Patents by Inventor Christopher Ratliff

Christopher Ratliff 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: 12603008
    Abstract: Examples described herein provide a method for detecting and avoiding a semi-truck. The method includes detecting the semi-truck in a lane adjacent to a host lane occupied by a host vehicle. The method further includes analyzing behavior of the semi-truck to determine a risk level associated with the semi-truck entering the host lane occupied by the host vehicle. The method further includes implementing a corrective action for the host vehicle based on the risk level associated with the semi-truck entering the host lane occupied by the host vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2024
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2026
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Wassef, Emily Frances Wolfangel, Ashraf Abualfellat, Christopher Ratliff, Mohammadali Shahriari
  • Patent number: 12565181
    Abstract: A vehicle system for a vehicle towing a trailer includes a trailer control module configured to control actuation of actuators of the trailer and a vehicle control module in communication with the trailer control module. The vehicle control module is configured to control actuation of actuators in the vehicle, determine an energy parameter associated with the vehicle when the trailer control module controls actuation of the actuators in the trailer based on an initial trailer condition, determine an actuation force when the trailer control module controls actuation of the actuators in the trailer based on the initial trailer condition, and generate a control signal for the trailer control module based on the actuation force to control actuation of the actuators of the trailer hitched to the vehicle. Other example vehicle systems and methods for vehicles towing trailers are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2026
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Mohammadali Shahriari, Ashraf Abualfellat, Henry Warren Grasman, Christopher Ratliff, Reza Zarringhalam, Brian Porto
  • Publication number: 20250378759
    Abstract: Examples described herein provide a method for detecting and avoiding a semi-truck. The method includes detecting the semi-truck in a lane adjacent to a host lane occupied by a host vehicle. The method further includes analyzing behavior of the semi-truck to determine a risk level associated with the semi-truck entering the host lane occupied by the host vehicle. The method further includes implementing a corrective action for the host vehicle based on the risk level associated with the semi-truck entering the host lane occupied by the host vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2024
    Publication date: December 11, 2025
    Inventors: Andrew Wassef, Emily Frances Wolfangel, Ashraf Abualfellat, Christopher Ratliff, Mohammadali Shahriari
  • Patent number: 12420787
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method that, when executed by data processing hardware of a vehicle, causes the data processing hardware to perform operations is provided. The operations include gathering sensor data, calculating one or more groove detection confidence values with the sensor data using one or more groove detection modules, evaluating the one or more groove detection confidence values using a road groove detection fusion module, determining whether a road groove is detected, communicating road groove data to an advanced driver-assistance system, and adapting trajectory and steering controls of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2024
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2025
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Mohammadali Shahriari, Mehdi Abroshan, Mohammed Raju Hossain, Ashraf Abualfellat, Brian Porto, Christopher Ratliff, Sadaf Mohammadi
  • Publication number: 20250229775
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method that, when executed by data processing hardware of a vehicle, causes the data processing hardware to perform operations is provided. The operations include gathering sensor data, calculating one or more groove detection confidence values with the sensor data using one or more groove detection modules, evaluating the one or more groove detection confidence values using a road groove detection fusion module, determining whether a road groove is detected, communicating road groove data to an advanced driver-assistance system, and adapting trajectory and steering controls of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2024
    Publication date: July 17, 2025
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Mohammadali Shahriari, Mehdi Abroshan, Mohammed Raju Hossain, Ashraf Abualfellat, Brian Porto, Christopher Ratliff, Sadaf Mohammadi
  • Publication number: 20250083651
    Abstract: A vehicle system for a vehicle towing a trailer includes a trailer control module configured to control actuation of actuators of the trailer and a vehicle control module in communication with the trailer control module. The vehicle control module is configured to control actuation of actuators in the vehicle, determine an energy parameter associated with the vehicle when the trailer control module controls actuation of the actuators in the trailer based on an initial trailer condition, determine an actuation force when the trailer control module controls actuation of the actuators in the trailer based on the initial trailer condition, and generate a control signal for the trailer control module based on the actuation force to control actuation of the actuators of the trailer hitched to the vehicle. Other example vehicle systems and methods for vehicles towing trailers are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2023
    Publication date: March 13, 2025
    Inventors: Mohammadali SHAHRIARI, Ashraf Abualfellat, Henry Warren Grasman, Christopher Ratliff, Reza Zarringhalam, Brian Porto
  • Patent number: 8358505
    Abstract: A liquid cooling system includes a monolith that is configured to be coupled to a motherboard of the computer. The monolith may be monolithic planar body having a first surface and an opposite second surface, and may include a heat absorption region and a heat dissipation region. The heat absorption region may be at least one location on the monolith that is configured to be in thermal contact with a heat generating component of the motherboard, and the heat dissipation region may be at least one location on the monolith where a liquid-to-air heat exchanger is attached to the monolith. The liquid cooling system may also include a channel extending on the second surface of the monolith and a pump that is configured to circulate the liquid coolant through the channel. The channel may be a trench on the second surface of the monolith that is configured to circulate a liquid coolant between the heat absorption region and the heat dissipation region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Asetek A/S
    Inventors: Mikkel Block Toftloekke, Christopher Ratliff, Peter Lykke, Todd Berk, André Sloth Eriksen
  • Publication number: 20120103576
    Abstract: A liquid cooling system includes a monolith that is configured to be coupled to a motherboard of the computer. The monolith may be monolithic planar body having a first surface and an opposite second surface, and may include a heat absorption region and a heat dissipation region. The heat absorption region may be at least one location on the monolith that is configured to be in thermal contact with a heat generating component of the motherboard, and the heat dissipation region may be at least one location on the monolith where a liquid-to-air heat exchanger is attached to the monolith. The liquid cooling system may also include a channel extending on the second surface of the monolith and a pump that is configured to circulate the liquid coolant through the channel. The channel may be a trench on the second surface of the monolith that is configured to circulate a liquid coolant between the heat absorption region and the heat dissipation region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Inventors: Mikkel Block Toftloekke, Christopher Ratliff, Peter Lykke, Todd Berk, André Sloth Eriksen
  • Patent number: 6492621
    Abstract: An apparatus for heat treatment of a wafer is disclosed. The apparatus includes a heating chamber having a heat source. A cooling chamber is positioned adjacent to the heating chamber and includes a cooling source. A wafer holder is configured to move between the cooling chamber and the heating chamber through a passageway and one or more shutters defines the size of the passageway. The one or more shutters are movable between an open position where the wafer holder can pass through the passageway and an obstructing position which defines a passageway which is smaller than the passageway defined when the shutter is in the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: ASML US, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Ratliff, Taiqing Qiu, Jeff Kowalski, Morteza Yadollahi, Saeed Sedehi
  • Publication number: 20020011478
    Abstract: An apparatus for heat treatment of a wafer is disclosed. The apparatus includes a heating chamber having a heat source. A cooling chamber is positioned adjacent to the heating chamber and includes a cooling source. A wafer holder is configured to move between the cooling chamber and the heating chamber through a passageway and one or more shutters defines the size of the passageway. The one or more shutters are movable between an open position where the wafer holder can pass through the passageway and an obstructing position which defines a passageway which is smaller than the passageway defined when the shutter is in the open position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2001
    Publication date: January 31, 2002
    Applicant: Silicon Valley Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Ratliff, Taiqing Qiu, Jeff Kowalski, Morteza Yadollahi, Saeed Sedehi
  • Patent number: 6300600
    Abstract: An apparatus for heat treatment of a wafer is disclosed. The apparatus includes a heating chamber having a heat source. A cooling chamber is positioned adjacent to the heating chamber and includes a cooling source. A wafer holder is configured to move between the cooling chamber and the heating chamber through a passageway and one or more shutters defines the size of the passageway. The one or more shutters are movable between an open position where the wafer holder can pass through the passageway and an obstructing position which defines a passageway which is smaller than the passageway defined when the shutter is in the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Silicon Valley Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Ratliff, Taiqing Qiu, Jeff Kowalski, Morteza Yadollahi, Saeed Sedehi