Patents by Inventor Joshua C. Windeler

Joshua C. Windeler 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).

  • Collision avoidance method including determining height of an object fixed to a vehicle
    Patent number: 9434381
    Abstract: A method and system of avoiding a collision between an object attached to a rear of a vehicle and an object behind the vehicle during reverse maneuvering of the vehicle includes determining with an electronic control unit of the vehicle an adjusted top height of a first object attached to a rear of the vehicle. The electronic control unit then determines whether the adjusted top height is lower than a clearance height of a second object behind the vehicle and unattached to the vehicle. Upon determining that the adjusted top height of the first object is not lower than the clearance height of the second object, the electronic control unit determines that the first object would collide with the second object if the vehicle is reverse maneuvered too close to the second object and upon determining that the collision would occur alerting a user of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventor: Joshua C Windeler
  • COLLISION AVOIDANCE METHOD INCLUDING DETERMINING HEIGHT OF AN OBJECT FIXED TO A VEHICLE
    Publication number: 20160121885
    Abstract: A method and system of avoiding a collision between an object attached to a rear of a vehicle and an object behind the vehicle during reverse maneuvering of the vehicle includes determining with an electronic control unit of the vehicle an adjusted top height of a first object attached to a rear of the vehicle. The electronic control unit then determines whether the adjusted top height is lower than a clearance height of a second object behind the vehicle and unattached to the vehicle. Upon determining that the adjusted top height of the first object is not lower than the clearance height of the second object, the electronic control unit determines that the first object would collide with the second object if the vehicle is reverse maneuvered too close to the second object and upon determining that the collision would occur alerting a user of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Inventor: Joshua C. Windeler