Patents by Inventor Stephen Varghese Samuel
Stephen Varghese Samuel 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).
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Publication number: 20140148992Abstract: A system and method for outputting outside air temperature information and signaling apparatus configured for outputting powertrain operating information, the system comprising instructions causing the at least one data processing device to determine a first instance of signal strength calibration for the ultrasonic sensor based on a last known instance of outside air temperature and a first instance of powertrain operating information, instructions causing the at least one data processing device to determine a vehicle operating condition requiring alteration of the signal strength calibration for the ultrasonic sensor, instructions for altering the signal strength calibration for the ultrasonic sensor and instructions for altering an outside air temperature to be displayed to a driver of the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 30, 2014Publication date: May 29, 2014Applicant: Ford Global TechnologiesInventors: Aric David Shaffer, Vernon Richard Stempnik, Michael David Kane, Stephen Varghese Samuel, Wangdong Luo, Wilford Trent Yopp
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Patent number: 8738264Abstract: An automotive vehicle braking system and method for controlling the same. The system includes an electronic controller communicatively coupled to a vehicle braking system and a vehicle motion detection device. The braking system is configured to be automatically activated in response to detection of an object in a path of the vehicle. Once activated, the braking system is deactivated either by the driver or a pre-determined time period after detection that motion of the vehicle has stopped. Prior to deactivation of the vehicle braking system an HMI message is activated indicating imminent deactivation of the vehicle braking system.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2013Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Wilford Trent Yopp, Wangdong Luo, Stephen Varghese Samuel
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Patent number: 8682523Abstract: A first sensor outputs a signal characterizing a temperature of air being inducted by an engine of a vehicle. A second sensor outputs a signal characterizing a temperature of air surrounding an occupant cabin of the vehicle. A third sensor outputs a signal indicating presence of an adjacent object. A signal processing unit determines a distance between the third sensor and the adjacent object in accordance with a signal strength calibration as a function of the third sensor signal. The signal strength calibration is specified as a function of the first sensor signal when a first vehicle speed condition is met. The signal strength calibration is specified as a function of the second sensor signal when a second vehicle speed condition is met. The signal strength calibration is specified as a function of first sensor signal and the second sensor signal when a third vehicle speed condition is met.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2012Date of Patent: March 25, 2014Assignee: Ford Global TechnologiesInventors: Wilford Trent Yopp, Wangdong Luo, Stephen Varghese Samuel
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Patent number: 8676438Abstract: Temperature compensation for ultrasonic sensors can have a significant error that is highly undesirable because temperature of ultrasonic sensors and the temperature of the medium through which they sense objects affect signal strength calibrations (e.g., echo thresholds) applied when detecting an object. In order to increase the detection capabilities and reported distance of an object, ultrasonic sensors need to adjust their detection criteria and distance calculations as the temperature of air surrounding a vehicle (i.e., outside air temperature) changes and also as the temperature of the sensor changes. Embodiments of the inventive subject matter provide for a simple, effective and consistent approach for determining a temperature upon which such detection criteria and distance calculation adjustments can be based.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2012Date of Patent: March 18, 2014Assignee: Ford Global TechnologiesInventors: Wilford Trent Yopp, Wangdong Luo, Stephen Varghese Samuel, Aric David Shaffer, Vern Stempnik, Michael David Kane
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Publication number: 20140039755Abstract: A first sensor outputs a signal characterizing a temperature of air being inducted by an engine of a vehicle. A second sensor outputs a signal characterizing a temperature of air surrounding an occupant cabin of the vehicle. A third sensor outputs a signal indicating presence of an adjacent object. A signal processing unit determines a distance between the third sensor and the adjacent object in accordance with a signal strength calibration as a function of the third sensor signal. The signal strength calibration is specified as a function of the first sensor signal when a first vehicle speed condition is met. The signal strength calibration is specified as a function of the second sensor signal when a second vehicle speed condition is met. The signal strength calibration is specified as a function of first sensor signal and the second sensor signal when a third vehicle speed condition is met.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2012Publication date: February 6, 2014Inventors: Wilford Trent Yopp, Wangdong Luo, Stephen Varghese Samuel
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Publication number: 20140039750Abstract: Temperature compensation for ultrasonic sensors can have a significant error that is highly undesirable because temperature of ultrasonic sensors and the temperature of the medium through which they sense objects affect signal strength calibrations (e.g., echo thresholds) applied when detecting an object. In order to increase the detection capabilities and reported distance of an object, ultrasonic sensors need to adjust their detection criteria and distance calculations as the temperature of air surrounding a vehicle (i.e., outside air temperature) changes and also as the temperature of the sensor changes. Embodiments of the inventive subject matter provide for a simple, effective and consistent approach for determining a temperature upon which such detection criteria and distance calculation adjustments can be based.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 1, 2012Publication date: February 6, 2014Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Wilford Trent Yopp, Wangdong Luo, Stephen Varghese Samuel, Aric David Shaffer, Vern Stempnik, Michael David Kane
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Publication number: 20100114467Abstract: A system and method are provided to determine the collision status of a nearby vehicle or vehicles. If a nearby vehicle has been in a collision, responsive systems may be triggered automatically. Responses may include warning the driver of the host vehicle and/or warning drivers of other vehicles or centralized networks by, among other methods, V2V or V2I communications. Responses may also include automatically triggering countermeasures in the host vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 6, 2008Publication date: May 6, 2010Inventors: Stephen Varghese Samuel, Christopher Scott Nave, Wilford Trent Yopp, Roger Arnold Trombley
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Publication number: 20100114418Abstract: A system and method are provided to determine the side-impact collision status of a nearby vehicle or vehicles. If a nearby vehicle has been in a collision, responsive systems may be triggered automatically. Responses may include warning the driver of the host vehicle and/or warning drivers of other vehicles or centralized networks by, among other methods, V2V or V2I communications. Responses may also include automatically triggering countermeasures in the host vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 6, 2008Publication date: May 6, 2010Inventors: Stephen Varghese Samuel, Christopher Scott Nave, Wilford Trent Yopp, Roger Arnold Trombley
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Patent number: 7085639Abstract: A control system (18) for an automotive vehicle (10) having a vehicle body has a roll angular rate sensor (34) generating a roll angular rate signal corresponding to an roll angular motion of the vehicle body. A controller (26) is coupled to roll rate sensor and a plurality of sensors. The controller (26) generates a linear road bank angle, first reference bank angle and a relative roll angle in response to the roll angle generator and the plurality of sensor signals. The controller (26) determines a first reference bank angle and generates a second reference bank angle in response to linear bank angle and a first reference bank angle, a bank angle adjustment factor. The bank angle adjustment is a function of a relative roll angle estimate. The controller (26) controls the safety system in response to the second reference bank angle estimate.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2003Date of Patent: August 1, 2006Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Jianbo Lu, Stephen Varghese Samuel, Todd Allen Brown
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Patent number: 7085642Abstract: A control system (18) for an automotive vehicle (19) having a vehicle body includes a cluster (16) of vehicle dynamic sensors (27, 28, 30, 31), the output signals from the sensors (Yaw Rate Sensor, Roll Rate Sensor, Longitudinal Acceleration Sensor, Lateral Acceleration Sensor) are corrected for errors by removing the zero output DC bias. Such bias constitutes an error that may occur as a result of temperature changes, manufacturing defects, or other factors. The system (18) also compensates for the drift in the sensor output signals that occur during vehicle operation.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2003Date of Patent: August 1, 2006Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Stephen Varghese Samuel, Todd Allen Brown
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Publication number: 20040030475Abstract: A control system (18) for an automotive vehicle (10) having a vehicle body has a roll angular rate sensor (34) generating a roll angular rate signal corresponding to an roll angular motion of the vehicle body. A controller (26) is coupled to roll rate sensor and a plurality of sensors. The controller (26) generates a linear road bank angle, first reference bank angle and a relative roll angle in response to the roll angle generator and the plurality of sensor signals. The controller (26) determines a first reference bank angle and generates a second reference bank angle in response to linear bank angle and a first reference bank angle, a bank angle adjustment factor. The bank angle adjustment is a function of a relative roll angle estimate. The controller (26) controls the safety system in response to the second reference bank angle estimate.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2003Publication date: February 12, 2004Inventors: Jianbo Lu, Stephen Varghese Samuel, Todd Allen Brown