Patents by Inventor Paul Schmalenberg

Paul Schmalenberg 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: 11852423
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to a system with an electroactive substrate, a plurality of nanoparticles, and a control unit. The plurality of nanoparticles deposited in communication with the electroactive substrate. The control unit is configured to manipulate a shape of the electroactive substrate between an unactuated mode and an actuated mode to change an absorption band or an emission band of the plurality of nanoparticles. When the electroactive substrate shape is manipulated, the absorption band or the emission band of the plurality of nanoparticles is changed to tune the system for a radiative cooling based on a current dominating wavelength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Sean P. Rodrigues, Ercan Mehmet Dede, Paul Schmalenberg
  • Patent number: 11773518
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a first plurality of optical fibers embedded in a first plurality of fabric strands, a second plurality of optical fibers embedded in a second plurality of fabric strands, and a detector. The first plurality of optical fibers are positioned adjacent to each other and oriented along a first direction and the second plurality of optical fibers are positioned adjacent to each other and oriented along a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The first and second plurality of optical fibers are configured to receive ambient light emitted onto them. The detector detects the light received into at least some of the first and second plurality of optical fibers and creates data configured to be processed to identify an object adjacent to the apparatus. The data is based on the light received into the first plurality of optical fibers and the second plurality of optical fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Paul Schmalenberg, Ercan M. Dede
  • Publication number: 20220244001
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to a system with an electroactive substrate, a plurality of nanoparticles, and a control unit. The plurality of nanoparticles deposited in communication with the electroactive substrate. The control unit is configured to manipulate a shape of the electroactive substrate between an unactuated mode and an actuated mode to change an absorption band or an emission band of the plurality of nanoparticles. When the electroactive substrate shape is manipulated, the absorption band or the emission band of the plurality of nanoparticles is changed to tune the system for a radiative cooling based on a current dominating wavelength.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2021
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Sean P. Rodrigues, Ercan Mehmet Dede, Paul Schmalenberg
  • Patent number: 11173837
    Abstract: A system for optically cloaking an object includes a photophoretic optical trap display including a trap light source and an illumination light source; and a visual sensor at a first visual sensor location. The visual sensor captures an image of a scene, the trap light source is configured to generate a trap beam to control one or more of a position and an orientation of a scattering particle, and the illumination light source is configured to generate an illumination beam to illuminate the scattering particle to generate a reproduction image based on the image of the scene captured by the visual sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Paul Schmalenberg, Ercan M. Dede
  • Patent number: 11091168
    Abstract: A driver support system of a vehicle that includes a neuroimaging sensor and a positioning sensor, the neuroimaging sensor detects neurological signals of an occupant and the positioning sensor detects a position of the occupant. The neuroimaging sensor is configured to be positioned within the vehicle distally from the occupant. The system further includes a processor and non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-readable instructions executed by the processor to generate a brainwave map based on the neurological signals, calibrate the brainwave map based on the position of the occupant, and determine a mental state of the occupant based on the calibrated-brainwave map. The processor further actuates vehicle support control in response to determining the mental state of the occupant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Chungchih Chou, Paul Schmalenberg, Muhamed Kusay Farooq
  • Publication number: 20210238777
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a first plurality of optical fibers embedded in a first plurality of fabric strands, a second plurality of optical fibers embedded in a second plurality of fabric strands, and a detector. The first plurality of optical fibers are positioned adjacent to each other and oriented along a first direction and the second plurality of optical fibers are positioned adjacent to each other and oriented along a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The first and second plurality of optical fibers are configured to receive ambient light emitted onto them. The detector detects the light received into at least some of the first and second plurality of optical fibers and creates data configured to be processed to identify an object adjacent to the apparatus. The data is based on the light received into the first plurality of optical fibers and the second plurality of optical fibers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2020
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Schmalenberg, Ercan M. Dede
  • Patent number: 10965172
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for a wireless charging apparatus. The wireless charging apparatus includes a layer or sheet of polymeric or similarly compliant material. The wireless charging apparatus includes an inductive loop embedded within the layer or sheet of polymeric material. The inductive loop has a first shape and a first size. The wireless charging apparatus includes one or more actuators. The one or more actuators are configured to move or shape the layer or sheet of polymeric material and the inductive loop. The wireless charging apparatus includes a controller. The controller is configured to determine a second shape or a second size for the inductive loop. The controller is configured to move or adjust the one or more actuators to form the inductive loop into a second shape or a second size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Ercan M. Dede, Chungchih Chu, Paul Schmalenberg
  • Patent number: 10950638
    Abstract: An imaging system comprises a tuner and an image sensor including a plurality of pixel sensors. Each pixel sensor includes a photodetector, a stack of two or more filter layers comprising a given transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD), and one or more transparent glass layers positioned between adjacent filter layers. The stack selectively transmits received radiation to the photodetector based on a transmissivity of the filter layers, the transmissivity being based on a tuning context of the tuner. The imaging system sets the tuning context of the tuner and, for each of the pixel sensors, measures an intensity of radiation received from the stacks by the photodetector, determines a transmissivity of the stack based on both (i) the given TMD and (ii) the tuning context, and determines an intensity of radiation received by the pixel sensor at the stack based on the measured intensity and the determined transmissivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Paul Schmalenberg
  • Patent number: 10926273
    Abstract: Systems and methods for modifying an infrared signature of a vehicle are provided. A method may include producing an aerosol cloud proximate the vehicle. The method may further include determining one or more characteristics of the aerosol cloud. The method may also include determining a projection plane within the aerosol cloud based on the aerosol cloud characteristics for projecting a representation of the object. The method may additionally include providing heat at particles in the projection plane of the aerosol cloud to generate the object representation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Schmalenberg, Ercan M. Dede
  • Publication number: 20200312895
    Abstract: An imaging system comprises a tuner and an image sensor including a plurality of pixel sensors. Each pixel sensor includes a photodetector, a stack of two or more filter layers comprising a given transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD), and one or more transparent glass layers positioned between adjacent filter layers. The stack selectively transmits received radiation to the photodetector based on a transmissivity of the filter layers, the transmissivity being based on a tuning context of the tuner. The imaging system sets the tuning context of the tuner and, for each of the pixel sensors, measures an intensity of radiation received from the stacks by the photodetector, determines a transmissivity of the stack based on both (i) the given TMD and (ii) the tuning context, and determines an intensity of radiation received by the pixel sensor at the stack based on the measured intensity and the determined transmissivity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Schmalenberg
  • Patent number: 10761344
    Abstract: A system includes a photophoretic display device including a trap light source and an illumination light source, an image converter including a light signal propagation director and a light signal sensor, and a control unit. The trap light source is configured to trap a scattering particle and the illumination light source is configured to illuminate the scattering particle that the trap light source is configured to trap such that the photophoretic display device generates a volumetric image. The light signal propagation director is configured to direct a visual signal of the volumetric image to the light signal sensor. The light signal sensor is configured to sense the visual signal and to generate a planar image signal based on the visual signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Schmalenberg, Ercan M. Dede
  • Publication number: 20200254930
    Abstract: A system for optically cloaking an object includes a photophoretic optical trap display including a trap light source and an illumination light source; and a visual sensor at a first visual sensor location. The visual sensor captures an image of a scene, the trap light source is configured to generate a trap beam to control one or more of a position and an orientation of a scattering particle, and the illumination light source is configured to generate an illumination beam to illuminate the scattering particle to generate a reproduction image based on the image of the scene captured by the visual sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2019
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Schmalenberg, Ercan M. Dede
  • Publication number: 20200257126
    Abstract: A system includes a photophoretic display device including a trap light source and an illumination light source, an image converter including a light signal propagation director and a light signal sensor, and a control unit. The trap light source is configured to trap a scattering particle and the illumination light source is configured to illuminate the scattering particle that the trap light source is configured to trap such that the photophoretic display device generates a volumetric image. The light signal propagation director is configured to direct a visual signal of the volumetric image to the light signal sensor. The light signal sensor is configured to sense the visual signal and to generate a planar image signal based on the visual signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2019
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Schmalenberg, Ercan M. Dede
  • Publication number: 20200246812
    Abstract: Systems and methods for modifying an infrared signature of a vehicle are provided. A method may include producing an aerosol cloud proximate the vehicle. The method may further include determining one or more characteristics of the aerosol cloud. The method may also include determining a projection plane within the aerosol cloud based on the aerosol cloud characteristics for projecting a representation of the object. The method may additionally include providing heat at particles in the projection plane of the aerosol cloud to generate the object representation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2019
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Schmalenberg, Ercan M. Dede
  • Publication number: 20200247425
    Abstract: A driver support system of a vehicle that includes a neuroimaging sensor and a positioning sensor, the neuroimaging sensor detects neurological signals of an occupant and the positioning sensor detects a position of the occupant. The neuroimaging sensor is configured to be positioned within the vehicle distally from the occupant. The system further includes a processor and non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-readable instructions executed by the processor to generate a brainwave map based on the neurological signals, calibrate the brainwave map based on the position of the occupant, and determine a mental state of the occupant based on the calibrated-brainwave map. The processor further actuates vehicle support control in response to determining the mental state of the occupant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2019
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Chungchih Chou, Paul Schmalenberg, Muhamed Kusay Farooq
  • Patent number: 10679530
    Abstract: Systems and methods for projecting images from a vehicle onto a dynamic projection surface within an aerosol are provided. A method may include performing an initial scan of the aerosol to determine a projection surface within the aerosol based upon an aerosol density map. The method may further include projecting an image onto the projection surface within the aerosol. The method may also include performing an updated scan to update the projection surface based on changing depth and changing distance of the projection surface relative to the scanning device over time. The method may additionally include modifying the image being projected based upon a change to the projection surface due to one or more of a motion of the vehicle and a change in the aerosol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Schmalenberg, Ercan M. Dede
  • Publication number: 20200059120
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for a wireless charging apparatus. The wireless charging apparatus includes a layer or sheet of polymeric or similarly compliant material. The wireless charging apparatus includes an inductive loop embedded within the layer or sheet of polymeric material. The inductive loop has a first shape and a first size. The wireless charging apparatus includes one or more actuators. The one or more actuators are configured to move or shape the layer or sheet of polymeric material and the inductive loop. The wireless charging apparatus includes a controller. The controller is configured to determine a second shape or a second size for the inductive loop. The controller is configured to move or adjust the one or more actuators to form the inductive loop into a second shape or a second size.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2018
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Inventors: Ercan M. Dede, Chungchih Chu, Paul Schmalenberg
  • Patent number: 10297926
    Abstract: The radar transceiver assembly configured to reduce ghost lobes and narrow the receive beams so as to provide a better image resolution relative to current radar transceiver assemblies is provided. The radar transceiver assembly includes a first transceiver chip and a second transceiver chip mounted on opposite sides of the substrate. The accordingly, space on the first support surface may be utilized for antennas. The first array of transmit antennas and first array of receive antennas is interleaved with the second array of transmit antennas and the second array of receive antennas. The second array of transmit antennas and the second array of receive antennas are electrically coupled to the second transceiver chip via a coupling structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Jae Seung Lee, Paul Schmalenberg
  • Patent number: 10274599
    Abstract: A Lidar system configured to have a wide field of view. The LIDAR system includes a substrate. The substrate is planar. An array of electronic laser scan transceiver chips are mounted to the substrate. An lenslet array is spaced apart from the array of electronic laser scans transceivers so as to increase the field of the array of electronic laser scan transceiver chips. A plurality of baffles extend between the array of electronic laser scan transceiver chips and the lenslet array so as to separate the electronic laser scan transceiver chips and the lenslets from each other. The baffles provide structural support for the lenslet array and are further configured to absorb scatter from the laser beams transmitted and received by respective electronic laser scan transceiver chips. Accordingly, the Lidar system increases the field of view of the individual electronic scan transceivers without complicating the manufacturing process relative to Lidar systems with convex substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Paul Schmalenberg
  • Patent number: 10176316
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for verifying an authenticity of an electronic device are disclosed. An apparatus includes one or more heat generating components coupled to an electronic device and arranged in a particular configuration such that, when selectively activated, the one or more heat generating components emit thermal radiation in a specific heat pattern that corresponds to the particular configuration and the selective activation. The specific heat pattern is readable by a thermal reading device to obtain information regarding the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Ercan M. Dede, Paul Schmalenberg