Patents by Inventor Donald A. Perlick

Donald A. Perlick 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).

  • Publication number: 20240054827
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for indications in automated vehicle hold systems are disclosed. An example apparatus includes determining that the automated vehicle hold system is active. Based on the determination that the automated vehicle hold system is active, initiating a delay timer. Prior to the delay timer elapsing, providing, by executing instructions with at least one processor, a first indication corresponding to the auto hold not being engaged, and upon the delay timer elapsing, providing a second indication corresponding to the auto hold being engaged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2022
    Publication date: February 15, 2024
    Inventors: Alex James, Donald A. Perlick, Bang Kim Cao
  • Patent number: 10836366
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed for automatic calibration of electronic trailer brake gain. An example apparatus includes a trailer brake gain calibration module programmed to compare a calculated trailer brake torque to at least one of a first or second threshold, adjust a gain value based upon satisfaction of at least one of the first or second threshold, and apply a pressure to a trailer brake based on the gain value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alex James, Thomas Salmon, Donald A. Perlick, Bang Kim Cao
  • Patent number: 10829098
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed herein that perform automatic downhill snub braking. An example apparatus disclosed herein includes an electronic powertrain controller to cause a deceleration of a vehicle in response to a first request from an electronic cruise controller, the first request responsive to a change in grade of a driving surface and an electronic brake controller to apply snub braking to the vehicle in response to a second request received from the electronic cruise controller, the second request responsive to a speed of the vehicle reaching a maximum speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Donald A. Perlick, Bang Kim Cao, Kurt Howard Nickerson
  • Patent number: 10625750
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to extricate a vehicle from a stuck condition, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed. An example apparatus includes: a user interface to receive a command to place a vehicle in an autonomous control mode of the vehicle; and a stuck mode controller to autonomously shift a transmission of the vehicle alternately between a reverse gear and a forward gear of the vehicle when in the autonomous control mode to autonomously rock the vehicle back and forth. A timing of the shifting of the transmission is based on a ratio of a velocity of the vehicle to an acceleration of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Alex James, Donald A. Perlick, Thomas Salmon, Bang Kim Cao
  • Publication number: 20200017078
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed herein that perform automatic downhill snub braking. An example apparatus disclosed herein includes an electronic powertrain controller to cause a deceleration of a vehicle in response to a first request from an electronic cruise controller, the first request responsive to a change in grade of a driving surface and an electronic brake controller to apply snub braking to the vehicle in response to a second request received from the electronic cruise controller, the second request responsive to a speed of the vehicle reaching a maximum speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2018
    Publication date: January 16, 2020
    Inventors: Donald A. Perlick, Bang Kim Cao, Kurt Howard Nickerson
  • Publication number: 20190366989
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed for automatic calibration of electronic trailer brake gain. An example apparatus includes a trailer brake gain calibration module programmed to compare a calculated trailer brake torque to at least one of a first or second threshold, adjust a gain value based upon satisfaction of at least one of the first or second threshold, and apply a pressure to a trailer brake based on the gain value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Inventors: Alex James, Thomas Salmon, Donald A. Perlick, Bang Kim Cao
  • Patent number: 10495161
    Abstract: Example methods and apparatus to perform brake sweeping procedures on vehicle brakes are described herein. An example apparatus includes a controller to determine when a vehicle has made a turn, compare an angle at which the vehicle has turned to an angle threshold, and schedule a brake sweeping procedure based on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Salmon, Alex James, Bang Kim Cao, Donald A. Perlick
  • Publication number: 20190283767
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to extricate a vehicle from a stuck condition, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed. An example apparatus includes: a user interface to receive a command to place a vehicle in an autonomous control mode of the vehicle; and a stuck mode controller to autonomously shift a transmission of the vehicle alternately between a reverse gear and a forward gear of the vehicle when in the autonomous control mode to autonomously rock the vehicle back and forth. A timing of the shifting of the transmission is based on a ratio of a velocity of the vehicle to an acceleration of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventors: Alex James, Donald A. Perlick, Thomas Salmon, Bang Kim Cao
  • Patent number: 10358141
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to extricate a vehicle from a stuck condition, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed. An example method includes receiving a command to place a vehicle in a stuck mode. The stuck mode corresponds to an autonomous control mode of the vehicle. The method further includes autonomously controlling the vehicle in the stuck mode to attempt to extricate the vehicle from a stuck condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Alex James, Donald A. Perlick, Thomas Salmon, Bang Kim Cao
  • Publication number: 20180229698
    Abstract: Example methods and apparatus to perform brake sweeping procedures on vehicle brakes are described herein. An example apparatus includes a controller to determine when a vehicle has made a turn, compare an angle at which the vehicle has turned to an angle threshold, and schedule a brake sweeping procedure based on the comparison.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2017
    Publication date: August 16, 2018
    Inventors: Thomas Salmon, Alex James, Bang Kim Cao, Donald A. Perlick
  • Patent number: 10015260
    Abstract: A system includes a processor configured to receive sensor data from a vehicle sensor. The processor is also configured to determine an existence of a condition for which information display has been designated. The processor is further configured to determine a non-vehicular device predesignated for receipt and display of the information and responsive to the condition determination, transfer the information to the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Donald A. Perlick, Jerry Alex James, Howard Churchwell
  • Publication number: 20180124177
    Abstract: A system includes a processor configured to receive sensor data from a vehicle sensor. The processor is also configured to determine an existence of a condition for which information display has been designated. The processor is further configured to determine a non-vehicular device predesignated for receipt and display of the information and responsive to the condition determination, transfer the information to the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2016
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Inventors: Donald A. PERLICK, Jerry Alex JAMES, Howard CHURCHWELL
  • Publication number: 20180111625
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to extricate a vehicle from a stuck condition, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed. An example method includes receiving a command to place a vehicle in a stuck mode. The stuck mode corresponds to an autonomous control mode of the vehicle. The method further includes autonomously controlling the vehicle in the stuck mode to attempt to extricate the vehicle from a stuck condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2016
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Inventors: Alex James, Donald A. Perlick, Thomas Salmon, Bang Kim Cao
  • Patent number: 9321440
    Abstract: A vehicle comprises a speed-sensing device outputting a signal indicating a velocity of the vehicle, a brake system outputting a signal for indicating when the brake system is being commanded to a brake torque providing state, and a trailer brake controller coupled to the speed-sensing device and the brake system. The trailer brake controller utilizes the signal of the speed-sensing device to determine when the vehicle is in a zero-velocity state and utilizes the signal of the brake system to determine when the brake system is being commanded to the brake torque providing state. The trailer brake controller transitions a brake-actuating output signal thereof from a speed-dependent zero-velocity output signal value to a trailer hold zero-velocity output signal value greater than the speed-dependent zero-velocity output signal value when it is determined that the brake system is in the brake torque providing state while the vehicle is in the zero-velocity state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies
    Inventors: Donald A. Perlick, Anthony Joseph Rendi, Thomas Salmon, Jerry Alex James
  • Patent number: 9037341
    Abstract: A method and system for displaying a traction control ON/OFF menu at a display module in a vehicle upon detection of vehicle characteristics and conditions that may warrant a driver's desire to manually disable the traction control feature. The method and system verify traction control is enabled on the vehicle, verify the traction control ON/OFF menu is not already being displayed at a display module, a controller receives at least one signal indicating an occasion that may warrant manual deactivation of traction control and the controller initiates displaying the traction control ON/OFF menu for the convenience of the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Inventors: Jerry Alex James, Donald A. Perlick, Thomas Salmon, Bang Kim Cao, Anthony Joseph Rendi
  • Publication number: 20130325255
    Abstract: A method and system for displaying a traction control ON/OFF menu at a display module in a vehicle upon detection of vehicle characteristics and conditions that may warrant a driver's desire to manually disable the traction control feature. The method and system verify traction control is enabled on the vehicle, verify the traction control ON/OFF menu is not already being displayed at a display module, a controller receives at least one signal indicating an occasion that may warrant manual deactivation of traction control and the controller initiates displaying the traction control ON/OFF menu for the convenience of the driver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Inventors: Jerry Alex James, Donald A. Perlick, Thomas Salmon, Bang Kim Cao, Anthony Joseph Rendi
  • Publication number: 20130124058
    Abstract: A vehicle comprises a speed-sensing device outputting a signal indicating a velocity of the vehicle, a brake system outputting a signal for indicating when the brake system is being commanded to a brake torque providing state, and a trailer brake controller coupled to the speed-sensing device and the brake system. The trailer brake controller utilizes the signal of the speed-sensing device to determine when the vehicle is in a zero-velocity state and utilizes the signal of the brake system to determine when the brake system is being commanded to the brake torque providing state. The trailer brake controller transitions a brake-actuating output signal thereof from a speed-dependent zero-velocity output signal value to a trailer hold zero-velocity output signal value greater than the speed-dependent zero-velocity output signal value when it is determined that the brake system is in the brake torque providing state while the vehicle is in the zero-velocity state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Inventors: Donald A. Perlick, Anthony Joseph Rendi, Thomas Salmon, Jerry Alex James