Patents by Inventor Thomas Edward Pilutti

Thomas Edward Pilutti 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).

  • Publication number: 20150314663
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a sensor configured to detect a first road feature, an adjustable suspension system, and a processing device. The processing device is configured to determine, using a drive history map, a location of the vehicle based on the first road feature and apply a suspension profile to the suspension system. The suspension profile is associated with a second road feature identified by the drive history map, which is at a different location from the first road feature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Publication date: November 5, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Douglas Scott Rhode, Shane Elwart, Nanjun Liu, Thomas Edward Pilutti
  • Publication number: 20150268341
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a fascia, a sensor array disposed on the fascia, and a processing device. The sensor array has a plurality of ultrasonic sensors, each configured to output a sensor signal. The processing device is configured to process the sensor signals and control operation of the sensor array to generate a three dimensional image of an object near the vehicle based at least in part on the sensor signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Publication date: September 24, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Christos Kyrtsos, Thomas Edward Pilutti, Alex Maurice Miller
  • Publication number: 20150261219
    Abstract: A vehicle includes at least one autonomous driving sensor and an autonomous mode controller configured to receive signals generated by the autonomous driving sensor. The autonomous mode controller controls at least one vehicle subsystem based at least in part on the signals received. Furthermore, the autonomous mode controller is configured to shade at least one vehicle window when the vehicle is operating in an autonomous mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mark A. Cuddihy, Thomas Edward Pilutti, Manoharprasad K. Rao, Andrew Waldis, Roger Arnold Trombley, Matthew Y. Rupp, Wilford Trent Yopp
  • Publication number: 20150253536
    Abstract: A vehicle includes at least one side view mirror assembly configured to move to a folded position. A processing device is configured to command the at least one side view mirror assembly to move to the folded position when the vehicle is operating in an autonomous mode. A method includes determining whether a vehicle is operating in an autonomous mode and commanding at least one side view mirror assembly to move to a folded position if the vehicle is operating in the autonomous mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Publication date: September 10, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jialiang Le, Thomas Edward Pilutti, Manoharprasad K. Rao, Matthew Y. Rupp, Roger Arnold Trombley, Andrew Waldis
  • Patent number: 9129519
    Abstract: A system and method for predicting whether a vehicle will come to a stop at an intersection is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Massachussetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Georges Aoude, Vishnu Rajeswar Desaraju, Jonathan P. How, Thomas Edward Pilutti
  • Publication number: 20150246672
    Abstract: A first vehicle may receive at least one message from a second vehicle, the message including data provided by the second vehicle. A computing device in the first vehicle is configured to analyze the data of the at least one message to determine that the second vehicle can operate as a lead vehicle. The computing device in the first vehicle is further configured to implement at least one operation in the first vehicle according to the data from the lead vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Publication date: September 3, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Edward Pilutti, Matthew Y. Rupp, Roger Arnold Trombley, Andrew Waldis
  • Publication number: 20150241878
    Abstract: A computer in a vehicle is configured to operate the vehicle in at least one of an autonomous and a semi-autonomous mode. The computer is further configured to detect at least one condition of a roadway being traveled by the vehicle, the condition comprising at least one of a restricted lane, a restricted zone, a construction zone, and accident area, an incline, a hazardous road surface. The computer is further configured to determine at least one autonomous action based on the condition, the at least one autonomous action including at least one of altering a speed of the vehicle, controlling vehicle steering, controlling vehicle lighting, transitioning the vehicle to manual control, and controlling a distance of the vehicle from an object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dale Scott Crombez, Thomas Edward Pilutti, Matt Y. Rupp, Roger Arnold Trombley, Andrew Waldis, Peter Francis Worrel, Wilford Trent Yopp
  • Publication number: 20150210317
    Abstract: A trailer backup assist system for a vehicle reversing a trailer is provided herein. The system includes a steering input device for controlling a desired curvature. A controller is in communication with the steering input device and is configured to generate steering command for the vehicle to guide the vehicle and trailer onto a straight path when a straight backup request is initiated via the steering input device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2015
    Publication date: July 30, 2015
    Inventors: Michael Hafner, Thomas Edward Pilutti
  • Publication number: 20150203156
    Abstract: A display system for a vehicle attached to a trailer is provided herein. The system includes a display configured to show an aerial view of the vehicle and the trailer and a plurality of waypoints, each indicating a possible parking location for the trailer. The system also includes a device that interfaces with the display and is operable to select one of the plurality of waypoints and set a trailer orientation for the selected waypoint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2015
    Publication date: July 23, 2015
    Inventors: Michael Hafner, John Shutko, Thomas Edward Pilutti, Roger Arnold Trombley
  • Publication number: 20150166069
    Abstract: A vehicle includes at least one autonomous driving sensor configured to monitor at least one condition while the vehicle is operating in an autonomous mode. A processing device is configured to control at least one vehicle subsystem while the vehicle is operating in the autonomous mode. The processing device is configured to control the at least one vehicle subsystem according to a driver preference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Gerald H. Engelman, ALEX MAURICE MILLER, THOMAS EDWARD PILUTTI, MATT Y. RUPP, RICHARD LEE STEPHENSON, LEVASSEUR TELLIS, ROGER ARNOLD TROMBLEY, ANDREW WALDIS, TIMOTHY D. ZWICKY
  • Publication number: 20150158527
    Abstract: A method of backing a trailer attached to a vehicle is provided herein. The method includes the steps of generating a plurality of waypoints on a display of the vehicle and selecting one of the plurality waypoints. The method also includes setting a trailer orientation for the selected waypoint and determining a backing path based on the selected waypoint and the set trailer orientation. The method further includes backing the trailer along the backing path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2015
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Inventors: Michael Hafner, Thomas Edward Pilutti
  • Publication number: 20150149019
    Abstract: A computer in a first vehicle is configured to receive data relating to a second vehicle. The computer may use the data to determine that the second vehicle is being operated at least partially autonomously. Further, the computer may cause the first vehicle to take an action to autonomously operate the first vehicle based at least in part on determining that the second vehicle is being operated at least partially autonomously.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Edward Pilutti, Matt Y. Rupp, Roger Arnold Trombley, Andrew Waldis, Wilford Trent Yopp
  • Publication number: 20150149018
    Abstract: A wearable computing device in a vehicle is identified by a vehicle in a computer. Collected data is received relating to autonomous operation of the vehicle. A message is sent to the wearable computing device based at least in part on the collected data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Attard, Shane Elwart, Jeff Allen Greenberg, Rajit Johri, John P. Joyce, Devinder Singh Kochhar, Thomas Edward Pilutti, Douglas Scott Rhode, Matt Y. Rupp, John Shutko, Roger Arnold Trombley, Hongtei Eric Tseng, Andrew Waldis
  • Publication number: 20150149088
    Abstract: A vehicle is operated at least partially autonomously. A predicted path of the vehicle is monitored to identify an object with which the vehicle is likely to collide. A graphical user interface (GUI) is provided that includes the predicted path, a proposed path for the vehicle to avoid a collision with an object, and the vehicle. A selection is made to follow one of the predicted path and the proposed path. The GUI is updated to include the selected one of the predicted path and the proposed path, along with a location of the vehicle on the selected one of the predicted path and the proposed path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Attard, Shane Elwart, Jeff Allen Greenberg, Rajit Johri, John P. Joyce, Devinder Singh Kochhar, Thomas Edward Pilutti, Douglas Scott Rhode, Matt Y. Rupp, John Shutko, Roger Arnold Trombley, Louis Tijerina, Hongtei Eric Tseng, Andrew Waldis
  • Patent number: 9037349
    Abstract: A system and method for configuring a trailer backup assist system. The system and method communicates predetermined trailer parameters, which are embedded on a tag attached to the trailer, to a controller in the trailer backup assist system. A trailer backup assist system is configured using the predetermined trailer parameters and the configured trailer backup assist system is activated to operate using the trailer parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies
    Inventors: Roger Arnold Trombley, Thomas Edward Pilutti, Erick Michael Lavoie, Christopher Nave, John Shutko, Rich Lanoue, Bradley G. Hochrein, Nate Rolfes
  • Patent number: 9037350
    Abstract: A trailer backup control system includes a jackknife enabling condition detector and a jackknife counter-measures controller. The jackknife counter-measures controller alters a setting of at least one vehicle operating parameter for alleviating an adverse jackknife condition during backing of the trailer by the vehicle when the jackknife enabling condition detector determines that a jackknife enabling condition has been attained at a particular point in time during backing of the trailer by the vehicle, restricts a trailer backup steering input apparatus and issues a warning to the driver using the trailer backup steering input apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies
    Inventors: Matt Y. Rupp, David Dean Smit, Erick Michael Lavoie, Roger Arnold Trombley, Thomas Edward Pilutti
  • Patent number: 9037340
    Abstract: A driver performance mapping system for a vehicle system is disclosed. The system may include a GPS receiver generating GPS data indicative of a current location of the vehicle. In addition, the system may also have a radar device generating current gap data indicative of a current gap distance from the vehicle to a lead vehicle. Further, the system may include an electronic controller configured to generate learned gap data based on the current gap data and stored gap data, and then assign the learned gap data with the GPS data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Shane S. Elwart, Aaron L. Mills, John Shutko, Thomas Edward Pilutti, John Ottavio Michelini
  • Patent number: 9035796
    Abstract: A navigation system provides a position of the vehicle on a segment of a roadway and identifies a change in speed limit relative to the current segment of the roadway. A traffic sign recognition system determines a speed limit information presentation zone of the current segment of the roadway after determining that a speed limit of the approaching segment of the roadway is lower than a speed limit of the current segment of the roadway and/or a current speed of the vehicle. Thereafter, the traffic sign recognition system assesses the position of the vehicle relative to the speed limit information presentation zone. In response to determining that the vehicle is within the speed limit information presentation location, the traffic sign recognition system displays a visual representation of a speed limit sign designating the speed limit of the approaching segment of the roadway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies
    Inventors: Thomas Edward Pilutti, Amin Kashi, Marc Roeber
  • Publication number: 20150134183
    Abstract: A trailer backup steering input apparatus is coupled to a vehicle. The trailer backup steering input apparatus comprises a rotatable control element (e.g., a knob) and a rotatable control element movement sensing device. The rotatable control element biased to an at-rest position between opposing rotational ranges of motion. The rotatable control element movement sensing device is coupled to the rotatable control element for sensing movement of the rotatable control element. The rotatable control element movement sensing device outputs a signal generated as a function of an amount of rotation of the rotatable control element with respect to the at-rest position, a rate movement of the rotatable control element, and/or a direction of movement of the rotatable control element with respect to the at-rest position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2015
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Erick Michael Lavoie, Douglas Scott Rhode, Matthew Y. Rupp, David Dean Smit, Thomas Edward Pilutti, Roger Arnold Trombley
  • Patent number: 9020732
    Abstract: A vehicle may include a sensor configured to detect a rearward approaching object and at least one controller configured to cause the vehicle to accelerate in response to the sensor detecting a rearward approaching object while the vehicle is moving forward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Edward Pilutti, Peter Gyumyeong Joh, Matthew Y. Rupp, Dorian Jack Spero, Aaron L. Mills