Ford Patent Applications

Ford patent applications that are pending before the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20240127137
    Abstract: Systems and methods for fleet management for a fleet of vehicles include collecting data associated with the fleet of vehicles including data associated with a plurality of vehicle operations affecting degradation of each vehicle in the fleet of vehicles, determining a composite score associated with the fleet of vehicles based on the collected data, the composite score associated with both an average score for the fleet and a standard deviation score associated with each vehicle in the fleet of vehicles, wherein a higher composite score relates to a slower degradation of the fleet of vehicles, and altering assignment of the plurality of vehicle operations assigned to each vehicle in the fleet of vehicles based on the composite score data to enable a higher composite score by equalizing an average degradation of the fleet of vehicles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2022
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Sanjay Dayal, Ryan O'Gorman, Pietro Buttolo
  • Publication number: 20240129888
    Abstract: Rider identification systems and methods using motion sensing are disclosed herein. An example method includes obtaining a location of a mobile device associated with an individual, obtaining sensor data from the mobile device that includes a first motion profile, the sensor data also including environment information around the location, generating a motion model for the individual using the environment information, generating a second motion profile using the motion model, comparing the second motion profile to the first motion profile, and confirming when the second motion profile matches the first motion profile to confirm that the individual is at the location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2022
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Michael Herman, Alexander George Shanku
  • Publication number: 20240129637
    Abstract: When multiple display screens share data from different control units, the screens may flicker or have other anomalies when the control units are not synced. A system and method for detecting flickering or other anomalies includes receiving a video feed of a display screen to be tested, recording, from the video feed, a video file of a predetermined length that includes a plurality of frames, selecting a region of interest in a frame of the video file to define a template image; and performing a pattern matching between the template image and a pattern image of respective frames in the video file to detect anomalies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2022
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ivan Abel Rodriguez, Enrique Gonzalez
  • Publication number: 20240126594
    Abstract: A computer includes a processor and a memory, and the memory stores instructions executable by the processor to execute an application in an isolated software environment on a controller of a vehicle; upon receiving a command from the application to actuate a component of the vehicle, prevent the command from being transmitted to the component; and upon receiving the command, transmit the command to a location in the memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2022
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Abdullah Ali Husain, Anushree Nagvekar, Srujan Reddy Maram, Nasser Shuaibi, Vyacheslav Zavadsky, Satish Rayarapu, Mirela Ioana Fonoage
  • Publication number: 20240127642
    Abstract: A computer includes a processor and a memory, and the memory stores instructions executable by the processor to receive time-series data from sensors of a vehicle, determine an efficiency of the vehicle, and determine a probability of a fault occurring in the vehicle based on the time-series data and on the efficiency. The efficiency is energy consumption by the vehicle per distance traveled by the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2022
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chris Wolf, Nicholas B. Chase, Michael W. Degner
  • Publication number: 20240129301
    Abstract: A gateway device or the like in a vehicle can receive a packet from a device, such as an electronic control unit in the vehicle, via a port to a vehicle network. Upon determining that the device is defined on the vehicle network and not authenticated to the vehicle network, it can be determined whether the packet is an authentication packet. Upon determining that the packet is an authentication packet, it can be attempted to authenticate the device until authentication is successful or a threshold number of attempts is exceeded. Upon determining that the threshold number of attempts is exceeded, the port can be disabled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2022
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yangho Kim, Rajesh Balaji Vijayan
  • Publication number: 20240123874
    Abstract: A system for reconfiguring a seating assembly within a vehicle, the system comprising identifying an adjacent surface within an interior of the vehicle, calculating a distance between the seating assembly and the adjacent surface, wherein the configuration is an occupiable seating configuration, and further wherein the occupiable seating configuration has a mode chosen from a forward facing mode and a rearward facing mode, storing the distance between the seating assembly and the adjacent surface, receiving a user input to transition the seating assembly from one occupiable seating configuration mode chosen from the forward facing mode and the rearward facing mode toward the other mode, and controlling the configuration of the seating assembly to transition from one occupiable seating configuration mode chosen from the forward facing mode and the rearward facing mode toward the other of the forward facing mode and the rearward facing mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2022
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Marcos Silva Kondrad, Patrick Maloney, Kevin VanNieulande, Kevin Wayne Preuss, Johnathan Andrew Line
  • Publication number: 20240123807
    Abstract: A structural assembly for an electric vehicle includes a vehicle frame, a battery structure, a pair of mounting structures, and a plurality of fasteners. The vehicle frame includes opposed longitudinal rails. The battery structure is disposed between the opposed longitudinal rails and includes a battery housing configured to house power storage units. Each mounting structure is secured to a respective side of the battery housing and supports a corresponding longitudinal rail. The plurality of fasteners extend through a corresponding mounting structure of the pair of mounting structures and a corresponding longitudinal rail of the opposed longitudinal rails to secure the vehicle frame and the battery structure to each other. An outer periphery of the corresponding mounting structure is substantially flush with an outer periphery of the corresponding longitudinal rail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2022
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Henry W. Hausler, Patrick Daniel Maguire, Scott J. Bell, Conor Daniel Hennessey
  • Publication number: 20240123808
    Abstract: A structural assembly for an electric vehicle includes a vehicle frame and a battery structure. The vehicle frame is distinct from a vehicle body and includes a front section, a rear section and a mid-section disposed between the front and rear sections. The mid-section includes opposed longitudinal rails. The battery structure is configured to house power storage units and is disposed between the opposed longitudinal rails. The battery structure includes a battery housing secured to the opposed longitudinal rails of the mid-section. The mid-section and the battery housing are combined into a unitized structure that is removably secured to the front and rear sections of the vehicle frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2022
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Henry W. Hausler, Conor Daniel Hennessey, Scott J. Bell, Patrick Daniel Maguire
  • Publication number: 20240123939
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a first pillar and a second pillar spaced along a vehicle-longitudinal axis. The first pillar and the second pillar define a door opening therebetween. An airbag is above the door opening in an uninflated position and is inflatable across the door opening to an inflated position. A cable is above the door opening when the airbag is in the uninflated position. The cable extends across the door opening from the first pillar to the second pillar when the airbag is in the inflated position. A pyrotechnic retractor is below the airbag and the cable when the airbag is in the uninflated position. The pyrotechnic retractor is connected to the cable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2022
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mohammad Omar Faruque, Dean M. Jaradi, S.M. Iskander Farooq, Saeed D. Barbat
  • Publication number: 20240127048
    Abstract: A system is disclosed that includes a computer that includes a processor and a memory, the memory including instructions executable by the processor to acquire real world sensor data from a mobile platform for a first time period. The real world sensor data from the mobile platform can be input to a first neural network to predict sensor data of the mobile platform for a second time period that is prior to the first time period. The predicted sensor data and the real world sensor data can be input to a simulation of the mobile platform; wherein the simulation outputs predicted real world operation of the mobile platform based on the predicted sensor data for the second time period and the real world sensor data for the first time period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2022
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Michael Herman, Shaheer Zafar
  • Publication number: 20240124010
    Abstract: A vehicle driving assistance system is disclosed. The system may include a transceiver configured to receive a source location and a destination location for a user trip, a user driving information and road information associated with a plurality of geographical zones between the source location and the destination location. The system may further include a processor configured to calculate a user driving index based on the user driving information. Further, the processor may be configured to calculate a zone index for each geographical zone based on the road information. The processor may be further configured to correlate the user driving index and the zone index, and calculate a driver assistance index for each geographical zone based on the correlation. The processor may perform a control action when the calculated driver assistance index is greater than a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2022
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Syed Amaar Ahmad, Azin Neishaboori
  • Publication number: 20240125611
    Abstract: Systems and methods for optimizing routes and water usage are disclosed herein. An example method includes determining calendar data for a traveler, the calendar data including trip information for a trip, determining a current water supply for the traveler, determining water generation capability of a vehicle used by the traveler for the trip, predictively determining a water estimate for the trip, determining when the water supply and the water generation capability substantially correspond to the water estimate, and providing an alert to the traveler when the water supply and the water generation capability are insufficient relative to the water estimate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2022
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robert D. Bedard, Douglas Raymond Martin
  • Publication number: 20240124079
    Abstract: A method of directing a vehicle body through a paint process includes obtaining, by a vehicle manufacturing system, process operation data from a vehicle body process. The process operation data is indicative of an operation state of an identified machine performing a selected body operation as part of the vehicle body process. The method includes determining, by the vehicle manufacturing system, whether a recognized fault has occurred based on the process operation data, identifying a potential vehicle body imperfection based on a paint process model and the recognized fault, and providing, by the vehicle manufacturing system, a notification to the paint process of the potential vehicle body imperfection for the vehicle body, where the notification includes location information of the potential vehicle body imperfection, a remedial action for addressing the potential vehicle body imperfection, a recommended resource allocation, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2022
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Gary David Farquhar, Marc Tornero Soria, Brian Lucatch, Mitchell Goepel
  • Publication number: 20240125000
    Abstract: A method of plating a substrate includes etching at least a portion of a surface of the substrate to form voids within the surface. The substrate includes a composite material with a network of electrically conductive nanostructures dispersed therein. Electrodes are attached to the substrate, it is placed in a bath of a first electrically conductive metal, and a voltage is applied to the substrate through the electrodes to deposit a first electrically conductive metal layer onto the surface of the substrate, and a second electrically conductive metal layer is electroplated thereon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2022
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Deborah Frances Mielewski, Paul Kenneth Dellock, LaRon Michelle Brown, Stuart C. Salter, Alper Kiziltas
  • Publication number: 20240123953
    Abstract: A system for braking a host vehicle. A memory storing instructions executable by a processor includes instructions to actuate friction brakes in the host vehicle when a brake condition occurs. The brake condition includes that the host vehicle is parked on a roadway, a person is located exterior to the host vehicle, and an approaching vehicle will come within a distance threshold of the host vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2022
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brendan Francis Diamond, Stuart C. Salter, Kenneth McHugh, Keith Weston
  • Publication number: 20240123946
    Abstract: A sensor assembly includes a blower, a sensor, an air nozzle positioned to receive airflow from the blower and eject the airflow onto the sensor, an air pump positioned to eject airflow onto the sensor, and a heater mounted to the air pump and positioned to heat airflow passing through the air pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2022
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Venkatesh Krishnan, Rashaun Phinisee, Michael Robertson, JR., Segundo Baldovino, LaRon Michelle Brown
  • Publication number: 20240123942
    Abstract: A vehicle puddle lamp assembly including a housing, a lens coupled to the housing, and a printed circuit board mounted to the housing. At least one near-infrared light source to emit near-infrared light through the lens is coupled to the printed circuit board. A palm image sensor is also coupled to the printed circuit board. The palm image sensor is configured to detect a palm vein pattern illuminated by the near-infrared light and reflected from a user's palm through the lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2022
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Prashant Dubey, Roy Daniel Chapman, Christopher Storms
  • Publication number: 20240116385
    Abstract: Systems and methods for managing the allocation of incoming charge power between an on-board power supply power output and HV battery power input. An electric vehicle (EV) may be used to provide power to one or more electrical devices connected to an on-board power supply of the EV. When the EV is connected to a charging device, a rate of charge may be determined. An allocation of the incoming charge power from the charging device may be determined as between a high voltage (HV) battery of the electric vehicle and the on-board power supply of the electric vehicle. Power may be simultaneously provided to the HV battery and the on-board power supply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2022
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Vyas Shenoy, Tyler James-Ray Kaldobsky, David Lew, Brendan Diamond
  • Publication number: 20240116368
    Abstract: A wheel motor compensation system is for a vehicle. The vehicle has a wheel motor and a tire coupled to the wheel motor. The system includes a hybrid wireless tire sensor (HWTS) coupled to an interior of the tire, a processor electrically connected to the wheel motor, and a memory. The memory has instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations including gathering real time data with the HWTS, and utilizing the real time data to compensate the wheel motor so that preferred torque is applied to the tire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2022
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan Engels, Mahmoud Ghannam, Sai Prasanth Velusamy, Dilip Patel
  • Publication number: 20240116382
    Abstract: This disclosure is generally directed to systems and methods related to an electric vehicle charging arrangement. An example method executed by a first computer can include evaluating an agreement between a first party associated with an electric vehicle and a second party associated with a property in which the first computer can be located. The method can further include granting to a second computer of the electric vehicle, an authorization to permit the electric vehicle to enter the property of the second party during a time slot defined in the agreement; and granting, to the electric vehicle, access to an electric vehicle charging station on the property during the time slot defined in the agreement. The time slot, which is available for use on a repetitive basis over a stipulated period of time, can be outside of business hours of an activity performed by the second party on the property.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2022
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Ryan O'Gorman, Ryan Edwin Hanson, Peter Phung, John Van Wiemeersch
  • Publication number: 20240116401
    Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly includes a seat base, a seatback, a track assembly, a front actuator assembly, and a rear actuator assembly. The seat base includes forward and rearward regions. The seatback is pivotably coupled to the seat base proximate to the rearward region. The track assembly is coupled to the seat base. The track assembly includes an upper track and a lower track. The upper track is movable relative to the lower track. The front actuator assembly couples the seat base to the upper track proximate to the forward region. The rear actuator assembly couples the seat base to the upper track proximate to the rearward region. The vehicle seating assembly is movable between a design position, a lowered position, a raised position, and a reclined-and-raised position by adjusting at least one component chosen from the front actuator assembly and the rear actuator assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2022
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas J. Susko
  • Publication number: 20240116449
    Abstract: A glove box for a vehicle includes a bin having an upper rim and defining a storage cavity accessible via an opening defined by the upper rim. The glove box further includes a retainer pivotably coupled to the bin and operable to pivot relative to the bin between a first position and a second position. In the first position, a portion of the retainer is positioned within the storage cavity. In the second position, the retainer is positioned wholly outside of the storage cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2022
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Gregory Paul Thomas
  • Publication number: 20240116363
    Abstract: Electric vehicle battery monitoring systems and methods are disclosed herein. An example method includes displaying a state of charge for a battery of an electric vehicle on a display screen of the electric vehicle, determining a frequency of how often a user views the state of charge, inferring that the user has anxiety over a range for the electric vehicle based on the frequency, and presenting the user with options to extend the state of charge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2022
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Swati Rawat, Bhagyashri Satyabodha Katti, Fling Finn Tseng, Himanshu Verma, Kwaku O. Prakah-Asante
  • Publication number: 20240116437
    Abstract: A trailer sideswipe avoidance system for a vehicle towing a trailer includes a sensor system configured to detect an object in an operating environment of the vehicle. The trailer sideswipe avoidance system also includes a controller that processes information received from the sensor system to determine whether an object detected in the operating environment of the vehicle is in a forward travel path of the towed trailer as the vehicle turns. The trailer sideswipe avoidance system further includes a visual display that displays bird's eye view representations of the vehicle and the trailer and a collision warning band that extends around at least a portion of the bird's eye view representation of the trailer. A portion of the collision warning band changes color based on the controller determining that the object is in the travel path of the towed trailer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2022
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Hira Khan, Douglas Rogan
  • Publication number: 20240116347
    Abstract: A single monolithic body extends in a longitudinal direction and includes multiple closed sections stacked vertically. A first end portion of the single monolithic body extends from one of the closed sections into an adjacent closed section, and a second end portion of the single monolithic body extends from one of the closed sections, along an exterior of an adjacent closed section, and laterally away from the single monolithic body to form a connecting flange.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2022
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Vladimir Vladimirovich Bogachuk, Kevin A. Gustafson, Robert Reiners
  • Publication number: 20240116507
    Abstract: An adaptive control system is for a vehicle having an advanced driver assistance system (ADAS). The system includes a hybrid wireless tire sensor (HWTS) coupled to an interior of a tire of the vehicle, a processor electrically connected to the ADAS, and a memory. The memory has instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations including gathering real time data with the HWTS, and utilizing the real time data with the ADAS to adaptively control the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2022
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan Engels, Dilip Patel, Mahmoud Ghannam, Sai Prasanth Velusamy
  • Publication number: 20240120816
    Abstract: A rotor includes a plurality of rotor cores arranged in a vertical stack, an end plate having a specified roughness on a surface engaging the vertical stack, and a binder material bonding the end plate to the vertical stack of rotor cores. The specified roughness is configured to allow venting of air beyond the end plate and to prevent passage of resin beyond the end plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2022
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Devan James Anderson, Singar Rathnam
  • Publication number: 20240116245
    Abstract: An apparatus for producing a component by fused filament fabrication includes a substrate plate for depositing layers of the component. The substrate plate is magnetized before depositing a first layer of the component on the substrate plate by the fused filament fabrication, the first layer including a first substance that contains magnetic material. At least one further layer of the component including a second substance that does not contain a magnetic material is deposited on the first layer by the fused filament fabrication, and the substrate plate is demagnetized after forming the component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2023
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Baranowski, Maik Broda, Markus Franzen, Pascal Rebmann
  • Publication number: 20240118880
    Abstract: A vehicle system includes a first control module. The first control module is programmed to generate an update command including a plurality of authentication keys and a mapping associating the authentication keys with a plurality of second control modules transmit the update command over a vehicle network. The update command is functionally addressed to be receivable by the second control modules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2022
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Venkata Kishore Kajuluri, Jacob David Nelson, Cameron Smyth
  • Publication number: 20240116512
    Abstract: A drive mode adaptation system is for a vehicle. The vehicle has a drive mode selector. The system includes a hybrid wireless tire sensor (HWTS) coupled to an interior of a tire of the vehicle, a processor electrically connected to the drive mode selector, and a memory. The memory has instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations including gathering real time data with the HWTS, and utilizing the real time data with the drive mode selector to determine a preferred drive mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2022
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan Engels, Dilip B. Patel, Mahmoud Yousef Ghannam, Sai Prasanth Velusamy
  • Publication number: 20240116578
    Abstract: A vehicle having a tailgate configured to move between retracted and extended positions is disclosed. The vehicle includes a first detection unit, a second detection unit, a third detection unit and a control unit. The control unit obtains a first input from the first detection unit and determines whether the tailgate is in extended position. The control unit further obtains a second input and a third input from the second and third detection units respectively, when the tailgate is in the extended position. Responsive to obtaining the second and third inputs, the control unit identifies a tailgate extended orientation. In addition, the control unit detects an obstacle presence in a vehicle rear side proximity and calculates a calibrated distance between the obstacle and a tailgate top side, based on the tailgate extended orientation. The control unit notifies a vehicle user when the calibrated distance is less than a threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2022
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mahmoud Yousef Ghannam, Bradford Scott Bondy, Muhannad Anwar Hamdan, Christian Wegner
  • Publication number: 20240116572
    Abstract: A structural assembly of a vehicle includes a pair of hinge pillars, a pair of channel members and a pair of rails. Each channel member of the pair of channel members includes a vertical wall, a top wall, and a bottom wall. The vertical wall is secured to a respective hinge pillar of the pair of hinge pillars and the bottom wall is spaced apart from and below the top wall to define a cavity therebetween. A longitudinal portion of each rail of the pair of rails is secured to a respective channel member of the pair of channel members and at least partially received in the cavity. The longitudinal portion of the rail extends along a longitudinal direction of the vehicle above a respective wheel well of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2022
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dragan B. Stojkovic, Joseph Antoni, Andre Jurkiewicz, Karen Nuler
  • Publication number: 20240119119
    Abstract: A method includes generating one or more nominal images of at least a portion of a digital twin of an environment, defining one or more anomalous characteristics of the one or more components, generating one or more anomalous images of the portion of the digital twin of the environment based on the field of view and the one or more anomalous characteristics, performing a tessellation routine and a texture mapping routine on the one or more nominal images and the one or more anomalous images to generate a plurality of synthetic images, and labeling, for each synthetic image from among the plurality of synthetic images, the synthetic image as one of an anomalous type, a nominal type, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2023
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Walter Laplante, Francis Maslar, Harry Kekedjian, Nagharajhan KPK, Siva Sankar R.
  • Publication number: 20240116745
    Abstract: A system to display liquid levels in vehicle auxiliary tanks is disclosed. The vehicle includes a plurality of auxiliary tanks disposed on a vehicle cargo bed. The vehicle further includes a first detection unit to detect a user activity associated with the plurality of auxiliary tanks, and a second detection unit to measure a vehicle weight. The vehicle further includes a control unit to identify a first auxiliary tank, from the plurality of auxiliary tanks, which is associated with the user activity. The control unit further determines a vehicle weight change based on the measurement of weight and an initial vehicle weight. In addition, the control unit correlates first auxiliary tank identification and weight change determination, and calculates a liquid level change associated with the first auxiliary tank. Responsive to the calculation, the control unit displays the liquid level change on a user interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2022
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Aed M. Dudar
  • Publication number: 20240116159
    Abstract: A tool system for installing a parking pawl includes a tool that includes a base, a plate, and an actuator. The base includes a base surface configured to support a parking pawl in a predetermined position. The plate includes a protrusion that extends upward from a front portion of the plate. A rear portion of the plate is coupled to a front portion of the base. The plate is movable relative to the base between a retention position in which the protrusion is positioned to retain a pawl spring loaded on the parking pawl in a pretensioned state, and a release position in which the protrusion is configured to release the pawl spring. The actuator is operably coupled to the plate such that activation of the actuator moves the plate between the retention position and the release position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2022
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Brandon Paul Wilson, Zachary Alan Westhoff, Edward Lee Hollingsworth, Sr., David Eastman, Thomas Edward Krol
  • Publication number: 20240119514
    Abstract: A peer-to-peer (P2P) vehicle sharing method is disclosed. The method includes receiving a request from a user to rent a vehicle. The request includes a rent time period. The method further includes receiving a plurality of inputs associated with the user. The plurality of inputs includes a vehicle type for the vehicle owned by the user. Responsive to receiving the request and the plurality of inputs, the method includes obtaining a set of available vehicles, and corresponding availability periods associated with the available vehicles. The method further includes determining a rent time period overlap extent with the available vehicles' availability periods. Based on the overlap extent determination and the plurality of inputs, the method includes selecting the rent vehicle from the set of available vehicles, and reserving the rent vehicle for the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2022
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yifan Chen, Sarah Garrow
  • Publication number: 20240120851
    Abstract: An electrified vehicle includes an active discharge system having a plurality of resistors connected in parallel, a switch connected in series with the plurality of resistors with the switch and the plurality of resistors connected across positive and negative legs of a high-voltage DC bus, and a controller coupled to the switch and programmed to close the switch in response to a vehicle shutdown signal, and in response to voltage of the DC bus exceeding a first threshold after a predetermined elapsed time from closing the switch, open the switch. The controller may also open the switch when the voltage of the DC bus is below a second threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2022
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Hongjie WU, Yuqing TANG
  • Publication number: 20240119817
    Abstract: A theft detection system for a vehicle is provided. The theft detection system includes a hybrid wireless tire sensor (HWTS) coupled to an interior of a tire of the vehicle, a processor, and a memory. The memory has instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations including detecting a change in voltage across the HWTS responsive to a change in deformation of the tire, and determining, based on the change in deformation of the tire, if a theft is occurring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2022
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan Engels, Mahmoud Ghannam, Sai Prasanth Velusamy, Dilip Patel
  • Publication number: 20240108130
    Abstract: A rack system for a cargo space of a commercial vehicle having a rack with at least one shelf and at least one adjusting device for adjusting the shelf about a pivot axis extending in the width direction of the rack between a loading and unloading setting and a transport setting, In order to provide a rack system that can be used more efficiently and more ergonomically, the adjusting device is designed in such a way that a tilt angle of the shelf in the transport setting is greater than in the loading and unloading setting, and a load surface of the shelf in the transport setting faces away from an access side of the rack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2023
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jeroen Lem, Marcel Grein, Ilya Popov
  • Publication number: 20240109485
    Abstract: A vehicle-aided detection system for a vehicle is provided herein. The vehicle-aided detection system includes an end effector that is movable in an operating environment and coupled to a cargo bed via a robotic arm. A sensor system is configured to detect the end effector and at least one person in the operating environment. A controller is configured to process information received from the sensor system and to determine a physical profile of at least one person. The controller then determines whether user-worn equipment is equipped by the at least one person.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Brendan Diamond, Mario Anthony Santillo, Keith Weston, David Brian Glickman
  • Publication number: 20240109407
    Abstract: A structural assembly for an electric vehicle includes a battery structure, a pair of mounting structures, lower fasteners and upper fasteners. The battery structure is configured to house power storage units. Each mounting structure is secured to a respective side of the battery structure. Each lower fastener extends through a lower portion of a respective mounting structure and a bottom portion of a respective rocker of the vehicle body. Each upper fastener extends through an upper portion of the respective rocker and a top portion of the respective mounting structure. The upper fasteners secure the battery pack and the vehicle body at an upper attachment point and the lower fasteners secure the battery pack and the vehicle body at a lower attachment point. The lower attachment point is vertically offset from the upper attachment point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Ari Garo Caliskan
  • Publication number: 20240112454
    Abstract: A system and method includes determining uncertainty estimation in an object detection deep neural network (DNN) by retrieving a calibration dataset from a validation dataset that includes scores associated with all classes in an image, including a background (BG) class, determining background ground truth boxes in the calibration dataset by comparing ground truth boxes with detection boxes generated by the object detection DNN using an intersection over union (IoU) threshold, correcting for class imbalance between ground truth boxes and background ground truth boxes in a ground truth class by updating the ground truth class to include a number of background ground truth boxes based on a number of ground truth boxes in the ground truth class, estimating uncertainty of the object detection DNN based on the class imbalance correction, and updating output data sets of the object detection DNN based on the class imbalance correction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2022
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Sandhya Bhaskar, Nikita Jaipuria, Jinesh Jain, Shreyasha Paudel
  • Publication number: 20240110019
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an elastic polymer aerogel material includes dissolving tire waste in a first portion of a solvent to form a first mixture; dissolving a polymer having at least one double carbon-carbon bond in a second portion of the solvent to form a second mixture; combining the first mixture and the second mixture, wherein the tire waste reacts with the polymer having at least one double carbon-carbon bond to form a reactant gel; and undergoing a solvent exchange on the reactant gel followed by freeze drying the reactant gel to form the elastic polymer aerogel material. The tire waste includes natural rubber, synthetic polymers, steel, and curing systems, and the elastic polymer aerogel material defines a 3D porous structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2023
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Haibo Zhao, Katherine Avery Vozar, Alper Kiziltas, Deborah Frances Mielewski
  • Publication number: 20240113376
    Abstract: A grounding assembly for a battery enclosure includes a washer including a first serrated surface and a second serrated surface opposite the first serrated surface, a fastener including a serrated surface configured to mate with the second serrated surface of the washer, and a seal disposed on the washer. The first serrated surface is configured to remove a non-conductive coating from the battery enclosure. The seal is configured to form a watertight barrier between the washer and the battery enclosure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Samuel Jeffrey Tomlinson, Alexander Robert Rink, Nathaniel Conti
  • Publication number: 20240109507
    Abstract: An assembly includes a vehicle roof and a vehicle floor spaced from the vehicle roof. The assembly includes a seat supported by the vehicle floor. The seat is rotatable about an axis of rotation from a forward-facing position to a rearward-facing position and the seat being movable along a vehicle-longitudinal axis. The assembly includes a post elongated from the vehicle floor to the vehicle roof. The post is slidable along the vehicle roof and the vehicle floor along the vehicle-longitudinal axis adjacent the seat. The assembly includes an airbag supported by the post.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2022
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mohammad Omar Faruque, Dean M. Jaradi, S.M. Iskander Farooq
  • Publication number: 20240109495
    Abstract: A rack system for a cargo space of a commercial vehicle is provided having a rack with at least one shelf and a movement device for moving the rack between a transport position, in which the rack can be arranged completely in the cargo space, and an access position, in which the rack can be arranged at least partially outside the cargo space. In order to provide a rack system which can be used more efficiently in respect of available cargo space, the rack system has a receiving unit for at least partially receiving at least one cargo item which can be arranged in the rack, wherein the receiving unit is arranged on the shelf so as to be displaceable in a depth direction of the rack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2023
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Marcel Grein, Jeroen Lem, Ilya Popov
  • Publication number: 20240109460
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a body defining a cabin interior, a seat assembly having a seat base, a seat back and a plurality of actuators configured to adjust ergonomic positions of the seat assembly. The vehicle has a first imaging system located in the cabin interior and configured to capture first images of an upper body of an occupant seated on the seat assembly, and a second imaging system configured to capture second images of a lower body of the occupant seated on the seat assembly. A controller processes the first and second images to determine dimension data and position data of the occupant and determines an adjusted ergonomic configuration of the seating assembly, and controls the actuators to adjust the seat assembly to the adjusted ergonomic configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Josue Rodrigo Rangel Sanchez, Alexis Alcantara, Armando Ayala Huaracha, Paula Rocio Moreno Roa, Jesus Munoz
  • Publication number: 20240111291
    Abstract: Building infrastructure and robot coordination methods and systems are disclosed herein. An example method can include preregistering an autonomous vehicle with a building controller of a building to inform the building controller of arrival of the autonomous vehicle and a delivery request for a package, the delivery request specifying a recipient of the package, the recipient having a location in the building. The method can include determining completion of a validation routine with the autonomous vehicle, assigning a task management plan to the autonomous vehicle, the task management plan determining how the autonomous vehicle navigates through the building to deliver the package to the location, and tracking the autonomous vehicle through the building.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Geoffrey Horowitz, Yifan Chen, Sarah Garrow, Gregory Linkowski, Meghna Menon, Songan Zhang
  • Publication number: 20240112147
    Abstract: This disclosure is generally directed to systems and methods related to providing assistance services to a disabled vehicle. In an example embodiment, a method executed by a first processor in a vehicle may involve detecting an event that places the vehicle in a disabled condition; transmitting information associated with the event to a second processor; and detecting an arrival of a assistance vehicle that is dispatched by the second processor based on an automated evaluation of the information associated with the event. The second processor, which can be, for example, a part of a server computer, may evaluate the information in order to identify an assistance vehicle having equipment for providing the assistance service. In an example scenario, the disabled vehicle and/or the assistance vehicle can be an autonomous vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Keith Weston, Brendan Diamond, Jordan Barrett, Michael Alan Mcnees, Andrew Denis Lewandowski