Patents Assigned to Ford Global Technologies, LLC
  • Controlling operation of electrified vehicle travelling on inductive roadway to influence electrical grid
    Patent number: 10759281
    Abstract: A method for balancing electrical grid production with electrical grid demand according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, controlling an electrified vehicle prior to and during an inductive roadway event to either conserve a state of charge of a battery pack in response to a first grid condition of an electrical grid or deplete the state of charge of the battery pack in response to a second grid condition of the electrical grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth James Miller, Douglas Raymond Martin, Jimmy Kapadia
  • Suspension system including releasable connection
    Patent number: 10759244
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicle frame and a suspension arm. A bushing is connected to the suspension arm. A lever extends through the bushing. A fastener is fastened to the lever and the vehicle frame. When the lever is impacted by a rigid barrier of a small-offset rigid-barrier (SORB) frontal impact test, the lever breaks the fastener and allows the lever, the bushing, and the suspension arm to release from the vehicle frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Brent Michael White, Christopher Melgar, Peter Lazarevski, Kevin Stanton Giaier
  • Moisture control for sensor assembly
    Patent number: 10761190
    Abstract: A sensor assembly includes a housing, a blower fixed relative to the housing, an air tunnel, a filter, a first drain, and a second drain. The air tunnel includes an inlet, a first turn, a second turn, a first portion extending upward from the inlet to the first turn, a second portion extending downward from the first turn to the second turn, and a third portion extending from the second turn to the blower. The filter is positioned between the first portion and the first turn. The first drain extends through the first portion. The second drain extends through the third portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignees: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC, VALEO NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Andre Sykula, Segundo Baldovino, Steven Marshall, Michael Whitney, Earl Buckman
  • Vehicle light system
    Patent number: 10759339
    Abstract: A light system for a vehicle is provided herein. The light system includes a trim member defining an aperture. A light guide is disposed within the aperture. The light guide has a proximal portion operably coupled with a light source. A lens is integrally formed with the light guide and is disposed at a distal portion of the light guide. A deformable attachment mechanism is integrally formed on the light guide between the proximal and the distal portions of the light guide. The light guide is compressively retained within the aperture by a forward portion of the attachment mechanism and a rearward portion of the lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ali Ammar, Jason Robert Emrich, Fayez Alamat, Steven J. Antilla, Megan May Lovejoy
  • Centrifugal fluid separator
    Patent number: 10758843
    Abstract: A vehicle system is provided. The system may include a first coolant loop, including a radiator, a second coolant loop including a battery chiller, and a centrifugal coolant separator. The centrifugal coolant separator may include a frustoconical hollow body having a base defining a drain and a ceiling defining a spout, and a pair of coolant lines arranged orthogonal to and on opposite sides of the body such that coolant exiting the lines travels along the inner surface and collects at the base to separate gas from the coolant, wherein the spout vents the gas and the coolant exits the drain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mario Alberto Martinez Mendez, Robert Heebner, Todd Wenzel, Jacob Powers, Zun Wang, Yi Zhang
  • Tie-down bracket for motor vehicle
    Patent number: 10759330
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a tie-down bracket for a motor vehicle. The tie-down bracket includes at least one light. In this way, the tie-down bracket may function as one or more of a signature light, turn signal, cornering light, etc. A method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, David Brian Glickman, Kevin Berington Johnson, Paul Kenneth Dellock
  • Vehicle air-extraction apparatus
    Patent number: 10759254
    Abstract: A vehicle body includes a cabin portion, a bed portion, and an air extractor. The cabin portion defines a passenger cabin and includes a hollow pillar having an opening to the passenger cabin. The bed portion defines a bed and includes a hollow frame rail elongated from the pillar. The pillar and the frame rail define an airflow path from the opening. The air extractor is positioned in the frame rail and is in communication with the airflow path and an ambient environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Steve William Gallagher, Michael Murphy McElroy, Musheeruddin Syed, Eric R. Yerke, Mukdam Kena
  • Grooved alignment dowel and engine assembly
    Patent number: 10760458
    Abstract: An engine assembly is provided. The engine assembly comprises a first housing defining a first oil gallery, a second housing defining a second oil gallery, and an alignment dowel configured to be received within the first and second housings to provide an alignment feature for locating first and second housings of an engine assembly relative to one another, wherein the alignment dowel comprises a groove formed in an outer surface of the dowel configured to receive oil from the first oil gallery, and wherein the dowel is configured to provide a flow channel for the received oil to flow to the second oil gallery. An alignment dowel for use in the engine assembly is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Stephen Leonard Clark
  • Vehicle energy absorbing device
    Patent number: 10759370
    Abstract: An instrument panel assembly includes a support beam and an exterior panel. The instrument panel assembly includes an energy absorbing device between the support beam and the exterior panel and having a variable crush resistance based on a temperature of the energy absorbing device. The instrument panel assembly includes a heater operatively coupled to the energy absorbing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Yali Li, Mohammad Omar Faruque, James Chih Cheng, Saeed David Barbat, Dean M. Jaradi
  • Method for fuel injection control
    Patent number: 10760520
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described for controlling fuel injection in an engine equipped with a dual injector system including a port injector and a direct injector. A ratio of port injected fuel to direct injected fuel is adjusted based at least on intake valve temperature. The proportion of fuel port injected into a cylinder is increased as the intake valve temperature for the given cylinder increases to improve fuel vaporization in the intake port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Eric Krengel, Joseph Lyle Thomas, Todd Anthony Rumpsa, Michael Howard Shelby
  • AIRBAG WITH SELECTIVELY RELEASABLE EXTERNAL VENT
    Publication number: 20200269800
    Abstract: A vehicle including an instrument panel, a front seat rotatable between a forward-facing position and a rearward-facing position, and an airbag inflatable between the instrument panel and the front seat. The vehicle includes a controller including a processor and a memory storing processor-executable instructions wherein the processor is programmed to identify that the front seat is rearward-facing, inflate an airbag in response to a sensed frontal impact, and open an external vent in the airbag during inflation in response to identification that the front seat is rearward-facing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John Q. White, Jerry R. Brown, Frank Heitplatz
  • VEHICLE AIR-EXTRACTION APPARATUS
    Publication number: 20200269652
    Abstract: A vehicle body includes a cabin portion, a bed portion, and an air extractor. The cabin portion defines a passenger cabin and includes a hollow pillar having an opening to the passenger cabin. The bed portion defines a bed and includes a hollow frame rail elongated from the pillar. The pillar and the frame rail define an airflow path from the opening. The air extractor is positioned in the frame rail and is in communication with the airflow path and an ambient environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Steve William Gallagher, Michael Murphy McElroy, Musheeruddin Syed, Eric R. Yerke, Mukdam Kena
  • VEHICLE GLOVE BOX BIN
    Publication number: 20200269766
    Abstract: A glove box retainer assembly for retaining a glove box in a closed position during a frontal impact event of a vehicle includes an instrument panel of the vehicle and a bin is coupled to the instrument panel. The bin includes a base coupled to a rearward wall, a forward wall, and a side wall positioned between the rearward wall and the forward wall. A plurality of ribs is coupled to the forward wall. A collapsible feature is coupled to the side wall. An arm feature is coupled to the side wall and is defined by a slot feature in the side wall that feature extends from an upper rim of the side wall toward the forward wall. The collapsible feature is configured to collapse and the arm feature is configured to protrude outward from the side wall and engage the instrument panel in response to the application of a sufficient force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yalla Mussa Abushawashi, Marwan Ahmad Elbkaily, Matthew James Enciso, Abdelrahim Khal, Jon Maninga
  • INTEGRATION OF CHILD SAFETY SEAT WITH VEHICLE SEATBELT REMINDER SYSTEMS
    Publication number: 20200269807
    Abstract: An assembly includes a seat. The assembly includes a harness secured to the seat. The assembly includes a buckle supported by the harness. The assembly includes a buckle sensor supported by the buckle. The assembly includes a first clip secured to the seat and in electrical communication with the buckle sensor. The assembly includes a second clip secured to the seat and in electrical communication with the buckle sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Nathan Kristofor Tardif
  • DETERMINATION OF ILLUMINATOR OBSTRUCTION BY KNOWN OPTICAL PROPERTIES
    Publication number: 20200274998
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an image sensor having a field of view, an illuminator aimed at the field of view; and a computer including a processor and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor. The computer is programmed to illuminate an object external to the vehicle; determine that the object has a known optical property; determine the optical property of the object from a database; calculate luminance of the illuminator based at least on the optical property of the object; and adjust at least one of the illuminator, the image sensor, and the computer based at least on the luminance of the illuminator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: DAVID MICHAEL HERMAN, ASHWIN ARUNMOZHI, VENKATESH KRISHNAN
  • ILLUMINATOR OBSTRUCTION DETECTION
    Publication number: 20200271823
    Abstract: A system includes an optical window, and an illuminator and a first light sensor deployed on a same side of the optical window. The system further includes a second light sensor on another side of the optical window. The system further includes a computer including a processor and memory. The memory includes instructions such that the processor is programmed to identify an obstruction on the optical window upon the first light sensor reporting first data from the illuminator that is above an expected threshold. The expected threshold is based on second data from the second light sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: DAVID MICHAEL HERMAN, ASHWIN ARUNMOZHI, VENKATESH KRISHNAN
  • VEHICLE PATH PROCESSING
    Publication number: 20200269837
    Abstract: A computer includes a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to identify an error between a predicted steerable path of a vehicle based on data collected according to a first protocol and a predicted lane path based on data collected according to a second protocol and to identify a path fault when the error exceeds an error threshold for an elapsed time exceeding a time threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: NITENDRA NATH, MICHAEL HAFNER, AARON L. MILLS, ZHAO WANG, BAHGAT ABOUSHABAN
  • SEATING ASSEMBLY FOR A VEHICLE WITH SOURCE OF LIQUID SANITIZER AND NOZZLES TO DISPENSE LIQUID SANITIZER ONTO EXTERIOR SURFACE OF SEATING ASSEMBLY TO SANITIZE THE EXTERIOR SURFACE
    Publication number: 20200269738
    Abstract: A vehicle comprises: a plurality of seating assemblies, each seating assembly including an exterior surface, an interior beneath the exterior surface, a pressured supply of liquid sanitizer disposed within the interior, and at least one valve in fluid communication with the pressurized supply of liquid sanitizer that opens to allow liquid sanitizer to be dispensed onto the exterior surface. Each of the at least one valve are selectively positionable to and from an open position where the liquid sanitizer flows through the valve to allow liquid sanitizer to be dispensed onto the exterior surface and a closed position where the liquid sanitizer cannot flow through the valve. A controller, configured to receive instructions from a user interface, communicates with each of the at least one valve to cause any particular valve to move to and from the open position and the closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, Michael Kolich, Daniel Ferretti, Scott Holmes Dunham
  • VEHICLE SEAT ASSEMBLY
    Publication number: 20200269798
    Abstract: A seat includes a seat back and an airbag mounted to the seat back. A seatbelt webbing has a shoulder band and a lap band. The airbag is inflatable to an inflated position between the seat back and the shoulder band. When the airbag is inflated, the airbag exerts a force on the shoulder band to loosen the shoulder band across a chest of the occupant, e.g., during an angular impact in which the momentum of the occupant urges the shoulder and chest of the occupant to turn into the shoulder belt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: DEAN M, JARADI, MOHAMMAD OMAR FARUQUE, S. M. ISKANDER FAROOQ
  • VEHICLE PATH IDENTIFICATION
    Publication number: 20200271470
    Abstract: A system includes a computer including a processor and a memory. The processor is programmed to select a route for a vehicle based on an expected vehicle energy usage along the route based on an expected condition along the route in an environment above a road. The processor is further programmed to operate the vehicle along the route.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David A. Symanow, Ray Siciak