Patents by Inventor Mark E. Shields
Mark E. Shields 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: 11506719Abstract: A monitoring method includes, among other things, within a vehicle, providing a first electrical system with an auxiliary battery, and a second electrical system with a primary battery. The method further includes electrically coupling the first electrical system to the second electrical system, electrically loading the auxiliary battery and the primary battery, and comparing an electrical parameter of the auxiliary battery to a threshold value to assess a state of the auxiliary battery.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2019Date of Patent: November 22, 2022Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Hanyang B. Chen, Michael J. Irby, Matthew Thomas Loiselle, William David Treharne, Mark E. Shields, Josephine S. Lee
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Patent number: 11204010Abstract: A method for operating a vehicle that includes a DC/DC converter is described. In one example, the method includes adjusting an output voltage of the DC/DC converter after the DC/DC converter is used to crank an engine. The output voltage of the DC/DC converter may be adjusted responsive to a state of charge of an ultra-capacitor.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2020Date of Patent: December 21, 2021Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Alexander O'Connor Gibson, John Eric Rollinger, David Hancock, William Taylor, Mark E. Shields
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Publication number: 20210262428Abstract: A method for operating a vehicle that includes a DC/DC converter is described. In one example, the method includes adjusting an output voltage of the DC/DC converter after the DC/DC converter is used to crank an engine. The output voltage of the DC/DC converter may be adjusted responsive to a state of charge of an ultra-capacitor.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 20, 2020Publication date: August 26, 2021Inventors: Alexander O'Connor Gibson, John Eric Rollinger, David Hancock, William Taylor, Mark E. Shields
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Publication number: 20210063492Abstract: A monitoring method includes, among other things, within a vehicle, providing a first electrical system with an auxiliary battery, and a second electrical system with a primary battery. The method further includes electrically coupling the first electrical system to the second electrical system, electrically loading the auxiliary battery and the primary battery, and comparing an electrical parameter of the auxiliary battery to a threshold value to assess a state of the auxiliary battery.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 26, 2019Publication date: March 4, 2021Inventors: Hanyang B. Chen, Michael J. Irby, Matthew Thomas Loiselle, William David Treharne, Mark E. Shields, Josephine S. Lee
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Patent number: 10714966Abstract: A vehicle includes a starter motor having a dedicated power source, an electric machine, and a controller configured to, responsive to a command for the motor to start an engine, open a switch to isolate the motor and source from a network electrically connected with the machine, and responsive to voltages on both sides of the switch falling within a predetermined range, close the switch to charge the source.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2018Date of Patent: July 14, 2020Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Mark E. Shields, Matthew Thomas Loiselle, Brian Keyse, Josephine S. Lee
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Publication number: 20190326772Abstract: A vehicle includes a starter motor having a dedicated power source, an electric machine, and a controller configured to, responsive to a command for the motor to start an engine, open a switch to isolate the motor and source from a network electrically connected with the machine, and responsive to voltages on both sides of the switch falling within a predetermined range, close the switch to charge the source.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 18, 2018Publication date: October 24, 2019Inventors: Mark E. SHIELDS, Matthew Thomas Loiselle, Brian Keyse, Josephine S. Lee
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Patent number: 9983306Abstract: A system and method for providing target selection and threat assessment for vehicle collision avoidance purposes that employ probability analysis of radar scan returns. The system determines a travel path of a host vehicle and provides a radar signal transmitted from a sensor on the host vehicle. The system receives multiple scan return points from detected objects, processes the scan return points to generate a distribution signal defining a contour of each detected object, and processes the scan return points to provide a position, a translation velocity and an angular velocity of each detected object. The system selects the objects that may enter the travel path of the host vehicle, and makes a threat assessment of those objects by comparing a number of scan return points that indicate that the object may enter the travel path to the number of the scan points that are received for that object.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2015Date of Patent: May 29, 2018Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Shuqing Zeng, Wende Zhang, Mark E. Shields
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Patent number: 9970772Abstract: A method for localizing a vehicle in a digital map. GPS raw measurement data is retrieved from satellites. A digital map of a region traveled by the vehicle based on the raw measurement data is retrieved from a database. The digital map includes a geographic mapping of a traveled road and registered roadside objects. The registered roadside objects are positionally identified in the digital map by earth-fixed coordinates. Roadside objects are sensed in the region traveled by the vehicle using distance data and bearing angle data. The sensed roadside objects are matched on the digital map. A vehicle position is determined on the traveled road by fusing raw measurement data and sensor measurements of the identified roadside objects. The position of the vehicle is represented as a function of linearizing raw measurement data and the sensor measurement data as derived by a Jacobian matrix and normalized measurements, respectively.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2016Date of Patent: May 15, 2018Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Shuqing Zeng, Jeremy A. Salinger, Bakhtiar B. Litkouhi, Joel Pazhayampallil, Kevin A. O'Dea, James N. Nickolaou, Mark E. Shields
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Publication number: 20160282128Abstract: A method for localizing a vehicle in a digital map. GPS raw measurement data is retrieved from satellites. A digital map of a region traveled by the vehicle based on the raw measurement data is retrieved from a database. The digital map includes a geographic mapping of a traveled road and registered roadside objects. The registered roadside objects are positionally identified in the digital map by earth-fixed coordinates. Roadside objects are sensed in the region traveled by the vehicle using distance data and bearing angle data. The sensed roadside objects are matched on the digital map. A vehicle position is determined on the traveled road by fusing raw measurement data and sensor measurements of the identified roadside objects. The position of the vehicle is represented as a function of linearizing raw measurement data and the sensor measurement data as derived by a Jacobian matrix and normalized measurements, respectively.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 8, 2016Publication date: September 29, 2016Inventors: SHUQING ZENG, JEREMY A. SALINGER, BAKHTIAR B. LITKOUHI, JOEL PAZHAYAMPALLIL, KEVIN A. O'DEA, JAMES N. NICKOLAOU, MARK E. SHIELDS
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Patent number: 9435653Abstract: A method and system for localizing a vehicle in a digital map includes generating GPS coordinates of the vehicle on the traveled road and retrieving from a database a digital map of a region traveled by the vehicle based on the location of the GPS coordinates. The digital map includes a geographic mapping of a traveled road and registered roadside objects. The registered roadside objects are positionally identified in the digital map by longitudinal and lateral coordinates. Roadside objects in the region traveled are sensed by the vehicle. The sensed roadside objects are identified on the digital map. A vehicle position on the traveled road is determined utilizing coordinates of the sensed roadside objects identified in the digital map. The position of the vehicle is localized in the road as a function of the GPS coordinates and the determined vehicle position utilizing the coordinates of the sensed roadside objects.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2013Date of Patent: September 6, 2016Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Shuqing Zeng, Jeremy A. Salinger, Bakhtiar B. Litkouhi, Joel Pazhayampallil, Kevin A. O'Dea, James N. Nickolaou, Mark E. Shields
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Patent number: 9403413Abstract: Systems and methods for assisting in coupling a vehicle and a trailer include at least one sensing device disposed on the vehicle. A first coupling is coupled the vehicle and a second coupling is coupled to the trailer. A controller in communication with the at least one sensing device is configured to identify a spatial location of the first coupling. The controller is also configured to determine a spatial location of the second coupling using data from the at least one sensing device. The controller may also calculate a path between the spatial location of the first coupling and the spatial location of the second coupling and convey the path for facilitating movement of the first coupling toward the second coupling.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2015Date of Patent: August 2, 2016Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Timothy J. Talty, Mark E. Shields, Wende Zhang, Michael A. Wuergler, Vernon Hole
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Publication number: 20160109571Abstract: A system and method for providing target selection and threat assessment for vehicle collision avoidance purposes that employ probability analysis of radar scan returns. The system determines a travel path of a host vehicle and provides a radar signal transmitted from a sensor on the host vehicle. The system receives multiple scan return points from detected objects, processes the scan return points to generate a distribution signal defining a contour of each detected object, and processes the scan return points to provide a position, a translation velocity and an angular velocity of each detected object. The system selects the objects that may enter the travel path of the host vehicle, and makes a threat assessment of those objects by comparing a number of scan return points that indicate that the object may enter the travel path to the number of the scan points that are received for that object.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2015Publication date: April 21, 2016Inventors: SHUQING ZENG, WENDE ZHANG, MARK E. SHIELDS
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Patent number: 9250324Abstract: A system and method for providing target selection and threat assessment for vehicle collision avoidance purposes that employ probability analysis of radar scan returns. The system determines a travel path of a host vehicle and provides a radar signal transmitted from a sensor on the host vehicle. The system receives multiple scan return points from detected objects, processes the scan return points to generate a distribution signal defining a contour of each detected object, and processes the scan return points to provide a position, a translation velocity and an angular velocity of each detected object. The system selects the objects that may enter the travel path of the host vehicle, and makes a threat assessment of those objects by comparing a number of scan return points that indicate that the object may enter the travel path to the number of the scan points that are received for that object.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2013Date of Patent: February 2, 2016Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Shuqing Zeng, Wende Zhang, Mark E. Shields
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Publication number: 20150321666Abstract: Systems and methods for assisting in coupling a vehicle and a trailer include at least one sensing device disposed on the vehicle. A first coupling is coupled the vehicle and a second coupling is coupled to the trailer. A controller in communication with the at least one sensing device is configured to identify a spatial location of the first coupling. The controller is also configured to determine a spatial location of the second coupling using data from the at least one sensing device. The controller may also calculate a path between the spatial location of the first coupling and the spatial location of the second coupling and convey the path for facilitating movement of the first coupling toward the second coupling.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 7, 2015Publication date: November 12, 2015Inventors: TIMOTHY J. TALTY, MARK E. SHIELDS, WENDE ZHANG, MICHAEL A. WUERGLER, VERNON HOLE
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Publication number: 20150081211Abstract: A method and system for localizing a vehicle in a digital map includes generating GPS coordinates of the vehicle on the traveled road and retrieving from a database a digital map of a region traveled by the vehicle based on the location of the GPS coordinates. The digital map includes a geographic mapping of a traveled road and registered roadside objects. The registered roadside objects are positionally identified in the digital map by longitudinal and lateral coordinates. Roadside objects in the region traveled are sensed by the vehicle. The sensed roadside objects are identified on the digital map. A vehicle position on the traveled road is determined utilizing coordinates of the sensed roadside objects identified in the digital map. The position of the vehicle is localized in the road as a function of the GPS coordinates and the determined vehicle position utilizing the coordinates of the sensed roadside objects.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2013Publication date: March 19, 2015Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Shuqing Zeng, Jeremy A. Salinger, Bakhtiar B. Litkouhi, Joel Pazhayampallil, Kevin A. O'Dea, James N. Nickolaou, Mark E. Shields
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Publication number: 20140347207Abstract: A system and method for providing target selection and threat assessment for vehicle collision avoidance purposes that employ probability analysis of radar scan returns. The system determines a travel path of a host vehicle and provides a radar signal transmitted from a sensor on the host vehicle. The system receives multiple scan return points from detected objects, processes the scan return points to generate a distribution signal defining a contour of each detected object, and processes the scan return points to provide a position, a translation velocity and an angular velocity of each detected object. The system selects the objects that may enter the travel path of the host vehicle, and makes a threat assessment of those objects by comparing a number of scan return points that indicate that the object may enter the travel path to the number of the scan points that are received for that object.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2013Publication date: November 27, 2014Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Shuqing Zeng, Wende Zhang, Mark E. Shields