Patents by Inventor Michael Edward Brewer

Michael Edward Brewer 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: 12233892
    Abstract: A vehicle control system for a vehicle may include a controller, a single pedal and a torque control module. The controller may be operably coupled to components and/or sensors of the vehicle to receive information indicative of operational intent of an operator of the vehicle and information indicative of vehicle status. The single pedal may be configured to provide the information indicative of operational intent. The torque control module may be configured to generate both a propulsive torque request and a braking torque request based on the information indicative of the operational intent and the information indicative of vehicle status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2024
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Edward Brewer, Kevin Sallee
  • Patent number: 12172632
    Abstract: A method of providing automated application of turn radius reduction in a driver assist mode may include receiving steering wheel angle and wheel speed information to determine a target wheel slip during a turn. The method may further include comparing the target wheel slip to a current wheel slip to determine a slip error, and applying braking torque to an inside wheel based on the slip error to reduce the turn radius.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin Sallee, Michael Edward Brewer
  • Patent number: 12071130
    Abstract: A method of providing automated control of vehicle speed in a driver assist mode may include receiving an operator selection of the driver assist mode and a target speed, monitoring vehicle speed, and generating a propulsive torque request and a braking torque request based on a difference between the target speed and the vehicle speed. The method may further include, responsive to vehicle speed being in a selected range from zero to about three miles per hour, initiating a low speed correction to automatically provide a variable modification to the propulsive torque request or the braking torque request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Edward Brewer, Brandon Cameron, Brian Grewe
  • Publication number: 20240166226
    Abstract: A vehicle control system for a vehicle may include a controller, a single pedal and a torque control module. The controller may be operably coupled to components and/or sensors of the vehicle to receive information indicative of operational intent of an operator of the vehicle and information indicative of vehicle status. The single pedal may be configured to provide the information indicative of operational intent. The torque control module may be configured to generate both a propulsive torque request and a braking torque request based on the information indicative of the operational intent and the information indicative of vehicle status.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2024
    Publication date: May 23, 2024
    Inventors: Michael Edward Brewer, Kevin Sallee
  • Patent number: 11904878
    Abstract: A vehicle control system for a vehicle may include a controller, a single pedal and a torque control module. The controller may be operably coupled to components and/or sensors of the vehicle to receive information indicative of operational intent of an operator of the vehicle and information indicative of vehicle status. The single pedal may be configured to provide the information indicative of operational intent. The torque control module may be configured to generate both a propulsive torque request and a braking torque request based on the information indicative of the operational intent and the information indicative of vehicle status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Edward Brewer, Kevin Sallee
  • Publication number: 20230278543
    Abstract: A method of providing automated application of turn radius reduction in a driver assist mode may include receiving steering wheel angle and wheel speed information to determine a target wheel slip during a turn. The method may further include comparing the target wheel slip to a current wheel slip to determine a slip error, and applying braking torque to an inside wheel based on the slip error to reduce the turn radius.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2023
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Inventors: Kevin Sallee, Michael Edward Brewer
  • Patent number: 11685367
    Abstract: A method of providing automated application of turn radius reduction in a driver assist mode may include receiving steering wheel angle and wheel speed information to determine a target wheel slip during a turn. The method may further include comparing the target wheel slip to a current wheel slip to determine a slip error, and applying braking torque to an inside wheel based on the slip error to reduce the turn radius.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin Sallee, Michael Edward Brewer
  • Patent number: 11584225
    Abstract: A vehicle with one-pedal driving mode includes a first axle having a first electric machine configured to power first wheels and a second axle having a second electric machine configured to power second wheels. A controller is programmed to, in response to a request for one-pedal driving mode, map pedal positions of the accelerator pedal to speeds of the first and second wheels such that each of the pedal positions corresponds to a driver-demanded speed of the first and second wheels, and control one or more of the electric machine so that the vehicle is propelled according to the driver-demanded speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jose Velazquez Alcantar, Joseph Jay Torres, Ming Lang Kuang, Michael Edward Brewer
  • Publication number: 20230045864
    Abstract: A method of providing automated control of vehicle speed in a driver assist mode may include receiving an operator selection of the driver assist mode and a target speed, monitoring vehicle speed, and generating a propulsive torque request and a braking torque request based on a difference between the target speed and the vehicle speed. The method may further include, responsive to vehicle speed being in a selected range from zero to about three miles per hour, initiating a low speed correction to automatically provide a variable modification to the propulsive torque request or the braking torque request.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2022
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Inventors: Michael Edward Brewer, Brandon Cameron, Brian Grewe
  • Patent number: 11511744
    Abstract: A method of providing automated control of vehicle speed in a driver assist mode may include receiving an operator selection of the driver assist mode and a target speed, monitoring vehicle speed, and generating a propulsive torque request and a braking torque request based on a difference between the target speed and the vehicle speed. The method may further include, responsive to vehicle speed being in a selected range from zero to about three miles per hour, initiating a low speed correction to automatically provide a variable modification to the propulsive torque request or the braking torque request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Edward Brewer, Brandon Cameron, Brian Grewe
  • Publication number: 20220073054
    Abstract: A method of providing automated application of turn radius reduction in a driver assist mode may include receiving steering wheel angle and wheel speed information to determine a target wheel slip during a turn. The method may further include comparing the target wheel slip to a current wheel slip to determine a slip error, and applying braking torque to an inside wheel based on the slip error to reduce the turn radius.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2020
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Inventors: Kevin Sallee, Michael Edward Brewer
  • Publication number: 20220055621
    Abstract: A method of providing automated control of vehicle speed in a driver assist mode may include receiving an operator selection of the driver assist mode and a target speed, monitoring vehicle speed, and generating a propulsive torque request and a braking torque request based on a difference between the target speed and the vehicle speed. The method may further include, responsive to vehicle speed being in a selected range from zero to about three miles per hour, initiating a low speed correction to automatically provide a variable modification to the propulsive torque request or the braking torque request.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2020
    Publication date: February 24, 2022
    Inventors: Michael Edward Brewer, Brandon Cameron, Brian Grewe
  • Publication number: 20220055642
    Abstract: A vehicle control system for a vehicle may include a controller, a single pedal and a torque control module. The controller may be operably coupled to components and/or sensors of the vehicle to receive information indicative of operational intent of an operator of the vehicle and information indicative of vehicle status. The single pedal may be configured to provide the information indicative of operational intent. The torque control module may be configured to generate both a propulsive torque request and a braking torque request based on the information indicative of the operational intent and the information indicative of vehicle status.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2020
    Publication date: February 24, 2022
    Inventors: Michael Edward Brewer, Kevin Sallee
  • Publication number: 20210402877
    Abstract: A vehicle with one-pedal driving mode includes a first axle having a first electric machine configured to power first wheels and a second axle having a second electric machine configured to power second wheels. A controller is programmed to, in response to a request for one-pedal driving mode, map pedal positions of the accelerator pedal to speeds of the first and second wheels such that each of the pedal positions corresponds to a driver-demanded speed of the first and second wheels, and control one or more of the electric machine so that the vehicle is propelled according to the driver-demanded speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Inventors: Jose Velazquez Alcantar, Joseph Jay Torres, Ming Lang Kuang, Michael Edward Brewer
  • Patent number: 10940758
    Abstract: Terrain assist apparatus and related methods for use with vehicles are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a vehicle controller configured to determine, based on vehicle sensor data, a condition of a vehicle associated with driving on sand. The vehicle controller is also to generate, via an output device, information instructing a vehicle occupant to configure a driving mode of the vehicle that is associated with controlling vehicle speed. The vehicle controller is also to control a parameter of the vehicle based on a setting of the driving mode to resolve the condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Bang Kim Cao, Michael Edward Brewer, Brandon Cameron, William Gregory Suter, David John Messih, Christopher Wernette
  • Publication number: 20190366846
    Abstract: Terrain assist apparatus and related methods for use with vehicles are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a vehicle controller configured to determine, based on vehicle sensor data, a condition of a vehicle associated with driving on sand. The vehicle controller is also to generate, via an output device, information instructing a vehicle occupant to configure a driving mode of the vehicle that is associated with controlling vehicle speed. The vehicle controller is also to control a parameter of the vehicle based on a setting of the driving mode to resolve the condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Inventors: Bang Kim Cao, Michael Edward Brewer, Brandon Cameron, William Gregory Suter, David John Messih, Christopher Wernette
  • Patent number: 10399562
    Abstract: A vehicle, a vehicle parking assist system, and a parking method, is provided. A powertrain and a steering system may be operated to guide the vehicle into a parking location to complete a drive cycle based on a default tire radius, a tire angular velocity acquired during a drive cycle in response to a steering angle of the steering system exceeding a threshold value, and wheel and GPS vehicle speeds for the drive cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Erick Michael Lavoie, Kerem Bayar, Michael Edward Brewer
  • Patent number: 9981686
    Abstract: Controlling a vehicle steering system includes determining a rack position of a rack needed to execute a maneuver. A minimum velocity allowing the desired steering angle to be reached is determined. The velocity of the vehicle is increased to the determined minimum velocity. The rack is moved to the rack position needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: John P. Joyce, David Jeffeory Berels, Eric She, Michael Edward Brewer
  • Publication number: 20180057048
    Abstract: Controlling a vehicle steering system includes determining a rack position of a rack needed to execute a maneuver. A minimum velocity allowing the desired steering angle to be reached is determined. The velocity of the vehicle is increased to the determined minimum velocity. The rack is moved to the rack position needed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John P. Joyce, David Jeffeory Berels, Eric She, Michael Edward Brewer
  • Patent number: 9873426
    Abstract: A vehicle includes friction brakes, an axle, and a controller. The axle has an electronic limited-slip differential that includes a variable torque capacity lockup clutch. The controller is programmed to, in response to a difference between desired and actual yaw rates exceeding a first threshold, increase the torque of the lockup clutch to decrease the difference between the desired and actual yaw rates. The controller is further programmed to, in response the difference between desired and actual yaw rates exceeding a second threshold that is greater than the first threshold, increase the torque of the friction brakes to decrease the difference between the desired and actual yaw rates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Anthony Paskus, Neil Hurst, Marshall Erin Bates, Ashok E. Rodrigues, Andrew Monticello, Michael Edward Brewer