Patents by Inventor Vern Stempnik

Vern Stempnik 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: 9696420
    Abstract: A method of assessing an area for parking a vehicle includes ultrasonically scanning the area to obtain ultrasonic data, radar scanning the area to obtain radar data, and determining whether to park the vehicle in the area based on both the ultrasonic data and the radar data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Aric David Shaffer, Vern Stempnik, Brian Choi, Mark Crawford
  • Patent number: 9224297
    Abstract: A method of determining an object distance from a vehicle includes sending a first transmission signal during a first burst period from a first transmitter, listening for a first reflection signal during a first listen period in a receiver, and sending a second transmission signal during a second burst period from a second transmitter. The second transmission signal is sent based on a time when the first transmission signal is sent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Aric David Shaffer, Vern Stempnik, Brian Choi, Michael David Kane
  • Patent number: 9002564
    Abstract: A method of parking a vehicle includes calibrating a wheel speed count of the vehicle based on a measured length that is external to the vehicle, and parking the vehicle based on the calibrated wheel speed count.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Aric David Shaffer, Michael David Kane, Vern Stempnik
  • Patent number: 8957786
    Abstract: A method of parking a running vehicle includes measuring a length of a parked vehicle that is proximate to a desired parking location, and estimating the width of the parked vehicle based on a regression equation. The running vehicle is parked based on the estimated width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Vern Stempnik, Brian Choi, Mark Crawford, Aric David Shaffer, Michael David Kane
  • Publication number: 20140347195
    Abstract: A method of parking a running vehicle includes measuring a length of a parked vehicle that is proximate to a desired parking location, and estimating the width of the parked vehicle based on a regression equation. The running vehicle is parked based on the estimated width.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Vern Stempnik, Brian Choi, Mark Crawford, Aric David Shaffer, Michael David Kane
  • Publication number: 20140316632
    Abstract: A method of parking a vehicle includes calibrating a wheel speed count of the vehicle based on a measured length that is external to the vehicle, and parking the vehicle based on the calibrated wheel speed count.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Aric David Shaffer, Michael David Kane, Vern Stempnik
  • Publication number: 20140313059
    Abstract: A method of determining an object distance from a vehicle includes sending a first transmission signal during a first burst period from a first transmitter, listening for a first reflection signal during a first listen period in a receiver, and sending a second transmission signal during a second burst period from a second transmitter. The second transmission signal is sent based on a time when the first transmission signal is sent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Aric David Shaffer, Vern Stempnik, Brian Choi, Michael David Kane
  • Publication number: 20140300504
    Abstract: A method of assessing an area for parking a vehicle includes ultrasonically scanning the area to obtain ultrasonic data, radar scanning the area to obtain radar data, and determining whether to park the vehicle in the area based on both the ultrasonic data and the radar data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2013
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Aric David Shaffer, Vern Stempnik, Brian Choi, Mark Crawford
  • Patent number: 8676438
    Abstract: Temperature compensation for ultrasonic sensors can have a significant error that is highly undesirable because temperature of ultrasonic sensors and the temperature of the medium through which they sense objects affect signal strength calibrations (e.g., echo thresholds) applied when detecting an object. In order to increase the detection capabilities and reported distance of an object, ultrasonic sensors need to adjust their detection criteria and distance calculations as the temperature of air surrounding a vehicle (i.e., outside air temperature) changes and also as the temperature of the sensor changes. Embodiments of the inventive subject matter provide for a simple, effective and consistent approach for determining a temperature upon which such detection criteria and distance calculation adjustments can be based.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies
    Inventors: Wilford Trent Yopp, Wangdong Luo, Stephen Varghese Samuel, Aric David Shaffer, Vern Stempnik, Michael David Kane
  • Publication number: 20140039750
    Abstract: Temperature compensation for ultrasonic sensors can have a significant error that is highly undesirable because temperature of ultrasonic sensors and the temperature of the medium through which they sense objects affect signal strength calibrations (e.g., echo thresholds) applied when detecting an object. In order to increase the detection capabilities and reported distance of an object, ultrasonic sensors need to adjust their detection criteria and distance calculations as the temperature of air surrounding a vehicle (i.e., outside air temperature) changes and also as the temperature of the sensor changes. Embodiments of the inventive subject matter provide for a simple, effective and consistent approach for determining a temperature upon which such detection criteria and distance calculation adjustments can be based.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2012
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Wilford Trent Yopp, Wangdong Luo, Stephen Varghese Samuel, Aric David Shaffer, Vern Stempnik, Michael David Kane