Patents by Inventor Christopher Peplin
Christopher Peplin 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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Patent number: 10005352Abstract: A drive unit for a vehicle includes a drive unit spindle. The drive unit spindle extends along an axis for connecting the drive unit to the vehicle. The drive unit further includes one or more wheel assemblies. Each of the wheel assemblies has a hub that is removably supported by the spindle along the axis. At least one of the wheel assemblies includes a wheel which rotates about the hub and a motor connected to the wheel to rotate the wheel about the hub.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2014Date of Patent: June 26, 2018Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Sudipto Aich, David Melcher, Zachary David Nelson, Christopher Peplin, Jamel Seagraves
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Patent number: 9970778Abstract: A vehicle system includes a charging interface that is configured to connect to a bicycle battery and a processing device programmed to determine a state of charge of the bicycle battery. The processing device further estimates traveling ranges of a vehicle and a bicycle. The vehicle system further includes a navigation module programmed to generate a route to a selected destination based on the estimated traveling ranges of the vehicle and the bicycle.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2017Date of Patent: May 15, 2018Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Sudipto Aich, David Melcher, Zachary David Nelson, Christopher Peplin, Jamel Seagraves
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Publication number: 20170219366Abstract: A vehicle system includes a charging interface that is configured to connect to a bicycle battery and a processing device programmed to determine a state of charge of the bicycle battery. The processing device further estimates traveling ranges of a vehicle and a bicycle. The vehicle system further includes a navigation module programmed to generate a route to a selected destination based on the estimated traveling ranges of the vehicle and the bicycle.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 20, 2017Publication date: August 3, 2017Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Sudipto Aich, David Melcher, Zachary David Nelson, Christopher Peplin, Jamel Seagraves
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Patent number: 9658076Abstract: A vehicle system includes a charging interface that is configured to connect to a bicycle battery and a processing device programmed to determine a state of charge of the bicycle battery. The processing device further estimates traveling ranges of a vehicle and a bicycle. The vehicle system further includes a navigation module programmed to generate a route to a selected destination based on the estimated traveling ranges of the vehicle and the bicycle.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2014Date of Patent: May 23, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Sudipto Aich, David Melcher, Zachary David Nelson, Christopher Peplin, Jamel Seagraves
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Patent number: 9604565Abstract: A heads up display apparatus for a vehicle, comprising a wireless transceiver configured to connect and communicate with a device providing information for display, an energy storage device configured to provide energy to the display apparatus, a processor configured receive information from the transceiver and configure the information for display, and a display configured to output the information.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2012Date of Patent: March 28, 2017Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Krishnaswamy Venkatesh Prasad, Christopher Peplin
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Publication number: 20160097650Abstract: A vehicle system includes a charging interface that is configured to connect to a bicycle battery and a processing device programmed to determine a state of charge of the bicycle battery. The processing device further estimates traveling ranges of a vehicle and a bicycle. The vehicle system further includes a navigation module programmed to generate a route to a selected destination based on the estimated traveling ranges of the vehicle and the bicycle.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 6, 2014Publication date: April 7, 2016Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Sudipto Aich, David Melcher, Zachary David Nelson, Christopher Peplin, Jamel Seagraves
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Publication number: 20160090017Abstract: A bicycle stowage mechanism is configured to be mounted on a vehicle. At least one first connector is included in the stowage mechanism and is configured to be communicatively coupled to a computer wherein the at least one first connector is mateable to a respective at least one second connector that is associated with a bicycle. The memory of the computer stores instructions to cause the processor to receive an indication that the at least one first connector is mated to at least one second connector associated with a bicycle and, upon receiving the indication, initiate a bicycle stowage operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2014Publication date: March 31, 2016Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Sudipto Aich, David Melcher, Zachary David Nelson, Christopher Peplin, Jamel Seagraves
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Publication number: 20160086489Abstract: An electric bicycle includes a communication module and a computing device. The communication module receives vehicle information indicating a trajectory of a vehicle. The computing device compares the vehicle information to bicycle information, which represents a trajectory of a bicycle. The communication module wirelessly transmits the bicycle information to the vehicle associated with the vehicle information. A method includes generating an alert signal if the vehicle is predicted to collide with the bicycle.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 23, 2014Publication date: March 24, 2016Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Sudipto Aich, David Melcher, Zachary David Nelson, Christopher Peplin, Jamel Seagraves
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Publication number: 20160075225Abstract: A drive unit for a vehicle includes a drive unit spindle. The drive unit spindle extends along an axis for connecting the drive unit to the vehicle. The drive unit further includes one or more wheel assemblies. Each of the wheel assemblies has a hub that is removably supported by the spindle along the axis. At least one of the wheel assemblies includes a wheel which rotates about the hub and a motor connected to the wheel to rotate the wheel about the hub.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 15, 2014Publication date: March 17, 2016Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Sudipto Aich, David Melcher, Zachary David Nelson, Christopher Peplin, Jamel Seagraves
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Patent number: 9222790Abstract: A system includes a processor, configured to communicate with a vehicle camera, a vehicle audio input and at least one vehicle input control. In this embodiment, the processor is configured to receive a request to being recording user audio from the audio input. The processor is also configured to record user audio and GPS coordinates to be associated with the audio and record one or more images or video files from the vehicle camera, to be associated with the audio or the GPS coordinates. Further, the processor is configured to compile and save the audio input, GPS coordinates and one or more images as a tour data file.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2012Date of Patent: December 29, 2015Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Christopher Peplin, Krishnaswamy Venkatesh Prasad, Thomas J. Giuli
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Publication number: 20150294518Abstract: A vehicle system includes a memory device, a communication interface, and a processing device. The memory device stores a primary keyless entry code associated with a vehicle. The communication interface receives an update command to change the primary keyless entry code to an updated keyless entry code. The processing device stores the updated keyless entry code in the memory device. When an authorized person provides the updated keyless entry code to the vehicle via, e.g., a keypad, the authorized person may gain access to the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 10, 2014Publication date: October 15, 2015Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Christopher Peplin, Jeff Allen Greenberg, John Shutko
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Patent number: 9042824Abstract: A vehicle computer system comprising a transceiver in a vehicle configured to wirelessly connect with a nomadic device, wherein the nomadic device is capable of running a contextual application which operates at least in part based on vehicle environment data. The vehicle computer system further comprises one or more vehicle modules configured to receive environment data and capable of causing the transceiver to provide the vehicle environment data to the nomadic device for processing by the contextual application.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2012Date of Patent: May 26, 2015Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Krishnaswamy Venkatesh Prasad, Christopher Peplin
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Publication number: 20140070932Abstract: A heads up display apparatus for a vehicle, comprising a wireless transceiver configured to connect and communicate with a device providing information for display, an energy storage device configured to provide energy to the display apparatus, a processor configured receive information from the transceiver and configure the information for display, and a display configured to output the information.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 7, 2012Publication date: March 13, 2014Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Krishnaswamy Venkatesh Prasad, Christopher Peplin
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Publication number: 20140065965Abstract: A vehicle computer system comprising a transceiver in a vehicle configured to wirelessly connect with a nomadic device, wherein the nomadic device is capable of running a contextual application which operates at least in part based on vehicle environment data. The vehicle computer system further comprises one or more vehicle modules configured to receive environment data and capable of causing the transceiver to provide the vehicle environment data to the nomadic device for processing by the contextual application.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 6, 2012Publication date: March 6, 2014Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Krishnaswamy Venkatesh Prasad, Christopher Peplin
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Patent number: 8639437Abstract: The present invention discloses a back-propagating intersection collision avoidance (ICA) system for preventing two or more vehicles from colliding at an intersection. The ICA system can calculate predicted positions of the two or more vehicles in the near future, and both the current and future positions can be broadcast to surrounding vehicles using vehicle-to-vehicle communication. For each vehicle, a set of states, for example position, speed, acceleration, and the like, where a collision is imminent can be identified using state information for a local vehicle, a remote vehicle, and a known collision zone for the intersection. If the current states of the vehicles are determined to be in danger of entering the collision zone, the ICA system can control the vehicles to perform evasive driving maneuvers and/or alert the drivers.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2010Date of Patent: January 28, 2014Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., The Regents of the University of MichiganInventors: Lorenzo Caminiti, Evan Quisenberry, Christopher Peplin, Domitilla Del Vecchio, Rajeev Verma
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Publication number: 20140019004Abstract: A system includes a processor, configured to communicate with a vehicle camera, a vehicle audio input and at least one vehicle input control. In this embodiment, the processor is configured to receive a request to being recording user audio from the audio input. The processor is also configured to record user audio and GPS coordinates to be associated with the audio and record one or more images or video files from the vehicle camera, to be associated with the audio or the GPS coordinates. Further, the processor is configured to compile and save the audio input, GPS coordinates and one or more images as a tour data file.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 12, 2012Publication date: January 16, 2014Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Christopher Peplin, Krishnaswamy Venkatesh Prasad, Thomas J. Giuli
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Publication number: 20110307139Abstract: The present invention discloses a back-propagating intersection collision avoidance (ICA) system for preventing two or more vehicles from colliding at an intersection. The ICA system can calculate predicted positions of the two or more vehicles in the near future, and both the current and future positions can be broadcast to surrounding vehicles using vehicle-to-vehicle communication. For each vehicle, a set of states, for example position, speed, acceleration, and the like, where a collision is imminent can be identified using state information for a local vehicle, a remote vehicle, and a known collision zone for the intersection. If the current states of the vehicles are determined to be in danger of entering the collision zone, the ICA system can control the vehicles to perform evasive driving maneuvers and/or alert the drivers.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2010Publication date: December 15, 2011Applicants: The Regents of the University of Michigan, Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: Lorenzo Caminiti, Evan Quisenberry, Christopher Peplin, Domitilla Del Vecchio, Rajeev Verma