Patents by Inventor Hongtei Tseng

Hongtei Tseng 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: 11279405
    Abstract: A hitch assist system is provided herein that includes a sensing system configured to detect a trailer and obstacles proximate the trailer. The hitch assist system also includes a controller in communication with the sensing system and configured to define a final vehicle heading direction relative to the trailer when a hitch ball of a vehicle is aligned with a coupler of the trailer; determine an uppermost/farthest position of the vehicle from the trailer; determine a lowermost/nearest position of the vehicle from the trailer; and determine a vehicle path that aligns the vehicle within the uppermost/farthest and lowermost/nearest positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Li Xu, Douglas Blue, Kyle Simmons, Luke Niewiadomski, Eric Hongtei Tseng, Peter Ling
  • Patent number: 11192552
    Abstract: A vehicle control system is configured to control a braking operation of a hitch ball to a coupler on a trailer. The system comprises a controller in communication with a maneuvering system and a sensor system. The controller is configured to control the maneuvering system to maneuver the vehicle along a vehicle path and monitor a coupler distance from the hitch ball to the coupler via the sensor system. The controller is further configured to control a deceleration procedure configured to decrease a velocity of the vehicle along a deceleration profile and stop the vehicle with the hitch ball aligned with the coupler. During the procedure, the controller may detect a premature stop condition of the vehicle, where the coupler distance is greater than zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Luke Niewiadomski, Li Xu, Eric Hongtei Tseng
  • Patent number: 11180146
    Abstract: A vehicle control system configured to control a braking operation of a hitch ball to a coupler on a trailer. The system may comprise a vehicle brake control system, a maneuvering system, an image sensor configured to capture an image data, and a velocity sensor. The system may also comprise a vehicle mass sensor configured to detect a vehicle mass and a controller. The controller may be configured to control the maneuvering system of the vehicle along a vehicle path. The controller may also identify a coupler distance based on the image data depicting a coupler of the trailer. The controller may also calculate a stopping distance for the braking operation based on a plurality of braking parameters, wherein the braking parameters comprise the velocity, the brake pressure, and the vehicle mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Li Xu, Eric Hongtei Tseng, Luke Niewiadomski
  • Publication number: 20210347410
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2020
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Luke Niewiadomski, George Edmund Walley, Arnav Sharma, Roger Arnold Trombley, Frederic Christen, Kyle Simmons, Li Xu, Eric Hongtei Tseng
  • Patent number: 11142209
    Abstract: A road friction is determined for a road location based on a traffic speed determined from respective speeds of each of a plurality of vehicles. A vehicle can be operated based on the determined road friction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kyle Simmons, Eric Hongtei Tseng, Michael Hafner, Mohsen Lakehal-Ayat
  • Publication number: 20200391744
    Abstract: A vehicle control system is configured to control a braking operation of a hitch ball to a coupler on a trailer. The system comprises a controller in communication with a maneuvering system and a sensor system. The controller is configured to control the maneuvering system to maneuver the vehicle along a vehicle path and monitor a coupler distance from the hitch ball to the coupler via the sensor system. The controller is further configured to control a deceleration procedure configured to decrease a velocity of the vehicle along a deceleration profile and stop the vehicle with the hitch ball aligned with the coupler. During the procedure, the controller may detect a premature stop condition of the vehicle, where the coupler distance is greater than zero.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2019
    Publication date: December 17, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Luke Niewiadomski, Li Xu, Eric Hongtei Tseng
  • Publication number: 20200361466
    Abstract: A vehicle control system configured to control a braking operation of a hitch ball to a coupler on a trailer. The system may comprise a vehicle brake control system, a maneuvering system, an image sensor configured to capture an image data, and a velocity sensor. The system may also comprise a vehicle mass sensor configured to detect a vehicle mass and a controller. The controller may be configured to control the maneuvering system of the vehicle along a vehicle path. The controller may also identify a coupler distance based on the image data depicting a coupler of the trailer. The controller may also calculate a stopping distance for the braking operation based on a plurality of braking parameters, wherein the braking parameters comprise the velocity, the break pressure, and the vehicle mass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2019
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Li Xu, Eric Hongtei Tseng, Luke Niewiadomski
  • Publication number: 20200255020
    Abstract: A road friction is determined for a road location based on a traffic speed determined from respective speeds of each of a plurality of vehicles. A vehicle can be operated based on the determined road friction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2019
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: KYLE SIMMONS, ERIC HONGTEI TSENG, MICHAEL HAFNER, MOHSEN LAKEHAL-AYAT
  • Patent number: 10710585
    Abstract: A trailer backup assist system is provided herein. The system includes a calibration feature for calibrating an imaging device used for hitch angle detection. The system also employs multiple hitch angle detection methods, a number of which may run in parallel to increase the intervals at which a hitch angle can be measured. The system additionally includes a predictive feature in which a hitch angle can be predicted in instances where a trailer sensing device fails. The system is further configured to estimate a trailer length and generate steering commands that are invariant to the estimated trailer length under certain conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Zheng Hu, Erick Michael Lavoie, Darrel Alan Recker, John P. Joyce, Donald Jacob Mattern, Michael Hafner, Li Xu, Eric Hongtei Tseng, Thomas Edward Pilutti
  • Publication number: 20200114968
    Abstract: A hitch assist system is provided herein that includes a sensing system configured to detect a trailer and obstacles proximate the trailer. The hitch assist system also includes a controller in communication with the sensing system and configured to define a final vehicle heading direction relative to the trailer when a hitch ball of a vehicle is aligned with a coupler of the trailer; determine an uppermost/farthest position of the vehicle from the trailer; determine a lowermost/nearest position of the vehicle from the trailer; and determine a vehicle path that aligns the vehicle within the uppermost/farthest and lowermost/nearest positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2018
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Inventors: Li Xu, Douglas Blue, Kyle Simmons, Luke Niewiadomski, Eric Hongtei Tseng, Peter Ling
  • Patent number: 10570839
    Abstract: Methods and systems for adjusting vehicle operation in response to vehicle weight are described. In one example, an adaptive driver demand correction is adjusted in response to vehicle weight. The methods and systems may provide for more consistent powertrain response and lower vehicle emissions at lower vehicle weights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Steven Joseph Szwabowski, John Ottavio Michelini, Dimitar Petrov Filev, Craig Thomas Hodorek, Eric Hongtei Tseng, Davor Hrovat
  • Patent number: 10544851
    Abstract: No numbers found in figures. An example vehicular shock absorbing apparatus includes a shock absorber, a hydraulic mount operatively coupled with the shock absorber, a first decoupler movably disposed in a first portion of the hydraulic mount, and a second decoupler movably disposed in a second portion of the hydraulic mount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Todd Allen Brown, Russ Lee Norton, Eric Hongtei Tseng, Vladimir V. Kokotovic, Davor Hrovat, Donald Margolis
  • Patent number: 10427716
    Abstract: A hitch assist system and method are provided herein. A device is configured to detect a hitch coupler of a trailer and a controller is in communication with the device. The controller is configured to generate a boundary area projecting from the hitch coupler, define a vehicle backup path toward the trailer if a tow hitch of the vehicle is located inside the boundary area, and determine a steering angle for steering the vehicle along the vehicle backup path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Li Xu, Kyle Simmons, Chen Zhang, Eric Hongtei Tseng
  • Patent number: 10369988
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for autonomous parking of vehicles in perpendicular parking spots. An example vehicle includes a front corner, a camera, and an autonomous vehicle parker. The autonomous vehicle parker is to detect, via the camera, a perpendicular parking spot and an outer boundary of the perpendicular parking spot, determine a linear parking path located within the perpendicular parking spot and based on the outer boundary, and autonomously turn into the perpendicular parking spot such that the front corner travels along the linear parking path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Eric Hongtei Tseng, Li Xu, Kyle Simmons, Douglas Blue
  • Patent number: 10363874
    Abstract: A hitch assist system and method are provided herein. An imager captures one or more images of a trailer having a hitch coupler. A user-input device is provided for specifying a location of the hitch coupler in the one or more captured images. A controller generates an image patch around the user-specified location, segments the image patch to identify the hitch coupler, and estimates a trailer height based on a height and projective geometry of the imager.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yi Zhang, Eric Hongtei Tseng, Mohsen Lakehal-ayat, Thomas Edward Pilutti
  • Patent number: 10330172
    Abstract: A hydraulic mount for a vehicle shock absorber includes a first housing portion, a second housing portion, an orifice plate and a diaphragm connected together to define a first chamber and a second chamber in the hydraulic mount. A first resilient member disposed on the orifice plate defines a first sub-chamber in the first chamber and a second resilient member disposed on the orifice plate defines a second sub-chamber in the second chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Todd Allen Brown, Russ Lee Norton, Eric Hongtei Tseng, Vladimir V. Kokotovic, Davor Hrovat, Donald Margolis
  • Patent number: 10315481
    Abstract: Systems and method for assigning vehicle suspension dynamics are disclosed. Control signals that correspond to a current driving dynamic of a suspension system of a vehicle are generated. A vehicle state associated with the generated control signals is computed and a non-traditional suspension mode is selected. Based on the computed vehicle state and the selected suspension mode, a suspension height of the vehicle is adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jianbo Lu, Davor David Hrovat, Eric Hongtei Tseng, Li Xu
  • Publication number: 20190084479
    Abstract: A hitch assist system and method are provided herein. An imager captures one or more images of a trailer having a hitch coupler. A user-input device is provided for specifying a location of the hitch coupler in the one or more captured images. A controller generates an image patch around the user-specified location, segments the image patch to identify the hitch coupler, and estimates a trailer height based on a height and projective geometry of the imager.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Inventors: Yi Zhang, Eric Hongtei Tseng, Mohsen Lakehal-ayat, Thomas Edward Pilutti
  • Publication number: 20190077457
    Abstract: A hitch assist system and method are provided herein. A device is configured to detect a hitch coupler of a trailer and a controller is in communication with the device. The controller is configured to generate a boundary area projecting from the hitch coupler, define a vehicle backup path toward the trailer if a tow hitch of the vehicle is located inside the boundary area, and determine a steering angle for steering the vehicle along the vehicle backup path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Inventors: Li Xu, Kyle Simmons, Chen Zhang, Eric Hongtei Tseng
  • Publication number: 20190071088
    Abstract: A trailer backup assist system is provided herein. The system includes a calibration feature for calibrating an imaging device used for hitch angle detection. The system also employs multiple hitch angle detection methods, a number of which may run in parallel to increase the intervals at which a hitch angle can be measured. The system additionally includes a predictive feature in which a hitch angle can be predicted in instances where a trailer sensing device fails. The system is further configured to estimate a trailer length and generate steering commands that are invariant to the estimated trailer length under certain conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2017
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Zheng Hu, Erick Michael Lavoie, Darrel Alan Recker, John P. Joyce, Donald Jacob Mattern, Michael Hafner, Li Xu, Eric Hongtei Tseng, Thomas Edward Pilutti