Patents by Inventor Ben BULAT

Ben BULAT 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: 11945277
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture are disclosed to use front load estimates for body control are disclosed herein. An example apparatus disclosed herein includes memory including stored instructions, and a processor to execute the instructions to filter sensor data to generate a first load value, the first load value associated with a first load on a front axle of a vehicle, generate, based on the first load value and a velocity of the vehicle, a first body control adjustment value, modify a body control output value with the first body control adjustment value, and apply the modified body control output value to a suspension system of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Michael Russell, Charles Gavin McGee, Ben Bulat, Daniel Lee Grohnke, Darrell Erick Butler
  • Patent number: 11731478
    Abstract: A system for damping control for a vehicle includes a parameter component and a damping adjustment component. The parameter component is configured to determine one or more driving parameters of a vehicle. The one or more driving parameters include a velocity of the vehicle. The damping adjustment component is configured to adjust damping of suspension of the vehicle during driving based on the one or more driving parameters. The damping adjustment component is also configured to adjust damping of suspension at a zero velocity for a threshold time period in response to transitioning from a non-zero velocity to the zero velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Michael Russell, Charles Gavin McGee, Ben Bulat, Russ Lee Norton, John Keller, Darrell Erick Butler
  • Publication number: 20230100724
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture are disclosed to use front load estimates for body control are disclosed herein. An example apparatus disclosed herein includes memory including stored instructions, and a processor to execute the instructions to filter sensor data to generate a first load value, the first load value associated with a first load on a front axle of a vehicle, generate, based on the first load value and a velocity of the vehicle, a first body control adjustment value, modify a body control output value with the first body control adjustment value, and apply the modified body control output value to a suspension system of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2021
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Inventors: David Michael Russell, Charles Gavin McGee, Ben Bulat, Daniel Lee Grohnke, Darrell Erick Butler
  • Patent number: 11615658
    Abstract: Vehicle fuel tank modeling systems and methods are provided herein. An example method includes introducing known volumes of fuel into the fuel tank, determining correlations of fuel level percentage values relative to the known volumes of fuel placed into the fuel tank, offsetting the correlations to compensate for unusable fuel volume of the fuel tank, selecting a non-linear fuel tank model that fits the offset correlations, and applying the non-linear fuel tank model to a target vehicle having a fuel tank with a fuel tank part number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Hyongju Park, Ben Bulat, Richard Gordon, Arnold Babila
  • Patent number: 11549840
    Abstract: Vehicle fuel volume estimation systems and methods are provided herein. An example method includes determining a fuel level percentage value for a vehicle, determining a vehicle identification number (VIN) of the vehicle, determining a fuel tank part number using the VIN, converting the fuel level percentage value into a fuel volume value based on the fuel tank part number, and transmitting a message to a recipient, the message that includes the fuel volume value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ben Bulat, Hyongju Park, Richard Gordon, Arnold Babila
  • Patent number: 11512994
    Abstract: Vehicle fuel volume consumption estimation and accuracy analysis systems and methods are provided herein. An example method includes determining a fuel level percentage estimate or a fuel volume estimate for a vehicle at a first point in time and a second point in time for a trip, the fuel level percentage estimate or the fuel volume estimate being determined using a fuel tank model of a fuel tank of a vehicle, determining connected vehicle data that includes a determination of accumulated fuel consumed during the trip, and determining an accuracy of fuel tank model using the fuel level percentage estimate or the fuel volume estimate calculated at the first point in time and the second point in time, as well as the accumulated fuel consumed during the trip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Richard Gordon, Ben Bulat, Shantanu Deshmukh, Hyongju Park, Arnold Babila
  • Publication number: 20220101665
    Abstract: Vehicle fuel tank modeling systems and methods are provided herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Hyongju Park, Ben Bulat, Richard Gordon, Arnold Babila
  • Publication number: 20220099474
    Abstract: Vehicle fuel volume consumption estimation and accuracy analysis systems and methods are provided herein. An example method includes determining a fuel level percentage estimate or a fuel volume estimate for a vehicle at a first point in time and a second point in time for a trip, the fuel level percentage estimate or the fuel volume estimate being determined using a fuel tank model of a fuel tank of a vehicle, determining connected vehicle data that includes a determination of accumulated fuel consumed during the trip, and determining an accuracy of fuel tank model using the fuel level percentage estimate or the fuel volume estimate calculated at the first point in time and the second point in time, as well as the accumulated fuel consumed during the trip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Richard Gordon, Ben Bulat, Shantanu Deshmukh, Hyongju Park, Arnold Babila
  • Publication number: 20220097515
    Abstract: Vehicle fuel volume estimation systems and methods are provided herein. An example method includes determining a fuel level percentage value for a vehicle, determining a vehicle identification number (VIN) of the vehicle, determining a fuel tank part number using the VIN, converting the fuel level percentage value into a fuel volume value based on the fuel tank part number, and transmitting a message to a recipient, the message that includes the fuel volume value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ben Bulat, Hyongju Park, Richard Gordon, Arnold Babila
  • Publication number: 20210155067
    Abstract: A system for damping control for a vehicle includes a parameter component and a damping adjustment component. The parameter component is configured to determine one or more driving parameters of a vehicle. The one or more driving parameters include a velocity of the vehicle. The damping adjustment component is configured to adjust damping of suspension of the vehicle during driving based on the one or more driving parameters. The damping adjustment component is also configured to adjust damping of suspension at a zero velocity for a threshold time period in response to transitioning from a non-zero velocity to the zero velocity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2021
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Inventors: David Michael Russell, Charles Gavin McGee, Ben Bulat, Russ Lee Norton, John Keller, Darrell Erick Butler
  • Patent number: 10974564
    Abstract: A system for damping control for a vehicle includes a parameter component and a damping adjustment component. The parameter component is configured to determine one or more driving parameters of a vehicle. The one or more driving parameters include a velocity of the vehicle. The damping adjustment component is configured to adjust damping of suspension of the vehicle during driving based on the one or more driving parameters. The damping adjustment component is also configured to adjust damping of suspension at a zero velocity for a threshold time period in response to transitioning from a non-zero velocity to the zero velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: David Michael Russell, Charles Gavin McGee, Ben Bulat, Russ Lee Norton, John Keller, Darrell Erick Butler
  • Publication number: 20190225043
    Abstract: A system for damping control for a vehicle includes a parameter component and a damping adjustment component. The parameter component is configured to determine one or more driving parameters of a vehicle. The one or more driving parameters include a velocity of the vehicle. The damping adjustment component is configured to adjust damping of suspension of the vehicle during driving based on the one or more driving parameters. The damping adjustment component is also configured to adjust damping of suspension at a zero velocity for a threshold time period in response to transitioning from a non-zero velocity to the zero velocity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2019
    Publication date: July 25, 2019
    Inventors: David Michael Russell, Charles Gavin McGee, Ben Bulat, Russ Lee Norton, John Keller, Darrell Erick Butler
  • Patent number: 10322042
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for operation of a lifting mechanism coupled to a mobility service vehicle. In one example, a method may include, during an engine idle-stop, in response to a request for operation of a lifting mechanism used by mobility devices to access the vehicle, the transmission may be shifted to park, an electronic braking system may be enabled, and the engine may be restarted to provide power for operation of the lifting mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Hafiz Shafeek Khafagy, Siraj Siddiqui, Ahmed Awadi, Ben Bulat, Joshua Norwood
  • Patent number: 10286745
    Abstract: A system for damping control for a vehicle includes a parameter component and a damping adjustment component. The parameter component is configured to determine one or more driving parameters of a vehicle. The one or more driving parameters include a velocity of the vehicle. The damping adjustment component is configured to adjust damping of suspension of the vehicle during driving based on the one or more driving parameters. The damping adjustment component is also configured to adjust damping of suspension at a zero velocity for a threshold time period in response to transitioning from a non-zero velocity to the zero velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: David Michael Russell, Charles Gavin McGee, Ben Bulat, Russ Lee Norton, John Keller, Darrell Erick Butler
  • Publication number: 20180344545
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for operation of a lifting mechanism coupled to a mobility service vehicle. In one example, a method may include, during an engine idle-stop, in response to a request for operation of a lifting mechanism used by mobility devices to access the vehicle, the transmission may be shifted to park, an electronic braking system may be enabled, and the engine may be restarted to provide power for operation of the lifting mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Inventors: Hafiz Shafeek Khafagy, Siraj Siddiqui, Ahmed Awadi, Ben Bulat, Joshua Norwood
  • Publication number: 20180126817
    Abstract: A system for damping control for a vehicle includes a parameter component and a damping adjustment component. The parameter component is configured to determine one or more driving parameters of a vehicle. The one or more driving parameters include a velocity of the vehicle. The damping adjustment component is configured to adjust damping of suspension of the vehicle during driving based on the one or more driving parameters. The damping adjustment component is also configured to adjust damping of suspension at a zero velocity for a threshold time period in response to transitioning from a non-zero velocity to the zero velocity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2016
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Inventors: David Michael Russell, Charles Gavin McGee, Ben Bulat, Russ Lee Norton, John Keller, Darrell Erick Butler
  • Patent number: 9321320
    Abstract: An active vehicle suspension system includes an active damping mechanism operatively coupled to a vehicle wheel and configured for controlling a damping force applied to the wheel responsive to a control signal. A controller is operatively coupled to the damping mechanism and configured for generating a control signal to the damping mechanism responsive to velocity of the wheel in a downward vertical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Russ Lee Norton, Ben Bulat, Gregory Suter, Albert Chenouda Salib, David Michael Russell, Uwe Hoffmann, Marc Suermann
  • Publication number: 20150084290
    Abstract: An active vehicle suspension system includes an active damping mechanism operatively coupled to a vehicle wheel and configured for controlling a damping force applied to the wheel responsive to a control signal. A controller is operatively coupled to the damping mechanism and configured for generating a control signal to the damping mechanism responsive to velocity of the wheel in a downward vertical direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Russ Lee NORTON, Ben BULAT, Gregory SUTER, Albert Chenouda SALIB, David Michael RUSSELL, Uwe HOFFMANN, Marc SUERMANN