Patents by Inventor Michael Awad Alla
Michael Awad Alla 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: 11455844Abstract: The disclosed systems and methods monitor power distribution systems for autonomous and drive-by-wire vehicles. The system can monitor input voltage, current, and other power signals, and reporting the input voltages and currents to a diagnostic engine control unit (ECU). The ECU compares the power signals with real-time (or substantially real-time) waveforms associated with vibrations, acceleration, road bumps, and other phenomena normally encountered in on-road operation, and evaluates any determined correlation between inertial events (e.g., bumps or acceleration, etc.) and changes in the power signals. If the diagnostic ECU determines a correlation between the inertial waveform, the diagnostic ECU map perform mitigating steps, such as issuing a vehicle health warning, generate instructions that cause the vehicle to navigate to a service center, or perform other mitigating actions.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2019Date of Patent: September 27, 2022Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Michael Awad Alla, Ahmed Elhadeedy, Sami Dagher, David Celinske
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Patent number: 11285814Abstract: A system includes at least one load in a vehicle, a battery electrically connected to the load, a power source electrically connected to the load, and a computer communicatively connected to the power source. The computer is programmed to reduce a voltage supplied by the power source to the load so that the battery discharges to supply power to the load, and then, in response to an electrical quantity of the system being outside an electrical-quantity range while the battery is discharging, perform a minimal risk condition or prevent the vehicle from movably operating.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2019Date of Patent: March 29, 2022Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Michael Awad Alla, David Celinske, Mathew Alan Boesch, Sami Dagher, Richard Dyche Anderson
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Patent number: 11158139Abstract: A method including determining a status of a power supply of a first telematics control unit (TCU) as one of active or inactive, the first TCU programmed to communicate with a server via a network, determining a status of a second TCU in communication with the first TCU via a vehicle network, the second TCU is programmed to communicate with the server via the network, and determining a risk condition based on the statuses of the power supply and the second TCU. The risk condition is a measure of severity of an inactive status.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2019Date of Patent: October 26, 2021Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Michael Awad Alla, Ray C. Siciak, Tsung-Han Tsai, Dhanunjay Vejalla, Bo Wu
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Publication number: 20210158634Abstract: The disclosed systems and methods monitor power distribution systems for autonomous and drive-by-wire vehicles. The system can monitor input voltage, current, and other power signals, and reporting the input voltages and currents to a diagnostic engine control unit (ECU). The ECU compares the power signals with real-time (or substantially real-time) waveforms associated with vibrations, acceleration, road bumps, and other phenomena normally encountered in on-road operation, and evaluates any determined correlation between inertial events (e.g., bumps or acceleration, etc.) and changes in the power signals. If the diagnostic ECU determines a correlation between the inertial waveform, the diagnostic ECU map perform mitigating steps, such as issuing a vehicle health warning, generate instructions that cause the vehicle to navigate to a service center, or perform other mitigating actions.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 26, 2019Publication date: May 27, 2021Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Michael Awad Alla, Ahmed Elhadeedy, Sami Dagher, David Celinske
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Patent number: 10989547Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of systems and methods described in this disclosure generally pertain to a ride service that includes an autonomous vehicle configured to execute various functions autonomously for assisting customers. An exemplary autonomous vehicle of the ride service may be configured to autonomously execute one or more functions such as identifying a customer upon arriving at a pick-up location, finding a suitable parking spot close to the customer, guiding the customer (such as a visually impaired customer) to the autonomous vehicle, positioning a particular door of the autonomous vehicle to facilitate entry into the autonomous vehicle by the customer, and/or providing an assigned seat to the customer upon entry into the autonomous vehicle. In at least some cases, the customer may be a physically handicapped individual in need of certain types of assistance offered by the autonomous vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2018Date of Patent: April 27, 2021Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Kathryn Hamilton, Michael Awad Alla
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Publication number: 20210035376Abstract: A method including determining a status of a power supply of a first telematics control unit (TCU) as one of active or inactive, the first TCU programmed to communicate with a server via a network, determining a status of a second TCU in communication with the first TCU via a vehicle network, the second TCU is programmed to communicate with the server via the network, and determining a risk condition based on the statuses of the power supply and the second TCU. The risk condition is a measure of severity of an inactive status.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2019Publication date: February 4, 2021Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: MICHAEL AWAD ALLA, RAY C. SICIAK, TSUNG-HAN TSAI, DHANUNJAY VEJALLA, BO WU
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Publication number: 20200398671Abstract: A system includes at least one load in a vehicle, a battery electrically connected to the load, a power source electrically connected to the load, and a computer communicatively connected to the power source. The computer is programmed to reduce a voltage supplied by the power source to the load so that the battery discharges to supply power to the load, and then, in response to an electrical quantity of the system being outside an electrical-quantity range while the battery is discharging, perform a minimal risk condition or prevent the vehicle from movably operating.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 19, 2019Publication date: December 24, 2020Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: MICHAEL AWAD ALLA, DAVID CELINSKE, MATHEW ALAN BOESCH, SAMI DAGHER, RICHARD DYCHE ANDERSON
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Publication number: 20200124428Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of systems and methods described in this disclosure generally pertain to a ride service that includes an autonomous vehicle configured to execute various functions autonomously for assisting customers. An exemplary autonomous vehicle of the ride service may be configured to autonomously execute one or more functions such as identifying a customer upon arriving at a pick-up location, finding a suitable parking spot close to the customer, guiding the customer (such as a visually impaired customer) to the autonomous vehicle, positioning a particular door of the autonomous vehicle to facilitate entry into the autonomous vehicle by the customer, and/or providing an assigned seat to the customer upon entry into the autonomous vehicle. In at least some cases, the customer may be a physically handicapped individual in need of certain types of assistance offered by the autonomous vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 22, 2018Publication date: April 23, 2020Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Kathryn Hamilton, Michael Awad Alla