Patents by Inventor Alex Maurice Miller

Alex Maurice Miller 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: 11884252
    Abstract: A computer includes a processor and a memory, the memory including instructions executable by the processor to predict a collision time between a corner point of a host vehicle and a target vehicle, predict a reach time for the corner point of the host vehicle to reach the target vehicle based on a predicted relative heading angle between the host vehicle and the target vehicle, and determine a threat number based on the lower of the collision time and the reach time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yuhao Liu, Alex Maurice Miller, Christopher Pontisakos, Purushothaman Rayalsamy
  • Publication number: 20220396246
    Abstract: A first distance is determined between a location of a host vehicle and a received location of a remote vehicle, the remote vehicle being forward of the host vehicle. A second distance is determined between a target vehicle and the host vehicle. A time to reach is predicted between the target vehicle and the remote vehicle based on the first distance and the second distance. A brake of the host vehicle is pre-charged when the predicted time to reach is below a time threshold. Pre-charging of the brake of the host vehicle is suppressed when the predicted time to reach is above the time threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2021
    Publication date: December 15, 2022
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Purushothaman Rayalsamy, Justin T. Hughes, Hao Zhang, Aaron L. Mills, Alex Maurice Miller
  • Patent number: 11518381
    Abstract: A computer includes a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to predict a heading angle of a target vehicle, determine a distance between a host vehicle and a center line of the target vehicle based on the predicted heading angle, and perform a threat assessment for the target vehicle when the distance is below a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Alex Maurice Miller, Christopher Pontisakos
  • Patent number: 11400927
    Abstract: A system includes a computer including a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to determine respective threat numbers for each of a plurality of targets based on an angular acceleration of a host vehicle and actuate a component in the host vehicle based on the threat numbers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Kun Deng, Nanjun Liu, Fangjun Jiang, Gary Song, Alex Maurice Miller
  • Patent number: 11383705
    Abstract: A computer includes a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to determine at least one of: a brake threat number of a host vehicle, a brake threat number of a target vehicle, a steering threat number, or an acceleration threat number and to actuate the host vehicle to change at least one of direction or speed based on at least one of the threat numbers. The brake threat number of the host vehicle is based on a predicted lateral distance between the host vehicle and the target vehicle. The brake threat number of the target vehicle is based on a velocity of the target vehicle adjusted by an acceleration of the target vehicle and an actuation time of a brake. The steering threat number is a lateral acceleration being a predicted lateral distance adjusted by an actuation time of a steering component. The acceleration threat number is based on a predicted lateral offset adjusted by a predicted heading angle of the host vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Pontisakos, Yuhao Liu, Alex Maurice Miller, Purushothaman Rayalsamy
  • Patent number: 11285942
    Abstract: A system includes a computer including a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to, upon determining a front threat number exceeds a threat threshold, determine a rear time to collision between a turning host vehicle and a target, and, upon determining that the rear time to collision is below a time threshold, actuate a component based on a rear threat number for the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Pontisakos, Alex Maurice Miller, Purushothaman Rayalsamy, Yuhao Liu
  • Patent number: 11273806
    Abstract: A computer includes a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to identify an initial lateral distance and an initial longitudinal distance of a host vehicle in a turn at an initiation of the turn, predict a heading angle of the host vehicle at a specified time after the initiation of the turn, predict a final lateral distance and a final longitudinal distance between the host vehicle and a target at the specified time based on the identified lateral distance, the identified longitudinal position, and the predicted heading angle, determine a lateral offset at a longitudinal time to collision based on the final lateral distance and the final longitudinal distance, and actuate a brake of the host vehicle according to a threat assessment based on the lateral offset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Yuhao Liu, Christopher Pontisakos, Steven Joseph Szwabowski, Alex Maurice Miller
  • Patent number: 11267465
    Abstract: A computer includes a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to, in a host vehicle, determine a threat number for a first target vehicle based on data received from the first target vehicle indicating at least one of a position, speed, or route history of the first target vehicle, identify a second target vehicle based on data collected with one or more host vehicle sensors when the threat number of the first target vehicle exceeds a threshold, determine that the first target vehicle and the second target vehicle are not a same vehicle, and, then, upon determining that the first target vehicle and the second target vehicle are not the same vehicle and that at least one of (a) a barrier is detected between the host vehicle and the first target vehicle or (b) that a threat number of the second target vehicle exceeds a second threshold, suppress a collision avoidance action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Aaron L. Mills, Rebecca Lynne Seiler, Alex Maurice Miller, Gopichandra Surnilla, Alekhya Ratnala, Hao Zhang
  • Publication number: 20220048505
    Abstract: A computer includes a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to, in a host vehicle, determine a threat number for a first target vehicle based on data received from the first target vehicle indicating at least one of a position, speed, or route history of the first target vehicle, identify a second target vehicle based on data collected with one or more host vehicle sensors when the threat number of the first target vehicle exceeds a threshold, determine that the first target vehicle and the second target vehicle are not a same vehicle, and, then, upon determining that the first target vehicle and the second target vehicle are not the same vehicle and that at least one of (a) a barrier is detected between the host vehicle and the first target vehicle or (b) that a threat number of the second target vehicle exceeds a second threshold, suppress a collision avoidance action.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Publication date: February 17, 2022
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Aaron L. Mills, Rebecca Lynne Seiler, Alex Maurice Miller, Gopichandra Surnilla, Alekhya Ratnala, Hao Zhang
  • Patent number: 11148663
    Abstract: A computer includes a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to assign each of a plurality of targets to a classification based on respective motions of the targets at an initiation of a turn by a host vehicle, determine a distance threshold for each target associated with the classification, and perform a threat assessment on each of the plurality of targets having a respective distance from the host vehicle that is below a distance threshold and a respective time to collision below a time threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Pontisakos, Yuhao Liu, Steven J. Szwabowski, Alex Maurice Miller
  • Publication number: 20210114565
    Abstract: A computer includes a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to identify an initial lateral distance and an initial longitudinal distance of a host vehicle in a turn at an initiation of the turn, predict a heading angle of the host vehicle at a specified time after the initiation of the turn, predict a final lateral distance and a final longitudinal distance between the host vehicle and a target at the specified time based on the identified lateral distance, the identified longitudinal position, and the predicted heading angle, determine a lateral offset at a longitudinal time to collision based on the final lateral distance and the final longitudinal distance, and actuate a brake of the host vehicle according to a threat assessment based on the lateral offset.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Publication date: April 22, 2021
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yuhao Liu, Christopher Pontisakos, Steven Joseph Szwabowski, Alex Maurice Miller
  • Publication number: 20210101588
    Abstract: A computer includes a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to assign each of a plurality of targets to a classification based on respective motions of the targets at an initiation of a turn by a host vehicle, determine a distance threshold for each target associated with the classification, and perform a threat assessment on each of the plurality of targets having a respective distance from the host vehicle that is below a distance threshold and a respective time to collision below a time threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2019
    Publication date: April 8, 2021
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Pontisakos, Yuhao Liu, Steven J. Szwabowski, Alex Maurice Miller
  • Patent number: 10967853
    Abstract: A computer includes a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to, upon determining that a yaw rate for a host vehicle is below a threshold, identify a front corner point of a target, and to suppress threat mitigation when a time to collision between the host vehicle and front corner point of the target exceeds a time threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Purushothaman Rayalsamy, Christopher Pontisakos, Alex Maurice Miller
  • Publication number: 20210061266
    Abstract: A computer includes a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to determine at least one of: a brake threat number of a host vehicle, a brake threat number of a target vehicle, a steering threat number, or an acceleration threat number and to actuate the host vehicle to change at least one of direction or speed based on at least one of the threat numbers. The brake threat number of the host vehicle is based on a predicted lateral distance between the host vehicle and the target vehicle. The brake threat number of the target vehicle is based on a velocity of the target vehicle adjusted by an acceleration of the target vehicle and an actuation time of a brake. The steering threat number is a lateral acceleration being a predicted lateral distance adjusted by an actuation time of a steering component. The acceleration threat number is based on a predicted lateral offset adjusted by a predicted heading angle of the host vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2019
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: CHRISTOPHER PONTISAKOS, YUHAO LIU, ALEX MAURICE MILLER, PURUSHOTHAMAN RAYALSAMY
  • Publication number: 20210061241
    Abstract: A computer includes a processor and a memory, the memory including instructions executable by the processor to predict a collision time between a corner point of a host vehicle and a target vehicle, predict a reach time for the corner point of the host vehicle to reach the target vehicle based on a predicted relative heading angle between the host vehicle and the target vehicle, and determine a threat number based on the lower of the collision time and the reach time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2019
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: YUHAO LIU, ALEX MAURICE MILLER, CHRISTOPHER PONTISAKOS, PURUSHOTHAMAN RAYALSAMY
  • Publication number: 20210046927
    Abstract: A computer includes a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to predict a heading angle of a target vehicle, determine a distance between a host vehicle and a center line of the target vehicle based on the predicted heading angle, and perform a threat assessment for the target vehicle when the distance is below a threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2019
    Publication date: February 18, 2021
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alex Maurice Miller, Christopher Pontisakos
  • Patent number: 10829113
    Abstract: In a host vehicle a threat number is determined for a target vehicle based on respective dimensions of the target and host vehicles, and a heading angle of the host vehicle. A host vehicle subsystem is actuated based on the threat number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Nanjun Liu, Alex Maurice Miller, Yuhao Liu, Christopher Pontisakos
  • Publication number: 20200255001
    Abstract: A computer includes a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to, upon determining that a yaw rate for a host vehicle is below a threshold, identify a front corner point of a target, and to suppress threat mitigation when a time to collision between the host vehicle and front corner point of the target exceeds a time threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2019
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Purushothaman Rayalsamy, Christopher Pontisakos, Alex Maurice Miller
  • Publication number: 20200216060
    Abstract: A system includes a computer including a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to, upon determining a front threat number exceeds a threat threshold, determine a rear time to collision between a turning host vehicle and a target, and, upon determining that the rear time to collision is below a time threshold, actuate a component based on a rear threat number for the target.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2019
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: CHRISTOPHER PONTISAKOS, ALEX MAURICE MILLER, PURUSHOTHAMAN RAYALSAMY, YUHAO LIU
  • Patent number: 10632977
    Abstract: A vehicle impact is determined to be likely to occur. Determinations are made that a vehicle speed is below a first predetermined threshold, that a vehicle pedal condition is met, and that a vehicle acceleration is below a second predetermined threshold. At least one instruction is then provided that includes at least one of an instruction to override an acceleration request and an instruction to suppress a throttle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Alex Maurice Miller, Stephen William Rouhana