Patents Assigned to Ford Global Technologies, LLC
  • Steering assist apparatus for a motor vehicle
    Patent number: 11117613
    Abstract: A power assist device for supporting steering of a motor vehicle includes a steering column shaft and a housing. The shaft has a rotor and the housing has a stator. The stator is arranged in the radial direction with respect to the rotor. The rotor is a disk, and at least one magnet is arranged on the radially outer edge of said rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Georg Figura, Alexander Ein Waldt, Armin Schymczyk
  • Illumination system for a vehicle
    Patent number: 11117512
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses an illumination system for a vehicle. The illumination system includes an illumination device having a light source and a bracket connected to the light source. The bracket is adapted to be rotatably connected on an inner surface of a movable closure of the vehicle, and the bracket is adjacent to a top of the vehicle when the movable closure is in an opened position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Derek Kang, Mauricio Acosta Loyola, Diego Elias Ramirez, Daniel Weckstein, Wei Xu
  • Contextual quick pick wheel
    Patent number: 11119643
    Abstract: Responsive to a first selection input to a physical knob control, a menu is displayed at least partially surrounding the physical knob control, the menu having a plurality of menu item each associated with a respective action, the menu overlaying at least a portion of the onscreen controls and extending off-screen the touchscreen to allow menu items to be loaded from the sides of the touchscreen as the menu is rotated. A selection of the menu is set to an exit menu item to allow a second selection input to the physical control to dismiss the menu. Responsive to rotational input to the knob, the menu is rotated about the physical knob control to change the selection of the menu. Responsive to receipt of the second selection input, performing the action of the menu item at the selection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas Madden
  • Traction battery charging method and charging system
    Patent number: 11117483
    Abstract: A method of charging a traction battery of a vehicle includes, among other things, partitioning the traction battery of the electrified vehicle into a plurality of partitions. Each of the partitions is separately chargeable. The method then includes evaluating at least one characteristic of the plurality of partitions, and prioritizing a charging of the plurality of partitions from at least one external power source based on the evaluating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Michael Kava, Shevon Vannitamby, Lori Kohrs, Mike Padgett
  • Trim panel and displaceable face panel providing enhanced storage function
    Patent number: 11117525
    Abstract: A apparatus includes a trim panel and a displaceable face pane. The trim panel includes a storage compartment and a guideway having a latching slot and a positioning rack. The displaceable face panel has a trunnion received for sliding movement along the guideway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Juergen Koehler, Bhavani Thota, Steven Nicholas Fidh, Gary D. Mullen, Linh Ngoc Doan
  • Using a vehicle to identify a status of a garage door
    Patent number: 11120655
    Abstract: Example embodiments described in this disclosure are generally directed to using a vehicle to identify a status of a garage door, such as, for identifying whether the garage door is fully closed, fully open, or partially open. The identification may be carried out in response to an inquiry from an individual, such as, a driver of the vehicle that has exited through the garage door. A detection apparatus such as an image capture system or an ultrasonic sensor that can be a part of a vehicle security system may be used for identifying the status of the garage door. The image capture system may capture and store an image of the garage door when the vehicle is exiting the garage. Upon receiving an inquiry from the driver, the garage door status detection system may display the image on a smartphone of the driver or an infotainment system in the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Scott Huggins, Jeremy Lerner, Jason Woo, Daniel Sullivan, Paige Wong
  • Stator attachment mechanism
    Patent number: 11121601
    Abstract: A stator system for an electric vehicle motor may include a stator forming a back iron and a plurality of teeth extending inwardly therefrom, the stator including a plurality of attachment points protruding radially outwardly from the back iron, and a case configured to house the stator and defining a plurality of case openings, each configured to receive one of the attachment points, wherein each attachment point defines at least one T-slot configured to receive a nut that cooperates with a bolt extending through the case to connect the case to the stator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Bradley Ronald Heuver
  • Method and device for producing a wear-resistant surface on a workpiece
    Patent number: 11118282
    Abstract: A method including closing upper and lower ends of a bore with upper and lower closure element, respectively; introducing a cathode into the bore; and flowing an electrolyte through an annular space between a wall of the bore an outer surface of the cathode to provide an inner surface of the bore with a wear-resistant surface by electrolysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Jacques Beauvir, Urban Morawitz, Clemens Maria Verpoort
  • Methods and systems of a hybrid vehicle
    Patent number: 11117566
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a hybrid electric vehicle. In one example, a method may include delaying an electric-only operation of the hybrid vehicle in response to a powertrain temperature being less than a threshold powertrain temperature and an electric-only range being less than a distance between a current location and a recharging location. The electric-only operation may be initiated in response to one or more of the powertrain temperature exceeding the threshold powertrain temperature and the electric-only range being equal to the distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Thomas Leone
  • Method and system for engine control
    Patent number: 11118552
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for extending a duration of engine idle-stop while reducing a frequency of engine restart from idle-stop. In one example, in response to engine restart conditions where combustion torque is not necessary, an engine can be rotated electrically, without fuel delivery, via an electric motor. The unfueled engine spinning via the motor drives an FEAD which in turns drives an actuator coupled to the FEAD, such as an AC compressor or an automatic transmission oil pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ross Pursifull, Ralph Wayne Cunningham
  • Overmolded vehicle sheet metal structures with integrated attachments
    Patent number: 11117627
    Abstract: This disclosure details overmolded vehicle sheet metal structures that included integrated attachments for achieving part integration. An exemplary sheet metal structure includes a sheet metal panel, a reinforcing structure molded on the sheet metal panel, and an integrally molded attachment structure formed within the reinforcing structure. In some embodiments, the integrally molded attachment structure may include a nut, a bracket, or both. An additional vehicle component may be attached to the sheet metal panel via the integrally molded attachment structure. The sheet metal structure may be formed in a single shot injection molding process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Edward Andrew Pleet, Jason Scott Balzer, Todd John Mueller, Rohit Telukunta
  • Limiter with integrated fastener retention for an engine assembly component
    Patent number: 11118478
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for an engine component assembly having one or more fastener retention apparatuses. In one example, a system may include each of the one or more fastener retention apparatuses including a rigid limiter and an integrated fastener retention feature adhered to an inner surface of an interior passage of the rigid limiter. Further, one or more fasteners may be held captive by each of the one or more fastener retention apparatuses capturing one fastener of the one or more fasteners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: JonCarlo Mancini, Richard Anton, Mark Murphy, Ryan Scott Gray
  • Locating systems and methods for wireless seat belt monitoring in vehicles with removable or reconfigurable seats
    Patent number: 11117546
    Abstract: Locating systems and methods for wireless seat belt monitoring in vehicles with removable or reconfigurable seats are provided herein. An example device includes a first transceiver associated with a seat belt buckle, the first transceiver having a processor and memory for storing instructions that include a first unique code identifying the first transceiver and a first orientation value of the seat belt buckle to a vehicle receiver, the first orientation value indicating a location of the seat belt buckle on a seat, the processor executes the instructions to transmit the first unique code and the first orientation value to a vehicle receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Cuddihy, Dilip Patel, Mark Andre Zielinski, Karthikeyan Sadatsharan
  • Vehicle window edge water management
    Patent number: 11117453
    Abstract: Vehicle windows may include water management features. In some embodiments, the vehicle windows include a water management corner piece for managing the flow of water or other precipitation around the window. The water management corner piece may be secured to a window glass pane and may positioned and shaped for channeling the water along an engineered drainage path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Chester Stanislaus Walawender, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Daniel J. Martin
  • Method and system for sending vehicle health report
    Patent number: 11120650
    Abstract: Vehicle bus data is collected from an electronic control unit. User input is received to initiate creation of a vehicle health report for describing a vehicle diagnostic event. A voice message descriptive of a context of the diagnostic event is recorded. The telematics controller sends, to a sever, the vehicle health report including the voice message and a subset of the vehicle bus data including a time of the user input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chad Bednar, Erik J. Christen
  • Systems and methods for fouling reduction in a pre-chamber
    Patent number: 11118497
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for combusting an air-fuel mixture in a pre-chamber of a cylinder during an exhaust stroke of the cylinder responsive to fouling of the pre-chamber. In one example, a method may include injecting air into the pre-chamber during the exhaust stroke, injecting fuel into the pre-chamber during the exhaust stroke, and actuating a pre-chamber spark plug in order to combust the air-fuel mixture during the exhaust stroke. In this way, a temperature of the pre-chamber may be increased, which may decrease a soot load of one of a pre-chamber air-injector, a pre-chamber fuel injector, and the pre-chamber spark plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chris Paul Glugla, Michael Howard Shelby, Michael Damian Czekala
  • Fuel system for a vehicle
    Patent number: 11118530
    Abstract: A fuel delivery system for a vehicle engine and a method are provided. A first valve in parallel with a first fuel pump fluidly couples a fuel line to a fuel tank. A second valve in parallel with a second fuel pump fluidly couples a fuel rail to the fuel line. A controller opens the first and second valves during a vehicle key-off state to relieve pressure in the fuel rail and drain fuel into the fuel tank. A vehicle is provided with a fuel tank, and a valve fluidly coupling a fuel rail and a fuel tank. A controller opens the valve during a vehicle key-off state to drain fuel from the fuel rail into the fuel tank and relieve pressure in the fuel rail, and closes the valve in response to a predicted key-on event during the vehicle key-off state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Anthony Taba, Brendan F. Diamond
  • Systems for intake manifold secondary gas distribution
    Patent number: 11118547
    Abstract: An intake system of an engine is provided. The intake system may include an intake manifold coupled to a first throttle body and a second throttle body, where the intake manifold is formed from an upper shell and a lower shell. The intake system further includes a vacuum port located in the intake manifold and in an air-flow path downstream of the first throttle body and the second throttle body and upstream of a plurality of intake runners of the intake manifold, the vacuum port including a spigot extending through the upper shell of the intake manifold, and a vacuum passage coupling the vacuum port to a vehicle subsystem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John Lohr, Murray Griffin
  • Vehicle frame assembly
    Patent number: 11117619
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a pair of frame rails elongated along a longitudinal axis, each of the frame rails having a downward deformation zone, the frame rails bendable at the downward deformation zones from a first position to a second position beneath the first position. The vehicle includes a tire supported between the pair of frame rails at the downward deformation zones. The vehicle includes a spare tire retention member supported between the pair of frame rails forward of the downward deformation zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Jamil M. Alwan, Djamal Eddine Midoun, Sean Timothy Ryan, Hassan Najib Dubaisi, Harish Honnavalli Dutt, Peyman Aghssa, Zakareia H. Hussain
  • Vehicle storage system
    Patent number: 11117547
    Abstract: A roof panel storage system for vehicle is disclosed herein. A storage bag is configured to hold a roof panel of the vehicle. The sensor is coupled to the storage bag and is configured to sense a position of the storage bag. A sound source device is coupled to the storage bag and is configured to issue an auditory alert based on the sensed position of the storage bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jim Baumbick, Stuart C. Salter, Pietro Buttolo, Annette Lynn Huebner, Paul Kenneth Dellock, David Brian Glickman