Patents by Inventor Erik Alpman
Erik Alpman 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: 10988145Abstract: A method for a vehicle control procedure, wherein in the case of this vehicle control procedure a closed loop control of the vehicle velocity is performed on the basis of a predetermined desired value, may comprise the following steps: determining on the basis of at least one predetermined criterion whether in the case of the closed loop control the vehicle velocity leaves a value range that is defined by at least one velocity threshold value while taking into consideration a tolerance range that defines predetermined, permitted deviations from this value range; and implementing a corresponding measure while modifying the vehicle control procedure in dependence upon the result of this determination procedure, wherein the determination procedure is performed on the basis of a signal analysis of at least one measurement signal that describes the movement status of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2020Date of Patent: April 27, 2021Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Frederic Stefan, Erik Alpman, Urs Christen, Rainer Busch
-
Patent number: 10906541Abstract: A method for braking a vehicle to a stop on a sloping section of a roadway wherein a slope inclination of the roadway section, a vehicle speed, an acceleration, and a vehicle brake operation status of the vehicle are continuously ascertained. The slope inclination of the roadway section and the vehicle brake operation status are compared with predetermined threshold values. The method includes activating a braking torque, continuously determined based on the slope inclination, the driving speed, and the acceleration when the instantaneous slope inclination of the roadway section reaches or exceeds the predetermined threshold value for a sloping section and the vehicle brake operation status lies within a predetermined range or value. The braking torque being independent of the vehicle brake operation status.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2017Date of Patent: February 2, 2021Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Erik Alpman, Kai Skolik, George Neugebauer, Stephan Strahl
-
Publication number: 20200172125Abstract: A method for a vehicle control procedure, wherein in the case of this vehicle control procedure a closed loop control of the vehicle velocity is performed on the basis of a predetermined desired value, may comprise the following steps: determining on the basis of at least one predetermined criterion whether in the case of the closed loop control the vehicle velocity leaves a value range that is defined by at least one velocity threshold value while taking into consideration a tolerance range that defines predetermined, permitted deviations from this value range; and implementing a corresponding measure while modifying the vehicle control procedure in dependence upon the result of this determination procedure, wherein the determination procedure is performed on the basis of a signal analysis of at least one measurement signal that describes the movement status of the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 10, 2020Publication date: June 4, 2020Inventors: Frederic Stefan, Erik Alpman, Urs Christen, Rainer Busch
-
Patent number: 10576995Abstract: A method for a vehicle control procedure, wherein in the case of this vehicle control procedure a closed loop control of the vehicle velocity is performed on the basis of a predetermined desired value, may comprise the following steps: determining on the basis of at least one predetermined criterion whether in the case of the closed loop control the vehicle velocity leaves a value range that is defined by at least one velocity threshold value while taking into consideration a tolerance range that defines predetermined, permitted deviations from this value range; and implementing a corresponding measure while modifying the vehicle control procedure in dependence upon the result of this determination procedure, wherein the determination procedure is performed on the basis of a signal analysis of at least one measurement signal that describes the movement status of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2019Date of Patent: March 3, 2020Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Frederic Stefan, Erik Alpman, Urs Christen, Rainer Busch
-
Publication number: 20190300019Abstract: A method for a vehicle control procedure, wherein in the case of this vehicle control procedure a closed loop control of the vehicle velocity is performed on the basis of a predetermined desired value, may comprise the following steps: determining on the basis of at least one predetermined criterion whether in the case of the closed loop control the vehicle velocity leaves a value range that is defined by at least one velocity threshold value while taking into consideration a tolerance range that defines predetermined, permitted deviations from this value range; and implementing a corresponding measure while modifying the vehicle control procedure in dependence upon the result of this determination procedure, wherein the determination procedure is performed on the basis of a signal analysis of at least one measurement signal that describes the movement status of the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 16, 2019Publication date: October 3, 2019Inventors: Frederic Stefan, Erik Alpman, Urs Christen, Rainer Busch
-
Patent number: 10300927Abstract: A method for a vehicle control procedure, wherein in the case of this vehicle control procedure a closed loop control of the vehicle velocity is performed on the basis of a predetermined desired value, may comprise the following steps: determining on the basis of at least one predetermined criterion whether in the case of the closed loop control the vehicle velocity leaves a value range that is defined by at least one velocity threshold value while taking into consideration a tolerance range that defines predetermined, permitted deviations from this value range; and implementing a corresponding measure while modifying the vehicle control procedure in dependence upon the result of this determination procedure, wherein the determination procedure is performed on the basis of a signal analysis of at least one measurement signal that describes the movement status of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2015Date of Patent: May 28, 2019Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Frederic Stefan, Erik Alpman, Urs Christen, Rainer Busch
-
Patent number: 10126871Abstract: A method for operating an electronic device via a touchscreen, wherein the operation is carried out on the basis of a position signal generated by an input movement touching the touchscreen, includes carrying out a filtering of the position signal in such a way that at least one movement component of the input movement is at least partially suppressed, wherein a filtered position signal is obtained, and actuating the electronic device on the basis of this filtered position signal.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2014Date of Patent: November 13, 2018Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Erik Alpman, Christoph Arndt, Rainer Busch, Urs Christen
-
Publication number: 20180194324Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for operation of a motor vehicle with a portable control device. The portable control device is designed to generate control signals to control the motor vehicle. The portable device is also designed to transmit the control signals to the motor vehicle. For authentication, a server generates a token, the token is transmitted to the portable control device, and the token, which is stored temporarily on the portable control device, is transmitted to, and verified by the motor vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2017Publication date: July 12, 2018Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Georg NEUGEBAUER, Uwe GUSSEN, Erik ALPMAN, Kai SKOLIK
-
Publication number: 20180134292Abstract: A method for braking a vehicle to a stop on a sloping section of a roadway wherein a slope inclination of the roadway section, a vehicle speed, an acceleration, and a vehicle brake operation status of the vehicle are continuously ascertained. The slope inclination of the roadway section and the vehicle brake operation status are compared with predetermined threshold values. The method includes activating a braking torque, continuously determined based on the slope inclination, the driving speed, and the acceleration when the instantaneous slope inclination of the roadway section reaches or exceeds the predetermined threshold value for a sloping section and the vehicle brake operation status lies within a predetermined range or value. The braking torque being independent of the vehicle brake operation status.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 10, 2017Publication date: May 17, 2018Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Erik Alpman, Kai Skolik, George Neugebauer, Stephan Strahl
-
Patent number: 9582998Abstract: A method and an apparatus for autonomous movement of a parked motor vehicle out of a parking space in which it is blocking an entranceway to a facility such as private driveway. A method has the following steps: is parked in a blocking position blocking relative to an entranceway, detecting that a second vehicle requires passage through the entranceway, and operating a parking assistance system to autonomously remove the vehicle from the blocking position to permit passage of the second vehicle. The parking assistance system returns the vehicle to the original parking position after passage of the second vehicle through the entranceway is complete. The requirement for a second vehicle to pass through the entranceway may be detected using wireless vehicle-to-vehicle communication, or using a remote sensing system on-board the vehicle to detect the second vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2014Date of Patent: February 28, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Frederic Stefan, Uwe Gussen, Erik Alpman, Christoph Arndt
-
Patent number: 9499153Abstract: The invention relates to a method and device for changing from a coasting or free-rolling mode of a motor vehicle with an internal combustion engine and an automatic clutch, which is disengaged during the coasting or free-rolling mode, to a fuel cut-off mode, in which the clutch is engaged, wherein before engagement of the clutch the internal combustion engine is brought to a revolution rate at which the engagement of the clutch induces no or only small changes in revolution rate in the drive train, and whereby the fuel supply to the internal combustion engine is reduced following engagement of the clutch. Under one or more predetermined conditions the increase of the drag torque of the internal combustion engine acting on the motor vehicle during the changeover from coasting or free-rolling mode to fuel cut-off mode takes place so slowly that the change is not usually noticed by the driver.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2013Date of Patent: November 22, 2016Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Urs Christen, Ian Oldknow, Erik Alpman, Rainer Busch
-
Publication number: 20160188113Abstract: A method for operating an electronic device via a touchscreen, wherein the operation is carried out on the basis of a position signal generated by an input movement touching the touchscreen, includes carrying out a filtering of the position signal in such a way that at least one movement component of the input movement is at least partially suppressed, wherein a filtered position signal is obtained, and actuating the electronic device on the basis of this filtered position signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2014Publication date: June 30, 2016Inventors: Erik ALPMAN, Christoph ARNDT, Rainer BUSCH, Urs CHRISTEN
-
Publication number: 20160114796Abstract: A method for a vehicle control procedure, wherein in the case of this vehicle control procedure a closed loop control of the vehicle velocity is performed on the basis of a predetermined desired value, may comprise the following steps: determining on the basis of at least one predetermined criterion whether in the case of the closed loop control the vehicle velocity leaves a value range that is defined by at least one velocity threshold value while taking into consideration a tolerance range that defines predetermined, permitted deviations from this value range; and implementing a corresponding measure while modifying the vehicle control procedure in dependence upon the result of this determination procedure, wherein the determination procedure is performed on the basis of a signal analysis of at least one measurement signal that describes the movement status of the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 27, 2015Publication date: April 28, 2016Inventors: Frederic STEFAN, Erik ALPMAN, Urs CHRISTEN, Rainer BUSCH
-
Patent number: 9169115Abstract: A method for preventing fuel theft at a gas station or a charging station for motor vehicles is provided. The method includes determining whether a refueling process or recharging process of a motor vehicle is taking place and activating an emergency operating mode of the motor vehicle until a payment for the refueling process or the recharging process has taken place, the emergency operating mode configured to limit vehicle speed.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2014Date of Patent: October 27, 2015Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Frederic Stefan, Uwe Gussen, Christoph Arndt, Erik Alpman
-
Publication number: 20150046050Abstract: The invention relates to a method and device for changing from a coasting or free-rolling mode of a motor vehicle with an internal combustion engine and an automatic clutch, which is disengaged during the coasting or free-rolling mode, to a fuel cut-off mode, in which the clutch is engaged, wherein before engagement of the clutch the internal combustion engine is brought to a revolution rate at which the engagement of the clutch induces no or only small changes in revolution rate in the drive train, and whereby the fuel supply to the internal combustion engine is reduced following engagement of the clutch. Under one or more predetermined conditions the increase of the drag torque of the internal combustion engine acting on the motor vehicle during the changeover from coasting or free-rolling mode to fuel cut-off mode takes place so slowly that the change is not usually noticed by the driver.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 11, 2013Publication date: February 12, 2015Inventors: Urs Christen, Ian Oldknow, Erik Alpman, Rainer Busch
-
Publication number: 20150039213Abstract: A method and an apparatus for autonomous movement of a parked motor vehicle out of a parking space in which it is blocking an entranceway to a facility such as private driveway. A method has the following steps: is parked in a blocking position blocking relative to an entranceway, detecting that a second vehicle requires passage through the entranceway, and operating a parking assistance system to autonomously remove the vehicle from the blocking position to permit passage of the second vehicle. The parking assistance system returns the vehicle to the original parking position after passage of the second vehicle through the entranceway is complete. The requirement for a second vehicle to pass through the entranceway may be detected using wireless vehicle-to-vehicle communication, or using a remote sensing system on-board the vehicle to detect the second vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 4, 2014Publication date: February 5, 2015Inventors: Frederic STEFAN, Uwe GUSSEN, Erik ALPMAN, Christoph ARNDT
-
Publication number: 20140236444Abstract: A method for preventing fuel theft at a gas station or a charging station for motor vehicles is provided. The method includes determining whether a refueling process or recharging process of a motor vehicle is taking place and activating an emergency operating mode of the motor vehicle until a payment for the refueling process or the recharging process has taken place, the emergency operating mode configured to limit vehicle speed.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 4, 2014Publication date: August 21, 2014Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Frederic Stefan, Uwe Gussen, Christoph Arndt, Erik Alpman