Patents by Inventor Timothy J. Sullivan

Timothy J. Sullivan 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: 11167792
    Abstract: A guidance system identifies a path on a field and then calculates a position and heading of a trailer relative to the path. The guidance system steers a vehicle connected to the trailer based on the calculated trailer position and heading to minimize the trailer positional error and more quickly and accurately align the trailer with the path. The guidance system may align the trailer with the path while steering the vehicle in a reverse direction and may steer the vehicle based on a predicted trailer position and heading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: AGJUNCTION LLC
    Inventors: Eran D. B. Medagoda, Timothy J. Sullivan, Brendan M. Joiner, Andreas F. Ramm, Tri M. Dang
  • Patent number: 10927729
    Abstract: A positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) system for an internal combustion engine having an air induction system configured to supply air to the includes a PCV line configured to fluidly couple between a crankcase of the engine and the air induction system, a condenser disposed on the PCV line and configured to condense water vapor and fuel vapor contained in blow-by gases received from the crankcase to separate the water vapor and fuel vapor from the blow-by gases and form a water/fuel mixture and a lean blow-by gas, and an oil separator disposed on the PCV line and configured to receive the lean blow-by gas from the condenser and separate oil therefrom to form a filtered blow-by gas for return to the air induction system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Iain J Read, Timothy J Sullivan
  • Patent number: 10890922
    Abstract: A navigation system aids a driver of a collection vehicle in keeping pace and distance with a lead harvester while collecting grain. The navigation system can be used for any leader-follower vehicle drive formation. A navigation system steers the head vehicle based on a continuously known position and attitude. Navigation data for the lead vehicle is broadcast to a following collection vehicle. A navigation system in the following vehicle processes the lead vehicle navigation data to determine a relative position and attitude. The navigation system in the following vehicle generates steering and speed commands based on the relative position and attitude to automatically drive to a designated target position alongside the lead vehicle. In one example, an artificial oscillation is induced into the target position to more evenly distribute material in the following vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: AGJUNCTION LLC
    Inventors: Andreas F. Ramm, Eran D. B. Medagoda, Timothy J. Sullivan, Tri M. Dang
  • Patent number: 10416675
    Abstract: A line acquisition system generates a curvature profile based on initial vehicle states (starting position, heading, curvature and speed), vehicle steering capabilities (calibrated vehicle curvature and curvature rate limits), and initial vehicle position errors relative to the destination path. The curvature profile describes changes in vehicle curvature over a path distance from a current position to a destination path. The line acquisition system constructs an acquisition path from a combination of clothoid, circular arc, and straight lines corresponding with different segments of the curvature profile. The acquisition path can be displayed on a user interface allowing a vehicle operator to observe, prior to automatic steering engagement, the path the vehicle would take from a current state to the destination path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: AGJUNCTION LLC
    Inventors: Tri M. Dang, Timothy J. Sullivan, Eran D. B. Medagoda
  • Publication number: 20190176880
    Abstract: A guidance system identifies a path on a field and then calculates a position and heading of a trailer relative to the path. The guidance system steers a vehicle connected to the trailer based on the calculated trailer position and heading to minimize the trailer positional error and more quickly and accurately align the trailer with the path. The guidance system may align the trailer with the path while steering the vehicle in a reverse direction and may steer the vehicle based on a predicted trailer position and heading.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Applicant: AGJUNCTION LLC
    Inventors: Eran D.B. MEDAGODA, Timothy J. SULLIVAN, Brendan M. JOINER, Andreas F. RAMM, Tri M. DANG
  • Patent number: 10266201
    Abstract: A guidance system may derive a K-turn path when a vehicle reaches an end of a first way line in a field. The guidance system may send the K-turn path to a steering controller to turn the vehicle around in a headland area to the beginning of a second way-line in the field. A first segment of the K-turn path may turn the vehicle along a first path in a forward direction and a second segment of the K-turn path may turn the vehicle along a second path in a reverse direction. A third segment of the K-turn path may turn the vehicle along a third path in the forward direction to a starting location of the second way-line. The K-turn path uses less area than other types of turns reducing the amount of headland used for turning around the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: AGJUNCTION LLC
    Inventors: Tri M. Dang, Timothy J. Sullivan
  • Patent number: 10239555
    Abstract: A guidance system identifies a path on a field and then calculates a position and heading of a trailer relative to the path. The guidance system steers a vehicle connected to the trailer based on the calculated trailer position and heading to minimize the trailer positional error and more quickly and accurately align the trailer with the path. The guidance system may align the trailer with the path while steering the vehicle in a reverse direction and may steer the vehicle based on a predicted trailer position and heading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: AGJUNCTION LLC
    Inventors: Eran D. B. Medagoda, Timothy J. Sullivan, Brendan M. Joiner, Andreas F. Ramm, Tri M. Dang
  • Patent number: 10209714
    Abstract: A line acquisition system predicts and displays an acquisition path to reduce the uncertainty surrounding the path taken by a vehicle when acquiring a destination path. The line acquisition system calculates the drivable acquisition path based on the current states of the vehicle, such as position, speed, heading, and curvature. The line acquisition system continually updates and displays the acquisition path as the vehicle is manually steered by the user. When the user engages a steering controller, the last calculated acquisition path is used to automatically steer the vehicle onto the destination path. Displaying the acquisition path allows the user to observe, prior to automatic steering engagement, the path the vehicle would take from its current state to the destination. The user can then decide whether the predicted acquisition path will interfere with terrain or obstacles that the user wishes to avoid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: AGJUNCTION LLC
    Inventors: Eran D. B. Medagoda, Timothy J. Sullivan, Tri M. Dang
  • Publication number: 20170293303
    Abstract: A line acquisition system predicts and displays an acquisition path to reduce the uncertainty surrounding the path taken by a vehicle when acquiring a destination path. The line acquisition system calculates the drivable acquisition path based on the current states of the vehicle, such as position, speed, heading, and curvature. The line acquisition system continually updates and displays the acquisition path as the vehicle is manually steered by the user. When the user engages a steering controller, the last calculated acquisition path is used to automatically steer the vehicle onto the destination path. Displaying the acquisition path allows the user to observe, prior to automatic steering engagement, the path the vehicle would take from its current state to the destination. The user can then decide whether the predicted acquisition path will interfere with terrain or obstacles that the user wishes to avoid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2017
    Publication date: October 12, 2017
    Applicant: AGJUNCTION LLC
    Inventors: Eran D.B. MEDAGODA, Timothy J. SULLIVAN, Tri M. DANG
  • Publication number: 20170293304
    Abstract: A line acquisition system generates a curvature profile based on initial vehicle states (starting position, heading, curvature and speed), vehicle steering capabilities (calibrated vehicle curvature and curvature rate limits), and initial vehicle position errors relative to the destination path. The curvature profile describes changes in vehicle curvature over a path distance from a current position to a destination path. The line acquisition system constructs an acquisition path from a combination of clothoid, circular arc, and straight lines corresponding with different segments of the curvature profile. The acquisition path can be displayed on a user interface allowing a vehicle operator to observe, prior to automatic steering engagement, the path the vehicle would take from a current state to the destination path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2017
    Publication date: October 12, 2017
    Applicant: AGJUNCTION LLC
    Inventors: Tri M. DANG, Timothy J. Sullivan, Eran D.B. Medagoda
  • Publication number: 20170147005
    Abstract: A navigation system aids a driver of a collection vehicle in keeping pace and distance with a lead harvester while collecting grain. The navigation system can be used for any leader-follower vehicle drive formation. A navigation system steers the head vehicle based on a continuously known position and attitude. Navigation data for the lead vehicle is broadcast to a following collection vehicle. A navigation system in the following vehicle processes the lead vehicle navigation data to determine a relative position and attitude. The navigation system in the following vehicle generates steering and speed commands based on the relative position and attitude to automatically drive to a designated target position alongside the lead vehicle. In one example, an artificial oscillation is induced into the target position to more evenly distribute material in the following vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2016
    Publication date: May 25, 2017
    Applicant: AGJUNCTION LLC
    Inventors: Andreas F. RAMM, Eran D.B. Medagoda, Timothy J. Sullivan, Tri M. Dang
  • Publication number: 20170144701
    Abstract: A guidance system identifies a path on a field and then calculates a position and heading of a trailer relative to the path. The guidance system steers a vehicle connected to the trailer based on the calculated trailer position and heading to minimize the trailer positional error and more quickly and accurately align the trailer with the path. The guidance system may align the trailer with the path while steering the vehicle in a reverse direction and may steer the vehicle based on a predicted trailer position and heading.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Publication date: May 25, 2017
    Applicant: AGJUNCTION LLC
    Inventors: Eran D.B. MEDAGODA, Timothy J. SULLIVAN, Brendan M. JOINER, Andreas F. RAMM, Tri M. DANG
  • Publication number: 20170144702
    Abstract: A guidance system may derive a K-turn path when a vehicle reaches an end of a first way line in a field. The guidance system may send the K-turn path to a steering controller to turn the vehicle around in a headland area to the beginning of a second way-line in the field. A first segment of the K-turn path may turn the vehicle along a first path in a forward direction and a second segment of the K-turn path may turn the vehicle along a second path in a reverse direction. A third segment of the K-turn path may turn the vehicle along a third path in the forward direction to a starting location of the second way-line. The K-turn path uses less area than other types of turns reducing the amount of headland used for turning around the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2016
    Publication date: May 25, 2017
    Applicant: AGJUNCTION LLC
    Inventors: Tri M. DANG, Timothy J. SULLIVAN
  • Publication number: 20160340780
    Abstract: A reaction chamber assembly with a shutter system may be used in the processing of semiconductor substrates. The shutter system may facilitate gas flow control and temperature control within the reaction chamber assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Publication date: November 24, 2016
    Inventors: Paul Swan, Wentao Wang, Timothy J. Sullivan, Michael C. Sarin
  • Patent number: 9150494
    Abstract: The disclosed invention relates to a process, comprising: flowing a first reactant feed stream comprising a reactant substrate and a second reactant feed stream comprising an alkylating agent, an acylating agent or a mixture thereof, in a process microchannel in contact with each other to form a product comprising at least one alkylation product, at least one acylation product, or a mixture thereof; transferring heat from the process microchannel to a heat sink; and removing the product from the process microchannel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Velocys, Inc.
    Inventors: Anna Lee Tonkovich, Steven T. Perry, Timothy J. LaPlante, Kai Tod Paul Jarosch, Thomas P. Hickey, Sean Patrick Fitzgerald, Dongming Qiu, Ravi Arora, Timothy J. Sullivan, Paul Neagle
  • Patent number: 8716494
    Abstract: Pyrrolidinone carboxamide compounds are provided that are useful for inhibiting the binding of ligands to the ChemR23 receptor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: ChemoCentryx, Inc.
    Inventors: Trevor T. Charvat, Hiufung Chu, Antoni Krasinski, Christopher W. Lange, Manmohan R. Leleti, Jay P. Powers, Sreenivas Punna, Timothy J. Sullivan, Solomon Ungashe
  • Publication number: 20130237514
    Abstract: Pyrrolidinone carboxamide compounds are provided that are useful for inhibiting the binding of ligands to the ChemR23 receptor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: ChemoCentryx, Inc.
    Inventors: Trevor T. Charvat, Hiufung Chu, Antoni Krasinski, Christopher W. Lange, Manmohan Reddy Leleti, Jay P. Powers, Sreenivas Punna, Timothy J. Sullivan, Solomon Ungashe
  • Patent number: 8293925
    Abstract: Pyrrolidinone carboxamide compounds are provided that are useful for inhibiting the binding of ligands to the ChemR23 receptor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Chemocentryx, Inc.
    Inventors: Trevor T. Charvat, Hiufung Chu, Antoni Krasinski, Christopher W. Lange, Manmohan Reddy Leleti, Jay P. Powers, Sreenivas Punna, Timothy J. Sullivan, Solomon Ungashe
  • Patent number: 8245517
    Abstract: The system and method of the present invention provides stepping speed control of a gas turbine engine to reliably light-off a gas turbine engine. During starting, the speed of the gas turbine engine is incremented by stepped amounts through the light-off window from a minimum speed value to a maximum speed value, with the speed of the gas turbine dwelling at each stepped value for a period of time before incrementing the speed of the engine to the next stepped level. If the gas turbine engine is stepped through the entire light-off window without success, the controller decreases the speed of the gas turbine engine to the minimum value and begins the process again. The process continues until successful light-off is initiated or until the light-off window is traversed a certain number of times, after which the start process is aborted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Bing Tong, Timothy J. Sullivan, Paul E. Hilgeman, Tarrence L. Mack
  • Patent number: 7935734
    Abstract: The disclosed technology relates to a process for conducting a chemical reaction between at least one liquid reactant and at least one gaseous reactant in a process microchannel containing at least one catalyst, the catalyst comprising a solid phase catalyst or a homogeneous catalyst immobilized on a solid. In one embodiment, the process microchannel comprises a processing zone containing one or more structures for disrupting fluid flow and a reaction zone containing one or more structures for contacting and/or supporting the catalyst, the one or more structures for contacting and/or supporting the catalyst containing openings to permit the reactants to flow through the one or more structures and contact the catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Inventors: Anna Lee Tonkovich, Kai Tod Paul Jarosch, Timothy J. Sullivan, Terry Mazanec, Sean Patrick Fitzgerald, Maddalena Fanelli