Patents by Inventor John Dolinsky

John Dolinsky 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: 10351143
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for vehicle mobile device usage monitoring with a cell phone usage sensor. An example disclosed vehicle includes a cellphone usage sensor and a communication enforcer. The example cellphone usage sensor monitors a detection area around a driver's seat. The example communication enforcer changes an operation of the vehicle when the cellphone usage sensor detects usage of a mobile device within the detection area, a communication management feature is enabled, and the mobile device is not communicatively coupled to a wireless module of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Paul Anthon Mueller, John Dolinsky, Jr., Thomas Eric Svenson, Gregory William Farrey, Boris Gorovets, Timothy Smith
  • Publication number: 20190113377
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for fuel fill volume estimation for a vehicle. An example vehicle includes a fuel tank float, a dashboard display, and an engine control module. The engine control module divides a fuel tank into zones. When the vehicle is not in motion and a position of the fuel tank float changes by a threshold amount, engine control module measures an initial fuel level. When the position of the fuel tank float does not change for a threshold period of time, the engine control module measures a final fuel level. Additionally, the engine control module calculates an amount of fuel added to the fuel tank based on the zones associated with the initial fuel level and a final fuel level and display the amount on the dashboard display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2017
    Publication date: April 18, 2019
    Inventors: Marla Johnston, Paul A. Mueller, Zdravko Nikolik, David Divis, Boris Gorovets, John Dolinsky, JR.
  • Patent number: 10240964
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for fuel fill volume estimation for a vehicle. An example vehicle includes a fuel tank float, a dashboard display, and an engine control module. The engine control module divides a fuel tank into zones. When the vehicle is not in motion and a position of the fuel tank float changes by a threshold amount, engine control module measures an initial fuel level. When the position of the fuel tank float does not change for a threshold period of time, the engine control module measures a final fuel level. Additionally, the engine control module calculates an amount of fuel added to the fuel tank based on the zones associated with the initial fuel level and a final fuel level and display the amount on the dashboard display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Marla Johnston, Paul A. Mueller, Zdravko Nikolik, David Divis, Boris Gorovets, John Dolinsky, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10061574
    Abstract: A system includes a processor configured to wirelessly receive update requests from a plurality of vehicles. The processor is also configured to, for each request, determine if any vehicle modules require updating. Also, the processor is configured to retrieve an updated version and sending the updated version to a vehicle for reflashing, for each module that requires updating. The processor is additionally configured to receive confirmation for each module that has been reflashed and update a vehicle configuration with a version identifier corresponding to the updated version for each reflashed module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Paul Mueller, Medville J. Throop, Brian David Tillman, April Deneane Johnson, Gregory William Farrey, Jason Michael Miller, John Dolinsky, Charles Henry Nagi, Thomas Eric Svenson
  • Publication number: 20180072321
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for vehicle mobile device usage monitoring with a cell phone usage sensor. An example disclosed vehicle includes a cellphone usage sensor and a communication enforcer. The example cellphone usage sensor monitors a detection area around a driver's seat. The example communication enforcer changes an operation of the vehicle when the cellphone usage sensor detects usage of a mobile device within the detection area, a communication management feature is enabled, and the mobile device is not communicatively coupled to a wireless module of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2016
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Inventors: Paul Anthon Mueller, John Dolinsky, JR., Thomas Eric Svenson, Gregory William Farrey, Boris Gorovets, Timothy Smith
  • Patent number: 9002402
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a detection module including a directional antenna and signal processing logic. The detection module is located within the vehicle, arranged with respect to a driver region, and configured to detect a condition wherein a wireless phone is operated within the driver region. The detection module generates an output indicative of the detected condition. The vehicle further includes a controller configured to receive the output, and control the vehicle in response to the detected condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Paul Anthon Mueller, Gregory William Farrey, Tye Arthur Winkel, Thomas Joseph Hermann, John Dolinsky, Thomas Eric Svenson
  • Publication number: 20140282467
    Abstract: A system includes a processor configured to wirelessly receive update requests from a plurality of vehicles. The processor is also configured to, for each request, determine if any vehicle modules require updating. Also, the processor is configured to retrieve an updated version and sending the updated version to a vehicle for reflashing, for each module that requires updating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Paul Anthon Mueller, Medville J. Throop, Brian David Tillman, April Deneane Johnson, Gregory William Farrey, Jason Michael Miller, John Dolinsky, Charles Henry Nagi, Thomas Eric Svenson
  • Publication number: 20140080543
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a detection module including a directional antenna and signal processing logic. The detection module is located within the vehicle, arranged with respect to a driver region, and configured to detect a condition wherein a wireless phone is operated within the driver region. The detection module generates an output indicative of the detected condition. The vehicle further includes a controller configured to receive the output, and control the vehicle in response to the detected condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Paul Anthon Mueller, Gregory William Farrey, Tye Arthur Winkel, Thomas Joseph Hermann, John Dolinsky, Thomas Eric Svenson
  • Publication number: 20130117739
    Abstract: An electronic tool automatically uploads a plurality of software files into respective control modules in an on-board computer system of a vehicle. The electronic tool includes a memory having a plurality of software files stored therein that are associated with respective control modules in an on-board computer system of a vehicle. The electronic tool also includes a processor that automatically determines which ones of a plurality of individual control modules in a vehicle on-board computer system need to be programmed. In response to that determination, the electronic tool automatically uploads each of the plurality of software files into the respective control modules in the on-board computer system of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Paul A. Mueller, April D. Johnson, Jason M. Miller, John Dolinsky, JR., Charles H. Nagi, Gregory W. Farrey, Mike Makled