Patents by Inventor Michael Robertson
Michael Robertson 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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Publication number: 20220041137Abstract: A fluid system includes a one-way check valve including a check-valve inlet and a check-valve outlet; a Y-connector including a Y-connector inlet, a first Y-connector outlet, a second Y-connector outlet, and a pressure-sensor connector; an inlet hose fluidly connecting the check-valve outlet and the Y-connector inlet; and a pressure sensor fluidly connected to the Y-connector via the pressure-sensor connector. The Y-connector inlet, Y-connector outlets, and pressure-sensor connector are fluidly connected to each other inside the Y-connector.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 6, 2020Publication date: February 10, 2022Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Ashwin Arunmozhi, Michael Robertson, JR., Venkatesh Krishnan
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Publication number: 20220041139Abstract: A sensor apparatus includes a cylindrical sensor window defining an axis, and a plurality of at least three tubular segments fixed relative to the sensor window. Each tubular segment is elongated circumferentially relative to the axis. The tubular segments collectively form a ring substantially centered around the axis. Each tubular segment includes a plurality of nozzles. Each nozzle includes a first opening and a second opening. Each of the first openings has a direction of discharge in a radially inward and axial direction forming a first angle with the axis, and each of the second openings has a direction of discharge in a radially inward and axial direction forming a second angle with the axis. The second angle is different than the first angle.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 5, 2020Publication date: February 10, 2022Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Raghuraman Surineedi, Kunal Singh, Ashwin Arunmozhi, Venkatesh Krishnan, Michael Robertson, JR., Rashaun Phinisee
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Publication number: 20220034690Abstract: A sensor apparatus includes a sensor, a heat pipe, and a cover. The sensor includes a sensor housing. The sensor housing includes a sensor window oriented generally vertically and a top surface fixed relative to the sensor window above the sensor window and oriented generally horizontally. The heat pipe is fixed relative to the sensor, wherein the heat pipe is elongated from a first end to a second end, the first end is contacting the top surface, and the second end is spaced from the top surface. The cover covers the top surface and the heat pipe, and the cover is shaped to define a vertical gap between the top surface and the cover.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2020Publication date: February 3, 2022Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Raghuraman Surineedi, Michael Robertson, JR., Rashaun Phinisee, Venkatesh Krishnan, Segundo Baldovino, Sunil Reddy Patil
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Patent number: 11237028Abstract: A sensor apparatus includes a sensor, a heat pipe, and a cover. The sensor includes a sensor housing. The sensor housing includes a sensor window oriented generally vertically and a top surface fixed relative to the sensor window above the sensor window and oriented generally horizontally. The heat pipe is fixed relative to the sensor, wherein the heat pipe is elongated from a first end to a second end, the first end is contacting the top surface, and the second end is spaced from the top surface. The cover covers the top surface and the heat pipe, and the cover is shaped to define a vertical gap between the top surface and the cover.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2020Date of Patent: February 1, 2022Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Raghuraman Surineedi, Michael Robertson, Jr., Rashaun Phinisee, Venkatesh Krishnan, Segundo Baldovino, Sunil Reddy Patil
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Publication number: 20220018994Abstract: An assembly includes a sensor lens, a polymer film adhered to the sensor lens, a hydrophilic coating applied to the sensor lens, and a fluid layer between the sensor lens and the polymer film, wherein the fluid layer is disposed on the hydrophilic coating.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 17, 2020Publication date: January 20, 2022Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Michael Robertson, JR., Mark Edward Nichols, Cindy Anne Peters
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Patent number: 11224902Abstract: A system includes a sensor window, a sensor having a field of view through the sensor window, a piezoelectric vibrator positioned to impart vibrations to the sensor window, and a computer communicatively coupled to the sensor and the piezoelectric vibrator. The computer is programmed to identify a type for an obstruction of the sensor window based on data from the sensor, and instruct the piezoelectric vibrator to vibrate the sensor window with vibrations having a vibration profile. The vibration profile has at least one of frequency or phase velocity chosen according to the identified type of obstruction.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2019Date of Patent: January 18, 2022Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Michael Robertson, Jr., Ashwin Arunmozhi, Venkatesh Krishnan, Segundo Baldovino, Rashaun Phinisee
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Publication number: 20220009452Abstract: A solenoid valve in a manifold is commanded to move to a closed position. Upon activating a pump to supply fluid to the manifold via a supply line, a first pressure is determined in the supply line after commanding the solenoid valve to move to the closed position. Upon deactivating the pump to stop supplying fluid to the manifold, a second pressure is determined in the supply line. Based on a difference between the first pressure and the second pressure, the solenoid valve is determined to be one of (a) at least partially open or (b) in the closed position.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 7, 2020Publication date: January 13, 2022Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Ashwin Arunmozhi, Michael Robertson, JR., Venkatesh Krishnan, Segundo Baldovino
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Patent number: 11156485Abstract: A sensor assembly includes a base, a housing mounted to the base and rotatable relative to the base around an axis in a direction of rotation, a sensing apparatus inside the housing and rotatable with the housing, a sensor window fixed relative to the housing, and a duct on an exterior of the housing. The sensing apparatus has a field of view through the sensor window. The duct includes an inlet open toward the direction of rotation and an outlet aimed across the sensor window.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2021Date of Patent: October 26, 2021Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Venkatesh Krishnan, Segundo Baldovino, Rashaun Phinisee, Raghuraman Surineedi, Michael Robertson, Jr., Tyler D. Hamilton
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Patent number: 11148609Abstract: An apparatus includes a housing defining a chamber and including a panel including at least one aperture, at least one sensor fixed inside the chamber and having a field of view through a lens and the aperture, at least one annular disc attached to the sensor concentrically around the lens and including a radially outer edge contactlessly exposed to the chamber, and at least three vanes extending from the disc to the panel and arranged radially asymmetrically around the disc.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2019Date of Patent: October 19, 2021Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Michael Robertson, Jr., Segundo Baldovino, Venkatesh Krishnan, Sunil Patil, Raghuraman Surineedi
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Publication number: 20210300313Abstract: A method to and an apparatus including a processor configured to determine a mass parameter indicative of a mass of an aircraft brake assembly, the mass parameter determined using an estimated amount of energy absorbed by the brake assembly in a given period of time and a corresponding estimated change in temperature of the brake assembly. Also disclosed is a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored thereon instructions which when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the method.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2021Publication date: September 30, 2021Inventors: Michael ROBERTSON, Michael RACE
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Patent number: 11115276Abstract: Aspects of the disclosed technology address the problems of manually identifying and optimizing service chain (SC) performance bottlenecks by providing solutions for automatically identifying and tuning various SC parameters. In some aspects, a SC optimization process of the disclosed technology includes the replication or cloning of a SC for which traffic flow is to be optimized. Traffic flows for the production chain can then be simulated over one or more SC clones to identify and tune individual system parameters, for example, to determine if the simulated changes produce a positive, negative, or neutral change in flow performance. Systems and machine-readable media are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2020Date of Patent: September 7, 2021Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.Inventors: Jay Kemper Johnston, Michael Robertson, Magnus Mortensen, David C. White, Jr.
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Publication number: 20210268785Abstract: A film-application apparatus includes a body including a first body half, a second body half, and a hinge coupling the body halves; and a squeegee blade movable from a first position relative to the body to a second position relative to the body. The second body half is rotatable about the hinge relative to the first body half to a closed position. When the second body half is in the closed position, the body includes a top ring and a bottom ring both centered on an axis and defining an axial gap therebetween. When the second body half is in the closed position and the body is enclosing a sensor having a cylindrical sensor window, the axial gap exposes the cylindrical sensor window, and moving the squeegee blade from the first position to the second position covers substantially an entire surface area of the cylindrical sensor window.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2020Publication date: September 2, 2021Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Cindy Anne Peters, Mark Edward Nichols, Michael Robertson, JR.
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Publication number: 20210224339Abstract: Provided are systems and methods for providing insights to users of a mobile application based on triggers that may be detected from within the data or externally. In one example, a method may include receiving, via a message transmitted to a uniform resource locator (URL) of a host platform, information about a user of a software application, reading a plurality of records associated with the user from the received information, the plurality of records comprising data and a plurality of timestamps, respectively, generating derived data based on the data included in the plurality of records, converting the plurality of timestamps into a single timing identifier that represents all of the plurality of timestamps, and transmitting, to a computing system, a notification comprising the derived data and the new timing identifier.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 14, 2021Publication date: July 22, 2021Inventors: Marcel Crudele, John Michael Robertson, Kien Lam, Jeff Chelko, Nikhil Gorantla, Thaddeus Gholston, Andrew Toloff, Winn Martin
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Publication number: 20210122497Abstract: This disclosure details exemplary moonroof systems for vehicles. An exemplary moonroof system may include a pod assembly that may be received within an opening of a headliner. The pod assembly may be utilized to dock, deploy, and land an unmanned aerial vehicle relative to the moonroof system. The pod assembly may include a charging and cooling system for charging and cooling the unmanned aerial vehicle when it is docked within the pod assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 2019Publication date: April 29, 2021Inventors: Michael ROBERTSON, JR., Segundo BALDOVINO, Venkatesh KRISHNAN, Raghuraman SURINEEDI
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Publication number: 20210109345Abstract: A computer includes a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to identify a contaminant on a lens of a sensor upon determining a force applied to the lens based on an electric current exceeding a threshold and to actuate a cleaning component to remove the contaminant from the lens.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 14, 2019Publication date: April 15, 2021Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Michael Robertson, JR., James Pizzimenti, Tyler D. Hamilton, Ashwin Arunmozhi
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Publication number: 20210103036Abstract: A sensor apparatus includes a sensor having a field of view, a sensor window through which the field of view extends; an air nozzle positioned to direct airflow across the sensor window; a surface fixed relative to the sensor window, the surface including a plurality of heat-dissipation fins; and a cover extending over the fins and including an inlet. The inlet is positioned at an opposite edge of the sensor window from the air nozzle. The air nozzle is aimed at the inlet.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 8, 2019Publication date: April 8, 2021Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Michael Robertson, JR., Tyler D. Hamilton, Ashwin Arunmozhi, Raghu Raman Surineedi
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Publication number: 20210061233Abstract: A sensor system includes a sensor including a sensor window; a nozzle aimed at the sensor window; a supply line to supply fluid to the nozzle; a primary reservoir to supply fluid to the supply line; a first valve actuatable to inject fluid from a first reservoir into the supply line; a second valve actuatable to inject fluid from a second reservoir into the supply line; a third valve actuatable to inject fluid from a third reservoir into the supply line; and a computer communicatively coupled to the sensor and the valves. The computer is programmed to actuate the first valve in response to determining a first condition based on data from the sensor, actuate the second valve in response to determining a second condition based on data from the sensor, and actuate the third valve in response to determining a third condition based on data from the sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2019Publication date: March 4, 2021Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Michael Robertson, Jr., Tyler D. Hamilton, Ashwin Arunmozhi, Venkatesh Krishnan
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Patent number: 10928225Abstract: An assembly includes a housing defining a chamber. The assembly includes a sensor supported by the housing. The assembly includes a deflector forward of the sensor and having a front surface designed to direct air upward and a rear surface opposite the front surface. The housing has a vent in fluid communication with the chamber and aimed at the rear surface of the deflector.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2019Date of Patent: February 23, 2021Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Venkatesh Krishnan, Raghu Raman Surineedi, Matthew Dennis Smith Boswell, Rashaun Phinisee, Michael Robertson, Jr.
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Publication number: 20210032922Abstract: A method includes predicting an environmental condition at a location to which a vehicle is travelling, the environmental condition including at least one of water, dust, and pollution, determining that an object within the vehicle is at a distance greater than a threshold distance from an unobstructed window of the vehicle, and then actuating the unobstructed window to a closed position based on the environmental condition and the object being at the distance from the window greater than the threshold distance.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 1, 2019Publication date: February 4, 2021Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: DAVID MICHAEL HERMAN, ASHWIN ARUNMOZHI, MICHAEL ROBERTSON, JR., TYLER D. HAMILTON
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Patent number: D936470Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2019Date of Patent: November 23, 2021Assignees: Gareth William Menzies AS TRUSTEE FOR GM TRUST & SWM TRUST & RGM TRUST, Timothy Menzies AS TRUSTEE FOR TM TRUSTInventors: Steven Sillitoe, Michael Robertson, Daniel Black, Warwick Brown