Patents by Inventor Michael P. Lopez

Michael P. Lopez 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).

  • System and method for determining desired yaw rate and lateral velocity for use in a vehicle dynamic control system
    Patent number: 7451032
    Abstract: A control system (18) and method for an automotive vehicle (10) includes a lateral acceleration sensor (32) for generating a lateral acceleration signal, a yaw rate sensor (28) for generating a yaw rate signal, and a safety system. The safety system (44) and the sensors are coupled to a controller (26). The controller (26) determines a front lateral tire force and a rear lateral tire force from the vehicle yaw rate signal and the vehicle lateral acceleration signal; determines a calculated lateral velocity from the front lateral tire force, the rear lateral tire force, and a bank angle; determines a calculated yaw rate from the front lateral tire force and the rear lateral tire force; and controls the safety system in response to the calculated lateral velocity and the calculated yaw rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Todd A. Brown, Daniel D. Eisele, Michael P. Lopez