured to determine which vehicle user is a driver for a trip. Based on the determined driver, the VCA computing device is also configured to determine one or more vehicle costs associated with the trip based upon the vehicle telematics data. The vehicle costs may include usage-based or trip-based insurance. The VCA computing device is also configured to allocate a respective portion of the vehicle cost to each of the one or more vehicle users.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 4, 2017Publication date: December 23, 2021Inventors: Gregory Hayward, Scott Christensen
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Publication number: 20210339712Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for heat sanitizing a vehicle. In one example, a method may include, responsive to receiving a request for sanitization of a vehicle interior, operating a heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system to heat the vehicle interior above an upper threshold temperature for a threshold duration. In this way, the HVAC system may be advantageously used to expose the vehicle interior to temperatures that kill or inactive microbes.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 1, 2020Publication date: November 4, 2021Inventors: Alan Gutowski, Curtis Jones, Manfred Koberstein, Stephen White, Peter Mitchell Lyon, John Rollinger, Scott Thompson, M. Scott Christensen, David Hancock, Adam Richards, Steve Skikun, Frank Fusco, Venkatesh Krishnan
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Patent number: 11136919Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for diagnosing an actuator of a variable inlet compressor coupled in an electric turbocharger. During torque transitions, an electrical power consumption of an electric boost assist motor is observed and used to infer an actual compressor speed and pressure ratio across the compressor. By comparing the measured pressure ratio to a compressor map, it may be determined if the actuator is stuck open or stuck closed.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2019Date of Patent: October 5, 2021Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: M. Scott Christensen, Nicholas Herhusky, Michael Bastanipour