Patents by Inventor Eric She

Eric She 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: 10810875
    Abstract: A system includes a computer programmed to receive first data from a first source that is a vehicle. The first data identifies a fault of the vehicle. The computer is programmed to receive second data from a second source outside the vehicle describing an area around the vehicle. The computer is programmed to determine, based on the first and second data, a navigational plan. The computer is programmed to transmit an instruction to the vehicle to actuate the vehicle according to the navigational plan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Eric She, Ryan J. Skaff, Cheri Lyn Hansen
  • Patent number: 10539961
    Abstract: Vehicles can be equipped to operate in both autonomous and occupant piloted mode. A computing device included in a vehicle can determine estimated steering velocities for a steering system of a vehicle as a function of respective steering angles and time steps and determine a path for the vehicle to travel based on the estimated steering velocities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies
    Inventors: Jens Christiansen, Eric She
  • Patent number: 10488863
    Abstract: Vehicles can be equipped to operate in both autonomous and occupant piloted mode. Vehicles can be equipped with hardware and software to determine a driving-acceptable region defined by lateral and longitudinal coordinates relative to a first vehicle, wherein the lateral and longitudinal coordinates are based on the locations and sizes of one or more second vehicles and the location and size of a roadway. Upon determining a vehicle fault, a computing device in the vehicle can pilot the vehicle to a stop within the driving-acceptable region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Eric She, Scott J. Lauffer, Jose Lopez
  • Patent number: 10246101
    Abstract: A computer in a vehicle is programmed to operate a vehicle along a predefined course according to predetermined criteria, record an optimal path through the predefined course based on operation of the vehicle according to the predetermined criteria, monitor operation of at least one vehicle control while the vehicle is operated by a human driver along the predefined course, and actuate the at least one vehicle control based on a predetermined deviance from the optimal path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Eric She, Scott J. Lauffer, Ali Abdallah
  • Patent number: 10234861
    Abstract: A vehicle system includes a first vehicle component at least partially controlling a vehicle action and a second vehicle component at least partially controlling the vehicle action. A coordination controller is programmed to coordinate control of the vehicle action. The coordination controller detects a first vehicle component failure, selects a vehicle mode, and allocates workloads of the first vehicle component and the second vehicle component according to the selected vehicle mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Eric She
  • Publication number: 20190012913
    Abstract: A system includes a computer programmed to receive first data from a first source that is a vehicle. The first data identifies a fault of the vehicle. The computer is programmed to receive second data from a second source outside the vehicle describing an area around the vehicle. The computer is programmed to determine, based on the first and second data, a navigational plan. The computer is programmed to transmit an instruction to the vehicle to actuate the vehicle according to the navigational plan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2017
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Eric She, Ryan J. Skaff, Cheri Lyn Hansen
  • Patent number: 10140237
    Abstract: A vehicle system includes a first communication path and a second communication path. The vehicle system further includes a processor programmed to determine a first communication speed associated with communicating over the first communication path and a secondary communication speed associated with communicating over the second communication path. The processor commands a first vehicle subsystem to communicate over the first communication path or the second communication path based at least in part on the first communication speed and the secondary communication speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Eric She
  • Patent number: 10121376
    Abstract: A computer is programmed to receive a message from a second vehicle indicating a fault in a second vehicle component. The computer is further programmed to modify an area of control of the first vehicle to include a location of the second vehicle, and to provide a control instruction to the second vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Eric She, Scott J. Lauffer
  • Publication number: 20180194362
    Abstract: A computer in a vehicle is programmed to operate a vehicle along a predefined course according to predetermined criteria, record an optimal path through the predefined course based on operation of the vehicle according to the predetermined criteria, monitor operation of at least one vehicle control while the vehicle is operated by a human driver along the predefined course, and actuate the at least one vehicle control based on a predetermined deviance from the optimal path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2017
    Publication date: July 12, 2018
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Eric She, Scott J. Lauffer, Ali Abdallah
  • Publication number: 20180164823
    Abstract: Vehicles can be equipped to operate in both autonomous and occupant piloted mode. Vehicles can be equipped with hardware and software to determine a driving-acceptable region defined by lateral and longitudinal coordinates relative to a first vehicle, wherein the lateral and longitudinal coordinates are based on the locations and sizes of one or more second vehicles and the location and size of a roadway. Upon determining a vehicle fault, a computing device in the vehicle can pilot the vehicle to a stop within the driving-acceptable region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2016
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Eric She, Scott J. Lauffer, Jose Lopez
  • Patent number: 9981686
    Abstract: Controlling a vehicle steering system includes determining a rack position of a rack needed to execute a maneuver. A minimum velocity allowing the desired steering angle to be reached is determined. The velocity of the vehicle is increased to the determined minimum velocity. The rack is moved to the rack position needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: John P. Joyce, David Jeffeory Berels, Eric She, Michael Edward Brewer
  • Patent number: 9975573
    Abstract: An operation mode of a first actuator engaged with a steering rack is determined. An operation mode of a second actuator engaged with a steering column is determined. The operation mode of one of the first and second actuators is adjusted upon detecting a failure in the other of the first and second actuators. At least one of the steering rack and the steering column is actuated based on the operation mode. In an angle control mode, a predetermined steering angle is provided to the first and second actuators to adjust the steering rack according to the steering angle. In a torque control mode, a steering column torque from a torsion sensor disposed on the steering column is provided to the first and second actuators to adjust the steering rack according to the steering column torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Eric She, Nathaniel Abram Rolfes, William James Bouse
  • Publication number: 20180120855
    Abstract: Vehicles can be equipped to operate in both autonomous and occupant piloted mode. A computing device included in a vehicle can determine estimated steering velocities for a steering system of a vehicle as a function of respective steering angles and time steps and determine a path for the vehicle to travel based on the estimated steering velocities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2016
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jens Christiansen, Eric She
  • Publication number: 20180096602
    Abstract: A computer is programmed to receive a message from a second vehicle indicating a fault in a second vehicle component. The computer is further programmed to modify an area of control of the first vehicle to include a location of the second vehicle, and to provide a control instruction to the second vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2016
    Publication date: April 5, 2018
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Eric She, Scott J. Lauffer
  • Publication number: 20180089133
    Abstract: A vehicle system includes a first communication path and a second communication path. The vehicle system further includes a processor programmed to determine a first communication speed associated with communicating over the first communication path and a secondary communication speed associated with communicating over the second communication path. The processor commands a first vehicle subsystem to communicate over the first communication path or the second communication path based at least in part on the first communication speed and the secondary communication speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Publication date: March 29, 2018
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Eric She
  • Publication number: 20180057048
    Abstract: Controlling a vehicle steering system includes determining a rack position of a rack needed to execute a maneuver. A minimum velocity allowing the desired steering angle to be reached is determined. The velocity of the vehicle is increased to the determined minimum velocity. The rack is moved to the rack position needed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John P. Joyce, David Jeffeory Berels, Eric She, Michael Edward Brewer
  • Publication number: 20180029637
    Abstract: An operation mode of a first actuator engaged with a steering rack is determined. An operation mode of a second actuator engaged with a steering column is determined. The operation mode of one of the first and second actuators is adjusted upon detecting a failure in the other of the first and second actuators. At least one of the steering rack and the steering column is actuated based on the operation mode. In an angle control mode, a predetermined steering angle is provided to the first and second actuators to adjust the steering rack according to the steering angle. In a torque control mode, a steering column torque from a torsion sensor disposed on the steering column is provided to the first and second actuators to adjust the steering rack according to the steering column torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Eric She, Nathaniel Abram Rolfes, William James Bouse
  • Publication number: 20180024552
    Abstract: A vehicle system includes a first vehicle component at least partially controlling a vehicle action and a second vehicle component at least partially controlling the vehicle action. A coordination controller is programmed to coordinate control of the vehicle action. The coordination controller detects a first vehicle component failure, selects a vehicle mode, and allocates workloads of the first vehicle component and the second vehicle component according to the selected vehicle mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2016
    Publication date: January 25, 2018
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Eric She