Patents by Inventor George Edmund Walley
George Edmund Walley 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).
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Patent number: 11247520Abstract: A vehicle maneuvering apparatus includes an imaging device configured to capture image data and a controller in communication with a vehicle maneuvering system. The controller is configured to identify a coupler position of a trailer in the image data and compare a coupler height of the coupler position with a hitch height of a hitch ball. In response to the coupler height being insufficient to clear the hitch height, the controller is further configured to calculate a target position laterally offset from the coupler position and communicate the target position to the vehicle maneuvering system.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2019Date of Patent: February 15, 2022Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Luke Niewiadomski, Roger Arnold Trombley, George Edmund Walley
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Publication number: 20210347410Abstract: A system for assisting in aligning a vehicle for hitching with a trailer includes a vehicle steering system, a detection system outputting a signal including scene data of an area to a rear of the vehicle, and a controller that controls the vehicle steering system to maneuver the vehicle according to an initial alignment maneuver that positions the vehicle relative to the trailer, such that the trailer is within the area to the rear of the vehicle. The controller further receives the scene data and identifies the trailer within the area to the rear of the vehicle, derives a backing path to align a hitch ball mounted on the vehicle to a coupler of the trailer, and controls the vehicle steering system to maneuver the vehicle including reversing along the backing path.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 8, 2020Publication date: November 11, 2021Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Luke Niewiadomski, George Edmund Walley, Arnav Sharma, Roger Arnold Trombley, Frederic Christen, Kyle Simmons, Li Xu, Eric Hongtei Tseng
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Patent number: 11164457Abstract: Image data is obtained about an area that includes a plurality of sub-areas. One of the sub-areas is selected as a destination sub-area based on the destination sub-area being unoccupied. Then, upon detecting a candidate marker for the destination sub-area, the image data including the candidate marker is provided to a remote computer. A vehicle is operated to a stop in the destination sub-area. Then, upon receiving a message from the remote computer specifying an availability of the destination sub-area based at least on the image data, the vehicle is maintained in the destination sub-area or the vehicle is operated out of the destination sub-area.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2020Date of Patent: November 2, 2021Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Luke Niewiadomski, Hamid M. Golgiri, Lihui Chen, George Edmund Walley
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Publication number: 20210264785Abstract: Image data is obtained about an area that includes a plurality of sub-areas. One of the sub-areas is selected as a destination sub-area based on the destination sub-area being unoccupied. Then, upon detecting a candidate marker for the destination sub-area, the image data including the candidate marker is provided to a remote computer. A vehicle is operated to a stop in the destination sub-area. Then, upon receiving a message from the remote computer specifying an availability of the destination sub-area based at least on the image data, the vehicle is maintained in the destination sub-area or the vehicle is operated out of the destination sub-area.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 25, 2020Publication date: August 26, 2021Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Luke Niewiadomski, Hamid M. Golgiri, Lihui Chen, George Edmund Walley
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Patent number: 10870323Abstract: A vehicle hitch assistance system includes a steering system and a controller. The controller acquires position data for a coupler of a trailer, derives a vehicle path to position a center of a hitch ball of the vehicle at an interference offset past a centerline of the coupler in a driving direction of the vehicle path, and outputs a steering control signal to the steering system to maintain the vehicle along the path.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2018Date of Patent: December 22, 2020Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Luke Niewiadomski, George Edmund Walley, III, Chen Zhang
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Publication number: 20200298639Abstract: A vehicle maneuvering apparatus comprises an imaging device configured to capture image data and a controller in communication with a vehicle maneuvering system. The controller is configured to identify a coupler position of a trailer in the image data and compare a coupler height of the coupler position with a hitch height of a hitch ball. In response to the coupler height being insufficient to clear the hitch height, the controller is further configured to calculate a target position laterally offset from the coupler position and communicate the target position to the vehicle maneuvering system.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 20, 2019Publication date: September 24, 2020Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Luke Niewiadomski, Roger Arnold Trombley, George Edmund Walley
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Publication number: 20200023695Abstract: A vehicle hitch assistance system includes a steering system and a controller. The controller acquires position data for a coupler of a trailer, derives a vehicle path to position a center of a hitch ball of the vehicle at an interference offset past a centerline of the coupler in a driving direction of the vehicle path, and outputs a steering control signal to the steering system to maintain the vehicle along the path.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 18, 2018Publication date: January 23, 2020Inventors: Luke Niewiadomski, George Edmund Walley, III, Chen Zhang
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Patent number: 10479152Abstract: A vehicle hitch assistance system includes a controller acquiring position data of a coupler of a trailer and deriving a vehicle path to align a hitch ball of the vehicle with the coupler including compensating for a determined change in the position of the coupler in a driving direction related to a difference between a vertical position of the coupler in the position data and a height of the hitch ball.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2017Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Luke Niewiadomski, Chen Zhang, Joseph F. Stanek, George Edmund Walley, III
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Patent number: 10427656Abstract: A computer is programmed to determine a target brake torque that is below a preset holding brake torque and at least high enough to hold a vehicle at standstill; and upon detecting that a brake of the vehicle is applied and a speed of the vehicle is below a threshold, monotonically reduce a brake torque of the brake so that the brake torque reaches the target brake torque when the speed reaches substantially zero.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2017Date of Patent: October 1, 2019Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Chen Zhang, Li Xu, Yanan Zhao, George Edmund Walley, III, Mark Davison
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Publication number: 20190135059Abstract: A vehicle hitch assistance system includes a controller acquiring position data of a coupler of a trailer and deriving a vehicle path to align a hitch ball of the vehicle with the coupler including compensating for a determined change in the position of the coupler in a driving direction related to a difference between a vertical position of the coupler in the position data and a height of the hitch ball.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 3, 2017Publication date: May 9, 2019Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Luke Niewiadomski, Chen Zhang, Joseph F. Stanek, George Edmund Walley, III
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Publication number: 20180354474Abstract: A computer is programmed to determine a target brake torque that is below a preset holding brake torque and at least high enough to hold a vehicle at standstill; and upon detecting that a brake of the vehicle is applied and a speed of the vehicle is below a threshold, monotonically reduce a brake torque of the brake so that the brake torque reaches the target brake torque when the speed reaches substantially zero.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2017Publication date: December 13, 2018Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Chen Zhang, Li Xu, Yanan Zhao, George Edmund Walley, III, Mark Davison
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Patent number: 9926881Abstract: An engine of a stop/start vehicle, after the engine has been automatically stopped, may be commanded to automatically restart in response to detecting that the vehicle is in a turn lane based on traffic data in a vicinity of the vehicle such that the engine is automatically restarted before a brake pedal is released and a steering wheel is turned.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2013Date of Patent: March 27, 2018Assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLCInventors: Sangeetha Sangameswaran, Mathew Alan Boesch, George Edmund Walley, John Anthony Lockwood
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Patent number: 9827978Abstract: A traction motor of a hybrid electric vehicle drives a primary pump to provide pressurized hydraulic fluid to engage a power flow path of a multi-ratio transmission. To reduce fuel consumption, the motor is maintained at zero speed until a shift lever is moved into a drive position. After a power flow path is established, the motor speed is again reduced to zero until a driver demands torque by pressing an accelerator pedal. While the traction motor is stationary, an auxiliary pump maintains the fluid pressure to keep the transmission power flow path engaged.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2015Date of Patent: November 28, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Todd McCullough, David Farrell, George Edmund Walley, Wei Liang
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Patent number: 9664136Abstract: A stop/start vehicle includes an engine and a stop/start system that prevents an auto stop of the engine when a speed of the vehicle is approximately zero in response to the vehicle being located within a specified distance from a body of water or in response to the vehicle being located in a user identified geographic region.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2013Date of Patent: May 30, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Mathew Alan Boesch, George Edmund Walley, John Anthony Lockwood, Sangeetha Sangameswaran
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Publication number: 20160229393Abstract: A traction motor of a hybrid electric vehicle drives a primary pump to provide pressurized hydraulic fluid to engage a power flow path of a multi-ratio transmission. To reduce fuel consumption, the motor is maintained at zero speed until a shift lever is moved into a drive position. After a power flow path is established, the motor speed is again reduced to zero until a driver demands torque by pressing an accelerator pedal. While the traction motor is stationary, an auxiliary pump maintains the fluid pressure to keep the transmission power flow path engaged.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 10, 2015Publication date: August 11, 2016Inventors: Todd McCullough, David Farrell, George Edmund Walley, Wei Liang
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Patent number: 9366216Abstract: Vehicles equipped with an automatic start-stop system may include an interface for conveying inhibitors preventing an engine from auto-stopping in addition to the status of the automatic start-stop system. The system may identify one or more inhibitors actively preventing an auto-stop event from occurring and select at least one of the active inhibitors based on a priority scheme. The interface may communicate the at least one selected inhibitor to a driver using a display or a speaker, or both.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2012Date of Patent: June 14, 2016Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Tuan Anh Be, Kirk Pebley, Hank L. Kwong, George Edmund Walley, Filip Tomik
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Patent number: 9249742Abstract: A stop/start vehicle includes an engine and a stop/start system that selectively prevents an auto stop or auto start of the engine in response to a detected vehicle proximity and direction of travel relative to an emergency vehicle. The stop/start system may be programmed to prevent an auto stop of the engine in response to a detected proximity to an emergency vehicle where the emergency vehicle is traveling in the same direction as the stop/start vehicle, or in response to a detected proximity to an emergency vehicle where the stop/start vehicle is located within an intersection. The stop start system may also be programmed to prevent an auto start of the engine in response to the engine being stopped, and further in response to a detected proximity to an emergency vehicle where the emergency vehicle is traveling in cross traffic relative to the stop/start vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2013Date of Patent: February 2, 2016Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Sangeetha Sangameswaran, Mathew Alan Boesch, George Edmund Walley, John A. Lockwood
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Patent number: 9243570Abstract: A stop/start vehicle includes an engine and a stop/start system that prevents an auto stop of the engine when the speed of the vehicle is approximately zero in response to the vehicle being located at a service location or in response to the vehicle being located in a user identified geographic region.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2013Date of Patent: January 26, 2016Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Mathew Alan Boesch, Sangeetha Sangameswaran, John Anthony Lockwood, George Edmund Walley
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Patent number: 9121356Abstract: A stop/start system of a vehicle autostops and autostarts an engine and, in response to an identification of a drive cycle destination indicating that the vehicle will remain parked for at least a predefined period of time, prevents autostopping of the engine during the drive cycle to increase a state of charge of the battery above a nominal target state of charge.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2013Date of Patent: September 1, 2015Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Mathew Alan Boesch, George Edmund Walley, Sangeetha Sangameswaran, J. Anthony Lockwood
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Patent number: 9046047Abstract: A controller in a stop/start vehicle may anticipate a vehicle stop and engine shutdown event in response to detecting a vehicle approach to an intersection. The controller may disable a power steering system or otherwise prepare vehicle subsystems for shutdown prior to the anticipated shutdown event. The controller may also enable the power steering system in response to anticipating an automatic restart event.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2013Date of Patent: June 2, 2015Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Sangeetha Sangameswaran, Mathew Alan Boesch, George Edmund Walley, John Anthony Lockwood