Patents Assigned to For Global Technologies, LLC
  • Pickup truck having cargo bed with side mounted bicycle rack
    Patent number: 10513227
    Abstract: An apparatus for supporting a bicycle having wheels and a frame relative to a cargo bed of a pickup truck having a tailgate, spaced sidewalls and a front wall. The apparatus comprises a carrier adapted for receiving and supporting the bicycle frame and a guide for mounting to the sidewall for guiding movement of the carrier in the travel direction. The guide may comprise parallel rails for slidably engaging a connector of the carrier. The carrier may be adapted for moving, such as by pivoting, between a stowed position aligned with the travel direction and an extended position transverse to the travel direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Carlos Emilio Merino, Jonatan Leff Yaffe, Pedro Montoya, Iuis Manuel Garcia
  • Electrified vehicle ground fault monitoring system
    Patent number: 10513185
    Abstract: An electrified vehicle charger includes a diode bridge, contactors, and a controller. The diode bridge may be configured to rectify an alternating current (AC) source. The contactors may couple the AC source with a traction battery. The controller may be configured to, responsive to a magnitude of a potential across a diode of the bridge, corresponding to a neutral crossing of a potential of the AC source, exceeding a threshold, open the contactors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mohamed Elshaer, Allan Roy Gale, Chingchi Chen
  • System and method to align belt integrated starter generator tensioners
    Patent number: 10514086
    Abstract: Some belt-driven integrated-starter generators (BISGs) have twin-arm tensioners mounted directly to the BISG. Because the distance between the tensioner and the BISG pulley is quite short, any stack up tolerance leads to relatively high misalignment, which, in turn, leads to belt wear and noise. To minimize misalignment, a process is disclosed to machine the tensioner pulley bearing seats on the tensioner arms after assembly to the BISG. The BISG pulley is rotated with three probes recording the axial position change of the BISG pulley over a complete revolution. These data are used to establish a best-fit plane and the tensioner pulley bearing seats are machined to match the best-fit plane so that during operation belt twisting and shifting are minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Scott Willis, Joseph A Skrobowski, James Basile
  • Method for charging the starter battery of a vehicle
    Patent number: 10513194
    Abstract: A method for charging the starter battery of a motor vehicle at a voltage source includes charging the starter battery after a traction battery of the vehicle has been charged up to a defined value. The starter battery is charged if a charge state of the starter battery is established that is below a defined threshold value. If the charge state of the starter battery is of such a low level, the starter battery is charged until one or more defined termination conditions are fulfilled. The termination conditions may include the total charging period since the low charge state of the starter battery has been established exceeds a defined threshold value and/or the total time period charging the traction battery and the starter battery at the voltage source exceeds a defined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Eifert, Eckhard Karden
  • Low cost high heat polymer with improved sound deadening properties made with recycled plastics
    Patent number: 10513591
    Abstract: A high heat polymer with improved sound deadening properties is provided. The material includes recycled PET (Polyethylene terephthalate) as its base polymer and combination of mineral fillers and fibers to improve heat deflection temperatures and to create a barrier within the polymer that blocks noise. The material uses use a combination of basalt fibers and mica to provide improved resistance to heat and improved elastic modulus and significant dampening of sound. The high heat performance and improved sound attenuation of the material enables the deletion of heat shields and added NVH pads to many under body and under-hood parts, as well as significantly reducing the material cost and weight in automobiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Paul Kenneth Dellock, Talat Karmo, Stuart C. Salter, Joel Thomas Pierce, Michael A. Musleh
  • Lane change advisor
    Patent number: 10514457
    Abstract: A computing device in a vehicle, programmed to pilot a vehicle by adaptive cruise control and determine a lane change maneuver based on the adaptive cruise control and determined traffic in an adjacent lane. The computing device can display a prompt to an occupant based on the lane change maneuver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Walter Joseph Talamonti, Steven Joseph Szwabowski, Louis Tijerina
  • Sensor assembly
    Patent number: 10516813
    Abstract: A sensor assembly includes a housing having an airfoil shape and including a pressure surface and a suction surface, a sensor attached to the housing and disposed on the suction surface, and a nozzle attached to the housing and directed toward the sensor. A vehicle may include an exterior panel, and the sensor assembly may be attached to the exterior panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Venkatesh Krishnan, Rashaun Phinisee, Andre Sykula
  • Seat belt connector tongue assembly having locking mechanism
    Patent number: 10512309
    Abstract: A seat belt assembly including a seat belt webbing, a buckle, and a connector tongue assembly. The tongue assembly includes a body, a slot in the body for receiving a seat belt webbing, a locking mechanism located proximate the slot, and a spring biasing the locking mechanism towards the slot to frictionally engage the webbing to prevent freefall of the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Lee, Joseph Cicchelli, Sone Sadakhom
  • Battery pack array retention
    Patent number: 10516145
    Abstract: An exemplary battery assembly includes an endplate of a battery array, and an enclosure wall secured directly to the endplate from outside an open area of a battery pack enclosure. An exemplary method of securing a battery array includes positioning a battery array within an open area of an enclosure and, from a position outside the open area, securing an endplate of a battery array directly to a wall of a battery pack enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Scott Benedict, Brent Zapczynski, Michael Reibling, Eid Farha, Patrick Daniel Maguire
  • Method and system for engine cooling system control
    Patent number: 10513967
    Abstract: Methods and systems are providing for improving engine coolant level estimation to reduce engine overheating. The level of fluid in a coolant overflow reservoir is inferred based on the fluid level in a hollow vertical standpipe fluidically coupled to the reservoir at top and bottom locations, while the fluid level in the standpipe is estimated based on echo times of an ultrasonic signal transmitted by a sensor positioned in a recess at the bottom of the vertical standpipe. Sensor output is compensated with a term based on vehicle motion parameters to compensate for fluid level distortion due to motion-induced slosh.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John Eric Rollinger, Chad Everette Griffin, Casey Dietrich, Robert Roy Jentz, Alan Huang, Matt Gerow
  • Methods and system for hybrid vehicle regenerative braking
    Patent number: 10513265
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for operating a driveline of a hybrid vehicle that includes an internal combustion engine, an electric machine, and a transmission are described. In one example, regenerative torque and torque of an electronically controlled differential clutch are adjusted to increase utilization of a vehicle's kinetic energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yanan Zhao, Joseph Jay Torres, Ming Lang Kuang, Lucian Lippok, Hai Yu
  • Wheeled personal transportation device
    Patent number: 10513284
    Abstract: A motorized device for transporting a human or inanimate payload. A platform is configured to accommodate the payload and a pair of wheel clusters are mounted to the platform at opposite ends thereof and are powered in rotation relative to the platform, for example by one or more electric motors housed in or on the platform or wheel clusters. Each of the two wheel clusters comprises three drive wheels arranged in a generally triangular and co-planar configuration, and each is independently powered about its respective axis of rotation by a hub-mounted electric motor. An electronic controller commands the motors powering the two wheel clusters and of each of the six drive wheels. The independent controllability of each wheel and of the wheel clusters relative to the platform allows the device to steer and to ascend and descend steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Torsten Gerhardt, James Neugebauer, Robert Spahl, Bruce Southey, Christoph Ruberg
  • Methods and system for improving hybrid vehicle transmission gear shifting
    Patent number: 10513256
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for operating a driveline of a hybrid vehicle that may include an internal combustion engine, a rear drive unit electric machine, an integrated starter/generator, and a transmission are described. In one example, torque capacity of an on-coming clutch is adjusted during an inertia phase of a power-on upshift to improve shift smoothness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jason Meyer, Jeffrey Allen Doering, Xiaoyong Wang, Matthew John Shelton, Christopher John Teslak, Kenneth James Miller
  • Vehicle electrical system to facilitate integration of third-party batteries
    Patent number: 10513234
    Abstract: An electrical system for a motor vehicle is provided. The electrical system includes one or more vehicle batteries configured to provide electric power to one or more vehicle systems. The electrical system also includes a terminal configured to allow a third-party loads and/or a third-party batteries to be electrically coupled to the electrical system at the terminal. The electrical system further includes a relay configured to selectively couple the terminal to the vehicle batteries. A controller is configured to control the operation of the relay. A method of controlling operation of an electrical system for a motor vehicle is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Anthony Richardson, Yucel Aybar, Martin Day
  • Methods and systems for intake air filter diagnostics
    Patent number: 10513997
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for diagnostics of an intake air filter during vehicle-off conditions. In one example, the engine may be reverse rotated, unfueled, and air flow via the exhaust manifold and the intake manifold are estimated and compared to a baseline air flow. A blocked intake air flow may be indicated based on the comparison between air flow via the exhaust manifold and the intake manifold and the baseline air flow upon opening a secondary flow path to atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Aed M. Dudar
  • Method and system for engine control
    Patent number: 10513973
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for enabling turbocharger shaft speed control without overfilling a system battery. In one example, shaft speed is reduced by applying a negative torque from an electric boost assist motor until a system battery has been sufficiently charged. Thereafter, electrical power from shaft braking is recuperated by commanding a positive torque onto a driveline of the vehicle via a BISG.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Tyler Kelly
  • Markers for aqueous compositions
    Patent number: 10513594
    Abstract: The present invention provides aqueous polymer compositions containing one or more, or, preferably, two or more markers selected from a C1-C12 alkyl phenyl ether having a formula Ph(R2)m(OR1)n, wherein Ph is an aromatic ring containing group having from six to nine carbon atoms, R1 is a C1-C12 alkyl group, R2 is a C1-C12 alkyl group, m is an integer of from 0 to 5, n is an integer of from 1 to 3, and (m+n) is an integer of from 1 to 6. The markers are readily detectable, such as by mass spectroscopy, upon solvent extraction and separation from the aqueous polymer compositions, or from dried or cured coatings, film or layers thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignees: Dow Global Technologies LLC, Rohm and Haas Company
    Inventors: Peilin Yang, Eric C. Greyson, Zhenwen Fu, Zahid Asif
  • Vehicle front valance
    Patent number: D870608
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Dewitt, Todd Willing, Max Wolff, Pedro Guarinon
  • Vehicle rear upper bumper cover
    Patent number: D870611
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Domenico Tonello, Jordan Demkiw, Joel Piaskowski, Claudio Messale, George Saridakis
  • Vehicle tail lamp
    Patent number: D870930
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Woodhouse, Kemal Curic, Xitij Mistry, Mark Kaski