Patents by Inventor Kevin J. Hawes

Kevin J. Hawes 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: 11634127
    Abstract: This document describes near-object detection using ultrasonic sensors. Specifically, when an object is in a near-object range or distance from a vehicle, an object-detection system of the vehicle can utilize raw range measurements and various parameters derived from the raw range measurements. The various parameters may include an average, a slope, and a variation of the range. In the near-object range, using the parameters derived from the raw range measurements may lead to increases in the accuracy and performance of a vehicle-based object-detection system. The increased accuracy in near-object detection capability enhances safe driving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Aptiv Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Kevin J. Hawes, Qian Wang
  • Publication number: 20220080960
    Abstract: This document describes near-object detection using ultrasonic sensors. Specifically, when an object is in a near-object range or distance from a vehicle, an object-detection system of the vehicle can utilize raw range measurements and various parameters derived from the raw range measurements. The various parameters may include an average, a slope, and a variation of the range. In the near-object range, using the parameters derived from the raw range measurements may lead to increases in the accuracy and performance of a vehicle-based object-detection system. The increased accuracy in near-object detection capability enhances safe driving.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2020
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Applicant: Aptiv Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Kevin J. Hawes, Qian Wang
  • Patent number: 11092688
    Abstract: This document describes spatial and temporal processing of ultrasonic-sensor detections for mapping in vehicle-parking-assist functions. Specifically, spatial intersections, which are determined from a pair of neighboring ultrasonic sensors having ultrasonic detections at substantially the same time, can address latency issues associated with temporal intersections and can be determined without the vehicle moving. Temporal intersections can address situations when one sensor of the pair of neighboring ultrasonic sensors has an ultrasonic detection while the other sensor does not. Using both the spatial and temporal intersections provides high accuracy for angular information, which enables enhanced mapping and efficient performance of vehicle-parking-assist functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Aptiv Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Qian Wang, Kevin J. Hawes
  • Patent number: 11032488
    Abstract: A camera system suitable for use on an automated vehicle, includes an imager used to detect an image of a field-of-view of the system, a light-shield operable to block a portion of the image from being received by the imager, and a controller in communication with the imager and the light-shield. The controller is configured to position the light-shield in a line-of-sight between a bright-spot and the imager.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Aptiv Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Kevin J. Hawes, Ronald M. Taylor
  • Publication number: 20200114898
    Abstract: A lane-bias system for a vehicle includes a perception-sensor a steering-device a controller-circuit. The perception-sensor is configured to detect a lane-boundary of a travel-lane traveled by a host-vehicle and detect a distance to an other-vehicle in the travel-lane of the host-vehicle. The steering-device is operable to control a lane-position of the host-vehicle. The controller-circuit is in communication with the perception-sensor and the steering-device. The controller-circuit is configured to operate the steering-device to steer the host-vehicle to an off-center-position within the travel-lane in response to a determination that the distance to the other-vehicle is less than a threshold-distance and/or that the size of the other-vehicle is larger than a threshold-size.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2018
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Inventors: Mason B. Sutorius, Ehsan Samiei, Michael I. Chia, Kevin J. Hawes
  • Publication number: 20200014834
    Abstract: A camera system suitable for use on an automated vehicle, includes an imager used to detect an image of a field-of-view of the system, a light-shield operable to block a portion of the image from being received by the imager, and a controller in communication with the imager and the light-shield. The controller is configured to position the light-shield in a line-of-sight between a bright-spot and the imager.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2019
    Publication date: January 9, 2020
    Inventors: KEVIN J. HAWES, RONALD M. TAYLOR
  • Patent number: 10479357
    Abstract: A lane keeping system includes an absolute pressure sensor located in a door on each of opposing sides of a vehicle. Each sensor generates a signal indicative of a door cavity pressure on that side of the vehicle. A safety restraint system (SRS) controller is in communication with the pressure sensor. The SRS controller is configured to determine a collision event in response to the signal (e.g., increased pressure in the door as it is crushed) and activate a safety restraint component in response to the determined collision event. A lane keeping system (LKS) controller is in communication with the pressure sensors. The LKS controller determines a lateral wind force on the vehicle in response to the signal from each pressure sensor. The LKS controller determines a correction in response to the determined lateral wind force to maintain the vehicle along a desired path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: APTIV TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
    Inventors: Kevin J. Hawes, Ehsan Samiei, Michael I. Chia
  • Patent number: 10462380
    Abstract: A camera system suitable for use on an automated vehicle, includes an imager used to detect an image of a field-of-view of the system, a light-shield operable to block a portion of the image from being received by the imager, and a controller in communication with the imager and the light-shield. The controller is configured to position the light-shield in a line-of-sight between a bright-spot and the imager.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: APTIV TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
    Inventors: Kevin J. Hawes, Ronald M. Taylor
  • Patent number: 10179607
    Abstract: A lane keeping system for a vehicle includes a first roll angle sensor configured to provide a first signal indicative of dynamic vehicle body roll. A second roll angle sensor is configured to provide a second signal indicative of an angle between vehicle sprung and unsprung masses. A lane keeping system (LKS) controller is in communication with the first and second roll angle sensors. The LKS controller is configured to discern a vehicle roll angle in response to the first and second signals based upon effects of a lateral wind force on the vehicle. The LKS controller is configured to produce a correction in response to the determined lateral wind force effects to maintain the vehicle along a desired path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: APTIV TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
    Inventors: Kevin J. Hawes, Michael I. Chia, Ehsan Samiei, Walter K. Kosiak
  • Patent number: 9953476
    Abstract: An illustrative example method of operating a capacitive vehicle entry control device includes: determining a plurality of capacitance values of the vehicle entry control device during a measurement period; determining an average capacitance of the plurality of capacitance values; determining whether the determined average capacitance exceeds an average threshold; determining a range of the plurality of capacitance values; determining whether the determined range exceeds a range threshold; and initiating a vehicle entry process when the determined average capacitance exceeds the average threshold or when the determined range exceeds the range threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Morgan D. Murphy, Kevin J. Hawes, Kris R. Stark
  • Publication number: 20180037259
    Abstract: A lane keeping system for a vehicle includes a first roll angle sensor configured to provide a first signal indicative of dynamic vehicle body roll. A second roll angle sensor is configured to provide a second signal indicative of an angle between vehicle sprung and unsprung masses. A lane keeping system (LKS) controller is in communication with the first and second roll angle sensors. The LKS controller is configured to discern a vehicle roll angle in response to the first and second signals based upon effects of a lateral wind force on the vehicle. The LKS controller is configured to produce a correction in response to the determined lateral wind force effects to maintain the vehicle along a desired path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2016
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Inventors: Kevin J. Hawes, Michael I. Chia, Ehsan Samiei, Walter K. Kosiak
  • Publication number: 20180012431
    Abstract: An illustrative example method of operating a capacitive vehicle entry control device includes: determining a plurality of capacitance values of the vehicle entry control device during a measurement period; determining an average capacitance of the plurality of capacitance values; determining whether the determined average capacitance exceeds an average threshold; determining a range of the plurality of capacitance values; determining whether the determined range exceeds a range threshold; and initiating a vehicle entry process when the determined average capacitance exceeds the average threshold or when the determined range exceeds the range threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2016
    Publication date: January 11, 2018
    Inventors: MORGAN D. MURPHY, KEVIN J. HAWES, KRIS R. STARK
  • Publication number: 20170359495
    Abstract: A camera system suitable for use on an automated vehicle, includes an imager used to detect an image of a field-of-view of the system, a light-shield operable to block a portion of the image from being received by the imager, and a controller in communication with the imager and the light-shield. The controller is configured to position the light-shield in a line-of-sight between a bright-spot and the imager.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2016
    Publication date: December 14, 2017
    Inventors: KEVIN J. HAWES, RONALD M. TAYLOR
  • Publication number: 20170334444
    Abstract: A lane keeping system includes an absolute pressure sensor located in a door on each of opposing sides of a vehicle. Each sensor generates a signal indicative of a door cavity pressure on that side of the vehicle. A safety restraint system (SRS) controller is in communication with the pressure sensor. The SRS controller is configured to determine a collision event in response to the signal (e.g., increased pressure in the door as it is crushed) and activate a safety restraint component in response to the determined collision event. A lane keeping system (LKS) controller is in communication with the pressure sensors. The LKS controller determines a lateral wind force on the vehicle in response to the signal from each pressure sensor. The LKS controller determines a correction in response to the determined lateral wind force to maintain the vehicle along a desired path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2016
    Publication date: November 23, 2017
    Inventors: Kevin J. Hawes, Ehsan Samiei, Michael I. Chia
  • Publication number: 20170234051
    Abstract: A window-anti-pinch system suitable to operate a powered-window in a vehicle includes a motor and a controller. The motor is coupled to a window by an apparatus. The motor is operable to raise the window when the motor is operated in a first-direction and lower the window when the motor is operated in a second-direction opposite the first-direction. The apparatus is characterized by slack between the motor and the window. The controller is in communication with the motor. The controller is configured to apply a slack-removal-signal to the motor prior to operation of the motor to raise the window when a most-recent-operation of the motor was effective to lower the window. The slack-removal-signal is a predetermined-waveform effective to operate the motor in the first-direction to take-up the slack but not raise the window.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2016
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventors: Kevin J. Hawes, Douglas R. Champion, Salvador A. Canales, Tanto Sugiarto
  • Patent number: 9114720
    Abstract: A system for positioning a vehicle over a wireless charging station. The system includes a plurality of ultra wideband transceivers (UWBX) installed on the vehicle and the wireless charging station, and a controller configured to determine various distances between the various UWBXs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd P. Oman, Kevin J. Hawes
  • Patent number: 8965599
    Abstract: A passive entry passive start (PEPS) vehicle security system configured to activate a vehicle function when an activation signal is received. The system includes a nomadic device configured to detect a change of a magnetic field relative to the nomadic device, and emit an activation signal only if the change corresponds to walking by an operator carrying the nomadic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin J. Hawes, Todd P. Oman
  • Publication number: 20150015193
    Abstract: A system for positioning a vehicle over a wireless charging station. The system includes a plurality of ultra wideband transceivers (UWBX) installed on the vehicle and the wireless charging station, and a controller configured to determine various distances between the various UWBXs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2013
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventors: TODD P. OMAN, KEVIN J. HAWES
  • Patent number: 8930045
    Abstract: A passive entry passive start (PEPS) vehicle security system configured to thwart a relay attack on the system. The system includes one or more ultra wideband transceivers (UWBX) installed on a vehicle and configured to transmit a request pulse at a request time. A mobile UWBX, possibly installed in a nomadic device such as a smart phone, is configured to transmit a reply pulse in response to the request pulse. A controller is configured to determine a distance between each UWBX and the mobile UWBX based on a time interval between the request time and a time that corresponds to when the reply pulse is received by the each UWBX. The controller may also be configured to unlock doors of the vehicle only if the distance is less than an unlock threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd P. Oman, Kevin J. Hawes
  • Publication number: 20140379231
    Abstract: A method of operating a tire pressure monitor system on a vehicle to determine a wheel location of wheels equipped with pressure sensors. The method includes equipping a plurality of wheels with a pressure sensor, determining a plurality of pressure values from each pressure sensor, detecting a variation of the pressure values from a plurality of pressure sensors, and determining a wheel location based on a comparison of the variations of the pressure values. Variations useful for determining wheel location may include running over an object such as a rumble strip or pot-hole on the roadway, or the vehicle executing a turn.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2013
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: KEVIN J. HAWES, CHRISTOPHER D. RUPPEL, TODD P. OMAN