Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for determining coolant system health. In one example, a method may include predicting degradation in the coolant system based on oscillations of an estimated coolant temperature at an outlet of a radiator. The method may further control an engine based on the estimated coolant temperature.
Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for input signal management for vehicle park-assist. An example vehicle includes an autonomy unit, a communication module, and a controller. The controller is to perform, via the autonomy unit, remote parking upon receiving, via the communication module, a remote parking signal from a mobile device. The controller also is to receive an unlock request during the remote parking from a first key fob, determine a number of key fobs within a tethering range, and prevent processing of the unlock request when the number of key fobs is one.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 9, 2018
Date of Patent:
December 3, 2019
Assignee:
Ford Global Technologies, LLC
Inventors:
Erick Michael Lavoie, Ali Hassani, Alyssa Chatten, John Robert Van Wiemeersch
Abstract: A sensor for a contactless electrocardiographic measurement on a person includes a carrier for fastening the sensor on an object, such as a vehicle seat, and at least one electrically flat electrode mounted to the carrier by an elastic element. An inflatable bellows is disposed between the carrier and the electrode, inflation of the bellows deflecting the elastic element and increasing a distance between the electrode and the carrier to thereby urge the electrode toward a person seated on the seat.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 22, 2014
Date of Patent:
December 3, 2019
Assignee:
Ford Global Technologies, LLC
Inventors:
Jeroen Lem, Benjamin Eilebrecht, Marcel Mathissen, Achim Lindner, Rainer Vogt, Marian Walter, Steffen Leonhardt
Abstract: A cross-car beam is provided herein. The cross-car beam includes a composite elongated panel extending across a vehicle. A bracket is operably coupled with an elongated panel. An attachment feature and a cowl attachment structure are each integrally formed with the bracket and are disposed at opposing end portions of the bracket.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 19, 2017
Date of Patent:
December 3, 2019
Assignee:
Ford Global Technologies, LLC
Inventors:
Gary D. Mullen, Nicholas Andrew Mazzocchi, Dan Busuioc, Alan Perelli, Anthony Ligi, Jr.
Abstract: A heat stake for a plastic part includes a body having a proximal end, a flared section and a distal end. The proximal end has a first cross-sectional area A1 and the flared section has a second cross-sectional area A2 where A1<A2. The distal end has a dual taper. That plastic part incorporating the heat stake is also disclosed.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 7, 2016
Date of Patent:
December 3, 2019
Assignee:
Ford Global Technologies, LLC
Inventors:
Liying Qi, Jeffrey Peter Webb, Frank Qiukui Liu, Linh Doan
Abstract: A cap for a coolant reservoir that accommodates the expansion of coolant stored therein. The expanding coolant results from an increase in temperature and causes an increase in pressure to build within the coolant reservoir. The cap includes a base and a crown having an air-dome which extends upwardly therefrom. The base includes a passageway extending therethrough and in fluid communication with an interior cavity or an “air gap” formed in the crown. As the cap is positioned over an open neck of the coolant reservoir, by being screwed or otherwise fitted thereon, the interior cavity remains positioned above the neck. Thus, as the coolant within the coolant reservoir becomes heated and expands, the interior cavity provides additional space for the coolant to occupy and pressure to build within.
Abstract: An exemplary support assembly includes, among other things, a hoop bracket coupling a battery pack to a vehicle body structure, and a tuned bracket within an open area of the hoop bracket. The tuned bracket is configured to control a collapse of the hoop bracket in response to a load above a threshold level to reduce a transfer of the load to the battery pack. An exemplary supporting method includes coupling a battery pack to a vehicle body structure using a hoop bracket disposed alongside the battery pack. The hoop bracket includes an open area that receives a tuned bracket. The tuned bracket is configured to control a deformation of the hoop bracket in response to a load above a threshold level to reduce a transfer of the load to the battery pack.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 20, 2018
Date of Patent:
December 3, 2019
Assignee:
Ford Global Technologies, LLC
Inventors:
Saravanan Paramasivam, Dave Moschet, Daniel Miller, Hari Krishna Addanki, Amar Marpu, Rajaram Subramanian, Kimberley King, Kanchana Perumalla
Abstract: The present invention provides dry mix compositions for use in making gypsum plasters or mortars comprising gypsum, preferably, phosphorous gypsum one or more retarder, and one or more crosslinked cellulose ethers containing polyether groups. The compositions enable the provision of gypsum dry mixes, such as those from phosphorus gypsum, that make gypsum mortars with less stickiness while reducing the amount of cellulose ether in the dry mix.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 29, 2016
Date of Patent:
December 3, 2019
Assignee:
Dow Global Technologies LLC
Inventors:
Joern Breckwoldt, Alexandra Hild, Anette Wagner
Abstract: An exemplary battery assembly includes, among other things, a thermal fin, a frame holding the thermal fin, and a stand-off of the frame configured to limit relative movement of the thermal fin toward a thermal exchange plate. An exemplary thermal fin positioning method, includes limiting relative movement of a thermal fin toward a thermal exchange plate using a stand-off disposed upon a battery cell assembly frame.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 14, 2016
Date of Patent:
December 3, 2019
Assignee:
Ford Global Technologies, LLC
Inventors:
Rajaram Subramanian, Steve Droste, John Jardine, Saravanan Paramasivam, Juil Yum
Abstract: Ethylene-based polymers comprising the following properties: (A) a density from 0.9190 g/cc to 0.9240 g/cc; (B) a hexane extractable level that is less than or equal to the lower of: (1) (A+(B*density (g/cc))+(C*log(MI) dg/min)) based on total weight of the ethylene-based polymer; where A=250.5 wt %, B=?270 wt %/(g/cc), C=0.25 wt %/[log(dg/min)], or (2) 2.0 wt %; (C) a G? (at G?=500 Pa, 170° C.) that meets the following equation: G??D+E[log (12)], where D=150 Pa and E=?60 Pa/[log(dg/min)]; and (D) a melt index (12) from 1.0 to 20 dg/min; are made in process comprising the step of contacting in a reaction configuration, comprising a first tubular reaction zone 1 and a last tubular reaction zone i, in which i is greater than or equal to (?) 3, under high pressure polymerization conditions, and in which the first reaction zone 1 has a peak polymerization temperature greater than the peak temperature of the ith reaction zone, and wherein the difference in these two peak temperatures is ?30° C.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 23, 2016
Date of Patent:
December 3, 2019
Assignee:
Dow Global Technologies LLC
Inventors:
Otto J. Berbee, Cornelis F. J. Den Doelder, Stefan Hinrichs, Teresa P. Karjala, John O. Osby
Abstract: A method for developing restraint device deployment timings includes selecting a first restraint device as a reference device, determining a deployment time range for the first restraint device, selecting a second restraint device, and determining a deployment time range for the second restraint device relative to the deployment time range of the first restraint device.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 1, 2017
Date of Patent:
December 3, 2019
Assignee:
FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Inventors:
Mahmoud Yousef Ghannam, Kirk David Arthurs, Todd N. Clark, Edward Joseph Abramoski
Abstract: A vehicle includes a mirror light assembly. A plurality of light sources is disposed in a housing and a plurality of reflectors surrounds each light source having a focal axis that is offset from each of the remaining reflectors. A sensor is configured to detect an object proximate the vehicle. A controller is configured to selectively illuminate the light sources to illuminate the object.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 17, 2017
Date of Patent:
December 3, 2019
Assignee:
Ford Global Technologies, LLC
Inventors:
Stuart C. Salter, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Pietro Buttolo, Annette Lynn Huebner
Abstract: A method for operating a vehicle comprising at least one light source designed to emit light for illuminating the surroundings of the vehicle is described. The method comprises the following steps: determining whether a road user approaches the vehicle to within a predetermined distance; determining the distance between the road user and the vehicle; and illuminating the surroundings of the vehicle by use of the at least one light source at the side of the vehicle from which the road user approaches the vehicle should the distance between the road user and the vehicle drop below a first threshold distance.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 27, 2018
Date of Patent:
December 3, 2019
Assignee:
Ford Global Technologies, LLC
Inventors:
Nikica Hennes, Philipp Wolf, Jessica Rebecca Rausch
Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a vehicle component cover. In one example, a vehicle component cover may be adapted to conceal vehicle components within an engine compartment, and the cover may include an embedded support structure having a plurality of notched sections. The support structure may deform at the plurality of notched sections to increase an energy absorption characteristic of the vehicle component cover.
Abstract: An airbag includes folds with each fold having an apex and limbs. The limbs extend from the apex to the limbs of an adjacent fold. A fastener is fixed to the folds and releasably connects the folds to each other.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 14, 2016
Date of Patent:
December 3, 2019
Assignee:
FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Inventors:
Hubert Szawarski, Manoharprasad K. Rao, Mark A. Cuddihy
Abstract: A method for diagnosing an evaporative emission control system that includes during a first state of a vapor blocking valve, determining a first rate of change of a fuel tank vacuum, during a second state of the vapor blocking valve different from the first state, determining a second rate of change of the fuel tank vacuum, and diagnosing an operational condition of the vapor blocking valve based on the first and second rates of change.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 5, 2018
Date of Patent:
December 3, 2019
Assignee:
Ford Global Technologies, LLC
Inventors:
Aed M. Dudar, Mark Peters, Donald Ignasiak, Deborah Dukatz, John Hefferon
Abstract: A component, e.g., a bumper assembly, of a vehicle includes a fascia spaced from a bumper beam, a structure defining gaps between the structure and the bumper beam and between the structure and the fascia, and a computer programmed to supply electrical current to vary a stiffness of the structure in response to a vehicle speed beyond a threshold.
Type:
Application
Filed:
May 24, 2018
Publication date:
November 28, 2019
Applicant:
Ford Global Technologies, LLC
Inventors:
MOHAMMAD OMAR FARUQUE, SAEED DAVID BARBAT, YALI LI, JAMES CHIH CHENG, DEAN M. JARADI, S.M. ISKANDER FAROOQ
Abstract: A computer includes a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to detect a plurality of objects around a vehicle and develop a map of an environment around the vehicle based on a polygon having sides extending between the plurality of objects, wherein the vehicle is located within an interior of the polygon.
Type:
Application
Filed:
May 23, 2019
Publication date:
November 28, 2019
Applicant:
Ford Global Technologies, LLC
Inventors:
LARS KUHNERT, NADJA WYSIETZKI, AHMED BENMIMOUN, MARTIN KLUBAL
Abstract: A front-end structure includes a front-end support and a grille fixed relative to the front-end support. Two brackets are disposed between the front-end support and the grille. The two brackets are spaced from each other along a cross-vehicle axis. Each of the two brackets has two legs. Each of the legs extends from the front-end support toward the grille. Two bars are spaced from each other and are spaced from the front-end support. The bars are elongated along the cross-vehicle axis from one of the brackets to the other of the brackets.
Type:
Application
Filed:
January 7, 2019
Publication date:
November 28, 2019
Applicant:
Ford Global Technologies, LLC
Inventors:
MOHAMMED SHENAQ, SUDIP SANKAR BHATTACHARJEE, MUSTAFA AHMED, NEIL CLARKE, RICHARD LISOWSKI