Patents by Inventor Shane Elwart

Shane Elwart 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: 9827986
    Abstract: Systems and methods for adaptive cruise control based on user defined parameters are disclosed. An example disclosed vehicle includes a GPS receiver configured to provide a location of the vehicle, an adaptive cruise control; and a cruise control adjuster. In the example cruise control adjuster is configured to generate an action when a cruise control event is defined for the location. In the disclosed example the cruise control event is based on past changes to the adaptive cruise control at the location. The example cruise control adjuster is also configured to apply the action to the adaptive cruise control to change how the adaptive cruise control controls the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Edward Pilutti, Shane Elwart, Johannes Geir Kristinsson, David Hamilton
  • Patent number: 9823081
    Abstract: At least one first model represents a person. A request to pick up a passenger includes a first location and a personal identifier for the passenger. A vehicle is caused to navigate to the first location. The passenger is identified by comparing a second model generated from vehicle sensor data with the first model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Crawford, James Robert McBride, Shane Elwart, Schuyler Cohen
  • Patent number: 9824300
    Abstract: A system of one or more computers can be configured to perform particular operations or actions by virtue of having software, firmware, hardware, or a combination of them installed on the system that in operation causes or cause the system to perform the actions. One general aspect includes a system, including a computer having a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor such that the computer is programmed to receive an image of at least one lane marker from an image capture device mounted to a vehicle. The system also identifies a lane transition according to the image. The system can also control at least one of steering, braking, and acceleration of the vehicle according to a history of data concerning the lane transition locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Shane Elwart, Raveen Fernando
  • Publication number: 20170320493
    Abstract: A confidence value is determined for data collected for a lane assist subsystem in a vehicle. A section curvature is identified for a section of a roadway when the confidence value is below a confidence value, threshold. The section curvature includes at least one section start point and at least one section end point. The section curvature is based at least in part on a heading angle, the heading angle defining an angle between a projected line of travel of the vehicle and a line segment from a vehicle position to the section end point. A distance to a lane boundary is predicted based at least in part on the identified section curvature. One or more vehicle subsystems is actuated based at least in part on the predicted distance to the lane boundary.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2016
    Publication date: November 9, 2017
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brett Stephens, Shane Elwart, Joseph Walter Neal
  • Publication number: 20170322040
    Abstract: A method for routing a vehicle includes identifying one or more driving routes between a current location of a vehicle and a destination. The method includes determining a route cost for the one or more driving routes based on lane marking quality of a roadway within a corresponding driving route. The method includes selecting a route of the one or more routes with a lowest route cost. The method includes providing information about the route to a driver or control system for following the route.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2016
    Publication date: November 9, 2017
    Inventors: Brett Stephens, Jonathan Thomas Mullen, Shane Elwart
  • Publication number: 20170322041
    Abstract: A method for routing a vehicle includes determining, based on aggregated drive data from a plurality of sources, route costs for a plurality of potential driving routes for a vehicle based on reliability of an automated driving feature or driver assistance feature. The method includes selecting a route of the one or more potential driving routes based on the route costs. The method includes providing information about the route to a driver, automated driving system, or driver assistance system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2016
    Publication date: November 9, 2017
    Inventors: Brett Stephens, Jonathan Thomas Mullen, Shane Elwart
  • Publication number: 20170282917
    Abstract: Systems and methods for adaptive cruise control based on user defined parameters are disclosed. An example disclosed vehicle includes a GPS receiver configured to provide a location of the vehicle, an adaptive cruise control; and a cruise control adjuster. In the example cruise control adjuster is configured to generate an action when a cruise control event is defined for the location. In the disclosed example the cruise control event is based on past changes to the adaptive cruise control at the location. The example cruise control adjuster is also configured to apply the action to the adaptive cruise control to change how the adaptive cruise control controls the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventors: Thomas Edward Pilutti, Shane Elwart, Johannes Geir Kristinsson, David Hamilton
  • Publication number: 20170268895
    Abstract: A method for providing path attributes to controllers in a vehicle includes determining a location of a vehicle and a future driving path for the vehicle. The method includes determining, based on a drive history for the vehicle or a driver of the vehicle, drive history path attributes for the future driving path. The method also includes providing the drive history path attributes to a plurality of controllers via a controller bus, wherein the drive history path attributes are provided to the plurality of controllers using a common protocol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2016
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Inventors: Scott Vincent Myers, Shane Elwart, David A. Herman
  • Publication number: 20170269605
    Abstract: A method for providing path attributes to controllers in a vehicle includes determining a most probable path for a vehicle. The method includes obtaining attributed predicted path attributes based on a map and obtaining drive history path attributes based on a drive history. The method further includes generating combined path attributes based on the path attributes from the attributed predicted path and the path attributes from the drive history. The method also includes providing the combined path attributes to one or more controllers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2016
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Inventors: Scott Vincent Myers, Shane Elwart, David A Herman
  • Publication number: 20170255843
    Abstract: A system of one or more computers can be configured to perform particular operations or actions by virtue of having software, firmware, hardware, or a combination of them installed on the system that in operation causes or cause the system to perform the actions. One general aspect includes a system, including a computer having a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor such that the computer is programmed to receive an image of at least one lane marker from an image capture device mounted to a vehicle. The system also identifies a lane transition according to the image. The system can also control at least one of steering, braking, and acceleration of the vehicle according to a history of data concerning the lane transition locations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2016
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Shane Elwart, Raveen Fernando
  • Patent number: 9744972
    Abstract: A trailer backup assist system for a vehicle reversing a trailer includes a brake system and a throttle sensor module outputting a throttle application signal. The system further includes a control module estimating a road grade beneath the trailer and outputting a brake torque request to the brake system based on the estimated road grade and the throttle application signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Roger Arnold Trombley, Thomas Edward Pilutti, Nathaniel Abram Rolfes, Shane Elwart
  • Patent number: 9738284
    Abstract: A system of one or more computers having a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor such that the computer is programmed to identify a current state of a vehicle and determine a maximum acceleration capability of the vehicle. The system also determines a desired acceleration profile to follow based at least in part the maximum acceleration capability and controls an acceleration of the vehicle based at least in part the desired acceleration profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Tobias John Pallett, Hui Lin, Scott J. Lauffer, Shane Elwart, Wayne Williams
  • Patent number: 9739226
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, a park assist system, a passenger detection system configured to detect at least one passenger, and a processing device. The processing device initiates a shutdown sequence when no passengers are present in the vehicle. The shutdown sequence includes commanding the park assist system to park the vehicle and turning off the engine after the vehicle is parked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Shane Elwart, Walter Joseph Talamonti
  • Patent number: 9707911
    Abstract: The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for identifying a person as a driver of a vehicle. Aspects include using in-vehicle sensors to increase the accuracy of driver identification initially determined using other mechanisms. As such, at least two different types of sensory devices can be utilized to gather data in an effort to identify the driver. The data gathered from the first sensor (e.g., at a key fob) is processed to identify the driver based on learned characteristic patterns, such as the driver's gait, before the driver enters the vehicle. The data gathered from the second sensor (e.g., in an in-vehicle face or voice recognition system) is processed to confirm the driver. The confirmation is based on biometric data and learned characteristic patterns. Data from the second sensor is provided back to the first sensor to confirm the driver identity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Scott Vincent Myers, Shane Elwart, Walter Joseph Talamonti, Jonathan Thomas Mullen, Zachary David Nelson, Tory Smith, Bibhrajit Halder, Kyu Jeong Han
  • Publication number: 20170158225
    Abstract: A current state of a vehicle is identified. Vehicle path curvature limits are determined. A curvature performance profile to follow is determined based at least in part the vehicle path curvature limits. A direction of the vehicle is controlled based at least in part the curvature performance profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Brown, Scott J. Lauffer, John P. Joyce, Steven R. El Aile, Tobias John Pallett, Shane Elwart, Wayne Williams
  • Publication number: 20170160745
    Abstract: A current state of a vehicle can be identified. At least a minimum acceleration capability of the vehicle is determined. A desired acceleration profile to follow is determined based at least in part on the minimum acceleration capability. An acceleration of the vehicle is controlled based at least in part on the desired acceleration profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Scott J. Lauffer, John P. Joyce, Tobias John Pallett, Andrew Brown, Shane Elwart, Wayne Williams
  • Publication number: 20170158199
    Abstract: A system of one or more computers having a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor such that the computer is programmed to identify a current state of a vehicle and determine a maximum acceleration capability of the vehicle. The system also determines a desired acceleration profile to follow based at least in part the maximum acceleration capability and controls an acceleration of the vehicle based at least in part the desired acceleration profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Tobias John Pallett, Hui Lin, Scott J. Lauffer, Shane Elwart, Wayne Williams
  • Patent number: 9604609
    Abstract: An emergency in-lane steering assist system for use during a braking event comprises an object sensor for detecting the presence of an object in front of a motor vehicle and providing data from which the distance from the object to the motor vehicle is determined and a velocity sensor providing data from which the forward velocity of the motor vehicle is determined. A controller in communication with the object sensor and the velocity sensor calculates a Time to Contact (TTC) with the detected object and a steering system is responsive at least in part to operation by the controller. If the calculated TTC is less than a predetermined TTC, the controller provides a lateral steering input during the braking event to reduce the linear distance traveled by the motor vehicle relative to a predetermined path in the lane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Shane Elwart, Walter Joseph Talamonti, Doug Scott Rhode
  • Patent number: 9530312
    Abstract: A system includes a processor configured to project monitoring needs for a road segment. The processor is further configured to contact one or more vehicles traveling on the road segment during a time of monitoring need. The processor is additionally configured to instruct a first number, determined based on a projected monitoring need, of contacted vehicles to being monitoring and reporting traffic data for the road segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Fling Tseng, Kwaku O. Prakah-Asante, Dimitar Petrov Filev, Shane Elwart, Jianbo Lu
  • Patent number: 9517771
    Abstract: A vehicle operator is identified. Based at least in part on the operator's identity, one or more parameters are determined specifying a mode for autonomously operating the vehicle. The vehicle is autonomously operated at least in part according to the one or more parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Attard, Shane Elwart, Jeff Allen Greenberg, Rajit Johri, John P. Joyce, Devinder Singh Kochhar, Douglas Scott Rhode, John Shutko, Louis Tijerina, Eric Hongtei Tseng, Wilford Trent Yopp