Patents by Inventor Kathryn HAMILTON
Kathryn HAMILTON 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).
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Patent number: 11875422Abstract: Techniques and examples pertaining to baggage transportation in a vehicle-sharing environment are described. An automotive vehicle may have a plurality of baggage compartments each respectively having a size capacity and a weight capacity. The vehicle may also have a plurality of sensors capable of monitoring a loading situation of the plurality of baggage compartments. The vehicle may further have a memory element capable of storing capacity data representing the loading situation, as well as a processor capable of updating the capacity data in an event that the loading situation is changed due to a baggage having been loaded to, or unloaded from, a baggage compartment of the plurality of the baggage compartment. The automotive vehicle may be an autonomous ride-sharing vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2017Date of Patent: January 16, 2024Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Vivekananda Krishnamurthy, Kathryn Hamilton, Ray Siciak, Mahrdad Damsaz
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Publication number: 20220142834Abstract: There is provided a sensing device for use with a mobility assistance device, the sensing device comprising: a sensing layer including a plurality of sensors being arranged along at least one plane, a top outer layer and a bottom outer layer that are sealingly arranged to enclose the sensing layer, wherein the sensing device is arranged to locate between the user and the mobility assistance device, and is configured to attach to the mobility assistance device so that the sensing device remains in the same position relative to the mobility assistance device.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2020Publication date: May 12, 2022Inventors: Kathryn HAMILTON, Filip MLEKICKI
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Patent number: 11029702Abstract: A system, comprising a computer that includes a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to receive authentication an operator of a service controller from a server computer, identify a vehicle by scanning a physical code with the service controller and pair the service controller with the vehicle. The vehicle can be operated with the service controller.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2019Date of Patent: June 8, 2021Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Kathryn Hamilton, Michael Adel Awad Alla, Ray Siciak
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Patent number: 10989547Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of systems and methods described in this disclosure generally pertain to a ride service that includes an autonomous vehicle configured to execute various functions autonomously for assisting customers. An exemplary autonomous vehicle of the ride service may be configured to autonomously execute one or more functions such as identifying a customer upon arriving at a pick-up location, finding a suitable parking spot close to the customer, guiding the customer (such as a visually impaired customer) to the autonomous vehicle, positioning a particular door of the autonomous vehicle to facilitate entry into the autonomous vehicle by the customer, and/or providing an assigned seat to the customer upon entry into the autonomous vehicle. In at least some cases, the customer may be a physically handicapped individual in need of certain types of assistance offered by the autonomous vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2018Date of Patent: April 27, 2021Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Kathryn Hamilton, Michael Awad Alla
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Publication number: 20200394746Abstract: Techniques and examples pertaining to baggage transportation in a vehicle-sharing environment are described. An automotive vehicle may have a plurality of baggage compartments each respectively having a size capacity and a weight capacity. The vehicle may also have a plurality of sensors capable of monitoring a loading situation of the plurality of baggage compartments. The vehicle may further have a memory element capable of storing capacity data representing the loading situation, as well as a processor capable of updating the capacity data in an event that the loading situation is changed due to a baggage having been loaded to, or unloaded from, a baggage compartment of the plurality of the baggage compartment. The automotive vehicle may be an autonomous ride-sharing vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2017Publication date: December 17, 2020Inventors: Vivekananda KRISHNAMURTHY, Kathryn HAMILTON, Ray SICIAK, Mahrdad DAMSAZ
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Publication number: 20200249693Abstract: A system, comprising a computer that includes a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to receive authentication an operator of a service controller from a server computer, identify a vehicle by scanning a physical code with the service controller and pair the service controller with the vehicle. The vehicle can be operated with the service controller.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 1, 2019Publication date: August 6, 2020Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Kathryn Hamilton, Michael Adel Awad Alla, Ray Siciak
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Patent number: 10703373Abstract: A first vehicle velocity target is determined based on a velocity of a proximate second vehicle and at least one of a curvature of a road, a gradient of the road, a bank angle of the road, visibility, and a coefficient of friction on a surface of the road.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2018Date of Patent: July 7, 2020Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Raveen Fernando, Barnabas Joseph Nemec, Michael Adel Awad Alla, Tsung-Han Tsai, Kathryn Hamilton, Ray C. Siciak
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Publication number: 20200124428Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of systems and methods described in this disclosure generally pertain to a ride service that includes an autonomous vehicle configured to execute various functions autonomously for assisting customers. An exemplary autonomous vehicle of the ride service may be configured to autonomously execute one or more functions such as identifying a customer upon arriving at a pick-up location, finding a suitable parking spot close to the customer, guiding the customer (such as a visually impaired customer) to the autonomous vehicle, positioning a particular door of the autonomous vehicle to facilitate entry into the autonomous vehicle by the customer, and/or providing an assigned seat to the customer upon entry into the autonomous vehicle. In at least some cases, the customer may be a physically handicapped individual in need of certain types of assistance offered by the autonomous vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 22, 2018Publication date: April 23, 2020Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Kathryn Hamilton, Michael Awad Alla
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Patent number: 10611381Abstract: A vehicle computer includes a memory and a processor programmed to execute instructions stored in the memory. The instructions include receiving a first minimum risk condition (MRC) event recommendation from a first platform controller and a second MRC event recommendation from a second platform controller, selecting one of the first and second MRC event recommendations as a selected MRC event, controlling an autonomous host vehicle according to the selected MRC event.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2017Date of Patent: April 7, 2020Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Ahmad Khalifeh, Beni Tang, Kathryn Hamilton, Sagar Avaneendra Tatipamula, Sandro Patrick Nuesch, Rashmi Hegde
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Publication number: 20200062255Abstract: A first vehicle velocity target is determined based on a velocity of a proximate second vehicle and at least one of a curvature of a road, a gradient of the road, a bank angle of the road, visibility, and a coefficient of friction on a surface of the road.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 24, 2018Publication date: February 27, 2020Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: RAVEEN FERNANDO, BARNABAS JOSEPH NEMEC, MICHAEL ADEL AWAD ALLA, TSUNG-HAN TSAI, KATHRYN HAMILTON, RAY C. SICIAK
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Patent number: 10515620Abstract: Exposure to ultrasound energy emitted by remote object detection systems on vehicles is reduced for vehicle occupants. An automotive vehicle has a passenger cabin and a remote sensing system including ultrasonic transceivers mounted for sensing external objects. An ultrasonic microphone is disposed to sense an ultrasonic wave entering the passenger cabin at greater than 30 kHz. An antinoise processor calculates an antinoise signal adapted to at least partially cancel the ultrasonic wave at a predetermined location in the cabin. An amplifier is coupled to the processor for amplifying the antinoise signal by a predetermined gain. An ultrasonic speaker is coupled to the amplifier to project the antinoise signal into the predetermined location to attenuate the ultrasonic wave at the predetermined location.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2017Date of Patent: December 24, 2019Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Raymond C. Siciak, Kathryn Hamilton, Mahrdad Damsaz, Vivekananda Krishnamurthy
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Patent number: 10393873Abstract: Remote object detection in an automotive vehicle includes an ultrasonic sensor for emitting ultrasonic bursts from an ultrasonic transducer at a standard rate. At least one object is tracked which reflects the ultrasonic bursts to the sensor. The transducer is adaptively set to emit ultrasonic bursts at a reduced rate which is less than the standard rate based on a result of the object tracking. In one embodiment, the ultrasonic bursts are set at the reduced rate when the tracked object is maintaining a stable relative position. The stable relative position may be comprised of the tracked object having a relative velocity less than a threshold. In another embodiment, extrinsic ultrasonic bursts originating from the tracked object and subsequent echoes between the automotive vehicle and the tracked object can be used by the vehicle to monitor the tracked object while emission of bursts from the vehicle are switched off.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2017Date of Patent: August 27, 2019Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Raymond C. Siciak, Kathryn Hamilton, Mahrdad Damsaz, Vivekananda Krishnamurthy
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Publication number: 20190118827Abstract: A vehicle computer includes a memory and a processor programmed to execute instructions stored in the memory. The instructions include receiving a first minimum risk condition (MRC) event recommendation from a first platform controller and a second MRC event recommendation from a second platform controller, selecting one of the first and second MRC event recommendations as a selected MRC event, controlling an autonomous host vehicle according to the selected MRC event.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2017Publication date: April 25, 2019Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Ahmad Khalifeh, Beni Tang, Kathryn Hamilton, Sagar Avaneendra Tatipamula, Sandro Patrick Nuesch, Rashmi Hegde
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Publication number: 20190101642Abstract: Remote object detection in an automotive vehicle includes an ultrasonic sensor for emitting ultrasonic bursts from an ultrasonic transducer at a standard rate. At least one object is tracked which reflects the ultrasonic bursts to the sensor. The transducer is adaptively set to emit ultrasonic bursts at a reduced rate which is less than the standard rate based on a result of the object tracking. In one embodiment, the ultrasonic bursts are set at the reduced rate when the tracked object is maintaining a stable relative position. The stable relative position may be comprised of the tracked object having a relative velocity less than a threshold. In another embodiment, extrinsic ultrasonic bursts originating from the tracked object and subsequent echoes between the automotive vehicle and the tracked object can be used by the vehicle to monitor the tracked object while emission of bursts from the vehicle are switched off.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 2, 2017Publication date: April 4, 2019Inventors: Raymond C. Siciak, Kathryn Hamilton, Mahrdad Damsaz, Vivekananda Krishnamurthy
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Publication number: 20190088246Abstract: Exposure to ultrasound energy emitted by remote object detection systems on vehicles is reduced for vehicle occupants. An automotive vehicle has a passenger cabin and a remote sensing system including ultrasonic transceivers mounted for sensing external objects. An ultrasonic microphone is disposed to sense an ultrasonic wave entering the passenger cabin at greater than 30 kHz. An antinoise processor calculates an antinoise signal adapted to at least partially cancel the ultrasonic wave at a predetermined location in the cabin. An amplifier is coupled to the processor for amplifying the antinoise signal by a predetermined gain. An ultrasonic speaker is coupled to the amplifier to project the antinoise signal into the predetermined location to attenuate the ultrasonic wave at the predetermined location.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 19, 2017Publication date: March 21, 2019Inventors: Raymond C. SICIAK, Kathryn HAMILTON, Mahrdad DAMSAZ, Vivekananda KRISHNAMURTHY