Patents by Inventor Douglas Blue

Douglas Blue 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: 20230288932
    Abstract: A method is provided for the automatic unparking of a motor vehicle, with which a parking trajectory is determined on the basis of directly collected data about the motor vehicle surroundings and additionally on the basis of data relating to the motor vehicle surroundings and obtained during the movement of the motor vehicle to the parking position and stored on a memory device of the motor vehicle. A motor vehicle and a system for carrying out the method will also be provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2022
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy C. Bettger, Thomas Gerlitz, Douglas Blue, Ahmed Benmimoun, Nadja Wysietzki, Lars Kuhnert, Erick Michael Lavoie
  • Publication number: 20230099598
    Abstract: A computer includes a processor and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to receive sensor data indicating a current position of an object, determine a predicted position of the object at a future time, and instruct a component of a vehicle to actuate based on the current position being in a first zone of a plurality of zones surrounding the vehicle and the predicted position being in a second zone of the plurality of zones different than the first zone. The zones are nonoverlapping and have preset boundaries relative to the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2021
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Aakar Mehra, David Dekime, Kenneth Harkenrider, Abhishek Sharma, Douglas Blue
  • Patent number: 11498554
    Abstract: A computer is programmed to identify a turning center defined by a turning radius of the vehicle and a heading angle of the vehicle, identify a boundary circle having a center defined by the turning center and a radius extending to a location of a detected object, identify coordinates for each of a plurality of vertices of an external contour of the vehicle, the external contour defining a plurality of line segments, each line segment connecting two of the vertices, upon identifying at least one line segment that intersects the boundary circle, identify at least one of an object distance or an intersection time between the object and the vehicle, and actuate at least one of a steering or a brake to avoid the object when the object distance is below a distance threshold or the intersection time is below a time threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Li Xu, Douglas Blue
  • Patent number: 11279405
    Abstract: A hitch assist system is provided herein that includes a sensing system configured to detect a trailer and obstacles proximate the trailer. The hitch assist system also includes a controller in communication with the sensing system and configured to define a final vehicle heading direction relative to the trailer when a hitch ball of a vehicle is aligned with a coupler of the trailer; determine an uppermost/farthest position of the vehicle from the trailer; determine a lowermost/nearest position of the vehicle from the trailer; and determine a vehicle path that aligns the vehicle within the uppermost/farthest and lowermost/nearest positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Li Xu, Douglas Blue, Kyle Simmons, Luke Niewiadomski, Eric Hongtei Tseng, Peter Ling
  • Publication number: 20210261118
    Abstract: A computer is programmed to identify a turning center defined by a turning radius of the vehicle and a heading angle of the vehicle, identify a boundary circle having a center defined by the turning center and a radius extending to a location of a detected object, identify coordinates for each of a plurality of vertices of an external contour of the vehicle, the external contour defining a plurality of line segments, each line segment connecting two of the vertices, upon identifying at least one line segment that intersects the boundary circle, identify at least one of an object distance or an intersection time between the object and the vehicle, and actuate at least one of a steering or a brake to avoid the object when the object distance is below a distance threshold or the intersection time is below a time threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2020
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Li Xu, Douglas Blue
  • Publication number: 20200114968
    Abstract: A hitch assist system is provided herein that includes a sensing system configured to detect a trailer and obstacles proximate the trailer. The hitch assist system also includes a controller in communication with the sensing system and configured to define a final vehicle heading direction relative to the trailer when a hitch ball of a vehicle is aligned with a coupler of the trailer; determine an uppermost/farthest position of the vehicle from the trailer; determine a lowermost/nearest position of the vehicle from the trailer; and determine a vehicle path that aligns the vehicle within the uppermost/farthest and lowermost/nearest positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2018
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Inventors: Li Xu, Douglas Blue, Kyle Simmons, Luke Niewiadomski, Eric Hongtei Tseng, Peter Ling
  • Patent number: 10369988
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for autonomous parking of vehicles in perpendicular parking spots. An example vehicle includes a front corner, a camera, and an autonomous vehicle parker. The autonomous vehicle parker is to detect, via the camera, a perpendicular parking spot and an outer boundary of the perpendicular parking spot, determine a linear parking path located within the perpendicular parking spot and based on the outer boundary, and autonomously turn into the perpendicular parking spot such that the front corner travels along the linear parking path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Eric Hongtei Tseng, Li Xu, Kyle Simmons, Douglas Blue
  • Patent number: 10330644
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for conducting measurements of relative humidity using an ultrasonic sensor. In one example, a plurality of ultrasonic signals having different frequencies are transmitted from a single sensor, and attenuation values of reflected signals are determined only for those signals determined to have the same transit time from transmission to receipt, and where frequency of the plurality of ultrasonic signals may be changed responsive to an indication that the signals may be below a signal-to-noise threshold. In this way, by determining a difference between attenuation values between pairs of signals, where the signals comprise different frequencies and where the signals comprise the same transit times, relative humidity may be accurately determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael McQuillen, Gopichandra Surnilla, Douglas Blue, Richard E. Soltis, Daniel A. Makled, Mohannad Hakeem
  • Patent number: 10302596
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for conducting measurements of relative humidity via the use of an ultrasonic sensor. In one example, the ultrasonic sensor for conducting the relative humidity measurement is selected from a plurality of ultrasonic sensors positioned at various locations on the vehicle, and where the selecting is accomplished in some examples via the use of one or more onboard cameras configured to identify suitable objects that are stationary with respect to the vehicle. In this way, robustness and accuracy of relative humidity measurements may be improved, lifetime of individual ultrasonic sensors may be extended, and vehicle operating conditions that depend on accurate relative humidity measurements may be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael McQuillen, Gopichandra Surnilla, Douglas Blue, Richard E. Soltis, Daniel A. Makled, Mohannad Hakeem
  • Patent number: 10281921
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for autonomous parking of vehicles in perpendicular parking spots. An example vehicle includes a front corner, a sensor, and a parking controller. The parking controller is to detect, via the sensor, a perpendicular parking spot and determine a linear parking path located within the perpendicular parking spot along which the front corner is to travel. The parking controller also is to determine an approaching turn path to the linear parking path and autonomously turn along the approaching turn path and the linear parking path into the perpendicular parking spot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kyle Simmons, Li Xu, Douglas Blue, Hongtei Eric Tseng
  • Publication number: 20190101925
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for autonomous parking of vehicles in perpendicular parking spots. An example vehicle includes a front corner, a sensor, and a parking controller. The parking controller is to detect, via the sensor, a perpendicular parking spot and determine a linear parking path located within the perpendicular parking spot along which the front corner is to travel. The parking controller also is to determine an approaching turn path to the linear parking path and autonomously turn along the approaching turn path and the linear parking path into the perpendicular parking spot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2017
    Publication date: April 4, 2019
    Inventors: Kyle Simmons, Li Xu, Douglas Blue, Hongtei Eric Tseng
  • Patent number: 10229231
    Abstract: A method for generating training data. The method may include executing a simulation process. The simulation process may include traversing one or more virtual sensors over a virtual road surface defining a plurality of virtual anomalies that are each sensible by the one or more virtual sensors. During the traversing, each of the one or more virtual sensors may be moved with respect to the virtual road surface as dictated by a vehicle-motion model modeling motion of a vehicle driving on the virtual road surface while carrying the one or more virtual sensors. Virtual sensor data characterizing the virtual road surface may be recorded. The virtual sensor data may correspond to what a real sensor would have output had it sensed the road surface in the real world.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Venkatapathi Raju Nallapa, Martin Saeger, Ashley Elizabeth Micks, Douglas Blue
  • Publication number: 20180201256
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for autonomous parking of vehicles in perpendicular parking spots. An example vehicle includes a front corner, a camera, and an autonomous vehicle parker. The autonomous vehicle parker is to detect, via the camera, a perpendicular parking spot and an outer boundary of the perpendicular parking spot, determine a linear parking path located within the perpendicular parking spot and based on the outer boundary, and autonomously turn into the perpendicular parking spot such that the front corner travels along the linear parking path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Publication date: July 19, 2018
    Inventors: Eric Hongtei Tseng, Li Xu, Kyle Simmons, Douglas Blue
  • Publication number: 20180095058
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for conducting measurements of relative humidity via the use of an ultrasonic sensor. In one example, the ultrasonic sensor for conducting the relative humidity measurement is selected from a plurality of ultrasonic sensors positioned at various locations on the vehicle, and where the selecting is accomplished in some examples via the use of one or more onboard cameras configured to identify suitable objects that are stationary with respect to the vehicle. In this way, robustness and accuracy of relative humidity measurements may be improved, lifetime of individual ultrasonic sensors may be extended, and vehicle operating conditions that depend on accurate relative humidity measurements may be improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2016
    Publication date: April 5, 2018
    Inventors: Michael McQuillen, Gopichandra Surnilla, Douglas Blue, Richard E. Soltis, Daniel A. Makled, Mohannad Hakeem
  • Publication number: 20180095057
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for conducting measurements of relative humidity using an ultrasonic sensor. In one example, a plurality of ultrasonic signals having different frequencies are transmitted from a single sensor, and attenuation values of reflected signals are determined only for those signals determined to have the same transit time from transmission to receipt, and where frequency of the plurality of ultrasonic signals may be changed responsive to an indication that the signals may be below a signal-to-noise threshold. In this way, by determining a difference between attenuation values between pairs of signals, where the signals comprise different frequencies and where the signals comprise the same transit times, relative humidity may be accurately determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2016
    Publication date: April 5, 2018
    Inventors: Michael McQuillen, Gopichandra Surnilla, Douglas Blue, Richard E. Soltis, Daniel A. Makled, Mohannad Hakeem
  • Patent number: 9925978
    Abstract: A vehicle includes: motor(s), steering, processor(s) configured to: (a) receive a current heading; (b) receive a desired heading; (c) calculate a first steering angle (FSA) based on (a) and (b); (d) move the vehicle, via the motor(s) and steering: (i) in a first direction based on the FSA; (ii) in a second, opposing direction, based on an opposite of the FSA.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Eric Hongtei Tseng, Li Xu, Kyle Simmons, Paul Theodosis, Douglas Blue
  • Publication number: 20180022344
    Abstract: A vehicle includes: motor(s), steering, processor(s) configured to: (a) receive a current heading; (b) receive a desired heading; (c) calculate a first steering angle (FSA) based on (a) and (b); (d) move the vehicle, via the motor(s) and steering: (i) in a first direction based on the FSA; (ii) in a second, opposing direction, based on an opposite of the FSA.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2016
    Publication date: January 25, 2018
    Inventors: Eric Hongtei Tseng, Li Xu, Kyle Simmons, Paul Theodosis, Douglas Blue
  • Patent number: 9841765
    Abstract: Systems and methods for curb detection for parking are disclosed. An example vehicle parking assist system includes a processor and memory. An example program stored in the memory is configured to move a vehicle using a set of maneuvers to park the vehicle in a parking space based on an estimated location of a curb. The example program is also configured to compare a first yaw rate to a reference yaw rate to detect when the vehicle contacts the curb. Additionally, the example program is configured to move the vehicle using an adjusted set of maneuvers based on an actual location of the curb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kyle Simmons, Li Xu, Eric Hongtei Tseng, Thomas Edward Pilutti, Douglas Blue
  • Publication number: 20170261994
    Abstract: Systems and methods for curb detection for parking are disclosed. An example vehicle parking assist system includes a processor and memory. An example program stored in the memory is configured to move a vehicle using a set of maneuvers to park the vehicle in a parking space based on an estimated location of a curb. The example program is also configured to compare a first yaw rate to a reference yaw rate to detect when the vehicle contacts the curb. Additionally, the example program is configured to move the vehicle using an adjusted set of maneuvers based on an actual location of the curb.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2016
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Inventors: Kyle Simmons, Li Xu, Eric Hongtei Tseng, Thomas Edward Pilutti, Douglas Blue
  • Publication number: 20170083794
    Abstract: A method for testing the performance of one or more anomaly-detection algorithms. The method may include obtaining sensor data output by a virtual sensor modeling the behavior of an image sensor. The sensor data may correspond to a time when the virtual sensor was sensing a virtual anomaly defined within a virtual road surface. One or more algorithms may be applied to the sensor data to produce at least one perceived dimension of the virtual anomaly. Thereafter, the performance of the one or more algorithms may be quantified by comparing the at least one perceived dimension to at least one actual dimension of the virtual anomaly as defined in the virtual road surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Inventors: Venkatapathi Raju Nallapa, Martin Saeger, Ashley Elizabeth Micks, Douglas Blue