Patents by Inventor Debra Rice

Debra Rice 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: 10780893
    Abstract: A system and method for estimating the length of a trailer attached to a vehicle includes a processor and a sensor mounted to the vehicle and in communication with the processor. The sensor is configured to sense at least one target on the trailer and provide information to the processor regarding the location of the at least one target. The processor is configured to determine an estimate of the wheel based length (laa1) of the trailer by utilizing a wheel angle (?) of the vehicle, a hitch point (zk) of the vehicle, the first hitch angle (?1), a wheel base (lza) of the vehicle, a distance (lzk) between the hitch point (zk) and a front axle of vehicle, and a lane radius (rza). The processor is configured to determine the length of a trailer attached to the vehicle by utilizing the wheel based length (laa1) of the trailer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: VEONEER US, INC.
    Inventors: Junru Di, Debra Rice
  • Patent number: 10488504
    Abstract: A system and method for determining when a trailer is located behind a vehicle includes at least one detection device configured to detect objects located behind the vehicle and a processor. The processor is in communication with the at least one detection device and a plurality of signals generated by the vehicle. The processor receives data from the at least one detection device. The data includes a plurality of targets detected by the at least one detection device. Next, the processor determines if one or more clusters exists and clusters the targets into at least one cluster to form cluster features when one or more clusters exist. The processor determines vehicle state based on the vehicle dynamic features from the plurality of signals generated by the vehicle as well as global features from data from the at least one detection device and determines when the trailer is located behind the vehicle based on the cluster features, the vehicle state, and/or the global features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: VEONEER US, INC.
    Inventors: Junru Di, Shan Cong, Kapil Gupta, Malakeh Sivako, Debra Rice, Joe Attard
  • Publication number: 20190300005
    Abstract: A system and method for estimating the length of a trailer attached to a vehicle includes a processor and a sensor mounted to the vehicle and in communication with the processor. The sensor is configured to sense at least one target on the trailer and provide information to the processor regarding the location of the at least one target. The processor is configured to determine an estimate of the wheel based length (laa1) of the trailer by utilizing a wheel angle (?) of the vehicle, a hitch point (zk) of the vehicle, the first hitch angle (?1), a wheel base (lza) of the vehicle, a distance (lzk) between the hitch point (zk) and a front axle of vehicle, and a lane radius (rza). The processor is configured to determine the length of a trailer attached to the vehicle by utilizing the wheel based length (laa1) of the trailer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Inventors: Junru Di, Debra Rice
  • Publication number: 20180203106
    Abstract: A system and method for determining when a trailer is located behind a vehicle includes at least one detection device configured to detect objects located behind the vehicle and a processor. The processor is in communication with the at least one detection device and a plurality of signals generated by the vehicle. The processor receives data from the at least one detection device. The data includes a plurality of targets detected by the at least one detection device. Next, the processor determines if one or more clusters exists and clusters the targets into at least one cluster to form cluster features when one or more clusters exist. The processor determines vehicle state based on the vehicle dynamic features from the plurality of signals generated by the vehicle as well as global features from data from the at least one detection device and determines when the trailer is located behind the vehicle based on the cluster features, the vehicle state, and/or the global features.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Publication date: July 19, 2018
    Inventors: Junru Di, Shan Cong, Kapil Gupta, Malakeh Sivako, Debra Rice, Joe Attard
  • Patent number: 7113874
    Abstract: A signal generated responsive to a magnetic field in a magnetic circuit is decomposed into first and second filtered signals, wherein, at at least one first frequency, a magnitude of a component of the first filtered signal is greater than that of the second filtered signal, and at at least one second frequency greater than the at least one first frequency, a magnitude of a component of the second filtered signal is greater than that of the first filtered signal. A condition of a magnetic circuit is sensed responsive to the first and second filtered signals. In one embodiment, actuation of a safety restraint actuator of a vehicle is controlled responsive to the sensed condition of the magnetic circuit that includes a portion of the vehicle susceptible to a crash. A deployment threshold is adjusted responsive to a door opening state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Automotive Systems Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventors: William Todd Watson, Leonard S. Cech, Debra A. Rice
  • Publication number: 20050096881
    Abstract: A signal generated responsive to a magnetic field in a magnetic circuit is decomposed into first and second filtered signals, wherein, at at least one first frequency, a magnitude of a component of the first filtered signal is greater than that of the second filtered signal, and at at least one second frequency greater than the at least one first frequency, a magnitude of a component of the second filtered signal is greater than that of the first filtered signal. A condition of a magnetic circuit is sensed responsive to the first and second filtered signals. In one embodiment, actuation of a safety restraint actuator of a vehicle is controlled responsive to the sensed condition of the magnetic circuit that includes a portion of the vehicle susceptible to a crash. A deployment threshold is adjusted responsive to a door opening state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2004
    Publication date: May 5, 2005
    Inventors: William Watson, Leonard Cech, Debra Rice
  • Publication number: 20030178331
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a holding device. More particularly, the present invention relates to a golf tee holding device. This invention organises the golfers' tees in such a manner as to make the tees available for viewing on the golf bag and affords easy access without delay.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2003
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Inventor: Debra Rice Roberts
  • Patent number: 6070113
    Abstract: A vehicular crash discrimination system (10) incorporates first (12) and second (14) crash sensors operatively coupled to a logic AND gate (16), which activates a safety restraint system (2). The first crash sensor (12) is mounted in a location which for a preferred sensing characteristic causes susceptibility to activation by crashes which are so directed that the safety restraint system (2) should not otherwise be activated. The second crash sensor (14), having a lower detection threshold than the first crash sensor (12), is mounted at a distinct location and is responsive to crashes for which the safety restraint system (2) is preferably activated, but is not responsive to those crashes which cause false activation of the first crash sensor (12). The instant invention thus provides for a preferred sensing characteristic determined by a first crash sensor mounted in an inferior location without being subject to false activation of the safety restraint system (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Automotive Systems Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig W. White, Michael P. Bruce, Jeffrey S. Bennett, Debra A. Rice