Patents by Inventor Michael A. Wuergler

Michael A. Wuergler 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: 10491807
    Abstract: A camera control system of a vehicle comprises a plurality of sensors configured to determine vehicle data and a camera control module configured to receive the vehicle data from the plurality of sensors. The camera control module is further configured to one of: i) adjust at least one operating parameter of the camera based on vehicle movement data received from the plurality of sensors; or ii) adjust at least one operating parameter of the camera based on light level data received from the plurality of sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Shiv G. Patel, Grant L. Meade, Ephraim C. Yuen, Michael A. Wuergler
  • Patent number: 10289197
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining whether a shift in gear is appropriate based on a gaze of an operator. The method includes detecting a shift from a first gear to engage a second gear, receiving gaze information associated with the gaze of the user, based on the gaze information, determining whether the second gear is inappropriate, and performing a corrective action corresponding to the inappropriate second gear in response to determining that the second gear is inappropriate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Michael A. Wuergler, Orson S. Wang
  • Patent number: 10268907
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for providing notifications on camera displays for vehicles. In accordance with one embodiment, camera is mounted on a body of the vehicle, and is configured to generate camera images. A processor is configured to at least facilitate generating a display image based on a processing of the camera images, for display on a display screen within the vehicle; determining a fixed region of the display image corresponding to a fixed part of the vehicle; and providing notifications on the display image in the fixed region of the display image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Mohannad Murad, Joseph Machak, Michael A. Wuergler
  • Publication number: 20180376054
    Abstract: A camera control system of a vehicle comprises a plurality of sensors configured to determine vehicle data and a camera control module configured to receive the vehicle data from the plurality of sensors. The camera control module is further configured to one of: i) adjust at least one operating parameter of the camera based on vehicle movement data received from the plurality of sensors; or ii) adjust at least one operating parameter of the camera based on light level data received from the plurality of sensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2017
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: Shiv G. PATEL, Grant L. MEADE, Ephraim C. YUEN, Michael A. WUERGLER
  • Publication number: 20180341327
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining whether a shift in gear is appropriate based on a gaze of an operator are provided. The method includes detecting a shift from a first gear to engage a second gear, receiving gaze information associated with the gaze of the user, based on the gaze information, determining whether the second gear is inappropriate, and performing a corrective action corresponding to the inappropriate second gear in response to determining that the second gear is inappropriate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2017
    Publication date: November 29, 2018
    Inventors: Michael A. Wuergler, Orson S. Wang
  • Patent number: 10129439
    Abstract: A number of illustrative variations may include a method of producing augmented reality experience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Prakash Murugesan, Shiv G. Patel, Michael A. Wuergler
  • Publication number: 20180244288
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for responding to drowsiness of a driver. The method and system comprise detecting by a module the drowsiness of the driver based on a detected level exceeding a threshold associated with at least one of a set of conditions of the driver which indicate the drowsiness of the driver. The conditions of driver drowsiness include driver performance, vigilance, judgment and alertness. A response to the conditions which have been detected is provided by assists to the driver to at least facilitate reducing the detected level below the threshold associated with the conditions and any subsequent drowsiness of the driver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: YI G. GLASER, RAYMOND J. KIEFER, CHARLES A. GREEN, DANIEL S. GLASER, MICHAEL A. WUERGLER, DEBBIE NACHTEGALL, MAUREEN A. SHORT, ERIC L. RAPHAEL
  • Patent number: 10055993
    Abstract: A control system and method of controlling a mobile platform safety system is provided. User input including a modification to a predefined alert response associated with the mobile platform safety system is received, the modification being associated with a geographic location. The pre-defined response, the user modification, and global positioning system (GPS) data are processed to generate therefrom a location specific personalized alert response for the mobile platform safety system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Raymond J. Kiefer, Michael G. Carpenter, Michael A. Wuergler
  • Publication number: 20180197023
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for providing notifications on camera displays for vehicles. In accordance with one embodiment, camera is mounted on a body of the vehicle, and is configured to generate camera images. A processor is configured to at least facilitate generating a display image based on a processing of the camera images, for display on a display screen within the vehicle; determining a fixed region of the display image corresponding to a fixed part of the vehicle; and providing notifications on the display image in the fixed region of the display image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2017
    Publication date: July 12, 2018
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: MOHANNAD MURAD, JOSEPH MACHAK, MICHAEL A. WUERGLER
  • Publication number: 20180053419
    Abstract: A control system and method of controlling a mobile platform safety system is provided. User input including a modification to a predefined alert response associated with the mobile platform safety system is received, the modification being associated with a geographic location. The pre-defined response, the user modification, and global positioning system (GPS) data are processed to generate therefrom a location specific personalized alert response for the mobile platform safety system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2016
    Publication date: February 22, 2018
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: RAYMOND J. KIEFER, MICHAEL G. CARPENTER, MICHAEL A. WUERGLER
  • Publication number: 20170280024
    Abstract: A number of illustrative variations may include a method of producing augmented reality experience.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2016
    Publication date: September 28, 2017
    Inventors: PRAKASH MURUGESAN, SHIV G. PATEL, MICHAEL A. WUERGLER
  • Patent number: 9731568
    Abstract: A method and system provide guided control of a hitching operation between a tow vehicle and a trailer. Dynamic pixel images are collected of the first and second hitch devices using a camera. The position of the second hitch device is determined using the controller. A first graphical overlay to the dynamic pixel images is displayed, with the first graphical overlay, e.g., guidelines, depicting a path of the tow vehicle. A distance between a calibrated position of the first hitch device and the determined position of the second hitch device is calculated and a second graphical overlay is displayed on zoomed-in images when the calculated distance is less than a calibrated distance. The second graphical overlay provides indicia of the positions of the first and second hitch devices. A control action executes when the second graphical overlay indicates substantial overlap or concentric alignment of the indicia of the respective positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Michael A. Wuergler, Robert D. Sims, III, Mohannad Murad, Luis A. Reyes Lopez
  • Publication number: 20170151846
    Abstract: A method and system provide guided control of a hitching operation between a tow vehicle and a trailer. Dynamic pixel images are collected of the first and second hitch devices using a camera. The position of the second hitch device is determined using the controller. A first graphical overlay to the dynamic pixel images is displayed, with the first graphical overlay, e.g., guidelines, depicting a path of the tow vehicle. A distance between a calibrated position of the first hitch device and the determined position of the second hitch device is calculated and a second graphical overlay is displayed on zoomed-in images when the calculated distance is less than a calibrated distance. The second graphical overlay provides indicia of the positions of the first and second hitch devices. A control action executes when the second graphical overlay indicates substantial overlap or concentric alignment of the indicia of the respective positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Michael A. Wuergler, Robert D. Sims, III, Mohannad Murad, Luis A. Reyes Lopez
  • Publication number: 20160375831
    Abstract: A system and method for providing visual assistance through a graphic overlay super-imposed on a back-up camera image displayed on, for example, a touch screen for assisting a vehicle operator when backing up a towing vehicle to align a hitch ball with a trailer drawbar coupler. The method includes providing camera modeling to correlate the camera image in camera coordinates to world coordinates, where the camera modeling provides a graphic overlay to include an alignment line having a height in the camera image that is determined by an estimated height of the trailer drawbar coupler. The touch screen also operates as a human-machine interface (HMI) that improves the visual assistance by providing one or more of image panning, image zoom, picture-in-picture (PIP), and a virtual top-down hitch-view.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2016
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Inventors: JINSONG WANG, WENDE ZHANG, RYAN M. FRAKES, MICHAEL A. WUERGLER, ROBERT D. SIMS, III, MOHANNAD MURAD
  • Patent number: 9403413
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Timothy J. Talty, Mark E. Shields, Wende Zhang, Michael A. Wuergler, Vernon Hole
  • Patent number: 9280919
    Abstract: A method of generating anthropomorphic vehicle images for a vehicle owner is shown that includes providing a plurality of anthropomorphic vehicle images on a visual display for a vehicle owner to select; receiving a selection of an anthropomorphic vehicle image from the vehicle owner using a wireless device; obtaining vehicle data using one or more vehicle sensors located on the vehicle; altering at least a portion of the selected anthropomorphic vehicle image based on the accessed vehicle data; and displaying the altered anthropomorphic vehicle image on a wireless device to the vehicle owner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, General Motors LLC
    Inventors: Richard A. Johnson, Michael A. Wuergler
  • Patent number: 9210249
    Abstract: A dialing mode of a telematics unit in a vehicle is controlled by monitoring for dialing digits from a vehicle occupant, determining whether the type of dialing digits are continuous dialing digits or discrete dialing digits, establishing a continuous mode for receiving continuous dialing digits or a discrete mode for receiving discrete dialing digits based on the determination, and if the type of dialing digits changes, switching the established mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: General Motors LLC
    Inventors: Michael A. Wuergler, Sherri J. Voran-Nowak, Rathinavelu Chengalvarayan, Gaurav Talwar
  • Publication number: 20150321666
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2015
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Inventors: TIMOTHY J. TALTY, MARK E. SHIELDS, WENDE ZHANG, MICHAEL A. WUERGLER, VERNON HOLE
  • Patent number: 9078200
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for connecting a personal mobile device to a vehicle communication unit. The method involves automatically detecting the presence of a personal mobile device located at a vehicle, obtaining permission to connect the personal mobile device, and automatically connecting the personal mobile device to the vehicle communication unit. The method and apparatus can be used, for example, during an initial connection of a personal mobile device to a vehicle communication unit or each time a new mobile device is present in the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Michael A. Wuergler, Steven C. Tengler, Robert A. Hrabak
  • Patent number: 8994522
    Abstract: The described method and system provide for HMI steering for a telematics-equipped vehicle based on likelihood to exceed eye glance guidelines. By determining whether a task is likely to cause the user to exceed eye glance guidelines, alternative HMI processes may be presented to a user to reduce ASGT and EORT and increase compliance with eye glance guidelines. By allowing a user to navigate through long lists of items through vocal input, T9 text input, or heuristic processing rather than through conventional presentation of the full list, a user is much more likely to comply with the eye glance guidelines. This invention is particularly useful in contexts where users may be searching for one item out of a plurality of potential items, for example, within the context of hands-free calling contacts, playing back audio files, or finding points of interest during GPS navigation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignees: General Motors LLC, GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Steven C. Tengler, Bijaya Aryal, Scott P. Geisler, Michael A. Wuergler