Patents Assigned to For Global Technologies, LLC
  • Vehicle limited-use system control using geo-fencing
    Patent number: 12233772
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicle feature predesignated as limited-use and may determine that a conditional parameter for enabling the vehicle feature has been met, based at least on a present vehicle state. The vehicle engages the vehicle feature responsive to the present vehicle state meeting the conditional use parameter and monitors changes to the present vehicle state. Also, the vehicle automatically controls the feature in accordance with changes to the present vehicle state, to adaptively control the vehicle feature reactive to the changes to the present vehicle state relative to the conditional use parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Keith Weston, Brendan F. Diamond
  • Wireless charging usage determination system, vehicle for same, and associated method
    Patent number: 12233737
    Abstract: A wireless charging usage determination system is provided. The wireless charging usage determination system includes a charging system having a charging source, and a vehicle including an inductive charger configured to receive a charge from the charging source, a processor electrically connected to the inductive charger, and a memory. The memory has instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations including receiving a wireless alert notification from the charging system, energizing the inductive charger based on a response to the wireless alert notification, and determining wireless charging usage responsive to the inductive charger being energized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Krishna Bandi, Nancy Lewis, Javarri Little
  • Customizable electric vehicle supply equipment systems
    Patent number: 12233735
    Abstract: Customizable electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) systems may be utilized for charging electrified vehicles. Exemplary EVSE systems may include a charging cord assembly having a cable that includes an outer sheath and a lighting module housed within the outer sheath. The lighting module may be controlled to emit lighting effects for providing visual indications of various electrified vehicle charging statuses. Settings associated with the lighting effects may be customized within a human machine interface (HMI) of the EVSE system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Charles Everett Badger, II, Toussaint Carpenter, Ryan O'Gorman, Dominic Gelfuso
  • Predictive inductor cooling
    Patent number: 12233725
    Abstract: An automotive propulsion system has a transmission including an output shaft, a variable voltage converter including an inductor disposed within a housing of the transmission such that transmission fluid within the housing contacts the inductor to cool the inductor, and a controller that maintains a magnitude of current through the inductor to less than a limit value that is defined by a speed associated with the output shaft and a switching frequency of the variable voltage converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: John P. Casci, Moon Young Lee, Baoming Ge, Fan Wang
  • Controls and methods to calculate clutch torque to include seal friction
    Patent number: 12233848
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes an engine, an electric machine, a disconnect clutch configured to selectively couple the engine to the electric machine, and a controller. The controller is programmed to, in response to a request to start the engine with the electric machine, command a target pressure to the disconnect clutch that depends on a seal friction derived from a measured line pressure of the disconnect clutch and a rate change of the measured line pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Hiral Jayantilal Haria, Yuji Fujii, Akshay Bichkar, Yang Xu
  • Efficient neural networks
    Patent number: 12233912
    Abstract: A location of a first object can be determined in an image. A line can be drawn on the first image based on the location of the first object. A deep neural network can be trained to determine a relative location between the first object in the image and a second object in the image based on the line. The deep neural network can be optimized by determining a fitness score that divides a number of deep neural network parameters by a performance score. The deep neural network can be output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Nikhil Nagraj Rao, Francois Charette, Shruthi Venkat, Sandhya Sridhar, Vidya Nariyambut Murali
  • Coupling arrangement of a thermal connection for a vehicle
    Patent number: 12235055
    Abstract: A coupling assembly for a vehicle includes a container selectively coupled with a compartment of the vehicle. The container includes at least one first port in fluid communication with an interior of the container. At least one second port is disposed on a wall of the compartment and is in fluid communication with a climate control system in the vehicle. A connection assembly is between the container and the wall. The connection assembly includes a positioning feature configured to align the at least one first port with the at least one second port. The connection assembly further includes a securing feature configured to bias the container toward the wall when the container is coupled with the wall to maintain fluid communication between the interior and the climate control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Hrecznyj, Michael M. Azzouz, Scott Nydam, Clay Wesley Maranville, Chris Robert Sculthorpe
  • Bridged battery pack sensing module for multiple arrays
    Patent number: 12237546
    Abstract: A battery pack sensing module includes a rigid printed circuit board that is to be carried by and bridge between a pair of battery cell arrays, a plurality of integrated circuits mounted on the rigid printed circuit board, and a pair of sense lead connectors at opposite ends of the rigid printed circuit board. Each of the sense lead connectors is electrically connected with at least one of the integrated circuits and can mate with a receiving connector of one of the battery cell arrays to establish an electrical connection between the receiving connector and the at least one of the integrated circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Paul Roberts, Francisco Fernandez-Galindo, Liam E. West, Dominic Mario Bertolini
  • Zero speed vehicle battery heating
    Patent number: 12237795
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an electric machine including a rotor. The vehicle further includes a traction battery configured to supply electric power to the electric machine. The vehicle further includes a wheel mechanically coupled to the electric machine. The vehicle further includes one or more controllers programmed to, responsive to detecting a battery temperature below a threshold and the vehicle being parked, rotate the rotor to a preset position such that the wheel rotates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew Penne, Yang Xu, Jonathan Hair, Adeeb Ahmed
  • Vehicle sensor assembly
    Patent number: 12233820
    Abstract: An assembly includes a base. The assembly includes an object detection sensor. The assembly includes a deflector extending upward from the base in front of the object detection sensor. The deflector is configured to direct ram air away from the object detection sensor. The assembly includes a nozzle supported by the deflector and aimed at the object detection sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Venkatesh Krishnan, Rashaun Phinisee, Kunal Singh, Raghuraman Surineedi
  • Seal assembly for vehicle
    Patent number: 12234911
    Abstract: A seal assembly includes a cap and a seal. The cap includes an engagement structure and a flange. The engagement structure is configured to couple the cap to an enclosure. The flange defines a plurality of openings that are open through a first side of the flange and a second side of the flange. The seal includes a seal body and a plurality of bosses. The seal body engages the second side of the flange and includes a plurality of bosses. Each boss is positioned in a respective opening of the plurality of openings. The seal is compressible against the flange from a relaxed state in which the bosses are flush with the first side of the flange or recessed within the openings and a compressed state in which each boss extends from the respective opening beyond the first side of the flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alexander Robert Rink, Nathaniel Conti, Samuel Jeffrey Tomlinson
  • Systems and methods for providing vehicle payload assistance
    Patent number: 12233781
    Abstract: An example method executed by processor of a vehicle payload assistance system may include obtaining information about a first laden weight of a vehicle. The processor determines a weight difference between the first laden weight and a payload capacity of the vehicle, and further determines, based on the weight difference, a payload margin available for loading the vehicle. A vehicle payload assistance operation may then be executed that includes detecting a change in the first laden weight due to introduction of an object into the vehicle, obtaining information about a second laden weight of the vehicle after introduction of the object into the vehicle, determining that the second laden weight exceeds the payload margin available for loading the vehicle, and issuing an advisory to reduce the second laden weight by removing the object from the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Aed Dudar, Fling Finn Tseng
  • Sensor assembly with concave surface
    Patent number: 12235357
    Abstract: A sensor assembly includes a housing mountable to a vehicle and a sensor mounted to the housing on top of the housing. The housing includes a front panel. The front panel includes a front surface on an exterior of the housing. The front surface is concave along a vertical axis and concave along a horizontal axis orthogonal to the vertical axis. The front surface is wider than the sensor along the horizontal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Raghuraman Surineedi, Segundo Baldovino, Venkatesh Krishnan
  • Obstacle avoidance for vehicle
    Patent number: 12233857
    Abstract: A computer includes a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to receive sensor data indicating an obstacle, formulate a control barrier function for a vehicle based on the sensor data, determine a control input based on the control barrier function, and actuate a component of the vehicle according to the control input. The control barrier function is defined with respect to a reference point that is spaced from a centroid of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mohit Srinivasan, Hongtei Eric Tseng, Michael Hafner, Mrdjan J. Jankovic, Abhishek Sharma, Erol Dogan Sumer, Alexander Jaeckel, Aakar Mehra
  • Smart vehicle holograms
    Patent number: 12235608
    Abstract: A vehicle for projecting holograms is described. The vehicle may include a plurality of Integrated Holographic Camera Modules (IHCMs) configured to project movable holograms. The vehicle may further include a vehicle processor communicatively coupled to the plurality of IHCMs. The vehicle processor may obtain a recording of a movable hologram from a first IHCM and determine a hologram movement from the recording. The vehicle processor may further switch a projection of the movable hologram from the first IHCM to a second IHCM when a predefined criterion is met. The vehicle processor may determine that the predefined criterion is met when the projection moves from a first IHCM projection range to a second IHCM projection range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dmitry Ogorodnikov, Steven Chapekis
  • System and method for off-road driving assistance for a vehicle
    Patent number: 12233892
    Abstract: A vehicle control system for a vehicle may include a controller, a single pedal and a torque control module. The controller may be operably coupled to components and/or sensors of the vehicle to receive information indicative of operational intent of an operator of the vehicle and information indicative of vehicle status. The single pedal may be configured to provide the information indicative of operational intent. The torque control module may be configured to generate both a propulsive torque request and a braking torque request based on the information indicative of the operational intent and the information indicative of vehicle status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2024
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Edward Brewer, Kevin Sallee
  • Projection for vehicle frame rail
    Patent number: 12233724
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a projection for a vehicle frame rail and a corresponding method. In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a vehicle, including: a frame rail; and a projection extending laterally outward from a laterally outer surface of the frame rail, wherein the projection is a part of a running board assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen William Gallagher, Vladimir Vladimirovich Bogachuk
  • Automotive electric drive with three phase coupled inverter
    Patent number: 12233716
    Abstract: A vehicle power system includes an inverter electrically connected between a traction battery and electric machine, a three phase coupled inductor electrically connected between the traction battery and inverter, and one or more controllers that operate the inverter while a common mode voltage at a neutral point of the electric machine is constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Baoming Ge, Lihua Chen, Serdar Hakki Yonak
  • Vehicle configured to enter a battery save mode when in a known extended parking location
    Patent number: 12233719
    Abstract: The techniques described herein relate to a motor vehicle, including: a battery pack electrically connected to an electric machine and a plurality of electrical loads, wherein the motor vehicle is operable in a full power mode in which power can flow from the battery pack to the electric machine and each of the plurality of electrical loads, and a battery save mode in which a flow of power is prevented between the battery pack and either or both of the electric machine or at least some of the plurality of electrical loads; and a controller configured to command the motor vehicle to operate in the battery save mode if the motor vehicle has been parked in a known extended parking location for a first time period, or if the motor vehicle has been parked in a location other than a known extended parking location for a second time period longer than the first time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Cesar Espinosa, Ruben Mendoza, Martin Lara, Luis Osorio
  • Vehicle front upper bumper cover
    Patent number: D1063739
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Todd Willing, Max Wolff, Max Tran, Leigh H. Cosentino, Thomas Marminc