Patents by Inventor Robert J. Cashler

Robert J. Cashler 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: 11474224
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems that include a controller circuit in communication with a ranging sensor configured to detect objects proximate to a host vehicle. In an aspect, the controller circuit is configured to perform a first detection count of the detected objects, determine a first group of objects of the detected objects, determine a first distance to the first group of objects, utilize the first distance to determine a trailer distance between the host vehicle and a front of a trailer, determine a second group of objects of the detected objects, determine a second distance to the second group of objects, utilize the second distance to determine an axle distance between the front of the trailer and a trailer axle, and determine a trailer length based on the trailer distance and the axle distance. Methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Aptiv Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Yu Wang, Liang Ma, Robert J. Cashler
  • Publication number: 20210141075
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems that include a controller circuit in communication with a ranging sensor configured to detect objects proximate to a host vehicle. In an aspect, the controller circuit is configured to perform a first detection count of the detected objects, determine a first group of objects of the detected objects, determine a first distance to the first group of objects, utilize the first distance to determine a trailer distance between the host vehicle and a front of a trailer, determine a second group of objects of the detected objects, determine a second distance to the second group of objects, utilize the second distance to determine an axle distance between the front of the trailer and a trailer axle, and determine a trailer length based on the trailer distance and the axle distance. Methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2021
    Publication date: May 13, 2021
    Applicant: Aptiv Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Yu Wang, Liang Ma, Robert J. Cashler
  • Patent number: 10955540
    Abstract: A detection system includes a ranging-sensor and a controller-circuit. The ranging-sensor is configured to detect objects proximate to a host-vehicle. The controller-circuit is in communication with the ranging-sensor. The controller-circuit is configured to determine that a trailer is being towed by the host-vehicle and determine a trailer-distance between the host-vehicle and a front of the trailer based on a distance to a first-group of objects detected by the ranging-sensor. The first-group is characterized by a first-distance indicated by the ranging-sensor. The controller-circuit determines an axle-distance between the front of the trailer and a trailer-axle based on a second-group of objects. The second-group is characterized by a second-distance indicated by the ranging-sensor. The controller-circuit determines a trailer-length based on the trailer-distance and the axle-distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Aptiv Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Yu Wang, Liang Ma, Robert J. Cashler
  • Patent number: 10481255
    Abstract: A trailer-detection system includes a radar-sensor, a camera, and a controller. The radar-sensor is used to determine a range, and an azimuth-angle, of a radar-signal reflected by a feature of trailer towed by a host-vehicle. The camera is used to capture an image of the trailer. The controller is in communication with the radar-sensor and the camera. The controller is configured to determine a position in the image of a viewable-feature of the trailer, determine a trailer-width and a trailer-height of the trailer based on the position and a range and azimuth-angle to the viewable-feature indicated by the radar-sensor, and optionally determine the trailer-length based on the range and azimuth-angle of the radar-signal reflected by a hidden-feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: APTIV TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
    Inventors: Premchand Krishna Prasad, Robert J. Cashler
  • Patent number: 10393862
    Abstract: A trailer-detection system includes a radar-sensor and a controller. The radar-sensor is used to determine a range, an azimuth-angle, and an elevation-angle of a radar-signal reflected by a trailer towed by a host-vehicle. The controller is in communication with the radar-sensor. The controller is configured to determine a size of the trailer towed by the host-vehicle based on the range, the azimuth-angle, and the elevation-angle of the radar-signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: APTIV TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
    Inventors: Robert J. Cashler, Premchand Krishna Prasad
  • Patent number: 10351146
    Abstract: A trailer-detection system includes a radar-sensor, an angle-detector, and a controller. The radar-sensor is used to detect an other-vehicle present in a blind-zone proximate to the host-vehicle. The angle-detector is used to determine a trailer-angle relative to a host-vehicle of a trailer being towed by the host-vehicle. The controller is in communication with the angle-detector and the radar-sensor. The controller is configured to determine a trailer-presence of the trailer based on the radar-signal and the trailer-angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: APTIV TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
    Inventors: Premchand Krishna Prasad, Robert J. Cashler
  • Publication number: 20190170867
    Abstract: A detection system includes a ranging-sensor and a controller-circuit. The ranging-sensor is configured to detect objects proximate to a host-vehicle. The controller-circuit is in communication with the ranging-sensor. The controller-circuit is configured to determine that a trailer is being towed by the host-vehicle and determine a trailer-distance between the host-vehicle and a front of the trailer based on a distance to a first-group of objects detected by the ranging-sensor. The first-group is characterized by a first-distance indicated by the ranging-sensor. The controller-circuit determines an axle-distance between the front of the trailer and a trailer-axle based on a second-group of objects. The second-group is characterized by a second-distance indicated by the ranging-sensor. The controller-circuit determines a trailer-length based on the trailer-distance and the axle-distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Inventors: Yu Wang, Liang Ma, Robert J. Cashler
  • Patent number: 10286916
    Abstract: A blind-spot detection system includes an angle-detector, a radar-sensor, and a controller. The angle-sensor is used to determine a trailer-angle relative to a host-vehicle of a trailer being towed by the host-vehicle. The radar-sensor is used to detect an other-vehicle present in a blind-zone proximate to the host-vehicle. The controller is in communication with the angle-detector and the radar-sensor. The controller is configured to adjust a sensing-boundary that defines the blind-zone based on the trailer-angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: APTIV TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
    Inventors: Premchand Krishna Prasad, Robert J. Cashler
  • Patent number: 10276049
    Abstract: A trailer-identification system is configured to identify a trailer towed by a host-vehicle. The system includes a camera and a controller. The camera is used to capture an image of a trailer towed by a host-vehicle. The controller is in communication with the camera and is configured to detect a character on the trailer, identify a trailer-model of the trailer based on the character, and adjust a blind-zone proximate to the host-vehicle based on the trailer-model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: APTIV TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
    Inventors: Premchand Krishna Prasad, Robert J. Cashler
  • Patent number: 10234858
    Abstract: A vehicle-control system suitable for use on an automated vehicle includes a human-machine-interface and a controller. The human-machine-interface accepts an input from an operator of a host-vehicle. The controller is in communication with the human-machine-interface. The operator inputs a notification to the human-machine-interface. The notification indicates that the operator detects a circumstance that suggests a presence of the emergency-vehicle on the roadway that has not been detected by the system. The controller drives the host-vehicle in accordance with rules governing an operation of vehicles proximate to an emergency-vehicle stopped alongside a roadway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Aptiv Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Robert J. Cashler, Michael I. Chia
  • Patent number: 10207643
    Abstract: A trailer detection system is configured to determine a presence of a trailer towed by a host-vehicle. The system includes a camera and a controller. The camera is used to capture an image of an area behind a host vehicle. The controller is in communication with the camera. The controller is used to detect a position of an edge in the image and determine that the edge is associated with a trailer towed by the host vehicle when the position of the edge moves less than a movement threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: APTIV TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
    Inventors: Premchand Krishna Prasad, Robert J. Cashler
  • Publication number: 20180299897
    Abstract: A route-planning system includes a digital-map and a controller. The digital-map is used to define a travel-route of a host-vehicle traveling to a destination. The digital-map identifies a plurality of fueling-stations along the travel-route. The controller is in communication with the digital-map. The controller determines a fuel-range of the host-vehicle. When an operator of the host-vehicle causes the host-vehicle to deviate from the travel-route and the fuel-range is less than a fuel-range-threshold, the controller notifies the operator of the host-vehicle of a fueling-station available to refuel the host-vehicle. The available fueling-station is based on the fuel-range and a distance to the fueling-station when the distance is less than a route-deviation-threshold. The controller then drives the host-vehicle to the fueling-station when the operator selects the fueling-station.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2017
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventors: Robert J. Cashler, Michael I. Chia
  • Publication number: 20180299887
    Abstract: A vehicle-control system suitable for use on an automated vehicle includes a human-machine-interface and a controller. The human-machine-interface accepts an input from an operator of a host-vehicle. The controller is in communication with the human-machine-interface. The operator inputs a notification to the human-machine-interface. The notification indicates that the operator detects a circumstance that suggests a presence of the emergency-vehicle on the roadway that has not been detected by the system. The controller drives the host-vehicle in accordance with rules governing an operation of vehicles proximate to an emergency-vehicle stopped alongside a roadway.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2017
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventors: Robert J. Cashler, Michael I. Chia
  • Publication number: 20180068566
    Abstract: A trailer-detection system includes a radar sensor, an angle detector, a camera, and a controller. The radar sensor is used to determine a range and an azimuth angle of a radar signal reflected by a trailer towed by a host-vehicle. The angle-detector is used to determine a trailer angle relative to the host vehicle of the trailer towed by the host vehicle. The camera is used to detect a lane marking of a roadway traveled by the host vehicle and trailer. The controller is in communication with the radar sensor, the angle detector, and the camera. The controller is configured to determine when the trailer is departing from a travel lane of the roadway based on the radar signal, the trailer angle, and the lane marking.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2016
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Inventors: Premchand Krishna Prasad, Robert J. Cashler, Andrew J. Lasley
  • Publication number: 20180068447
    Abstract: A trailer detection system is configured to determine a presence of a trailer towed by a host-vehicle. The system includes a camera and a controller. The camera is used to capture an image of an area behind a host vehicle. The controller is in communication with the camera. The controller is used to detect a position of an edge in the image and determine that the edge is associated with a trailer towed by the host vehicle when the position of the edge moves less than a movement threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Inventors: Premchand Krishna Prasad, Robert J. Cashler
  • Patent number: 9910151
    Abstract: A radar object detection system includes a first sensor and a controller. The first sensor emits a first radar signal toward a first area about a vehicle, and outputs a first signal indicative of detected targets proximate to the vehicle. The controller receives the first signal from the first sensor, determines when a trailer is connected to the vehicle based on the first signal, defines a shadow-zone that corresponds to a first portion of the first area obstructed by the trailer from being viewed by the first sensor, and ignores detected targets within the shadow-zone that are indicated by the first signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Robert J. Cashler
  • Publication number: 20180061239
    Abstract: A trailer-identification system is configured to identify a trailer towed by a host-vehicle. The system includes a camera and a controller. The camera is used to capture an image of a trailer towed by a host-vehicle. The controller is in communication with the camera and is configured to detect a character on the trailer, identify a trailer-model of the trailer based on the character, and adjust a blind-zone proximate to the host-vehicle based on the trailer-model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventors: Premchand Krishna Prasad, Robert J. Cashler
  • Publication number: 20180045823
    Abstract: A trailer-detection system includes a radar-sensor, a camera, and a controller. The radar-sensor is used to determine a range, and an azimuth-angle, of a radar-signal reflected by a feature of trailer towed by a host-vehicle. The camera is used to capture an image of the trailer. The controller is in communication with the radar-sensor and the camera. The controller is configured to determine a position in the image of a viewable-feature of the trailer, determine a trailer-width and a trailer-height of the trailer based on the position and a range and azimuth-angle to the viewable-feature indicated by the radar-sensor, and optionally determine the trailer-length based on the range and azimuth-angle of the radar-signal reflected by a hidden-feature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2016
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventors: PREMCHAND KRISHNA PRASAD, ROBERT J. CASHLER
  • Publication number: 20180011172
    Abstract: A trailer-detection system includes a radar-sensor and a controller. The radar-sensor is used to determine a range, an azimuth-angle, and an elevation-angle of a radar-signal reflected by a trailer towed by a host-vehicle. The controller is in communication with the radar-sensor. The controller is configured to determine a size of the trailer towed by the host-vehicle based on the range, the azimuth-angle, and the elevation-angle of the radar-signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2016
    Publication date: January 11, 2018
    Inventors: Robert J. Cashler, Premchand Krishna Prasad
  • Publication number: 20170363727
    Abstract: A blind-spot detection system includes an angle-detector, a radar-sensor, and a controller. The angle-sensor is used to determine a trailer-angle relative to a host-vehicle of a trailer being towed by the host-vehicle. The radar-sensor is used to detect an other-vehicle present in a blind-zone proximate to the host-vehicle. The controller is in communication with the angle-detector and the radar-sensor. The controller is configured to adjust a sensing-boundary that defines the blind-zone based on the trailer-angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2016
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventors: PREMCHAND KRISHNA PRASAD, ROBERT J. CASHLER