Patents by Inventor Steven Yellin Schondorf

Steven Yellin Schondorf 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: 11458967
    Abstract: A vehicle control system includes a computer including a processor and a memory storing instruction executable by the processor to, in response to detecting hands being off a steering wheel for a threshold time while a lane-centering assist operation is active, steer a vehicle including the steering wheel from a center of a lane to a lateral position between the center of the lane and an edge of the lane; then steer the vehicle from the lateral position to the center of the lane; and then maintain the vehicle at the center of the lane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Nitendra Nath, Steven Yellin Schondorf
  • Publication number: 20220141423
    Abstract: Switchable tailgate imaging and sensing systems and methods are disclosed herein. A vehicle may include a tailgate comprising a closed position and an open position, a first camera and a second camera configured to obtain images in a field of view, and a first proximity sensor and a second proximity configured to determine a proximity of the vehicle to objects in a sensing area. When the tailgate is in the closed position, the first camera and the first proximity sensor are used. When the tailgate is in the open position, the second camera and the second proximity sensor are used.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2020
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Steven Yellin Schondorf, Ahmad Mustapha Nasser, Ronald Hammond, Ed Aziz, Ali Nizar Yassine
  • Patent number: 11270233
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for detecting a working condition of one or more vehicle components includes communicating with a cellular communication module in a vehicle over a telecommunications network. A vehicle component characteristic or identifier for the vehicle components is received over the telecommunication network. One or more operation status identifiers for the one or more vehicle components based on data from the vehicle is also received. A location for servicing or purchasing the one or more vehicle components based on the vehicle component characteristic or identifier is determined. A service status of the one or more vehicle components based on the one or more operation status identifiers is also determined. Based on the service status, a message including an identification of the vehicle components and a service or purchase location for the vehicle components is generated. The message is transmitted to a terminal for display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Steven Yellin Schondorf, Robert Bruce Kleve, John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Dilip B. Patel, Brian Bennie, Gregory Swadling
  • Publication number: 20210009122
    Abstract: A vehicle control system includes a computer including a processor and a memory storing instruction executable by the processor to, in response to detecting hands being off a steering wheel for a threshold time while a lane-centering assist operation is active, steer a vehicle including the steering wheel from a center of a lane to a lateral position between the center of the lane and an edge of the lane; then steer the vehicle from the lateral position to the center of the lane; and then maintain the vehicle at the center of the lane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2019
    Publication date: January 14, 2021
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: NITENDRA NATH, STEVEN YELLIN SCHONDORF
  • Patent number: 10576941
    Abstract: A pump system includes a pneumatic pump, a hose, a nozzle that can attach to a tire of a vehicle, and a processing device. The processing device receives a target tire pressure for the tire, receives a current tire pressure of the tire, and controls the operation of the pneumatic pump according to the target tire pressure and the current tire pressure. A method includes receiving a target tire pressure for a tire of a vehicle, receiving a current tire pressure of the tire, and controlling operation of a pneumatic pump according to the target tire pressure and the current tire pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Steven Yellin Schondorf, John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Robert Bruce Kleve, Greg Swadling, Dilip B. Patel
  • Patent number: 10369972
    Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for cleaning a rear view vehicle camera. An example vehicle camera cleaning system includes a camera, a blade for cleaning a lens of the camera, a fluid reservoir for dispensing fluid using gravity via a one-directional gateway valve, and an actuator for moving the blade vertically across the lens, wherein the fluid reservoir dispenses fluid responsive to actuation of the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mahmoud Yousef Ghannam, David James Tippy, Steven Yellin Schondorf
  • Publication number: 20180354470
    Abstract: A pump system includes a pneumatic pump, a hose, a nozzle that can attach to a tire of a vehicle, and a processing device. The processing device receives a target tire pressure for the tire, receives a current tire pressure of the tire, and controls the operation of the pneumatic pump according to the target tire pressure and the current tire pressure. A method includes receiving a target tire pressure for a tire of a vehicle, receiving a current tire pressure of the tire, and controlling operation of a pneumatic pump according to the target tire pressure and the current tire pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2018
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Steven Yellin Schondorf, John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Robert Bruce Kleve, Greg Swadling, Dilip B. Patel
  • Publication number: 20180312141
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for methods and apparatus for application of washer fluid to vehicle cameras. An example vehicle includes a camera including a lens. The example vehicle includes a reservoir and a flexible housing defining a cavity fluidly coupled to the reservoir and including an outlet valve adjacent the lens. The example vehicle also includes a solenoid coupled to the flexible housing to affect a cavity pressure by flexing the flexible housing. The outlet valve opens upon the cavity pressure being greater than a predetermined threshold to spray the washer fluid onto the lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2017
    Publication date: November 1, 2018
    Inventors: Mahmoud Yousef Ghannam, David James Tippy, Steven Yellin Schondorf
  • Patent number: 10112452
    Abstract: A trailer yaw sensing apparatus is provided. The trailer yaw sensing apparatus includes a housing, a yaw sensor, and a docking station. The housing is configured for installation on a trailer. The housing defines apertures that are configured to engage fasteners for mounting yaw sensors in a plurality of orientations. The yaw sensor includes an external casing and is disposed within the housing. The docking station is affixed to the housing and is configured to receive a trailer-to-vehicle electrical connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mahmoud Yousef Ghannam, Swadad A. Carremm, Joel Allen Pittenger, Roy Joseph Scott, David James Tippy, Steven Yellin Schondorf
  • Publication number: 20180304864
    Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for cleaning a rear view vehicle camera. An example vehicle camera cleaning system includes a camera, a blade for cleaning a lens of the camera, a fluid reservoir for dispensing fluid using gravity via a one-directional gateway valve, and an actuator for moving the blade vertically across the lens, wherein the fluid reservoir dispenses fluid responsive to actuation of the blade.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventors: Mahmoud Yousef Ghannam, David James Tippy, Steven Yellin Schondorf
  • Patent number: 10086803
    Abstract: A pump system includes a pneumatic pump, a hose, a nozzle that can attach to a tire of a vehicle, and a processing device. The processing device receives a target tire pressure for the tire, receives a current tire pressure of the tire, and controls the operation of the pneumatic pump according to the target tire pressure and the current tire pressure. A method includes receiving a target tire pressure for a tire of a vehicle, receiving a current tire pressure of the tire, and controlling operation of a pneumatic pump according to the target tire pressure and the current tire pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Steven Yellin Schondorf, John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Robert Bruce Kleve, Greg Swadling, Dilip B. Patel
  • Patent number: 10065637
    Abstract: A method for operating a driver assistance system (DAS) to avoid a collision of a vehicle with an object At least one object in the vehicle environment is detected by vehicle-mounted environmental sensors, and is evaluated in terms of risk of collision with the vehicle, an an automatic intervention into the vehicle movement is carried out depending on this evaluation. During the automatic intervention, the following steps are performed: 1) Carrying out an automatic braking of the vehicle depending on the evaluation of collision risk, and 2) permitting a steering intervention by the driver to perform an evasive steering maneuver, in reaction to which the automatic braking is terminated. The driver-initiated steering intervention must occur before a point-in-time at which the DAS has determined the collision cannot be avoided by steering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Christoph Arndt, Sabine Notelaers, Helmuth Bosch, Peter W. A. Zegelaar, Aaron L. Mills, Steven Yellin Schondorf
  • Patent number: 10000154
    Abstract: A vehicle display displays a camera video having an indicator. The indicator is static on the display while the camera video is frozen on the display thereby notifying a viewer that the camera video is frozen and the indicator is dynamic on the display while the camera video is live on the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Steven Yellin Schondorf, Maher Ghneim
  • Patent number: 9880382
    Abstract: A vehicle camera protection and cleaning system is disclosed in which at least one wiper is positioned on an underside surface of a camera cover to clean a lens of a vehicle camera. In one embodiment, the system includes an inner ring fixedly attached to an underside surface of the cover, and a plurality of aperture members pivotally connected to the inner ring on one end and pivotally connected on another end to an outer gear that is movable relative to the inner gear, where at least one of the plurality of aperture members comprises a wiper configured to clean a lens of the camera when the aperture members are moved over the lens. In other embodiments, the wiper may be positioned on an underside surface of a cover of the camera that either rotates in a circular manner or translates over the lens of the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technlogies, LLC
    Inventors: David James Tippy, Steven Yellin Schondorf, Mahmoud Yousef Ghannam
  • Publication number: 20170316351
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for detecting a working condition of one or more vehicle components includes communicating with a cellular communication module in a vehicle over a telecommunications network. A vehicle component characteristic or identifier for the vehicle components is received over the telecommunication network. One or more operation status identifiers for the one or more vehicle components based on data from the vehicle is also received. A location for servicing or purchasing the one or more vehicle components based on the vehicle component characteristic or identifier is determined. A service status of the one or more vehicle components based on the one or more operation status identifiers is also determined. Based on the service status, a message including an identification of the vehicle components and a service or purchase location for the vehicle components is generated. The message is transmitted to a terminal for display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Inventors: Steven Yellin Schondorf, Robert Bruce Kleve, John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Dilip B. Patel, Brian Bennie, Gregory Swadling
  • Publication number: 20170313288
    Abstract: A vehicle camera protection and cleaning system is disclosed in which at least one wiper is positioned on an underside surface of a camera cover to clean a lens of a vehicle camera. In one embodiment, the system includes an inner ring fixedly attached to an underside surface of the cover, and a plurality of aperture members pivotally connected to the inner ring on one end and pivotally connected on another end to an outer gear that is movable relative to the inner gear, where at least one of the plurality of aperture members comprises a wiper configured to clean a lens of the camera when the aperture members are moved over the lens. In other embodiments, the wiper may be positioned on an underside surface of a cover of the camera that either rotates in a circular manner or translates over the lens of the camera.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Inventors: David James Tippy, Steven Yellin Schondorf, Mahmoud Yousef Ghannam
  • Publication number: 20170210351
    Abstract: A vehicle camera washing system is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system includes a housing configured for supporting a vehicle camera, a housing cover having an aperture for a lens of the vehicle camera, the housing cover removably positioned on a face of the housing, a circular groove positioned in the face of the housing, a first wiper anchor fixedly positioned in the groove, a second wiper anchor movably positioned in the groove, and elastic wiper extending from the first wiper anchor to the second wiper anchor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2016
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Inventors: Mahmoud Yousef Ghannam, David James Tippy, Steven Yellin Schondorf, Ahmad Maarouf
  • Patent number: 9715665
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for detecting a working condition of one or more vehicle components includes communicating with a cellular communication module in a vehicle over a telecommunications network. A vehicle component characteristic or identifier for the vehicle components is received over the telecommunication network. One or more operation status identifiers for the one or more vehicle components based on data from the vehicle is also received. A location for servicing or purchasing the one or more vehicle components based on the vehicle component characteristic or identifier is determined. A service status of the one or more vehicle components based on the one or more operation status identifiers is also determined. Based on the service status, a message including an identification of the vehicle components and a service or purchase location for the vehicle components is generated. The message is transmitted to a terminal for display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Steven Yellin Schondorf, Robert Bruce Kleve, John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Dilip B. Patel, Brian Bennie, Gregory Swadling
  • Publication number: 20170028800
    Abstract: A trailer yaw sensing apparatus is provided. The trailer yaw sensing apparatus includes a housing, a yaw sensor, and a docking station. The housing is configured for installation on a trailer. The housing defines apertures that are configured to engage fasteners for mounting yaw sensors in a plurality of orientations. The yaw sensor includes an external casing and is disposed within the housing. The docking station is affixed to the housing and is configured to receive a trailer-to-vehicle electrical connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2015
    Publication date: February 2, 2017
    Inventors: Mahmoud Yousef GHANNAM, Swadad A. CARREMM, Joel Allen PITTENGER, Roy Joseph SCOTT, David James TIPPY, Steven Yellin SCHONDORF
  • Publication number: 20170008518
    Abstract: A method for operating a driver assistance system (DAS) to avoid a collision of a vehicle with an object At least one object in the vehicle environment is detected by vehicle-mounted environmental sensors, and is evaluated in terms of risk of collision with the vehicle, an an automatic intervention into the vehicle movement is carried out depending on this evaluation. During the automatic intervention, the following steps are performed: 1) Carrying out an automatic braking of the vehicle depending on the evaluation of collision risk, and 2) permitting a steering intervention by the driver to perform an evasive steering maneuver, in reaction to which the automatic braking is terminated. The driver-initiated steering intervention must occur before a point-in-time at which the DAS has determined the collision cannot be avoided by steering.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2016
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Inventors: Christoph ARNDT, Sabine NOTELAERS, Helmuth BOSCH, Peter W.A. ZEGELAAR, Aaron L. MILLS, Steven Yellin SCHONDORF