Patents by Inventor Douglas Rhode

Douglas Rhode 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).

  • UTILITY VEHICLE USING BRAKE-STEER ASSISTED TURNING
    Publication number: 20060076828
    Abstract: A system and method of controlling an automotive vehicle includes selecting a brake-steer mode, selecting a transfer case so that the front wheels are driven and the rear wheel are not driven and applying brake-steer to the rear wheels to reduce the turning radius of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2005
    Publication date: April 13, 2006
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Jianbo Lu, Timothy Offerle, Hongtei Tseng, Douglas Rhode, Gregory Brown
  • CONTROL SYSTEM FOR BRAKE-STEER ASSISTED PARKING AND METHOD THEREFOR
    Publication number: 20050236894
    Abstract: A system and method of controlling an automotive vehicle includes determining a steering wheel angle, determining a steering wheel direction, determining a steering wheel angular rate and applying brake-steer as a function of steering wheel angle, steering wheel angular rate and steering wheel direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2004
    Publication date: October 27, 2005
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Jianbo Lu, Timothy Offerle, Hongtei Tseng, Douglas Rhode, Gregory Brown
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING AN AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLE IN A U-TURN
    Publication number: 20050206226
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling an automotive vehicle includes determining the vehicle is in a U-turn and generating a U-turn signal and applying brake-steer in response to the U-turn signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2004
    Publication date: September 22, 2005
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jianbo Lu, Douglas Rhode
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING A VEHICLE USING AN OBJECT DETECTION SYSTEM AND BRAKE-STEER
    Publication number: 20050209762
    Abstract: A control system for an automotive vehicle that has a brake system includes an object detection system that generates an object detection signal and an object distance signal. A controller is coupled to the object detection system. The controller generates a brake control signal proportional to the object distance signal in response to the object detection signal and the object distance signal. The controller controls the brake system in response to the brake control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2004
    Publication date: September 22, 2005
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Jianbo Lu, Hongtei Tseng, Douglas Rhode
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING BRAKE-STEER IN AN AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLE IN REVERSE
    Publication number: 20050209763
    Abstract: A system and method of controlling an automotive vehicle includes generating a reverse direction signal corresponding to a reverse direction of the vehicle and generating brake-steer in response to the reverse direction signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2004
    Publication date: September 22, 2005
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Offerle, Hongtei Tseng, Douglas Rhode, Gregory Brown
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAINTAINING A TRAILER IN A STRAIGHT POSITION RELATIVE TO THE VEHICLE
    Publication number: 20050206233
    Abstract: A system and method of controlling a vehicle with a trailer comprises determining the presence of a trailer, determining a vehicle velocity, determining a steering wheel angle, and determining a rear axle side slip angle. When the rear axle side slip angle is above a predetermined value, the vehicle velocity is above a velocity threshold, and the steering wheel is about zero, brake-steer is applied to the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2004
    Publication date: September 22, 2005
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Offerle, Craig Stephan, Douglas Rhode