Patents by Inventor Michael A. Hafner

Michael A. Hafner 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: 20240051523
    Abstract: A computer includes a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to receive sensor data indicating an obstacle, formulate a control barrier function for a vehicle based on the sensor data, determine a control input based on the control barrier function, and actuate a component of the vehicle according to the control input. The control barrier function is defined with respect to a reference point that is spaced from a centroid of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2022
    Publication date: February 15, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mohit Srinivasan, Hongtei Eric Tseng, Michael Hafner, Mrdjan J. Jankovic, Abhishek Sharma, Erol Dogan Sumer, Alexander Jaeckel, Aakar Mehra
  • Publication number: 20230399002
    Abstract: A system includes a processor and a memory. The memory stores instructions executable by the processor to determine a virtual barrier around a vehicle based on receiving a first user input and data indicating a vehicle sprung mass, upon receiving a second user input selecting the virtual barrier, to determine an updated virtual barrier based on the received second user input, upon determining the virtual barrier, to verify that the virtual barrier satisfies one or more vehicle parameters; and to provide output based on the virtual barrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2022
    Publication date: December 14, 2023
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Erol Dogan Sumer, Abhishek Sharma, Mohit Srinivasan, Alexander Jaeckel, Michael Hafner, Mrdjan J. Jankovic, Aakar Mehra
  • Patent number: 11827217
    Abstract: A computer is programmed to identify first and second virtual boundaries of a roadway lane based on a predicted boundary between the roadway lane and an adjacent roadway lane, determine a first constraint value based on a first virtual boundary approach acceleration, determine a second constraint value based on a second virtual boundary approach acceleration, output a prescribed steering angle, brake input, and propulsion input when one of the constraint values violates a respective threshold, and actuate components to attain the prescribed steering angle, brake input, and propulsion input. The first virtual boundary approach acceleration is based on a steering wheel angle of a vehicle and input to one of a brake or a propulsion of the vehicle. The second virtual boundary approach acceleration is based on a steering wheel angle of the vehicle and input to one of a brake or a propulsion of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Hafner, Mrdjan J. Jankovic, Yousaf Rahman, Abhishek Sharma, Mario Anthony Santillo
  • Publication number: 20230373471
    Abstract: A computer includes a processor and a memory, and the memory stores instructions executable by the processor to receive sensor data indicating an obstacle, formulate a control barrier function for a vehicle and the obstacle based on the sensor data, determine a control input based on the control barrier function and a combination function, and actuate a component of the vehicle according to the control input. The combination function is a sum of a first function weighted by a first weight and a second function weighted by a second weight, and the first weight and the second weight are based on a kinematic state of the obstacle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2022
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Abhishek Sharma, Michael Hafner, Mohit Srinivasan, Mrdjan J. Jankovic, Erol Dogan Sumer, Alexander Jaeckel, Aakar Mehra
  • Patent number: 11673548
    Abstract: A computer includes a processor and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to identify a virtual boundary between a host roadway lane of a host vehicle and a target roadway lane of a target vehicle, the virtual boundary based on a predicted path of the target vehicle, determine a first constraint value based on a boundary approach velocity of the target vehicle, determine a second constraint value based on (1) a boundary approach velocity of the host vehicle and (2) a boundary approach acceleration of the host vehicle and perform a threat assessment of a collision between the host vehicle and the target vehicle upon determining that the first constraint value violates a first threshold or the second constraint value violates a second threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Mrdjan J. Jankovic, Yousaf Rahman, Mario A. Santillo, Abhishek Sharma, Michael Hafner
  • Publication number: 20230174472
    Abstract: A compound of formula (I) wherein n is 0 to 4; m is 0 or 1 with the proviso that the sulphur atom and R3 are in vicinal position (if m=0 then R3 is in position 2?, and if m=1 then R3 is on position 1?); R is ethyl or vinyl; R1 is hydrogen or (C1-6)alkyl, R2 is hydrogen or (C3-6)cycloalkyl, or unsubstituted (C1-6)alkyl, or (C1-6)alkyl substituted by one or more of hydroxy; preferably one or two, methoxy, halogen, (C3-6)cycloalkyl, or R1 and R2 together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached form a 5 to 7 membered heterocyclic ring containing at least 1 nitrogen atom or 1 nitrogen and 1 additional heteroatom e. g.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2021
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Inventors: Michael Hafner, Susanne Paukner, Wolfgang Wicha, Rosemarie Riedl, Zrinka Ivezic-Schoenfeld
  • Publication number: 20230150532
    Abstract: A system for detecting a road surface includes a computer programmed to determine a virtual boundary for a vehicle body based on a shape of the vehicle body, upon identifying an object, to identify a plurality of points on the object based on received sensor data, to determine a barrier function based on each of the identified plurality of points, wherein the barrier function includes a barrier distance from a reference point of the virtual boundary of the vehicle to a respective one of the points on the object, based on (i) the determined barrier functions, (ii) the determined virtual boundary of the vehicle, and (iii) an input to at least one of propulsion, steering, or braking, to determine at least one of a braking override or a steering override, and based on the determination, to adjust at least one of a vehicle steering or a vehicle speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2022
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Hafner, Mohit Srinivasan, Abhishek Sharma, Mrdjan J. Jankovic, Erol Dogan Sumer, Alexander Jaeckel, Aakar Mehra
  • Publication number: 20230150485
    Abstract: A system for detecting a road surface includes a processor and a memory. The memory stores instructions executable by the processor to determine a virtual boundary for a vehicle body based on a shape of the vehicle body, to identify one or more objects based on vehicle sensor data, based on the identified one or more objects, the determined virtual boundary, and an input to at least one of propulsion, steering, or braking, to determine at least one of a braking override or a steering override, and based on the determination, to perform at least one of adjusting a vehicle steering and a vehicle speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2021
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Hafner, Mohit Srinivasan, Abhishek Sharma, Mrdjan J. Jankovic, Dogan Sumer, Alexander Jaeckel, Aakar Mehra
  • Publication number: 20230020503
    Abstract: A computer, including a processor and a memory, the memory including instructions to be executed by the processor to determine a first action based on inputting sensor data to a deep reinforcement learning neural network and transform the first action to one or more first commands. One or more second commands can be determined by inputting the one or more first commands to control barrier functions and transforming the one or more second commands to a second action. A reward function can be determined by comparing the second action to the first action. The one or more second commands can be output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2021
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yousaf Rahman, Subramanya Nageshrao, Michael Hafner, Hongtei Eric Tseng, Mrdjan J. Jankovic, Dimitar Petrov Filev
  • Publication number: 20220073063
    Abstract: A computer includes a processor and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to identify a virtual boundary between a host roadway lane of a host vehicle and a target roadway lane of a target vehicle, the virtual boundary based on a predicted path of the target vehicle, determine a first constraint value based on a boundary approach velocity of the target vehicle, determine a second constraint value based on (1) a boundary approach velocity of the host vehicle and (2) a boundary approach acceleration of the host vehicle and perform a threat assessment of a collision between the host vehicle and the target vehicle upon determining that the first constraint value violates a first threshold or the second constraint value violates a second threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2020
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mrdjan J. Jankovic, Yousaf Rahman, Mario A. Santillo, Abhishek Sharma, Michael Hafner
  • Publication number: 20220063691
    Abstract: A method for warning a motor vehicle of a collision with a rail vehicle, in which, using an electronic computing device arranged externally of the vehicle, first movement data of the rail vehicle, which characterize a position and/or a speed of the rail vehicle, are received from a sensor device permanently installed in a rail network and/or are determined as a function of an electronic timetable. A hazardous situation is determined as a function of the first movement data and position data of at least one level crossing, which position data characterize a position of the level crossing. A hazard information signal, which can be called up by the motor vehicle and characterizes the hazardous situation, is provided for the motor vehicle as a function of the hazardous situation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Inventors: Mathias HARTL, Michael HAFNER, Peter LAMMERS, Michael GRIMM
  • Publication number: 20220063610
    Abstract: A computer is programmed to identify first and second virtual boundaries of a roadway lane based on a predicted boundary between the roadway lane and an adjacent roadway lane, determine a first constraint value based on a first virtual boundary approach acceleration, determine a second constraint value based on a second virtual boundary approach acceleration, output a prescribed steering angle, brake input, and propulsion input when one of the constraint values violates a respective threshold, and actuate components to attain the prescribed steering angle, brake input, and propulsion input. The first virtual boundary approach acceleration is based on a steering wheel angle of a vehicle and input to one of a brake or a propulsion of the vehicle. The second virtual boundary approach acceleration is based on a steering wheel angle of the vehicle and input to one of a brake or a propulsion of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2020
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Hafner, Mrdjan J. Jankovic, Yousaf Rahman, Abhishek Sharma, Mario Anthony Santillo
  • Patent number: 11169520
    Abstract: A computer in a vehicle includes first and second electronic control units (ECUs). The first and second ECUs are programmed to monitor, respectively, a first operating condition and a second operating condition. Each operating condition includes one of path deviation, lane width, user awareness, or steering torque. The second ECU is programmed to monitor the second operating condition according to a protocol with a security measure. The first or second ECU is further programmed to control vehicle operation based on the first or second operating condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Hafner, Nitendra Nath, Aaron L. Mills, Jonathan Mcneely, Andrew Brown, Andreas Giersiefer, Zhao Wang, Bahgat Aboushaban, Shadi Jammoul
  • Patent number: 11142209
    Abstract: A road friction is determined for a road location based on a traffic speed determined from respective speeds of each of a plurality of vehicles. A vehicle can be operated based on the determined road friction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kyle Simmons, Eric Hongtei Tseng, Michael Hafner, Mohsen Lakehal-Ayat
  • Patent number: 11124235
    Abstract: A trailer backup assist system for motor vehicles includes an auxiliary user input feature that can be used by a vehicle operator to provide a steering curvature command corresponding to a desired vehicle path curvature without requiring a user to move a steering wheel of the motor vehicle. The trailer backup assist system is configured to control a vehicle speed while the vehicle is backing up with a trailer attached thereto utilizing an input comprising at least one of a steering curvature command and an angle of a trailer relative to the vehicle. The trailer backup assist system controls at least one of a brake system, an engine torque, and a transmission gear selection to thereby control vehicle speed in a reverse direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Erick Michael Lavoie, Nathaniel A Rolfes, Bradley G. Hochrein, Darrel Alan Recker, Donald Jacob Mattern, Michael Hafner
  • Patent number: 11117577
    Abstract: A computer includes a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to identify an error between a predicted steerable path of a vehicle based on data collected according to a first protocol and a predicted lane path based on data collected according to a second protocol and to identify a path fault when the error exceeds an error threshold for an elapsed time exceeding a time threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Nitendra Nath, Michael Hafner, Aaron L. Mills, Zhao Wang, Bahgat Aboushaban
  • Patent number: 10924584
    Abstract: Systems and methods for tracking and identifying of a series of user requests in media streaming applications. Traditional media streaming requires a set of sequential, stateless user requests for content and do not support cookies or other user identification methods. The present application provides a framework for associating sequences of user media requests falling within a prescribed time window using multiple inputs to download requests for purposes of identifying and reconciling individual downloads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Audios Ventures Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Michael-Hafner Crothers, Alan Bradley Smith
  • Publication number: 20200285233
    Abstract: A computer in a vehicle includes first and second electronic control units (ECUs). The first and second ECUs are programmed to monitor, respectively, a first operating condition and a second operating condition. Each operating condition includes one of path deviation, lane width, user awareness, or steering torque. The second ECU is programmed to monitor the second operating condition according to a protocol with a security measure. The first or second ECU is further programmed to control vehicle operation based on the first or second operating condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Publication date: September 10, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: MICHAEL HAFNER, NITENDRA NATH, AARON L. MILLS, JONATHAN MCNEELY, ANDREW BROWN, ANDREAS GIERSIEFER, ZHAO WANG, BAHGAT ABOUSHABAN, SHADI JAMMOUL
  • Publication number: 20200269837
    Abstract: A computer includes a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to identify an error between a predicted steerable path of a vehicle based on data collected according to a first protocol and a predicted lane path based on data collected according to a second protocol and to identify a path fault when the error exceeds an error threshold for an elapsed time exceeding a time threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: NITENDRA NATH, MICHAEL HAFNER, AARON L. MILLS, ZHAO WANG, BAHGAT ABOUSHABAN
  • Publication number: 20200255020
    Abstract: A road friction is determined for a road location based on a traffic speed determined from respective speeds of each of a plurality of vehicles. A vehicle can be operated based on the determined road friction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2019
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: KYLE SIMMONS, ERIC HONGTEI TSENG, MICHAEL HAFNER, MOHSEN LAKEHAL-AYAT