Patents by Inventor Kenneth Michael Mayer

Kenneth Michael Mayer 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: 12337688
    Abstract: A vehicle including a head-up display (HUD), a transceiver and a detection unit is disclosed. The transceiver may be configured to receive vehicle information and information associated with a geographical area in which the vehicle may be located. The detection unit may be configured to detect a user eye gaze direction. The vehicle may further include a processor configured to obtain the vehicle information, the information associated with the geographical area and the user eye gaze direction responsive to obtaining a trigger signal. The processor may determine an object in the geographical area that a user may be viewing based on the vehicle information, the information associated with the geographical area and the user eye gaze direction. The processor may further render an object identifier associated with the object on the HUD till the vehicle travels past the object, responsive to determining the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2025
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jian Wan, Kenneth Michael Mayer, Clay Wesley Maranville, Curtis Sai-Hay To, Neha Singhal, Dima Khanafer
  • Patent number: 12282326
    Abstract: A system includes a processor and a memory. The memory includes instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations including perform a remote maneuver of a vehicle, and instruct a mobile device to provide a feedback to an individual.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2025
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Pietro Buttolo, Neha Singhal, Biaohe Guo, Mark Larry, Kenneth Michael Mayer
  • Publication number: 20240424895
    Abstract: A vehicle including a head-up display (HUD), a transceiver and a detection unit is disclosed. The transceiver may be configured to receive vehicle information and information associated with a geographical area in which the vehicle may be located. The detection unit may be configured to detect a user eye gaze direction. The vehicle may further include a processor configured to obtain the vehicle information, the information associated with the geographical area and the user eye gaze direction responsive to obtaining a trigger signal. The processor may determine an object in the geographical area that a user may be viewing based on the vehicle information, the information associated with the geographical area and the user eye gaze direction. The processor may further render an object identifier associated with the object on the HUD till the vehicle travels past the object, responsive to determining the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2023
    Publication date: December 26, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jian Wan, Kenneth Michael Mayer, Clay Wesley Maranville, Curtis Sai-Hay To, Neha Singhal, Dima Khanafer
  • Publication number: 20240280984
    Abstract: A system includes a processor and a memory. The memory includes instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations including perform a remote maneuver of a vehicle, and instruct a mobile device to provide a feedback to an individual.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2023
    Publication date: August 22, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Pietro Buttolo, Neha Singhal, Biaohe Guo, Mark Larry, Kenneth Michael Mayer
  • Publication number: 20240239408
    Abstract: A vehicle hitching assistance system includes a controller executing an initial alignment process including searching for a trailer within a specified area of image data that is less than a total field of the image data in directions corresponding with both a longitudinal distance between the vehicle and the trailer and a lateral direction perpendicular to the longitudinal distance, presenting an indication to a driver of the vehicle to reposition the vehicle when the trailer is not identified within the specified area, and removing the indication when the trailer is identified within the specified area. The controller further executes an automated backing process upon identifying the trailer within the specified area, including identifying a coupler of the trailer and outputting a steering signal to the vehicle to cause the vehicle to steer to align a hitch ball of the vehicle with the coupler of the trailer during reversing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2024
    Publication date: July 18, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Luke Niewiadomski, Douglas Rogan, Shannon Brooks-Lehnert, Chen Zhang, Roger Arnold Trombley, Peter Ling, Kenneth Michael Mayer, Seyed Armin Raeis Hosseiny, Bo Bao, Steven Wayne Friedlander
  • Publication number: 20240217435
    Abstract: Systems and methods for digital shading control in a vehicle. The digital shading control may be integrated into glass of a vehicle, pillars, and more. In at least one implementation, the digital shading control is integrated directly into glass of a vehicle and comprises a transparency-changing material interface layer disposed of over the glass, a capacitive touch interface layer disposed of over the transparency-changing material interface layer, a force touch interface layer disposed of over the capacitive touch interface layer, and a haptics interface layer disposed of over the force touch interface layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2022
    Publication date: July 4, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Pietro Buttolo, Neha Singhal, Biaohe Guo, Mark Larry, Kenneth Michael Mayer
  • Patent number: 12008166
    Abstract: A vehicle having a touch device configured to receive user inputs is disclosed. The touch device may include a haptic component configured to provide haptic feedback to a user and a force touch component configured to detect force applied by the user on the touch device and actuate the touch device. The vehicle may further include a transceiver and a processor. The transceiver may be configured to receive road information on which the vehicle may be traversing. The processor may be configured to obtain the road information from the transceiver, determine road condition based on the road information, and adjust parameters associated with the haptic component or the force touch component based on the road condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Pietro Buttolo, Neha Singhal, Biaohe Guo, Mark Larry, Kenneth Michael Mayer
  • Patent number: 11964692
    Abstract: A vehicle hitching assistance system includes a controller executing an initial alignment process including searching for a trailer within a specified area of image data that is less than a total field of the image data in directions corresponding with both a longitudinal distance between the vehicle and the trailer and a lateral direction perpendicular to the longitudinal distance, presenting an indication to a driver of the vehicle to reposition the vehicle when the trailer is not identified within the specified area, and removing the indication when the trailer is identified within the specified area. The controller further executes an automated backing process upon identifying the trailer within the specified area, including identifying a coupler of the trailer and outputting a steering signal to the vehicle to cause the vehicle to steer to align a hitch ball of the vehicle with the coupler of the trailer during reversing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Luke Niewiadomski, Douglas Rogan, Shannon Brooks-Lehnert, Chen Zhang, Roger Arnold Trombley, Peter Ling, Kenneth Michael Mayer, Seyed Armin Raeis Hosseiny, Bo Bao, Steven Wayne Friedlander
  • Patent number: 11794726
    Abstract: Systems and methods for virtual vehicle parking assistance are disclosed herein. An example method includes determining a current vehicle position and vehicle dimensions of a vehicle, determining parking space dimensions of a parking space, receiving a desired parking position for the vehicle through an augmented reality interface, the augmented reality interface including a three-dimensional vehicle model based on the vehicle dimensions, the augmented reality interface being configured to allow a user to virtually place the three-dimensional vehicle model in the parking space to determine the desired parking position, determining a virtual parking procedure for the vehicle based on the desired parking position selected by the user and the parking space dimensions of a parking space and causing the vehicle to autonomously park based on the virtual parking procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jian Wan, Harald Martinez, Michael A. Blommer, Kenneth Michael Mayer, Kwaku Prakah-Asante
  • Patent number: 11753076
    Abstract: A vehicle hitching assistance system includes a controller acquiring image data from the vehicle and identifying a plurality of trailers within in a specified area of the image data. The specified area is less than a total field of the image data and corresponds at least with left and right steering angle limits of the vehicle. The controller further receives a selection of a subject trailer of the plurality of trailers identified within the specified area, identifies a coupler of the subject trailer, and outputs a steering signal to the vehicle to cause the vehicle to steer to align a hitch ball of the vehicle with the coupler of the subject trailer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth Michael Mayer, Seyed Armin Raeis Hosseiny, Bo Bao, Luke Niewiadomski
  • Publication number: 20230236659
    Abstract: The disclosure generally pertains to systems and methods for providing a delivery assistance service having an augmented-reality digital companion (ARDC). In an example method, a first set of instructions can be received via the ARDC. The first set of instructions can direct a delivery driver to an assigned delivery vehicle within a parking lot. A second set of instructions including a driving destination can be received via the ARDC. When the delivery driver has reached the driving destination, a third set of instructions can be received via the ARDC. The third set of instructions can include a route from the driving destination to a delivery location. When the delivery driver is traveling along the route, first pop-up information can be provided via the ARDC. The delivery request can be completed, and second pop-up information can be provided via the ARDC to assist the delivery driver in reaching an intended destination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2022
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jian Wan, Harald Christian Martinez, Kwaku Prakah-Asante, Kenneth Michael Mayer
  • Publication number: 20230102144
    Abstract: Systems and methods for virtual vehicle parking assistance are disclosed herein. An example method includes determining a current vehicle position and vehicle dimensions of a vehicle, determining parking space dimensions of a parking space, receiving a desired parking position for the vehicle through an augmented reality interface, the augmented reality interface including a three-dimensional vehicle model based on the vehicle dimensions, the augmented reality interface being configured to allow a user to virtually place the three-dimensional vehicle model in the parking space to determine the desired parking position, determining a virtual parking procedure for the vehicle based on the desired parking position selected by the user and the parking space dimensions of a parking space and causing the vehicle to autonomously park based on the virtual parking procedure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2021
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jian Wan, Harald Martinez, Michael A. Blommer, Kenneth Michael Mayer, Kwaku Prakah-Asante
  • Publication number: 20230018061
    Abstract: A vehicle hitching assistance system includes a controller executing an initial alignment process including searching for a trailer within a specified area of image data that is less than a total field of the image data in directions corresponding with both a longitudinal distance between the vehicle and the trailer and a lateral direction perpendicular to the longitudinal distance, presenting an indication to a driver of the vehicle to reposition the vehicle when the trailer is not identified within the specified area, and removing the indication when the trailer is identified within the specified area. The controller further executes an automated backing process upon identifying the trailer within the specified area, including identifying a coupler of the trailer and outputting a steering signal to the vehicle to cause the vehicle to steer to align a hitch ball of the vehicle with the coupler of the trailer during reversing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2022
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Luke Niewiadomski, Douglas Rogan, Shannon Brooks-Lehnert, Chen Zhang, Roger Arnold Trombley, Peter Ling, Kenneth Michael Mayer, Seyed Armin Raeis Hosseiny, Bo Bao, Steven Wayne Friedlander
  • Patent number: 11485413
    Abstract: A vehicle hitching assistance system includes a controller acquiring image data from the vehicle and identifying a trailer within a specified area of the image data and then identifying a coupler of the trailer. The specified area is less than a total field of the image data. The controller then outputs a steering signal to the vehicle to cause the vehicle to steer to align a hitch ball of the vehicle with the coupler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Luke Niewiadomski, Douglas Rogan, Shannon Brooks-Lehnert, Chen Zhang, Roger Arnold Trombley, Peter Ling, Kenneth Michael Mayer, Seyed Armin Raeis Hosseiny, Bo Bao, Steven Wayne Friedlander
  • Patent number: 11148488
    Abstract: A vehicle system is configured to control a trailer alignment routine. The system comprises a hitch ball mounted on a vehicle and a controller configured to identify a coupler position of a trailer. The controller is further configured to control motion of the vehicle to an aligned position, wherein the hitch ball is aligned with the coupler position. In response to the aligned position, the controller activates a service brake holding the vehicle and while maintaining the service brake activation, the controller activates a parking brake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Luke Niewiadomski, Shannon Brooks-Lehnert, Roger Arnold Trombley, Kenneth Michael Mayer, Chen Zhang
  • Patent number: 11126265
    Abstract: A computer includes a processor that is programmed to receive input specifying a component in a vehicle and data specifying a location of a wearable device in the vehicle. The processor is programmed to determine a distance of the wearable device from a location of the component and actuate the wearable device to provide haptic output based on the determined distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yifan Chen, Kwaku O. Prakah-Asante, David Melcher, Jeffrey Allen Greenberg, Ali Hassani, Devinder Singh Kochhar, Jeffrey Brian Yeung, Kenneth Michael Mayer
  • Patent number: 11090991
    Abstract: A vehicle hitching assistance system includes a controller identifying a trailer coupler within a specified area relative to the vehicle. The specified area is defined between a maximum distance and a minimum distance from a rear of the vehicle and within left and right lateral vehicle control limits. The controller also outputs a steering signal to the vehicle to cause the vehicle to steer to align a hitch ball of the vehicle with the coupler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Li Xu, Roger Arnold Trombley, Luke Niewiadomski, Kyle Simmons, Kenneth Michael Mayer, Shannon Brooks-Lehnert, Seyed Armin Raeis Hosseiny, Bo Bao, Katherine Rouen
  • Publication number: 20210009205
    Abstract: A vehicle hitching assistance system includes a controller acquiring image data from the vehicle and identifying a plurality of trailers within in a specified area of the image data. The specified area is less than a total field of the image data and corresponds at least with left and right steering angle limits of the vehicle. The controller further receives a selection of a subject trailer of the plurality of trailers identified within the specified area, identifies a coupler of the subject trailer, and outputs a steering signal to the vehicle to cause the vehicle to steer to align a hitch ball of the vehicle with the coupler of the subject trailer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Publication date: January 14, 2021
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth Michael Mayer, Seyed Armin Raeis Hosseiny, Bo Bao, Luke Niewiadomski
  • Patent number: 10829152
    Abstract: A vehicle hitching assistance system includes a controller acquiring image data from the vehicle, identifying a plurality of trailers within the image data, receiving a selection of a subject trailer of the plurality of trailers, identifying a coupler of the subject trailer, and outputting a steering signal to the vehicle to cause the vehicle to steer to align a hitch ball of the vehicle with the coupler of the subject trailer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth Michael Mayer, Seyed Armin Raeis Hosseiny, Bo Bao, Luke Niewiadomski
  • Publication number: 20200171897
    Abstract: A vehicle hitching assistance system includes a controller identifying a trailer coupler within a specified area relative to the vehicle. The specified area is defined between a maximum distance and a minimum distance from a rear of the vehicle and within left and right lateral vehicle control limits. The controller also outputs a steering signal to the vehicle to cause the vehicle to steer to align a hitch ball of the vehicle with the coupler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2018
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Inventors: Li Xu, Roger Arnold Trombley, Luke Niewiadomski, Kyle Simmons, Kenneth Michael Mayer, Shannon Brooks-Lehnert, Seyed Armin Raeis Hosseiny, Bo Bao, Katherine Rouen