Patents by Inventor Joseph F. Szczerba

Joseph F. Szczerba 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: 11971544
    Abstract: A hybrid augmented reality head-up display system for displaying graphics upon a windscreen of a vehicle includes a windscreen having a transparent substrate including light emitting particles dispersed within, a primary graphic projection device for generating a first set of images upon the windscreen of the vehicle based on visible light, and a secondary graphic projection device for generating a second set of images upon a secondary area the windscreen of the vehicle based on an excitation light. The first set of images are displayed upon a primary area of the windscreen. The light emitting particles in the windscreen emit visible light in response to absorbing the excitation light. The first set of images displayed upon the primary area of the windscreen cooperate with the second set of images displayed upon the secondary area of the windscreen to create an edge-to-edge augmented reality view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Thomas A. Seder, Kai-Han Chang, Joseph F. Szczerba, John P. Weiss
  • Publication number: 20240132096
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a system for generating, monitoring, and correcting an alert for an occupant of the vehicle. The system further includes multiple on-board input devices for generating a visual alert signal, an audio alert signal, and a haptic alert signal for an associated one of the visual notification, the audio notification, and the haptic notification received from notification devices. The system further includes a computer having one or more processors and a non-transitory computer readable storage medium (CRM) storing instructions. The processor is programmed to determine a priority level of the alert, compare the priority level to a predetermined priority level threshold, and generate a reporting activation signal in response to the processor determining that the priority level is below the predetermined priority level threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2022
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Inventors: Steven Landry, Joseph F. Szczerba
  • Patent number: 11951905
    Abstract: A display system for a vehicle includes a light source configured to emit a light and a fiber-optic cable coupled to the light source. The fiber-optic cable has a first fiber end and a second fiber end opposite the first fiber end. The first fiber end is coupled to the light source. The second fiber end is attached to a vehicle body of a vehicle. The display system includes a piezoelectric actuator coupled to the fiber-optic cable end adjacent to the second fiber end. The piezoelectric actuator is actuated to vibrate the second fiber end of the fiber-optic cable to project an image on the vehicle body adjacent the second fiber end while the light source is activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: John P. Weiss, Manoj Sharma, Joseph F. Szczerba, Thomas A. Seder
  • Patent number: 11955010
    Abstract: A supervisory control system is disclosed that provides an operator situational awareness interface use with monitoring a plurality of automated vehicles (AVs). The system is configured to: generate a map of a geographical area of interest; obtain location data and perceived risk data for a plurality of AVs in the geographical area; generate a vehicle icon corresponding to each AV; position the vehicle icon for each AV on the map based on the location data for a corresponding AV; apply a color coding to each vehicle icon based on a perceived risk level for a corresponding AV; and signal a display device to display an AV fleet map graphic that includes the color coded vehicle icons positioned on the map. The controller may be further configured to: generate an AV servicing queue graphic that displays vehicle icons in an order based on a determined servicing priority.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Lawrence A Bush, Roy J Mathieu, Joseph F Szczerba
  • Patent number: 11938821
    Abstract: A method and a system for user interaction with a hologram includes displaying the hologram inside a passenger compartment of the vehicle, after displaying the hologram inside the passenger compartment of the vehicle, monitoring a vehicle user inside the passenger compartment of the vehicle to determine whether the vehicle user provided a user command, determining that the vehicle user provided the user command, and in response to determining that the vehicle user provided the user command, manipulating the hologram in accordance with the user command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Joseph F. Szczerba, Kai-Han Chang, Manoj Sharma, Thomas A. Seder
  • Publication number: 20240094530
    Abstract: A system for providing information to an occupant of a vehicle includes at least one vehicle sensor for determining information about an environment surrounding the vehicle, a display for providing information to the occupant, and a controller in electrical communication with the at least one vehicle sensor and the display. The controller is programmed to identify at least one driving rule associated with at least one portion of the environment surrounding the vehicle using the at least one vehicle sensor, determine an applicability state of the at least one driving rule, where the applicability state includes an applicable state and a non-applicable state, and display a graphic using the display in response to determining that the applicability state of the at least one driving rule is the applicable state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2022
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Inventors: Jacob Alan Bond, Joseph F. Szczerba, Manoj Sharma
  • Publication number: 20240092143
    Abstract: A system for detecting external leaks in a cabin of a vehicle includes sensors and onboard vehicle controls disposed on the vehicle. Control modules of the system have processors, memory, and input/output (I/O) ports. The I/O ports communicate with the sensors and onboard vehicle controls. The control modules execute program code portions stored memory. The program code portions include first and second algorithm portions. The first algorithm portion receives data from the sensors and controls and determines that the data from the sensors and controls meets initialization threshold values. When the data from the sensors and controls meets the threshold values, the second algorithm portion generates a cabin leak detection output including: a first output, a second output, or a third output. The first output indicates a large leak, the second output indicates no leak, and the third output indicates that a small leak has been detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2022
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Inventors: Dhruv Patel, Joseph F. Szczerba, David Alexander Hinz, Rupesh Sonu Kakade, Cynthia A. Nicholson
  • Patent number: 11935200
    Abstract: A method for displaying infrastructure information on a multi-focal plane augmented reality display of a vehicle includes receiving infrastructure data. The infrastructure data includes information about a location of at least one infrastructure along a route of the vehicle. The method further includes receiving vehicle-location data. The vehicle-location data includes information about a location of the vehicle. The method further includes determining a position of the vehicle relative to the location of the least one infrastructure using the infrastructure data and the vehicle-location data. The method further includes transmitting a command signal to the multi-focal plane augmented reality display to display a virtual image showing the infrastructure information of the infrastructure on the multi-focal plane augmented reality display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Joseph F. Szczerba, John P. Weiss, Kai-Han Chang, Thomas A. Seder
  • Patent number: 11935414
    Abstract: A system for determining when additional information is needed by a passenger with color deficient vision within a vehicle includes a plurality of perception sensors within the vehicle adapted to collect data related to a physical identity of a primary object and to communicate the data related to the physical identity of the primary object, via a communication bus, to a data processor within the vehicle, the data processor adapted to determine that the physical identity of the primary object may be unclear to a passenger with color deficient vision based on the data related to the physical identity of the primary object, and that assistance should be provided to the passenger with color deficient vision to aid the passenger with color deficient vision in identifying the primary object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Jacob Alan Bond, Joseph F. Szczerba, John P. Weiss
  • Patent number: 11928992
    Abstract: A system for calibrating a display for a vehicle includes a reference calibration system including a reference windscreen and a reference transparent windscreen display (TWD) projector including a reference TWD camera. The reference calibration system also includes a reference camera and a reference controller in electrical communication with the reference TWD projector and the reference camera. The reference controller is programmed to project a reference graphic on the reference windscreen using the reference TWD projector. The reference controller is further programmed to capture a first reference image of the reference graphic using the reference camera. The reference controller is further programmed to calculate at least one reference calibration matrix based at least in part on the first reference image of the reference graphic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Thomas A. Seder, Joseph F. Szczerba, John P. Weiss, Manoj Sharma
  • Patent number: 11919392
    Abstract: A virtual 3D display for a motor vehicle includes a substrate and a flexible display positioned on the substrate. The flexible display is rollable and bendable within a cabin of the motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Joseph F. Szczerba, Ke Liu
  • Publication number: 20240071228
    Abstract: A system for determining when additional information is needed by a passenger with color deficient vision within a vehicle includes a plurality of perception sensors within the vehicle adapted to collect data related to a physical identity of a primary object and to communicate the data related to the physical identity of the primary object, via a communication bus, to a data processor within the vehicle, the data processor adapted to determine that the physical identity of the primary object may be unclear to a passenger with color deficient vision based on the data related to the physical identity of the primary object, and that assistance should be provided to the passenger with color deficient vision to aid the passenger with color deficient vision in identifying the primary object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2022
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventors: Jacob Alan Bond, Joseph F. Szczerba, John P. Weiss
  • Publication number: 20240064281
    Abstract: A system for generating a centrally located floating three-dimensional image display for a plurality of passengers positioned within a vehicle includes a plurality of autostereoscopic three-dimensional displays, one autostereoscopic three-dimensional display individually associated with each one of the plurality of passengers, and a controller in communication with each of the plurality of autostereoscopic three-dimensional displays and adapted to cause each one of the plurality of autostereoscopic three-dimensional displays to display a three-dimensional image to the associated one of the plurality of passengers, wherein, each of the plurality of passengers perceives the three-dimensional image floating at a central location within the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2022
    Publication date: February 22, 2024
    Inventors: Manoj Sharma, Kai-Han Chang, Thomas A. Seder, Joseph F. Szczerba
  • Publication number: 20240056554
    Abstract: A method for surveilling with a vehicle includes receiving an area-of-interest data from a vehicle user. The area-of-interest data delineates a virtual fence around the vehicle. The virtual fence is boundary of an area of interest around the vehicle. The vehicle is parked adjacent to an infrastructure. The method further includes receiving sensor data from a sensor of the vehicle that is monitoring the area of interest. Further, the method includes detecting a predetermined activity by a predetermined object of interest within the area of interest based on the sensor data received from the sensor of the vehicle. Also, the method includes notifying the vehicle user of the predetermined activity sensed using the sensor of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2022
    Publication date: February 15, 2024
    Inventors: Abbas Mohammed, Joseph F. Szczerba, Dhruv Patel, Fahim Javid, Sai Vishnu Aluru
  • Publication number: 20240042954
    Abstract: A system for displaying information to an occupant of a vehicle includes a microphone, a camera for capturing images of an environment surrounding the vehicle, a display, and a controller in electrical communication with the microphone, the camera, and the display. The controller is programmed to receive a voice command from the occupant using the microphone, determine at least one characteristic of the requested object based on the voice command, capture an image of the environment using the camera, where the environment includes a relevant object, and to identify a location of the relevant object in the environment based at least in part on the image and the at least one characteristic of the requested object. The controller is further programmed to display a graphic based at least in part on the location of the relevant object in the environment using the display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2022
    Publication date: February 8, 2024
    Inventors: Jacob Alan Bond, Joseph F. Szczerba, Kai-Han Chang
  • Publication number: 20240045204
    Abstract: A system for displaying information for an occupant of a vehicle includes a plurality of vehicle sensors, a display, and a controller in electrical communication with the plurality of vehicle sensors and the display. The controller is programmed to detect a remote vehicle in an environment surrounding the vehicle using the plurality of vehicle sensors, determine an intended illumination status of at least one indicator of the remote vehicle using the plurality of vehicle sensors, where the intended illumination status includes an intended lit status and an intended un-lit status, and display a graphic based at least in part on the intended illumination status of the at least one indicator of the remote vehicle using the display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2022
    Publication date: February 8, 2024
    Inventors: Jacob Alan Bond, Joseph F. Szczerba, John P. Weiss, Kai-Han Chang, Thomas A. Seder
  • Patent number: 11890932
    Abstract: A transformable knob for a vehicle comprises an axle extending along an axis and a body mounted to the axle and rotatable about the axis. The body comprises a face plate and a periphery wall defining a cavity, and with the periphery wall arranged to flex relative to the axis. The transformable knob comprises a plurality of engagement arms disposed within the cavity and movable toward and away from the axis, with the plurality of engagement arms configured to selectively engage and flex the periphery wall between first and second configurations. The transformable knob comprises an actuator in engagement with the plurality of engagement arms and arranged to move between first and second positions, with movement of the actuator facilitating corresponding movement of the plurality of engagement arms to flex the periphery wall between the first and second configurations, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Joseph F. Szczerba, Ki Hyun Ahn
  • Patent number: 11884288
    Abstract: A method for classifying a weight of a vehicle includes determining a system enablement state of the vehicle load detection and classification system, monitoring a vehicle weight, determining a change in the vehicle weight, comparing the change in the vehicle weight to a first predefined weight change threshold, and categorizing the change in the vehicle weight in response to determining that the change in the vehicle weight exceeds the first predefined weight change threshold. The method also includes determining if a weight has been left in the vehicle after key-off and determining if a weight has been placed in a cargo compartment of the vehicle which exceeds the weight rating of the cargo compartment. The method also includes optimizing a route to a destination based at least on the change in the vehicle weight and displaying the optimized route to the destination using a human machine interface of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Dhruv Patel, Joseph F. Szczerba, Abbas Mohammed, Kevin William Rypstra
  • Publication number: 20240029584
    Abstract: An occupant output system includes at least one output device adapted to provide output directed to a single passenger, an occupant monitoring system to track location and movement of the passenger within the vehicle, at least one processor configured to execute program instructions, wherein the program instructions are configured to cause the at least one processor to receive data from the occupant monitoring system, analyze the data from the occupant monitoring system to determine if the passenger is vision-impaired, analyze the data from the occupant monitoring system to determine a location of the passenger within the vehicle and an orientation of a head of the passenger, and, when the passenger is determined to be vision impaired, generate an output for the passenger on the at least one output device, based on the location of the passenger within the vehicle and the orientation of the head of the passenger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2022
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Inventors: Joseph F. Szczerba, Ki Hyun Ahn, Jacob Alan Bond
  • Publication number: 20240029559
    Abstract: A system for displaying information for a vehicle includes a plurality of vehicle sensors, a display, and a controller in electrical communication with the plurality of vehicle sensors and the display. The controller is programmed to detect a relevant traffic signal in an environment surrounding the vehicle using the plurality of vehicle sensors, receive information about the relevant traffic signal using the plurality of vehicle sensors, determine a status of the relevant traffic signal based on the received information, and display a graphic based on the status of the relevant traffic signal using the display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2022
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Inventors: Jacob Alan Bond, Joseph F. Szczerba, John P. Weiss, Manoj Sharma