Patents by Inventor Steven J. Szwabowski
Steven J. Szwabowski 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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Patent number: 11458784Abstract: Methods, Apparatus, and Articles of Manufacture are disclosed for determining a tread depth status of a tire of a vehicle, including an accelerometer interface to access acceleration data from an accelerometer associated with the tire, the acceleration data including first acceleration data indicative of acceleration in a first direction, second acceleration data indicative of acceleration in a second direction, and third acceleration data indicative of acceleration in a third direction, and a data segmenter to segment the first acceleration data into a first data segment, the second acceleration data into a second data segment, and the third acceleration data into a third data segment based on at least one of an acceleration cycle or a common time interval.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2020Date of Patent: October 4, 2022Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Xun Tang, Pankaj Kumar, Hassene Jammoussi, Steven J. Szwabowski, Imad Hassan Makki
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Patent number: 11148663Abstract: A computer includes a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to assign each of a plurality of targets to a classification based on respective motions of the targets at an initiation of a turn by a host vehicle, determine a distance threshold for each target associated with the classification, and perform a threat assessment on each of the plurality of targets having a respective distance from the host vehicle that is below a distance threshold and a respective time to collision below a time threshold.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2019Date of Patent: October 19, 2021Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Christopher Pontisakos, Yuhao Liu, Steven J. Szwabowski, Alex Maurice Miller
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Publication number: 20210300133Abstract: Methods, Apparatus, and Articles of Manufacture are disclosed for determining a tread depth status of a tire of a vehicle, including an accelerometer interface to access acceleration data from an accelerometer associated with the tire, the acceleration data including first acceleration data indicative of acceleration in a first direction, second acceleration data indicative of acceleration in a second direction, and third acceleration data indicative of acceleration in a third direction, and a data segmenter to segment the first acceleration data into a first data segment, the second acceleration data into a second data segment, and the third acceleration data into a third data segment based on at least one of an acceleration cycle or a common time interval.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 25, 2020Publication date: September 30, 2021Inventors: Xun Tang, Pankaj Kumar, Hassene Jammoussi, Steven J. Szwabowski, Imad Hassan Makki
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Patent number: 11014448Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for cruise control velocity tracking. In one example, the method or system may generate a torque command output via a velocity controller that allows for an error within bounds to reduce a fuel consumption amount, the torque command output selected from outcomes of a leader and follower game.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2018Date of Patent: May 25, 2021Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Shankar Narayan Mohan, John Ottavio Michelini, Steven J. Szwabowski
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Publication number: 20210101588Abstract: A computer includes a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to assign each of a plurality of targets to a classification based on respective motions of the targets at an initiation of a turn by a host vehicle, determine a distance threshold for each target associated with the classification, and perform a threat assessment on each of the plurality of targets having a respective distance from the host vehicle that is below a distance threshold and a respective time to collision below a time threshold.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 2, 2019Publication date: April 8, 2021Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Christopher Pontisakos, Yuhao Liu, Steven J. Szwabowski, Alex Maurice Miller
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Publication number: 20200164745Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for cruise control velocity tracking. In one example, the method or system may generate a torque command output via a velocity controller that allows for an error within bounds to reduce a fuel consumption amount, the torque command output selected from outcomes of a leader and follower game.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 27, 2018Publication date: May 28, 2020Inventors: Shankar Narayan Mohan, John Ottavio Michelini, Steven J. Szwabowski
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Patent number: 9200702Abstract: An individual driving value is set as a function of an accelerator pedal position. In turn, a powertrain characteristic is set as a function of the individual driving style. The set powertrain characteristic may be modified on the basis of a feedback value corresponding to learned preferences of a driver. The modified powertrain characteristic is then either automatically implemented for operation of a powertrain or communicated as a choice for implementation. The feedback value is updated per a response to automatic implementation or choice communication.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2014Date of Patent: December 1, 2015Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Dimitar P. Feliv, Davorin D. Hrovat, Hong Jiang, Yuji Fujii, Hongtei E. Tseng, Zhengyu Dai, Steven J. Szwabowski, Felix Nedorezov, Christopher J. Teslak, Bradley D. Riedle
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Publication number: 20150316145Abstract: An individual driving value is set as a function of an accelerator pedal position. In turn, a powertrain characteristic is set as a function of the individual driving style. The set powertrain characteristic may be modified on the basis of a feedback value corresponding to learned preferences of a driver. The modified powertrain characteristic is then either automatically implemented for operation of a powertrain or communicated as a choice for implementation. The feedback value is updated per a response to automatic implementation or choice communication.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 1, 2014Publication date: November 5, 2015Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Dimitar P. Feliv, Davorin D. Hrovat, Hong Jiang, Yuji Fujii, Hongtei E. Tseng, Zhengyu Dai, Steven J. Szwabowski, Felix Nedorezov, Christopher J. Teslak, Bradley D. Riedle
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Patent number: 9081651Abstract: Energy consumption of a vehicle is optimized while traveling a route assembled of road segments between a first position and a destination. A speed profile generator is located at least partially off of the vehicle and uses an energy consumption model of the vehicle together with road grade data corresponding to the route to calculate an optimal speed profile. The speed profile specifies target speeds for respective locations on the route for traversing the route with an optimized energy consumption. The speed profile generator compares energy consumption for a plurality of feasible speed profile trajectories between a maximum trajectory and a minimum trajectory in order to identify the optimal speed profile. A speed updater is responsive to a current position of the vehicle and the optimal speed profile to initiate the target speed for the current position.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2013Date of Patent: July 14, 2015Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Dimitar P. Filev, John O. Michelini, Steven J. Szwabowski, Perry R. McNeille, Stefano Di Cairano
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Patent number: 8965597Abstract: Road grade is modeled over a region in which a vehicle is driven on roadways having a grade that varies over a plurality of predetermined grade ranges. A succession of grade values are generated while operating the vehicle at a predetermined rate, wherein each grade value identifies a respective grade range then being encountered. A Markov chain road-grade model is updated in response to the succession of grade values, wherein the model represents respective elements of probability in a matrix of transition events from each predetermined grade range to a respective next-in-succession grade range. Each element of the matrix has a value ?i,j representing a weighted frequency of transition events from a first respective grade value to a second respective grade value divided by a weighted frequency of transition events initiating from the first respective grade value, so that the matrix successively approximates the road grade of the region.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2013Date of Patent: February 24, 2015Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Dimitar P. Filev, John O. Michelini, Steven J. Szwabowski, Diana Yanakiev, Mahmoud Abou-Nasr, I
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Patent number: 8930116Abstract: Vehicle apparatus adjusts a vehicle powertrain of the vehicle in response to a speed setpoint. An optimizer selects a control policy to periodically generate speed adjustments for applying to the speed setpoint to operate at increased efficiency. The control policy is based on a value function providing an optimized solution for a cost model and a transition probability model. The transition probability model corresponds to a driving state defined according to a plurality of dimensions including a time-of-day dimension and a geographic region dimension. The transition probability model and the control policy have inputs based on road grade and speed. The optimizer collects road grade data during routine driving of the vehicle to construct a observed transition probability model and uses divergence between the observed transition probability model and a set of predetermined transition probability models to identify a control policy for use during the routine driving.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2013Date of Patent: January 6, 2015Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC, The Regents of the University of MichiganInventors: Dimitar P. Filev, Ilya Kolmanovsky, Kevin McDonough, Steven J. Szwabowski, John O. Michelini, Diana Yanakiev, Mahmoud Abou-Nasr
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Patent number: 8930115Abstract: Vehicle apparatus includes a speed control for adjusting a vehicle powertrain of the vehicle in response to a speed setpoint. A grade estimator determines a road grade of a roadway where the vehicle is traveling. A traffic density estimator determines a density of traffic traveling on the roadway in the vicinity of the vehicle. An optimizer executes a selected control policy to periodically generate speed adjustments for applying to the speed setpoint to operate the vehicle powertrain at increased efficiency. The control policy is based on a value function providing an optimized solution for a cost model responsive to the determined road grade to generate an initial speed offset. The optimizer reduces the initial speed offset in proportion to the determined traffic density to generate the speed adjustments. The system minimizes negative impacts to overall traffic flow as well as any negative contribution to reduced fuel efficiency of surrounding traffic.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2013Date of Patent: January 6, 2015Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Dimitar P. Filev, John O. Michelini, Steven J. Szwabowski, Diana Yanakiev
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Publication number: 20140277835Abstract: Energy consumption of a vehicle is optimized while traveling a route assembled of road segments between a first position and a destination. A speed profile generator is located at least partially off of the vehicle and uses an energy consumption model of the vehicle together with road grade data corresponding to the route to calculate an optimal speed profile. The speed profile specifies target speeds for respective locations on the route for traversing the route with an optimized energy consumption. The speed profile generator compares energy consumption for a plurality of feasible speed profile trajectories between a maximum trajectory and a minimum trajectory in order to identify the optimal speed profile. A speed updater is responsive to a current position of the vehicle and the optimal speed profile to initiate the target speed for the current position.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2013Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Dimitar P. Filev, John O. Michelini, Steven J. Szwabowski, Perry R. McNeille, Stefano Di Cairano
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Publication number: 20140244129Abstract: Vehicle apparatus includes a speed control for adjusting a vehicle powertrain of the vehicle in response to a speed setpoint. A grade estimator determines a road grade of a roadway where the vehicle is traveling. A traffic density estimator determines a density of traffic traveling on the roadway in the vicinity of the vehicle. An optimizer executes a selected control policy to periodically generate speed adjustments for applying to the speed setpoint to operate the vehicle powertrain at increased efficiency. The control policy is based on a value function providing an optimized solution for a cost model responsive to the determined road grade to generate an initial speed offset. The optimizer reduces the initial speed offset in proportion to the determined traffic density to generate the speed adjustments. The system minimizes negative impacts to overall traffic flow as well as any negative contribution to reduced fuel efficiency of surrounding traffic.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 26, 2013Publication date: August 28, 2014Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Dimitar P. Filev, John O. Michelini, Steven J. Szwabowski, Diana Yanakiev
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Publication number: 20140244067Abstract: Road grade is modeled over a region in which a vehicle is driven on roadways having a grade that varies over a plurality of predetermined grade ranges. A succession of grade values are generated while operating the vehicle at a predetermined rate, wherein each grade value identifies a respective grade range then being encountered. A Markov chain road-grade model is updated in response to the succession of grade values, wherein the model represents respective elements of probability in a matrix of transition events from each predetermined grade range to a respective next-in-succession grade range. Each element of the matrix has a value ?i,j representing a weighted frequency of transition events from a first respective grade value to a second respective grade value divided by a weighted frequency of transition events initiating from the first respective grade value, so that the matrix successively approximates the road grade of the region.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 26, 2013Publication date: August 28, 2014Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Dimitar P. Filev, John O. Michelini, Steven J. Szwabowski, Diana Yanakiev, Mahmoud Abou-Nasr, I
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Publication number: 20140244130Abstract: Vehicle apparatus adjusts a vehicle powertrain of the vehicle in response to a speed setpoint. An optimizer selects a control policy to periodically generate speed adjustments for applying to the speed setpoint to operate at increased efficiency. The control policy is based on a value function providing an optimized solution for a cost model and a transition probability model. The transition probability model corresponds to a driving state defined according to a plurality of dimensions including a time-of-day dimension and a geographic region dimension. The transition probability model and the control policy have inputs based on road grade and speed. The optimizer collects road grade data during routine driving of the vehicle to construct a observed transition probability model and uses divergence between the observed transition probability model and a set of predetermined transition probability models to identify a control policy for use during the routine driving.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 26, 2013Publication date: August 28, 2014Applicants: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Dimitar P. Filev, Ilya Kolmanovsky, Kevin McDonough, Steven J. Szwabowski, John O. Michelini, Diana Yanakiev, Mahmoud Abou-Nasr
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Patent number: 8600614Abstract: A system and method for providing driving support system to a vehicle. The vehicle includes a set of control modules, having at least one operational setting, configured for electronically controlling the vehicle components. The system includes an integrated drive mode selection module having a set of drive modes for modifying the settings for each control module. A sensing system detects at least one condition associated with the driver, vehicle or surroundings. A controller determines an appropriate drive mode for the vehicle based on the condition and the output of a safety module that ensures that the drive mode is safe while driving.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2011Date of Patent: December 3, 2013Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Dimitar Petrov Filev, Greg Stevens, Jianbo Lu, Kwaku O. Prakah-Asante, Ilya Kolmanovsky, Steven J. Szwabowski, Stefano Di Cairano
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Publication number: 20120203424Abstract: A system and method for providing driving support system to a vehicle. The vehicle includes a set of control modules, having at least one operational setting, configured for electronically controlling the vehicle components. The system includes an integrated drive mode selection module having a set of drive modes for modifying the settings for each control module. A sensing system detects at least one condition associated with the driver, vehicle or surroundings. A controller determines an appropriate drive mode for the vehicle based on the condition and the output of a safety module that ensures that the drive mode is safe while driving.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 5, 2011Publication date: August 9, 2012Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: DIMITAR PETROV FILEV, GREG STEVENS, JIANBO LU, KWAKU O. PRAKAH-ASANTE, ILYA KOLMANOVSKY, STEVEN J. SZWABOWSKI, STEFANO DI CAIRANO
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Patent number: 7970528Abstract: A gaseous fuel management system for an automotive vehicle includes at least one gas sensor for detecting the presence of gaseous fuel outside of the confines of the vehicle's fuel storage tank, fuel lines, and prime mover. In the event that fugitive gas is detected and the concentration exceeds a predetermined threshold, the fuel supply to the vehicle's prime mover will be shut off and, if so equipped, the vehicle may then be operated in a battery power mode for the convenience of the driver.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2004Date of Patent: June 28, 2011Assignee: Ford Global TechnologiesInventors: Suriyaprakash Janarthanam, John R. Blankenship, Steven J. Szwabowski, Anthony G. Grabowski, Arun Kumar Jaura, Theodore J. Filippi, Michael Brown, Richard E. Soltis, John R. Grabowski