Nicholas G Zorka

US Patent:

6898528, May 24, 2005

Filed:

Jul 23, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/201676

Inventors:

Nicholas Zorka - Clarkston MI, US
Ka C. Cheok - Rochester Hills MI, US
Edzko Smid - Rochester Hills MI, US

Assignee:

Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

G06N007/02
G06F015/18

US Classification:

701301, 701 45, 706 52, 180271, 340903

Abstract:

A collision and injury mitigation system () for an automotive vehicle () is provided. The system () includes two or more object detection sensors () that detect an object and generate one or more object detection signals. A controller () is electrically coupled to the two or more object detection sensors and performs a fuzzy logic technique to classify the object as a real object or a false object in response to the one or more object detection signals. A method for performing the same is also provided.

US Patent:

8194920, Jun 5, 2012

Filed:

Feb 16, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/675799

Inventors:

Samuel Ebenstein - Southfield MI, US
Gregory Smith - Ann Arbor MI, US
Kwaku Prakah-Asante - Commerce Township MI, US
Yelena Rodin - Southfield MI, US
Nicholas Zorka - Clarkston MI, US

Assignee:

Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

G06K 9/00
G06K 9/34
G06K 9/46
G06K 9/38

US Classification:

382103, 382100, 382104, 382173, 382190, 382270

Abstract:

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.

US Patent:

20070216768, Sep 20, 2007

Filed:

Mar 14, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/308248

Inventors:

Gregory Smith - Ann Arbor MI, US
Nicholas Zorka - Clarkston MI, US
Kwaku Prakah-Asante - Commerce Twp. MI, US
Samuel Ebenstein - Southfield MI, US
Patrick Canfield - Dearborn MI, US
Yelena Rodin - Southfield MI, US

Assignee:

FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

H04N 7/18

US Classification:

348118000

Abstract:

A system for mounting a camera within a vehicle is illustrated. The camera may be positioned behind an IR transmissible window within the vehicle and within a housing within the vehicle. The camera is thus placed between the windshield and the housing so that the field of view of the camera is through the window . A notch shape or hole may be formed within the windshield so that the IR transmissive portion may be inserted therein.

US Patent:

55797466, Dec 3, 1996

Filed:

Jun 8, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/485064

Inventors:

Douglas R. Hamburg - Bloomfield MI
Dennis C. Reed - Plymouth MI
Nicholas G. Zorka - Clarkston MI

International Classification:

F02D 4114

US Classification:

123689

Abstract:

An air/fuel control system for an engine (28) provides an air/fuel indicating signal linearly related to average engine air/fuel operation from a two-state exhaust gas oxygen sensor (44). Fuel delivered to the engine is modulated with a periodic signal (144). A reference value corresponding to a desired air/fuel ratio is subtracted from a rolling average of the exhaust gas oxygen sensor output to provide an error signal (148-152). A feedback variable (FV) for adjusting the engine air/fuel ratio is generated from a proportional plus integral controller having the error signal as its input (156). In this manner, average engine air/fuel ratio is maintained at the desired air/fuel ratio and the rolling average of the exhaust gas oxygen sensor output provides an air/fuel indicating signal.

US Patent:

55821502, Dec 10, 1996

Filed:

Feb 5, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/596855

Inventors:

Dennis C. Reed - Plymouth MI
Douglas R. Hamburg - Bloomfield Hills MI
Nicholas G. Zorka - Clarkston MI

Assignee:

Ford Motor Company - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

F02P 514

US Classification:

123421

Abstract:

An air/fuel control system for an engine (10) provides an air/fuel indicating signal linearly related to average engine air/fuel operation from a two-state exhaust gas oxygen sensor (76). Fuel delivered to the engine is modulated with a periodic or modulation signal (244). The modulation signal is offset in either a fuel increasing or a fuel decreasing direction when the air/fuel indicating signal is respectively saturated at either a lean or a rich value (394-420).

US Patent:

55158269, May 14, 1996

Filed:

Jun 30, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/497328

Inventors:

Douglas R. Hamburg - Bloomfield MI
Dennis C. Reed - Plymouth MI
Nicholas G. Zorka - Clarkston MI

Assignee:

Ford Motor Company - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

F02D 4114

US Classification:

123421

Abstract:

An engine air/fuel control system modulates the flow of fuel delivered to the engine with a modulation signal (100, 144) The feedback variable generated (210-228) from a two-state exhaust gas oxygen sensor (16) corrects the fuel flow (156). During each of a plurality of pre-determined intervals, the fuel flow is biased with a rich offset (342). Amplitude of the modulation signal is corrected by a difference between the feedback variable generated during two successive occurrences of the predetermined interval (346-378).

US Patent:

55666639, Oct 22, 1996

Filed:

Oct 17, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/297085

Inventors:

Douglas R. Hamburg - Bloomfield Hills MI
Nicholas G. Zorka - Clarkston MI

Assignee:

Ford Motor Company - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

F02D 4100

US Classification:

123679

Abstract:

An engine air/fuel control system and method is provided having feedback control responsive to an exhaust gas oxygen sensor. A fuel command responsive to the EGO sensor is modulated (312) and the modulation disabled in response to detection of an air/fuel transient period (502-510, 610). In addition, feedback control gain is increased (514, 614) and the modulation signal held at a value opposite the state of the EGO sensor occurring upon initiation of the air/fuel transient period (510, 610). An indication is provided that the air/fuel transient is terminated when the EGO sensor switching frequency resumes a normal condition (522-528, 622-628). Modulation is thereafter resumed and the feedback gain restored (532-538, 632-638).

US Patent:

55115268, Apr 30, 1996

Filed:

Jun 30, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/497274

Inventors:

Douglas R. Hamburg - Bloomfield MI
Dennis C. Reed - Plymouth MI
Nicholas G. Zorka - Clarkston MI

Assignee:

Ford Motor Company - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

F02D 4114
F02P 515

US Classification:

123424

Abstract:

An air/fuel control system for an engine (28) provides an air/fuel indicating signal linearly related to average engine air/fuel operation from a two-state exhaust gas oxygen sensor (44). Fuel delivered to the engine is modulated with a periodic signal (144). Adaptive feedback control (steps 200-280) adaptively learns a desired amplitude for the periodic signal to generate the air/fuel indicating signal with desired sensitivity and operating range.