Patents by Inventor Nicholas Zorka

Nicholas Zorka 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).

  • Patent number: 8194920
    Abstract: An object detection system is disclosed in at least one embodiment. The system includes a far IR sensor operable to sense thermal radiation of objects and surroundings in a field of view and to generate a far IR image in response thereto, and an image processing device operable to receive and process the far IR image to detect the presence of one or more objects in the field of view. The image processing device can be configured to process the far IR image by generating an initial threshold image based on the far IR image and an initial threshold value, iteratively obtaining a number of successive threshold images based on the far IR image and a number of successively increased threshold values, and determining the presence of one or more objects in the field of view based on the threshold images and threshold values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Samuel Ebenstein, Gregory Smith, Kwaku Prakah-Asante, Yelena Rodin, Nicholas Zorka
  • Publication number: 20080197284
    Abstract: An object detection system is disclosed in at least one embodiment. The system includes a far IR sensor operable to sense thermal radiation of objects and surroundings in a field of view and to generate a far IR image in response thereto, and an image processing device operable to receive and process the far IR image to detect the presence of one or more objects in the field of view. The image processing device can be configured to process the far IR image by generating an initial threshold image based on the far IR image and an initial threshold value, iteratively obtaining a number of successive threshold images based on the far IR image and a number of successively increased threshold values, and determining the presence of one or more objects in the field of view based on the threshold images and threshold values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2007
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Samuel Ebenstein, Gregory Smith, Kwaku Prakah-Asante, Yelena Rodin, Nicholas Zorka
  • Publication number: 20070216768
    Abstract: A system for mounting a camera 46 within a vehicle is illustrated. The camera 46 may be positioned behind an IR transmissible window 82 within the vehicle and within a housing 36 within the vehicle. The camera 46 is thus placed between the windshield 20 and the housing 36 so that the field of view 60 of the camera is through the window 82. A notch shape 78 or hole 26 may be formed within the windshield so that the IR transmissive portion may be inserted therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2006
    Publication date: September 20, 2007
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Gregory Smith, Nicholas Zorka, Kwaku Prakah-Asante, Samuel Ebenstein, Patrick Canfield, Yelena Rodin
  • Patent number: 6898528
    Abstract: A collision and injury mitigation system (10) for an automotive vehicle (12) is provided. The system (10) includes two or more object detection sensors (15) that detect an object and generate one or more object detection signals. A controller (16) is electrically coupled to the two or more object detection sensors and performs a fuzzy logic technique to classify the object as a real object or a false object in response to the one or more object detection signals. A method for performing the same is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Nicholas Zorka, Ka C. Cheok, Manoharprasad K. Rao, Edzko Smid
  • Publication number: 20040019425
    Abstract: A collision and injury mitigation system (10) for an automotive vehicle (12) is provided. The system (10) includes two or more object detection sensors (15) that detect an object and generate one or more object detection signals. A controller (16) is electrically coupled to the two or more object detection sensors and performs a fuzzy logic technique to classify the object as a real object or a false object in response to the one or more object detection signals. A method for performing the same is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2002
    Publication date: January 29, 2004
    Inventors: Nicholas Zorka, Ka C. Cheok, Manoharprasad K. Rao, Edzko Smid