Patents Assigned to FORD GLOABL TECHNOLOGIES, L.L.C.
  • Patent number: 9849834
    Abstract: Systems and methods for improving vehicle wrong-way detection including systems, sensors or features, such as those for system/network clocks, ambient light, driver impairment, automatic cruise control, blind spot warning or configurable vehicle security, either singly or in any combination therewith, may refine and/or modify the confidence level of detecting particular or potential wrong-way incidents. By modifying the confidence level, the system may change the system sensitivity by moving the cutoff point at which an alert activation takes place. The systems described above can modify the wrong-way detection sensitivity. Greater confidence, or system sensitivity, may also help enable the system to take further actions beyond a simple warning. At greater confidence levels, the system could intervene, by way of a non-limiting example, with throttle limiting, turning on the hazard lights or even bringing the vehicle to a stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Gloabl Technologies, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Eric L. Reed, Brian Bennie, Thomas Lee Miller
  • Publication number: 20030188492
    Abstract: A lightweight automotive vehicle door assembly incorporates a modular concept having an outer door panel, an inner door panel, a reinforcement beam, and a hardware mounting module. The outer panel is preferably formed from aluminum, polypropylene or steel, while the inner door panel is preferably cast from magnesium with the hardware mounting module formed of thermoplastic. The magnesium inner panel is mounted to the outer panel by a hemming process while hardware is mounted to the inner panel through the use of two-piece thermoplastic inserts creating a dielectric barrier between the fasteners and the magnesium inner panel. The reinforcement beam is formed of a composite material consisting of a glass and carbon fiber reinforced outer skin with an interior core of polyurethane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2003
    Publication date: October 9, 2003
    Applicant: FORD GLOABL TECHNOLOGIES, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Roy Eugene Bonnett, Gregory T. Bretz, Patrick Blanchard, Saravanan Subramanian