Patents by Inventor Zachary Konchan

Zachary Konchan 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: 11608040
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for traction control based on friction coefficient estimation. An example vehicle includes a plurality of sensors to measure qualities of a surface of a road and an anti-lock brake system module. The anti-lock brake system module (a) estimates confidence values for different road surface types based on the qualities of the surface of the road, (b) estimates a coefficient of friction between the road and tires of the vehicle based on the confidence values, and (c) adapt a traction control system by altering a target slip based on the coefficient of friction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: William Falconer, Leonard Eber Carrier, Zachary Konchan, Erick Michael Lavoie
  • Publication number: 20200361469
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to an electrified vehicle configured to selectively increase an energy recovery threshold and a corresponding method. In particular, an example electrified vehicle includes an energy recovery mechanism configured to apply a negative wheel torque up to a negative wheel torque threshold. The electrified vehicle also includes a controller configured to selectively increase the negative wheel torque threshold based on a mass of the electrified vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Inventors: Alexander McCollough, Zachary Konchan, George Taylor Dickinson
  • Patent number: 10814846
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for traction control based on friction coefficient estimation. An example vehicle includes a plurality of sensors to measure qualities of a surface of a road and an anti-lock brake system module. The anti-lock brake system module (a) estimates confidence values for different road surface types based on the qualities of the surface of the road, (b) estimates a coefficient of friction between the road and tires of the vehicle based on the confidence values, and (c) adapt a traction control system by altering a target slip based on the coefficient of friction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: William Falconer, Leonard Eber Carrier, Zachary Konchan, Erick Michael Lavoie
  • Publication number: 20200331443
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for traction control based on friction coefficient estimation. An example vehicle includes a plurality of sensors to measure qualities of a surface of a road and an anti-lock brake system module. The anti-lock brake system module (a) estimates confidence values for different road surface types based on the qualities of the surface of the road, (b) estimates a coefficient of friction between the road and tires of the vehicle based on the confidence values, and (c) adapt a traction control system by altering a target slip based on the coefficient of friction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2020
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: William Falconer, Leonard Eber Carrier, Zachary Konchan, Erick Michael Lavoie
  • Patent number: 10810621
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a controller programmed to, responsive to detecting a barcode displayed outside the vehicle via an exterior sensor, decode the barcode, and project an image representing an information decoded from the barcode on a windshield of the vehicle, the image overlaying the barcode from a perspective of a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: William Falconer, Zachary Konchan, James Hartman Teasley, George T. Dickinson
  • Patent number: 10759433
    Abstract: A map, including potential obstacles, can be generated by a computing device in a vehicle. An estimated coefficient of friction between the vehicle wheels and a roadway surrounding a stuck vehicle can be generated based on sensor data. A path can be determined based on the map, and the stuck vehicle can be operated based on the path and a determined slip ratio based on the vehicle wheels to unstick the stuck vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: William Falconer, Zachary Konchan, Leonard Eber Carrier, Erick Michael Lavoie
  • Patent number: 10613539
    Abstract: An autonomous vehicle controller includes a memory and a processor programmed to execute instructions stored in the memory. The instructions include detecting that a host vehicle is on a low friction surface, generating a composite map representing locations of a plurality of high friction surfaces, selecting one of the plurality of high friction surfaces, and autonomously navigating the host vehicle to the selected high friction surface by executing a slip control process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: William Falconer, Zachary Konchan, Leonard Eber Carrier, Erick Michael Lavoie
  • Publication number: 20200090224
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a controller programmed to, responsive to detecting a barcode displayed outside the vehicle via an exterior sensor, decode the barcode, and project an image representing an information decoded from the barcode on a windshield of the vehicle, the image overlaying the barcode from a perspective of a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2018
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Inventors: William Falconer, Zachary Konchan, James Hartman Teasley, George T. Dickinson
  • Patent number: 10507825
    Abstract: A system for vehicle pitch control during braking includes a pitch component and a rebound component. The pitch component is configured to determine that a vehicle has a forward pitch during braking. The rebound component is configured to, in response to the vehicle achieving a substantially zero forward velocity, apply brake pressure to one or more non-driven wheels using one or more brakes and apply reverse torque to one or more driven wheels using a motor or engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Hans Gangwar, Zachary Konchan, Alexander Mccollough, Leonard Eber Carrier
  • Publication number: 20190244172
    Abstract: A request to collect and deliver a plurality of items of cargo is received. One or more predetermined classes for each item are identified. At least one source to provide the items is identified based at least in part on the classes. A route is determined to the source and to a delivery location for the items. One or more vehicle subsystems are actuated to move a vehicle along the route to the source and to the delivery location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2016
    Publication date: August 8, 2019
    Inventors: Leonard Eber CARRIER, Zachary KONCHAN
  • Publication number: 20190111932
    Abstract: A map, including potential obstacles, can be generated by a computing device in a vehicle. An estimated coefficient of friction between the vehicle wheels and a roadway surrounding a stuck vehicle can be generated based on sensor data. A path can be determined based on the map, and the stuck vehicle can be operated based on the path and a determined slip ratio based on the vehicle wheels to unstick the stuck vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2018
    Publication date: April 18, 2019
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: WILLIAM FALCONER, ZACHARY KONCHAN, LEONARD EBER CARRIER, ERICK MICHAEL LAVOIE
  • Publication number: 20190113924
    Abstract: An autonomous vehicle controller includes a memory and a processor programmed to execute instructions stored in the memory. The instructions include detecting that a host vehicle is on a low friction surface, generating a composite map representing locations of a plurality of high friction surfaces, selecting one of the plurality of high friction surfaces, and autonomously navigating the host vehicle to the selected high friction surface by executing a slip control process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Publication date: April 18, 2019
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: William Falconer, Zachary Konchan, Leonard Eber Carrier, Erick Michael Lavoie
  • Publication number: 20190047527
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for traction control based on friction coefficient estimation. An example vehicle includes a plurality of sensors to measure qualities of a surface of a road and an anti-lock brake system module. The anti-lock brake system module (a) estimates confidence values for different road surface types based on the qualities of the surface of the road, (b) estimates a coefficient of friction between the road and tires of the vehicle based on the confidence values, and (c) adapt a traction control system by altering a target slip based on the coefficient of friction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2017
    Publication date: February 14, 2019
    Inventors: William Falconer, Leonard Eber Carrier, Zachary Konchan, Erick Michael Lavoie
  • Publication number: 20180126981
    Abstract: A system for vehicle pitch control during braking includes a pitch component and a rebound component. The pitch component is configured to determine that a vehicle has a forward pitch during braking. The rebound component is configured to, in response to the vehicle achieving a substantially zero forward velocity, apply brake pressure to one or more non-driven wheels using one or more brakes and apply reverse torque to one or more driven wheels using a motor or engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Inventors: Hans Gangwar, Zachary Konchan, Alexander Mccollough, Leonard Eber Carrier
  • Patent number: 9821781
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to control braking of a vehicle during low deceleration operations are disclosed. A disclosed apparatus includes a controller configured to determine a deceleration of a vehicle, compare the deceleration to a threshold, and modulate, at a predetermined frequency, a brake pressure of the vehicle in response to the deceleration being below the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yuri Anatoly Karpenko, Todd Anthony Brittingham, Moses Alexander Fridman, Peter Kowalow, Ravi Lanka, Jinkoo Lee, Zachary Konchan
  • Patent number: 9766629
    Abstract: An autonomous pulse and glide system and method are disclosed. Pulse and glide is a fuel savings strategy that pulses a host vehicle to a maximum target speed and glides to a minimum target speed. Where the host vehicle detects that a lead vehicle is within a minimum distance the pulse and glide strategy is modified. The system may interrupt a pulse or may instruct the host vehicle to pass the lead vehicle. The host vehicle may also include an inter-vehicle communication module which facilitates a master/slave interaction with a lead or trailing vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Zachary Konchan, Hans Gangwar, Dale Scott Crombez