Patents by Inventor Steven R. El Aile

Steven R. El Aile 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: 9963035
    Abstract: A dashboard assembly for a vehicle includes a dashboard defining a receiving niche. The niche is alignable with a driver seat location, and is selectively fillable by each of a removable steering module and a removable filler module. The removable steering module includes a steering module base. A steering wheel support is fixed to the steering module base. A steering wheel is rotatably fixed to the steering wheel support. A steering wheel connector connects the steering wheel to a vehicle steering actuator. The removable filler module includes a filler module base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Steven R. El Aile, John P. Joyce, Andrew Brown, Scott J. Lauffer, Samer Abbas
  • Patent number: 9840279
    Abstract: A steering-wheel assembly includes an actuator, an actuator controller, a steering wheel, an attachment, and a data connector (referred to hereinafter as a first data connector). The actuator controller includes a processor and a memory and is communicatively coupled to the actuator. The steering wheel is rotatably coupled to the actuator. The attachment is coupled to the actuator. The first data connector is mounted on the attachment and in communication with the actuator controller. The actuator controller is programmed to instruct the actuator to rotate the steering wheel based on steering-wheel control data provided via the first data connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Samer Abbas, John P. Joyce, Scott J. Lauffer, Steven R. El Aile
  • Publication number: 20170267285
    Abstract: A steering-wheel assembly includes an actuator, an actuator controller, a steering wheel, an attachment, and a data connector (referred to hereinafter as a first data connector). The actuator controller includes a processor and a memory and is communicatively coupled to the actuator. The steering wheel is rotatably coupled to the actuator. The attachment is coupled to the actuator. The first data connector is mounted on the attachment and in communication with the actuator controller. The actuator controller is programmed to instruct the actuator to rotate the steering wheel based on steering-wheel control data provided via the first data connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2016
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Samer Abbas, John P. Joyce, Scott J. Lauffer, Steven R. El Aile
  • Publication number: 20170227960
    Abstract: A vehicle system includes communication circuitry programmed to communicate with a controller that is removable from an autonomous vehicle. The system further includes a processor programmed to receive control signals, which are associated with manually controlling the autonomous vehicle in a non-autonomous mode, transmitted from the controller. The processor is further programmed to output commands to at least one vehicle subsystem in accordance with the control signals transmitted from the controller while the vehicle is operating in a non-autonomous mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2016
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John P. Joyce, Scott J. Lauffer, Andrew Brown, Steven R. El Aile, Samer Abbas, Darrel Alan Recker
  • Publication number: 20170225570
    Abstract: A dashboard assembly for a vehicle includes a dashboard defining a receiving niche. The niche is alignable with a driver seat location, and is selectively fillable by each of a removable steering module and a removable filler module. The removable steering module includes a steering module base. A steering wheel support is fixed to the steering module base. A steering wheel is rotatably fixed to the steering wheel support. A steering wheel connector connects the steering wheel to a vehicle steering actuator. The removable filler module includes a filler module base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2016
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Steven R. El Aile, John P. Joyce, Andrew Brown, Scott J. Lauffer, Samer Abbas
  • Publication number: 20170174203
    Abstract: A steering wheel position control system for a vehicle comprises a controller for a vehicle. The controller includes a processor and a memory. The memory stores instructions executable by the processor. The controller is programmed to receive values from the sensors. The controller commands a pivot mechanism to bias a steering wheel to a stowed position based on values from the sensors. The controller also deploys an air bag based on values from the sensors, wherein the steering wheel is pivoted out of a space envelope of the deployed airbag.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Brown, John P. Joyce, Scott J. Lauffer, Steven R. El Aile, Samer Abbas
  • Publication number: 20170166173
    Abstract: A vehicle parking brake system includes a power bridge. The power bridge is electrically connected to a primary power source and to a secondary power source. The power bridge has a first condition in which the primary power source is active in which the primary source is electrically connected to a parking brake actuator. The power bridge has a second condition in which the primary power source is not active in which the secondary power source is electrically connected to the parking brake.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2016
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Scott J. Lauffer, John P. Joyce, Daniel A. Gabor, Samer Abbas, Steven R. El Aile
  • Publication number: 20170158225
    Abstract: A current state of a vehicle is identified. Vehicle path curvature limits are determined. A curvature performance profile to follow is determined based at least in part the vehicle path curvature limits. A direction of the vehicle is controlled based at least in part the curvature performance profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Brown, Scott J. Lauffer, John P. Joyce, Steven R. El Aile, Tobias John Pallett, Shane Elwart, Wayne Williams