Patents by Inventor Brett Stephens
Brett Stephens 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).
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Publication number: 20240138822Abstract: A biopsy device for percutaneous tissue removal includes an elongated housing having an operational axis, a stylet hub slidably mounted in the housing, where the stylet hub is movable relative to the housing between a proximal, armed position, and a distal, fired position, the stylet hub having a stylet strike, a cannula hub slidably mounted in the housing alongside the stylet hub, and a spring-biased arming member. The cannula hub is movable relative to the housing between a proximal, armed position, and a distal, fired position. The arming member is moveably mounted to the housing proximal of the respective stylet and cannula hubs, and configured for manually-actuated movement from a relaxed, extended position to a loaded, compressed position to define a compressive arming stroke. The biopsy device also includes an arming member biasing spring that restores the arming member from the compressed position to the extended position.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2023Publication date: May 2, 2024Applicant: HOLOGIC, INC.Inventors: Zachary Stephen Swick, Rosario Friedman, Brett Haarala, David Sauvageau, Donna Schulz Torres
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Patent number: 11821740Abstract: A method for routing a vehicle includes determining, based on roadway section information for two or more potential driving routes for a vehicle, a first route along which a driver assistance feature or an automated driving feature will not be available and a second route along which the driver assistance feature or the automated driving feature will be available. The method further includes providing navigation instructions for the second route to a driver or control system.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2020Date of Patent: November 21, 2023Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Brett Stephens, Jonathan Thomas Mullen, Shane Elwart
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Publication number: 20210080273Abstract: A method for routing a vehicle includes determining, based on roadway section information for two or more potential driving routes for a vehicle, a first route along which a driver assistance feature or an automated driving feature will not be available and a second route along which the driver assistance feature or the automated driving feature will be available. The method further includes providing navigation instructions for the second route to a driver or control system.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 12, 2020Publication date: March 18, 2021Inventors: Brett Stephens, Jonathan Thomas Mullen, Shane Elwart
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Patent number: 10859388Abstract: A method for routing a vehicle includes determining, based on roadway section information for two or more potential driving routes for a vehicle, a first route along which a driver assistance feature or an automated driving feature will not be available and a second route along which the driver assistance feature or the automated driving feature will be available. The method further includes providing navigation instructions for the second route to a driver or control system.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2019Date of Patent: December 8, 2020Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Brett Stephens, Jonathan Thomas Mullen, Shane Elwart
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Patent number: 10809156Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to an automated system and method of analyzing performance of engines in a test cell. The method includes electronically accessing engine operational data in a stored database of the test cell. Another step includes electronically retrieving operational data corresponding to the new test if at least one new test is detected in the stored database for an engine. Further, the method includes inputting the operational data corresponding to the new test into a performance model specific to an engine type for the engine. The method also includes electronically analyzing an output of the performance model. An additional step includes electronically generating at least one summary report of engine health of the engine based on the analyzed output. Thus, the method also includes providing the summary report as electronic output to a user.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2016Date of Patent: October 20, 2020Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Susan Michelle DeMarco, Charles Larry Abernathy, Steven Richard Levin, Bernard Dumm, Brett Stephen Kramer
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Patent number: 10720881Abstract: An assembly includes a photovoltaic module including a solar cell and a cooling system including a heat pipe adapted to dissipate heat from the solar cell. A method includes dissipating heat from the solar cell using the heat pipe. The photovoltaic module may be disposed on a vehicle to convert solar energy into electricity.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2016Date of Patent: July 21, 2020Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Hadi Malek, Daniel Boston, Jacob Mathews, Brett Stephens
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Patent number: 10690507Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for network-based storage of vehicle and infrastructure data for vehicle optimization are disclosed. A method includes receiving sensor data from a vehicle sensor, uploading the sensor data to a network, and storing the sensor data in a vehicle map database. The method includes downloading aggregated drive data from the network and storing the aggregated drive data in the vehicle map database. The method includes optimizing a vehicle route based on route costs for a plurality of potential driving routes based on a reliability of an automated driving feature or driver assistance feature.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2018Date of Patent: June 23, 2020Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Brett Stephens, Jonathan Thomas Mullen, Shane Elwart
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Publication number: 20190277644Abstract: A method for routing a vehicle includes determining, based on roadway section information for two or more potential driving routes for a vehicle, a first route along which a driver assistance feature or an automated driving feature will not be available and a second route along which the driver assistance feature or the automated driving feature will be available. The method further includes providing navigation instructions for the second route to a driver or control system.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 24, 2019Publication date: September 12, 2019Inventors: Brett Stephens, Jonathan Thomas Mullen, Shane Elwart
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Patent number: 10345111Abstract: A method for routing a vehicle includes determining, based on roadway section information for two or more potential driving routes for a vehicle, a first route along which a driver assistance feature or an automated driving feature will not be available and a second route along which the driver assistance feature or the automated driving feature will be available. The method further includes providing navigation instructions for the second route to a driver or control system.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2017Date of Patent: July 9, 2019Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Brett Stephens, Jonathan Thomas Mullen, Shane Elwart
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Publication number: 20180313655Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for network-based storage of vehicle and infrastructure data for vehicle optimization are disclosed. A method includes receiving sensor data from a vehicle sensor, uploading the sensor data to a network, and storing the sensor data in a vehicle map database. The method includes downloading aggregated drive data from the network and storing the aggregated drive data in the vehicle map database. The method includes optimizing a vehicle route based on route costs for a plurality of potential driving routes based on a reliability of an automated driving feature or driver assistance feature.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 9, 2018Publication date: November 1, 2018Inventors: Brett Stephens, Jonathan Thomas Mullen, Shane Elwart
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Patent number: 10054454Abstract: A method for routing a vehicle includes determining, based on aggregated drive data from a plurality of sources, route costs for a plurality of potential driving routes for a vehicle based on reliability of an automated driving feature or driver assistance feature. The method includes selecting a route of the one or more potential driving routes based on the route costs. The method includes providing information about the route to a driver, automated driving system, or driver assistance system.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2016Date of Patent: August 21, 2018Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Brett Stephens, Jonathan Thomas Mullen, Shane Elwart
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Patent number: 9969389Abstract: A confidence value is determined for data collected for a lane assist subsystem in a vehicle. A section curvature is identified for a section of a roadway when the confidence value is below a confidence value, threshold. The section curvature includes at least one section start point and at least one section end point. The section curvature is based at least in part on a heading angle, the heading angle defining an angle between a projected line of travel of the vehicle and a line segment from a vehicle position to the section end point. A distance to a lane boundary is predicted based at least in part on the identified section curvature. One or more vehicle subsystems is actuated based at least in part on the predicted distance to the lane boundary.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2016Date of Patent: May 15, 2018Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Brett Stephens, Shane Elwart, Joseph Walter Neal
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Publication number: 20180051998Abstract: A method for routing a vehicle includes determining, based on roadway section information for two or more potential driving routes for a vehicle, a first route along which a driver assistance feature or an automated driving feature will not be available and a second route along which the driver assistance feature or the automated driving feature will be available. The method further includes providing navigation instructions for the second route to a driver or control system.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 27, 2017Publication date: February 22, 2018Inventors: Brett Stephens, Jonathan Thomas Mullen, Shane Elwart
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Publication number: 20180048262Abstract: An assembly includes a photovoltaic module including a solar cell and a cooling system including a heat pipe adapted to dissipate heat from the solar cell. A method includes dissipating heat from the solar cell using the heat pipe. The photovoltaic module may be disposed on a vehicle to convert solar energy into electricity.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 10, 2016Publication date: February 15, 2018Inventors: Hadi Malek, Daniel Boston, Jacob Mathews, Brett Stephens
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Patent number: 9851212Abstract: A method for routing a vehicle includes identifying one or more driving routes between a current location of a vehicle and a destination. The method includes determining a route cost for the one or more driving routes based on lane marking quality of a roadway within a corresponding driving route. The method includes selecting a route of the one or more routes with a lowest route cost. The method includes providing information about the route to a driver or control system for following the route.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2016Date of Patent: December 26, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Brett Stephens, Jonathan Thomas Mullen, Shane Elwart
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Publication number: 20170322040Abstract: A method for routing a vehicle includes identifying one or more driving routes between a current location of a vehicle and a destination. The method includes determining a route cost for the one or more driving routes based on lane marking quality of a roadway within a corresponding driving route. The method includes selecting a route of the one or more routes with a lowest route cost. The method includes providing information about the route to a driver or control system for following the route.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 6, 2016Publication date: November 9, 2017Inventors: Brett Stephens, Jonathan Thomas Mullen, Shane Elwart
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Publication number: 20170320493Abstract: A confidence value is determined for data collected for a lane assist subsystem in a vehicle. A section curvature is identified for a section of a roadway when the confidence value is below a confidence value, threshold. The section curvature includes at least one section start point and at least one section end point. The section curvature is based at least in part on a heading angle, the heading angle defining an angle between a projected line of travel of the vehicle and a line segment from a vehicle position to the section end point. A distance to a lane boundary is predicted based at least in part on the identified section curvature. One or more vehicle subsystems is actuated based at least in part on the predicted distance to the lane boundary.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 3, 2016Publication date: November 9, 2017Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Brett Stephens, Shane Elwart, Joseph Walter Neal
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Publication number: 20170322041Abstract: A method for routing a vehicle includes determining, based on aggregated drive data from a plurality of sources, route costs for a plurality of potential driving routes for a vehicle based on reliability of an automated driving feature or driver assistance feature. The method includes selecting a route of the one or more potential driving routes based on the route costs. The method includes providing information about the route to a driver, automated driving system, or driver assistance system.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 6, 2016Publication date: November 9, 2017Inventors: Brett Stephens, Jonathan Thomas Mullen, Shane Elwart
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Publication number: 20170234773Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to an automated system and method of analyzing performance of engines in a test cell. The method includes electronically accessing engine operational data in a stored database of the test cell. Another step includes electronically retrieving operational data corresponding to the new test if at least one new test is detected in the stored database for an engine. Further, the method includes inputting the operational data corresponding to the new test into a performance model specific to an engine type for the engine. The method also includes electronically analyzing an output of the performance model. An additional step includes electronically generating at least one summary report of engine health of the engine based on the analyzed output. Thus, the method also includes providing the summary report as electronic output to a user.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 15, 2016Publication date: August 17, 2017Inventors: Susan Michelle DeMarco, Charles Larry Abernathy, Steven Richard Levin, Bernard Dumm, Brett Stephen Kramer