Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Ford Motor Company Limited

US Government As Represented by the Secretary of the Army

Gregory Hugh Smith

Samuel Edward Ebenstein

Yelena Mordechai Rodin

Vijitha S Kiridena

Vijitha Senaka Kiridena

Kwaku O Prakah-Asante

James Stewart Rankin, Ii

Thomas J Meitzler

Manoharprasad K Rao

Gary Steven Strumolo

Furqan Zafar Shaikh

Robert F Novak

Paul Joseph Stewart

Craig Edward Burch

Gerald Adam Grab

Michael Raymond Rigley

Jason A Schrader

Martin Andrew Brogley

Thomas P Reynolds

Nicholas Zorka

Robert Walter Grenkowitz

David Bednarz

Amer Mohammed Samman

A unit of modular armor. The module has a box-like, optically opaque outer shell of ballistic-protection material enclosed to exclude light from the module's interior. The shell contains transparent armor plates and the shell contains a self-diagnostic system for ascertaining whether the plates have been damaged. The self-diagnostic system includes a first PC board disposed along first edges of the plates, the board being divided into strips on which are mounted rows of lights. The self-diagnostic system further includes a second PC board at second, opposed edges of the plates divided into strips on which are mounted rows of light receptors. The PC boards incorporate circuitry for illuminating the rows of the lights in a row-by-row sequence, and for allowing activation only of the receptors directly opposed to illuminated lights. This circuitry has an analysis means for determining the health of the plates in response to signals from the receptors. The armor module has a transparent, elastomeric, adhesive matrix within the shell in which each of the plates and boards are suspended and encapsulated, wherein the matrix occupies all space not occupied by other elements within the shell.

Self diagnostic armor structure

An object detection system is disclosed in at least one embodiment. The system includes a far IR sensor operable to sense thermal radiation of objects and surroundings in a field of view and to generate a far IR image in response thereto, and an image processing device operable to receive and process the far IR image to detect the presence of one or more objects in the field of view. The image processing device can be configured to process the far IR image by generating an initial threshold image based on the far IR image and an initial threshold value, iteratively obtaining a number of successive threshold images based on the far IR image and a number of successively increased threshold values, and determining the presence of one or more objects in the field of view based on the threshold images and threshold values.

Method and system for detecting objects using far infrared images

A vision-based object detection decision-making system () for a vehicle () includes multiple vision sensing systems () that have vision receivers () and that generate an object detection signal. A controller () includes a plurality of sensing system aid modules () that correspond to each of the vision sensing systems (). The controller () operates the sensing system aid modules () in response to a vehicle parameter and generates a safety system signal in response to the object detection signal. The sensing system aid modules () have associated operating modes and operate the vision sensing systems () in the operating modes in response to the vehicle parameter.

Vision-based method and system for automotive parking aid, reversing aid, and pre-collision sensing application

A method for testing cameras includes positioning a camera such that an image of a target is displayed on a monitor within at least one default image parameter. The method further includes engaging a dimming condition of a light source from the camera, thereby generating a lighting condition signal. Subsequently the camera receives the lighting condition signal and displays it on the monitor. A group of observers then analyze the lighting condition signal. The method continues through engaging a second dimming condition of the light source from the first camera, thereby generating a second lighting condition signal, which is also displayed on the monitor. The group of observers then analyzes the second lighting condition signal.

Method for camera calibration and quality testing

A vehicle data acquisition and display assemblywhich includes several cameraswhich selectively and cooperatively receive imagesfrom the environment or the ambient environmentin which a vehicleresides. The acquired imagesform a panoramic mosaic, at least a portion of which is selectively displayed by a display assemblywithin the vehicle

Vehicle data acquisition and display assembly

A blind spot monitoring system for a vehicle includes two pairs of stereo cameras, two displays and a controller. The stereo cameras monitor vehicle blind spots and generate a corresponding pair of digital signals. The display shows a rearward vehicle view and may replace, or work in tandem with, a side view mirror. The controller is located in the vehicle and receives two pairs of digital signals. The controller includes control logic operative to analyze a stereopsis effect between each pair of stereo cameras and the optical flow over time to control the displays. The displays will show an expanded rearward view when a hazard is detected in the vehicle blind spot and show a normal rearward view when no hazard is detected in the vehicle blind spot.

Vehicle blind spot monitoring system

A vehicle information acquisition and display assembly . The system selectively senses objects residing within a dynamically configurable region of interest and compares values which are created by use of these sensed objects with at least one criteria value. Based upon this comparison, icons are selectively displayed to a driver of a vehicle which represent the sensed objects

Vehicle information acquisition and display assembly

A vision enhancement system,which aids the driver in visually identifying a sensed object,without diverting his/her attention from the road ahead. One or more sensors,used to collect information about the vehicle's environment are operatively coupled with a controlled source of illumination,. A processor,receives input from the sensors and intelligently determines whether a particular object sensed in or near the current path of the vehicle requires alerting the driver. If so, the processor outputs a control signal,to effect illumination of the sensed object. The source of illumination is controlled so as to continuously direct light onto the identified object, even as the vehicle and/or object move simultaneously with respect to one another.

Driver road hazard warning and illumination system

Method of rapidly producing a contoured part, comprising: designing a computer graphic model of the part, sectioning the graphic model into graphic members which are at least one of blocks or slabs, carving a solid member (14-150 mm in thickness) for each of the graphic members, the solid member being proportion to and enveloping such graphic members, the carving being carried out by accessing two or more sides (opposite sides) of such solid member to at least essentially duplicate the corresponding graphic member, and securing the carved solid members together to replicate the graphic model as a usable unitary part. The method can be modified to make castings by carving wax or foam solid members which are assembled to form an investment pattern, the was pattern being used in a shell mold casting steps and the foam pattern being used in evaporative casting steps.

Rapidly making a contoured part

A method of predicting volume of finished combustion chambers from a raw cylinder head casting including the steps of capturing cylinder head geometry of a raw cylinder head casting, transforming the captured cylinder head geometry into a machining coordinate system, virtual machining the raw cylinder head casting based on the transformed geometry, calculating a volume of combustion chambers of the virtually machined cylinder head, adding signed volumes of at least one component to the calculated volume to obtain a finished volume, and adjusting a mold for the raw cylinder head casting to achieve the desired finished volume.

Method of predicting volume of finished combustion chambers from a raw

Methods and apparatus for representing a three-dimensional object by means of a High Density Point Data Model (HDPDM) consisting of a large number of individual data values, each of which specifies the coordinates of a point on the surface of a three dimensional object. An initial HDPDM is produced by scanning a physical object, tessellating the elements of a CAD representation of the object surface, or evaluating mathematical expressions which describe the surface. Further data values define a virtual tool surface which is spaced from the modeled object surface. The projection of the virtual tool surface on the object surface along projection lies parallel to a defined axis of projection identifies selected points on the surface which are modified by effectively moving them to the tool surface. The tool surface may be translated with respect to the object surface along a predetermined trajectory, with the tool surface being iteratively used to operate on an area of projection on the model surface to provide a virtual machining process which performs free-form alterations on the data model. The finished data model may then be used to create a physical part or generate an output CAD or mathematical model which defines a free-form part.

Virtual machining techniques for modifying computer models of parts

The method and system provide a means of inspecting die sets by scanning the core die and the cavity die separately. A special software technique is used to transform both data scans to the same coordinate system or frame in an orientation which simulates die closure. Then methods are used to determined the exact shape of the interior of the die set when closed.

Method and system for inspecting die sets using free-form inspection

A method and system are disclosed for the automated alignment of free-form geometries. The method includes the steps of providing a computer work station, a first HDPDM describing the first geometry, and a second HDPDM describing the second geometry. The two geometries must be in crude alignment with one another within a coordinate frame. Next, a plurality of normal distances are computed from the first geometry to the second geometry. The normal distances are used to derive a weighted-fit objective function. A step size is then determined, and the step size is used in the following step of iteratively translating the second HDPDM until the objective function is maximized. The steps of determining a step size and iteratively translating the second HDPDM are repeated until the step size is less than or equal to a desired alignment resolution. The disclosed system includes the means for turning out the steps of the disclosed method.

Method and system for automated alignment of free-form geometries

A method is provided for verifying the accuracy of a part geometry with respect to a master geometry. The method begins with the step of providing a computer workstation including a computer and an output device attached to the computer. The method also includes the steps of generating a master HDPDM describing the geometry of the master and generating a part HDPDM describing the geometry of the part. The master HDPDM includes a plurality of points. The method further includes the step of aligning the master HDPDM and the part HDPDM within a coordinate frame. The method continues with the step of computing the distance from each point of the master HDPDM to the surface described by the part HDPDM to obtain signed distance data. The method concludes with the step of displaying an image on the output device based on the signed distance data. The image represents the non-conformance between the master and the part and is used to verify the accuracy of the geometry of the part with respect to the geometry of the master.

Method and system for comparing free-form geometries using high density

Method and system are provided which permits the very precise integration of high density data scans obtained from different part orientations through the use of Horn's method. The data may be obtained from a laser scanner or other methods for obtaining high density data such as Moire interferometry systems. The method and system use an artificial intelligence technique which permits the very precise determination of the dimensions of analytic features. In the preferred embodiment, the method uses a laser scanner to collect a fine grid of height (z) values of the workpiece. The part is scanned along lines with constant x or constant y. Before the part is scanned, several small reference features are added to the part if needed. These reference features may be small pieces of tape, or small metal washers. Then methods are used to find the precise location of the centers of the reference features. These locations provide the necessary input to Horn's method so local coordinate systems for each scan can be mapped to a single global coordinate system.

Growing community of inventors

Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America

Gregory Hugh Smith