Patents by Inventor Nicholas Colella
Nicholas Colella 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: 11488430Abstract: Disclosed is a system that uses a window as a microphone as a replacement for keyless entry to a vehicle. The system includes a window which acts as a microphone using a piezoelectric transducer that captures resonance on an outside surface of the vehicle window when pressure waves (e.g., voice commands or taps) impact it. To recognize this sound, a transducer controller amplifies vibrations from the window tap or spoken commands. The system may include a low-power mode that listens for input while the vehicle is off. In a second, high-power mode, the system may detect a tapping event, which may prompt a transition to a wake-up state. The system may associate a number and timing of taps with unique user keys, similar to key selections of numbers on a keypad. The system may also recognize verbal PIN code input using the piezoelectric transducer microphone.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2020Date of Patent: November 1, 2022Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Pietro Buttolo, Joshua Wheeler, Scott Andrew Amman, Nicholas Colella
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Patent number: 11485303Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods that uses a window as a keypad entry system that functions as a replacement for a keyless entry keypad in a vehicle. The system includes a vehicle window functional as a keypad using piezoelectric transducers that capture resonance from the vehicle window when pressure waves (e.g., generated by voice commands or taps) impact the glass. A transducer controller amplifies the vibrations from the vehicle window user tap or spoken commands and triangulates the signal to localize a position of the origination point of the tap, which may be mapped to a respective numeric or cardinal input value. The system may include a low power mode that receives input while the vehicle is off.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2020Date of Patent: November 1, 2022Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Pietro Buttolo, Joshua Wheeler, Scott Amman, Nicholas Colella
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Patent number: 11397913Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for automated multimodal delivery. Example methods may include determining information associated with the delivery; determining, based on at least a first portion of the information, that a first confidence level indicative of a delivery capability using a first vehicle is above a first threshold; and determining, based on at least a second portion of the information, a second confidence level indicative of a delivery preference for delivery using the first vehicle relative to a second vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2019Date of Patent: July 26, 2022Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Nicholas Colella, Andrea Chowanic, David Michael Herman, Ashwin Arunmozhi
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Publication number: 20220118925Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods that uses a window as a keypad entry system that functions as a replacement for a keyless entry keypad in a vehicle. The system includes a vehicle window functional as a keypad using piezoelectric transducers that capture resonance from the vehicle window when pressure waves (e.g., generated by voice commands or taps) impact the glass. A transducer controller amplifies the vibrations from the vehicle window user tap or spoken commands and triangulates the signal to localize a position of the origination point of the tap, which may be mapped to a respective numeric or cardinal input value. The system may include a low power mode that receives input while the vehicle is off.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 16, 2020Publication date: April 21, 2022Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Pietro Buttolo, Joshua Wheeler, Scott Amman, Nicholas Colella
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Publication number: 20220108574Abstract: Disclosed is a system that uses a window as a microphone as a replacement for keyless entry to a vehicle. The system includes a window which acts as a microphone using a piezoelectric transducer that captures resonance on an outside surface of the vehicle window when pressure waves (e.g., voice commands or taps) impact it. To recognize this sound, a transducer controller amplifies vibrations from the window tap or spoken commands. The system may include a low-power mode that listens for input while the vehicle is off. In a second, high-power mode, the system may detect a tapping event, which may prompt a transition to a wake-up state. The system may associate a number and timing of taps with unique user keys, similar to key selections of numbers on a keypad. The system may also recognize verbal PIN code input using the piezoelectric transducer microphone.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 5, 2020Publication date: April 7, 2022Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Pietro Buttolo, Joshua Wheeler, Scott Andrew Amman, Nicholas Colella
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Patent number: 10955260Abstract: Methods and apparatus to determine a predicted wait time at a commercial point-of-interest for an estimated time-of-arrival are disclosed. An example method includes determining an estimated time-of-arrival of a vehicle at a commercial point-of-interest and obtaining current wait-time data and historical wait-time data for the estimated time-of-arrival for the commercial point-of-interest. The example method includes determining, via a processor, a predicted wait time for the estimated time-of-arrival based on the current wait-time data and the historical wait-time data and communicating the predicted wait time to a user interface of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2016Date of Patent: March 23, 2021Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Dave A. Herman, Nicholas Colella, Andrea Bowes Chowanic, Colleen M. Cauvet
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Publication number: 20200364663Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for automated multimodal delivery. Example methods may include determining information associated with the delivery; determining, based on at least a first portion of the information, that a first confidence level indicative of a delivery capability using a first vehicle is above a first threshold; and determining, based on at least a second portion of the information, a second confidence level indicative of a delivery preference for delivery using the first vehicle relative to a second vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 17, 2019Publication date: November 19, 2020Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Nicholas Colella, Andrea Chowanic, David Michael Herman, Ashwin Arunmozhi
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Publication number: 20200217683Abstract: An item previously obtained along the route is identified. A location on the route associated with the item is identified. A message is sent to the location to obtain the item. A vehicle component is actuated to move the vehicle to the location. A prompt is sent to the user for options to add a second item or cancel an order.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 18, 2017Publication date: July 9, 2020Inventors: David A. HERMAN, Nicholas COLELLA, Colleen CAUVET, Andrea Bowes CHOWANIC
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Patent number: 10642292Abstract: A system includes a processor configured to determine that a telematics control unit component temperature is above a predefined maximum temperature. The processor is also configured to send a message to a remote communication server notifying the server that packet communication will be disabled and disable packet communication, responsive to the determination. The processor is further configured to enable binary user-data-embedded SMS message handling for remote commands received from the server, responsive to disabling the packet communication.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2017Date of Patent: May 5, 2020Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Oliver Lei, Allen R. Murray, Nicholas Colella, Ritesh Pandya
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Patent number: 10467669Abstract: A system includes a processor configured to wirelessly instruct fuel dispensation initiation over a direct wireless connection between a vehicle and a refueling truck, responsive to a wireless request made by the refueling truck, the request including a valid token and a refueling truck MAC ID with which the wireless connection is established.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2018Date of Patent: November 5, 2019Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Omar Makke, Joseph Wisniewski, Kevin Lee Helpingstine, Perry Robinson MacNeille, Nicholas Colella, David Hamilton, Matthew S. Blackburn, Aiswarya Kolisetty
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Publication number: 20190204109Abstract: Methods and apparatus to determine a predicted wait time at a commercial point-of-interest for an estimated time-of-arrival are disclosed. An example method includes determining an estimated time-of-arrival of a vehicle at a commercial point-of-interest and obtaining current wait-time data and historical wait-time data for the estimated time-of-arrival for the commercial point-of-interest. The example method includes determining, via a processor, a predicted wait time for the estimated time-of-arrival based on the current wait-time data and the historical wait-time data and communicating the predicted wait time to a user interface of the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 25, 2016Publication date: July 4, 2019Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Dave A. HERMAN, Nicholas COLELLA, Andrea Bowes CHOWANIC, Colleen M. CAUVET
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Patent number: 10325502Abstract: The present disclosure relates to parking systems and parking methods. One parking system may include: a vehicle having an accelerator, brakes, wheels, sensors, a display, a processor, and memory; a parking assist program stored in the memory and configured to: receive dimensions of a parallel parking spot and the vehicle, project, based on the received dimensions, whether the vehicle can: exit the parallel parking spot with a future leading block, and exit the parallel parking spot with a future trailing block.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2016Date of Patent: June 18, 2019Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Nicholas Colella, Nunzio DeCia, Stephen Jay Orris, Jr.
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Publication number: 20190155319Abstract: A system includes a processor configured to determine that a telematics control unit component temperature is above a predefined maximum temperature. The processor is also configured to send a message to a remote communication server notifying the server that packet communication will be disabled and disable packet communication, responsive to the determination. The processor is further configured to enable binary user-data-embedded SMS message handling for remote commands received from the server, responsive to disabling the packet communication.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 21, 2017Publication date: May 23, 2019Inventors: Oliver Lei, Allen R. Murray, Nicholas Colella, Ritesh Pandya
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Patent number: 10273739Abstract: An automated system is provided for closing a closure of a motor vehicle. That automated system includes a plurality of closures, a plurality of closure modules for opening and closing that plurality of closures and a control module. The control module is configured to monitor a transmission state of the motor vehicle and an open/close state of the plurality of closures and then close an open closure of the plurality of closures when the transmission is shifted out of park and the open closure is detected. A related method is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2016Date of Patent: April 30, 2019Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Tuan Anh Be, Nicholas Colella, Allen R. Murray
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Publication number: 20180144382Abstract: A system includes a processor configured to wirelessly instruct fuel dispensation initiation over a direct wireless connection between a vehicle and a refueling truck, responsive to a wireless request made by the refueling truck, the request including a valid token and a refueling truck MAC ID with which the wireless connection is established.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 22, 2018Publication date: May 24, 2018Inventors: Omar MAKKE, Joseph WISNIEWSKI, Kevin Lee HELPINGSTINE, Perry Robinson MACNEILLE, Nicholas COLELLA, David HAMILTON, Matthew S. BLACKBURN, Aiswarya KOLISETTY
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Publication number: 20180144383Abstract: A system includes a processor configured to wirelessly instruct fuel dispensation initiation over a direct wireless connection between a vehicle and a refueling truck, responsive to a wireless request made by the refueling truck, the request including a valid token and a refueling truck MAC ID with which the wireless connection is established.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 22, 2018Publication date: May 24, 2018Inventors: Omar MAKKE, Joseph WISNIEWSKI, Kevin Lee HELPINGSTINE, Perry Robinson MACNEILLE, Nicholas COLELLA, David HAMILTON, Matthew S. BLACKBURN, Aiswarya KOLISETTY
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Patent number: 9905129Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for an emergency corridor utilizing vehicle-to-vehicle communication. An example disclosed system includes an emergency vehicle, infrastructure nodes distributed across a municipal area, and an emergency router. The example emergency router selects a route from a first location of the emergency vehicle to a second location specified by an emergency request. The example emergency router also determines ones of the infrastructure nodes that are along the route. Additionally, the example emergency router instructs the ones of the infrastructure nodes to broadcast emergency messages. The emergency messages include information regarding the route and the emergency vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2016Date of Patent: February 27, 2018Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Nicholas Colella, Dave A Herman
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Patent number: 9886708Abstract: A system includes a processor configured to wirelessly instruct fuel dispensation initiation over a direct wireless connection between a vehicle and a refueling truck, responsive to a wireless request made by the refueling truck, the request including a valid token and a refueling truck MAC ID with which the wireless connection is established.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2016Date of Patent: February 6, 2018Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Omar Makke, Joseph Wisniewski, Kevin Lee Helpingstine, Perry Robinson MacNeille, Nicholas Colella, David Hamilton, Matthew S. Blackburn, Aiswarya Kolisetty
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Publication number: 20170364069Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for autonomous behavior override utilizing an emergency corridor. An example disclosed system includes an autonomous vehicle, infrastructure nodes, and an emergency router. The example autonomous vehicle sends an emergency request in response to detecting an occupant experiencing a medical emergency. The example infrastructure nodes are distributed across a municipal area. The example emergency router selects a route from a first location of the autonomous vehicle to an emergency response facility. The example emergency router also selects the infrastructure nodes that are along the route. Additionally, the example emergency router instructs the selected infrastructure nodes to broadcast messages to create an emergency corridor.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 16, 2016Publication date: December 21, 2017Inventors: Nicholas Colella, Stephen Jay Orris, JR., David A. Herman, Nicholas Alexander Scheufler, Nunzio DeCia
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Publication number: 20170352268Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for an emergency corridor utilizing vehicle-to-vehicle communication. An example disclosed system includes an emergency vehicle, infrastructure nodes distributed across a municipal area, and an emergency router. The example emergency router selects a route from a first location of the emergency vehicle to a second location specified by an emergency request. The example emergency router also determines ones of the infrastructure nodes that are along the route. Additionally, the example emergency router instructs the ones of the infrastructure nodes to broadcast emergency messages. The emergency messages include information regarding the route and the emergency vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 1, 2016Publication date: December 7, 2017Inventors: Nicholas Colella, Dave A. Herman