Patents by Inventor Cynthia M. Neubecker

Cynthia M. Neubecker 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: 12138045
    Abstract: A system includes a computer including a processor and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to detect a position of a head of an occupant within a passenger compartment of a vehicle. The instructions include instructions to conduct a hearing test based on the position of the head of the occupant. The instructions include instructions to output sound at least at one of a specified frequency or amplitude, the specified frequency or amplitude selected based on results of the hearing test.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joshua Wheeler, Pietro Buttolo, Cynthia M. Neubecker, Thomas Chrapkiewicz, David Graham Smith
  • Publication number: 20230419680
    Abstract: A computer includes a processor and a memory, and the memory stores instructions executable by the processor to receive first environmental data recorded by an environmental sensor on board a vehicle, receive nonenvironmental data recorded on board the vehicle independently of the first environmental data, add a plurality of annotations derived from the nonenvironmental data to the environmental data, and train a machine-learning program to process second environmental data by using the first environmental data as training data and the annotations as ground truth for the first environmental data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2022
    Publication date: December 28, 2023
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Parenti, Adil Nizam Siddiqui, Cynthia M. Neubecker
  • Publication number: 20230384103
    Abstract: A system receives vehicle sensor data indicating upcoming route characteristics as a vehicle travels a route. The system identifies one or more passibility-limiting features from the vehicle sensor data and, based on the sensor data, interpolates at least one characteristics of at least one feature that would affect vehicle travel. The system determines if the feature has been previously identified by comparison to previously identified features associated with locations within a proximity of a present location of the vehicle. Further, the system determines if the at least one characteristic has more than a predefined deviance from one or more previously interpolated characteristics associated with the feature and alert the user via the vehicle if at least one of the previously interpolated characteristics or the at least one characteristic indicates that the vehicle may have difficulty passing the feature based on predefined parameters of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2022
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Inventors: Adil Nizam Siddiqui, Deepa Ramaswamy, Cynthia M. Neubecker, Robert Parenti
  • Publication number: 20230332912
    Abstract: Systems and methods for assisting visually impaired passengers, e.g., blind passengers, using rideshare services is provided. The system may identify a visually impaired passenger from image data captured by one or more exterior cameras of a rideshare vehicle, e.g., by detection of use of a cane by the passenger. The system may then generate audible instructions that may be emitted via exterior and interior speakers of the vehicle or via a wirelessly paired headset worn by the passenger, to guide the passenger to the vehicle entrance and to an available passenger seat within the vehicle. The system further may detect obstacles or features in the path of the passenger, and emit audible alerts to guide the passenger around the obstacle or feature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2022
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Pietro Buttolo, Cynthia M. Neubecker, Ranjani Rangarajan, Graham Smith
  • Patent number: 11735937
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for vehicle-based drone charging are disclosed herein. A vehicle-based drone charging apparatus includes a charging device to be operatively coupled to a vehicle. The charging device is to charge a drone in response to the drone being operatively coupled to the charging device. The vehicle-based drone charging apparatus further includes a communication interface to be operatively coupled to the vehicle. The communication interface is to broadcast use information associated with the charging device. The use information includes location information associated with a location of the vehicle and fee information associated with a cost for use of the charging device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Cynthia M. Neubecker, Brad Ignaczak, Somak Datta Gupta, Brian Bennie
  • Publication number: 20230029497
    Abstract: A help system is provided for a vehicle occupant who carries a mobile communication device. The vehicle has a transceiver providing two-way wireless telecommunication and which detects a loss-of-signal condition. A powertrain system provides vehicle movement and is configured for reckoning a path traversed by the vehicle. The help system includes a guidance controller and an interface adapted to connect to the mobile communication device. The guidance controller is configured to A) identify a crossing point when the transceiver detects an initiation of the loss-of-signal condition, B) store a breadcrumb route for returning to the crossing point based on the reckoned path, C) detect a stranded condition of the vehicle during the loss-of-signal condition, D) generate guidance instructions including the breadcrumb route from the vehicle back to the crossing point when the stranded condition is detected, and E) transfer the guidance instructions to the mobile communication device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2021
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Inventors: Cynthia M. Neubecker, Adil Nizam Siddiqui, Robert Parenti, Andrea Bowes Chowanic
  • Publication number: 20220324458
    Abstract: Systems and methods for enhancing in-cabin sleeping experience within a vehicle are provided. The method includes determining whether a first occupant, e.g., a passenger, within the vehicle is asleep based on data captured of an interior of the vehicle, e.g., via one or more cameras within the vehicle. The method further includes informing a second occupant, e.g., a driver, within the vehicle that the first occupant is asleep, and adjusting an interior cabin parameter to accommodate the first occupant. The method further may include adjusting the interior cabin parameter to wake up the first occupant when the vehicle is a predetermined time or distance from a target destination. Moreover, the method may include classifying the first occupant such that the inter cabin parameter is adjusted to accommodate the first occupant based on the classification of the first occupant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Cynthia M. Neubecker, Pietro Buttolo, Nikhitha Bekkanti, Karthik Krishnamurthy, Thomas Chrapkiewicz
  • Patent number: 11447245
    Abstract: A container includes a transportation section and a drone section. The drone section has a drone place holder and a door. The drone place holder is accessible when the door is in an open position. The container includes a processor that is programmed to actuate the door to the open position, actuate a drone, fittable in the drone place holder, to fly out of the container, and actuate the drone to transport the container to a destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Cynthia M. Neubecker, Somak Datta Gupta, Brad Alan Ignaczak
  • Patent number: 11415989
    Abstract: A computer is programmed to determine a trajectory of a moving target based on data from one or more vehicle sensors. The computer is programmed to deploy an aerial drone from the vehicle to track the moving target based on the determined trajectory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Brian Bennie, Cynthia M. Neubecker, Brad Alan Ignaczak, Somak Datta Gupta
  • Patent number: 11404061
    Abstract: A computer includes a processor and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to receive sensor data of an occupant of a vehicle, identify a type of mask worn by the occupant based on the sensor data, select a sound filter according to the type of mask from a plurality of sound filters stored in the memory, receive sound data, apply the selected sound filter to the sound data, and perform an operation using the filtered sound data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Scott Andrew Amman, Cynthia M. Neubecker, Joshua Wheeler, Pietro Buttolo, Brian Bennie, John Robert Van Wiemeersch
  • Patent number: 11400940
    Abstract: Real-time wind data for a location is determined based on a detected movement of an object relative to a vehicle. The real-time wind data includes a wind speed and a wind direction. Upon receiving stored wind data for the location from a remote computer, a crosswind risk is determined based on the real-time wind data and the stored wind data. A vehicle component is actuated to compensate for the crosswind risk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Cynthia M. Neubecker, Mark Gehrke, Jonathan Diedrich, David Hiskens
  • Publication number: 20220233105
    Abstract: A system includes a computer including a processor and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to detect a position of a head of an occupant within a passenger compartment of a vehicle. The instructions include instructions to conduct a hearing test based on the position of the head of the occupant. The instructions include instructions to output sound at least at one of a specified frequency or amplitude, the specified frequency or amplitude selected based on results of the hearing test.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2021
    Publication date: July 28, 2022
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joshua Wheeler, Pietro Buttolo, Cynthia M. Neubecker, Thomas Chrapkiewicz, David Graham Smith
  • Publication number: 20220223145
    Abstract: A computer includes a processor and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to receive sensor data of an occupant of a vehicle, identify a type of mask worn by the occupant based on the sensor data, select a sound filter according to the type of mask from a plurality of sound filters stored in the memory, receive sound data, apply the selected sound filter to the sound data, and perform an operation using the filtered sound data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2021
    Publication date: July 14, 2022
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: SCOTT ANDREW AMMAN, CYNTHIA M. NEUBECKER, JOSHUA WHEELER, PIETRO BUTTOLO, BRIAN BENNIE, JOHN ROBERT VAN WIEMEERSCH
  • Patent number: 11380111
    Abstract: Apparatus for a motor vehicle comprises an image sensor generating non-trichromatic image data as an image pixel array covering a predetermined field of view relative to the vehicle. A color-calibration source generates at least one color reference value according to an object depicted in the non-trichromatic image data. A controller is configured to 1) associate the at least one color reference value to a set of pixels within the image pixel array, and 2) colorize the non-trichromatic image data according to the at least one color reference value to produce a colorized image. A display is configured to display the colorized image to a viewer in the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Cynthia M. Neubecker, Jon M. Speigle, Lidia Van Moen
  • Patent number: 11355136
    Abstract: A computer includes a processor and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to identify an occupant in a passenger cabin of a vehicle, detect a position of a head of the occupant relative to the passenger cabin, apply a first filter to speech from the occupant based on the position of the head, generate a second filter, apply the second filter to the speech, adjust the second filter based on a difference between the speech of the occupant filtered by the second filter and a prestored profile of the occupant, and perform an operation using the speech filtered by the first filter and the second filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Scott Andrew Amman, Cynthia M. Neubecker, Pietro Buttolo, Joshua Wheeler, Brian Bennie
  • Patent number: 11328591
    Abstract: Assistance is provided to a driver of a road vehicle using bioptic eyewear which has a carrier lens and a telescopic lens. Presence of bioptic eyewear on the driver is detected while driving the vehicle. Spatial positioning of the driver with bioptic eyewear is tracked to identify a telescopic event in which the driver is looking through the telescopic lens. A gaze direction through the telescopic lens is detected during the telescopic event. Remote sensing data is collected covering a region of interest corresponding to a projection of the gaze direction. An object is detected within the region of interest. A driving indicator is identified according to the object. The driving indicator is presented to the driver as supplemental information to highlight key driving indicators such as identity of signage and color of a traffic light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Cheri L. Hansen, Cynthia M. Neubecker
  • Publication number: 20220118941
    Abstract: Vehicle movement parental control with child detection systems and methods are disclosed herein. An example method can include determining presence of a known child in a vehicle, activating a drive lock mode of the vehicle to prevent the vehicle from being driven based on the presence of the known child, providing a request for authorization to allow the vehicle to be driven, and continuing or disabling use of the drive lock mode of the vehicle based upon a response to the request for authorization.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2020
    Publication date: April 21, 2022
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Cynthia M. Neubecker, Robert Parenti, Brad Ignaczak
  • Publication number: 20220097713
    Abstract: Real-time wind data for a location is determined based on a detected movement of an object relative to a vehicle. The real-time wind data includes a wind speed and a wind direction. Upon receiving stored wind data for the location from a remote computer, a crosswind risk is determined based on the real-time wind data and the stored wind data. A vehicle component is actuated to compensate for the crosswind risk.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Cynthia M. Neubecker, Mark Gehrke, Jonathan Diedrich, David Hiskens
  • Publication number: 20220101021
    Abstract: Apparatus for a motor vehicle comprises an image sensor generating non-trichromatic image data as an image pixel array covering a predetermined field of view relative to the vehicle. A color-calibration source generates at least one color reference value according to an object depicted in the non-trichromatic image data. A controller is configured to 1) associate the at least one color reference value to a set of pixels within the image pixel array, and 2) colorize the non-trichromatic image data according to the at least one color reference value to produce a colorized image. A display is configured to display the colorized image to a viewer in the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2020
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Inventors: Cynthia M. Neubecker, Jon M. Speigle, Lidia Van Moen
  • Patent number: 11235876
    Abstract: A computer is programmed to deploy an aerial drone to fly within a specified distance of a first vehicle. The computer is programmed to detect a second vehicle and then activate an aerial drone light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Cynthia M. Neubecker, Brad Alan Ignaczak, Somak Datta Gupta, Brian Bennie