Patents by Inventor Evangelos P. Skoures

Evangelos P. Skoures 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: 11047163
    Abstract: A vehicle door system is disclosed. The system comprises an actuator, a power source, and a controller. The actuator is configured to adjust a position of a door. The controller is configured to control the actuator with energy provided by the power source. The controller is further configured to identify a charge level of the power source and compare the charge level to at least one threshold. In response the charge level being less than the at least one threshold, the controller is configured to output a warning signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Larry Dean Elie, John Wayne Jaranson, Timothy J. Potter, Robert F. Novak, Jeff A. Wallace, Michael M. Azzouz, Gerald J. Heath, Evangelos P. Skoures
  • Patent number: 11021098
    Abstract: This disclosure details illuminating vehicle closure member systems for selectively producing various exterior lighting effects. Exemplary closure member systems may include a closure member and a discrete illuminating section secured relative to the closure member and including a lighting module that is configured to produce at least one of a beltline lighting effect, a motion path lighting effect, or an operation status lighting effect at or near the closure member. A control module may control the various lighting effects emitted by the illuminating closure member system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Kristopher Karl Brown, Larry Dean Elie, Evangelos P. Skoures, Stuart C. Salter, Howard Paul Tsvi Linden
  • Patent number: 10871118
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for an oxygen sensor heater. In one example, a method may include applying a less than maximum duty cycle of voltage to the oxygen sensor heater during an engine cold start (e.g., when a temperature of the oxygen sensor is less than its light-off temperature) and adjusting the applied duty cycle of voltage to maintain a constant amount of power. In this way, the oxygen sensor may be heated at a constant rate even as a resistance of the oxygen sensor heater increases, decreasing an amount of time before the oxygen sensor reaches its light-off temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Hao Zhang, Richard E. Soltis, William Russell Goodwin, Robert F. Novak, David Bilby, Evangelos P. Skoures
  • Patent number: 10745957
    Abstract: A door assist system for a vehicle is disclosed. The system comprises an actuator configured to control a position of the door about a hinge assembly. An interference sensor forms a portion of a door opening seal and is configured to detect an obstruction in a plurality of detection regions. The system further comprises a controller configured to control the actuator in response to a detection signal from the interference sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Larry Elie, Timothy J. Potter, Robert F. Novak, John Wayne Jaranson, Jeff A. Wallace, Michael M. Azzouz, Gerald J. Heath, Evangelos P. Skoures
  • Patent number: 10488315
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for predicting response time of a particulate matter (PM) sensor and resetting the PM sensor upon completion of response time prediction, independent of actual or predicted soot load on PM sensor. Soot accumulation data collected during steady state vehicle operation may be fitted with a time-based polynomial function and sensor output and regeneration schedule may be estimated from the curve fit even if the overall signal is noisy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Charles Weber, Garry Anthony Zawacki, Vidhushekhar Vasant Zambare, Evangelos P. Skoures, Zaid Alnaqash
  • Publication number: 20190145333
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for an oxygen sensor heater. In one example, a method may include applying a less than maximum duty cycle of voltage to the oxygen sensor heater during an engine cold start (e.g., when a temperature of the oxygen sensor is less than its light-off temperature) and adjusting the applied duty cycle of voltage to maintain a constant amount of power. In this way, the oxygen sensor may be heated at a constant rate even as a resistance of the oxygen sensor heater increases, decreasing an amount of time before the oxygen sensor reaches its light-off temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2017
    Publication date: May 16, 2019
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Hao Zhang, Richard E. Soltis, William Russell Goodwin, Robert F. Novak, David Bilby, Evangelos P. Skoures
  • Publication number: 20190071913
    Abstract: A vehicle door system is disclosed. The system comprises an actuator, a power source, and a controller. The actuator is configured to adjust a position of a door. The controller is configured to control the actuator with energy provided by the power source. The controller is further configured to identify a charge level of the power source and compare the charge level to at least one threshold. In response the charge level being less than the at least one threshold, the controller is configured to output a warning signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2018
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Larry Dean Elie, John Wayne Jaranson, Timothy J. Potter, Robert F. Novak, Jeff A. Wallace, Michael M. Azzouz, Gerald J. Heath, Evangelos P. Skoures
  • Patent number: 10151132
    Abstract: A vehicle door system is disclosed. The system comprises an actuator, a power source, and a controller. The actuator is configured to adjust a position of a door. The controller is configured to control the actuator with energy provided by the power source. The controller is further configured to identify a charge level of the power source and compare the charge level to at least one threshold. In response the charge level being less than the at least one threshold, the controller is configured to output a warning signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Larry Dean Elie, John Wayne Jaranson, Timothy J. Potter, Robert F. Novak, Jeff A. Wallace, Michael M. Azzouz, Gerald J. Heath, Evangelos P. Skoures
  • Patent number: 10008069
    Abstract: A vehicle door system for a for-hire vehicle (FHV) and a method of calculating a transport fare includes providing a FHV having an actuator configured to adjust a position of a door relative to a door opening. An apparatus is configured to receive vehicle occupancy data. A controller is configured to process the vehicle occupancy data to determine the vehicle occupancy over the course of a passenger transport. The controller is further configured to calculate a transport fare as a function of the vehicle occupancy over the course of the passenger transport.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Larry Dean Elie, Evangelos P. Skoures
  • Patent number: 10000961
    Abstract: A vehicle door controller is disclosed. The vehicle door controller is in communication with an actuator configured to control a door and is further in communication with a temperature sensing device. The controller is configured to receive a temperature signal from the temperature sensing device. Based on the temperature signal, the controller is configured to identify an actuator condition. In response to the actuator condition, the controller is configured to control the actuator to move the door to a resting position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Larry Dean Elie, Robert F. Novak, John Wayne Jaranson, Timothy J. Potter, Michael M. Azzouz, Gerald J. Heath, Evangelos P. Skoures, Jeff A. Wallace
  • Publication number: 20180002967
    Abstract: A door assist system for a vehicle is disclosed. The system comprises an actuator configured to control a position of the door about a hinge assembly. An interference sensor forms a portion of a door opening seal and is configured to detect an obstruction in a plurality of detection regions. The system further comprises a controller configured to control the actuator in response to a detection signal from the interference sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Inventors: Larry Elie, Timothy J. Potter, Robert F. Novak, John Wayne Jaranson, Jeff A. Wallace, Michael M. Azzouz, Gerald J. Heath, Evangelos P. Skoures
  • Patent number: 9818246
    Abstract: A control system for a vehicle door includes a power assist device coupled between a door and a door opening of the vehicle and a sensor. The system further includes a controller that receives a signal from the sensor, identifies a recognized user from image data within the signal, interprets a control gesture by the recognized user from video data within the signal, and causes the power assist device to move the door in response to the control gesture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Larry Elie, Timothy J. Potter, Robert F. Novak, John Wayne Jaranson, Jeff A. Wallace, Michael M. Azzouz, Gerald J. Heath, Evangelos P. Skoures
  • Patent number: 9813541
    Abstract: A vehicle door system is disclosed. The system comprises an actuator, at least one communication circuit, and a controller. The actuator is configured to adjust a position of a door. The controller is configured to receive a request for the vehicle to retrieve an occupant via the communication circuit. The controller is further configured to receive an authentication signal via the communication circuit authenticating an identity of the occupant. In response to the authentication, the controller is configured to control the actuator to make the vehicle accessible to the occupant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Larry Dean Elie, Michael M. Azzouz, John Wayne Jaranson, Timothy J. Potter, Gerald J. Heath, Evangelos P. Skoures
  • Patent number: 9797178
    Abstract: A door assist system for a vehicle is disclosed. The system comprises an actuator configured to control a position of the door about a hinge assembly. An interference sensor forms a portion of a door opening seal and is configured to detect an obstruction in a plurality of detection regions. The system further comprises a controller configured to control the actuator in response to a detection signal from the interference sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Larry Elie, Timothy J. Potter, Robert F. Novak, John Wayne Jaranson, Jeff A. Wallace, Michael M. Azzouz, Gerald J. Heath, Evangelos P. Skoures
  • Publication number: 20170249797
    Abstract: A vehicle door system for a for-hire vehicle (FHV) and a method of calculating a transport fare includes providing a FHV having an actuator configured to adjust a position of a door relative to a door opening. An apparatus is configured to receive vehicle occupancy data. A controller is configured to process the vehicle occupancy data to determine the vehicle occupancy over the course of a passenger transport. The controller is further configured to calculate a transport fare as a function of the vehicle occupancy over the course of the passenger transport.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Publication date: August 31, 2017
    Inventors: Larry Dean Elie, Evangelos P. Skoures
  • Publication number: 20170247933
    Abstract: A vehicle door controller is disclosed. The vehicle door controller is in communication with an actuator configured to control a door and is further in communication with a temperature sensing device. The controller is configured to receive a temperature signal from the temperature sensing device. Based on the temperature signal, the controller is configured to identify an actuator condition. In response to the actuator condition, the controller is configured to control the actuator to move the door to a resting position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2016
    Publication date: August 31, 2017
    Inventors: Larry Dean Elie, Robert F. Novak, John Wayne Jaranson, Timothy J. Potter, Michael M. Azzouz, Gerald J. Heath, Evangelos P. Skoures, Jeff A. Wallace
  • Publication number: 20170251092
    Abstract: A vehicle door system is disclosed. The system comprises an actuator, at least one communication circuit, and a controller. The actuator is configured to adjust a position of a door. The controller is configured to receive a request for the vehicle to retrieve an occupant via the communication circuit. The controller is further configured to receive an authentication signal via the communication circuit authenticating an identity of the occupant. In response to the authentication, the controller is configured to control the actuator to make the vehicle accessible to the occupant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2016
    Publication date: August 31, 2017
    Inventors: Larry Dean Elie, Michael M. Azzouz, Johh Wayne Jarason, Timothy J. Potter, Gerald J. Heath, Evangelos P. Skoures
  • Publication number: 20170247927
    Abstract: A vehicle door system is disclosed. The system comprises an actuator, a power source, and a controller. The actuator is configured to adjust a position of a door. The controller is configured to control the actuator with energy provided by the power source. The controller is further configured to identify a charge level of the power source and compare the charge level to at least one threshold. In response the charge level being less than the at least one threshold, the controller is configured to output a warning signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2016
    Publication date: August 31, 2017
    Inventors: Larry Dean Elie, John Wayne Jaranson, Timothy J. Potter, Robert F. Novak, Jeff A. Wallace, Michael M. Azzouz, Gerald J. Heath, Evangelos P. Skoures
  • Publication number: 20170234786
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for predicting response time of a particulate matter (PM) sensor and resetting the PM sensor upon completion of response time prediction, independent of actual or predicted soot load on PM sensor. Soot accumulation data collected during steady state vehicle operation may be fitted with a time-based polynomial function and sensor output and regeneration schedule may be estimated from the curve fit even if the overall signal is noisy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventors: David Charles Weber, Garry Anthony Zawacki, Vidhushekhar Vasant Zambare, Evangelos P. Skoures, Zaid Alnaqash
  • Publication number: 20170028966
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a door opening, a door mounted adjacent the opening and moveable relative to the opening between a closed position and a range of open positions, and a controller. The controller determines whether an instantaneous door position is the closed position or within the range of open positions and prevents one of vehicle movement and engine ignition in response to the door being within the range of open positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2015
    Publication date: February 2, 2017
    Inventors: Larry Elie, Timothy J. Potter, Robert F. Novak, John Wayne Jaranson, Jeff A. Wallace, Michael M. Azzouz, Gerald J. Heath, Evangelos P. Skoures