Debra A Rice

US Patent:

7113874, Sep 26, 2006

Filed:

Sep 20, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/946151

Inventors:

William Todd Watson - Belleville MI, US
Leonard S. Cech - Brighton MI, US
Debra A. Rice - Northville MI, US

Assignee:

Automotive Systems Laboratory, Inc. - Farmington Hills MI

International Classification:

G08B 19/00

US Classification:

702 65, 702190, 340522, 32427013

Abstract:

A signal generated responsive to a magnetic field in a magnetic circuit is decomposed into first and second filtered signals, wherein, at at least one first frequency, a magnitude of a component of the first filtered signal is greater than that of the second filtered signal, and at at least one second frequency greater than the at least one first frequency, a magnitude of a component of the second filtered signal is greater than that of the first filtered signal. A condition of a magnetic circuit is sensed responsive to the first and second filtered signals. In one embodiment, actuation of a safety restraint actuator of a vehicle is controlled responsive to the sensed condition of the magnetic circuit that includes a portion of the vehicle susceptible to a crash. A deployment threshold is adjusted responsive to a door opening state.

US Patent:

60701137, May 30, 2000

Filed:

Jun 18, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/878090

Inventors:

Craig W. White - Grosse Pointe MI
Michael P. Bruce - Brighton MI
Jeffrey S. Bennett - Redford MI
Debra A. Rice - Redford MI

Assignee:

Automotive Systems Laboratory, Inc. - Farmington Hills MI

International Classification:

B60R 2200
E05F 1500
G05D 100

US Classification:

701 45

Abstract:

A vehicular crash discrimination system (10) incorporates first (12) and second (14) crash sensors operatively coupled to a logic AND gate (16), which activates a safety restraint system (2). The first crash sensor (12) is mounted in a location which for a preferred sensing characteristic causes susceptibility to activation by crashes which are so directed that the safety restraint system (2) should not otherwise be activated. The second crash sensor (14), having a lower detection threshold than the first crash sensor (12), is mounted at a distinct location and is responsive to crashes for which the safety restraint system (2) is preferably activated, but is not responsive to those crashes which cause false activation of the first crash sensor (12). The instant invention thus provides for a preferred sensing characteristic determined by a first crash sensor mounted in an inferior location without being subject to false activation of the safety restraint system (2). In another aspect, the first crash sensor (2) incorporates a plurality of crash sensing characteristics and the selection of the active sensing characteristic is dependent upon the operative state of the second crash sensor (14).

US Patent:

20190300005, Oct 3, 2019

Filed:

Mar 29, 2018

Appl. No.:

15/940813

Inventors:

- Ogden UT, US
Debra Rice - Redford MI, US

International Classification:

B60W 40/114
B60R 1/00
G01S 17/93
B62D 15/02
B62D 13/00

Abstract:

A system and method for estimating the length of a trailer attached to a vehicle includes a processor and a sensor mounted to the vehicle and in communication with the processor. The sensor is configured to sense at least one target on the trailer and provide information to the processor regarding the location of the at least one target. The processor is configured to determine an estimate of the wheel based length (laa) of the trailer by utilizing a wheel angle (α) of the vehicle, a hitch point (zk) of the vehicle, the first hitch angle (γ), a wheel base (lza) of the vehicle, a distance (lzk) between the hitch point (zk) and a front axle of vehicle, and a lane radius (rza). The processor is configured to determine the length of a trailer attached to the vehicle by utilizing the wheel based length (laa) of the trailer.

US Patent:

20180203106, Jul 19, 2018

Filed:

Jan 19, 2017

Appl. No.:

15/410621

Inventors:

- Ogden UT, US
Shan Cong - Superior Township MI, US
Kapil Gupta - Ann Arbor MI, US
Malakeh Sivako - Dearborn MI, US
Debra Rice - Redford MI, US
Joe Attard - Dearborn MI, US

International Classification:

G01S 13/04
G01S 7/292
G01S 13/93

Abstract:

A system and method for determining when a trailer is located behind a vehicle includes at least one detection device configured to detect objects located behind the vehicle and a processor. The processor is in communication with the at least one detection device and a plurality of signals generated by the vehicle. The processor receives data from the at least one detection device. The data includes a plurality of targets detected by the at least one detection device. Next, the processor determines if one or more clusters exists and clusters the targets into at least one cluster to form cluster features when one or more clusters exist. The processor determines vehicle state based on the vehicle dynamic features from the plurality of signals generated by the vehicle as well as global features from data from the at least one detection device and determines when the trailer is located behind the vehicle based on the cluster features, the vehicle state, and/or the global features.