Patents by Inventor Thomas Gerlitz
Thomas Gerlitz 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: 20230286584Abstract: A method for operating a motor vehicle (2) with a parking assistant (4), which is operable in an in-vehicle operating mode (SM) and a remote parking operating mode (RM), with the steps: (S100) reading data (D) indicative of a parking situation of a detected parking space (6), (S200) evaluating the data (D) to determine an output signal (AS) indicative of the in-vehicle operating mode (SM) or the remote parking operating mode (RM), and (S300) outputting the output signal (AS).Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2022Publication date: September 14, 2023Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Ahmed Benmimoun, Markus Krekel, Nadja Wysietzki, Andrew Ochmanski, Cinderella Matuk, Lars Kuhnert, Thomas Gerlitz, Erick Michael Lavoie
-
Publication number: 20230288932Abstract: A method is provided for the automatic unparking of a motor vehicle, with which a parking trajectory is determined on the basis of directly collected data about the motor vehicle surroundings and additionally on the basis of data relating to the motor vehicle surroundings and obtained during the movement of the motor vehicle to the parking position and stored on a memory device of the motor vehicle. A motor vehicle and a system for carrying out the method will also be provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2022Publication date: September 14, 2023Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Timothy C. Bettger, Thomas Gerlitz, Douglas Blue, Ahmed Benmimoun, Nadja Wysietzki, Lars Kuhnert, Erick Michael Lavoie
-
Patent number: 11738766Abstract: A method for the automated performance of vehicle functions is specified. The method includes: checking for the existence of a triggering event; if there is a triggering event, selecting a vehicle function procedure schema associated with the present triggering event; generating and outputting a signal representing the linked vehicle function procedure schema 3a, 3b, 3c to a service; generating and outputting service signals 6a, 6b, 6c based on a signal 4 representing the linked vehicle function procedure schema to control devices; designed for controlling vehicle function devices; generating and outputting control signals based on the service signals to the vehicle function devices; and performing vehicle functions 1a, 1b, 1c based on the control signals. In addition, a system for the automated performance of vehicle functions, a vehicle with such a system, a computer program, and a computer-readable medium are specified.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2021Date of Patent: August 29, 2023Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Philipp Carlhoff, Roman Atilla Koch, Yuliya Aksyutina, Monika Angst, Rainer Busch, Cem Mengi, Thomas Gerlitz
-
Patent number: 11680810Abstract: A maximum required electric energy for operating a vehicle along a final section of the route under electric power alone when using a specified number of electrically operated devices is estimated. A maximum total electric energy required to operate the vehicle along the route is estimated. An alternate route is determined based on determining the detected stored electric energy is less than the estimated maximum total electric energy required to operate the vehicle along the route. The alternate route is determined based on an estimated maximum total electric energy required to operate the vehicle along the alternate route being greater than or equal to the detected stored electric energy. One of a) the determined alternate route, or b) based on determining no alternate route exists, a notification is output via a human/machine interface.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2020Date of Patent: June 20, 2023Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Thomas Gerlitz, Timothy C. Bettger
-
Patent number: 11584383Abstract: While a vehicle is in an off state, expiration of a timer and receipt of a first message from a user device are monitored. Upon determining that at least one of the timer has expired or that the first message is received from the user device, a communication network onboard the vehicle is then monitored for a specified set of fault conditions. Upon detecting, on the onboard vehicle communication network, a fault condition included in the set of fault conditions, the fault condition is then identified as one of transient or persistent. A user assist feature of the vehicle is disabled upon identifying that the fault condition is transient and that a second message was received from the user device after the fault condition was detected.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2020Date of Patent: February 21, 2023Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Ahmed Benmimoun, Chenhao Ma, Tony Tae-Jin Pak, Thomas Gerlitz, Hamid M. Golgiri
-
Publication number: 20220379904Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a motor vehicle (2) with a remotely controlled parking assistant (6), with the steps: (S100) Reading in status data (SD) indicative of a status (S1, S2, S3, S4), (S200) Determination of at least one state (Z1, Z2) by evaluating the status data (SD), (S300) Assigning the specific state (Z1, Z2) to a state class (K1, K2) of a plurality of state classes (K1, K2), and (S400) Outputting a control data record (AS1, AS2) that is assigned to the assigned state class (K1, K2) and/or (S600) outputting an information data record (IS1, IS2) that is assigned to the assigned state class (K1, K2).Type: ApplicationFiled: April 12, 2022Publication date: December 1, 2022Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Thomas Gerlitz, Timothy C. Bettger, Nadja Wysietzki, Ahmed Benmimoun
-
Publication number: 20220144294Abstract: While a vehicle is in an off state, expiration of a timer and receipt of a first message from a user device are monitored. Upon determining that at least one of the timer has expired or that the first message is received from the user device, a communication network onboard the vehicle is then monitored for a specified set of fault conditions. Upon detecting, on the onboard vehicle communication network, a fault condition included in the set of fault conditions, the fault condition is then identified as one of transient or persistent. A user assist feature of the vehicle is disabled upon identifying that the fault condition is transient and that a second message was received from the user device after the fault condition was detected.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 6, 2020Publication date: May 12, 2022Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Ahmed Benmimoun, Chenhao Ma, Tony Tae-Jin Pak, Thomas Gerlitz, Hamid M. Golgiri
-
Publication number: 20210309245Abstract: A method for the automated performance of vehicle functions is specified. The method includes: checking for the existence of a triggering event; if there is a triggering event, selecting a vehicle function procedure schema associated with the present triggering event;, generating and outputting a signal representing the linked vehicle function procedure schema 3a, 3b, 3c to a service; generating and outputting service signals 6a, 6b, 6c based on a signal 4 representing the linked vehicle function procedure schema to control devices; designed for controlling vehicle function devices;: generating and outputting control signals based on the service signals to the vehicle function devices; and performing vehicle functions 1a, 1b, 1c based on the control signals. In addition, a system for the automated performance of vehicle functions, a vehicle with such a system, a computer program, and a computer-readable medium are specified.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 22, 2021Publication date: October 7, 2021Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Philipp Carlhoff, Roman Atilla Koch, Yuliya Aksyutina, Monika Angst, Rainer Busch, Cem Mengi, Thomas Gerlitz
-
Publication number: 20210231448Abstract: An electric energy currently stored in the battery is detected. A target location and a route to the specified target location are specified. Prior to reaching the target location, a final section of the route along which the vehicle operates under electric power alone is specified. A number of electrically operated devices required to operate the vehicle along the final section of the route are specified. A maximum required electric energy for operating the vehicle along the final section of the route under electric power alone when using the specified number of electrically operated devices is estimated. A maximum total electric energy required to operate the vehicle along the route is estimated. An alternate route is determined based on determining the detected stored electric energy is less than the estimated maximum total electric energy required to operate the vehicle along the route.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2020Publication date: July 29, 2021Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Thomas Gerlitz, Timothy C. Bettger
-
Patent number: 10967851Abstract: A vehicle system includes a camera, a sensor, and processors for detecting an unoccupied parking spot while the vehicle traverses a detection path. The processors define a variable virtual boundary based on at least one object detected on a side of the detection path excluding the unoccupied parking spot and generates at least one parking maneuver based on the unoccupied parking spot and the variable virtual boundary.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2018Date of Patent: April 6, 2021Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Markus Krekel, Ahmed Benmimoun, Andrew Ochmanski, Thomas Gerlitz, Nadja Wysietzki, Cinderella Matuk, Li Xu, Kyle Simmons
-
Publication number: 20200108824Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for monitoring and adjustment of vehicle parking positions. An example vehicle includes range-detection sensors, a communication module, and a controller. The controller is to identify a wakeup frequency for the range-detection sensors. The controller also is to, when the vehicle is in a key-off state, temporarily activate the range-detection sensors at the wakeup frequency and determine whether to adjust a parking position based on the range-detection sensors. The controller also is to, responsive to determining to adjust the parking position, send a notification to a user via the communication module.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 4, 2018Publication date: April 9, 2020Inventors: Timothy C. Bettger, Thomas Gerlitz
-
Publication number: 20200094816Abstract: A vehicle system includes a camera, a sensor, and processors for detecting an unoccupied parking spot while the vehicle traverses a detection path. The processors define a variable virtual boundary based on at least one object detected on a side of the detection path excluding the unoccupied parking spot and generates at least one parking maneuver based on the unoccupied parking spot and the variable virtual boundary.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 24, 2018Publication date: March 26, 2020Inventors: Markus Krekel, Ahmed Benmimoun, Andrew Ochmanski, Thomas Gerlitz, Nadja Wysietzki, Cinderella Matuk, Li Xu, Kyle Simmons