Patents by Inventor John Michael McNew

John Michael McNew 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).

  • Publication number: 20210155077
    Abstract: An exhaust intrusion mitigation system for a vehicle includes one or more processors and a memory communicably coupled to the one or more processors. The memory stores an enclosure detection module which determines if a vehicle is parked within an enclosure with the engine running. An exhaust module determines a point in time at which one or more vehicle vents should be closed if the vehicle remains in the enclosure and the engine remains on. A mitigation module controls operation of the vehicle to close the one or more vents at the point in time when the vent(s) should be closed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Inventor: John-Michael McNew
  • Publication number: 20210158696
    Abstract: System, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to improving detection of lane changes for an ego vehicle. In one embodiment, a method includes, in response to detecting a surrounding vehicle from sensor data acquired about the surrounding environment by the ego vehicle, estimating a relative position of the surrounding vehicle in relation to the ego vehicle. The method includes determining a context of the surrounding vehicle in relation to a present roadway on which the ego vehicle is traveling. The method includes selectively grouping the surrounding vehicle into a change group according to the context. The change group including one or more vehicles for assessing movements of the ego vehicle. The method includes analyzing relative movements of vehicles in the change group to generate an indicator of whether the ego vehicle has performed a lane change.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Inventor: John-Michael McNew
  • Patent number: 10984299
    Abstract: Detection systems, apparatus, and related methods for use with vehicle sensor modules are disclosed. A disclosed detection system for one or more vehicles includes a vehicle sensor module and a positioning feature disposed on a vehicle exterior or infrastructure. The positioning feature includes a machine-readable code associated with predefined calibration data of the positioning feature. The detection system also includes a vehicle controller configured to detect, via the vehicle sensor module, the positioning feature when the positioning feature is visible to the vehicle sensor module. The vehicle controller is configured to obtain the predefined calibration data in response to reading the machine-readable code and calibrate the vehicle sensor module based on the predefined calibration data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Ryan M. Wiesenberg, John-Michael McNew, Ethan Pomish
  • Publication number: 20210009133
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for creating more organic lane change models for autonomous or semi-autonomous operation of a vehicle. A plurality of data associated with a plurality of driver-performed lane change maneuvers is collected from a plurality of different vehicle. Driver-performed lane change maneuvers are discarded when determined to fall outside a threshold of safety. A generic model is generated from the non-discarded data for average lane change maneuvers. Specific models can be generated for different drivers, vehicle types, and other metrics by comparison with the generic model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2019
    Publication date: January 14, 2021
    Inventor: JOHN-MICHAEL MCNEW
  • Publication number: 20200364476
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a safety system for playing vehicle monitored content in a vehicle while minimizing driver distraction is provided. When the driver selects a camera, such as a rear view camera, vehicle monitored content stream from the camera is displayed on a display in the vehicle. While the driver drives the vehicle, the eye-gaze of the driver is monitored. When the eye-gaze of the driver shows that the driver is looking at the display, a timer is started. The timer runs when the driver looks at the display. When the eye-gaze of the driver shows that the driver has looked at the road continuously for more than a threshold amount of time, the time associated with the vehicle monitored content is reset back to its initial value. If the timer runs out, indicating that the driver has been watching the vehicle monitored content too much without also looking at the road, the vehicle monitored content is stopped and the driver is prevented from watching the vehicle monitored content for some period of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2019
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Inventors: Coh L. Yoshizaki, John-Michael McNew
  • Patent number: 10796177
    Abstract: A safety system can play videos in a vehicle while minimizing driver distraction. The driver can select a video source, and video from the video source may begin playing on a display to the driver. Upon the driver first selecting the video, the video is displayed to the driver for an amount of time that does not exceed a timer having a duration. If the driver again selects to view the video, the duration associated with the timer is reduced, and the video is displayed for an amount of time that does not exceed the newly reduced timer. As the driver continues to try to view the video, the duration of the timer is further reduced until it is zero or near zero. After which the driver may not be permitted to view the video until a threshold amount of time has passed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Coh L. Yoshizaki, John-Michael McNew
  • Patent number: 10737702
    Abstract: A method of autonomous driving includes evaluating information about an environment surrounding a vehicle, identifying a driving maneuver, and generating a driving plan for performing the driving maneuver based on the evaluation of the information about the environment surrounding the vehicle. Additionally, to apprise a user of a risk of performing the driving maneuver, the method includes visually simulating the driving plan by displaying, on a display, a sequence of actions associated with performing the driving maneuver. Further, the method includes outputting, at at least one interface, a query whether the user confirms the driving maneuver. When, in response to the query, a user response is received, at the at least one interface, that the user confirms the driving maneuver, the method includes operating vehicle systems in the vehicle to perform the driving maneuver according to the driving plan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: John-Michael McNew
  • Publication number: 20200218256
    Abstract: A system and method for route modification to continue fully-autonomous driving is provided. The method includes operating a vehicle in a Level 3 autonomous driving mode according to a determined route; collecting data in real time concerning the route ahead of the vehicle; based on the collected data, identifying areas of the route ahead of the vehicle that would require the vehicle to leave the Level 3 autonomous driving mode; modifying the route based on the identified areas to continue operating in the Level 3 autonomous driving mode; and operating the vehicle in a Level 3 autonomous driving mode according to the modified route.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2019
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Inventor: JOHN-MICHAEL MCNEW
  • Publication number: 20200215914
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for controlling the speed of a vehicle, the method comprising: determining a speed limit; determining an offset value based on (i) the speed limit, and (ii) a speed map, the speed map comprising a plurality of entries, each entry associating one of the offset values with a respective speed limit; and setting the speed of the vehicle according to the speed limit and the determined offset value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2019
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Inventor: JOHN-MICHAEL MCNEW
  • Patent number: 10668922
    Abstract: One or more dynamic trailing objects can be detected in an external environment of a vehicle. Position data of the dynamic trailing object(s) can be acquired. It can be determined whether a current position of one of the trailing objects is at substantially the same longitudinal position as a previous position of the ego vehicle. If the current position of the dynamic trailing object is at substantially the same longitudinal position as a previous position of the ego vehicle, a lateral offset between the current position of the trailing object and the previous position of the ego vehicle can be determined. The lateral offset can be used to identify a current travel lane of the ego vehicle, determine lane crossings, and/or determine travel lane probability distributions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: John-Michael McNew, Miles J. Johnson, Christopher J. Smalley
  • Patent number: 10657811
    Abstract: One or more dynamic leading objects can be detected in an external environment of a vehicle. The dynamic leading object(s) can be tracked by acquiring position data of the dynamic leading object(s) over time. When it is determined whether a current position of the ego vehicle is at substantially the same longitudinal position as one of the dynamic leading objects at a prior time based on the acquired position data of the dynamic leading object, a lateral offset between the current position of the ego vehicle and the previous position of the dynamic leading object can be determined. The lateral offset can be used to identify a current travel lane of the ego vehicle, determine lane crossings, and/or determine travel lane probability distributions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: John-Michael McNew, Miles J. Johnson
  • Patent number: 10527450
    Abstract: A navigation apparatus for an autonomous vehicle includes circuitry configured to receive at least one route between a start location and a destination, display the at least one route on a first screen that allows selection of a first set of routes from the at least one route, receive a plurality of characteristics corresponding to each of the at least one route. Each characteristic of the plurality of characteristics is associated with a measure and a longest block within which each characteristic can be performed continuously. The circuitry further configured to divide a route of the at least one route to generate a plurality of segments based on the plurality of characteristics, and display the first set of routes, the plurality of characteristics corresponding to the first set of routes, the measure and the longest block corresponding to the plurality of characteristics on a second screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: John-Michael McNew, Kazutoshi Ebe, Danil V. Prokhorov, Michael J. Delp
  • Patent number: 10377303
    Abstract: A least restrictive allowable driving state of a semi-autonomous driving system is determined based on one or more threats and sensor performance. A current driving state and a future driving state are determined based on an attention state and a steering state of a driver. Warnings are provided to the driver in order to match the current driving state to the future driving state. Driver interaction and attention are enforced when the driver does not respond to the warnings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: John Michael McNew, Vladimeros Vladimerou
  • Patent number: 10272783
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide an automated driving system and a method for providing an indication of a driver's responsibilities in a vehicle having an automated driving system. The system includes a display device for displaying information to a driver of the vehicle, and a controller configured to display, at the display device, a driver and vehicle responsibility matrix (DVR matrix). The DVR matrix includes a first set of indicators each indicating a driving responsibility of the driver, a second set of indicators each indicating a driving responsibility of the automated driving system. In one example, the controller is configured to display the DVR matrix corresponding to an automation state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: John-Michael McNew
  • Patent number: 10272911
    Abstract: An adaptive vehicle control system that includes processors, memory modules communicatively coupled to the processors, and machine readable instructions stored in the one or more memory modules that cause the adaptive vehicle control system to determine an autonomous operation profile of a target vehicle positioned in a vehicle operating environment, wherein the vehicle operating environment includes a roadway having one or more lanes, determine an autonomous operation profile of one of more neighboring vehicles positioned within the vehicle operating environment, compare the autonomous operation profile of at least one of the one or more neighboring vehicles with the autonomous operation profile of the target vehicle, and alter a condition of the target vehicle such that the autonomous operation profile of the target vehicle matches an autonomous operation profile of an individual neighboring vehicle of the one or more neighboring vehicles positioned in the same lane as the target vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: John-Michael McNew
  • Patent number: 10260898
    Abstract: A navigation apparatus (including configurable circuitry) and method for displaying a plurality of control parameters to carry out a process for generating at least one optimum route for use in navigation of an autonomous vehicle, receiving a plurality of weights corresponding to the plurality of control parameters to generate a route score corresponding to the at least one route, transmitting the plurality of control parameters and the plurality of weights to a server implementing an optimization algorithm to calculate the at least one optimum route using the plurality of control parameters and the plurality of weights, receiving the at least one optimum route and the route score generated by the server, and displaying the at least one optimum route and the route score to enable selection of the at least one optimum route for navigation of the autonomous vehicle from the start location to the destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: John-Michael McNew
  • Publication number: 20190100200
    Abstract: One or more dynamic trailing objects can be detected in an external environment of a vehicle. Position data of the dynamic trailing object(s) can be acquired. It can be determined whether a current position of one of the trailing objects is at substantially the same longitudinal position as a previous position of the ego vehicle. If the current position of the dynamic trailing object is at substantially the same longitudinal position as a previous position of the ego vehicle, a lateral offset between the current position of the trailing object and the previous position of the ego vehicle can be determined. The lateral offset can be used to identify a current travel lane of the ego vehicle, determine lane crossings, and/or determine travel lane probability distributions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Publication date: April 4, 2019
    Inventors: John-Michael McNew, Miles J. Johnson, Christopher J. Smalley
  • Publication number: 20190103023
    Abstract: One or more dynamic leading objects can be detected in an external environment of a vehicle. The dynamic leading object(s) can be tracked by acquiring position data of the dynamic leading object(s) over time. When it is determined whether a current position of the ego vehicle is at substantially the same longitudinal position as one of the dynamic leading objects at a prior time based on the acquired position data of the dynamic leading object, a lateral offset between the current position of the ego vehicle and the previous position of the dynamic leading object can be determined. The lateral offset can be used to identify a current travel lane of the ego vehicle, determine lane crossings, and/or determine travel lane probability distributions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2017
    Publication date: April 4, 2019
    Inventors: John-Michael McNew, Miles J. Johnson
  • Patent number: 10232711
    Abstract: Arrangements described herein can display a set speed deviation for a vehicle using spatiotemporal patterns. A set speed and an actual speed for a vehicle can be acquired. A deviation between the set speed and the actual speed of the vehicle can be determined. Responsive to determining the deviation between the predetermined set speed and the actual speed, a spatiotemporal pattern can be displayed within the vehicle. The spatiotemporal pattern can indicate to a user the deviation between the set speed and the actual speed via the spatiotemporal pattern. In one or more arrangements, the spatiotemporal pattern can be a repeating wave pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: John-Michael McNew
  • Publication number: 20190031192
    Abstract: An adaptive vehicle control system that includes processors, memory modules communicatively coupled to the processors, and machine readable instructions stored in the one or more memory modules that cause the adaptive vehicle control system to determine an autonomous operation profile of a target vehicle positioned in a vehicle operating environment, wherein the vehicle operating environment includes a roadway having one or more lanes, determine an autonomous operation profile of one of more neighboring vehicles positioned within the vehicle operating environment, compare the autonomous operation profile of at least one of the one or more neighboring vehicles with the autonomous operation profile of the target vehicle, and alter a condition of the target vehicle such that the autonomous operation profile of the target vehicle matches an autonomous operation profile of an individual neighboring vehicle of the one or more neighboring vehicles positioned in the same lane as the target vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2018
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: John-Michael McNew