Patents Assigned to Ford Global Technologies, LLC
  • Publication number: 20240153320
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a test rover apparatus, a test system and a test method using the test rover apparatus. For example, the test rover apparatus is provided with a chassis that is configured to support an object representing a mobile actor, and a motor that is coupled to at least one wheel. At least one spring is coupled between the at least one wheel and the chassis to: bias the at least one wheel to extend out of the cavity to engage an underlying surface, and compress in response to a load being applied to the top of the chassis thereby retracting the at least one wheel into the cavity. A controller is configured to control the motor to drive the at least one wheel to propel the chassis along a predetermined route that is based on simulation data and corresponds to a maneuver of the mobile actor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2022
    Publication date: May 9, 2024
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Daniel MCMENAMIN, JR., Raymond LEONARD, Michael BRANDL, Timothy RIGGS, Sean William SHAWGO, Dustin Ryan YAUTZ
  • Publication number: 20240151092
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a cabin interior, a powered door having an actuator for moving the door between closed and open positions, interior sensors sensing position or movement of an occupant in the cabin interior, and exterior sensors sensing a passerby proximate to the vehicle. The vehicle includes a controller determining an occupant intending to exit the vehicle via the door based on the interior sensors and determining a passerby passing by the door in an open position using the at least one exterior sensors. The controller controls the actuator to open the door when the occupant is intended to exit the vehicle and at least partially closes the door when a passerby is detected passing by the vehicle door and an occupant is determined not to be exiting the vehicle. The controller controls the actuator to open the door further when the passerby is determined to pass by the door.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2022
    Publication date: May 9, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brendan Diamond, Keith Weston, Stuart C. Salter, John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Kristopher Karl Brown
  • Publication number: 20240151854
    Abstract: A sensor assembly includes a housing, a sensor unit attached to the housing, and a gutter fixed relative to the housing. The sensor unit includes a cylindrical shell defining a vertical axis. The cylindrical shell extends above a highest point of the housing. The cylindrical shell is rotatable around the axis relative to the housing. The cylindrical shell includes a lower edge and extending upward along the axis from the lower edge. The gutter is elongated along the lower edge and positioned directly below the lower edge relative to the axis. The gutter defines an airflow outlet from the housing radially inside the gutter relative to the axis. The sensor unit defines an airflow inlet radially inside the lower edge relative to the axis and positioned to receive airflow from the airflow outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2022
    Publication date: May 9, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Venkatesh Krishnan, Michael Robertson, JR., Rashaun Phinisee, Tyler D. Hamilton, Alexander Petniunas, Subba Reddy Boggu
  • Publication number: 20240149656
    Abstract: A structural assembly for a battery structure of a vehicle includes a lower wall and a pair of cross members. The lower wall is configured to support a cell stack. The pair of cross members are spaced apart from each other in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle. Each cross member provides lateral support for a respective side of the cell stack and is configured to extend substantially an entire width of a battery enclosure. Each cross member of the pair of cross members includes an outer wall, an inner wall spaced apart from the outer wall, and connecting members. The outer wall, the inner wall, and connecting members cooperate with each other to define an internal cavity. The inner walls of the pair of cross members are secured to the lower wall and slidable relative to the outer walls of the pair of cross members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2022
    Publication date: May 9, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Scott M. Rollins, Dominic Mario Bertolini, David Doman, Francisco Fernandez-Galindo, John Hammack McCormick, Jason Luke Sielaff, Liam E. West
  • Publication number: 20240149873
    Abstract: A method to control speed of a first vehicle is disclosed. The method may include obtaining a first input from a first detection unit. The first detection unit may be configured to monitor vehicles in a first vehicle blind-spot area. The method may further include determining presence of a second vehicle in a first vehicle blind-spot area based on the first input. The method may further include calculating a time spent by the second vehicle in the first vehicle blind-spot area. Furthermore, the method may include determining whether the time spent is greater than a predetermined threshold. Responsive to a determination that the time spent is greater than the predetermined threshold, the method may include comparing a first vehicle range and a run-off area, and updating a first vehicle speed based on the comparison.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2022
    Publication date: May 9, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Shruti Gotadki, Animesh Sarkar, Anshuman Jagtap, Jared Kuhn, Nitendra Nath
  • Publication number: 20240149641
    Abstract: A heat pump includes a refrigerant loop. The refrigerant loop includes a first heat exchanger, a first region of a second heat exchanger, a third heat exchanger, a fourth heat exchanger, a compressor, a vapor generator, and a four-way valve. The compressor includes a low-pressure inlet, a mid-pressure inlet, and an outlet. The vapor generator is positioned downstream of the outlet of the compressor and upstream of both the low-pressure inlet and the mid-pressure inlet. The four-way valve is positioned immediately upstream of the first heat exchanger. At least one component chosen from the first heat exchanger, the second heat exchanger, and the vapor generator is free from compressor-driven flow of the first heat exchange fluid during a first predetermined set of heating modes of operation of the heat pump and a first predetermined set of cooling modes of operation of the heat pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2024
    Publication date: May 9, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Rachael Shey, Jeffrey Paul Brown
  • Publication number: 20240151833
    Abstract: A sensor assembly includes a housing defining a chamber and having an air inlet. A blower is disposed in the chamber and is in fluid communication with the air inlet. The blower is positioned to direct air in a flow direction. A sensor is disposed in the chamber and has a lens. The sensor is spaced from the blower. An air nozzle is aimed to direct air across the lens. A duct is disposed in the chamber and is coupled to the blower and the air nozzle. The duct extends from the blower in a departure direction oblique to the flow direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2022
    Publication date: May 9, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Venkatesh Krishnan, Sunil Reddy Patil, Michael Robertson, JR., Rashaun Phinisee, Anthony Michael Regalbuto, Kunal Chaudhari, Mallikarjun Sukumar
  • Publication number: 20240149755
    Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly includes a mounting bracket, a seat, a seatback, a first anchor, a second anchor, and a flexible member. The seat is coupled to the mounting bracket. The seatback is pivotably coupled to the mounting bracket. The first anchor is coupled to the seatback. The second anchor is coupled to the mounting bracket. The flexible member includes a first end coupled to the first anchor and a second end coupled to the second anchor such that the flexible member extends between the first anchor and the second anchor. A position of the first end of the flexible member within the first anchor changes as a function of an angular relationship between the seat and the seatback. A contour of the flexible member changes as a function of the angular relationship between the seat and the seatback.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2022
    Publication date: May 9, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas J. Susko
  • Publication number: 20240149655
    Abstract: A structural assembly for a battery structure includes a lower wall and a pair of cross members. The lower wall is configured to support a cell stack. The cross members are spaced apart from each other in a longitudinal direction of a vehicle. Each cross member supports a respective side of the cell stack and is configured to extend substantially an entire width of the battery structure. Each cross member includes an outer wall, an inner wall, and connecting members that connect the outer wall to the inner wall. The outer wall, the inner wall, and the connecting members cooperate to define an internal cavity. The inner walls of the cross members are secured to the lower wall to form a unitized structure that houses the cell stack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2022
    Publication date: May 9, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Scott M. Rollins, Dominic Mario Bertolini, David Doman, Francisco Fernandez-Galindo, John Hammack McCormick, Jason Luke Sielaff, Liam E. West
  • Publication number: 20240149834
    Abstract: An assembly includes a fluid reservoir having a fluid outlet. The assembly includes a piston slidably supported in the fluid reservoir. The assembly includes a spring urging the piston toward an end of the fluid reservoir. The piston and the fluid reservoir define a working chamber in fluid communication with the fluid outlet. The assembly includes a nozzle in fluid communication with the working chamber via the fluid outlet. The assembly includes a valve between the nozzle and the fluid outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2022
    Publication date: May 9, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Venkatesh Krishnan, Sivaprasad Karnati, T Hariharan, Raghuraman Surineedi, Ashwin Arunmozhi, Rashaun Phinisee, Kunal Singh
  • Publication number: 20240149706
    Abstract: A structural assembly for a battery structure includes a first shell, a second shell and a cold plate. The first shell includes a first cross member portion providing lateral support for a respective side of a cell stack. The second shell is secured to the first shell to define a unitized structure that houses the cell stack. The second shell includes a second cross member portion providing lateral support for a respective side of the cell stack and is spaced apart along a longitudinal direction of the vehicle relative to the first cross member portion. The cold plate is housed within the unitized structure. Each of the first and second cross member portions includes an outer wall, an inner wall spaced apart from the outer wall, and connecting members that connect the outer wall to the inner wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2022
    Publication date: May 9, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Scott M. Rollins, Dominic Mario Bertolini, David Doman, Francisco Fernandez-Galindo, John Hammack McCormick, Jason Luke Sielaff, Liam E. West
  • Patent number: 11975671
    Abstract: A seat assembly includes a seatback and an airbag supported by the seatback. The airbag is inflatable from an uninflated position to an inflated position. The seat assembly includes a bar pivotally supported by the seatback and fixed to the airbag. The bar is pivotable about a vertical axis of the seat assembly from a stowed position at the seatback with the airbag at the uninflated position to a deployed position forward of the seatback with the airbag at the inflated position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mangesh Kadam, Murugan Sundaram Ramasamy, Srinivas Reddy Malapati
  • Patent number: 11975681
    Abstract: A seatbelt retractor includes a frame and a spool having a first end and a second end each rotatably supported by the frame. The spool is elongated on an axis from the first end to the second end. The seatbelt retractor includes a plurality of torsion posts fixed to the frame. The seatbelt retractor includes a locking device operatively coupled between the spool and the plurality of torsion posts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dean M. Jaradi, Mohammad Omar Faruque, S. M. Iskander Farooq
  • Patent number: 11975680
    Abstract: A seat assembly includes a seatback and a seat portion supported by a frame assembly. The seat portion includes a carrier assembly and a displaceable platform pivotally coupled thereto for pivoting movement between a use position and a deployed position. A retraction mechanism includes a first bracket operably coupled to the frame assembly, and a second bracket operably coupled to the displaceable platform. The first and second brackets are operably coupled to one another by an actuator, and the second bracket is operable between first and second positions relative to the first bracket. A belt assembly includes a tether member and a belt member. The tether member is coupled between the first and second brackets, and the belt member is operable between a deployed position outside of the seatback, and a stowed position within an interior of the seatback.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, Rachel Demerly, Raed EL-Jawahri, Robyne McBride, Benjamin Yilma, Marcos Silva Kondrad, Kevin Michael Pline, S. M. Akbar Berry
  • Patent number: 11975670
    Abstract: An assembly includes a seat, an armrest supported by the seat, and a bar supported by the armrest. The armrest is elongated along an axis. The bar is translatable along the axis from a stowed position overlapping the armrest to a deployed position extending from the armrest. The bar is pivotable relative to the armrest in a seat-inboard direction from a non-pivoted position to a pivoted position. An airbag is supported by the bar. The airbag is inflatable from the bar to an inflated position when the bar is in the deployed position and the pivoted position. The airbag includes a first inflatable portion inflatable along the bar and a second inflatable portion supported by the first inflatable portion in the inflated position. The first inflatable portion surrounds the bar in the inflated position. The second inflatable portion is inflatable upwardly from the first inflatable portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mohammad Omar Faruque, S. M. Iskander Farooq, Dean M. Jaradi
  • Patent number: 11975742
    Abstract: Methods of refining a planned trajectory of an autonomous vehicle are disclose. For multiple cycles as the vehicle moves along the trajectory, the vehicle will perceive nearby objects. The vehicle will use the perceived object data to calculate a set of candidate updated trajectories. The motion planning system will measure a discrepancy between each candidate updated trajectory and the current trajectory by: (i) determining waypoints along each trajectory; (ii) determining distances between at least some of the waypoints; and (iii) using the distances to measure the discrepancy between the updated trajectory and the current trajectory. The system will use the discrepancy to select, from the set of candidate updated trajectories, a final updated trajectory for the vehicle to follow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Scott Julian Varnhagen, Colen McAlister, Timothy Andrew Potts, Jr., David Breeden, Pragati Satpute, Alice Kassar
  • Patent number: 11975675
    Abstract: An assembly includes a vehicle body including a body side. A front seat and a rear seat are adjacent to the body side. The front seat and the rear seat each include a seat bottom and a seat back that extends upwardly from the seat bottom. A side airbag is mounted to the vehicle body below the seat bottom of the front seat and the rear seat. A tether retractor is mounted to the vehicle body above the seat bottom of the front seat and the seat bottom of the rear seat. A tether extends from the side airbag to the tether retractor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mohammad Omar Faruque, S. M. Iskander Farooq, Dean M. Jaradi
  • Patent number: 11975678
    Abstract: An assembly includes a bed having a reclined position in which the bed is elongated along an axis A. The bed includes a first side and a second side with the axis A between the first side and the second side. The bed in the reclined position has a first end and a second end spaced from each other along the axis A. The bed includes an occupant support surface between the first end and second end. The assembly includes an airbag that is inflatable from an uninflated position to an inflated position. The airbag is housed in the first end in the uninflated position. The airbag in the inflated position has an arch shape between the first side of the bed and the second side of the bed. The arch is elongated along the axis A from the first end toward the second end above the occupant support surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: S. M. Iskander Farooq, Mohammad Omar Faruque, Dean M. Jaradi
  • Patent number: D1025858
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joel Piaskowski, Doyle Letson, Christopher Walter
  • Patent number: D1025859
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joel Piaskowski, Doyle Letson, Christopher Walter, Omead Dorandish, Joshua Greiner