Patents by Inventor Austin B. Schuh

Austin B. Schuh 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: 20180186381
    Abstract: Various applications for use of mass estimations of a vehicle, including to control operation of the vehicle, sharing the mass estimation with other vehicles and/or a Network Operations Center (NOC), organizing vehicles operating in a platoon and/or partially controlling the operation of one or more vehicles operating in a platoon based on the relative mass estimations between the platooning vehicles. When vehicles are operating in a platoon, the relative mass between a lead and a following vehicle may be used to scale torque and/or brake commands generated by the lead vehicle and sent to the following vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Publication date: July 5, 2018
    Inventors: Stephen M. ERLIEN, Joshua Philip SWITKES, Austin B. SCHUH
  • Publication number: 20180188744
    Abstract: Various applications for use of mass estimations of a vehicle, including to control operation of the vehicle, sharing the mass estimation with other vehicles and/or a Network Operations Center (NOC), organizing vehicles operating in a platoon and/or partially controlling the operation of one or more vehicles operating in a platoon based on the relative mass estimations between the platooning vehicles. When vehicles are operating in a platoon, the relative mass between a lead and a following vehicle may be used to scale torque and/or brake commands generated by the lead vehicle and sent to the following vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Publication date: July 5, 2018
    Inventors: Joshua Philip SWITKES, Stephen M. ERLIEN, Austin B. SCHUH
  • Publication number: 20180050697
    Abstract: A variety of methods, controllers and algorithms are described for controlling a vehicle to closely follow one another safely using automatic or partially automatic control. The described control schemes are well suited for use in vehicle platooning and/or vehicle convoying applications, including truck platooning and convoying controllers. In one aspect, a power plant (such as an engine) is controlled using a control scheme arranged to attain and maintain a first target gap between the vehicles. Brakes (such as wheel brakes) are controlled in a manner configured to attain and maintain a second (shorter) target gap. Such control allows a certain degree of encroachment on the targeted gap (sometimes referred to as a gap tolerance) before the brakes are actuated. The described approaches facilitate a safe and comfortable rider experience and reduce the likelihood of the brakes being actuated unnecessarily.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2017
    Publication date: February 22, 2018
    Inventors: James B. KUSZMAUL, Austin B. SCHUH, Stephen M. ERLIEN, Joshua P. SWITKES
  • Publication number: 20170242443
    Abstract: A variety of methods, controllers and algorithms are described for identifying the back of a particular vehicle (e.g., a platoon partner) in a set of distance measurement scenes and/or for tracking the back of such a vehicle. The described techniques can be used in conjunction with a variety of different distance measuring technologies including radar, LIDAR, camera based distance measuring units and others. The described approaches are well suited for use in vehicle platooning and/or vehicle convoying systems including tractor-trailer truck platooning applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2017
    Publication date: August 24, 2017
    Inventors: Austin B. SCHUH, Stephen M. ERLIEN, Stephan PLEINES, John L. JACOBS, Joshua P. SWITKES
  • Publication number: 20170242095
    Abstract: A variety of methods, controllers and algorithms are described for fusing sensor data obtained from different vehicles for use in the at least partial automatic control of a particular vehicle. The described techniques are well suited for use in conjunction with a variety of different vehicle control applications including platooning, convoying and other connected driving applications including tractor-trailer truck platooning applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2017
    Publication date: August 24, 2017
    Inventors: Austin B. SCHUH, Stephen M. ERLIEN, Joshua P. SWITKES
  • Patent number: 9240855
    Abstract: Implementations of techniques and systems are disclosed for detecting a fiber fault in a point-to-point optical access network based on optical time domain reflectometry (“OTDR”) measurements. The techniques include identifying loss of service between a central office (“CO”) and a given optical network unit (“ONU”) of a plurality of ONUs. In response to the identifying the loss of service, configuring a test signal distribution unit to optically couple an OTDR unit to a selected subset of the point-to-point fiber links which includes the given ONU. An optical test signal is launched from the OTDR unit into the selected subset of the point-to-point fiber links via the test signal distribution unit. Test signal reflections are received from each of the point-to-point fiber links within the selected subset as a reflection signature, which is analyzed to identify a location of the fiber fault.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Cedric F. Lam, James F. Kelly, Austin B. Schuh
  • Patent number: 8655167
    Abstract: Implementations of techniques and systems are disclosed for detecting a fiber fault in a point-to-point optical access network based on optical time domain reflectometry (“OTDR”) measurements. The techniques include identifying loss of service between a central office (“CO”) and a given optical network unit (“ONU”) of a plurality of ONUs. In response to the identifying the loss of service, configuring a test signal distribution unit to optically couple an OTDR unit to a selected subset of the point-to-point fiber links which includes the given ONU. An optical test signal is launched from the OTDR unit into the selected subset of the point-to-point fiber links via the test signal distribution unit. Test signal reflections are received from each of the point-to-point fiber links within the selected subset as a reflection signature, which is analyzed to identify a location of the fiber fault.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Cedric F. Lam, James F. Kelly, Austin B. Schuh