Patents Assigned to For Global Technologies, LLC
  • Seat, in particular a vehicle seat, having a deformation element, and method for activating a deformation element of a seat
    Patent number: 8678500
    Abstract: A seat according to the invention, in particular a vehicle seat (25), comprises a seat frame (29), a seat surface (31) and at least one deformation element acting between the seat frame (29) and the seat surface (31), at least the one deformation element being capable of automatic activation in order to compensate actively for vibrations transmitted via the seat frame (29) to a person sitting on the seat. The invention also relates to a method for activating a deformation element of a seat, in particular a vehicle seat (25), which acts between a seat frame (29) and a seat surface (31) of the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jeroen Lem, Karl Michael Siebertz
  • Methods and systems for engine starting
    Patent number: 8682565
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling a vehicle system including an engine that is selectively deactivated during engine idle-stop conditions and selectively reactivated during engine restart conditions. One example method comprises, during an engine restart from an idle stop, performing a first combustion event in a cylinder with a piston at an engine crankshaft position that is after a crankshaft position at which said cylinder's exhaust valve opens, and before a crankshaft position at which the cylinder's intake valve closes, during a cycle of said cylinder. In this way, inaccuracies in cylinder aircharge estimation may be reduced, thereby also reducing air-fuel ratio errors and improving the quality and repeatability of engine restarts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alex O'Connor Gibson, Ross Pursifull, John D. Russell, Joseph N. Ulrey, Gopichandra Surnilla, Donald James Lewis
  • Vehicle visor assembly with a center check clip
    Patent number: 8678468
    Abstract: A check assembly portion of a visor assembly for a vehicle is generally fixedly coupled with the headliner of the vehicle roof near a center portion of the vehicle, away from the vehicle door or windows. Adapting a clip to a check assembly portion of a visor assembly to secure small lightweight items will deter such items from being exposed to weather or wind conditions near a vehicle door, a vehicle sunroof, or an exposed top, which a visor portion of a visor assembly typically becomes closer to such locations. The visor portion may also be operable between a deployed and a non-deployed position, wherein the clip on the check assembly may be concealed in the non-deployed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Huelke, Phil Joseph Linson, James Allen Stec, Justin Lee Healy, John Andrew Stakoe, Alexander V. Deych, Jeff Todd Baxter
  • Vehicle electric drive and power systems
    Patent number: 8680795
    Abstract: An automotive electric drive system may include an electric power source, an electric machine, and a DC-DC power converter electrically connected between the electric power source and the electric machine. The DC-DC power converter may include an inductor and a first switch each disposed in a different current path connecting the electric power source and the electric machine. The currents paths may be electrically in parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yuqing Tang, Hongjie Wu, William Paul Perkins
  • Vehicle stability control system and method
    Patent number: 8682560
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling vehicle stability may comprise determining whether a vehicle is oversteering or understeering and, if the vehicle is oversteering or understeering, determining an amount by which to reduce a speed of the vehicle to correct for understeering or oversteering and applying brake pressure to at least the rear brakes of the vehicle to reduce vehicle speed. The method and system also may comprise determining an engine torque reduction amount based on vehicle oversteer or understeer conditions, reducing engine torque by the determined amount or to zero if the determined amount of engine torque reduction is greater than an actual engine torque, and applying braking to at least the rear brakes of the vehicle if the determined amount of engine torque reduction is greater than the actual engine torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Carr Meyers, Daniel Domek Eisele, Todd Allen Brown, Li Xu, Albert Chenouda Salib
  • Synergistic antimicrobial composition of 1,2-benzisothiazolin-3-one and tris(hydroxymethyl)nitromethane
    Patent number: 8680128
    Abstract: A synergistic antimicrobial composition containing 1,2-benzisothiazolin-3-one and tris(hydroxymethyl)nitromethane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventor: Bei Yin
  • Method and apparatus for vehicle tracking
    Patent number: 8681023
    Abstract: A computer-implemented tracking method includes receiving a tracking request at a vehicle associated computing system (VACS). The method also includes authenticating the tracking request and determining a vehicle location via a GPS in communication with the VACS. The method further includes transmitting the vehicle location from the VACS to a tracking request associated computing system (TRACS). The method also includes monitoring the vehicle for at least one delay-event. The method additionally includes transmitting data corresponding to the delay event to the TRACS, contingent on the occurrence of at least one delay-event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas J. Giuli, Joseph N. Ross, Mark Schunder, Thomas Richard Alexander, Joseph Paul Rork
  • Two stage serviceable safety clip
    Patent number: 8677573
    Abstract: A serviceable safety clip for retaining an automotive trim panel to an inner panel. The serviceable safety clip includes a pin secured to the trim panel, wherein the pin includes a plurality of blades that each include a low retention detent and a high retention detent. The serviceable safety clip also includes a receiver that is secured to the inner panel, wherein the receiver includes an angled face to facilitate insertion of the pin detents and a holding face that retains the pin detents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Yun Shin Lee
  • SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SCHEDULING DRIVER INTERFACE TASKS BASED ON DRIVER WORKLOAD
    Publication number: 20140081519
    Abstract: A vehicle includes at least one processor that receives an in-coming communication for a driver, routes the in-coming communication to a mail system in response to a driver workload exceeding a predefined value, and after a predetermined period of time following routing the in-coming communication to the mail system, generates a notification for the driver indicating that a communication was received in response to the driver workload being less than the predefined value at an expiration of the predetermined period of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kwaku O. Prakah-Asante, Reates Curry, Louis Tijerina, Dimitar Petrov Filev, Yifan Chen, Jeffrey Allen Greenberg, Gary Steven Strumolo
  • User Interface For Automatic Start-Stop System and Method of Controlling The Same
    Publication number: 20140081561
    Abstract: Vehicles equipped with an automatic start-stop system may include an interface for conveying inhibitors preventing an engine from auto-stopping in addition to the status of the automatic start-stop system. The system may identify one or more inhibitors actively preventing an auto-stop event from occurring and select at least one of the active inhibitors based on a priority scheme. The interface may communicate the at least one selected inhibitor to a driver using a display or a speaker, or both.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC.
    Inventors: Tuan Anh Be, Kirk Pebley, Hank L. Kwong, George Edmund Walley, Filip Tomik
  • CHARGE AIR COOLER CONDENSATION DISPERSION ELEMENT
    Publication number: 20140076289
    Abstract: Embodiments for controlling condensate in a charge air cooler are provided. In one example, a charge air cooler comprises an inlet to admit charge air, a plurality of heat exchange passages to remove heat from the charge air, an outlet configured to discharge the charge air from the heat exchange passages to an intake passage upstream of an intake manifold of an engine, and a dispersion element extending at least partially across the outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: William Charles Ruona, Gopichandra Surnilla, David Karl Bidner
  • REMOVING RESIDUES FROM SUBSTRATE PROCESSING COMPONENTS
    Publication number: 20140076354
    Abstract: Residues are removed from a surface of a substrate processing component which has a polymer coating below the residues. In one version, the component surfaces are contacted with an organic solvent to remove the residues without damaging or removing the polymer coating. The residues can be process residues or adhesive residues. The cleaning process can be conducted as part of a refurbishment process. In another version, the residues are ablated by scanning a laser across the component surface. In yet another version, the residues are vaporized by scanning a plasma cutter across the surface of the component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: QUANTUM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Brian T. West, Karl Brueckner, Shun Wu, Robert Haney
  • Method and Apparatus for Remote Fuel Refill Level Monitoring
    Publication number: 20140077936
    Abstract: A system includes a processor configured to receive requests from a wireless device in wireless communication with the processor, the requests corresponding to one or more aspects of a refueling process. The processor is also configured to collect vehicle data corresponding to the one or more aspects of the refueling process and respond to the requests by sending the data relating to the one or more aspects of the refueling process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Gregory P. Brown, Brian Thomas Aitken, Phillip M. Pierron
  • MULTIPLE SPEED TRANSMISSION AND METHOD OF OPERATION
    Publication number: 20140080657
    Abstract: A family of transmissions has four planetary gear sets, five controllable clutches and brake, and a passive one way brake. Selective engagement of the brakes and clutches in combinations of three produces eight forward speed ratios and one reverse speed ratio. The passive one way brake is engaged in the first forward speed ratio and overruns in the second through fifth forward speed ratios.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Gregory Daniel Goleski, Steven Gerald Thomas, Reid Alan Baldwin
  • CRANKCASE INTEGRITY BREACH DETECTION
    Publication number: 20140081550
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for using a crankcase vent tube pressure or flow sensor for diagnosing a location and nature of crankcase system integrity breach. The same sensor can also be used for diagnosing air filter plugging and PCV valve degradation. Use of an existing sensor to diagnose multiple engine components provides cost reduction and sensor compaction benefits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Roy Jentz, John Eric Rollinger, Ross Dykstra Pursifull
  • CRANKCASE INTEGRITY BREACH DETECTION
    Publication number: 20140076249
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for using a crankcase vent tube pressure or flow sensor for diagnosing a location and nature of crankcase system integrity breach. The same sensor can also be used for diagnosing air filter plugging and PCV valve degradation. Use of an existing sensor to diagnose multiple engine components provides cost reduction and sensor compaction benefits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: John Eric Rollinger, Robert Roy Jentz, Paul Algis Baltusis
  • CRANKCASE INTEGRITY BREACH DETECTION
    Publication number: 20140081549
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for using a crankcase vent tube pressure or flow sensor for diagnosing a location and nature of crankcase system integrity breach. The same sensor can also be used for diagnosing air filter plugging and PCV valve degradation. Use of an existing sensor to diagnose multiple engine components provides cost reduction and sensor compaction benefits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: John Eric Rollinger, Robert Roy Jentz, Ross Dykstra Pursifull
  • MULTI-METALLIC ZIEGLER-NATTA PROCATALYSTS AND CATAYSTS PREPARED THEREFROM FOR OLEFIN POLYMERIZATIONS
    Publication number: 20140080970
    Abstract: Novel catalyst compositions comprising three or more transition metals are effective in increasing catalyst efficiency, reducing polydispersity, and increasing uniformity in molecular weight distribution when used in olefin, and particularly, linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), polymerizations. The resulting polymers may be used to form differentiated products including, for example, films that may exhibit improved optical and mechanical properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Sylvie Desjardins, Mehmet Demirors, Ellen Donkers, Manvel Fontaine, Cristina Serrat
  • ELECTRIC MOTOR POSITION SIGNAL SYNCHRONIZED OPERATION
    Publication number: 20140077739
    Abstract: An embedded controller in a vehicle electronics subsystem includes a signal processing circuit used to communicate with an electric machine. The signal processing circuit may be configured to receive an input signal from the electric machine and provide digital output signals to the embedded controller. The digital output signals may include Hall position and rotor position signals. Once the digital output signals are processed by a processor embedded within the controller, the processor may issue a control command to the electric machine. The processor may have memory containing software to make the processor execute the computation of the control command of the electric machine in accordance with a torque command.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2012
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Chang-Jiang Wang, Michael W. Degner, William Reynolds
  • PROCESS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF CHLORINATED PROPENES
    Publication number: 20140081055
    Abstract: Processes for the production of chlorinated propenes are provided. The present processes make use of 1,2-dichloropropane, a by-product in the production of chlorohydrin, as a low cost starting material, alone or in combination with 1,2,3-trichloropropane. The present processes can also generate anhydrous HCl as a byproduct that can be removed from the process and used as a feedstock for other processes, providing further time and cost savings. Finally, the processes are advantageously conducted in the liquid phase, thereby presenting additional savings as compared to conventional, gas phase processes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: DOW GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Max M. Tirtowidjojo, William J. Kruper, JR., Barry B. Fish, David S. Laitar