Patents by Inventor Kyle P. Carpenter

Kyle P. Carpenter 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).

  • Publication number: 20230136812
    Abstract: A trailer assist system includes a controller configured to determine whether a trailer is in a jackknife condition based on an angle of the trailer relative to a vehicle. Determination is made whether the jackknife condition can be corrected by utilizing vehicle brakes, trailer brakes, or vehicle steering.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2021
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Applicant: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Julien Ip Ip, Kyle P. Carpenter, Xin Yu
  • Publication number: 20230109443
    Abstract: A camera system for a vehicle provides for the generation of different perspectives with a single camera to improve location accuracy. The camera system includes a camera configured for generating an image of an area proximate the vehicle and a mirror mounted proximate the camera and within a field of view of the camera. The mirror provides a secondary view of the area proximate the vehicle to the camera that is included as part of a single image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2021
    Publication date: April 6, 2023
    Applicant: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Kyle P. Carpenter, Danny Bynum, Matthew Donald Berkemeier
  • Patent number: 11603100
    Abstract: A method includes receiving one or more images from a camera positioned on a back portion of the vehicle and receiving a driver planned path from a user interface. The driver planned path includes a plurality of waypoints. The method also includes transmitting one or more commands to a drive system causing the vehicle to autonomously maneuver along the driver planned path. The method also includes determining a current vehicle position and an estimated subsequent vehicle position. The method also includes determining a path adjustment from the current vehicle position to the estimated subsequent vehicle position. The method also includes transmitting instructions to the drive system causing the vehicle to autonomously maneuver towards the estimated subsequent vehicle position based on the path adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Continental Autonomous Mobility US, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew Donald Berkemeier, Xin Yu, Danny Bynum, Julien Ip, Kyle P Carpenter, Eduardo Llanos, Dhiren Verma
  • Patent number: 11518204
    Abstract: A method for autonomously maneuvering a tow vehicle towards a trailer positioned behind the tow vehicle is provided. The method includes receiving one or more images from one or more cameras positioned on a back portion of the tow vehicle. The method also includes identifying a trailer representation within the one or more images. The trailer representation being indicative of the trailer positioned behind the tow vehicle. The method also includes setting a vertical center of the trailer representation as a target. The method also includes determining a first steering wheel angle to turn the tow vehicle such that the vehicle autonomously maneuvers in a direction towards the target. The method also includes transmitting instructions to a drive system causing the tow vehicle to maneuver based on the first steering wheel angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Continental Autonomous Mobility US, LLC
    Inventors: Xin Yu, Matthew Donald Berkemeier, Julien Ip, Eduardo Jose Ramirez Llanos, Kyle P Carpenter
  • Publication number: 20220198702
    Abstract: A method determining an angle of a trailer relative to a vehicle. The method includes generating a projection on a trailer with a projector. An image is obtained of the projection on the trailer with a camera. An angle of the trailer relative to a vehicle is determined by comparing the image of the projection with a known pattern of the projection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2020
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Applicant: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Julien Ip, Kyle P Carpenter, Xin Yu
  • Publication number: 20220161853
    Abstract: A method for autonomously parking a vehicle-trailer system is provided. The method includes receiving sensor system data from a sensor system supported by the vehicle. The sensor system data includes images of surroundings along a driving path of the vehicle-trailer system. The method includes determining a local map based on the sensor system data. The local map includes surroundings along the driving path. The method includes receiving a user selection of an image location within the images. The image location representing a position in the local map associated with a selected location within the surroundings. The method includes determining a parking path from a current location of the vehicle-trailer system to the position based on the local map and instructing a drive system to execute an autonomous parking behavior causing the vehicle-trailer system to autonomously drive along the parking path and autonomously park in the selected location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2020
    Publication date: May 26, 2022
    Applicant: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Eduardo Jose Ramirez Llanos, Dhiren Verma, Xin Yu, Matthew Donald Berkemeier, Julien Ip, Kyle P Carpenter, Francisco Alejandro Fuentes Perez, Joseph Zagroba, Victor Manuel Camacho Ruiz, Andrew Phillip Bolduc, Erick Daniel Rivera Gutierrez, Nichols William, Isemany Angelica Leal Martinez
  • Patent number: 11247610
    Abstract: A method for adjusting a power mirror supported by a tow vehicle attached to a trailer based on a position of the trailer allowing a driver of the tow vehicle to view an edge of the trailer is provided. The method includes receiving sensor system data from a sensor system positioned on a rear portion of the tow vehicle and receiving a current mirror angle associated with the power mirror. The method includes determining an adjusted mirror angle based on the current mirror angle and the received sensor system data. The method also includes transmitting instructions to the power mirror. The instructions causing the power mirror to adjust the current mirror angle to the adjusted mirror angle resulting in the power mirror maintaining a trailer edge within a field of view of the driver when looking at the power mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Kyle P Carpenter
  • Patent number: 11198341
    Abstract: A method for autonomously maneuvering a tow vehicle. The method includes receiving images from one or more cameras positioned on a back portion of the tow vehicle and receiving sensor data from an inertial measurement unit supported by the tow vehicle. The method also includes determining a pixel-wise intensity difference between a current received image and a previous received image. The method includes determining a camera pose and a trailer pose with respect to a world coordinate system. The camera pose and the trailer pose are based on the images, the sensor data, and the pixel-wise intensity difference. The method includes determining a tow vehicle path based on the camera pose and the trailer pose. The method also includes instructing a drive system supported by the tow vehicle to autonomously maneuver along the tow vehicle path in a reverse direction causing the tow vehicle to hitch with the trailer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Xin Yu, Matthew Donald Berkemeier, Julien Ip, Eduardo Jose Ramirez Llanos, Kyle P Carpenter
  • Patent number: 11148667
    Abstract: A method of autonomously maneuvering a tow vehicle towards a trailer positioned behind the tow vehicle is provided. The method includes receiving one or more images from a camera positioned on a back portion of the tow vehicle. The method also includes receiving, at the data processing hardware, a first user selection of a trailer representation within the one or more images. The method includes sending first instructions to a drive system causing the tow vehicle to autonomously maneuver towards the trailer associated with the first user selection of the trailer representation. The method also includes receiving a second user selection of a coupler representation within the one or more images. The coupler representation associated with a trailer coupler of the trailer. The method also includes sending second instructions to the drive system causing the tow vehicle to autonomously maneuver towards the trailer coupler associated with the second user selection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Donald Berkemeier, Xin Yu, Danny Bynum, Julien Ip, Kyle P Carpenter, Eduardo Llanos, Dhiren Verma
  • Patent number: 10987984
    Abstract: A method of maneuvering a vehicle in reverse for attachment to a trailer, includes receiving a trailer hitch receiver image location shown within one or more images from at least one vehicle camera. The method also includes determining, a pixel angular difference in the image between a tow vehicle fore-aft axis and a trailer fore-aft axis, determining a pixel distance between a tow vehicle hitch ball and a hitch receiver, and determining a vehicle path from an initial position to a final position adjacent the trailer. The vehicle path includes maneuvers configured to move the vehicle along the vehicle path from the initial position to the final position. Then autonomously following, at a drive system in communication with the computing device, the vehicle path from the initial position to the final position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Kyle P Carpenter
  • Patent number: 10884425
    Abstract: One aspect of the disclosure provides a method of maneuvering a vehicle in reverse for attachment to a trailer. The method includes: determining, at a computing device in communication with the neural network, a selected trailer in proximity to the vehicle; detecting at least one user input gesture performed by a user and captured in at least one image from at least one camera on the vehicle; selected a maneuver command for the vehicle based on the detected gesture; and executing the maneuver to move the vehicle from the initial position toward a final position adjacent the trailer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Dalong Li, Kyle P Carpenter, Dominik Froehlich, Ibro Muharemovic, Julien Ip, Lubna Khasawneh, Uriel Sanchez, Steffen Hartmann
  • Patent number: 10829045
    Abstract: A method of calibrating a driver assistance system comprises entering a calibration mode for a driver assistance system, determining a first estimated position and heading of the vehicle at a first location, capturing an image from a camera and selecting at least one feature in the image. The method of calibrating also includes moving the vehicle to a second location and heading and determining a second estimated position and heading of the vehicle, capturing a second image from a camera and selecting at least one feature in the second image, where the selected feature in the second image the same feature as the selected feature in the first image. The method also includes calculating new vehicle motion parameter values based on the first estimated position and heading, second estimated position and heading, first recorded at least one feature data, and second recorded at least one feature data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Donald Berkemeier, Kyle P Carpenter, Julien Ip, Dhiren Verma
  • Publication number: 20200094743
    Abstract: A method for adjusting a power mirror supported by a tow vehicle attached to a trailer based on a position of the trailer allowing a driver of the tow vehicle to view an edge of the trailer is provided. The method includes receiving sensor system data from a sensor system positioned on a rear portion of the tow vehicle and receiving a current mirror angle associated with the power mirror. The method includes determining an adjusted mirror angle based on the current mirror angle and the received sensor system data. The method also includes transmitting instructions to the power mirror. The instructions causing the power mirror to adjust the current mirror angle to the adjusted mirror angle resulting in the power mirror maintaining a trailer edge within a field of view of the driver when looking at the power mirror.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Applicant: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Kyle P Carpenter
  • Publication number: 20200097021
    Abstract: A method for autonomously maneuvering a tractor in reverse for attachment to a trailer using a hitch assist system, the method including: entering a hitch assist mode, displaying a camera image on a user interface, and receiving an indication of a selected trailer. The method also includes determining a planned path with a computing device a tractor path from an initial position to a final position adjacent the trailer, the tractor path including maneuvers configured to move the tractor along the tractor path from the initial position to the final position. The method also includes autonomously following, at a drive system in communication with the computing device, the tractor path from the initial position to the final position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2019
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Applicant: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Kyle P. Carpenter, Jeremy Tuggle
  • Publication number: 20200062257
    Abstract: A method for autonomously driving a vehicle in a rearward direction towards a point of interest is provided. The method includes receiving one or more images from a camera positioned on a back portion of the vehicle and receiving a driver planned path from a user interface. The driver planned path includes a plurality of waypoints. The method also includes transmitting one or more commands to a drive system causing the vehicle to autonomously maneuver along the driver planned path. The method also includes determining a current vehicle position and an estimated subsequent vehicle position. The method also includes determining a path adjustment from the current vehicle position to the estimated subsequent vehicle position. The method also includes transmitting instructions to the drive system causing the vehicle to autonomously maneuver towards the estimated subsequent vehicle position based on the path adjustment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2019
    Publication date: February 27, 2020
    Applicant: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Donald Berkemeier, Xin Yu, Danny Bynum, Julien Ip, Kyle P Carpenter, Eduardo Llanos, Dhiren Verma
  • Publication number: 20200039517
    Abstract: A method of autonomously maneuvering a tow vehicle towards a trailer positioned behind the tow vehicle is provided. The method includes receiving one or more images from a camera positioned on a back portion of the tow vehicle. The method also includes receiving, at the data processing hardware, a first user selection of a trailer representation within the one or more images. The method includes sending first instructions to a drive system causing the tow vehicle to autonomously maneuver towards the trailer associated with the first user selection of the trailer representation. The method also includes receiving a second user selection of a coupler representation within the one or more images. The coupler representation associated with a trailer coupler of the trailer. The method also includes sending second instructions to the drive system causing the tow vehicle to autonomously maneuver towards the trailer coupler associated with the second user selection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2019
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Applicant: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Donald Berkemeier, Xin Yu, Danny Bynum, Julien Ip, Kyle P Carpenter, Eduardo Llanos, Dhiren Verma
  • Publication number: 20200017025
    Abstract: A method of calibrating a driver assistance system comprises entering a calibration mode for a driver assistance system, determining a first estimated position and heading of the vehicle at a first location, capturing an image from a camera and selecting at least one feature in the image. The method of calibrating also includes moving the vehicle to a second location and heading and determining a second estimated position and heading of the vehicle, capturing a second image from a camera and selecting at least one feature in the second image, where the selected feature in the second image the same feature as the selected feature in the first image. The method also includes calculating new vehicle motion parameter values based on the first estimated position and heading, second estimated position and heading, first recorded at least one feature data, and second recorded at least one feature data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2019
    Publication date: January 16, 2020
    Applicant: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Donald Berkemeier, Kyle P. Carpenter, Julien Ip, Dhiren Verma
  • Publication number: 20190337344
    Abstract: A method for autonomously maneuvering a tow vehicle. The method includes receiving images from one or more cameras positioned on a back portion of the tow vehicle and receiving sensor data from an inertial measurement unit supported by the tow vehicle. The method also includes determining a pixel-wise intensity difference between a current received image and a previous received image. The method includes determining a camera pose and a trailer pose with respect to a world coordinate system. The camera pose and the trailer pose are based on the images, the sensor data, and the pixel-wise intensity difference. The method includes determining a tow vehicle path based on the camera pose and the trailer pose. The method also includes instructing a drive system supported by the tow vehicle to autonomously maneuver along the tow vehicle path in a reverse direction causing the tow vehicle to hitch with the trailer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2019
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Applicant: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Xin Yu, Matthew Donald Berkemeier, Julien Ip, Eduardo Jose Ramirez Llanos, Kyle P Carpenter
  • Publication number: 20190339704
    Abstract: A method for autonomously maneuvering a tow vehicle towards a trailer positioned behind the tow vehicle is provided. The method includes receiving one or more images from one or more cameras positioned on a back portion of the tow vehicle. The method also includes identifying a trailer representation within the one or more images. The trailer representation being indicative of the trailer positioned behind the tow vehicle. The method also includes setting a vertical center of the trailer representation as a target. The method also includes determining a first steering wheel angle to turn the tow vehicle such that the vehicle autonomously maneuvers in a direction towards the target. The method also includes transmitting instructions to a drive system causing the tow vehicle to maneuver based on the first steering wheel angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2019
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Applicant: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Xin Yu, Matthew Donald Berkemeier, Julien Ip, Eduardo Jose Ramirez Llanos, Kyle P Carpenter
  • Publication number: 20190094872
    Abstract: One aspect of the disclosure provides a method of maneuvering a vehicle in reverse for attachment to a trailer. The method includes: determining, at a computing device in communication with the neural network, a selected trailer in proximity to the vehicle; detecting at least one user input gesture performed by a user and captured in at least one image from at least one camera on the vehicle; selected a maneuver command for the vehicle based on the detected gesture; and executing the maneuver to move the vehicle from the initial position toward a final position adjacent the trailer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Applicant: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Dalong Li, Kyle P. Carpenter, Dominik Froehlich, Ibro Muharemovic, Julien Ip, Lubna Khasawneh, Uriel Sanchez, Steffen Hartmann