Patents by Inventor James J. Surman

James J. Surman has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • LUMINESCENT WINDSHIELD DISPLAY
    Publication number: 20180147990
    Abstract: A display system of a vehicle is provided herein. The display system includes light sources and an indicator that luminesces in response to light excitation by the light sources. A controller is provided for selectively operating each of the light sources based on input from one or more proximity sensors. The indicator luminesces in one of a number of colors depending on which of the light sources is activated and each color indicates the proximity of a detected object relative to the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2016
    Publication date: May 31, 2018
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Paul Kenneth Dellock, James J. Surman, Aaron Bradley Johnson
  • BADGE ASSEMBLIES THAT EMANATE VISIBLE IRIDESCENT PATTERNS
    Publication number: 20180141493
    Abstract: A badge assembly that includes a translucent, polymeric badge comprising an edge and an interior surface with a diffraction grating having a thickness from 250 nm to 1000 nm and a period from 50 nm to 5 microns; LED sources oriented toward the edge; and fascia configured to obscure the sources. Further, the grating diffracts light from the LED sources through the badge as a visible iridescent pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Publication date: May 24, 2018
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Paul Kenneth Dellock, James J. Surman
  • VEHICLE TRIM COMPONENTS
    Publication number: 20180126922
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an instrument panel. A trim piece is positioned on the instrument panel and includes a surface defining a pattern. The pattern includes a body portion and a border portion. A diffraction grating is positioned within the boarder portion. The diffraction grating has a thickness of between about 250 nm to about 1000 nm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2016
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Paul Kenneth Dellock, James J. Surman, Michael A. Musleh, Joseph Myszka
  • HOLOGRAPHIC PROXIMITY SWITCH
    Publication number: 20180131372
    Abstract: A vehicle switch is provided that includes a substrate. A holographic film is positioned on the substrate. A first light source and a second light source are configured to emit a light onto the film and a proximity switch assembly is positioned on the substrate. The holographic film is configured to create a projected image above the holographic film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2016
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Paul Kenneth Dellock, James J. Surman, David Brian Glickman
  • Vehicle wheel illumination assembly using photoluminescent material
    Patent number: 9963001
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel illumination assembly includes a light source located on the body of a vehicle near the wheel well and oriented to direct light onto a wheel assembly having a tire. A tire pressure indicator detects tire pressure of the tire. The light source illuminates the wheel assembly with a desired color to indicate a tire pressure status based on the detected tire pressure. A photoluminescent material is located on the wheel assembly and configured to luminesce in response to excitation by the light assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, James J. Surman, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Cornel Lewis Gardner, Ali Ammar
  • VEHICLE ILLUMINATED TRIM
    Publication number: 20180118101
    Abstract: A vehicle film is provided herein. The vehicle film includes a base layer. A light guide is disposed above a surface of the base layer. An indicia layer is operably coupled with the light guide. The indicia layer has first and second sheets that include first and second luminescent structures respectively thereon. A light source is operably coupled with the light guide. The first and second luminescent structures luminesce in response to an excitation light emitted by the light source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Jeffrey Singer, James J. Surman
  • Vehicle seating assembly
    Patent number: 9956898
    Abstract: A seating assembly is provided herein. The seating assembly includes a partition disposed between first and second seats. The partition includes a panel movable between a stowed position and a deployed position along a track assembly. A lamp is optically coupled with the panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Paul Kenneth Dellock, Stuart C. Salter, James J. Surman, Annette Lynn Huebner, Joshua Greiner
  • Vehicle trim assembly
    Patent number: 9958138
    Abstract: A trim assembly for a vehicle is provided herein. The trim assembly includes a substrate and a housing forming a cavity therebetween. A conductive layer is coupled to the housing and has first and second portions each including an electrically conductive material. The first portion is separated from the second portion by an electrically insulative gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, James J. Surman
  • ESD protection for dynamic lighting
    Patent number: 9949334
    Abstract: A lighting assembly including a circuit is disclosed. The circuit is configured to be disposed in a panel defining a cavity forming an opening. The circuit includes a light source in communication with a controller and an exposed conductive portion conductively connected to an isolation terminal. The exposed conductive portion is oriented proximate the opening and provides a path for an electrical discharge to protect the light source from the electrical discharge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, James J. Surman, Cornel Lewis Gardner, Steven J. Antilla, Daniel Weckstein
  • SMART DROP OFF LIGHTING SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20180099609
    Abstract: A lighting system is provided herein. The lighting system includes a number of lights and a portable electronic device carried by a vehicle occupant. A controller is in communication with a sensing system and configured to detect a cabin location of the electronic device, assign a seating area to the electronic device, and operate only the lights associated with the seating area based on information indicative of an impending departure of the vehicle occupant from the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2016
    Publication date: April 12, 2018
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Pietro Buttolo, Cornel Lewis Gardner, James J. Surman, James Stewart Rankin, II
  • VEHICLE ILLUMINATED TRIM
    Publication number: 20180086255
    Abstract: A trim member for a vehicle is provided herein. The trim member includes a carrier structure. A decorative layer is coupled to the carrier structure forming a cavity therebetween. A protective layer is disposed over the decorative layer. A first plurality of beads is disposed within the decorative layer and contains a first photoluminescent structure therein. A second plurality of beads is disposed within the decorative layer and contains a second photoluminescent structure therein. A light source causes the first and second photoluminescent structures independently luminesce in response to an excitation light emitted by the light source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2016
    Publication date: March 29, 2018
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Jeffrey Singer, James J. Surman
  • AUTONOMOUS SENSING VEHICLE PEDALS
    Publication number: 20180079426
    Abstract: A system includes a controller in a vehicle in communication with sensors supported on pedals of the vehicle. The controller includes instructions for determining a user intention based on a detected movement of a foot of the user. Upon determination that the user intention is to take over control the vehicle, the controller sets a control mode of the vehicle to a manual control mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2016
    Publication date: March 22, 2018
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Pietro Buttolo, James J. Surman
  • VEHICLE APPARATUS FOR CHARGING PHOTOLUMINESCENT UTILITIES
    Publication number: 20180069426
    Abstract: A vehicle charging compartment is disclosed. The compartment comprises a charging device comprising a plurality of light sources configured to emit a charging emission. The light sources are disposed on an interior surface formed by the compartment. A controller is configured to selectively illuminate the charging device in response to an environmental condition and a vehicle fault communicated to the controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2016
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Annette Lynn Huebner, Kristin Ann Hellman, James J. Surman
  • Illuminated cup holder
    Patent number: 9902319
    Abstract: A vehicle cup holder includes a console substrate defining a cup well. A light source is positioned proximate the cup well. An insert is positioned within the cup well and defines a base wall and a side wall, wherein at least one of the base wall and the side wall defines a diffraction grating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Christopher Anthony Danowski, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Pietro Buttolo, James J. Surman
  • Printed LED heat sink double lock
    Patent number: 9905743
    Abstract: A light emitting assembly is disclosed. The assembly comprises a heat sink of an electrically conductive material configured to function as a first electrode. A plurality of LEDs in a semiconductor ink is disposed on the first electrode and operable to emit an excitation emission. The assembly further comprises a second electrode in communication with the plurality of LEDs and at least one photoluminescent layer proximate at least one of the electrodes. The photoluminescent layer is configured to convert the excitation emission to an output emission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Paul Kenneth Dellock, James J. Surman
  • Illuminated badge for a vehicle
    Patent number: 9889791
    Abstract: A badge is provided herein. The badge includes a viewable portion having indicia thereon. A viewable portion light source is configured to emit light towards the viewable portion. A feature portion light source is configured to emit light towards a feature portion. A peripheral light source is configured to emit light through a periphery of the badge. Each light source is independently controlled by a controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Aaron Bradley Johnson, James J. Surman, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Michael Musleh
  • VEHICLE RIDE SHARING SYSTEM AND METHOD USING SMART MODULES
    Publication number: 20180039917
    Abstract: A vehicle sharing system includes a vehicle having interior transceiver modules associated with different passenger seating areas and a vehicle computing system (VCS) including a processor and a memory in communication with the modules and programmed to detect occupancy status of each seating area based on signals from the modules and to communicate the occupancy statuses to a remote server to facilitate scheduling of ride-sharing passengers for a specified seating area of the vehicle. The reserved seating location may be used to align the seating location/door with a passenger during pick-up, adjust vehicle accessory settings associated with the reserved seating location, and activate a visual indicator to direct the passenger to the assigned/reserved seating location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2016
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Inventors: Pietro BUTTOLO, Stuart C. SALTER, James Stewart RANKIN, II, James J. SURMAN, Annette Lynn HUEBNER, Jeffrey A. WALLACE, Cornel Lewis GARDNER
  • VEHICLE-BASED SMART COOLER
    Publication number: 20180038633
    Abstract: Example apparatus and methods are disclosed for a vehicle-based smart cooler. An example disclosed cooler includes an electric cooling unit, a plurality of sensors, a wireless node, and a cooling control unit. The example wireless node communicatively couples to the vehicle. The example cooling control unit monitors a charge margin of the vehicle and, in response to the charge margin being below a threshold, activates a power management technique.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2016
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Inventors: Pietro Buttolo, Stuart C. Salter, James J. Surman
  • STORAGE COMPARTMENT AND HANGING STORAGE MODULE HAVING ILLUMINATED TAB
    Publication number: 20180037169
    Abstract: A vehicle storage compartment includes a support structure, power contacts, and a hanging storage module such as a file folder supported on the support structure and electrically coupled to the power contacts. The module includes a storage pocket, support arms supporting the pocket and configured to be supported on the support structure, and electrical conductors coupled to the contacts. The module further includes a tab comprising a light source and a user input sensor, wherein the light source illuminates storage the module when the user input sensor detects a user input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2016
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Inventors: Scott Holmes Dunham, Stuart C. Salter, James J. Surman
  • ILLUMINATED SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE
    Publication number: 20180015877
    Abstract: An illuminated system is provided herein. The illuminated system includes a badge that is movable between a first position and a second position. First and second light sources are disposed within the badge. The first light source is configured to direct light in a first direction. The second light source is configured to direct light in a second direction. A vehicle feature is operably coupled with the second light source. A first photoluminescent structure is disposed on the vehicle feature and is configured to luminesce in response to receiving an excitation light from the light source. A controller is configured to selectively activate the first and second light sources.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2016
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Pietro Buttolo, Paul Kenneth Dellock, James J. Surman