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).

  • Publication number: 20250116880
    Abstract: A system for generating a floating image for a plurality of passengers within a vehicle includes a passenger monitoring system adapted to monitor the position of head and eyes of each passenger, a compute engine in communication with the passenger monitoring system and adapted to calculate a holographic image and encode the holographic image to a display of a picture generating unit hologram generator, and a beam steering device adapted to receive information related to a position of the head and eyes of each of the passengers from the passenger monitoring system, and the display is adapted to project the holographic image to the beam steering device and the beam steering device is adapted to re-direct the projected holographic image to the eyes of each of the passengers, based on the information received from the passenger monitoring system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2023
    Publication date: April 10, 2025
    Inventors: Tzvi Philipp, Thomas A. Seder, Joseph F. Szczerba, Manoj Kumar Sharma
  • Patent number: 12269340
    Abstract: A system for generating an image for passengers in a vehicle includes a display adapted to project an image, a polarization rotator actuatable to rotate the polarization of an image to one of S-polarization and P-polarization, a reflector unit adapted to reflect S-polarized images to a first beam splitter, and to reflect P-polarized images to a second beam splitter, each of the first and second beam splitters adapted to receive an image and to reflect the image to an associated passenger, and a controller in communication with the display and the polarization rotator, the controller adapted to simultaneously actuate the display to alternate between projecting a first image and a second image, actuate the polarization rotator to alternate between rotating the polarization of an image to S-polarization and P-polarization, and synchronize the display and the polarization rotator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Kai-Han Chang, Manoj Sharma, Thomas A. Seder, Joseph F. Szczerba
  • Patent number: 12269343
    Abstract: A multiview campfire display includes a light source configured to emit a light beam and a spatial light modulator (SLM) positioned to receive the light beam emitted by the light source. The holographic display also includes a user tracker configured to track the head and eyes of the vehicle occupants. The display also includes a controller in communication with the user tracker, the light source, and the SLM. The controller is programmed to receive a eye-tracking signal from the user tracker and control a polarization optics of the light beam emitted by the light source and modulated by the SLM to reroute the image encoded by the SLM for the plurality of vehicle occupants based on the eye-tracking signal, thereby allowing each of the plurality of vehicle occupants to view the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Manoj Kumar Sharma, Thomas A. Seder, Joseph F. Szczerba, Tzvi Philipp
  • Patent number: 12272150
    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: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Jacob Alan Bond, Joseph F. Szczerba, Kai-Han Chang
  • Publication number: 20250111620
    Abstract: A system for providing warning to an occupant within a vehicle prior to the occupant exiting the vehicle includes a plurality of onboard sensors adapted to collect information related to an environment outside the vehicle, an occupant monitoring system adapted to monitor and detect movement of the occupant within the vehicle, a display screen adapted to be viewed by the occupant within the vehicle, a system controller adapted to detect when the occupant within the vehicle is about to exit the vehicle, detect a position of the occupant within the vehicle, display, on the display screen, a view of an environment outside of the vehicle, determine if there is a hazardous object within the environment outside of the vehicle, and classify the hazardous object, and provide augmented reality alerts within the display screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2023
    Publication date: April 3, 2025
    Inventors: Steven Landry, Joseph F. Szczerba
  • Publication number: 20250100447
    Abstract: A system for utilizing human machine interfaces to engage at least one passenger when a driver of a vehicle is distracted includes a system controller in communication with a plurality of passenger human machine interfaces and adapted to modify a display screen of a front seat passenger HMI, and an occupant monitoring system adapted to monitor the driver of the vehicle and the at least one passenger within the vehicle, the system controller adapted to determine, with a distracted driver algorithm within the system controller and data from the occupant monitoring system that the driver of the vehicle is distracted, and, when the driver of the vehicle is distracted, to actuate the plurality of passenger HMIs to engage the at least one passenger and encourage the at least one passenger to engage with the driver of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2023
    Publication date: March 27, 2025
    Inventors: Daniel S. Glaser, Joseph F. Szczerba, Yi Guo Glaser, Sri Krishna Divya Pemmaraju, Michael Alexander Wuergler
  • Publication number: 20250091437
    Abstract: A system for automatically positioning a display relative to an occupant within a vehicle includes a system controller adapted to identify user preferences for a position of the display, an occupant monitoring system adapted to monitor the occupant, a microphone adapted to receive verbal input from the occupant, the system controller further adapted to determine that the occupant is one of reaching toward the display, or viewing the display, and automatically move the display to a first position that is optimal for facilitating physical interaction, by the occupant, with the display when the system controller determines that the occupant is reaching toward the display, and automatically move the display to a second position that is optimal for allowing the occupant to view the display when the system controller determines that the occupant is viewing the display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2023
    Publication date: March 20, 2025
    Inventors: Ki Hyun Ahn, Joseph F. Szczerba
  • Publication number: 20250091548
    Abstract: A system for providing a projected security zone adjacent a vehicle includes an external projector in communication with a system controller and adapted to project a first graphic onto a surface adjacent the vehicle, the first graphic defining a pre-determined security zone, and a plurality of onboard sensors in communication with the system controller and adapted to detect the presence of an individual positioned within the projected security zone, the system controller adapted to provide a warning to the individual.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2023
    Publication date: March 20, 2025
    Inventors: Pallavi Gautam, Joseph F. Szczerba, Robert C. Jablonski, Manoj Kumar Sharma
  • Publication number: 20250091597
    Abstract: A system for providing an alert to an occupant within a vehicle includes a system controller in communication with a plurality of onboard sensors, other vehicles and infrastructure systems, an augmented reality head up display system and a full windshield display system, each adapted to project images onto an inner surface of a windshield of the vehicle, the system controller adapted to detect at least one approaching vehicle, calculate a distance from the intersection, speed and trajectory of the at least one approaching vehicle, determine if the at least one approaching vehicle poses a threat and classify the at least one approaching vehicle as a threat vehicle, and provide a warning message and augmentation graphics by projecting the warning message and augmentation graphics onto the inner surface of the windshield with at least one of the AR-HUD system and the full windshield display system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2023
    Publication date: March 20, 2025
    Inventors: Manoj Kumar Sharma, Donald K. Grimm, Joseph F. Szczerba
  • Patent number: 12248228
    Abstract: A system for directing projections within a vehicle includes a projector for producing a projected image. The system also includes a projection directing module in optical communication with the projector for directing the projected image to a predetermined location. The system also includes a projection surface upon which the projected image is projected. The system also includes a controller in electrical communication with the projector and the projection directing module. The controller is programmed to configure the projection directing module to direct the projected image to a projection region of the projection surface. The controller is further programmed to project the projected image on the projection region using the projector and the projection directing module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2025
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Manoj Sharma, Thomas A. Seder, Joseph F. Szczerba, John P. Weiss
  • Publication number: 20250074449
    Abstract: A system for providing information to a vehicle occupant of a vehicle includes an automated driving system, a first display configured to provide information to the vehicle occupant of the vehicle, and a controller in electrical communication with the automated driving system and the first display. The controller is programmed to identify a planned change in driving behavior initiated by the automated driving system. The controller is further programmed to identify a traffic sign interpretation error using the automated driving system. The controller is further programmed to notify the vehicle occupant using the first display in response to identifying at least one of: the planned change in driving behavior and the traffic sign interpretation error.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2023
    Publication date: March 6, 2025
    Inventors: Akilesh Rajavenkatanarayanan, Manoj Kumar Sharma, Claudia Goldman-Shenhar, Joseph F. Szczerba
  • Publication number: 20250044110
    Abstract: A navigation system for a vehicle that highlights a target location that is part of a destination includes a spotlight device that generates a beam of infrared light to create an infrared spotlight, an infrared camera that captures infrared image data, a display, and one or more controllers in electronic communication with the spotlight device, the infrared camera, and the display. In response to determining the vehicle is approaching the destination, the one or more controllers calculate a target angle indicating where the spotlight device directs the beam of infrared light to create the infrared spotlight upon the target location. The one or more controllers receive the infrared image data captured by the one or more infrared cameras of the target location of the destination and instructs the display to show the infrared image data captured by the one or more infrared cameras.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2023
    Publication date: February 6, 2025
    Inventors: Aaron David Greer, Joseph F. Szczerba, Maureen Elizabeth August
  • Publication number: 20250044610
    Abstract: A system for generating an image display for passengers within a vehicle includes a controller, an image chamber including a first display adapted to project a first image, a first reflector adapted to receive the first image from the first display and reflect the first image to the first passenger, a second display adapted to project a second image, and a second reflector adapted to receive the second image from the second display and reflect the second image to the second passenger, a transparent touch screen display positioned between the first and second reflectors and the passengers and adapted to display information to the passengers within an image plane positioned in front of the first and second images, and a linear polarizer positioned between the transparent display and the first and second reflectors and adapted to filter light traveling from the transparent display toward the first and second reflectors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2023
    Publication date: February 6, 2025
    Inventors: Manoj Kumar Sharma, Joseph F. Szczerba, Tzvi Philipp, Thomas A. Seder
  • Publication number: 20250037474
    Abstract: A system for identifying a person of interest for an occupant within a vehicle with a head-up system includes a controller in communication with an external scene camera adapted to capture images of an external environment in proximity to the vehicle, identify at least one person of interest located within the external environment in proximity to the vehicle, characterize the at least one person of interest, determine appropriate augmentation graphics related to the identified at least one person of interest to be displayed for the occupant, and display, with the head-up display system, the augmentation graphics onto an inner surface of a windshield of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2023
    Publication date: January 30, 2025
    Inventors: Pallavi Gautam, Joseph F. Szczerba, Robert C. Jablonski, Thomas A. Seder
  • Publication number: 20250033468
    Abstract: A multiview campfire display includes a light source configured to emit a light beam and a spatial light modulator (SLM) positioned to receive the light beam emitted by the light source. The holographic display also includes a user tracker configured to track the head and eyes of the vehicle occupants. The display also includes a controller in communication with the user tracker, the light source, and the SLM. The controller is programmed to receive a eye-tracking signal from the user tracker and control a polarization optics of the light beam emitted by the light source and modulated by the SLM to reroute the image encoded by the SLM for the plurality of vehicle occupants based on the eye-tracking signal, thereby allowing each of the plurality of vehicle occupants to view the image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2023
    Publication date: January 30, 2025
    Inventors: Manoj Kumar Sharma, Thomas A. Seder, Joseph F. Szczerba, Tzvi Philipp
  • Publication number: 20250034916
    Abstract: A door handle locator system for a vehicle includes one or more modalities that provide sensory feedback to a user indicating a location of a door handle that is part of a door of the vehicle. The door handle locator system also includes one or more controllers in electronic communication with the one or more modalities. The one or more controllers execute instructions to receive a wireless signal indicating a location of the user with respect to the vehicle. The one or more controllers determine the user is approaching the vehicle based on the location of the user with respect to the vehicle. In response to determining the user is approaching the vehicle, the one or more controllers instruct the one or more modalities to provide the sensory feedback to the user indicating the location of the door handle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2023
    Publication date: January 30, 2025
    Inventors: Hannah Elizabeth Wagner, Jacob Alan Bond, Joseph F. Szczerba, Akilesh Rajavenkatanarayanan
  • Publication number: 20250033658
    Abstract: A floodwater risk assessment system for a vehicle includes one or more cameras oriented to collect image data of floodwater located along a roadway the vehicle is traveling along, a time-of-flight sensor system that directs a laser beam towards a plurality of target points disposed along the floodwater one or more controllers in electronic communication with the one or more cameras and the time-of-flight sensor system. The one or more controllers execute instructions to determine a risk associated with crossing the floodwater at each of the plurality of target points located along the floodwater based on a flow speed of the floodwater and a floodwater depth. The one or more controllers generate a notification indicating the risk associated with crossing the floodwater at the plurality of target points located along the floodwater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2023
    Publication date: January 30, 2025
    Inventors: Manoj Kumar Sharma, Joseph F. Szczerba
  • Patent number: 12206836
    Abstract: An optical arrangement includes at least one pair of displays, each pair having a first display and a second display configured to generate light in a visible spectral range. For each pair of displays, the optical arrangement includes a first polarizer configured to polarize the light incident from the first display, a second polarizer configured to polarize the light incident from the second display. The optical arrangement also includes first and second polarizing beam splitters for each pair of displays. Each polarizing beam splitter is configured to receive the polarized light from the first and second polarizers. Each polarizing beam splitter is also configured to reflect one of an s-polarized component and a p-polarized component of the received polarized light into at least one field of view (FOV) and transmit the other of the s-polarized component and the p-polarized component of the received polarized light into the subject FOV(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Tzvi Philipp, Manoj Sharma, Joseph F. Szczerba, Thomas A. Seder
  • Publication number: 20250008078
    Abstract: An optical arrangement includes at least one pair of displays, each pair having a first display and a second display configured to generate light in a visible spectral range. For each pair of displays, the optical arrangement includes a first polarizer configured to polarize the light incident from the first display, a second polarizer configured to polarize the light incident from the second display. The optical arrangement also includes first and second polarizing beam splitters for each pair of displays. Each polarizing beam splitter is configured to receive the polarized light from the first and second polarizers. Each polarizing beam splitter is also configured to reflect one of an s-polarized component and a p-polarized component of the received polarized light into at least one field of view (FOV) and transmit the other of the s-polarized component and the p-polarized component of the received polarized light into the subject FOV(s).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2023
    Publication date: January 2, 2025
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Tzvi Philipp, Manoj Sharma, Joseph F. Szczerba, Thomas A. Seder
  • Publication number: 20250004270
    Abstract: A projector system for a head up display within a vehicle includes a vehicle vector graphics projector adapted to project a second graphical image onto the inner surface of the windshield of the vehicle, the second graphical image having a greater brightness than the first graphical image and including at least one vehicle tell-tale, and a calibration system adapted to test and calibrate a displayed tell-tale within the second graphical image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2023
    Publication date: January 2, 2025
    Inventors: John P. Weiss, Manoj Sharma, Joseph F. Szczerba, Thomas Seder