Patents Assigned to Ford Global Technologies, LLC
  • Method and system for fuel injector balancing
    Patent number: 10731593
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for improved injector balancing. In one example, fuel rail pressure samples collected during a noisy zone of injector operation are discarded while samples collected during a quiet zone are averaged to determine an injector pressure. The injector pressure is then used to infer injection volume, injector error, and update an injector transfer function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Joseph Lyle Thomas, Ross Dykstra Pursifull
  • Vehicle adaptive learning
    Patent number: 10733510
    Abstract: A computing system can determine a vehicle action based on inputting vehicle sensor data to a first neural network including a first safety agent that can determine a probability of unsafe vehicle operation. The first neural network can be adapted, at a plurality of times, by a periodically retrained deep reinforcement learning agent that includes a second deep neural network including a second safety agent. A vehicle can be operated based on the vehicle action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Subramanya Nageshrao, Hongtei Eric Tseng, Dimitar Petrov Filev, Ryan Lee Baker, Christopher Cruise, Leda Daehler, Shankar Mohan, Arpan Kusari
  • Advanced user interaction features for remote park assist
    Patent number: 10732622
    Abstract: Vehicle systems include features for performing remote park assist (RePA) operations. One system include a feature where a user provides a continuous input via a touchscreen on a mobile device. The mobile device transmits a message and a vehicle autonomously traverses a calculated parking path while the message is being received by the vehicle. Another system include a feature where the vehicle autonomously move to a parking space based on data received from the mobile device. The mobile device receives user inputs on a display showing representations of the vehicle and its surrounding areas to generate the data. Another system include a feature where the mobile device determines whether the user is a first time user of a RePA application. The mobile device operates in a certain training mode based on the determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy C. Bettger, Urs Christen, Ahmed Benmimoun, Nadja Wysietzki
  • Truck foldup bed cover
    Patent number: 10730376
    Abstract: A pickup truck and tonneau cover including hard panels configured to selectively secure horizontally and vertically over a pickup truck bed, with a window in each panel, each window located to align with the other windows when the panels are oriented vertically in a fully retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, David Brian Glickman, Christopher Anthony Danowski, Paul Kenneth Dellock
  • Vehicle air flow shutter control assembly and method
    Patent number: 10730384
    Abstract: A flow control assembly to control flow to an area of a vehicle includes, among other things, a plurality of shutters including at least one first shutter and at least one second shutter, an actuator assembly rotatable about an axis, a first actuator link operably coupling the actuator assembly to the at least one first shutter, a second actuator link operably coupling the actuator assembly to the at least one second shutter. Rotation of the actuator assembly in a first direction moves the first actuator link to rotate the at least one first shutter in a clockwise direction from a flow restricting position to a flow permitting position. Rotation of the actuator assembly in the first direction additionally moves the second actuator link to rotate the at least one second shutter in a counterclockwise direction from a flow restricting position to a flow permitting position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Aaron Klop
  • Front grille storage
    Patent number: 10730400
    Abstract: A storage and charging system for a motor vehicle includes a drawer assembly front portion comprising a portion of the front grille. The drawer assembly is movable between open and closed positions by an actuator and provides a storage space that may be used for a charging cable. An electrical connection is disposed within the drawer assembly and provides an electrical coupling between a charging cable and a battery of the motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Dave Brian Glickman, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Cornel Lewis Gardner, Mark Wisneski
  • Pre and post update vehicle bus traffic fingerprinting
    Patent number: 10732959
    Abstract: A software update is downloaded from an update server responsive to an update trigger. A pre-installation bus traffic fingerprint is created responsive to completing the download. The software update is installed to the vehicle responsive to creating the pre-installation bus traffic fingerprint. A post-installation bus traffic fingerprint is created responsive to installing the software update. Success of the install is indicated to the update server based on comparing the pre-installation and post-installation bus traffic fingerprints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Vijayababu Jayaraman, Jonathan Nibert, Karl Nathan Clark, Mohamad Nasser, Jason Michael Miller
  • Sports bar assembly for a truck
    Patent number: 10730445
    Abstract: A sports bar in a truck is provided. The sports bar may comprise a base including a first member and a second member coupled to the first member via a pivot bracket, and a hoop pivotally connected to the pivot bracket to be rotatable between an open position and a closed position. A top of the hoop is adjacent to a cabin of the truck at the closed position and the top of the hoop is at a rear of a truck bed at the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
    Inventor: Alex Marchese
  • System and method for tire wear prognostics
    Patent number: 10730352
    Abstract: A storage maintains coefficients that map histogram data elements to tire wear, the coefficients being trained based on a correlation of histogram data to measured tire wear. A processor is programmed to receive a wear data histogram from a vehicle, utilize the coefficients to translate the wear data histogram into a measure of physical tire wear; and send an alert message indicating the estimated tire wear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Omar Makke, Oleg Yurievitch Gusikhin, Erick Michael Lavoie
  • Fixtures and methods for forming aligned magnetic cores
    Patent number: 10734848
    Abstract: Magnetic cores and method and fixtures for forming the same are disclosed. The magnetic core may comprise a magnetic body including magnetic grains and a magnetic flux path, the magnetic grains aligned in a plurality of distinct directional alignments to conform to the magnetic flux path. The grain orientation of the cores may be provided by fixtures including electrical circuits and/or permanent magnets. The fixtures may be configured to produce magnetic fields that approximate, mimic, or correspond to a magnetic flux path in the magnetic core, once it is consolidated and in use. The magnetic fields may orient the grains of the magnetic core when they are in an unconsolidated state, such that the grains are aligned in a plurality of directional alignments that approximate, mimic, or correspond to a magnetic flux path in the magnetic core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Michael W. Degner, Feng Liang, C Bing Rong
  • Smart hinge assembly for a tailgate of a motor vehicle
    Patent number: 10731395
    Abstract: A smart hinge assembly includes a fixed hinge pin, a rotary drive cup including a hinge pin socket to engage the fixed hinge pin and a drive cup position sensor. That drive cup position sensor is configured to monitor current rotary position of the rotary drive cup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Rafic Jergess, Spencer Monroe Dinkins, III, Adrian Nania
  • Modular hybrid electric vehicle rotor hub
    Patent number: 10731741
    Abstract: A method for forming a rotor hub that includes a sheet metal cylinder including spline teeth including angularly spaced crests and valleys, a tube surrounding the cylinder, secured to the crests and supporting a rotor thereon, a hub secured to the cylinder and supported for rotation, a torque converter, and a flex plate secured to the hub and the torque converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Steven A. Frait, John E. Brevick, Keith A. Devereaux
  • Vehicle sensor system
    Patent number: 10730485
    Abstract: A system includes a base defining an opening. The system includes a pair of gaskets supported by the base, the opening disposed between the gaskets. The system includes a pair of pads supported by the base, the gaskets disposed between the pads. The system includes a transparent shield supported by the base and movable between a first position and a second position, the shield abutting one of the pads in the first position and the other of the pads in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan Diedrich, Brian Bennie, Cynthia M. Neubecker, Cheri Lyn Hansen, Mahmoud Yousef Ghannam, Adil Nizam Siddiqui, Haron Abdel-raziq, Somak Datta Gupta
  • Systems and methods for a split exhaust engine system
    Patent number: 10731573
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for operating a split exhaust engine system that provides blowthrough air and exhaust gas recirculation to an intake passage via a first exhaust manifold and exhaust gas to an exhaust passage via a second exhaust manifold. In one example, an intake valve timing, exhaust valve timing of a first set of exhaust valves coupled to the first exhaust manifold, and a position of an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve in an EGR passage may be adjusted in coordination with one another in response to a condition at a compressor. The EGR passage may be coupled between the intake passage, upstream of the compressor, and the first exhaust manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Norman Ulrey, Daniel Paul Madison, Brad Alan Boyer, James Leiby
  • Method for determining a dilution of recirculated gases in a split exhaust engine
    Patent number: 10731580
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for determining a dilution of recirculated gases, including blowthrough air, combusted exhaust gas, and fuel vapor, in a split exhaust engine. In one example, the dilution rate may be calculated using a feedforward model that includes determining a pressure differential across a region in an intake passage, mapped engine parameters such as gas temperature, and exhaust valve timing. Engine operations such as spark advance and fuel injection may be adjusted according to the modeled rate to reduce engine knock and improve combustion efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Timothy Clark, Joseph Ulrey, Mohannad Hakeem
  • Adaptive steering control for robustness to errors in estimated or user-supplied trailer parameters
    Patent number: 10730553
    Abstract: A system for assisting in reversing of a vehicle-trailer combination includes a vehicle steering system and a controller. The controller outputs a steering signal to the steering system to maintain the vehicle-trailer combination along a straight backing path and determines a straight-backing offset of a hitch angle in the vehicle-trailer combination as a proportion of an integral of a measured characteristic of the vehicle-trailer combination that varies from a desired zero value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph M. Raad, Tyler Daavettila, Brian George Buss, Donald Jacob Mattern
  • Method and system for a boosted engine
    Patent number: 10731577
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for improving transient performance in a boosted engine having staged air compression systems. An electric supercharger compressor is staged downstream of a turbocharger compressor in a bypass, airflow diverted from a main intake passage to the bypass via closure of a bypass valve. During selected conditions when the supercharger compressor is not being spun, the bypass valve may be closed to direct air to the engine after flowing through the supercharger in a stand-by mode, thereby enabling a transient increase in torque demand to be rapidly met.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Tyler Kelly, Vincent Mariucci
  • Plasma transfer wire arc thermal spray system
    Patent number: 10730063
    Abstract: In one or more embodiments, the invention relates to a plasma transfer wire arc thermal spray system, comprising a section for feeding a wire acting as a first electrode, a source of plasma gas providing plasma gas, a nozzle directing the plasma gas stream from the source of plasma gas to a free end of the wire, and a second electrode located in the plasma gas stream towards the nozzle. In certain instances, the nozzle is made at least partially of electrically insulating material. The thermal spray apparatus with the inventive spray gun may have a simplified and faster starting procedure and the spray nozzle can be more durable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Leander Schramm, Alexander Schwenk, Enrico Hauser
  • Cross car beam assembly with composite beam structure and reinforcement
    Patent number: 10730557
    Abstract: A cross car beam assembly is provided herein. A composite beam structure extends transversely across a vehicle. A vehicle floor bracket is disposed below the composite beam. A composite reinforcement has a first portion fixedly engaged to the beam structure and a second portion engaged to the vehicle floor bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gary D. Mullen, Anthony Ligi, Jr., Li Lu, Nicholas Andrew Mazzocchi
  • Fastener and substrate assemblies
    Patent number: 10730443
    Abstract: A fastener is provided to be pre-assembled to a substrate. The fastener comprises a shaft having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, and a thread portion adjacent to the second end; a head disposed on the first end; and a unidirectional retention member between the head and the thread portion. The unidirectional retention member is configured to pass through a mounting hole of the substrate in one direction such that the fastener is retained on the substrate once the unidirectional retention member has passed through the mounting hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Michael Neumann, Campbell Norris, Rajpreet Singh Dhaliwal, Andrew David Clarke