Patents by Inventor Timothy Prodin

Timothy Prodin 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: 9373044
    Abstract: A lane departure warning system has a trailer detector for detecting that a trailer is attached to a vehicle, a lane boundary detector for detecting a position of a lane boundary on a roadway over which the vehicle is travelling, and an information processor including a calibrator for generating calibration parameters used in determining an unintended lane departure event with respect to the lane boundary. The information processor initiates a process for allowing an operator to provide trailer width information when the trailer detector indicates that the vehicle is towing a trailer. The lane departure warning system also includes a sensor for detecting a hitch angle between the vehicle and the trailer. A controller determines a lateral offset of the trailer relative to the vehicle based on the hitch angle and a length of the trailer for generating a warning signal when the lateral offset crosses the lane boundary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Wallat, John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Steven Yellin Schondorf, Brian Bennie, Timothy Prodin, Brian Wolski
  • Patent number: 8853946
    Abstract: A system and method for re-enabling automatic mode after manually overriding automatic mode of an automatic headlamp control system for a motor vehicle. The system and method monitors the headlamp state in a controller, recommends a headlamp state from the automatic mode of the automatic headlamp control system, monitors a driver request for headlamp state in the controller, and causes the controller to return to the automatic mode when the recommended headlamp state matches the driver request for a headlamp state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies
    Inventors: Brian Wolski, Timothy Prodin, John Shutko, Kenneth Michael Mayer
  • Publication number: 20140176716
    Abstract: A lane departure warning system has a trailer detector for detecting that a trailer is attached to a vehicle, a lane boundary detector for detecting a position of a lane boundary on a roadway over which the vehicle is travelling, and an information processor including a calibrator for generating calibration parameters used in determining an unintended lane departure event with respect to the lane boundary. The information processor initiates a process for allowing an operator to provide trailer width information when the trailer detector indicates that the vehicle is towing a trailer. The lane departure warning system also includes a sensor for detecting a hitch angle between the vehicle and the trailer. A controller determines a lateral offset of the trailer relative to the vehicle based on the hitch angle and a length of the trailer for generating a warning signal when the lateral offset crosses the lane boundary.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2014
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Wallat, John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Steven Yellin Schondorf, Brian Bennie, Timothy Prodin, Brian Wolski
  • Patent number: 8665078
    Abstract: A lane departure warning system has a trailer detector for detecting that a trailer is attached to a vehicle, a lane boundary detector for detecting a position of a lane boundary on a roadway over which the vehicle is travelling, and an information processor including a calibrator for generating calibration parameters used in determining an unintended lane departure event with respect to the lane boundary. The information processor initiates a process for allowing a vehicle operator to provide trailer width information when the trailer detector indicates that the vehicle has the trailer attached thereto. The trailer width information is used by the information processor for generating the calibration parameters as a function of a width of the trailer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies
    Inventors: John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Jeffrey Wallat, Brian Bennie, Steven Yellin Schondorf, Brian Wolski, Timothy Prodin
  • Patent number: 8476832
    Abstract: An interior lighting system for an automotive vehicle include a first light in a first zone a second light in a second zone, and a controller illuminating the lights in a sequence including a first welcome stage, a second welcome stage, and ambient stage, and a farewell stage. The stages are defined by an operating cycle of the vehicle as determined by conditions such as vehicle entry system status, door open/closed status, and ignition status. The colors and intensities of the lights varies throughout the stages to provide both adequate task illumination and attractive lighting to provide sophisticated vehicle interior illumination that is well harmonized with the various Stages of occupant ingress and egress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Prodin, Robert Miller, Jeffrey Scott Lossing, Michelle Lynn McQuad Heldke
  • Publication number: 20130154477
    Abstract: A system and method for re-enabling automatic mode after manually overriding automatic mode of an automatic headlamp control system for a motor vehicle. The system and method monitors the headlamp state in a controller, recommends a headlamp state from the automatic mode of the automatic headlamp control system, monitors a driver request for headlamp state in the controller, and causes the controller to return to the automatic mode when the recommended headlamp state matches the driver request for a headlamp state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Inventors: Brian Wolski, Timothy Prodin, John Shutko, Kenneth Michael Mayer
  • Publication number: 20130027195
    Abstract: A lane departure warning system has a trailer detector for detecting that a trailer is attached to a vehicle, a lane boundary detector for detecting a position of a lane boundary on a roadway over which the vehicle is travelling, and an information processor including a calibrator for generating calibration parameters used in determining an unintended lane departure event with respect to the lane boundary. The information processor initiates a process for allowing a vehicle operator to provide trailer width information when the trailer detector indicates that the vehicle has the trailer attached thereto. The trailer width information is used by the information processor for generating the calibration parameters as a function of a width of the trailer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2011
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Inventors: John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Jeffrey Wallat, Brian Bennie, Steven Yellin Schondorf, Brian Wolski, Timothy Prodin
  • Publication number: 20120235568
    Abstract: An interior lighting system for an automotive vehicle include a first light in a first zone a second light in a second zone, and a controller illuminating the lights in a sequence including a first welcome stage, a second welcome stage, and ambient stage, and a farewell stage. The stages are defined by an operating cycle of the vehicle as determined by conditions such as vehicle entry system status, door open/closed status, and ignition status. The colors and intensities of the lights varies throughout the stages to provide both adequate task illumination and attractive lighting to provide sophisticated vehicle interior illumination that is well harmonized with the various Stages of occupant ingress and egress.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Prodin, Robert Miller, Jeffrey Scott Lossing, Michelle Lynn McQuaid Heldke