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).
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Patent number: 10737693Abstract: A system and a method are described. The method includes: receiving sensed input from a vehicle sensor suite; using the input, providing a first output; determining that a vehicle-lane confidence level is less than a threshold; and then instead, providing a second output, wherein the first and second outputs comprise lane-correction data, wherein the second output is determined using an estimation filter.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2018Date of Patent: August 11, 2020Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Quazi Farooqi, Xingping Chen, Michael Hafner, Darrel Alan Recker
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Patent number: 10710585Abstract: A trailer backup assist system is provided herein. The system includes a calibration feature for calibrating an imaging device used for hitch angle detection. The system also employs multiple hitch angle detection methods, a number of which may run in parallel to increase the intervals at which a hitch angle can be measured. The system additionally includes a predictive feature in which a hitch angle can be predicted in instances where a trailer sensing device fails. The system is further configured to estimate a trailer length and generate steering commands that are invariant to the estimated trailer length under certain conditions.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 2017Date of Patent: July 14, 2020Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Zheng Hu, Erick Michael Lavoie, Darrel Alan Recker, John P. Joyce, Donald Jacob Mattern, Michael Hafner, Li Xu, Eric Hongtei Tseng, Thomas Edward Pilutti
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Patent number: 10479332Abstract: A method for assisting in parking a vehicle, comprises the steps of: initiating a parking sequence having a reference velocity; altering a velocity of the vehicle to about the reference velocity by generating a brake torque during a first mode of operation of a controller; outputting the brake torque to a disturbance estimator; storing the brake torque within the disturbance estimator; and utilizing the brake torque from the disturbance estimator in a second mode of operation of the controller to stop the vehicle at a target location.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2017Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: John Bales, Michael Hafner
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Publication number: 20190269579Abstract: Provided is a dental varnish composition comprising: a) a resin composition comprising: (i) an adhesive resin prepared from: one or more acidic monomers selected from 4-META, PMGDM, HEMA-phosphate, NTG-GMA, or salts thereof; and MDP; ii) a base resin prepared from: a high molecular weight monomer selected from Bis-GMA, UDMA, Bis-EMA or combinations thereof; and a low molecular weight monomer selected from TEGDMA, MMA, PEGDMA or combinations thereof; iii) a solvent; iv) a photoinitiator; v) HEMA or salts thereof; c) pigment; and d) optionally a filler.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 1, 2019Publication date: September 5, 2019Inventors: Sarah Hafner, Michael Hafner, William Mark Palin, Mohammed Abdul Hadis
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Publication number: 20190210648Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2019Publication date: July 11, 2019Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Erick Michael Lavoie, Nathaniel A. Rolfes, Bradley G. Hochrein, Darrel Alan Recker, Donald Jacob Mattern, Michael Hafner
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Publication number: 20190202453Abstract: A system and a method are described. The method includes: receiving sensed input from a vehicle sensor suite; using the input, providing a first output; determining that a vehicle-lane confidence level is less than a threshold; and then instead, providing a second output, wherein the first and second outputs comprise lane-correction data, wherein the second output is determined using an estimation filter.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 4, 2018Publication date: July 4, 2019Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Quazi Farooqi, Xingping Chen, Michael Hafner, Darrel Alan Recker
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Patent number: 10286950Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 10, 2015Date of Patent: May 14, 2019Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Erick Michael Lavoie, Nathaniel A. Rolfes, Bradley G. Hochrein, Darrel Alan Recker, Donald Jacob Mattern, Michael Hafner
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Patent number: 10279803Abstract: A backup assist system for a vehicle reversing a trailer includes a brake module and a throttle module. The system further includes a controller having a vehicle speed detector and coupled with the brake module and the throttle module for implementing a backup mode including detecting an adverse operating condition and then adjusting at least one of the brake module and the throttle module and terminating the backup mode upon detecting the adverse operating condition for a time interval.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2017Date of Patent: May 7, 2019Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Erick Michael Lavoie, Roger Arnold Trombley, Thomas Edward Pilutti, Nathaniel Abram Rolfes, Michael Hafner
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Publication number: 20190071088Abstract: A trailer backup assist system is provided herein. The system includes a calibration feature for calibrating an imaging device used for hitch angle detection. The system also employs multiple hitch angle detection methods, a number of which may run in parallel to increase the intervals at which a hitch angle can be measured. The system additionally includes a predictive feature in which a hitch angle can be predicted in instances where a trailer sensing device fails. The system is further configured to estimate a trailer length and generate steering commands that are invariant to the estimated trailer length under certain conditions.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 1, 2017Publication date: March 7, 2019Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Zheng Hu, Erick Michael Lavoie, Darrel Alan Recker, John P. Joyce, Donald Jacob Mattern, Michael Hafner, Li Xu, Eric Hongtei Tseng, Thomas Edward Pilutti
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Patent number: 10222804Abstract: A method of controlling a vehicle while the vehicle is backing up with a trailer attached thereto. The vehicle may include a brake system and a power train system. The method includes determining a trailer yaw rate, and estimating a modified trailer curvature. The modified trailer curvature comprises a ratio of the trailer yaw rate to the vehicle speed. The method further includes determining a maximum allowable vehicle speed as a function of modified trailer curvature utilizing predefined criteria that defines a maximum allowable vehicle speed for a given modified trailer curvature. The method further includes limiting the vehicle speed such that the maximum allowable vehicle speed is not exceeded.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2016Date of Patent: March 5, 2019Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Brian George Buss, Michael Hafner
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Patent number: 9981656Abstract: A parking assist system for a vehicle is provided that includes a proximity sensor configured to sense a distance to an obstacle, a parking controller configured to output a distance to target signal and a scheduler configured to process the distance to target signal and output a distance error signal to a control module configured to longitudinally control the vehicle. The scheduler is configured to process both a static and a dynamic distance to target signal.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2015Date of Patent: May 29, 2018Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: John Bales, Michael Hafner, Kevin Smith, Erick Michael Lavoie
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Patent number: 9969428Abstract: A display system for a vehicle attached to a trailer is provided herein. The system includes a display configured to show an aerial view of the vehicle and the trailer and a plurality of waypoints, each indicating a possible parking location for the trailer. The system also includes a device that interfaces with the display and is operable to select one of the plurality of waypoints and set a trailer orientation for the selected waypoint.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2015Date of Patent: May 15, 2018Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Michael Hafner, John Shutko, Thomas Edward Pilutti, Roger Arnold Trombley
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Publication number: 20180113465Abstract: A method of controlling a vehicle while the vehicle is backing up with a trailer attached thereto. The vehicle may include a brake system and a power train system. The method includes determining a trailer yaw rate, and estimating a modified trailer curvature. The modified trailer curvature comprises a ratio of the trailer yaw rate to the vehicle speed. The method further includes determining a maximum allowable vehicle speed as a function of modified trailer curvature utilizing predefined criteria that defines a maximum allowable vehicle speed for a given modified trailer curvature. The method further includes limiting the vehicle speed such that the maximum allowable vehicle speed is not exceeded.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 21, 2016Publication date: April 26, 2018Inventors: Brian George Buss, Michael Hafner
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Patent number: 9925988Abstract: A control system for a vehicle includes a computer. The computer is programmed to command application of one of up to a predetermined steering torque value and up to a predetermined net asymmetric braking force value. Each predetermined force is selected to achieve a predetermined vehicle yaw torque that is at most the lesser of a first maximum yaw torque resulting from actuating a steering system and a second maximum yaw torque resulting from actuating a brake system.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2017Date of Patent: March 27, 2018Assignee: FLORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Timothy D. Zwicky, Shane Elwart, Michael Hafner, Xingping Chen, Paul James Novak, Jiyi Liu, Andy Chuan Hsia, Levasseur Tellis, Greg Blaisdell Stevens
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Patent number: 9926008Abstract: A method of backing a trailer attached to a vehicle is provided herein. The method includes the steps of generating a plurality of waypoints on a display of the vehicle and selecting one of the plurality waypoints. The method also includes setting a trailer orientation for the selected waypoint and determining a backing path based on the selected waypoint and the set trailer orientation. The method further includes backing the trailer along the backing path.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2015Date of Patent: March 27, 2018Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Michael Hafner, Thomas Edward Pilutti
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Publication number: 20180072284Abstract: A method for assisting in parking a vehicle, comprises the steps of: initiating a parking sequence having a reference velocity; altering a velocity of the vehicle to about the reference velocity by generating a brake torque during a first mode of operation of a controller; outputting the brake torque to a disturbance estimator; storing the brake torque within the disturbance estimator; and utilizing the brake torque from the disturbance estimator in a second mode of operation of the controller to stop the vehicle at a target location.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 15, 2017Publication date: March 15, 2018Inventors: John Bales, Michael Hafner
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Patent number: 9849864Abstract: A parking assist system for a vehicle is provided that includes a brake system having at least one wheel count encoder configured to output a wheel count signal and a controller configured to limit a velocity of the vehicle in a first mode. The controller is also configured to stop the vehicle at a target location in a second mode, and prevent overshoot of the target location by the vehicle in a third mode.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2015Date of Patent: December 26, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: John Bales, Michael Hafner
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Patent number: 9783230Abstract: A trailer backup assist system for a vehicle reversing a trailer is provided herein. The system includes a steering input device for controlling a desired curvature. A controller is in communication with the steering input device and is configured to generate steering command for the vehicle to guide the vehicle and trailer onto a straight path when a straight backup request is initiated via the steering input device.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2015Date of Patent: October 10, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Michael Hafner, Thomas Edward Pilutti
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Patent number: 9708000Abstract: In one embodiment of the disclosed subject matter, a trailer backup assist system includes a state estimator that determines a current position of a trailer relative to a waypoint position. In addition, the trailer backup assist system includes a trajectory planner that generates first and second circular trajectories tangent to one another spanning between the current and waypoint positions. The trailer backup assist system also includes a controller that reverses the trailer to the waypoint position along the first and second circular trajectories, which are dynamically regenerated as the trailer reverses along the first circular trajectory.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2014Date of Patent: July 18, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Michael Hafner, Thomas Edward Pilutti
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Publication number: 20170174209Abstract: A backup assist system for a vehicle reversing a trailer includes a brake module and a throttle module. The system further includes a controller having a vehicle speed detector and coupled with the brake module and the throttle module for implementing a backup mode including detecting an adverse operating condition and then adjusting at least one of the brake module and the throttle module and terminating the backup mode upon detecting the adverse operating condition for a time interval.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 6, 2017Publication date: June 22, 2017Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Erick Michael Lavoie, Roger Arnold Trombley, Thomas Edward Pilutti, Nathaniel Abram Rolfes, Michael Hafner