Patents by Inventor Nathaniel Abram Rolfes
Nathaniel Abram Rolfes 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: 11919568Abstract: A system and strategy for reducing rapid steering wheel movement at the end of an autopark maneuver. The strategy includes maintaining or ramping-out power-steering motor torque to reduce steering wheel movement that may occur due to tire windup that has occurred up to that point in the autopark maneuver. The strategy may include the stopping of an autopark maneuver at any time during the maneuver, or functioning at the end of an autopark maneuver. The autopark event may be a park-out maneuver.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2019Date of Patent: March 5, 2024Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Erick Michael Lavoie, Nathaniel Abram Rolfes
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Patent number: 10377234Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for activating a vehicle ignition system. An example vehicle includes an ignition system, a plurality of sensors, and a processor. The processor a processor is configured to determine, based on data received from the sensors, (i) that a person occupies a driver's seat of the vehicle, (ii) that a key fob corresponding to the vehicle is present, and (iii) that an input has been received at a shifter of the vehicle. The processor is also configured to responsively activate the ignition system.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2017Date of Patent: August 13, 2019Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Nathaniel Abram Rolfes, Steven R El Aile, Mohamad Wajih Issam Farhat, Kassem Moustafa, Domenic Miccinilli, Mauricio Alexander Munoz
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Patent number: 10377409Abstract: A manual steering torque input is measured. A manual steering mode of a vehicle is actuated when the manual steering torque input is below a first torque threshold and above a second torque threshold for longer than a time threshold that is based on a vehicle speed.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2017Date of Patent: August 13, 2019Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Mohamad Wajih Issam Farhat, Domenic Miccinilli, Jens Christiansen, Nathaniel Abram Rolfes
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Publication number: 20190225268Abstract: A system and strategy for reducing rapid steering wheel movement at the end of an autopark maneuver. The strategy includes maintaining or ramping-out power-steering motor torque to reduce steering wheel movement that may occur due to tire windup that has occurred up to that point in the autopark maneuver. The strategy may include the stopping of an autopark maneuver at any time during the maneuver, or functioning at the end of an autopark maneuver. The autopark event may be a park-out maneuver.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 2, 2019Publication date: July 25, 2019Inventors: Erick Michael LAVOIE, Nathaniel Abram ROLFES
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Patent number: 10286953Abstract: A system and strategy for reducing rapid steering wheel movement at the end of an autopark maneuver. The strategy includes maintaining or ramping-out power-steering motor torque to reduce steering wheel movement that may occur due to tire windup that has occurred up to that point in the autopark maneuver. The strategy may include the stopping of an autopark maneuver at any time during the maneuver, or functioning at the end of an autopark maneuver. The autopark event may be a park-out maneuver.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2014Date of Patent: May 14, 2019Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Erick Michael Lavoie, Nathaniel Abram Rolfes
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Patent number: 10279803Abstract: A backup assist system for a vehicle reversing a trailer includes a brake module and a throttle module. The system further includes a controller having a vehicle speed detector and coupled with the brake module and the throttle module for implementing a backup mode including detecting an adverse operating condition and then adjusting at least one of the brake module and the throttle module and terminating the backup mode upon detecting the adverse operating condition for a time interval.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2017Date of Patent: May 7, 2019Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Erick Michael Lavoie, Roger Arnold Trombley, Thomas Edward Pilutti, Nathaniel Abram Rolfes, Michael Hafner
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Publication number: 20190092380Abstract: A system includes a computer that is programmed to determine a vehicle steering wheel angle based on a vehicle steering torque and a vehicle pinion angle and to determine a compensated steering torque by applying a high-pass filter to the determined vehicle steering wheel angle. The computer is programmed to actuate a vehicle component based on the determined compensated steering torque. A parameter of the high-pass filter is based on a vehicle speed.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2017Publication date: March 28, 2019Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Domenic Miccinilli, Mohamad Wajih Issam Farhat, Jens Christiansen, Nathaniel Abram Rolfes
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Publication number: 20190054950Abstract: A manual steering torque input is measured. A manual steering mode of a vehicle is actuated when the manual steering torque input is below a first torque threshold and above a second torque threshold for longer than a time threshold that is based on a vehicle speed.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 17, 2017Publication date: February 21, 2019Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Mohamad Wajih Issam Farhat, Domenic Miccinilli, Jens Christiansen, Nathaniel Abram Rolfes
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Publication number: 20180354363Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for activating a vehicle ignition system. An example vehicle includes an ignition system, a plurality of sensors, and a processor. The processor a processor is configured to determine, based on data received from the sensors, (i) that a person occupies a driver's seat of the vehicle, (ii) that a key fob corresponding to the vehicle is present, and (iii) that an input has been received at a shifter of the vehicle. The processor is also configured to responsively activate the ignition system.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 13, 2017Publication date: December 13, 2018Inventors: Nathaniel Abram Rolfes, Steven R. El Aile, Mohamad Wajih Issam Farhat, Kassem Moustafa, Domenic Miccinilli, Mauricio Alexander Munoz
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Patent number: 10127459Abstract: A trailer type identification system is provided herein. The system includes an imaging device for capturing images of a trailer connected to a vehicle, and a controller for analyzing the captured. The controller identifies vehicle and trailer contours, predicts a trailer type based on detection of a connection between the identified vehicle and trailer contours, and validates the prediction if the identified trailer contour exhibits motion during a vehicle turn event.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2016Date of Patent: November 13, 2018Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Zheng Hu, Nathaniel Abram Rolfes, Erick Michael Lavoie
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Patent number: 9975573Abstract: An operation mode of a first actuator engaged with a steering rack is determined. An operation mode of a second actuator engaged with a steering column is determined. The operation mode of one of the first and second actuators is adjusted upon detecting a failure in the other of the first and second actuators. At least one of the steering rack and the steering column is actuated based on the operation mode. In an angle control mode, a predetermined steering angle is provided to the first and second actuators to adjust the steering rack according to the steering angle. In a torque control mode, a steering column torque from a torsion sensor disposed on the steering column is provided to the first and second actuators to adjust the steering rack according to the steering column torque.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2016Date of Patent: May 22, 2018Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Eric She, Nathaniel Abram Rolfes, William James Bouse
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Publication number: 20180029637Abstract: An operation mode of a first actuator engaged with a steering rack is determined. An operation mode of a second actuator engaged with a steering column is determined. The operation mode of one of the first and second actuators is adjusted upon detecting a failure in the other of the first and second actuators. At least one of the steering rack and the steering column is actuated based on the operation mode. In an angle control mode, a predetermined steering angle is provided to the first and second actuators to adjust the steering rack according to the steering angle. In a torque control mode, a steering column torque from a torsion sensor disposed on the steering column is provided to the first and second actuators to adjust the steering rack according to the steering column torque.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2016Publication date: February 1, 2018Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Eric She, Nathaniel Abram Rolfes, William James Bouse
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Patent number: 9744972Abstract: A trailer backup assist system for a vehicle reversing a trailer includes a brake system and a throttle sensor module outputting a throttle application signal. The system further includes a control module estimating a road grade beneath the trailer and outputting a brake torque request to the brake system based on the estimated road grade and the throttle application signal.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2015Date of Patent: August 29, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Roger Arnold Trombley, Thomas Edward Pilutti, Nathaniel Abram Rolfes, Shane Elwart
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Publication number: 20170177949Abstract: A trailer type identification system is provided herein. The system includes an imaging device for capturing images of a trailer connected to a vehicle, and a controller for analyzing the captured. The controller identifies vehicle and trailer contours, predicts a trailer type based on detection of a connection between the identified vehicle and trailer contours, and validates the prediction if the identified trailer contour exhibits motion during a vehicle turn event.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 15, 2016Publication date: June 22, 2017Inventors: Zheng Hu, Nathaniel Abram Rolfes, Erick Michael Lavoie
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Publication number: 20170174209Abstract: A backup assist system for a vehicle reversing a trailer includes a brake module and a throttle module. The system further includes a controller having a vehicle speed detector and coupled with the brake module and the throttle module for implementing a backup mode including detecting an adverse operating condition and then adjusting at least one of the brake module and the throttle module and terminating the backup mode upon detecting the adverse operating condition for a time interval.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 6, 2017Publication date: June 22, 2017Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Erick Michael Lavoie, Roger Arnold Trombley, Thomas Edward Pilutti, Nathaniel Abram Rolfes, Michael Hafner
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Patent number: 9623859Abstract: A backup assist system for a vehicle reversing a trailer includes a brake module and a throttle module. The system further includes a controller having a vehicle speed detector and coupled with the brake module and the throttle module for implementing a backup mode including detecting an adverse operating condition and then adjusting at least one of the brake module and the throttle module and terminating the backup mode upon detecting the adverse operating condition for a time interval.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2015Date of Patent: April 18, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Erick Michael Lavoie, Roger Arnold Trombley, Thomas Edward Pilutti, Nathaniel Abram Rolfes, Michael Hafner
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Patent number: 9499200Abstract: A system for backing a vehicle and a trailer is provided herein. A sensing system is configured to detect objects located in an operating environment of the vehicle and trailer. A backup assist system is configured to communicate with the sensing system and automatically control a braking system of the vehicle to slow or stop the vehicle during a backing maneuver.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2015Date of Patent: November 22, 2016Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Bradley G. Hochrein, Nathaniel Abram Rolfes, Donald Jacob Mattern, Erick Michael Lavoie
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Publication number: 20160297476Abstract: A trailer backup assist system for a vehicle reversing a trailer includes a brake system and a throttle sensor module outputting a throttle application signal. The system further includes a control module estimating a road grade beneath the trailer and outputting a brake torque request to the brake system based on the estimated road grade and the throttle application signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 9, 2015Publication date: October 13, 2016Inventors: Roger Arnold Trombley, Thomas Edward Pilutti, Nathaniel Abram Rolfes, Shane Elwart
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Publication number: 20160288786Abstract: A backup assist system for a vehicle reversing a trailer includes a brake module and a throttle module. The system further includes a controller having a vehicle speed detector and coupled with the brake module and the throttle module for implementing a backup mode including detecting an adverse operating condition and then adjusting at least one of the brake module and the throttle module and terminating the backup mode upon detecting the adverse operating condition for a time interval.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 3, 2015Publication date: October 6, 2016Inventors: Erick Michael Lavoie, Roger Arnold Trombley, Thomas Edward Pilutti, Nathaniel Abram Rolfes, Michael Hafner
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Publication number: 20160075369Abstract: A system and strategy for reducing rapid steering wheel movement at the end of an autopark maneuver. The strategy includes maintaining or ramping-out power-steering motor torque to reduce steering wheel movement that may occur due to tire windup that has occurred up to that point in the autopark maneuver. The strategy may include the stopping of an autopark maneuver at any time during the maneuver, or functioning at the end of an autopark maneuver. The autopark event may be a park-out maneuver.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2014Publication date: March 17, 2016Inventors: Erick Michael Lavoie, Nathaniel Abram Rolfes