Patents by Inventor Jeff A. Wallace

Jeff A. Wallace 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).

  • PROGRAMMABLE DOOR POWER ASSIST
    Publication number: 20170030131
    Abstract: A power assist device is provided herein. A motor is operatively coupled to a door of a vehicle. A controller controls the motor and a user-input device supplies to the controller one or more user-inputted selections for controlling door swing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2015
    Publication date: February 2, 2017
    Inventors: Larry Dean Elie, Timothy J. Potter, Robert F. Novak, John Wayne Jaranson, Jeff A. Wallace, Michael M. Azzouz
  • ACTIVE DOOR OPERATION BASED ON VOICE COMMANDS
    Publication number: 20170030133
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a door rotatably coupled to a vehicle body, wherein a power assist device is coupled between the door and the vehicle body on a hinge assembly. An audio sensor is disposed on the vehicle and is operably coupled to a controller. The controller is configured to receive voice command data from the audio sensor via a signal, identify a control command correlating to the voice command data, and output a signal to the power assist device to move the door according to parameters defined within the control command.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2015
    Publication date: February 2, 2017
    Inventors: Larry Elie, Timothy J. Potter, Robert F. Novak, John Wayne Jaranson, Jeff A. Wallace, Michael M. Azzouz, Gerald J. Heath
  • VEHICLE DOOR ASSIST SYSTEM BASED ON LOCATION AND CONDITIONS
    Publication number: 20170030134
    Abstract: A system to control an automatic vehicle door is disclosed. The system comprises an actuator, a sensor, and a controller. The actuator is configured to control a position of the door about a hinge assembly. The sensor is operable to measure a characteristic of a location of the vehicle, and the controller is configured to control the actuator to limit motion of the door based on the characteristic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2015
    Publication date: February 2, 2017
    Inventors: Larry Elie, Timothy J. Potter, Robert F. Novak, John Wayne Jaranson, Jeff A. Wallace, Michael M. Azzouz, Gerald J. Heath
  • DEPTH MAPPING CAMERA FOR DOOR INSIDE
    Publication number: 20160314362
    Abstract: A vehicle door has a swing radius, a light_field camera, and a controller. The light-field camera is configured to detect the presence of an object within the swing radius of the door. The controller is programmed to prevent the door from transitioning between an opened position and a closed position in response to the light-field camera detecting the presence of an object in the swing radius of the door.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2015
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Larry Dean Elie, Timothy J. Potter, Robert F. Novak, John W. Jaranson, Jeff A. Wallace, Michael M. Azzouz, Gerald J. Heath
  • BI-DIRECTIONAL ELEMENT DRIVE SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20160129768
    Abstract: A bi-directional element drive system includes a motor having a drive shaft, a cable anchor and a cable connector. The cable connector is carried on the drive shaft and has two ends connected to the cable anchor. In addition the drive system includes a support and a driven element. The driven element is displaced between a first position and a second position relative to the support by the motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2014
    Publication date: May 12, 2016
    Inventors: Larry Dean Elie, John W. Jaranson, Timothy J. Potter, Robert F. Novak, Michael M. Azzouz, Gerald J. Heath, Jeff A. Wallace
  • Vehicle frame assemblies with threaded connections
    Patent number: 9039061
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a vehicle frame, includes: forming compatible threads on a first rail composed of a first material and a second rail composed of a second material; forming a pair of locators on the first and second rails, said locators configured to indicate an alignment condition of the first rail and second rail when screwed together; and screwing together the first rail and second rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Anthony Wagner, Michael M. Azzouz, Eric William Barrett, Xiaoming Chen, John Martin Knittel, Sanjay Mehta, John Joseph Uicker, Jeff A. Wallace
  • METHODS FOR DETERMINING A MINIMUM WELD DISTANCE FOR ADHESIVES
    Publication number: 20140197226
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a vehicle frame assembly, includes: (i) receiving threshold temperature data for an adhesive; (ii) defining an adhesive zone wherein which adhesive will be applied with respect to a first and second vehicle structural member; and (iii) determining a minimum distance a weld can be applied on the first structural member with respect to the adhesive zone based on empirical data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Sanjay Mehta, Xiaoming Chen, John Martin Knittel, Jeff A. Wallace
  • Vehicle Frame Assemblies with Threaded Connections
    Publication number: 20130264842
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a vehicle frame, includes: forming compatible threads on a first rail composed of a first material and a second rail composed of a second material; forming a pair of locators on the first and second rails, said locators configured to indicate an alignment condition of the first rail and second rail when screwed together; and screwing together the first rail and second rail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Inventors: David Anthony Wagner, Michael M. Azzouz, Eric William Barrett, Xiaoming Chen, John Martin Knittel, Sanjay Mehta, John Joseph Uicker, Jeff A. Wallace