Patents by Inventor John Robert Van Wiemeersch
John Robert Van Wiemeersch 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).
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Publication number: 20240075864Abstract: A vehicle includes a body, an access aperture that is defined by the body, a closure panel, a load ramp, and a moisture sensor. The access aperture provides access to an interior of the vehicle. The closure panel selectively covers at least a portion of the access aperture. The closure panel is movable between an open position and a dosed position relative to the access aperture. The load ramp is deployably coupled to the closure panel. The load ramp includes a coupled end and a free end. The load ramp is movable between a retracted position and an extended position. The moisture sensor is positioned proximate to the free end of the load ramp. Methods of controlling the vehicle are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 1, 2022Publication date: March 7, 2024Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Stuart C. Salter, David Brian Glickman, Peter Phung, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Pietro Buttolo
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Patent number: 11919476Abstract: Upon detecting that a vehicle is parked, based on data from at least one of a sensor and a component in the vehicle, determine a location of the vehicle. Upon detecting that a vehicle operator has exited the vehicle, based on data from at least one of a sensor and a component in the vehicle, determine if the key fob is in the vehicle. Upon detecting that the key fob is in the vehicle, and based on the location of the vehicle, schedule a message to a user device.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2022Date of Patent: March 5, 2024Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Muhannad Hamdan, John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Mahmoud Y. Ghannam, Bradford S. Bondy, Christian Wegner
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Publication number: 20240066990Abstract: Remote power supply systems are provided for motor vehicles. The remote power supply systems may power auxiliary devices separate from the vehicle. Exemplary remote power supply systems may include one or more exportable power outlet boxes that include electrical power outlets for connecting the auxiliary devices. The electrical power outlets may be powered by a generator system of the vehicle. A control module associated with the remote power supply system may command one or more vehicle-specific actions designed to reduce the realized sound level at one or more nearby areas of interest when operating the vehicle in a power generation mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2022Publication date: February 29, 2024Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Vyas Shenoy, Brendan Diamond, William David Treharne, John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Ryan O'Gorman
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Patent number: 11914914Abstract: A system includes a display screen positioned to display on an exterior of a host vehicle, a user interface of the host vehicle, and a computer communicatively coupled to the display screen and the user interface. The computer is programmed to, in response to detecting a target vehicle having prespecified indicia, instruct the user interface to output an instruction to an occupant of the host vehicle, and in response to detecting personnel from the target vehicle, instruct the display screen to output a message to the personnel.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2022Date of Patent: February 27, 2024Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Stuart C. Salter, Hussein H. Berry, Lucretia Williams, Monica Lam, John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Clay Carpenter
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Patent number: 11912235Abstract: While a vehicle is in a minimal power state, a first sensor is activated based on a location of the vehicle within a monitored area. The vehicle is transitioned to an on state based on detecting an object via data from the first sensor. Then the vehicle is operated to block an exit from the monitored area based on identifying the object as an unauthorized object.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2021Date of Patent: February 27, 2024Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Stuart C. Salter, John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Sam Harris, Tarik Safir, Donald Paul Bilger, Thomas Joseph Hermann, Todd Ansbacher
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Patent number: 11916420Abstract: A charge level of a sensor battery providing power to a sensor in a vehicle is determined. A charge depletion of the sensor battery is determined based on the charge level. A recharge rate to recharge the sensor battery is determined based on a time elapsed on a previously traveled path, a current charge level, and the charge depletion. Upon activation of the vehicle, one or both of a propulsion or a vehicle battery is actuated to recharge the sensor battery at the recharge rate.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2021Date of Patent: February 27, 2024Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Stuart C. Salter, Donald Paul Bilger, Tarik Safir, John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Zeljko Deljevic, Sam Harris
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Patent number: 11912206Abstract: An apparatus includes, among other things, a spare tire cover comprising an attaching ring configured to surround an outer circumference of a tire and a center panel that is attached to the attaching ring. At least one exciter is mounted to the center panel. A method includes, among other things, molding at least one temperature sensor to a center panel, mounting the center panel to enclose one open side of an attaching ring to form a spare tire cover, and mounting at least one exciter to the center panel to selectively generate a desired sound.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2021Date of Patent: February 27, 2024Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Stuart C. Salter, Paul Kenneth Dellock, David Brian Glickman, Annette Lynn Huebner, John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Jeffrey Robert Seaman
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Patent number: 11912234Abstract: Upon authorizing a user via challenge biometric data, user data is determined to be updated based on detecting a trigger. Upon detecting the trigger prior to authenticating the user, the user data is updated with the challenge biometric data based on authenticating the user. Upon detecting the trigger after authenticating the user, the user data is updated with updated challenge biometric data based on a confidence score for the second biometric data exceeding a threshold. Structure components are controlled based on the updated user data.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2021Date of Patent: February 27, 2024Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Ali Hassani, Mackenzie Martinez, John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Jake Schwartz, Medha Karkare
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Patent number: 11914064Abstract: A method for localizing a user device using a Time-of-Flight (ToF) antenna array disposed on a vehicle, the method includes determining via a ToF localization controller, that a user device is positioned at a front region of a vehicle, calculating a distance to the user device from a combination of two ToF antennae of the ToF antenna array, and performing a 2-dimensional (2D) trilateration calculation. The method further includes evaluating a confidence metric value, determining a position of the user device based on the confidence metric value, and generating an unlock signal that unlocks a vehicle door.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2021Date of Patent: February 27, 2024Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Andrew Vaccariello, Vivekanandh Elangovan, John Robert Van Wiemeersch
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Patent number: 11915538Abstract: A computer includes a processor and a memory, and the memory stores instructions executable to determine a currently activatable feature on a vehicle from a plurality of features; establish negotiations between each of a plurality of Ultra-Wideband (UWB) anchors of the vehicle and at least one mobile device; select a search strategy based on the currently activatable feature; upon selecting the search strategy, during a search iteration, determine distance data to at least one mobile device from a subset of UWB anchors, and inhibit a remainder of the UWB anchors other than the subset; perform a trilateral calculation on the distance data for the mobile device; and actuate a component of the vehicle according to the currently activatable feature based on a result of the trilateral calculation.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2022Date of Patent: February 27, 2024Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Ryan Joseph Gorski, Vivekanandh Elangovan, John Robert Van Wiemeersch
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Patent number: 11906348Abstract: A vehicle includes a body, an aperture defined by the body, a closure panel, and a load sensor. The closure panel is movable between an open position and a closed position. The closure panel covers at least a portion of the aperture when the closure panel is in the closed position. The load sensor is coupled to the closure panel. The load sensor senses a load that is applied to the closure panel.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2021Date of Patent: February 20, 2024Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Stuart C. Salter, David Brian Glickman, Peter Phung, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Pietro Buttolo, John Robert Van Wiemeersch
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Patent number: 11898382Abstract: A vehicle having powered door access is provided including a powered door having an actuator for moving the door between closed and open positions, at least one sensor for sensing a first user approaching the vehicle, and a transceiver for communicating with another vehicle. The vehicle also includes a controller determining a distance of the first user from the vehicle and communicating with the other vehicle which determines a second user from the other vehicle, wherein the controller prioritizes which of the vehicle and the other vehicle is granted permission to open a door based on the distances of the first user and the second user.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2021Date of Patent: February 13, 2024Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Stuart C. Salter, Kristopher Karl Brown, John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Hussein H. Berry
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Patent number: 11897334Abstract: A vehicle is provided that includes a vehicle body, a plurality of RF signal receivers located at a plurality of locations within the vehicle, a portable pet bowl configured to be transported in the vehicle body, the pet bowl including a container for holding content such as water, an RF signal transmitter located on the pet bowl for transmitting an RF signal, and a controller for processing the RF signal received by each of the plurality of RF signal receivers and determining a location of the pet bowl based on the received RF signals.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2020Date of Patent: February 13, 2024Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Stuart C. Salter, Annette Lynn Huebner, Marguerite Lynn Kimball, Hussein Berry, John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Pietro Buttolo
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Patent number: 11881108Abstract: This disclosure describes systems and methods for virtual parking lot space allocation. An example method may include receiving, by a processor and from a first vehicle, sensor data relating to a first location. The example method may also include generating, by the processor and based on the sensor data, a first virtual parking space of a virtual parking location within the first location.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2022Date of Patent: January 23, 2024Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Jordan Barrett, Brendan Diamond, Michael Alan Mcnees, Keith Weston, Andrew Denis Lewandowski, Stuart C. Salter, John Robert Van Wiemeersch
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Patent number: 11865234Abstract: A treatment apparatus for a vehicle comprises: a housing with at least one wall and a floor forming a treatment chamber; a source of ultraviolet light configured to emit ultraviolet light into the treatment chamber; and a door connected to the housing, the door having (i) an open position providing access to the treatment chamber and (ii) a closed position denying access to the treatment chamber and, together with the housing, preventing emitted ultraviolet light from irradiating beyond the treatment chamber.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2020Date of Patent: January 9, 2024Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Jay Z. Chen, Anthony Ligi, Jr., John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Michael Hrecznyj, Clay Wesley Maranville, Amy Ellen Langhorst, Rick H. Wykoff
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Patent number: 11845442Abstract: Systems and methods for driver presence and position detection are disclosed herein. A method can include determining a presence and a position of a driver in a sensing zone of a vehicle using a sensor platform integrated into the vehicle, determining when the position of the driver indicates that the driver is not in a fully-seated position relative to a driver's seat of the vehicle, and selectively adjusting a vehicle parameter of the vehicle based on the driver not being in a fully-seated position.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2021Date of Patent: December 19, 2023Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Ryan Edwin Hanson, Pietro Buttolo, John Robert Van Wiemeersch
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Patent number: 11845424Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a vehicle during a remote trailer parking operation include receiving, via a processor, a control instruction from a first mobile device indicative of a first curvature command providing directional control of a vehicle, and a first user engagement indicator. The processor may receive, from a second mobile device, a second control instruction from a second mobile device, the second control instruction can include a second user engagement indicator. The system may determine, based on the first user engagement indicator that first user engagement meets a threshold, and determine, based on the second user engagement indicator that second user engagement meets a threshold.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2022Date of Patent: December 19, 2023Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Erick Michael Lavoie, Hamid M. Golgiri
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Publication number: 20230391216Abstract: A plurality of vehicle charging stations and a plurality of stationary sensors with respective fields of view can be disposed within an area. A stationary node computer including a first processor and a first memory and communicatively can be coupled to the charging station and the stationary sensors, the first memory storing instructions executable by the first processor such that the stationary computer is programmed to authorize a request from a vehicle to access the charging station; identify an object, detected in the area in data from one or more of the stationary sensors, to be tracked with respect to the vehicle; wherein the object to be tracked with respect to the vehicle is identified based on a type of the object, an attribute of the object and an attribute of the vehicle; and transmit data about the object to the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 2, 2022Publication date: December 7, 2023Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Stuart C. Salter, Brendan Francis Diamond, Timilehin Ogunbekun, John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Pietro Buttolo
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Publication number: 20230374743Abstract: In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a passenger motor vehicle including a robotic arm configured for use in performing an additive manufacturing operation. A method is also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 18, 2022Publication date: November 23, 2023Inventors: Brendan Diamond, David Brian Glickman, Keith Weston, Stuart C. Salter, John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Ellen Cheng-chi Lee
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Publication number: 20230350621Abstract: A system includes a display screen positioned to display on an exterior of a host vehicle, a user interface of the host vehicle, and a computer communicatively coupled to the display screen and the user interface. The computer is programmed to, in response to detecting a target vehicle having prespecified indicia, instruct the user interface to output an instruction to an occupant of the host vehicle, and in response to detecting personnel from the target vehicle, instruct the display screen to output a message to the personnel.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 29, 2022Publication date: November 2, 2023Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Stuart C. Salter, Hussein H. Berry, Lucretia Williams, Monica Lam, John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Clay Carpenter