Patents by Inventor Timothy O'Donnell
Timothy O'Donnell 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: 20260233756Abstract: Provided are methods for methods and systems for measuring sensor visibility, which can include obtaining sensor data associated with an autonomous vehicle and determining a blockage parameter indicative of a blockage of a sensor based on a comparison of the sensor data with secondary data. Some methods described also include controlling an operation of an autonomous vehicle based on the blockage parameter. Systems and computer program products are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 17, 2026Publication date: August 13, 2026Inventor: Timothy O'Donnell
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Patent number: 12644967Abstract: Provided are interchangeable ring lenses for sensing systems, which can include a LiDAR sensor configured to rotate about a rotation axis within an interchangeable ring lens and receive electromagnetic radiation. Some systems also include a mount portion of the interchangeable ring lens that includes a threaded connection for removably coupling the interchangeable ring lens to a base. Some systems also include the interchangeable ring lens being removable from the base by the threaded connection. Some systems also include an elastomeric seal for at least partially sealing the interchangeable ring lens to the base. Methods and computer program products are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2023Date of Patent: June 2, 2026Assignee: Motional AD LLCInventor: Timothy O'Donnell
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Patent number: 12623683Abstract: Provided are methods for methods and systems for measuring sensor visibility, which can include obtaining sensor data associated with an autonomous vehicle and determining a blockage parameter indicative of a blockage of a sensor based on a comparison of the sensor data with secondary data. Some methods described also include controlling an operation of an autonomous vehicle based on the blockage parameter. Systems and computer program products are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2023Date of Patent: May 12, 2026Assignee: Motional AD LLCInventor: Timothy O'Donnell
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Patent number: 12591064Abstract: Provided are methods for sensor operation, which can include obtaining first location data of a first sensor associated with an autonomous vehicle and determining a first position parameter and a first configuration parameter of the first sensor. Some methods described also include operating the first sensor based on the first configuration parameter. Systems and computer program products are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2022Date of Patent: March 31, 2026Assignee: Motional AD LLCInventors: Giancarlo Baldan, Timothy O'Donnell, William Buono
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Publication number: 20260056301Abstract: Provided are methods for managing vehicle sensors, which can include: determining a stopping distance for a vehicle travelling on a route, identifying one or more sensors of the vehicle that have respective detection ranges less than the stopping distance, and upon identifying the one or more sensors, deactivating at least one operation of at least one sensor of the one or more sensors. Systems and computer program products are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2025Publication date: February 26, 2026Inventor: Timothy O'Donnell
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Patent number: 12461210Abstract: Provided are methods for managing vehicle sensors, which can include: determining a stopping distance for a vehicle travelling on a route, identifying one or more sensors of the vehicle that have respective detection ranges less than the stopping distance, and upon identifying the one or more sensors, deactivating at least one operation of at least one sensor of the one or more sensors. Systems and computer program products are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2021Date of Patent: November 4, 2025Assignee: Motional AD LLCInventor: Timothy O'Donnell
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Patent number: 12286009Abstract: Estimating fuel consumptions of a vehicle is disclosed. A first fuel consumption value in a first time interval is estimated using fuel-sender resistance data. A second fuel consumption value in a second time interval is estimated using fuel-injected mass data. At least the first fuel consumption value and the second fuel consumption value are combined to obtain a fuel consumption value. The fuel consumption value is then output.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2023Date of Patent: April 29, 2025Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.Inventors: Vikram Krishnamurthy, Timothy O'Donnell, Lawrence Rosinski
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Publication number: 20240059141Abstract: Estimating fuel consumptions of a vehicle is disclosed. A first fuel consumption value in a first time interval is estimated using fuel-sender resistance data. A second fuel consumption value in a second time interval is estimated using fuel-injected mass data. At least the first fuel consumption value and the second fuel consumption value are combined to obtain a fuel consumption value. The fuel consumption value is then output.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 17, 2023Publication date: February 22, 2024Applicant: Nissan North America, Inc.Inventors: Vikram Krishnamurthy, Timothy O'Donnell, Lawrence Rosinski
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Patent number: 11820221Abstract: Estimating a fuel consumption includes receiving a request for estimating the fuel consumption between a first time and a second time; estimating a first fuel consumption value in a first time interval using fuel-sender resistance data; estimating a second fuel consumption value in a second time interval using fuel-injected mass data, where the first time interval and the second time interval are consecutive, non-overlapping intervals; and combining at least the first fuel consumption value and the second fuel consumption value to obtain a fuel consumption value.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2021Date of Patent: November 21, 2023Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.Inventors: Vikram Krishnamurthy, Timothy O'Donnell, Lawrence Rosinski
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Publication number: 20230296780Abstract: Provided are methods for sensor operation, which can include obtaining first location data of a first sensor associated with an autonomous vehicle and determining a first position parameter and a first configuration parameter of the first sensor. Some methods described also include operating the first sensor based on the first configuration parameter. Systems and computer program products are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 18, 2022Publication date: September 21, 2023Inventors: Giancarlo BALDAN, Timothy O'DONNELL, William BUONO
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Patent number: 11693406Abstract: A machine is disclosed. The machine may include at least one of a propulsion system or a steering system configured to operate under automatic control in an autonomous mode of the machine; and a controller configured to obtain one or more parameters associated with a task that is to be performed in the autonomous mode, determine an estimated completion time for the task based on the one or more parameters associated with the task, and perform one or more actions based on the estimated completion time for the task.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2020Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.Inventors: Robert Jason McGee, Sangameshwar Sonth, Timothy O'Donnell, Kristen Ann Gerstner
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Patent number: 11685412Abstract: An autonomous machine control system is disclosed. The autonomous machine control system may include a controller configured to: cause an initiation of an autonomous mode of a machine, the autonomous mode providing automatic control of a propulsion operation, a steering operation, and a work operation of the machine; determine that automatic control of the work operation is to be disabled in the autonomous mode of the machine; and cause automatic control of the work operation to be disabled in the autonomous mode of the machine, while automatic control of the propulsion operation and the steering operation is enabled in the autonomous mode of the machine.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2020Date of Patent: June 27, 2023Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.Inventors: Timothy O'Donnell, Nicholas A Oetken, Kyle Hendricks, Robert Jason McGee
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Publication number: 20230168351Abstract: Provided are methods for managing vehicle sensors, which can include: determining a stopping distance for a vehicle travelling on a route, identifying one or more sensors of the vehicle that have respective detection ranges less than the stopping distance, and upon identifying the one or more sensors, deactivating at least one operation of at least one sensor of the one or more sensors. Systems and computer program products are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 1, 2021Publication date: June 1, 2023Inventor: Timothy O'Donnell
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Publication number: 20220410697Abstract: Estimating a fuel consumption includes receiving a request for estimating the fuel consumption between a first time and a second time; estimating a first fuel consumption value in a first time interval using fuel-sender resistance data; estimating a second fuel consumption value in a second time interval using fuel-injected mass data, where the first time interval and the second time interval are consecutive, non-overlapping intervals; and combining at least the first fuel consumption value and the second fuel consumption value to obtain a fuel consumption value.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2021Publication date: December 29, 2022Inventors: Vikram Krishnamurthy, Timothy O'Donnell, Lawrence Rosinski
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Publication number: 20210276596Abstract: An autonomous machine control system is disclosed. The autonomous machine control system may include a controller configured to: cause an initiation of an autonomous mode of a machine, the autonomous mode providing automatic control of a propulsion operation, a steering operation, and a work operation of the machine; determine that automatic control of the work operation is to be disabled in the autonomous mode of the machine; and cause automatic control of the work operation to be disabled in the autonomous mode of the machine, while automatic control of the propulsion operation and the steering operation is enabled in the autonomous mode of the machine.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 5, 2020Publication date: September 9, 2021Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.Inventors: Timothy O'DONNELL, Nicholas A OETKEN, Kyle HENDRICKS, Robert Jason MCGEE
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Publication number: 20210278841Abstract: A machine is disclosed. The machine may include at least one of a propulsion system or a steering system configured to operate under automatic control in an autonomous mode of the machine; and a controller configured to obtain one or more parameters associated with a task that is to be performed in the autonomous mode, determine an estimated completion time for the task based on the one or more parameters associated with the task, and perform one or more actions based on the estimated completion time for the task.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 5, 2020Publication date: September 9, 2021Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.Inventors: Robert Jason MCGEE, Sangameshwar SONTH, Timothy O'DONNELL, Kristen Ann GERSTNER
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Patent number: 11009881Abstract: A control system for an autonomous vehicle is disclosed. The control system may receive information that identifies distances, measured by a sensor of the autonomous vehicle, to different points of a roadway. The control system may generate a representation of a curve based on the information that identifies the distances. The representation of the curve may include a series of points that represent a curvature of the roadway. The control system may identify a point, of the series of points, that satisfies a condition based on the representation of the curve. The control system may store, in the memory, an indication that the point is a center point of the roadway.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2019Date of Patent: May 18, 2021Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.Inventor: Timothy O'Donnell
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Patent number: 10976746Abstract: System and methods for marking a work area boundary of an autonomous vehicle are disclosed. A system may receive an indication that boundary marking for a work area is to be activated, and may transmit an activation signal to a marking actuator based on receiving the indication that boundary marking for the work area is to be activated. The activation signal may cause the marking actuator to begin marking the boundary as a vehicle, that includes the system, traverses the boundary. The system may store information that identifies a plurality of marked locations along the boundary. The system may determine that boundary marking for the work area is to be deactivated, and may transmit a deactivation signal to the marking actuator based on determining that boundary marking for the work area is to be deactivated. The deactivation signal may cause the marking actuator to stop marking the boundary.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2018Date of Patent: April 13, 2021Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.Inventors: Kyle Hendricks, Jeremy Lee, Timothy O'Donnell
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Patent number: 10920401Abstract: System and methods for managing work area reservations are disclosed. A system may receive an indication of a work area to be reserved for an autonomous operation of the autonomous vehicle; broadcast a request to reserve the work area for the autonomous vehicle; determine whether a communication, that indicates a reservation conflict for the work area, has been received; selectively reserve the work area and instructing one or more controllers of the autonomous vehicle to perform the autonomous operation in the work area based on determining whether the communication has been received by the autonomous vehicle; and broadcast, during the autonomous operation, one or more signals identifying the work area.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2018Date of Patent: February 16, 2021Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.Inventor: Timothy O'Donnell
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Publication number: 20200319646Abstract: A control system for an autonomous vehicle is disclosed. The control system may receive information that identifies distances, measured by a sensor of the autonomous vehicle, to different points of a roadway. The control system may generate a representation of a curve based on the information that identifies the distances. The representation of the curve may include a series of points that represent a curvature of the roadway. The control system may identify a point, of the series of points, that satisfies a condition based on the representation of the curve. The control system may store, in the memory, an indication that the point is a center point of the roadway.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 5, 2019Publication date: October 8, 2020Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.Inventor: Timothy O'DONNELL