Patents Assigned to Ford Global Technologies, LLC
  • VEHICLE CAMERA ALIGNMENT
    Publication number: 20200275033
    Abstract: A system includes two stereo cameras mounted on a vehicle, at least one sensor arranged to detect a relative alignment of the stereo cameras, and a computer communicatively coupled to the stereo cameras and the at least one sensor. The computer is programmed to continuously apply a compensating adjustment to one of the stereo cameras based on the relative alignment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: ALEXANDER PETNIUNAS, PATRICK BRAUTIGAN, VENKATESH KRISHNAN
  • System for Measuring Voltage Differences Between Battery Cells and for Obtaining Battery Cell Voltages Using the Voltage Differences
    Publication number: 20200271728
    Abstract: A system for monitoring battery cells of a battery includes a capacitor, a processor, and a controller. The controller is configured to connect the capacitor with a first battery cell to charge the capacitor to a voltage of the first battery cell and then (i) connect the capacitor with a second battery cell to form a circuit having an output that is a voltage difference of the capacitor and the second battery cell and (ii) connect the output to the processor for the processor to measure the voltage difference. The voltage difference is the voltage difference between the first battery cell and the second battery cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chingchi Chen, Benjamin A. Tabatowski-Bush, John Paul Gibeau, Kevin Vander Laan, Baojin Wang
  • METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR TRIP INVITATION
    Publication number: 20200273136
    Abstract: One or a plurality of embodiments of the present application provide a system applicable for trip invitation, the system comprising: a server side, comprising a computer-readable storage medium having executable instructions, and a processor communicating with the computer-readable storage medium, wherein the executable instructions are configured to, when executed, cause the processor to: acquire a trip invitation of a first client directed to a second client, wherein the trip invitation comprises identification information of the first client and a location sharing request; and send the trip invitation to the second client.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2020
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Nicolas Li, Henry Fan
  • Vehicle automatic defrost system and control method for external window surface
    Patent number: 10752215
    Abstract: A system for automatically controlling a defog/defrost function of a vehicle climate control system includes a controller configured to calculate an ambient dew point temperature value from a plurality of inputs received from a sensor array. The controller is further configured to set a condensation indicator if a calculated difference between a window exterior surface temperature value input received from the sensor array and the calculated ambient dew point temperature value is less than or equal to a predetermined threshold value. The controller actuates the vehicle climate control system defog/defrost function and/or a window wiper system in response to the set condensation indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kai Wang, Christopher Mark Greiner
  • Vehicle with removable outer body panel and detachable tail lamp support, and corresponding method
    Patent number: 10752294
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a motor vehicle with a removable outer body panel and a detachable tail lamp support, and a corresponding method. An example method includes connecting a subassembly to a body of a motor vehicle, where the subassembly includes an outer body panel connected to a tail lamp support. This arrangement permits detachment of the tail lamp support from the outer body panel, which allows a user to detach the outer body panel from the body without having to detach the tail lamp support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Jack Marchlewski, Darrin Wagner, Robert Reiners
  • Quick release feature for gas assist struts
    Patent number: 10753386
    Abstract: An end cap for a gas assist strut according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a body providing a socket, a spring clip having ends projecting into the socket, and a lever. The lever is arranged such that application of pressure to the lever draws the ends of the spring away from one another. This disclosure also relates to a motor vehicle including the subject end cap. A method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Patrick Riley, Ed Wilson, Michael J. Gardynik
  • Systems and methods for a split exhaust engine system
    Patent number: 10753299
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for operating a split exhaust engine system that provides blowthrough air and exhaust gas recirculation to an intake passage via a first exhaust manifold and exhaust gas to an exhaust passage via a second exhaust manifold. In one example, an amount of opening overlap between a plurality of intake valves and a first set of exhaust valves coupled to the first exhaust manifold may be adjusted responsive to a transition from an estimated combustion air-fuel content to a leaner air-fuel content of the blowthrough air on a cylinder to cylinder basis. As one example, the transition may be determined from an output of an oxygen sensor positioned within the first exhaust manifold or an exhaust runner of each of the first set of exhaust valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Norman Ulrey, Gopichandra Surnilla
  • Camera with cleaning system
    Patent number: 10752218
    Abstract: A computer in a vehicle includes a processor is programmed to detect an object proximate to the vehicle. The processor is further programmed to activate at least one of a plurality of cameras from a deactivated state and operate the vehicle according to an object type determined with data from the at least one of the cameras.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Taneshia Turner, Venkatesh Krishnan, Segundo Baldovino
  • Method and apparatus for ride-share planning using spatial awareness
    Patent number: 10755578
    Abstract: A system includes a processor configured to receive a vehicle request, including a requesting-occupant physical parameter. The processor is also configured to send a request, including the physical parameter, to a vehicle-hailing service. The processor is further configured to receive identification of a vehicle having sufficient space to accommodate the requesting-occupant, based on the physical parameter, responsive to the request. Also, the processor is configured to receive confirmation of the vehicle from the requesting-occupant, and request use of the vehicle, responsive to the confirmation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Patrick Lawrence Jackson Van Hoecke, Anthony Melatti, Hamid Golgiri, Danielle Rosenblatt
  • Vehicle route navigation
    Patent number: 10753753
    Abstract: A computer determines that a rate of travel value for a route segment being traversed by a first vehicle exceeds a predetermined threshold. A maneuver is planned for the first vehicle to depart from the route segment based on collected vehicle operating data from one or more second vehicles previously traversing the route segment. The first vehicle is instructed to execute the maneuver to depart the route segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Fling Finn Tseng, Shiqi Qiu, Pankaj Kumar, Hassene Jammoussi, Fakhreddine Landolsi, Imad Hassan Makki
  • Liftgate assembly
    Patent number: 10753134
    Abstract: A vehicle liftgate assembly according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a vehicle body, a liftgate bracket, a liftgate rotatably mounted to the vehicle body by way of the liftgate bracket, and a strut connected to the liftgate bracket to regulate rotational movement of the liftgate bracket. This disclosure also relates to a method and a rotation assembly, which may include a liftgate bracket and a flipglass bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Carlos Humberto Felix Frias
  • Connection history-based retry throttling
    Patent number: 10757602
    Abstract: A telematics controller is programmed to identify a location responsive to detecting a failed data call from a vehicle, and if the location is within a geographic boundary of a failure zone within a cellular tower region and a cause of the failure matches a recorded cause for the failure zone, initiate data throttling until the vehicle moved outside of the geographic boundary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jixin Zhang, Shu-Lin Chen
  • Advanced cast aluminum alloys for automotive engine application with superior high-temperature properties
    Patent number: 10752980
    Abstract: A high fatigue strength aluminum alloy comprises in weight percent copper 3.0-3.5%, iron 0-1.3%, magnesium 0.24-0.35%, manganese 0-0.8%, silicon 6.5-12.0%, strontium 0-0.025%, titanium 0.05-0.2%, vanadium 0.20-0.35%, zinc 0-3.0%, zirconium 0.2-0.4%, a maximum of 0.5% other elements and balance aluminum plus impurities. The alloy defines a microstructure having an aluminum matrix with the Zr and the V in solid solution after solidification. The matrix has solid solution Zr of at least 0.16% after heat treatment and solid solution V of at least 0.20% after heat treatment, and both Cu and Mg are dissolved into the aluminum matrix during the heat treatment and subsequently precipitated during the heat treatment. A process for heat treating an Al—Si—Cu—Mg—Fe—Zn—Mn—Sr-TMs alloy comprises heat treating the alloy to produce a microstructure having a matrix with Zr and V in solid solution after solidification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mei Li, Jacob Wesley Zindel, Larry Alan Godlewski, Bita Ghaffari, Yang Huo, Carlos Engler-Pinto, Wei-jen Lai
  • Driver awareness detection system
    Patent number: 10752253
    Abstract: A determination that a driver of a vehicle is directed to a non on-road zone based on at least one of a head pose or an eye gaze of a driver. Based on the non on-road zone, a probability is determined that the driver does not transition from the non on-road zone to an on-road zone based on the non on-road zone. The probability is adjusted when the driver is directed to the non on-road zone for a time period that exceeds a predetermined time threshold. A warning is generated within the vehicle based on the adjusted probability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Nitendra Nath, Kevin Wegienka, Justin Teems, Ryan Sorsby
  • Determining friction data of a target vehicle
    Patent number: 10752225
    Abstract: A computer that includes a processor and memory that stores instructions executable by the processor. The instructions may include generating, at a host vehicle, a roadway friction map by: detecting a velocity change of a target vehicle; calculating friction data based on the velocity change; and storing the friction data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Scott Varnhagen
  • Vehicle backup electrical power system
    Patent number: 10752116
    Abstract: An electrical power system for a vehicle includes an interface electrically connected to a node and a battery electrically connected to the interface. The interface includes circuit elements that permit current flow between the battery and the node when and only when the voltage of the node is below a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Anthony Symanow, Ray C. Siciak, Michael Adel Awad Alla, Sami Dagher
  • Vehicle airbag
    Patent number: 10752198
    Abstract: An assembly includes a seatback. The assembly includes a side airbag supported by the seatback and inflatable to an inflated position including a top panel having a pair of opposing side edges and a front edge extending between the side edges. The side airbag includes a main panel fixed to the top panel at a seam extending along the side edges and the front edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Zhibing Deng, Deepak Patel, Yun Cai, Joseph E. Abramczyk
  • Vehicle airbags for occupants in rear facing seats
    Patent number: 10752199
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for vehicle airbags for occupants in rear-facing seats. An example vehicle includes an instrument panel, a rear-facing seat adjacent the instrument panel and including a seatback and a headrest, and an airbag including a lower portion and an upper portion. When undeployed, the airbag is stored in the instrument panel. When the airbag deploys, the lower portion presses onto a back of the seatback and the upper portion presses onto a back of the headrest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Huipeng Chen, Robert William McCoy, Agnes S. Kim, James Chih Cheng
  • Vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) messaging system
    Patent number: 10757551
    Abstract: An infrastructure node and a method of using the node. The node may comprise a processor and memory. The memory may store instructions executable by the processor that include, to: identify a hazard to a target vehicle; and based on the identification, transmit a private message to the target vehicle using a line-of-sight (LOS) transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Linjun Zhang, Helen Elizabeth Kourous-Harrigan
  • Vehicle wheel
    Patent number: D894073
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Woodhouse, Kemal Curic, Shawn Wehrly, Anthony Colard