Patents by Inventor Thomas Salmon

Thomas Salmon 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: 10836366
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed for automatic calibration of electronic trailer brake gain. An example apparatus includes a trailer brake gain calibration module programmed to compare a calculated trailer brake torque to at least one of a first or second threshold, adjust a gain value based upon satisfaction of at least one of the first or second threshold, and apply a pressure to a trailer brake based on the gain value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alex James, Thomas Salmon, Donald A. Perlick, Bang Kim Cao
  • Patent number: 10625750
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to extricate a vehicle from a stuck condition, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed. An example apparatus includes: a user interface to receive a command to place a vehicle in an autonomous control mode of the vehicle; and a stuck mode controller to autonomously shift a transmission of the vehicle alternately between a reverse gear and a forward gear of the vehicle when in the autonomous control mode to autonomously rock the vehicle back and forth. A timing of the shifting of the transmission is based on a ratio of a velocity of the vehicle to an acceleration of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Alex James, Donald A. Perlick, Thomas Salmon, Bang Kim Cao
  • Publication number: 20190366989
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed for automatic calibration of electronic trailer brake gain. An example apparatus includes a trailer brake gain calibration module programmed to compare a calculated trailer brake torque to at least one of a first or second threshold, adjust a gain value based upon satisfaction of at least one of the first or second threshold, and apply a pressure to a trailer brake based on the gain value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Inventors: Alex James, Thomas Salmon, Donald A. Perlick, Bang Kim Cao
  • Patent number: 10495161
    Abstract: Example methods and apparatus to perform brake sweeping procedures on vehicle brakes are described herein. An example apparatus includes a controller to determine when a vehicle has made a turn, compare an angle at which the vehicle has turned to an angle threshold, and schedule a brake sweeping procedure based on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Salmon, Alex James, Bang Kim Cao, Donald A. Perlick
  • Publication number: 20190283767
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to extricate a vehicle from a stuck condition, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed. An example apparatus includes: a user interface to receive a command to place a vehicle in an autonomous control mode of the vehicle; and a stuck mode controller to autonomously shift a transmission of the vehicle alternately between a reverse gear and a forward gear of the vehicle when in the autonomous control mode to autonomously rock the vehicle back and forth. A timing of the shifting of the transmission is based on a ratio of a velocity of the vehicle to an acceleration of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventors: Alex James, Donald A. Perlick, Thomas Salmon, Bang Kim Cao
  • Patent number: 10358141
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to extricate a vehicle from a stuck condition, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed. An example method includes receiving a command to place a vehicle in a stuck mode. The stuck mode corresponds to an autonomous control mode of the vehicle. The method further includes autonomously controlling the vehicle in the stuck mode to attempt to extricate the vehicle from a stuck condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Alex James, Donald A. Perlick, Thomas Salmon, Bang Kim Cao
  • Publication number: 20180229698
    Abstract: Example methods and apparatus to perform brake sweeping procedures on vehicle brakes are described herein. An example apparatus includes a controller to determine when a vehicle has made a turn, compare an angle at which the vehicle has turned to an angle threshold, and schedule a brake sweeping procedure based on the comparison.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2017
    Publication date: August 16, 2018
    Inventors: Thomas Salmon, Alex James, Bang Kim Cao, Donald A. Perlick
  • Publication number: 20180111625
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to extricate a vehicle from a stuck condition, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed. An example method includes receiving a command to place a vehicle in a stuck mode. The stuck mode corresponds to an autonomous control mode of the vehicle. The method further includes autonomously controlling the vehicle in the stuck mode to attempt to extricate the vehicle from a stuck condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2016
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Inventors: Alex James, Donald A. Perlick, Thomas Salmon, Bang Kim Cao
  • Patent number: 9321440
    Abstract: A vehicle comprises a speed-sensing device outputting a signal indicating a velocity of the vehicle, a brake system outputting a signal for indicating when the brake system is being commanded to a brake torque providing state, and a trailer brake controller coupled to the speed-sensing device and the brake system. The trailer brake controller utilizes the signal of the speed-sensing device to determine when the vehicle is in a zero-velocity state and utilizes the signal of the brake system to determine when the brake system is being commanded to the brake torque providing state. The trailer brake controller transitions a brake-actuating output signal thereof from a speed-dependent zero-velocity output signal value to a trailer hold zero-velocity output signal value greater than the speed-dependent zero-velocity output signal value when it is determined that the brake system is in the brake torque providing state while the vehicle is in the zero-velocity state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies
    Inventors: Donald A. Perlick, Anthony Joseph Rendi, Thomas Salmon, Jerry Alex James
  • Patent number: 9315183
    Abstract: A method for brake pressure apply in a hydraulic brake system includes commanding a cage clearance reduction phase and commanding a wheel control phase subsequent to the cage clearance reduction phase. Accordingly, the cage clearance is reduced prior to entering the wheel control phase. A method for cage clearance reduction in a hydraulic brake system for roll stability control is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies
    Inventors: Erick Michael Lavoie, Thomas Salmon, Keith Glenn Mattson
  • Patent number: 9037341
    Abstract: A method and system for displaying a traction control ON/OFF menu at a display module in a vehicle upon detection of vehicle characteristics and conditions that may warrant a driver's desire to manually disable the traction control feature. The method and system verify traction control is enabled on the vehicle, verify the traction control ON/OFF menu is not already being displayed at a display module, a controller receives at least one signal indicating an occasion that may warrant manual deactivation of traction control and the controller initiates displaying the traction control ON/OFF menu for the convenience of the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Inventors: Jerry Alex James, Donald A. Perlick, Thomas Salmon, Bang Kim Cao, Anthony Joseph Rendi
  • Patent number: 8775048
    Abstract: The method for controlling a safety system (102-108) of a vehicle (10) determines a reference velocity from a first front wheel sensor (20A) and a second front wheel speed signal from a second front wheel sensor (20B). An axle speed sensor (20C) may be used to determine an axle speed signal. A first rear speed signal and a second rear speed signal are determined from the reference velocity, a slip effect and a yaw signal. The yaw signal may be determined from a yaw rate sensor (28). Safety system (102-108) may be controlled in response to the first rear wheel speed signal and the second rear wheel speed signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Techologies
    Inventors: Michael Edward Brewer, Todd Allen Brown, Thomas Salmon
  • Publication number: 20140067223
    Abstract: A method for brake pressure apply in a hydraulic brake system includes commanding a cage clearance reduction phase and commanding a wheel control phase subsequent to the cage clearance reduction phase. Accordingly, the cage clearance is reduced prior to entering the wheel control phase. A method for cage clearance reduction in a hydraulic brake system for roll stability control is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies
    Inventors: Erick Michael Lavoie, Thomas Salmon, Keith Glenn Mattson
  • Patent number: 8602508
    Abstract: A method for brake pressure apply in a hydraulic brake system includes commanding a cage clearance reduction phase and commanding a wheel control phase subsequent to the cage clearance reduction phase. Accordingly, the cage clearance is reduced prior to entering the wheel control phase. A method for cage clearance reduction in a hydraulic brake system for roll stability control is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies
    Inventors: Erick Lavoie, Thomas Salmon, Keith Mattson
  • Publication number: 20130325255
    Abstract: A method and system for displaying a traction control ON/OFF menu at a display module in a vehicle upon detection of vehicle characteristics and conditions that may warrant a driver's desire to manually disable the traction control feature. The method and system verify traction control is enabled on the vehicle, verify the traction control ON/OFF menu is not already being displayed at a display module, a controller receives at least one signal indicating an occasion that may warrant manual deactivation of traction control and the controller initiates displaying the traction control ON/OFF menu for the convenience of the driver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Inventors: Jerry Alex James, Donald A. Perlick, Thomas Salmon, Bang Kim Cao, Anthony Joseph Rendi
  • Publication number: 20130124058
    Abstract: A vehicle comprises a speed-sensing device outputting a signal indicating a velocity of the vehicle, a brake system outputting a signal for indicating when the brake system is being commanded to a brake torque providing state, and a trailer brake controller coupled to the speed-sensing device and the brake system. The trailer brake controller utilizes the signal of the speed-sensing device to determine when the vehicle is in a zero-velocity state and utilizes the signal of the brake system to determine when the brake system is being commanded to the brake torque providing state. The trailer brake controller transitions a brake-actuating output signal thereof from a speed-dependent zero-velocity output signal value to a trailer hold zero-velocity output signal value greater than the speed-dependent zero-velocity output signal value when it is determined that the brake system is in the brake torque providing state while the vehicle is in the zero-velocity state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Inventors: Donald A. Perlick, Anthony Joseph Rendi, Thomas Salmon, Jerry Alex James
  • Patent number: 8364365
    Abstract: The method for controlling a safety system (102-108) of a vehicle (10) determines a reference velocity from a first front wheel sensor (20A) and a second front wheel speed signal from a second front wheel sensor (20B). An axle speed sensor (20C) may be used to determine an axle speed signal. A first rear speed signal and a second rear speed signal are determined from the reference velocity, a slip effect and a yaw signal. The yaw signal may be determined from a yaw rate sensor (28). Safety system (102-108) may be controlled in response to the first rear wheel speed signal and the second rear wheel speed signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies
    Inventors: Michael Brewer, Todd Brown, Thomas Salmon
  • Publication number: 20080166512
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a wide tape and dispenser associated therewith. In one embodiment, a wide duct tape comprises a backing layer having a scrim disposed therein, and an adhesive layer disposed on a surface of the backing layer; wherein the wide duct tape has a width between about 8 inches and about 12 inches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2008
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Inventors: THOMAS SALMON, Jerry Serra
  • Publication number: 20080001477
    Abstract: A method for brake pressure apply in a hydraulic brake system includes commanding a cage clearance reduction phase and commanding a wheel control phase subsequent to the cage clearance reduction phase. Accordingly, the cage clearance is reduced prior to entering the wheel control phase. A method for cage clearance reduction in a hydraulic brake system for roll stability control is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Publication date: January 3, 2008
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Erick Lavoie, Thomas A. Salmon, Keith Mattson
  • Publication number: 20060201631
    Abstract: A wide roll tape and dispenser is disclosed. The roll of tape comprises a wide adhesive tape, such as duct tape, and a dispensing apparatus that includes at least a first and second axis portions and cutter means for providing a tearing or cutting of the rolled tape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2005
    Publication date: September 14, 2006
    Inventors: Thomas Salmon, Jerry Serra