Patents by Inventor Gabriel M. Hoffmann

Gabriel M. Hoffmann 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: 10948582
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure involve a method for determining a road vehicle velocity and slip angle. The current disclosure presents a technique for identifying a vehicle's velocity and slip angle, in the vehicle's coordinate frame. In one embodiment, two or more sensors are orthogonally located on the underside of the vehicle in order to obtain longitudinal and lateral velocity information for slip angle determination. In another embodiment, the two or more sensors can include an array of elements for beam steering and receiver beamforming. Spatial diversity is leveraged in identifying at least a slip angle and/or velocity of the vehicle. Doppler mapping is used as a means for slip angle determination and the clutter ridge of the Doppler map is embraced for identifying the slip angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Gabriel M. Hoffmann, Christopher D. Gadda, David A. Stronks, Ahmad Al-Dahle, Gregory E. Rogers
  • Patent number: 10919520
    Abstract: A control system for a vehicle includes a plurality of vehicle actuators that are operable to affect actual chassis-level accelerations, a vehicle intelligence unit that determines a motion plan, a vehicle motion control unit that determines a chassis-level motion request based on the motion plan, and a chassis control unit that determines actuator commands for the plurality of vehicle actuators based on the chassis-level motion request and actuator identity information that describes presently available actuators from the plurality of vehicle actuators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher D. Gadda, Carlos Alberto De Magalhaes Massera Filho, David A. Stronks, Gabriel M. Hoffmann, Miroslav Baric, Nathaniel B. Honka, Stefan Solyom, Timothee J. Cazenave
  • Patent number: 10407035
    Abstract: A control system for a vehicle includes a plurality of vehicle actuators that are operable to affect actual chassis-level accelerations, a vehicle intelligence unit that determines a motion plan, a vehicle motion control unit that determines a chassis-level motion request based on the motion plan, and a chassis control unit that determines actuator commands for the plurality of vehicle actuators based on the chassis-level motion request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher D. Gadda, Carlos Alberto De Magalhaes Massera Filho, David A. Stronks, Gabriel M. Hoffmann, Miroslav Baric, Nathaniel B. Honka, Stefan Solyom, Timothee J. Cazenave
  • Patent number: 10247816
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure involve a method for determining a road vehicle velocity and slip angle. The current disclosure presents a technique for identifying a vehicle's velocity and slip angle, in the vehicle's coordinate frame. In one embodiment, two or more sensors are orthogonally located on the underside of the vehicle in order to obtain longitudinal and lateral velocity information for slip angle determination. In another embodiment, the two or more sensors can include an array of elements for beam steering and receiver beamforming. Spatial diversity is leveraged in identifying at least a slip angle and/or velocity of the vehicle. Doppler mapping is used as a means for slip angle determination and the clutter ridge of the Doppler map is embraced for identifying the slip angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Gabriel M. Hoffmann, Christopher D. Gadda, David A. Stronks, Ahmad Al-Dahle, Gregory E. Rogers
  • Patent number: 8583340
    Abstract: Methods and systems for assessing the effect of road curvature on the travel time and the comfort level of a path determined by a ground based route planning system. The methods and systems identify a path and determine an allowable speed profile of the path, wherein the allowable speed profile satisfies a cross track acceleration constraint. Thereafter, the methods and systems determine an optimal speed profile of the path, wherein the optimal speed profile satisfies both an along track acceleration constraint and a speed constraint. Using the optimal speed profile, the road curvature of a path may be factored into a determination of the traversal time of the path. Additionally, using the optimal speed profile, the road curvature of a path may be used to derive a comfort level of the path. The optimal speed profile may be further used to provide driver assistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventor: Gabriel M. Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 8306732
    Abstract: Methods and systems for assessing the effect of road curvature on the travel time and the comfort level of a path determined by a ground based route planning system. The methods and systems identify a path and determine an allowable speed profile of the path, wherein the allowable speed profile satisfies a cross track acceleration constraint. Thereafter, the methods and systems determine an optimal speed profile of the path, wherein the optimal speed profile satisfies both an along track acceleration constraint and a speed constraint. Using the optimal speed profile, the road curvature of a path may be factored into a determination of the traversal time of the path. Additionally, using the optimal speed profile, the road curvature of a path may be used to derive a comfort level of the path and/or to provide driver assistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventor: Gabriel M. Hoffmann
  • Publication number: 20110046877
    Abstract: Methods and systems for assessing the effect of road curvature on the travel time and the comfort level of a path determined by a ground based route planning system. The methods and systems identify a path and determine an allowable speed profile of the path, wherein the allowable speed profile satisfies a cross track acceleration constraint. Thereafter, the methods and systems determine an optimal speed profile of the path, wherein the optimal speed profile satisfies both an along track acceleration constraint and a speed constraint. Using the optimal speed profile, the road curvature of a path may be factored into a determination of the traversal time of the path. Additionally, using the optimal speed profile, the road curvature of a path may be used to derive a comfort level of the path and/or to provide driver assistance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Applicant: PALO ALTO RESEARCH CENTER INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Gabriel M. Hoffmann