Patents by Inventor Peter W.A. Zegelaar

Peter W.A. Zegelaar 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: 11801891
    Abstract: A method for managing a vehicle steering system of a vehicle having a steering assist system, including estimating a steering angle amplitude during a steering maneuver before rotating the steering wheel to the steering angle amplitude value associated with the steering maneuver. Using the estimated steering angle amplitude value to control activation of the steering assist system associated with the vehicle steering system. In one example, the estimated steering angle amplitude value adapts a torque assist signal of the steering assist system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Peter W. A. Zegelaar, Helmuth Bosch, Michael Schiebahn
  • Publication number: 20220415180
    Abstract: A method for operating a vehicle platoon with a plurality of motor vehicles includes recording of operating data of each motor vehicle of the vehicle platoon, transmitting the recorded operating data of at least one following motor vehicle of the vehicle platoon to the first motor vehicle of the vehicle platoon, evaluating the operating data to determine a control signal data set for controlling a component of each of the motor vehicles of the vehicle platoon, transmitting the respective control signal data sets to at least one following motor vehicle, and controlling components of one or all motor vehicles according to the respective control signal data sets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2022
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Peter W.A. Zegelaar, Alexander Katriniok, Martin Sommer
  • Publication number: 20220324511
    Abstract: A computer includes a processor and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to actuate a steering system of a vehicle to perform a lane-keeping operation, cease the lane-keeping operation upon receiving a takeover request, determine that the takeover request has occurred upon detecting that a torque applied to a steering wheel exceeds a torque threshold, determine that the vehicle is traveling over a road disturbance or will travel over a road disturbance within a time threshold based on receiving map data indicating a location of the road disturbance, and increase the torque threshold upon determining that the vehicle is traveling over the road disturbance or will travel over the road disturbance within the time threshold. The lane-keeping operation includes steering the vehicle without operator input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gangarjun Veeramurthy, Peter W.A. Zegelaar, Tejaswi Koduri
  • Publication number: 20220169289
    Abstract: Practicing a takeover of vehicle control of a vehicle 100 from an autonomous mode includes generating a takeover command for performing the takeover of the vehicle control without the existence of a reason for a takeover, and outputting the takeover command to a driver of the vehicle, wherein information about the non-existence of a reason for takeover is not output to the driver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2021
    Publication date: June 2, 2022
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Bauer, Peter W. A. Zegelaar, Guido Weitkus, Andreas Puetz, Patrick Piastowski, Benjamin Maus
  • Patent number: 11214257
    Abstract: It is determined that (a) a first vehicle is driving on a curve on a first road or, (b) by detecting a second road, a road boundary of the first road. It is further determined that there is (c) parallel traffic by determining that a second vehicle is moving in a lane of the second road adjacent to the first road, or (d) tangential traffic by detecting a third vehicle is moving tangentially to the curve. Upon determining that there is simultaneously at least one of (a) the first vehicle driving on the curve on the first road or (b) the road boundary of the first road, and at least one of (c) parallel traffic or (d) tangential traffic, then it is determined that the first vehicle is driving on an on-ramp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Benjamin Maus, Guido Weitkus, Andreas Meyer, Peter W. A. Zegelaar, Christoph Schlaug
  • Patent number: 11214300
    Abstract: A motor vehicle including a sensor device detecting the current vehicle surroundings and an auxiliary device producing a steering torque on a steering control of the motor vehicle. A data processing device connected to the sensor device and the auxiliary device determines a free escape lane for the motor vehicle by considering the signals of the sensor device to determine the existence of an imminent impact or collision in a current driving situation. If an imminent impact or collision appears likely the data processing device actuates the auxiliary device to produce a temporary steering torque on the steering control. The steering control can be temporarily displaced, moved, or turned to a defined extent in an evasive steering direction to steer the motor vehicle into the free escape lane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Schiebahn, Peter W. A. Zegelaar, Helmuth Bosch
  • Publication number: 20210009200
    Abstract: A method for managing a vehicle steering system of a vehicle having a steering assist system, including estimating a steering angle amplitude during a steering maneuver before rotating the steering wheel to the steering angle amplitude value associated with the steering maneuver. Using the estimated steering angle amplitude value to control activation of the steering assist system associated with the vehicle steering system. In one example, the estimated steering angle amplitude value adapts a torque assist signal of the steering assist system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Publication date: January 14, 2021
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Peter W.A. Zegelaar, Helmuth Bosch, Michael Schiebahn
  • Patent number: 10829151
    Abstract: A method for distinguishing intentional steering movements of a driver for influencing an intentional driving path of a motor vehicle from corrective steering movements of the driver as a reaction to unexpected deviations of the motor vehicle from the intentional driving path including ascertaining an instantaneous undisturbed motion of the vehicle along the driving path and calculating a reference value for a steering angle (SAR) corresponding to the ascertained, undisturbed motion of the motor vehicle or a reference value for a steering velocity (SVR) corresponding to the ascertained, undisturbed motion of the motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Schiebahn, Peter W. A. Zegelaar, Helmuth Bosch
  • Patent number: 10814906
    Abstract: A method for operating a steering assist system of a motor vehicle, in which during a steering movement of the driver while driving the vehicle a steering assistance is determined. The steering assistance provided by an electro-hydraulic or electro-mechanical drive and may depend on the vehicle speed. The steering assistance providing a supportive force or a supporting moment to the steering system, wherein the provision of the steering assistance depends on the result of a judgment of whether there is a discrepancy between the determined steering assistance and the driver's steering intention based on a steering movement of the driver and a current value at least one steering parameter. A discrepancy exists between the steering assistance and the driver's intention to drive when a current value of a steering parameter exceeds a predetermined limit value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Schiebahn, Helmuth Bosch, Peter W. A. Zegelaar
  • Patent number: 10800450
    Abstract: A method for determining a steering angle amplitude of a steering wheel of a vehicle likely to occur during a lane change, including determining a steering angle measured value of a steering wheel of a vehicle at a time of measurement during a lane change; determining a steering angular velocity measured value of the steering wheel at the time of measurement; and determining a steering angle amplitude likely to occur during the lane change at a later point in time than the time of measurement based on the at least the steering angle measured value at the steering angular velocity measured value at the time of measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Peter W. A. Zegelaar, Helmuth Bosch, Michael Schiebahn
  • Patent number: 10399599
    Abstract: A driver assistance system for a motor vehicle configured to recognize an exceptional situation by querying at least one sensor and if necessary applying a corrective or applied steering torque to a steering wheel. The driver assistance system configured to differentiate between a lower reliability and a higher reliability and upon the recognition to set the steering torque depending on the reliability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Peter W. A. Zegelaar, Helmuth Bosch, Michael Schiebahn, Yvette Keidies
  • Publication number: 20190241187
    Abstract: It is determined that (a) a first vehicle is driving on a curve on a first road or, (b) by detecting a second road, a road boundary of the first road. It is further determined that there is (c) parallel traffic by determining that a second vehicle is moving in a lane of the second road adjacent to the first road, or (d) tangential traffic by detecting a third vehicle is moving tangentially to the curve. Upon determining that there is simultaneously at least one of (a) the first vehicle driving on the curve on the first road or (b) the road boundary of the first road, and at least one of (c) parallel traffic or (d) tangential traffic, then it is determined that the first vehicle is driving on an on-ramp.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Publication date: August 8, 2019
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Benjamin Maus, Guido Weitkus, Andreas Meyer, Peter W.A. Zegelaar, Christoph Schlaug
  • Publication number: 20180281848
    Abstract: A method for determining a steering angle amplitude of a steering wheel of a vehicle likely to occur during a lane change, including determining a steering angle measured value of a steering wheel of a vehicle at a time of measurement during a lane change; determining a steering angular velocity measured value of the steering wheel at the time of measurement; and determining a steering angle amplitude likely to occur during the lane change at a later point in time than the time of measurement based on the at least the steering angle measured value at the steering angular velocity measured value at the time of measurement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Peter W.A. Zegelaar, Helmuth Bosch, Michael Schiebahn
  • Publication number: 20180273087
    Abstract: A method for operating a steering assist system of a motor vehicle, in which during a steering movement of the driver while driving the vehicle a steering assistance is determined. The steering assistance provided by an electro-hydraulic or electro-mechanical drive and may depend on the vehicle speed. The steering assistance providing a supportive force or a supporting moment to the steering system, wherein the provision of the steering assistance depends on the result of a judgment of whether there is a discrepancy between the determined steering assistance and the driver's steering intention based on a steering movement of the driver and a current value at least one steering parameter. A discrepancy exists between the steering assistance and the driver's intention to drive when a current value of a steering parameter exceeds a predetermined limit value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2018
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Schiebahn, Helmuth Bosch, Peter W. A. Zegelaar
  • Patent number: 10065637
    Abstract: A method for operating a driver assistance system (DAS) to avoid a collision of a vehicle with an object At least one object in the vehicle environment is detected by vehicle-mounted environmental sensors, and is evaluated in terms of risk of collision with the vehicle, an an automatic intervention into the vehicle movement is carried out depending on this evaluation. During the automatic intervention, the following steps are performed: 1) Carrying out an automatic braking of the vehicle depending on the evaluation of collision risk, and 2) permitting a steering intervention by the driver to perform an evasive steering maneuver, in reaction to which the automatic braking is terminated. The driver-initiated steering intervention must occur before a point-in-time at which the DAS has determined the collision cannot be avoided by steering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Christoph Arndt, Sabine Notelaers, Helmuth Bosch, Peter W. A. Zegelaar, Aaron L. Mills, Steven Yellin Schondorf
  • Publication number: 20180118263
    Abstract: A method for distinguishing intentional steering movements of a driver for influencing an intentional driving path of a motor vehicle from corrective steering movements of the driver as a reaction to unexpected deviations of the motor vehicle from the intentional driving path including ascertaining an instantaneous undisturbed motion of the vehicle along the driving path and calculating a reference value for a steering angle (SAR) corresponding to the ascertained, undisturbed motion of the motor vehicle or a reference value for a steering velocity (SVR) corresponding to the ascertained, undisturbed motion of the motor vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2017
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Schiebahn, Peter W.A. Zegelaar, Helmuth Bosch
  • Publication number: 20170334483
    Abstract: A motor vehicle including a sensor device detecting the current vehicle surroundings and an auxiliary device producing a steering torque on a steering control of the motor vehicle. A data processing device connected to the sensor device and the auxiliary device determines a free escape lane for the motor vehicle by considering the signals of the sensor device to determine existence of an imminent impact or collision in a current driving situation. The data processing device actuates the auxiliary device if an imminent impact or collision appears likely to produce a temporary indicative steering torque on the steering control. The steering control can be temporarily displaced, moved, or turned to a defined extent in an evasive steering direction the steering control should be displaced, moved or turned to steer the motor vehicle into the free escape lane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Publication date: November 23, 2017
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Schiebahn, Peter W.A. Zegelaar, Helmuth Bosch
  • Patent number: 9767696
    Abstract: A method for detecting moving objects in the area surrounding a vehicle by means of a vehicle-mounted sensor system having separate detection zones between which there is at least one detection gap. A crossover of an object between two detection zones across a detection gap is bridged by prediction by means of a transfer algorithm. Detected objects are classified according to type and the transfer algorithm is a movement model selected to match the determined object type and according to which the object is expected to move through the gap and which comprises a probability of the object being located in the gap. The probability is calculated from location and movement variables of the vehicle and of the detected object. The probability further takes into account any features in the roadway section that may permit the object to enter and/or exit the roadway directly into/out of the detection gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Christoph Arndt, Sabine Notelaers, Jitendra Shah, Peter W. A. Zegelaar
  • Publication number: 20170101131
    Abstract: A driver assistance system for a motor vehicle configured to recognize an exceptional situation by querying at least one sensor and if necessary applying a corrective or applied steering torque to a steering wheel. The driver assistance system configured to differentiate between a lower reliability and a higher reliability and upon the recognition to set the steering torque depending on the reliability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Publication date: April 13, 2017
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Peter W.A. Zegelaar, Helmuth Bosch, Michael Schiebahn, Yvette Keidies
  • Publication number: 20170008518
    Abstract: A method for operating a driver assistance system (DAS) to avoid a collision of a vehicle with an object At least one object in the vehicle environment is detected by vehicle-mounted environmental sensors, and is evaluated in terms of risk of collision with the vehicle, an an automatic intervention into the vehicle movement is carried out depending on this evaluation. During the automatic intervention, the following steps are performed: 1) Carrying out an automatic braking of the vehicle depending on the evaluation of collision risk, and 2) permitting a steering intervention by the driver to perform an evasive steering maneuver, in reaction to which the automatic braking is terminated. The driver-initiated steering intervention must occur before a point-in-time at which the DAS has determined the collision cannot be avoided by steering.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2016
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Inventors: Christoph ARNDT, Sabine NOTELAERS, Helmuth BOSCH, Peter W.A. ZEGELAAR, Aaron L. MILLS, Steven Yellin SCHONDORF