Patents by Inventor Nicholas Scheufler
Nicholas Scheufler 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: 11705025Abstract: Systems and methods for exterior signage evaluation are disclosed herein. An example method includes receiving images of an exterior signage area of an exterior surface of a first vehicle, the images being obtained by the first vehicle, a second vehicle camera or an infrastructure camera, determining current environmental conditions around the first vehicle, processing the images of the exterior signage area using the current environmental conditions, wherein processing includes comparing an expected appearance of the exterior signage area with an actual appearance of the exterior signage area to determine a visual appearance quality of the exterior signage area, and presenting a message on a display that includes the visual appearance quality.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2020Date of Patent: July 18, 2023Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Nicholas Scheufler, Michael Robertson, Jr., Ashwin Arunmozhi, Segundo Baldovino
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Patent number: 11699206Abstract: The disclosure relates to augmented reality vehicle identification with visual light communication. For example, a mobile device may be configured for “scanning” an area having multiple parked vehicles within visual range of the mobile device, to identify a target vehicle. The mobile device may include an application for identifying the target vehicle using visual light communication (VLC) equipment and techniques that present an augmented reality outline or other identification of the target vehicle on the smartphone screen once the vehicle is identified by the system. The encrypted communication channels with the vehicle may be established to utilize vehicle headlamps, interior lights, or another light emitting device to establish the VLC between the user's phone and the vehicle VLC system.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2020Date of Patent: July 11, 2023Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: David Michael Herman, Nicholas Scheufler
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Patent number: 11589443Abstract: Automatic drive mode lighting systems and methods are disclosed herein. An example method can include determining when a drive mode of a vehicle is an off-road mode, determining when a speed of the vehicle is below a speed threshold, determining when a location of the vehicle corresponds to an off-road location, and automatically activating off-road lighting for the vehicle when the drive mode is in an off-road mode, the speed is below the speed threshold, and the location corresponds to an off-road location.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2021Date of Patent: February 21, 2023Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Andrew Niedert, Christopher Berchin, Nicholas Scheufler, Seth Goslawski
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Publication number: 20220130294Abstract: Systems and methods for exterior signage evaluation are disclosed herein. An example method includes receiving images of an exterior signage area of an exterior surface of a first vehicle, the images being obtained by the first vehicle, a second vehicle camera or an infrastructure camera, determining current environmental conditions around the first vehicle, processing the images of the exterior signage area using the current environmental conditions, wherein processing includes comparing an expected appearance of the exterior signage area with an actual appearance of the exterior signage area to determine a visual appearance quality of the exterior signage area, and presenting a message on a display that includes the visual appearance quality.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 2020Publication date: April 28, 2022Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Nicholas Scheufler, Michael Robertson, JR., Ashwin Arunmozhi, Segundo Baldovino
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Patent number: 11198415Abstract: Example on-demand driver (ODD) systems and methods are described herein. An example method includes generating, with an ODD system, a softkey for a vehicle associated with an agreement between a driver-in-need (DIN) and an ODD, monitoring, with the ODD system, a location of an ODD device carried by the ODD, and transmitting, with the ODD system, the softkey to the ODD device when the ODD device is detected as being within a proximity of the vehicle. In the example method, the softkey is used to unlock the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2019Date of Patent: December 14, 2021Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Dave A. Herman, David Joseph Orris, Nicholas Scheufler, Nunzio Decia, Stephen Jay Orris
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Publication number: 20210250178Abstract: The disclosure relates to augmented reality vehicle identification with visual light communication. For example, a mobile device may be configured for “scanning” an area having multiple parked vehicles within visual range of the mobile device, to identify a target vehicle. The mobile device may include an application for identifying the target vehicle using visual light communication (VLC) equipment and techniques that present an augmented reality outline or other identification of the target vehicle on the smartphone screen once the vehicle is identified by the system. The encrypted communication channels with the vehicle may be established to utilize vehicle headlamps, interior lights, or another light emitting device to establish the VLC between the user's phone and the vehicle VLC system.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 10, 2020Publication date: August 12, 2021Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: David Michael Herman, Nicholas Scheufler
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Patent number: 10906425Abstract: A network of electric vehicle chargers is provided. The network may include a controller that, responsive to data indicating a threshold risk of utility grid power loss in a defined geographic area, broadcasts commands summoning vehicles in the defined geographic area to travel to and charge via the network, and prioritize charging of the vehicles at the network according to charge state data such that the vehicles having lowest state of charge are charged first.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2018Date of Patent: February 2, 2021Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: David Michael Herman, Nicholas Scheufler, David A. Herman, Nunzio DeCia, David Joseph Orris, Stephen Jay Orris, Jr.
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Patent number: 10755691Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for acoustic control of a vehicle's interior. Example methods may include detecting environmental sounds external to a cabin of a vehicle and determining at least one first sound from the environmental sounds, wherein the cabin is configured to reduce a volume of the environmental sounds below a threshold; determining location information comprising a direction and a distance of the first sound with respect to the vehicle; and generating a second sound based on the first sound and the location information that reproduces a spectral feature of the first sound.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2019Date of Patent: August 25, 2020Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: David Michael Herman, Nunzio DeCia, Nicholas Scheufler, Stephen Jay Orris
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Publication number: 20200017072Abstract: Example on-demand driver (ODD) systems and methods are described herein. An example method includes generating, with an ODD system, a softkey for a vehicle associated with an agreement between a driver-in-need (DIN) and an ODD, monitoring, with the ODD system, a location of an ODD device carried by the ODD, and transmitting, with the ODD system, the softkey to the ODD device when the ODD device is detected as being within a proximity of the vehicle. In the example method, the softkey is used to unlock the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 24, 2019Publication date: January 16, 2020Inventors: Dave A. Herman, David Joseph Orris, Nicholas Scheufler, Nunzio Decia, Stephen Jay Orris
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Patent number: 10501054Abstract: Example on-demand driver (ODD) systems and methods are described herein. An example method includes generating, with an ODD system, a softkey for a vehicle associated with an agreement between a driver-in-need (DIN) and an ODD, monitoring, with the ODD system, a location of an ODD device carried by the ODD, and transmitting, with the ODD system, the softkey to the ODD device when the ODD device is detected as being within a proximity of the vehicle. In the example method, the softkey is used to unlock the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2016Date of Patent: December 10, 2019Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Dave A. Herman, David Joseph Orris, Nicholas Scheufler, Nunzio Decia, Stephen Jay Orris
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Publication number: 20190308509Abstract: A network of electric vehicle chargers is provided. The network may include a controller that, responsive to data indicating a threshold risk of utility grid power loss in a defined geographic area, broadcasts commands summoning vehicles in the defined geographic area to travel to and charge via the network, and prioritize charging of the vehicles at the network according to charge state data such that the vehicles having lowest state of charge are charged first.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 5, 2018Publication date: October 10, 2019Inventors: David Michael HERMAN, Nicholas SCHEUFLER, David A. HERMAN, Nunzio DeCIA, David Joseph ORRIS, Stephen Jay ORRIS, Jr.
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Publication number: 20180001870Abstract: Example on-demand driver (ODD) systems and methods are described herein. An example method includes generating, with an ODD system, a softkey for a vehicle associated with an agreement between a driver-in-need (DIN) and an ODD, monitoring, with the ODD system, a location of an ODD device carried by the ODD, and transmitting, with the ODD system, the softkey to the ODD device when the ODD device is detected as being within a proximity of the vehicle. In the example method, the softkey is used to unlock the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2016Publication date: January 4, 2018Inventors: Dave A. Herman, David Joseph Orris, Nicholas Scheufler, Nunzio Decia, Stephen Jay Orris