Patents by Inventor Tyler D. Hamilton
Tyler D. Hamilton 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: 20220196801Abstract: A sensor assembly for a vehicle includes a base, a sensor body mounted to the base and rotatable relative to the base around an axis in a direction of rotation, and a cover. The sensor body includes a sensor window and a wall having heat fins elongated circumferentially relative to the axis. The cover is positioned to cover the heat fins. The cover includes an inlet open in the direction of rotation. The cover defines an airflow path from the inlet through the heat fins. The cover includes an outlet positioned to direction air across the sensor window.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 5, 2021Publication date: June 23, 2022Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Michael Robertson, JR., Venkatesh Krishnan, Segundo Baldovino, Raghuraman Surineedi, Tyler D. Hamilton, Rashaun Phinisee, Colm Boran
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Publication number: 20220196807Abstract: A sensor assembly includes a base and a sensor housing mounted to the base. The sensor housing is rotatable relative to the base about an axis. The sensor housing includes a top panel having an exterior surface. A plurality of fins are disposed on the exterior surface and are fixed relative to the sensor housing. The fins extend radially outward relative to the axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 18, 2021Publication date: June 23, 2022Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Rashaun Phinisee, Raghuraman Surineedi, Venkatesh Krishnan, Michael Robertson, JR., Tyler D. Hamilton, Segundo Baldovino
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Patent number: 11353697Abstract: A computer includes a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to identify a contaminant on a lens of a sensor upon determining a force applied to the lens based on an electric current exceeding a threshold and to actuate a cleaning component to remove the contaminant from the lens.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2019Date of Patent: June 7, 2022Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Michael Robertson, Jr., James Pizzimenti, Tyler D. Hamilton, Ashwin Arunmozhi
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Patent number: 11312338Abstract: A sensor apparatus includes a sensor window, a nozzle head coupled to the sensor window and including a first orifice and a second orifice, and a deflector fixed relative to the sensor window. The first orifice is shaped to discharge onto a first region of the sensor window. The second orifice is shaped to discharge onto a second region of the sensor window. The deflector is positioned to deflect at least some of the discharge from the second orifice onto a third region of the sensor window.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2020Date of Patent: April 26, 2022Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Venkatesh Krishnan, Raghuraman Surineedi, Kunal Singh, Tyler D. Hamilton
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Publication number: 20220066031Abstract: A sensor apparatus includes a first sensing device, a sensor housing, a bracket, a second sensor, and a channel plate. The sensor housing includes a first sensor window and a top panel, and the first sensing device has a field of view through the first sensor window. The bracket is mounted on top of the top plate. The second sensor is held by the bracket and includes a second sensor window. The channel plate is fixed to the bracket. The bracket includes a first nozzle aimed at the first sensor window and a second nozzle aimed at the second sensor window. The bracket includes a channel fluidly connected to the first nozzle and the second nozzle.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 27, 2020Publication date: March 3, 2022Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Michael Robertson, JR., Raghuraman Surineedi, Venkatesh Krishnan, Tyler D. Hamilton, Kunal Singh, Shibu Koyadan Chathoth
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Patent number: 11247644Abstract: A sensor system includes a sensor including a sensor window; a nozzle aimed at the sensor window; a supply line to supply fluid to the nozzle; a primary reservoir to supply fluid to the supply line; a first valve actuatable to inject fluid from a first reservoir into the supply line; a second valve actuatable to inject fluid from a second reservoir into the supply line; a third valve actuatable to inject fluid from a third reservoir into the supply line; and a computer communicatively coupled to the sensor and the valves. The computer is programmed to actuate the first valve in response to determining a first condition based on data from the sensor, actuate the second valve in response to determining a second condition based on data from the sensor, and actuate the third valve in response to determining a third condition based on data from the sensor.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2019Date of Patent: February 15, 2022Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Michael Robertson, Jr., Tyler D. Hamilton, Ashwin Arunmozhi, Venkatesh Krishnan
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Publication number: 20220041138Abstract: A sensor apparatus includes a housing attachable to a vehicle and including a panel, a sensor window, a liquid nozzle fixed relative to the housing, and a tunnel. The panel includes a port. The sensor window is positioned in the port. The liquid nozzle is aimed at the sensor window. The liquid nozzle is positioned in a first horizontal direction from the port along the panel. The tunnel extends along the panel and is positioned in a second horizontal direction from the port, the second horizontal direction being opposite the first horizontal direction. The tunnel terminates at an opening positioned to receive fluid outputted by the nozzle.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 6, 2020Publication date: February 10, 2022Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Tyler D. Hamilton, Michael Robertson, JR., Rashaun Phinisee, Kunal Singh, Venkatesh Krishnan, Raghuraman Surineedi
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Publication number: 20210331649Abstract: A sensor apparatus includes a sensor window, a nozzle head coupled to the sensor window and including a first orifice and a second orifice, and a deflector fixed relative to the sensor window. The first orifice is shaped to discharge onto a first region of the sensor window. The second orifice is shaped to discharge onto a second region of the sensor window. The deflector is positioned to deflect at least some of the discharge from the second orifice onto a third region of the sensor window.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 23, 2020Publication date: October 28, 2021Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Venkatesh Krishnan, Raghuraman Surineedi, Kunal Singh, Tyler D. Hamilton
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Patent number: 11156485Abstract: A sensor assembly includes a base, a housing mounted to the base and rotatable relative to the base around an axis in a direction of rotation, a sensing apparatus inside the housing and rotatable with the housing, a sensor window fixed relative to the housing, and a duct on an exterior of the housing. The sensing apparatus has a field of view through the sensor window. The duct includes an inlet open toward the direction of rotation and an outlet aimed across the sensor window.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2021Date of Patent: October 26, 2021Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Venkatesh Krishnan, Segundo Baldovino, Rashaun Phinisee, Raghuraman Surineedi, Michael Robertson, Jr., Tyler D. Hamilton
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Publication number: 20210109345Abstract: A computer includes a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to identify a contaminant on a lens of a sensor upon determining a force applied to the lens based on an electric current exceeding a threshold and to actuate a cleaning component to remove the contaminant from the lens.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 14, 2019Publication date: April 15, 2021Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Michael Robertson, JR., James Pizzimenti, Tyler D. Hamilton, Ashwin Arunmozhi
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Publication number: 20210103036Abstract: A sensor apparatus includes a sensor having a field of view, a sensor window through which the field of view extends; an air nozzle positioned to direct airflow across the sensor window; a surface fixed relative to the sensor window, the surface including a plurality of heat-dissipation fins; and a cover extending over the fins and including an inlet. The inlet is positioned at an opposite edge of the sensor window from the air nozzle. The air nozzle is aimed at the inlet.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 8, 2019Publication date: April 8, 2021Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Michael Robertson, JR., Tyler D. Hamilton, Ashwin Arunmozhi, Raghu Raman Surineedi
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Publication number: 20210094079Abstract: A sensor assembly includes a housing including a chamber; a first sensor disposed in the chamber and including a first sensor window facing outward from the chamber; a second sensor outside and fixed relative to the chamber, the second sensor including a second sensor window; a blower having a blower outlet in the chamber and having a blower inlet; and a flexible hose extending from a first end positioned to receive ambient air to a second end positioned to direct air into the blower inlet. The housing includes a first outlet from the chamber to the exterior environment, and a second outlet from the second chamber to the exterior environment. The first outlet is positioned to direct air across the first sensor window, and the second outlet is positioned to direct air across the second sensor window.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 1, 2019Publication date: April 1, 2021Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Venkatesh Krishnan, Raghuraman Surineedi, Ashley Lucas, Tyler D. Hamilton
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Publication number: 20210061233Abstract: A sensor system includes a sensor including a sensor window; a nozzle aimed at the sensor window; a supply line to supply fluid to the nozzle; a primary reservoir to supply fluid to the supply line; a first valve actuatable to inject fluid from a first reservoir into the supply line; a second valve actuatable to inject fluid from a second reservoir into the supply line; a third valve actuatable to inject fluid from a third reservoir into the supply line; and a computer communicatively coupled to the sensor and the valves. The computer is programmed to actuate the first valve in response to determining a first condition based on data from the sensor, actuate the second valve in response to determining a second condition based on data from the sensor, and actuate the third valve in response to determining a third condition based on data from the sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2019Publication date: March 4, 2021Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Michael Robertson, Jr., Tyler D. Hamilton, Ashwin Arunmozhi, Venkatesh Krishnan
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Publication number: 20210032922Abstract: A method includes predicting an environmental condition at a location to which a vehicle is travelling, the environmental condition including at least one of water, dust, and pollution, determining that an object within the vehicle is at a distance greater than a threshold distance from an unobstructed window of the vehicle, and then actuating the unobstructed window to a closed position based on the environmental condition and the object being at the distance from the window greater than the threshold distance.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 1, 2019Publication date: February 4, 2021Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: DAVID MICHAEL HERMAN, ASHWIN ARUNMOZHI, MICHAEL ROBERTSON, JR., TYLER D. HAMILTON
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Publication number: 20200393550Abstract: A sensor assembly includes a housing including a first chamber and a second chamber fluidly connected to the first chamber, a first sensor disposed in the second chamber and including a first sensor window facing outward from the second chamber, and a second sensor outside and fixed relative to the first chamber and the second chamber. The second sensor includes a second sensor window. The housing includes an intake from an exterior environment to the first chamber, a first outlet from the second chamber to the exterior environment, and a second outlet from the second chamber to the exterior environment. The first outlet is positioned to direct air across the first sensor window, and the second outlet is positioned to direct air across the second sensor window.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2019Publication date: December 17, 2020Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: TYLER D. HAMILTON, MICHAEL ROBERTSON, Jr., ASHLEY LUCAS, VENKATESH KRISHNAN
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Publication number: 20200391231Abstract: A sensor assembly includes a first sensor window defining a first plane, a second sensor window fixed relative to the first sensor window and defining a second plane different than the first plane, and a nozzle positioned to deliver fluid to the first and second sensor windows. The nozzle is translatable along a first axis, rotatable about the first axis, and rotatable about a second axis transverse to the first axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 17, 2019Publication date: December 17, 2020Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Ashwin Arunmozhi, Michael Robertson, JR., Tyler D. Hamilton