Patents by Inventor Stephen L. Robertson

Stephen L. Robertson 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: 11834096
    Abstract: Systems, apparatus, and methods for steering one or more wheels of a flat-towed vehicle moving in reverse. A system may include a power steering mechanism configured to steer the one or more wheels. The system may further include a connector configured to carry one or more signals from a towing vehicle to the flat-towed vehicle. The system may further include an electronic control unit (ECU) coupled to the power steering mechanism and the connector. The ECU may receive a signal that one or more reverse lights of the towing vehicle are lit or on. The ECU may be configured to actuate the power steering mechanism to steer the one or more wheels to a straight position upon receiving the signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Stephen L. Robertson
  • Patent number: 11724679
    Abstract: A method for controlling the braking of a towed vehicle by a towing vehicle. The method includes receiving, at or by a brake actuator ECU, deceleration data of the towing vehicle and sensing, using a sensor, a longitudinal deceleration of the towed vehicle. The method also includes generating, at or by the brake actuator ECU, a brake signal based on the deceleration data and the longitudinal deceleration, sending the brake signal from the brake actuator ECU to an electric motor of a brake actuator of the towed vehicle, and applying, by the brake actuator, a hydraulic pressure to brakes of the towed vehicle based on the brake signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Stephen L. Robertson
  • Publication number: 20230236593
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to controlling a trailer without the presence of a physical connection. In one embodiment, a method includes in response to receiving a signal to initiate hitchless maneuvering of a trailer separately from a controlling vehicle, acquiring control inputs to maneuver the trailer from an input device within the controlling vehicle. The method includes communicating, from the controlling vehicle to the trailer, the control inputs to maneuver the trailer. The method includes in response to receiving feedback from the trailer indicating the trailer is within a requested position, sending a control signal to stop the trailer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2022
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Inventors: Gregg J. Overfield, Paul Timothy Fanson, Derek S. Caveney, Mehmet Ali Guney, Stephen L. Robertson, Miles J. Johnson
  • Patent number: 11577558
    Abstract: A one-touch control system for operating the controls of a towed vehicle using a towing vehicle. The system includes an electronic control unit integrated into the towed vehicle and configured to receive a selection signal from the towing vehicle and simultaneously control a number of different components based on the selection signal. The components including a switch configured to turn on and off the towed vehicle, a sensor configured to detect whether a passenger is present in the towed vehicle, and an odometer configured to be deactivated when the switch indicates that the towed vehicle is off and the sensor indicates that there are no passengers in the towed vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Stephen L. Robertson
  • Publication number: 20220281522
    Abstract: Systems, apparatus, and methods for steering one or more wheels of a flat-towed vehicle moving in reverse. A system may include a power steering mechanism configured to steer the one or more wheels. The system may further include a connector configured to carry one or more signals from a towing vehicle to the flat-towed vehicle. The system may further include an electronic control unit (ECU) coupled to the power steering mechanism and the connector. The ECU may receive a signal that one or more reverse lights of the towing vehicle are lit or on. The ECU may be configured to actuate the power steering mechanism to steer the one or more wheels to a straight position upon receiving the signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2021
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Inventor: Stephen L. Robertson
  • Publication number: 20210347216
    Abstract: A one-touch control system for operating the controls of a towed vehicle using a towing vehicle. The system includes an electronic control unit integrated into the towed vehicle and configured to receive a selection signal from the towing vehicle and simultaneously control a number of different components based on the selection signal. The components including a switch configured to turn on and off the towed vehicle, a sensor configured to detect whether a passenger is present in the towed vehicle, and an odometer configured to be deactivated when the switch indicates that the towed vehicle is off and the sensor indicates that there are no passengers in the towed vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2020
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Inventor: Stephen L. Robertson
  • Publication number: 20210323519
    Abstract: A method for controlling the braking of a towed vehicle by a towing vehicle. The method includes receiving, at or by a brake actuator ECU, deceleration data of the towing vehicle and sensing, using a sensor, a longitudinal deceleration of the towed vehicle. The method also includes generating, at or by the brake actuator ECU, a brake signal based on the deceleration data and the longitudinal deceleration, sending the brake signal from the brake actuator ECU to an electric motor of a brake actuator of the towed vehicle, and applying, by the brake actuator, a hydraulic pressure to brakes of the towed vehicle based on the brake signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2020
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Inventor: Stephen L. Robertson
  • Patent number: 10991178
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for trailer safety is provided. The method includes: receiving a request to perform a trailer safety check, wherein the request is associated with a vehicle and a trailer; in response to the request, providing a trailer safety checklist, wherein the trailer safety checklist includes a plurality of user-interface elements, and at least one of the user-interface elements corresponds to a light component of the trailer; receiving a first signal indicating that an operator has selected the user-interface element corresponding to the light component of the trailer, wherein the operator is located outside of the vehicle; and in response to the first signal, causing the light component of the trailer corresponding to the selected user-interface element to turn on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Derek A. Thompson, Darin P. Rosekrans, Jeffrey E. Pierfelice, Frankie B. Reed, Stephen L. Robertson, John Charles Rafferty, Clinton John Williams
  • Publication number: 20200327748
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for trailer safety is provided. The method includes: receiving a request to perform a trailer safety check, wherein the request is associated with a vehicle and a trailer; in response to the request, providing a trailer safety checklist, wherein the trailer safety checklist includes a plurality of user-interface elements, and at least one of the user-interface elements corresponds to a light component of the trailer; receiving a first signal indicating that an operator has selected the user-interface element corresponding to the light component of the trailer, wherein the operator is located outside of the vehicle; and in response to the first signal, causing the light component of the trailer corresponding to the selected user-interface element to turn on.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Inventors: Derek A. Thompson, Darin P. Rosekrans, Jeffrey E. Pierfelice, Frankie B. Reed, Stephen L. Robertson, John Charles Rafferty, Clinton John Williams
  • Patent number: 10131330
    Abstract: Systems, vehicles, and methods for controlling an application of a plurality of trailer brakes are disclosed. A system for controlling an application of a plurality of trailer brakes includes a processor, a memory module communicatively coupled to the processor, a trailer brake output circuit operatively coupled to the plurality of trailer brakes and communicatively coupled to the processor, a cornering attitude input communicatively coupled to the processor, and machine readable instructions stored in the memory module. When executed by the processor, the machine readable instructions cause the system to receive a cornering attitude signal from the cornering attitude input, determine when an understeer cornering attitude exists based on the received cornering attitude signal, and prevent the application of the plurality of trailer brakes by the trailer brake output circuit when the understeer cornering attitude is determined to exist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Stephen L. Robertson
  • Patent number: 7540195
    Abstract: An electro-shaker vehicle test stand for vehicle evaluation includes a support frame, an electro-shaker mechanism and an interconnecting lever arm. The lever arm has an adjustable length. The test stand includes a spring table having a spring table plate and a spring table frame that is parallel to and spaced a predetermined distance below the spring table plate, a guide rod having a lower end attached to the spring table frame and an upper end attached to the spring table plate and a spring having an upper end attached to the frame and a lower end attached to the spring table frame. Activation of the electro-shaker mechanism induces an oscillatory movement of the spring in a vertical direction so that the spring table and vehicle are correspondingly displaced in a vertical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott J. Nelsen, Stephen L. Robertson, Graham J. Fotheringham, George J. Vankaam
  • Patent number: 7528222
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for reducing fouling in an apparatus and process for separating polyolefin from a slurry in a slurry polymerization reactor system comprising contacting in a reactor at a pressure of at least 2000 kPa a catalyst composition and ?-olefin monomers to form a polyolefin reaction mixture; transferring the polyolefin reaction mixture to a high pressure separator, wherein the pressure in the high pressure separator is within the range of from 200 to 2500 kPa; and contacting the polyolefin reaction mixture with an organic amine prior to its entering the high pressure separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Shiaw T. Ju, Stephen L. Robertson
  • Publication number: 20080078250
    Abstract: An electro-shaker vehicle test stand for vehicle evaluation includes a support frame, an electro-shaker mechanism and an interconnecting lever arm. The lever arm has an adjustable length. The test stand includes a spring table having a spring table plate and a spring table frame that is parallel to and spaced a predetermined distance below the spring table plate, a guide rod having a lower end attached to the spring table frame and an upper end attached to the spring table plate and a spring having an upper end attached to the frame and a lower end attached to the spring table frame. Activation of the electro-shaker mechanism induces an oscillatory movement of the spring in a vertical direction so that the spring table and vehicle are correspondingly displaced in a vertical direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2006
    Publication date: April 3, 2008
    Applicant: Toyota Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott J. Nelsen, Stephen L. Robertson, Graham J. Fotheringham, George J. Vankaam