Patents by Inventor Steve Skikun

Steve Skikun 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: 11897437
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: 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
  • Patent number: 11807072
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: 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
  • Patent number: 11673535
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: 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
  • Patent number: 11623610
    Abstract: Vehicular pursuit intervention systems and methods are provided herein. An example method includes determining unauthorized use of an emergency vehicle, causing the emergency vehicle to perform a controlled stop, locking access points of the emergency vehicle, closing windows of the emergency vehicle, and locking a weapon within the emergency vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robert S. Kern, Jon Ohland, Steve Skikun, Adam Rainey
  • Patent number: 11346674
    Abstract: A transportation system comprising a logic node configured to determine an optimized rendezvous location for a vehicle in an area based at least in part on traffic data associated with a plurality of vehicles in the area; and a communication element adapted to communicate the optimized rendezvous location to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John Walpuck, Jovan Zagajac, Steve Skikun, Samer Ibrahim, Helen Elizabeth Kourous-Harrigan
  • Publication number: 20220118952
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2020
    Publication date: April 21, 2022
    Inventors: 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
  • Publication number: 20220118951
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2020
    Publication date: April 21, 2022
    Inventors: 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
  • Publication number: 20220118822
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2020
    Publication date: April 21, 2022
    Inventors: 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
  • Patent number: 11292430
    Abstract: This disclosure is generally directed to systems and methods for automatically securing a vehicle such as a police truck or an emergency response vehicle and/or the contents of the vehicle after a bailout by the driver. In one exemplary method, a computer is configured to use a sensor system to detect that a driver of a vehicle has bailed out of the vehicle. Based at least in part on detecting that the driver has bailed out of the vehicle, the computer can execute operations such as automatically locking a door of the vehicle, logging out a computer located in the vehicle, locking a first component inside the vehicle such as a gun vault, and/or disabling an operation of another component in the vehicle such as a trunk release or an ignition switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robert S. Kern, Adam Rainey, Steve Skikun, Arie Groeneveld, William Gubing, Jon Ohland, Michael Ehlert
  • Patent number: 11192548
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a vehicle speed limiter. In one example, a method may include decreasing a vehicle top speed in response to the vehicle being arranged in a geofenced area via the vehicle speed limiter. In at least one example, adjusting a magnitude of the vehicle top speed limiter to decrease a limiting of the vehicle top speed may be in response to an override request, where the override request is signaled via one or more of depression of a pedal of the vehicle in a pattern and a siren of the vehicle being activated. Further, in one or more examples, the vehicle may be the only vehicle of a plurality of vehicles comprising one or more of a solar cell and a wireless modem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Allen Magolan, Steve Skikun
  • Publication number: 20210339712
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2020
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Inventors: 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
  • Publication number: 20210155201
    Abstract: Vehicular pursuit intervention systems and methods are provided herein. An example method includes determining unauthorized use of an emergency vehicle, causing the emergency vehicle to perform a controlled stop, locking access points of the emergency vehicle, closing windows of the emergency vehicle, and locking a weapon within the emergency vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robert S. Kern, Jon Ohland, Steve Skikun, Adam Rainey
  • Publication number: 20210039644
    Abstract: A method of operating a vehicle may include determining if a vehicle speed is controlled by a driver, and if the vehicle speed is controlled by the driver, determining if the vehicle is operating during night conditions. If the vehicle is operating during night conditions, activating a night drive mode that limits a maximum speed of the vehicle without regard to road speed limits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Publication date: February 11, 2021
    Inventors: Allen Magolan, Steve Skikun
  • Publication number: 20210041253
    Abstract: A transportation system comprising a logic node configured to determine an optimized rendezvous location for a vehicle in an area based at least in part on traffic data associated with a plurality of vehicles in the area; and a communication element adapted to communicate the optimized rendezvous location to the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2019
    Publication date: February 11, 2021
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John Walpuck, Jovan Zagajac, Steve Skikun, Samer Ibrahim, Helen Elizabeth Kourous-Harrigan
  • Publication number: 20200369283
    Abstract: This disclosure is generally directed to systems and methods for automatically detecting an impending bailout from a vehicle such as a police truck or an emergency response vehicle. In one exemplary method, a computer is configured to detect a driving pattern of the vehicle that would indicate that the driver of the vehicle is about to bail out. The driving pattern can include an acceleration sequence and a braking sequence that is indicative of a police chase or an emergency response situation. In another exemplary method, the computer may determine that the driver of the vehicle is about to bail out based on detecting one or more cue words uttered by the driver or included in a conversation over a radio communications device between the driver and a person outside the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2020
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robert S. Kern, Steve Skikun, Jon Ohland, Adam Rainey, Michael Ehlert, William Gubing, Arie Groeneveld
  • Publication number: 20200369240
    Abstract: This disclosure is generally directed to systems and methods for automatically securing a vehicle such as a police truck or an emergency response vehicle and/or the contents of the vehicle after a bailout by the driver. In one exemplary method, a computer is configured to use a sensor system to detect that a driver of a vehicle has bailed out of the vehicle. Based at least in part on detecting that the driver has bailed out of the vehicle, the computer can execute operations such as automatically locking a door of the vehicle, logging out a computer located in the vehicle, locking a first component inside the vehicle such as a gun vault, and/or disabling an operation of another component in the vehicle such as a trunk release or an ignition switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2019
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robert S. Kern, Adam Rainey, Steve Skikun, Arie Groeneveld, William Gubing, Jon Ohland, Michael Ehlert
  • Patent number: 10829127
    Abstract: This disclosure is generally directed to systems and methods for automatically detecting an impending bailout from a vehicle such as a police truck or an emergency response vehicle. In one exemplary method, a computer is configured to detect a driving pattern of the vehicle that would indicate that the driver of the vehicle is about to bail out. The driving pattern can include an acceleration sequence and a braking sequence that is indicative of a police chase or an emergency response situation. In another exemplary method, the computer may determine that the driver of the vehicle is about to bail out based on detecting one or more cue words uttered by the driver or included in a conversation over a radio communications device between the driver and a person outside the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robert S. Kern, Steve Skikun, Jon Ohland, Adam Rainey, Michael Ehlert, William Gubing, Arie Groeneveld
  • Publication number: 20200307578
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a vehicle speed limiter. In one example, a method may include decreasing a vehicle top speed in response to the vehicle being arranged in a geofenced area via the vehicle speed limiter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Inventors: Allen Magolan, Steve Skikun
  • Patent number: 10710596
    Abstract: This disclosure is generally directed to systems and methods for automatically detecting an impending bailout from a vehicle such as a police truck or an emergency response vehicle. In one exemplary method, a computer is configured to detect a driving pattern of the vehicle that would indicate that the driver of the vehicle is about to bail out. The driving pattern can include an acceleration sequence and a braking sequence that is indicative of a police chase or an emergency response situation. In another exemplary method, the computer may determine that the driver of the vehicle is about to bail out based on detecting one or more cue words uttered by the driver or included in a conversation over a radio communications device between the driver and a person outside the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robert S. Kern, Steve Skikun, Jon Ohland, Adam Rainey, Michael Ehlert, William Gubing, Arie Groeneveld