Patents by Inventor John Frederick Locke

John Frederick Locke 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).

  • Patent number: 10710456
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an antenna system and a controller. The controller may be configured to, responsive to wireless energy, received via the antenna system, exceeding a magnitude and duration indicative of a cellular connection from a nomadic device at a predetermined position in the vehicle in an absence of a connection with the device via a local protocol while the vehicle is in motion, operate a powertrain to limit a speed of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Paul Anthon Mueller, Boris Gorovets, Gregory William Farrey, John Frederick Locke, Adam Weiss
  • Publication number: 20190225080
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an antenna system and a controller. The controller may be configured to, responsive to wireless energy, received via the antenna system, exceeding a magnitude and duration indicative of a cellular connection from a nomadic device at a predetermined position in the vehicle in an absence of a connection with the device via a local protocol while the vehicle is in motion, operate a powertrain to limit a speed of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2018
    Publication date: July 25, 2019
    Inventors: Paul Anthon Mueller, Boris Gorovets, Gregory William Farrey, John Frederick Locke, Adam Weiss
  • Patent number: 10110327
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a system and method for characterizing the radio frequency (RF) functionality of a vehicle remote keyless system (RKS) by separating and precisely characterizing the individual bits of the overall RKS system in an enclosed controlled environment. More specifically, this RKS characterization system includes an enclosed testing chamber for isolating the key fob from the vehicle, and a simulation control system that manipulates RF signals between the key fob and the vehicle for controlled RF signal analysis between the components. In certain embodiments, the RKS characterization system includes an automated process for actuating the key fob. Through this process, the RKS characterization system is able to separately identify the Key Fob Factor, the Vehicle Factor, and the Person Factor, of the vehicle RKS system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Joseph Hermann, Tye Arthur Winkel, Mark Wisnewski, Lawrence Banasky, John Frederick Locke, Hua Zeng
  • Publication number: 20180041291
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a system and method for characterizing the radio frequency (RF) functionality of a vehicle remote keyless system (RKS) by separating and precisely characterizing the individual bits of the overall RKS system in an enclosed controlled environment. More specifically, this RKS characterization system includes an enclosed testing chamber for isolating the key fob from the vehicle, and a simulation control system that manipulates RF signals between the key fob and the vehicle for controlled RF signal analysis between the components. In certain embodiments, the RKS characterization system includes an automated process for actuating the key fob. Through this process, the RKS characterization system is able to separately identify the Key Fob Factor, the Vehicle Factor, and the Person Factor, of the vehicle RKS system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Inventors: Thomas Joseph Hermann, Tye Arthur Winkel, Mark Wisnewski, Lawrence Banasky, John Frederick Locke, Hua Zeng
  • Patent number: 9819426
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a system and method for characterizing the radio frequency (RF) functionality of a vehicle remote keyless system (RKS) by separating and precisely characterizing the individual bits of the overall RKS system in an enclosed controlled environment. More specifically, this RKS characterization system includes an enclosed testing chamber for isolating the key fob from the vehicle, and a simulation control system that manipulates RF signals between the key fob and the vehicle for controlled RF signal analysis between the components. In certain embodiments, the RKS characterization system includes an automated process for actuating the key fob. Through this process, the RKS characterization system is able to separately identify the Key Fob Factor, the Vehicle Factor, and the Person Factor, of the vehicle RKS system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Joseph Hermann, Tye Arthur Winkel, Mark Wisnewski, Lawrence Banasky, John Frederick Locke, Hua Zeng
  • Publication number: 20170294973
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a system and method for characterizing the radio frequency (RF) functionality of a vehicle remote keyless system (RKS) by separating and precisely characterizing the individual bits of the overall RKS system in an enclosed controlled environment. More specifically, this RKS characterization system includes an enclosed testing chamber for isolating the key fob from the vehicle, and a simulation control system that manipulates RF signals between the key fob and the vehicle for controlled RF signal analysis between the components. In certain embodiments, the RKS characterization system includes an automated process for actuating the key fob. Through this process, the RKS characterization system is able to separately identify the Key Fob Factor, the Vehicle Factor, and the Person Factor, of the vehicle RKS system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2016
    Publication date: October 12, 2017
    Inventors: Thomas Joseph Hermann, Tye Arthur Winkel, Mark Wisnewski, Lawrence Banasky, John Frederick Locke, Hua Zeng
  • Patent number: 9728024
    Abstract: A key fob includes a power amplifier including an output having an output impedance. A radio frequency antenna connected to the power amplifier output represents a first load impedance to the power amplifier output in a space substantially free of interference for radio frequency transmissions, and a second load impedance to the power amplifier output when a hand of a user is capacitively coupled to the antenna. The difference between the second load impedance and the output impedance of the power amplifier is less than the difference between the first load impedance and the output impedance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Wisnewski, Tye Arthur Winkel, John Frederick Locke, Lawrence Banasky, Thomas Joseph Hermann
  • Publication number: 20170117628
    Abstract: A communication system for a vehicle includes a phased array antenna and a controller. The phased array antenna has a plurality of elements. The controller may be configured to select a subset of the elements to beam form a main lobe of a radiation pattern of the antenna based on a speed and steering angle of the vehicle. Also, the controller may be configured to select a subset of the elements and shift a phase of a signal emitted from each of the subset of the elements to beam form a main lobe of a radiation pattern of the antenna based on a speed and a change in speed of the vehicle. Further, the controller may be configured to select the subset of the elements based on a signal indicative of a location of the vehicle and a map database of a surrounding area of the location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Publication date: April 27, 2017
    Inventors: Lawrence Banasky, John Frederick Locke
  • Publication number: 20170084099
    Abstract: A key fob includes a power amplifier including an output having an output impedance. A radio frequency antenna connected to the power amplifier output represents a first load impedance to the power amplifier output in a space substantially free of interference for radio frequency transmissions, and a second load impedance to the power amplifier output when a hand of a user is capacitively coupled to the antenna. The difference between the second load impedance and the output impedance of the power amplifier is less than the difference between the first load impedance and the output impedance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Wisnewski, Tye Arthur Winkel, John Frederick Locke, Lawrence Banasky, Thomas Joseph Hermann