Patents by Inventor Erick Lavoie

Erick Lavoie 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: 20230186761
    Abstract: The disclosure is generally directed to systems and methods for receiving from a mobile device that is optically tethered to a vehicle for remote driver assistance, an estimate of a speed of the vehicle, an orientation of the vehicle and a trajectory of the vehicle, comparing the estimate of the speed, orientation and trajectory received from the vehicle with a measured speed determined by one or more vehicle sensors, and preventing vehicle motion if a threshold difference from the comparison is exceeded. Another method is directed to determining at a mobile device an estimate of a speed of a vehicle, an orientation of the vehicle, a trajectory of the vehicle and a time stamp, transmitting the data to the vehicle, and untethering from optical tethering if the data are outside of a threshold or if the data indicate that the mobile device is tethered to an unintended vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2021
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Erick Lavoie, Hermanth Yadav Aradhyula, Hamid M. Golgiri
  • Patent number: 11648976
    Abstract: The disclosure describes systems and methods including a mobile device for remotely controlling the movement of a vehicle and trailer. The mobile device provides an intuitive user interface and control input mechanism for controlling the movement of the vehicle and trailer. The control input mechanism uses the tilt and heading of the mobile device to provide a propulsion command and a steering curvature command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Hemanth Yadav Aradhyula, Erick Lavoie, Bo Bao, Seyed Armin Raeis Hosseiny, Siyuan Ma, Monica Bannurkar
  • Publication number: 20230087202
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for rapid switching between an Augmented Reality engagement interface and an orbital motion engagement interface operating via mobile device application. The application may be used to remotely control remote vehicle parking assist functions of a semi-autonomous vehicle. The HMI quick switch system may present two or more user interfaces as alternative options that may allow the user to command a vehicle to perform remote parking assist functions using a securely connected (tethered) mobile device connecting to the vehicle and providing indication of active user engagement with the remote parking assist operations. The HMI quick switch system evaluates user engagement using a complex gesture and video input using the mobile device sensors. By providing an intuitive fast switching interface, a user may provide greater attention to the vehicle and task at hand without undue focus on complex interface actions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2021
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Erick Lavoie, Ryan Gorski, Bo Bao, Siyuan Ma
  • Patent number: 11611694
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to vehicle remote parking assistance, and, more specifically, systems and methods for determining a distance between a vehicle and a mobile device during a remote parking procedure. In particular, the systems and methods include selecting a camera lens or focal length for use with a first method of determining a distance between a vehicle and a mobile device based on an image of the vehicle and a digital model of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Erick Lavoie, Hemanth Yadav Aradhyula, Siyuan Ma
  • Patent number: 11537120
    Abstract: The disclosure generally pertains to a vehicle maneuvering system that includes a personal communication device configured to provide enhanced feedback during vehicle maneuvering operations. In an example scenario, an individual executes a remote-control action upon a personal communication device such as, for example, by swiping a finger across a touchscreen. The personal communication device communicates with a vehicle controller to maneuver the vehicle. Enhanced feedback pertaining to the movement of the vehicle, such as a direction and/or a speed of movement, is provided via the personal communication device in various formats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Seyed Armin Raeis Hosseiny, Bob Bao, Erick Lavoie, Hemanth Yadav Aradhyula, Siyuan Ma
  • Publication number: 20220390942
    Abstract: The systems and methods disclosed herein are configured to provide a mobile device for remotely controlling the movement of a vehicle and trailer. The mobile device provides a user engagement input for display and use of a control input. The control input may be used to generate a signal for controlling the movement of the vehicle and trailer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2021
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Erick Lavoie, Hamid Golgiri, Bo Bao, Siyuan Ma, Hemanth Yadav Aradhyula, Seyed Armin Raeis Hosseiny
  • Publication number: 20220334578
    Abstract: The systems and methods disclosed herein are configured to provide a mobile device for remotely controlling the movement of a vehicle and trailer. The mobile device provides an intuitive user interface and control input mechanism for controlling the movement of the vehicle and trailer with one hand. In particular, the control input mechanism performs a method to determine an arrangement of controls for use with one hand.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2021
    Publication date: October 20, 2022
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Seyed Armin Raeis Hosseiny, Hemanth Yadav Aradhyula, Erick Lavoie
  • Publication number: 20220286619
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to vehicle remote parking assistance, and, more specifically, systems and methods for determining a distance between a vehicle and a mobile device during a remote parking procedure. In particular, the systems and methods include selecting a camera lens or focal length for use with a first method of determining a distance between a vehicle and a mobile device based on an image of the vehicle and a digital model of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2021
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Erick Lavoie, Hemanth Yadav Aradhyula, Siyuan Ma
  • Patent number: 11422913
    Abstract: Systems and methods for managing a display cleaning system are provided. The system may include a touchscreen device having a display operatively coupled to a cleaning apparatus. The touchscreen device may include an algorithm for detecting when and how often to clean the display. For example, the algorithm may be executed to monitor touch events on the display, such that when a certain number of touch events are detected, it will determine that the screen needs to be cleaned. Thresholds for cleaning may be adjusted based on user input. The touchscreen device may be integrated, for example, in an autonomous vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Sena Hermiz, Erick Lavoie, Perry Robinson MacNeille
  • Publication number: 20220260993
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to vehicle remote parking assistance, and, more specifically, systems and methods for determining a distance between a vehicle and a mobile device during a remote parking procedure. In particular, the systems and methods relate to determining a noise factor and remedy to eliminate the noise factor to be able to use a first method to determine the distance. The first method is based on an image of a vehicle from a camera of a mobile device and a digital model of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2021
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Erick Lavoie, Hemanth Yadav Aradhyula
  • Publication number: 20220219751
    Abstract: The disclosure describes systems and methods including a mobile device for remotely controlling the movement of a vehicle and trailer. The mobile device provides an intuitive user interface and control input mechanism for controlling the movement of the vehicle and trailer. The control input mechanism uses the tilt and heading of the mobile device to provide a propulsion command and a steering curvature command.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2021
    Publication date: July 14, 2022
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Hemanth Yadav Aradhyula, Erick Lavoie, Bo Bao, Seyed Armin Raeis Hosseiny, Siyuan Ma, Monica Bannurkar
  • Publication number: 20220179410
    Abstract: The disclosure generally pertains to a remote-control vehicle maneuvering system that includes a personal communication device configured to eliminate vehicle motion interference during a remote-control vehicle maneuvering operation. In an example scenario, an individual may stand in a vehicle having a trailer attached (or stand on the trailer) and perform actions upon the personal communication device so as to transmit commands to a vehicle controller of the vehicle for moving the vehicle backwards in a desired direction. The actions performed by the individual may include tilting the personal communication device to command the vehicle controller to increase a speed of the vehicle. While doing so, various factors such as an object on the road, may cause the vehicle to tilt, thereby increasing a tilt angle of the personal communication device and causing the vehicle to accelerate dangerously. The personal communication device is configured to eliminate interference caused by such factors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Erick Lavoie, Hemanth Yadav Aradhyula, Seyed Armin Raeis Hosseiny
  • Publication number: 20220179767
    Abstract: Systems and methods for managing a display cleaning system are provided. The system may include a touchscreen device having a display operatively coupled to a cleaning apparatus. The touchscreen device may include an algorithm for detecting when and how often to clean the display. For example, the algorithm may be executed to monitor touch events on the display, such that when a certain number of touch events are detected, it will determine that the screen needs to be cleaned. Thresholds for cleaning may be adjusted based on user input. The touchscreen device may be integrated, for example, in an autonomous vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Inventors: Sena Hermiz, Erick Lavoie, Perry Robinson MacNeille
  • Publication number: 20220155778
    Abstract: The disclosure generally pertains to a vehicle maneuvering system that includes a personal communication device configured to provide enhanced feedback during vehicle maneuvering operations. In an example scenario, an individual executes a remote-control action upon a personal communication device such as, for example, by swiping a finger across a touchscreen. The personal communication device communicates with a vehicle controller to maneuver the vehicle. Enhanced feedback pertaining to the movement of the vehicle, such as a direction and/or a speed of movement, is provided via the personal communication device in various formats.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2020
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Seyed Armin Raeis Hosseiny, Bob Bao, Erick Lavoie, Hemanth Yadav Aradhyula, Siyuan Ma
  • Patent number: 11275286
    Abstract: Display technologies are provided for configuring the direction of content presentation using a single display assembly. In some embodiments, the display assembly includes a transparent display unit intercalated between a first switchable layer and a second switchable layer. Each one of the first switchable layer and the second switchable layer is formed to reversibly transition between a transparent state and an opaque state in response to an applied electric field. The transparent display unit, the first switchable layer, and the second switchable layer can be operated individually to configure a particular direction of presenting digital content. In other embodiments, the display assembly includes a switchable layer intercalated between a first transparent display unit and a second transparent display unit. The switchable layer, the first transparent display unit, and the second transparent display unit can be operated individually to configure a particular direction of presenting digital content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Larry, Erick Lavoie, Biaohe Guo
  • Patent number: 11194214
    Abstract: Display technologies are provided for configuring the direction of content presentation using a single display assembly. In some embodiments, the display assembly includes a transparent display unit intercalated between a first switchable layer and a second switchable layer. Each one of the first switchable layer and the second switchable layer is formed to reversibly transition between a transparent state and an opaque state in response to an applied electric field. The transparent display unit, the first switchable layer, and the second switchable layer can be operated individually to configure a particular direction of presenting digital content. In other embodiments, the display assembly includes a switchable layer intercalated between a first transparent display unit and a second transparent display unit. The switchable layer, the first transparent display unit, and the second transparent display unit can be operated individually to configure a particular direction of presenting digital content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Larry, Erick Lavoie, Biaohe Guo
  • Publication number: 20200292904
    Abstract: Display technologies are provided for configuring the direction of content presentation using a single display assembly. In some embodiments, the display assembly includes a transparent display unit intercalated between a first switchable layer and a second switchable layer. Each one of the first switchable layer and the second switchable layer is formed to reversibly transition between a transparent state and an opaque state in response to an applied electric field. The transparent display unit, the first switchable layer, and the second switchable layer can be operated individually to configure a particular direction of presenting digital content. In other embodiments, the display assembly includes a switchable layer intercalated between a first transparent display unit and a second transparent display unit. The switchable layer, the first transparent display unit, and the second transparent display unit can be operated individually to configure a particular direction of presenting digital content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Larry, Erick Lavoie, Biaohe Guo
  • Publication number: 20200292905
    Abstract: Display technologies are provided for configuring the direction of content presentation using a single display assembly. In some embodiments, the display assembly includes a transparent display unit intercalated between a first switchable layer and a second switchable layer. Each one of the first switchable layer and the second switchable layer is formed to reversibly transition between a transparent state and an opaque state in response to an applied electric field. The transparent display unit, the first switchable layer, and the second switchable layer can be operated individually to configure a particular direction of presenting digital content. In other embodiments, the display assembly includes a switchable layer intercalated between a first transparent display unit and a second transparent display unit. The switchable layer, the first transparent display unit, and the second transparent display unit can be operated individually to configure a particular direction of presenting digital content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Larry, Erick Lavoie, Biaohe Guo
  • Publication number: 20200132473
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for determining vehicle location in parking structures. Example methods may include receiving, by one or more computer processors coupled to at least one memory, first data from one or more devices of a vehicle, the first data indicative of the vehicle being in a parking structure; receiving, second data from the one or more devices of the vehicle, the second data indicative of a landmark associated with the parking structure; determining, based on the second data, a feature of the landmark; and causing to transmit a signal indicative of information associated with the feature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Shipley, Erick Lavoie
  • Publication number: 20190163203
    Abstract: A system includes a processor configured to receive a tether activation instruction, including a range. The processor is also configured to wirelessly communicate with a mobile wireless module, responsive to the activation instruction. The processor is further configured to track the mobile wireless module as the module travels and issue an alert when the tracking reveals that the mobile wireless module has reached an outer edge of the range, measured from a processor-location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Publication date: May 30, 2019
    Inventors: Hamid M. GOLGIRI, Michael HRECZNYJ, Vivekanandh ELANGOVAN, Albert BOEHNLEIN, Erick LAVOIE, John VAN WIEMEERSCH, Thomas HERMANN