Patents by Inventor Ryan Herman

Ryan Herman 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).

  • Publication number: 20260043291
    Abstract: A system for controlling motion of a door of a vehicle is provided. The door is moveable between an open position and a closed position. The system includes a power actuator for moving the door and an inclination sensor for detecting at least one of an inclination or a roll of the vehicle. A controller is configured to determine the at least one of the inclination or the roll using the inclination sensor. The controller determines a maximum door open angle of the door based on the at least one of the inclination or the roll whereat the power actuator can move the door toward the closed position and beyond which the power actuator is not able to move the door toward the closed position. The controller is also configured to control movement of the door using the power actuator in view of the maximum door open angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2025
    Publication date: February 12, 2026
    Applicant: Magna Closures Inc.
    Inventor: Ryan Herman
  • Publication number: 20250305339
    Abstract: A power door system for a door of a vehicle is provided. The system includes an actuator for moving the door. The system also includes a sensor having a field of view for detecting an obstacle between the door and a body of the vehicle. The system further includes a controller connected to the actuator and to the sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2025
    Publication date: October 2, 2025
    Inventor: Ryan HERMAN
  • Patent number: 12385297
    Abstract: A vehicular exterior door handle assembly includes a base portion configured to mount at a vehicle door. A handle portion includes a grasping portion and is movable relative to the base portion between a recessed position, where the grasping portion is recessed at the base portion, and a deployed position, where the grasping portion protrudes outward to be graspable by the user. A deployment mechanism is operable to move the handle portion between the recessed and deployed positions. A control module, based on a user input, actuates a latch mechanism to unlock the vehicle door. The deployment mechanism, responsive to the control module unlocking the vehicle door, moves the handle portion from the recessed position to the deployed position. With the handle portion in the deployed position and the vehicle door unlocked, the handle portion is graspable by the user to open the vehicle door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2025
    Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America, Inc.
    Inventor: Ryan Herman
  • Publication number: 20250250845
    Abstract: A power closure member system and method of operation are provided. The power closure member system includes an actuator to move a closure member. The power closure member system also includes a controller adapted to control the closure member using the actuator with a set of features. The controller is adapted to control the closure member with a subset of the features when operating in a reduced performance mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2025
    Publication date: August 7, 2025
    Inventor: Ryan HERMAN
  • Publication number: 20250250840
    Abstract: A power closure member actuation system for moving a closure member of a vehicle between an open position and a closed position relative to a vehicle body. The system includes an actuator configured to move the closure member relative to the vehicle body. The system further includes a closure member feedback sensor for determining at least one of a position and a speed of the closure member. A controller is in communication with the closure member feedback sensor and the actuator. The controller is configured to control movement of the closure member by the actuator while sensing the speed of the closure member using the closure member feedback sensor. The controller is also configured to adjust the speed of the closure member moving toward the closed position to account for a seal load of at least one closure member seal varying over a life of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2025
    Publication date: August 7, 2025
    Inventor: Ryan HERMAN
  • Publication number: 20250250839
    Abstract: A powered actuator for a closure of a vehicle includes an electric motor configured to rotate a driven shaft. A linear actuator is configured to be coupled to one of a body or a closure of the vehicle for moving the closure between a fully closed position and a fully open position. The linear actuator having an extensible member and a nut. A cover is provided for at least partially enclosing the extensible member and the nut. At least one friction feature is fixed to at least one of the extensible member and nut, and at least one fixed friction feature is fixed to the cover, wherein the at least one friction feature fixed to the at least one of the extensible member and nut contacts the at least one fixed feature fixed to the cover to releasably hold the closure between the fully closed position and the fully open position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2025
    Publication date: August 7, 2025
    Inventors: Ryan HERMAN, Michael BAYLEY, Darren NAVIN
  • Publication number: 20250075553
    Abstract: A system for a vehicle is provided. The system includes a door of the vehicle moveable about a pivot axis between an open position and a closed position. The system also includes a power actuator operable in one of a powered and a not powered. The power actuator is configured to move the door to a partially open position between the open position and the closed position in the powered mode and not move the door in the not powered mode. The pivot axis is selected to ensure the door remains at the partially open position whereat the door does not move towards the open position nor the closed position under an effect of gravity in response to the power actuator being in the not powered mode and the vehicle being on a surface being substantially level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2024
    Publication date: March 6, 2025
    Inventors: Ryan HERMAN, Dawei XU, Joseph OSMIALOWSKI
  • Publication number: 20250059815
    Abstract: A power closure member actuation system for moving a closure member of a vehicle is provided. The system includes an actuator configured to move the closure member relative to a vehicle body and a closure member accelerometer configured to determine a steady state gravitational force on the closure member according to an orientation of the vehicle. A controller is configured to determine the steady state gravitational force on the closure member using the closure member accelerometer while the closure member is in a predetermined position and is not moving. The controller is also configured to control movement of the closure member by the actuator to compensate for variable gravitational forces on the closure member during movement of the closure member. The variable gravitational forces used to control the movement are predetermined and selected according to a position of the closure member and the steady state gravitational force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2024
    Publication date: February 20, 2025
    Inventor: Ryan HERMAN
  • Publication number: 20240410216
    Abstract: An object detection system and method of operation are provided. The system includes at least one non-contact sensor for detecting an object adjacent the motor vehicle within a first field of view. The system also includes a power actuator for moving the powered closure member. An electronic control unit is configured to detect the object adjacent the motor vehicle using the at least one non-contact sensor and control movement of the powered closure member accordingly. The electronic control unit is also configured to detect at least one non-powered closure member is not in a closed position. The electronic control unit adjusts the first field of view of the at least one non-contact sensor to a second field of view and operates the at least one non-contact sensor using the second field of view in response to detecting the at least one non-powered closure member is not in the closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2024
    Publication date: December 12, 2024
    Inventors: Ryan HERMAN, Dannie PARDILLO
  • Publication number: 20240254813
    Abstract: A closure panel movement system for moving a closure panel of a frunk of a vehicle between a fully closed position and a fully open position, the system comprising: a latch mounted to a body of the vehicle, the latch for maintaining the closure panel in the fully closed position; a presentment mechanism positioned between the closure panel and the body; and a drive unit coupled to the closure panel for driving the closure panel when unlatched to and from the fully open position; wherein the presentment mechanism assists in movement of the closure panel between a pop up position of the closure panel and an unlatched position of the latch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2024
    Publication date: August 1, 2024
    Inventors: Ryan HERMAN, Francesco CUMBO
  • Publication number: 20230373437
    Abstract: A user detection system and method a motor vehicle that has a closure panel for facilitating access to the motor vehicle by a user of the motor vehicle are provided. The system includes a hardware token associated with and carried by the user to provide an authorization to access the motor vehicle. The system additionally includes at least two proximity sensors configured to detect the hardware token in proximity to the motor vehicle. The system also includes a controller connected to the at least two proximity sensors and configured to determine a location of the user relative to the motor vehicle using the at least two proximity sensors. The controller grants or rejects access to the motor vehicle via the at least one closure panel based on the authorization and the location of the user relative to the motor vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2023
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Inventors: Samuel R. BARUCO, James J. FERRI, Ryan BAERG, Peter SERCL, Ryan Herman
  • Publication number: 20230258030
    Abstract: A vehicular exterior door handle assembly includes a base portion configured to mount at a vehicle door. A handle portion includes a grasping portion and is movable relative to the base portion between a recessed position, where the grasping portion is recessed at the base portion, and a deployed position, where the grasping portion protrudes outward to be graspable by the user. A deployment mechanism is operable to move the handle portion between the recessed and deployed positions. A control module, based on a user input, actuates a latch mechanism to unlock the vehicle door. The deployment mechanism, responsive to the control module unlocking the vehicle door, moves the handle portion from the recessed position to the deployed position. With the handle portion in the deployed position and the vehicle door unlocked, the handle portion is graspable by the user to open the vehicle door.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2023
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Inventor: Ryan Herman
  • Publication number: 20230227003
    Abstract: A system and method for vehicle access system for a motor vehicle that has a closure panel for facilitating access to the motor vehicle by a user of the motor vehicle are provided. The system includes two or more sensors for detecting at least one approach characteristic of the user. The system also includes an actuator unit for moving the closure panel. A controller is connected to the two or more sensors and is connected to the actuator unit. The controller is adapted to determine a confidence level representative of an intent of the user approaching the motor vehicle to access the motor vehicle based on the at least one approach characteristic of the user. The controller controls the actuator unit based on the confidence level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2023
    Publication date: July 20, 2023
    Inventors: Ryan Herman, James J. Ferri
  • Publication number: 20230167666
    Abstract: A system for releasably securing a linear actuator assembly to a vehicle closure panel comprising the linear actuator assembly coupled at one end to a door frame by a first pivot connection and coupled at a second end to a vehicle body by a second pivot connection, the actuator assembly having an extensible member configured for extension and retraction in order to facilitate opening and closing of the closure panel with respect to the vehicle body; and at least one of the pivot connections having an actuator connector connected to the extensible member and a body connector connected to either the vehicle body or the door frame, such that when in a coupled state a connection element secures the body connector to the actuator connector; and a disconnection mechanism for removing the connection element from the connectors in response to a detection of a damage event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2022
    Publication date: June 1, 2023
    Inventor: Ryan HERMAN
  • Publication number: 20220243521
    Abstract: A power closure member actuation system for moving a vehicle closure member between an open position and a closed position includes an actuator and a user movement sensor configured to sense a motion input from a user on the closure member to move the closure member. A user interface is configured to detect a user interface input to modify at least one stored motion control parameter associated with the movement of the closure member. A controller is configured to modify the at least one stored motion control parameter in response to detecting the user interface input. The controller detects the motion input and in response generates a force command using the at least one stored motion control parameter. The controller then commands movement of the closure member receiving the force command to vary an actuator output force acting on the closure member to move the closure member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2020
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Inventors: Ryan HERMAN, Hesam AKBARIAN
  • Publication number: 20220235599
    Abstract: A non-contact obstacle detection (NCOD) system for a motor vehicle and a method of operating the non-contact obstacle detection system are disclosed. The NCOD system includes a main electronic control unit adapted to connect to a power source. At least one non-contact obstacle sensor is coupled to the main electronic control unit for detecting obstacles near a closure member of the vehicle. The control unit is configured to detect movement of the closure member, detect no obstacle using the at least one non-contact obstacle sensor, and alter movement of the closure member in response to no obstacle being detected while movement of the closure member is detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2022
    Publication date: July 28, 2022
    Inventors: Hesam AKBARIAN, Ryan HERMAN, Samuel R. BARUCO, Gabriele Wayne SABATINI, J.R. Scott MITCHELL, Kurt M. SCHATZ
  • Patent number: 11368570
    Abstract: A multi-call management system for allowing a user to interact with multiple calls by providing the user with multiple options for managing the calls, both inbound calls and outbound calls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Inventors: Erik Gall, Ryan Herman, Kaden Gall
  • Patent number: 11313167
    Abstract: A non-contact obstacle detection (NCOD) system for a motor vehicle and a method of operating the non-contact obstacle detection system are disclosed. The NCOD system includes a main electronic control unit adapted to connect to a power source. At least one non-contact obstacle sensor is coupled to the main electronic control unit for detecting obstacles near a closure member of the vehicle. The control unit is configured to detect movement of the closure member, detect no obstacle using the at least one non-contact obstacle sensor, and alter movement of the closure member in response to no obstacle being detected while movement of the closure member is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: MAGNA CLOSURES INC.
    Inventors: Hesam Akbarian, Ryan Herman, Samuel R. Baruco, Gabriele Wayne Sabatini, J.R. Scott Mitchell, Kurt M. Schatz
  • Publication number: 20200018111
    Abstract: A non-contact obstacle detection (NCOD) system for a motor vehicle and a method of operating the non-contact obstacle detection system are disclosed. The NCOD system includes a main electronic control unit adapted to connect to a power source. At least one non-contact obstacle sensor is coupled to the main electronic control unit for detecting obstacles near a closure member of the vehicle. The control unit is configured to detect movement of the closure member, detect no obstacle using the at least one non-contact obstacle sensor, and alter movement of the closure member in response to no obstacle being detected while movement of the closure member is detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2019
    Publication date: January 16, 2020
    Inventors: Hesam Akbarian, Ryan Herman, Samuel R. Baruco, Gabriele Wayne Sabatini, J.R. Scott Mitchell, Kurt M. Schatz
  • Patent number: 8096389
    Abstract: The present application discloses a cable connector for use in attaching an input cable to an actuator in a vehicle braking system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Ventra Group Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan Herman, Michael Sykes, Peter Revelis