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: 10988145
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Frederic Stefan, Erik Alpman, Urs Christen, Rainer Busch
  • Patent number: 10906541
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Erik Alpman, Kai Skolik, George Neugebauer, Stephan Strahl
  • Publication number: 20200172125
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Inventors: Frederic Stefan, Erik Alpman, Urs Christen, Rainer Busch
  • Patent number: 10576995
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Frederic Stefan, Erik Alpman, Urs Christen, Rainer Busch
  • Publication number: 20190300019
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2019
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Inventors: Frederic Stefan, Erik Alpman, Urs Christen, Rainer Busch
  • Patent number: 10300927
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Frederic Stefan, Erik Alpman, Urs Christen, Rainer Busch
  • Patent number: 10126871
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Erik Alpman, Christoph Arndt, Rainer Busch, Urs Christen
  • Publication number: 20180194324
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Publication date: July 12, 2018
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Georg NEUGEBAUER, Uwe GUSSEN, Erik ALPMAN, Kai SKOLIK
  • Publication number: 20180134292
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2017
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Erik Alpman, Kai Skolik, George Neugebauer, Stephan Strahl
  • Patent number: 9582998
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Frederic Stefan, Uwe Gussen, Erik Alpman, Christoph Arndt
  • Patent number: 9499153
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Urs Christen, Ian Oldknow, Erik Alpman, Rainer Busch
  • Publication number: 20160188113
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    Inventors: Erik ALPMAN, Christoph ARNDT, Rainer BUSCH, Urs CHRISTEN
  • Publication number: 20160114796
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Inventors: Frederic STEFAN, Erik ALPMAN, Urs CHRISTEN, Rainer BUSCH
  • Patent number: 9169115
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Frederic Stefan, Uwe Gussen, Christoph Arndt, Erik Alpman
  • Publication number: 20150046050
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2013
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventors: Urs Christen, Ian Oldknow, Erik Alpman, Rainer Busch
  • Publication number: 20150039213
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: Frederic STEFAN, Uwe GUSSEN, Erik ALPMAN, Christoph ARNDT
  • Publication number: 20140236444
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Frederic Stefan, Uwe Gussen, Christoph Arndt, Erik Alpman