Patents by Inventor Timothy C. BETTGER
Timothy C. BETTGER 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: 20230288932Abstract: A method is provided for the automatic unparking of a motor vehicle, with which a parking trajectory is determined on the basis of directly collected data about the motor vehicle surroundings and additionally on the basis of data relating to the motor vehicle surroundings and obtained during the movement of the motor vehicle to the parking position and stored on a memory device of the motor vehicle. A motor vehicle and a system for carrying out the method will also be provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2022Publication date: September 14, 2023Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Timothy C. Bettger, Thomas Gerlitz, Douglas Blue, Ahmed Benmimoun, Nadja Wysietzki, Lars Kuhnert, Erick Michael Lavoie
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Patent number: 11693398Abstract: Vehicle systems include features for performing remote park assist (RePA) operations. One system include a feature where a user provides a continuous input via a touchscreen on a mobile device. The mobile device transmits a message and a vehicle autonomously traverses a calculated parking path while the message is being received by the vehicle. Another system include a feature where the vehicle autonomously move to a parking space based on data received from the mobile device. The mobile device receives user inputs on a display showing representations of the vehicle and its surrounding areas to generate the data. Another system include a feature where the mobile device determines whether the user is a first time user of a RePA application. The mobile device operates in a certain training mode based on the determination.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2020Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Timothy C. Bettger, Urs Christen, Ahmed Benrnimoun, Nadja Wysietzki
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Patent number: 11680810Abstract: A maximum required electric energy for operating a vehicle along a final section of the route under electric power alone when using a specified number of electrically operated devices is estimated. A maximum total electric energy required to operate the vehicle along the route is estimated. An alternate route is determined based on determining the detected stored electric energy is less than the estimated maximum total electric energy required to operate the vehicle along the route. The alternate route is determined based on an estimated maximum total electric energy required to operate the vehicle along the alternate route being greater than or equal to the detected stored electric energy. One of a) the determined alternate route, or b) based on determining no alternate route exists, a notification is output via a human/machine interface.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2020Date of Patent: June 20, 2023Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Thomas Gerlitz, Timothy C. Bettger
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Publication number: 20220379904Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a motor vehicle (2) with a remotely controlled parking assistant (6), with the steps: (S100) Reading in status data (SD) indicative of a status (S1, S2, S3, S4), (S200) Determination of at least one state (Z1, Z2) by evaluating the status data (SD), (S300) Assigning the specific state (Z1, Z2) to a state class (K1, K2) of a plurality of state classes (K1, K2), and (S400) Outputting a control data record (AS1, AS2) that is assigned to the assigned state class (K1, K2) and/or (S600) outputting an information data record (IS1, IS2) that is assigned to the assigned state class (K1, K2).Type: ApplicationFiled: April 12, 2022Publication date: December 1, 2022Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Thomas Gerlitz, Timothy C. Bettger, Nadja Wysietzki, Ahmed Benmimoun
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Publication number: 20210231448Abstract: An electric energy currently stored in the battery is detected. A target location and a route to the specified target location are specified. Prior to reaching the target location, a final section of the route along which the vehicle operates under electric power alone is specified. A number of electrically operated devices required to operate the vehicle along the final section of the route are specified. A maximum required electric energy for operating the vehicle along the final section of the route under electric power alone when using the specified number of electrically operated devices is estimated. A maximum total electric energy required to operate the vehicle along the route is estimated. An alternate route is determined based on determining the detected stored electric energy is less than the estimated maximum total electric energy required to operate the vehicle along the route.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2020Publication date: July 29, 2021Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Thomas Gerlitz, Timothy C. Bettger
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Patent number: 10732622Abstract: Vehicle systems include features for performing remote park assist (RePA) operations. One system include a feature where a user provides a continuous input via a touchscreen on a mobile device. The mobile device transmits a message and a vehicle autonomously traverses a calculated parking path while the message is being received by the vehicle. Another system include a feature where the vehicle autonomously move to a parking space based on data received from the mobile device. The mobile device receives user inputs on a display showing representations of the vehicle and its surrounding areas to generate the data. Another system include a feature where the mobile device determines whether the user is a first time user of a RePA application. The mobile device operates in a certain training mode based on the determination.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2018Date of Patent: August 4, 2020Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Timothy C. Bettger, Urs Christen, Ahmed Benmimoun, Nadja Wysietzki
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Publication number: 20200225657Abstract: Vehicle systems include features for performing remote park assist (RePA) operations. One system include a feature where a user provides a continuous input via a touchscreen on a mobile device. The mobile device transmits a message and a vehicle autonomously traverses a calculated parking path while the message is being received by the vehicle. Another system include a feature where the vehicle autonomously move to a parking space based on data received from the mobile device. The mobile device receives user inputs on a display showing representations of the vehicle and its surrounding areas to generate the data. Another system include a feature where the mobile device determines whether the user is a first time user of a RePA application. The mobile device operates in a certain training mode based on the determination.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 25, 2020Publication date: July 16, 2020Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Timothy C. Bettger, Urs Christen, Ahmed Benrnimoun, Nadja Wysietzki
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Publication number: 20200108824Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for monitoring and adjustment of vehicle parking positions. An example vehicle includes range-detection sensors, a communication module, and a controller. The controller is to identify a wakeup frequency for the range-detection sensors. The controller also is to, when the vehicle is in a key-off state, temporarily activate the range-detection sensors at the wakeup frequency and determine whether to adjust a parking position based on the range-detection sensors. The controller also is to, responsive to determining to adjust the parking position, send a notification to a user via the communication module.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 4, 2018Publication date: April 9, 2020Inventors: Timothy C. Bettger, Thomas Gerlitz
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Publication number: 20190310624Abstract: Vehicle systems include features for performing remote park assist (RePA) operations. One system include a feature where a user provides a continuous input via a touchscreen on a mobile device. The mobile device transmits a message and a vehicle autonomously traverses a calculated parking path while the message is being received by the vehicle. Another system include a feature where the vehicle autonomously move to a parking space based on data received from the mobile device. The mobile device receives user inputs on a display showing representations of the vehicle and its surrounding areas to generate the data. Another system include a feature where the mobile device determines whether the user is a first time user of a RePA application. The mobile device operates in a certain training mode based on the determination.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 5, 2018Publication date: October 10, 2019Inventors: Timothy C. Bettger, Urs Christen, Ahmed Benmimoun, Nadja Wysietzki
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Publication number: 20190161086Abstract: A method and apparatus for the assisted performance of a reverse-turning maneuver of a vehicle. When it is determined that the vehicle is reversing, non-contact sensors detect spatial conditions in the surroundings of the vehicle. A computer processor determines whether the detected spatial conditions allow a reverse-turning maneuver and outputs a signal if the spatial conditions allow a reverse-turning maneuver. The processor may further calculate a route for carrying out the reverse-turning maneuver, and at least one of a steering angle, a steering torque, and a vehicle speed for traversing the determined route provides information. The above information is utilized by a vehicle dynamics controller to achieve autonomous operation of at least one vehicle dynamics system (steering system, brake system, drivetrain system, etc.) to perform the maneuver.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 28, 2018Publication date: May 30, 2019Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventor: Timothy C. BETTGER
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Patent number: 10126739Abstract: The disclosure concerns a control device for the remote control of a motor vehicle including a display device for visualizing the surroundings of the motor vehicle detected by motor vehicle sensors of the motor vehicle, and a motor vehicle symbol in a surrounding area of the motor vehicle. An input device inputs a desired parking position within the detected surrounding area of the motor vehicle by displacement of the motor vehicle symbol that is represented on the display device.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2017Date of Patent: November 13, 2018Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Urs Christen, Timothy C. Bettger, Thomas Rambow, Uwe Gussen, Georg Neugebauer, Julian David Pott, Nadja Wysietzki
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Publication number: 20170285629Abstract: The disclosure concerns a control device for the remote control of a motor vehicle including a display device for visualizing the surroundings of the motor vehicle detected by motor vehicle sensors of the motor vehicle, and a motor vehicle symbol in a surrounding area of the motor vehicle. An input device inputs a desired parking position within the detected surrounding area of the motor vehicle by displacement of the motor vehicle symbol that is represented on the display device.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2017Publication date: October 5, 2017Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Urs CHRISTEN, Timothy C. BETTGER, Thomas RAMBOW, Uwe GUSSEN, Georg NEUGEBAUER, Julian David POTT, Nadja WYSIETZKI