Patents Assigned to Ford Global Technologies, LLC
  • Motor drive device of a vehicle sliding door
    Patent number: 10767413
    Abstract: A motor drive device for moving a vehicle sliding door is provided. The device includes an electric motor, a force transmission mechanism operationally connectable to the vehicle sliding door and the electric motor to transmit a drive force provided by the motor to the sliding door, sensors at least for determining an instantaneous position of the vehicle sliding door, an electronic control unit for activating at least the motor, and a shift clutch coupled to the force transmission mechanism and couplable to the motor for load-independent coupling of the motor to the force transmission mechanism. The control unit, in the event of application of a sufficient force to the sliding door during a power-driven movement, either elevates a speed of the vehicle sliding door by elevating the transmitted drive force or decouples the force transmission mechanism and the motor with the shift clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Jochen Klingbeil
  • Arrangement and method for tempering exhaust gas recirculation devices, and motor vehicle
    Patent number: 10767539
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a tempering circuit. A system comprises where the tempering circuit is fluidly coupled to each of an engine cooling circuit, an EGR cooler, and an EGR valve. The tempering circuit comprising a plurality of control valves for selectively adjusting tempering medium flow to various portions of the tempering circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Hans Guenter Quix, Andreas Kuske, Christian Winge Vigild
  • Method and system for vehicle refueling
    Patent number: 10766757
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for improving customer satisfaction during a vehicle fuel tank refueling event. A customer refilling fuel in a fuel tank is provided a real-time update regarding the status of a fuel system, including a time remaining until the fuel tank is depressurized and ready to receive fuel. The update is provided visually by projecting the countdown on a ground surface via a puddle light, and acoustically via an external microphone or speaker of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Aed Dudar
  • Transaxle having chain final drive
    Patent number: 10767742
    Abstract: A transmission uses a chain and sprocket final drive that provides all final drive torque multiplication in addition to transferring power to the differential axis. The transmission includes a front support structure that provides for a small driving sprocket. The front support includes an insert made of hardened material that can serve as the inner bearing race for the driving sprocket. In some embodiments, four fluid passageways are provided to the torque converter. In some embodiments, the park gear may be integrated with the driven sprocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Allen Janson, Gregory Daniel Goleski, David Gon Oh
  • Vehicle wheel torque adjustment
    Patent number: 10766415
    Abstract: A computer in a vehicle includes a processor programmed to apply, on the vehicle, upon detecting an occupant alertness level below a first threshold, a first periodic component to a first torque applied to one or more first-end wheels and a second periodic component to a second torque applied to one or more second-end wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Douglas Raymond Martin, Kenneth J. Miller
  • External vehicle component control
    Patent number: 10766446
    Abstract: A system includes a computer programmed to receive impact sensor data specifying a force of an impact to a vehicle body panel. The computer is programmed to, upon determining that the force is below a collision force threshold, identify the impact as user input. The computer is programmed to actuate a vehicle component according to the user input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Charles Everett Badger, II, Brandon Beauvais, Matthew Fleming
  • Interchangeable operable duct with blocking component for a driver-only function
    Patent number: 10766333
    Abstract: A vehicle air-handling system includes a heat exchanger, a blower in communication with the heat exchanger, and an operable duct having driver and passenger portions that are each in communication with the heat exchanger and the blower. When the blower is activated, the driver portion continuously delivers blower air and the passenger portion selectively delivers blower air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Frank Fusco, Jennifer A. Herr-Rathke, Manfred Koberstein, Jose A. Nava, Steven M. Kahrs
  • Foreground detection
    Patent number: 10769799
    Abstract: A computing system can receive an image including foreground pixels. The foreground pixels can be determined based on determining eccentricity ?k based on a sequence of images acquired by a stationary sensor. The vehicle can determine moving objects in the image based on the foreground pixels. The vehicle can be operated based on the moving objects in the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Bruno Sielly Jales Costa, Enrique Corona, Gintaras Vincent Puskorius, Dimitar Petrov Filev
  • Gasoline particle filter temperature control
    Patent number: 10767526
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling particulate filter temperature during non-combustion conditions. In one example, a method for an engine includes responsive to a particulate filter temperature above a threshold temperature and while operating the engine with deceleration fuel shut-off (DFSO), fully closing a throttle valve configured to regulate flow of intake air to the engine, and responsive to intake manifold pressure dropping below a threshold pressure while the throttle valve is fully closed, adjusting a position of the throttle valve based on the particulate filter temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Norman Ulrey, Emil G. Serban, Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt
  • Method and device for automatically closing a tailgate of a motor vehicle
    Patent number: 10767411
    Abstract: A device and method for automatically closing a tailgate of a motor vehicle having a body and a tailgate closing device, is described. The tailgate closing device comprises first and second closing elements. A suspension strut is situated on a first side of the tailgate and a power strut is situated on a second side of the tailgate opposite the first side. The suspension strut and the power strut are both connected to the tailgate and to the body. The first closing element is situated on the tailgate and the second closing element is situated on the body. The first and second closing elements are designed to engage into each other during the closing of the tailgate to effectuate the closure of the tailgate. The torque acting via the power strut onto the tailgate is reduced during the closing of the tailgate when the distance between the first and second closing elements is less than a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Matthias Tensing, Jan Zacharias
  • Bumper protection device
    Patent number: 10766425
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a bumper protection device and a motor vehicle including the same. A method of use is also disclosed. An example bumper protection device includes, among other things, a protective strip moveable between a retracted position and an extended position, a spring biasing the protective strip to the extended position, and a closure arranged such that movement of the closure to a closed position urges the protective strip to the retracted position, and such that movement of the closure to an open position permits movement of the protective strip to the extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Claudia Herudek, David van Bebber
  • Concealed vehicle indicia
    Patent number: 10767834
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a light source configured to emit light. A substrate defines a surface. The surface integrally defines an optical grating. A light transmissive layer is positioned over the optical grating. The light source is configured to direct the light through the light transmissive layer to the optical grating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Linsheng Chen
  • Vehicle airbag
    Patent number: 10766445
    Abstract: An airbag assembly includes a housing and an airbag supported by the housing. A sheet includes a first end fixed relative to the housing and a second end. A reinforcement is elongated on the sheet. The sheet is deployable below the airbag with the second end free from the airbag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: David R. Huelke, Eric Axel Smitterberg
  • Methods and system for injecting water at different groups of cylinders of an engine
    Patent number: 10767587
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting an amount of water injected upstream of a group of cylinders based on a determined maldistribution of water among cylinders during a water injection event. In one example, a method may include injecting a first amount of water upstream of a first group of cylinders and a different, second amount of water upstream of a second group of cylinders based on operating conditions of the respective cylinder groups. Further, the method may include adjusting water injection and engine operating parameters in response the evaporated and/or condensed portion of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mohannad Hakeem, Gopichandra Surnilla, Christopher House, Michael Howard Shelby, Joseph Norman Ulrey
  • Motor vehicle with auxiliary frame
    Patent number: 10766539
    Abstract: A motor vehicle (10) having a passenger compartment (12) and a front compartment (13) arranged in the direction of a longitudinal axis (X) in front of the passenger compartment (12) is provided. Here, the passenger compartment (12) is surrounded by a body (14) comprising a slope (16). In the front compartment (13), an auxiliary frame (17) is arranged. As claimed in the disclosure, a spacing (22) is formed between the auxiliary frame (17) and the slope (16) in the direction of the longitudinal axis (X) and a spacer piece (19) is arranged in this spacing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Marius Sawatzki, Dominik Mueller, Stefan Schneider, Daniel Meckenstock
  • Flying capacitor based variable voltage converter
    Patent number: 10770970
    Abstract: A powertrain for a vehicle may include a variable voltage converter (VVC), and a controller. The VVC may include an inductor, a bus capacitor and a flying capacitor. The controller may be configured to, in response to a power demand signal exceeding a threshold, modulate switches of the VVC such that an inductor current created by a collapsing field of the inductor is directed into the flying capacitor or the bus capacitor such that a bus capacitor voltage exceeds a flying capacitor voltage, and in response to the power demand signal dropping below the threshold, modulate switches such that the flying capacitor and the bus capacitor are coupled in parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Shuitao Yang, Yan Zhou, Lihua Chen, Baoming Ge, Fan Xu, Mohammed Khorshed Alam
  • Vehicle lighting system, light guide, and method of making thereof
    Patent number: 10766413
    Abstract: A light guide for a light system of a vehicle and a method of forming the light guide are disclosed herein. The light system comprises the light guide, a light source proximate the guide, and a receiving feature coupled to the vehicle. The light guide comprises a core portion having a light transmissive body, a reflective portion, an absorptive portion, and an attachment feature. The reflective portion is disposed about the core portion along the length of the body. The absorptive portion is disposed about the reflective portion along the length of the reflective portion. The attachment feature extends outwardly from the absorptive portion and is configured to be engaged with the receiving feature coupled to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Satyanarayana R. Vemulapati, Steven J. Antilla, Jason Robert Emrich
  • Vehicle wheel assembly
    Patent number: 10766299
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel assembly includes a wheel. A tire is disposed around the wheel. A wheel cap is coupled to the wheel and includes a polymeric base. A substantially transparent cap is positioned on the base which defines a first surface and a second surface. The second surface integrally defines an optical grating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Paul Kenneth Dellock, Stuart C. Salter, Richard Gall, David Brian Glickman, Samer Wadi
  • Method for assisting a driver to keep in a lane
    Patent number: 10766532
    Abstract: A method is described for assisting a driver when operating a vehicle on a road having a road surface and lane markings. The method includes the steps of ascertaining position of lane markings using an ascertaining apparatus, determining at least one lane delimiting line on the ascertained position of the lane markings, specifying a trajectory of the vehicle, in the event of the trajectory that is specified intersecting a lane delimiting line that is determined, outputting an instruction to the driver of the vehicle using at least one light beam that is projected onto the road surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dominik Pahlke, Michael Koherr
  • Methods and apparatus to facilitate mitigation of vehicle trapping on railroad crossings
    Patent number: 10768001
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed to facilitate mitigation of vehicle trapping on railroad crossings. An example vehicle comprises a global positioning system (GPS) receiver, sensors, a transceiver, a processor and a memory. The GPS receiver generates location information. The sensors generate vehicle information. The processor and memory are in communication with the sensors, the GPS receiver, and the transceiver. The processor is configured to: determine whether the vehicle is stranded on a railroad crossing using the location information and the vehicle information; if the vehicle is stranded, generate a help request; and transmit the help request to neighboring vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mahmoud Yousef Ghannam, Clara Bennie