Patents by Inventor Leah Busch

Leah Busch 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: 11932256
    Abstract: The disclosure generally pertains to systems and methods for identifying a location of an occupant in a vehicle. In an example method, a processor deconvolves a vocal utterance by an occupant of a vehicle and also determines an angle of arrival of the vocal utterance. The location of the occupant in the vehicle is then identified by the processor based on evaluating the deconvolved vocal utterance and the angle of arrival of the vocal utterance. Deconvolving the vocal utterance can involve applying a cabin impulse response to the vocal utterance for eliminating undesirable effects that may be imposed upon the vocal utterance by acoustic characteristics of the cabin of the vehicle (echo, sound reflections, sound damping, reverberation etc.). In some applications, the processor may refer to a lookup table to estimate a location of the occupant in the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ranjani Rangarajan, Leah Busch, Karthik Krishnamurthy, Nikhitha Bekkanti
  • Publication number: 20230150513
    Abstract: The disclosure generally pertains to systems and methods for identifying a location of an occupant in a vehicle. In an example method, a processor deconvolves a vocal utterance by an occupant of a vehicle and also determines an angle of arrival of the vocal utterance. The location of the occupant in the vehicle is then identified by the processor based on evaluating the deconvolved vocal utterance and the angle of arrival of the vocal utterance. Deconvolving the vocal utterance can involve applying a cabin impulse response to the vocal utterance for eliminating undesirable effects that may be imposed upon the vocal utterance by acoustic characteristics of the cabin of the vehicle (echo, sound reflections, sound damping, reverberation etc.). In some applications, the processor may refer to a lookup table to estimate a location of the occupant in the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2021
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ranjani Rangarajan, Leah Busch, Karthik Krishnamurthy, Nikhitha Bekkanti
  • Patent number: 11546689
    Abstract: The disclosure describes systems and methods for processing audio signals in a vehicle to perform sound source separation. The sound source separation is performed using transfer functions and involves separation of the speech of multiple occupants. The separated speech can be used to isolate and correctly respond to a command to control vehicle systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ranjani Rangarajan, Leah Busch
  • Publication number: 20220109927
    Abstract: The disclosure describes systems and methods for processing audio signals in a vehicle to perform sound source separation. The sound source separation is performed using transfer functions and involves separation of the speech of multiple occupants. The separated speech can be used to isolate and correctly respond to a command to control vehicle systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2020
    Publication date: April 7, 2022
    Inventors: Ranjani Rangarajan, Leah Busch
  • Patent number: 11217242
    Abstract: Detecting and isolating competing speech for voice controlled systems are provided herein. An example method includes isolating a voice command from a plurality of competing voice sound signals received internally or externally to a vehicle, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of competing voice sound signals are received using a sensor coupled with a window of the vehicle, and processing the voice command by the voice command system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John Huber, Joshua Wheeler, Scott Andrew Amman, Ranjani Rangarajan, Leah Busch, Nikhitha Bekkanti
  • Patent number: 11189174
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for accelerometer-based external sound monitoring for voice controlled autonomous parking. An example vehicle includes a body control module, an infotainment head unit, and an autonomy unit. The example body control module communicatively couples to a mobile device. The example infotainment head unit communicatively couples to an accelerometer mounted on a window of the vehicle. The example autonomy unit autonomously parks the vehicle in response to a first key word detected by the accelerometer when (i) a button is activated on the infotainment head unit and (ii) a message from the mobile device is being periodically received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joshua Wheeler, Scott Andrew Amman, Ranjani Rangarajan, Leah Busch, John Edward Huber
  • Patent number: 11180098
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for monitoring of vehicle window vibrations for voice-command recognition. An example vehicle includes a window, an outer layer, a vibration sensor coupled to the window to detect audio vibrations, an audio actuator coupled to the outer layer to vibrate the outer layer, and a controller. The controller is to detect a voice command from a user via the vibration sensor, identify an audio response based upon the voice command, and emit the audio response to the user via the audio actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joshua Wheeler, Scott Andrew Amman, Leah Busch, Ranjani Rangarajan, John Edward Huber
  • Patent number: 10971003
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments described in this disclosure are generally directed to systems and methods for predicting a behavior of a pedestrian on the basis of a behavioral profile of the pedestrian. The behavioral profile may be generated in a personal communication device of the pedestrian (such as a smartphone) based on activities performed by the pedestrian such as walking on a sidewalk, stepping off the sidewalk to walk on a road, standing on a sidewalk waiting for a traffic light to change, stepping onto the road when waiting for a traffic light to change, and/or crossing a road when the traffic light is red. The behavioral profile may also be based on other factors such as a traffic citation, an accident report, a status of a driver's license, and/or physical characteristics of the pedestrian (age, gender, etc.).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Leah Busch, Andrea Chowanic, Jessamyn Smallenburg
  • Publication number: 20200372908
    Abstract: Detecting and isolating competing speech for voice controlled systems are provided herein. An example method includes isolating a voice command from a plurality of competing voice sound signals received internally or externally to a vehicle, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of competing voice sound signals are received using a sensor coupled with a window of the vehicle, and processing the voice command by the voice command system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2019
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John Huber, Joshua Wheeler, Scott Andrew Amman, Ranjani Rangarajan, Leah Busch, Nikhitha Bekkanti
  • Publication number: 20200242921
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments described in this disclosure are generally directed to systems and methods for predicting a behavior of a pedestrian on the basis of a behavioral profile of the pedestrian. The behavioral profile may be generated in a personal communication device of the pedestrian (such as a smartphone) based on activities performed by the pedestrian such as walking on a sidewalk, stepping off the sidewalk to walk on a road, standing on a sidewalk waiting for a traffic light to change, stepping onto the road when waiting for a traffic light to change, and/or crossing a road when the traffic light is red. The behavioral profile may also be based on other factors such as a traffic citation, an accident report, a status of a driver's license, and/or physical characteristics of the pedestrian (age, gender, etc.).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Leah Busch, Andrea Chowanic, Jessamyn Smallenburg
  • Patent number: 10684627
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for accelerometer-based external sound monitoring for position aware autonomous parking. An example vehicle includes accelerometers mounted on windows of the vehicle, a computing platform communicatively coupled to the accelerometers, and an autonomy unit. The computing platform receives, via the accelerometers, signals indicative of a stop command associated with a voice. Additionally, the computing platform validates the stop command when the voice either is authorized or originates from within an emergency zone. The autonomy unit prevents autonomous motion of the vehicle in response to receiving the validated stop command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Erick Michael Lavoie, Joshua Wheeler, Scott Andrew Amman, John Edward Huber, Leah Busch, Ranjani Rangarajan
  • Publication number: 20200090520
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for accelerometer-based external sound monitoring for voice controlled autonomous parking. An example vehicle includes a body control module, an infotainment head unit, and an autonomy unit. The example body control module communicatively couples to a mobile device. The example infotainment head unit communicatively couples to an accelerometer mounted on a window of the vehicle. The example autonomy unit autonomously parks the vehicle in response to a first key word detected by the accelerometer when (i) a button is activated on the infotainment head unit and (ii) a message from the mobile device is being periodically received.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2019
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Inventors: Joshua Wheeler, Scott Andrew Amman, Ranjani Rangarajan, Leah Busch, John Edward Huber
  • Patent number: 10580304
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for accelerometer-based external sound monitoring for voice controlled autonomous parking. An example vehicle includes a body control module, an infotainment head unit, and an autonomy unit. The example body control module communicatively couples to a mobile device. The example infotainment head unit communicatively couples to an accelerometer mounted on a window of the vehicle. The example autonomy unit autonomously parks the vehicle in response to a first key word detected by the accelerometer when (i) a button is activated on the infotainment head unit and (ii) a message from the mobile device is being periodically received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joshua Wheeler, Scott Andrew Amman, Ranjani Rangarajan, Leah Busch, John Edward Huber
  • Patent number: 10562449
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for accelerometer-based external sound monitoring during low speed maneuvers. An example vehicle includes accelerometers affixed to windows of the vehicle, speakers located inside the vehicle, and an infotainment head unit. Each of the speakers is uniquely associated with one of the accelerometers. The infotainment head unit, when a speed of the vehicle satisfies a threshold, selects a zone corresponding to a direction of travel of the vehicle. Additionally, the infotainment head unit plays signals captured by the accelerometers associated with the selected zone on the corresponding speakers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joshua Wheeler, Scott Andrew Amman, John Edward Huber, Leah Busch, Ranjani Rangarajan, Erick Michael Lavoie, Marla Johnston
  • Publication number: 20200039456
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for monitoring of vehicle window vibrations for voice-command recognition. An example vehicle includes a window, an outer layer, a vibration sensor coupled to the window to detect audio vibrations, an audio actuator coupled to the outer layer to vibrate the outer layer, and a controller. The controller is to detect a voice command from a user via the vibration sensor, identify an audio response based upon the voice command, and emit the audio response to the user via the audio actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2019
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joshua Wheeler, Scott Andrew Amman, Leah Busch, Ranjani Rangarajan, John Edward Huber
  • Patent number: 10479300
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for monitoring of vehicle window vibrations for voice-command recognition. An example vehicle includes a window, an outer layer, a vibration sensor coupled to the window to detect audio vibrations, an audio actuator coupled to the outer layer to vibrate the outer layer, and a controller. The controller is to detect a voice command from a user via the vibration sensor, identify an audio response based upon the voice command, and emit the audio response to the user via the audio actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joshua Wheeler, Scott Andrew Amman, Leah Busch, Ranjani Rangarajan, John Edward Huber
  • Publication number: 20190243380
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for accelerometer-based external sound monitoring for position aware autonomous parking. An example vehicle includes accelerometers mounted on windows of the vehicle, a computing platform communicatively coupled to the accelerometers, and an autonomy unit. The computing platform receives, via the accelerometers, signals indicative of a stop command associated with a voice. Additionally, the computing platform validates the stop command when the voice either is authorized or originates from within an emergency zone. The autonomy unit prevents autonomous motion of the vehicle in response to receiving the validated stop command.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2018
    Publication date: August 8, 2019
    Inventors: Erick Michael Lavoie, Joshua Wheeler, Scott Andrew Amman, John Edward Huber, Leah Busch, Ranjani Rangarajan
  • Publication number: 20190106069
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for monitoring of vehicle window vibrations for voice-command recognition. An example vehicle includes a window, an outer layer, a vibration sensor coupled to the window to detect audio vibrations, an audio actuator coupled to the outer layer to vibrate the outer layer, and a controller. The controller is to detect a voice command from a user via the vibration sensor, identify an audio response based upon the voice command, and emit the audio response to the user via the audio actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2017
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Inventors: Joshua Wheeler, Scott Andrew Amman, Leah Busch, Ranjani Rangarajan, John Edward Huber
  • Publication number: 20190103027
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for accelerometer-based external sound monitoring for voice controlled autonomous parking. An example vehicle includes a body control module, an infotainment head unit, and an autonomy unit. The example body control module communicatively couples to a mobile device. The example infotainment head unit communicatively couples to an accelerometer mounted on a window of the vehicle. The example autonomy unit autonomously parks the vehicle in response to a first key word detected by the accelerometer when (i) a button is activated on the infotainment head unit and (ii) a message from the mobile device is being periodically received.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2017
    Publication date: April 4, 2019
    Inventors: Joshua Wheeler, Scott Andrew Amman, Ranjani Rangarajan, Leah Busch, John Edward Huber
  • Publication number: 20190092229
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for accelerometer-based external sound monitoring during low speed maneuvers. An example vehicle includes accelerometers affixed to windows of the vehicle, speakers located inside the vehicle, and an infotainment head unit. Each of the speakers is uniquely associated with one of the accelerometers. The infotainment head unit, when a speed of the vehicle satisfies a threshold, selects a zone corresponding to a direction of travel of the vehicle. Additionally, the infotainment head unit plays signals captured by the accelerometers associated with the selected zone on the corresponding speakers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventors: Joshua Wheeler, Scott Andrew Amman, John Edward Huber, Leah Busch, Ranjani Rangarajan, Erick Michael Lavoie, Marla Johnston