Patents by Inventor Kenneth James Miller
Kenneth James Miller 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: 12017658Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for selectively disabling a stop-start function of a vehicle based on a predicted anxiety of a driver of the vehicle upon merging into transverse traffic. In one example, selectively disabling the stop-start function of a vehicle based on a predicted anxiety of the driver of the vehicle includes, when approaching an intersection having a first traffic pattern, disabling a stop-start function responsive to an estimated merging acceleration for the intersection exceeding a threshold acceleration rate of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2020Date of Patent: June 25, 2024Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Kenneth James Miller, Douglas Martin
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Patent number: 11912166Abstract: Methods and systems are described for controlling output of a fuel cell that generates electrical power for an electric machine that propels a vehicle. In one example, a driver demand power reduction is anticipated and output of the fuel cell is adjusted before the driver demand power is reduced so that a greater amount of electric charge may be stored in an electric energy storage device.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2019Date of Patent: February 27, 2024Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: David Beck, Walter Joseph Ortmann, Kenneth James Miller, Thomas Joseph Cusumano
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Patent number: 11787390Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling an engine idle-stop based on upcoming traffic and road conditions. In one example, a method may include receiving data including traffic information and road characteristics immediately ahead of a vehicle from one or more remote sources, and adjusting one or more vehicle thresholds based on the received data. A duration of a prospective engine idle-stop may be estimated based on the received data and an engine idle-stop may be initiated based on the duration of the prospective engine idle-stop and the adjusted one or more vehicle threshold.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2019Date of Patent: October 17, 2023Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Thomas G. Leone, Alexander O'Connor Gibson, Kenneth James Miller
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Patent number: 11614063Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system including a computer programmed to actuate a plurality of drones to first establish one or more electrical connections therebetween and then to provide a jump start to a vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2017Date of Patent: March 28, 2023Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Aed M. Dudar, Douglas Raymond Martin, Kenneth James Miller
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Patent number: 11560064Abstract: A renewable energy charging system for increasing the charging efficiency of an autonomous vehicle includes a computer programed to predict, in a vehicle at a plurality of locations, an amount of power generation associated with each location. The computer selects one of the locations based at least on the predicted amounts of power generation and moves the vehicle to the selected location.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2016Date of Patent: January 24, 2023Assignee: Ford Motor CompanyInventors: Kenneth James Miller, Aed M. Dudar, Douglas Raymond Martin
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Patent number: 11514803Abstract: A vehicle includes a controller that may be configured to, responsive to receiving a delivery request associated with a drone, periodically transmit a current location, trip route information, and acceleration data of the vehicle to guide the drone to a rendezvous location, and responsive to receiving a proximity notification associated with the drone, open a delivery opening of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2017Date of Patent: November 29, 2022Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Kenneth James Miller, Aed M. Dudar, Thomas G. Leone
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Patent number: 11505446Abstract: Data are collected on a turbidity of a fuel tank at each of a plurality of fueling stations. A fueling station is selected based on the collected data. A vehicle is moved to the selected fueling station.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2017Date of Patent: November 22, 2022Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Thomas G. Leone, Kenneth James Miller, Aed M. Dudar
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Patent number: 11473920Abstract: Data are collected on at least one of a coolant temperature of a vehicle, an atmospheric ozone level, and air quality. A refueling time is determined based on the collected data. The vehicle is moved to a fueling station based on the refueling time.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2017Date of Patent: October 18, 2022Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Thomas G. Leone, Kenneth James Miller, Aed M. Dudar
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Publication number: 20220176972Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for selectively disabling a stop-start function of a vehicle based on a predicted anxiety of a driver of the vehicle upon merging into transverse traffic. In one example, selectively disabling the stop-start function of a vehicle based on a predicted anxiety of the driver of the vehicle includes, when approaching an intersection having a first traffic pattern, disabling a stop-start function responsive to an estimated merging acceleration for the intersection exceeding a threshold acceleration rate of the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 9, 2020Publication date: June 9, 2022Inventors: Kenneth James Miller, Douglas Martin
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Patent number: 11271420Abstract: A system includes an aerial drone. The aerial drone includes first and second electrically conductive end effectors. The first and second electrically conductive end effectors are electrically connected to a power source.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2017Date of Patent: March 8, 2022Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Aed M. Dudar, Kenneth James Miller, Douglas Raymond Martin
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Patent number: 11214161Abstract: Methods and apparatus to charge electric vehicles are disclosed. An example method includes determining, via a processor, a remaining trip distance for an electric vehicle. The example method further includes determining, via the processor, a remaining expected range of the electric vehicle. The example method also includes transmitting a request for a mobile charging unit to meet the electric vehicle at a location when a ratio of the remaining trip distance to a remaining expected range exceeds a first threshold.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2016Date of Patent: January 4, 2022Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Kenneth James Miller, Daniel Mark Schaffer
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Patent number: 11186182Abstract: A vehicle includes a generator for supplying power to a load; and one or more controllers, programmed to responsive to detecting a fuel level reaching a predefined critical value, stop the generator and instruct a second vehicle to start to generate power, the vehicle serving as a pass-through conduit between the load and the second vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2018Date of Patent: November 30, 2021Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Aed M. Dudar, Thomas G. Leone, Kenneth James Miller
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Patent number: 11155349Abstract: A drone control method is provided. The method may be responsive to drone recharge energy cost being greater than a predefined threshold and include commanding a processor of the drone to execute actions that preclude the drone from recharging. The method may also be responsive to drone charge level falling below a charge threshold selected only while the drone recharge energy cost exceeds the predefined threshold and include commanding the processor to execute actions to recharge the drone.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2017Date of Patent: October 26, 2021Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Thomas G. Leone, Kenneth James Miller, Aed M. Dudar
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Patent number: 11152799Abstract: Methods and apparatus to charge electric vehicles are disclosed. An example method includes monitoring, via a processor, a battery charge level of an electric vehicle receiving a battery charge from a mobile charging unit. The example method includes determining, via the processor, a remaining trip distance of the electric vehicle from a location of the battery charge to a trip destination. The example method further includes determining, via the processor, a target charge level for the battery charge. The target charge level corresponds to when the battery charge level provides a first probability that the electric vehicle will reach the trip destination without an additional battery charge. The example method also includes generating, via the processor, a signal to stop the battery charge when the battery charge level reaches the target charge level.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2016Date of Patent: October 19, 2021Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Daniel Mark Schaffer, Kenneth James Miller
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Patent number: 11151461Abstract: A system includes a processor configured to wirelessly receive data indicating vehicle-feature usage for an individual vehicle. The processor is also configured to aggregate received data to form a feature-usage customer profile defining feature preferences. The processor is further configured to select vehicles associated with a customer-classification, including predefined feature-usage characteristics, the customer-classification determined based on a correlation between the predefined feature-usage characteristics and the aggregated data in the feature-usage profile defining feature preferences. The processor is also configured to compare the aggregated data to the selected vehicles to determine a vehicle having features preferred by a customer as indicated by the aggregated data in the feature-usage profile and recommend the determined vehicle to the customer.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 2017Date of Patent: October 19, 2021Assignee: Ford Global TechnologiesInventors: Kenneth James Miller, Thomas G. Leone
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Patent number: 11133688Abstract: Methods and apparatus to charge electric vehicles are disclosed. An example method includes receiving, at a processor, a request for a mobile charging unit to meet an electric vehicle to provide a battery charge to the electric vehicle. The request is generated by the electric vehicle when a ratio of a remaining trip distance of the electric vehicle to a remaining expected range of the electric vehicle exceeds a threshold. The example method further includes identifying, via the processor, a location for the battery charge based on input from a user of the electric vehicle regarding a plurality of possible locations for the battery charge.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2016Date of Patent: September 28, 2021Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Daniel Mark Schaffer, Kenneth James Miller
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Patent number: 11124078Abstract: Example methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture for mobile charging of an electric vehicle are described herein. An example method disclosed herein includes determining whether a mobile charge vehicle is within a target distance from an electric vehicle, switching the electric vehicle into an autonomous driving mode when the mobile charge vehicle is determined to be within the target distance, and receiving energy from the mobile charge vehicle to charge a battery of the electric vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2016Date of Patent: September 21, 2021Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventor: Kenneth James Miller
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Patent number: 11110812Abstract: Example methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture for mobile charging of an electric vehicle are described herein. An example electric vehicle includes a battery and a first charge interface for the battery disposed on an exterior surface of the electric vehicle. The first charge interface is configured to be engaged with a second charge interface on an articulating arm of a mobile charge vehicle to transfer energy from an energy source of the mobile charge vehicle to the battery while the electric vehicle is in motion.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2016Date of Patent: September 7, 2021Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventor: Kenneth James Miller
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Patent number: 10947920Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for using an engine laser ignition system to take images, in real-time, of a cylinder during combustion and estimate cylinder soot generation. If excess soot generation is determined, cylinder fueling is adjusted by varying an injection pressure, amount, and ratio. An air-fuel ratio of the cylinder is also adjusted in view of exhaust temperature constraints to reduce soot generation.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2017Date of Patent: March 16, 2021Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Douglas Raymond Martin, Kenneth James Miller
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Patent number: 10919518Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for operating a driveline of a hybrid vehicle that includes an internal combustion engine, a rear drive unit electric machine, an integrated starter/generator, and a transmission are described. In one example, inertia torque compensation is provided to counter inertia torque during a power-on upshift.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2017Date of Patent: February 16, 2021Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Jason Meyer, Jeffrey Allen Doering, Xiaoyong Wang, Matthew John Shelton, Christopher John Teslak, Kenneth James Miller