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).

  • Patent number: 10737693
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Quazi Farooqi, Xingping Chen, Michael Hafner, Darrel Alan Recker
  • Patent number: 10710585
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Zheng Hu, Erick Michael Lavoie, Darrel Alan Recker, John P. Joyce, Donald Jacob Mattern, Michael Hafner, Li Xu, Eric Hongtei Tseng, Thomas Edward Pilutti
  • Patent number: 10479332
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John Bales, Michael Hafner
  • Publication number: 20190269579
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Publication date: September 5, 2019
    Inventors: Sarah Hafner, Michael Hafner, William Mark Palin, Mohammed Abdul Hadis
  • Publication number: 20190210648
    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: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Erick Michael Lavoie, Nathaniel A. Rolfes, Bradley G. Hochrein, Darrel Alan Recker, Donald Jacob Mattern, Michael Hafner
  • Publication number: 20190202453
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2018
    Publication date: July 4, 2019
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Quazi Farooqi, Xingping Chen, Michael Hafner, Darrel Alan Recker
  • Patent number: 10286950
    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: February 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    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: 10279803
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Erick Michael Lavoie, Roger Arnold Trombley, Thomas Edward Pilutti, Nathaniel Abram Rolfes, Michael Hafner
  • Publication number: 20190071088
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2017
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Zheng Hu, Erick Michael Lavoie, Darrel Alan Recker, John P. Joyce, Donald Jacob Mattern, Michael Hafner, Li Xu, Eric Hongtei Tseng, Thomas Edward Pilutti
  • Patent number: 10222804
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brian George Buss, Michael Hafner
  • Patent number: 9981656
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John Bales, Michael Hafner, Kevin Smith, Erick Michael Lavoie
  • Patent number: 9969428
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Hafner, John Shutko, Thomas Edward Pilutti, Roger Arnold Trombley
  • Publication number: 20180113465
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Inventors: Brian George Buss, Michael Hafner
  • Patent number: 9925988
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: FLORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy D. Zwicky, Shane Elwart, Michael Hafner, Xingping Chen, Paul James Novak, Jiyi Liu, Andy Chuan Hsia, Levasseur Tellis, Greg Blaisdell Stevens
  • Patent number: 9926008
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Hafner, Thomas Edward Pilutti
  • Publication number: 20180072284
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2017
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Inventors: John Bales, Michael Hafner
  • Patent number: 9849864
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John Bales, Michael Hafner
  • Patent number: 9783230
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Hafner, Thomas Edward Pilutti
  • Patent number: 9708000
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Hafner, Thomas Edward Pilutti
  • Publication number: 20170174209
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Erick Michael Lavoie, Roger Arnold Trombley, Thomas Edward Pilutti, Nathaniel Abram Rolfes, Michael Hafner