Patents by Inventor Scott R. Hotz

Scott R. Hotz 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: 20230322226
    Abstract: Vehicle controller circuitry for a subject vehicle. The vehicle controller circuitry includes vehicle constraint determination circuitry to determine vehicle constraints including predicted values for vehicle speed of at least one other vehicle and predicted values of for vehicle position of the at least one other vehicle relative to the subject vehicle, wherein the vehicle constraints are determined at predetermined time steps (k) over a time horizon (Th). The vehicle controller circuitry also includes traffic signal constraint determination circuitry to determine, within a distance horizon (Dh) from the subject vehicle, traffic signal constraints including a green signal state of at least one traffic signal, a distance to the at least one traffic signal relative to the subject vehicle, and a time remaining in the green signal state of the at least one traffic signal; wherein the traffic signal constraints are determined at the predetermined time steps (k) over the time horizon (Th).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2023
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Inventors: Jayant V. SARLASHKAR, Sankar B. RENGARAJAN, Scott R. HOTZ, Stanislav A. GANKOV
  • Patent number: 11654913
    Abstract: Vehicle controller circuitry for a subject vehicle to determine vehicle constraints including predicted values for vehicle speed of at least one other vehicle and predicted values of for vehicle position of the at least one other vehicle relative to the subject vehicle, wherein the vehicle constraints are determined at predetermined time steps (k) over a time horizon (Th).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Jayant V. Sarlashkar, Sankar B. Rengarajan, Scott R. Hotz, Stanislav A. Gankov
  • Publication number: 20220281455
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides vehicle controller circuitry for a subject vehicle. The vehicle controller circuitry includes vehicle constraint determination circuitry to determine vehicle constraints including predicted values for vehicle speed of at least one other vehicle and predicted values of for vehicle position of the at least one other vehicle relative to the subject vehicle, wherein the vehicle constraints are determined at predetermined time steps (k) over a time horizon (Th).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2021
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Inventors: Jayant V. SARLASHKAR, Sankar B. RENGARAJAN, Scott R. HOTZ, Stanislav A. GANKOV
  • Patent number: 10801464
    Abstract: A system and method for generating microwaves for microwave enhanced combustion (MEC) input to an MEC antenna of an internal combustion engine. The system uses a microwave generator and a directional coupler, which delivers the MEC input signal to the MEC antenna and receives a reflected signal from the MEC antenna. A feedback path determines a desired frequency for the MEC input signal, based on the reflected signal, and also determines a power feedback correction value. An open loop path determines desired power and timing for the MEC input signal, based on various engine conditions. The desired power is corrected with the power feedback correction value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventors: Yilun Luo, Scott R. Hotz, Terrence F. Alger, Robert T. Coppersmith, III
  • Patent number: 10781786
    Abstract: A system and method for generating microwaves for microwave enhanced combustion (MEC) input to an MEC antenna of an internal combustion engine. The system uses a directional coupler to deliver the MEC input signal to the MEC antenna and to receive a reflected power signal from the MEC antenna. A feedback path determines a desired frequency, based on the reflected power and using an impedance-matching controller that matches the reflected power to a desired frequency value. Additional inputs, such as various engine conditions, can also be used to determine the desired frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventors: Terrence F. Alger, II, Yilun Luo, Scott R. Hotz, Ronnie E. Randolph
  • Publication number: 20200132037
    Abstract: A system and method for generating microwaves for microwave enhanced combustion (MEC) input to an MEC antenna of an internal combustion engine. The system uses a microwave generator and a directional coupler, which delivers the MEC input signal to the MEC antenna and receives a reflected signal from the MEC antenna. A feedback path determines a desired frequency for the MEC input signal, based on the reflected signal, and also determines a power feedback correction value. An open loop path determines desired power and timing for the MEC input signal, based on various engine conditions. The desired power is corrected with the power feedback correction value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2018
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Inventors: Yilun Luo, Scott R. Hotz, Terrence F. Alger, Robert T. Coppersmith, III
  • Publication number: 20200124018
    Abstract: A system and method for generating microwaves for microwave enhanced combustion (MEC) input to an MEC antenna of an internal combustion engine. The system uses a directional coupler to deliver the MEC input signal to the MEC antenna and to receive a reflected power signal from the MEC antenna. A feedback path determines a desired frequency, based on the reflected power and using an impedance-matching controller that matches the reflected power to a desired frequency value. Additional inputs, such as various engine conditions, can also be used to determine the desired frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Inventors: Terrence F. Alger, II, Yilun Luo, Scott R. Hotz, Ronnie E. Randolph
  • Patent number: 10465618
    Abstract: A system and method for generating microwaves for microwave enhanced combustion (MEC) input to an MEC antenna of an internal combustion engine. The system uses a directional coupler to deliver the MEC input signal to the MEC antenna and to receive a reflected power signal from the MEC antenna. A first feedback path determines a desired frequency, based on the reflected power and using an impedance-matching controller that matches the reflected power to a desired frequency value. A second feedback path determines a power correction term. An open loop path determines a feedforward power term, as well as timing, for the MEC input signal, based on various engine conditions. The feedforward power term is corrected with the power correction term.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventors: Yilun Luo, Scott R. Hotz, Terrence F. Alger, Christopher J. Chadwell