Patents Assigned to Ford Global Technologies, LLC
  • Warm-up of a catalytic aftertreatment device
    Patent number: 10738674
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for improving warm-up of a catalytic aftertreatment device is disclosed in which the flow to a catalyst brick is controlled using a flow control device so as to restrict the flow of exhaust gas to only a central core of the catalyst brick when rapid heating of the catalyst brick is desired to reach a light-off temperature and to otherwise allow the flow of exhaust gas to the entire front face of the catalyst brick. By restricting the area of the catalyst brick to which exhaust gas can flow the energy density of the exhaust gas flowing to the central core is higher than it is when there is no restriction of flow thereby reducing the time needed to warm-up the catalyst brick to a minimum light-off temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: William Gerald Barr
  • Speed control of super positioning torque vectoring differential
    Patent number: 10737680
    Abstract: An electrified axle system includes a pair of wheels, a super positioning torque vectoring differential coupled between the wheels, and a controller. The super positioning torque vectoring differential includes a traction motor and a vectoring motor. The controller operates the vectoring motor in speed control mode to reduce a speed difference between the wheels responsive to the difference exceeding a threshold, and operates the vectoring motor in torque control mode responsive to the difference falling within a target range and an accelerator pedal position achieving a value that depends on lateral acceleration associated with the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jose Velazquez Alcantar, Joseph Jay Torres, Peter James Barrette, Rajit Johri, Ming Lang Kuang, Corwin Stout, Jonathan Craig Sullivan
  • Illuminated vehicle visual elements with grating film
    Patent number: 10737613
    Abstract: A vehicle visual element includes a substrate defining a lamp cavity; at least one light source positioned within the lamp cavity; at least one of a holographic and a diffraction grating, disposed over the lamp cavity; a proximity switch positioned close to the lamp cavity; and a controller configured to activate the light source in response to a signal provided by the proximity switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Linsheng Chen, Paul Kenneth Dellock
  • Applied-ignition internal combustion engine with two cylinder-specific valves and method for mixture formation in an internal combustion engine of said type
    Patent number: 10738684
    Abstract: An applied-ignition internal combustion engine having at least one cylinder head comprising at least one cylinder and having a rotatably mounted crankshaft is provided. In the internal combustion engine each cylinder has an inlet opening, which is adjoined by an intake line, and an outlet opening, which is adjoined by an exhaust-gas line, each opening being equipped with a valve, each cylinder comprises a combustion chamber which is jointly formed by a piston crown of a cylinder-specific piston, by a cylinder liner and by the cylinder head. Additionally, the crankshaft is articulably connected to the piston of each cylinder, such that, as the crankshaft rotates about an axis of rotation, the piston oscillates along a cylinder longitudinal axis, where the cylinder longitudinal axis is perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the crankshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Martin Wirth, Maziar Khosravi
  • Traction battery assembly
    Patent number: 10741891
    Abstract: A traction battery for a vehicle includes a plurality of cells stacked in an array and having a dielectric material surrounding at least a portion of each of the cells. The cells are spaced apart to define a plurality of pockets interleaved with the cells. A manifold is connected to the array and is configured to circulate liquid coolant to each of the pockets such that the coolant directly contacts the dielectric material of each of the cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Miller, Evan Mascianica, Josef Dollison, Jeremy Samborsky, Jason Sielaff
  • Operating mechanism for rear hinged fully sealed independent side operating doors
    Patent number: 10737560
    Abstract: A vehicle door includes a door panel slidably operable between a secured position within a door aperture and a staging position partially distal from the door aperture. A latch is engaged with a striker path during operation of the door panel between the secured and staging positions, and is selectively disengaged from the striker path to define open and closed positions of the door panel when the door panel is in the staging position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Howard Paul Tsvi Linden, Ronald Patrick Brombach, Kosta Papanikolaou, Christopher Matthew Radjewski, Henry W. Hausler, John Thomas Ricks, George Anthony Bernwanger, Jr., Donald P. Iacovoni, Paul L. Heirtzler, Jr.
  • Systems and methods for enforcing plugin vehicle
    Patent number: 10741065
    Abstract: Systems and methods for enforcing plugin vehicle parking regulations are disclosed. Exemplary implementations may: capture parked vehicle images of a parked vehicle in a parking location from a plurality of cameras on electric vehicle service equipment systems (EVSEs) in a parking facility; compare the parked vehicle images to a plurality of plugin vehicle type images in a database; and sound an alarm if the parked vehicle is not a plugin vehicle or if the parked vehicle is not charging from the electric vehicle service equipment systems associated with the parking location within a predetermined time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jimmy Kapadia, Khalid Ahmed, Daniel Lewis Boston
  • Vacuum actuated multi-frequency quarter-wave resonator for an internal combustion engine
    Patent number: 10738744
    Abstract: A variable noise attenuation element includes at least two tube sections that define an overall tube length that defines a first effective length and associated first peak frequency for noise attenuation, and a valve having a valve member. The valve joins the tube sections together and includes openings that permit communication between the tube sections when the valve is in an open configuration. The valve member operates to close the opening in response to a predetermined vacuum level within the tube sections to define a second tube effective length and associated second peak frequency for attenuation that is less than the overall length. A method of attenuating noise in a vehicle using a passive attenuation arrangement operates a valve disposed between two tube sections to change an effective length of the tube and associated peak frequencies for attenuation in response to an engine operating parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jose Arteaga, Suman Mishra, Muhammad Umar Farooq
  • Method and apparatus for enhanced content replacement and strategic playback
    Patent number: 10740063
    Abstract: A system includes a processor configured to predict an upcoming stop. The processor is further configured to select content for playback during the stop, responsive to predicting the upcoming stop. The processor is additionally configured to detect a vehicle stop corresponding to the predicted upcoming stop and responsive to the detected stop, play the selected content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Oleg Yurievitch Gusikhin, Ayush Chandrakanth Shah, Perry Robinson MacNeille
  • Deployable armrest
    Patent number: 10737602
    Abstract: An armrest includes a gear assembly with a crown gear directly coupled to the armrest that imparts rotational motion to the armrest, a planetary gear engaged with the crown gear, and a pinion gear coupled to the crown gear that imparts vertical motion of the entire gear assembly, and the armrest, along a rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Leo Weinberger
  • Vapor injection heat pump and control method
    Patent number: 10737552
    Abstract: A vapor injection heat pump includes a compressor, a first valve directing a refrigerant of the compressor to a first or second heat exchanger dependent upon a mode of operation, an expansion device receiving the refrigerant from at least one of the heat exchangers, a vapor generator receiving an expanded liquid/vapor refrigerant mix from the first expansion device and directing a vapor component to a first input port of the compressor and a liquid component to at least one of the second heat exchanger and a third heat exchanger, via controlling a second valve, a second expansion device, a third expansion device, and a third valve. A second input of the compressor receives an output refrigerant from at least one of the second heat exchanger and the third heat exchanger dependent upon the mode of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jing He, Loren John Lohmeyer, III, Manfred Koberstein, William Stewart Johnston, Angelo Patti
  • Power device parameter adjustment
    Patent number: 10737575
    Abstract: A computer includes a processor; and a memory. The memory stores instructions executable by the processor to determine, based on a measurement performed in a vehicle, that a parameter of a power device is outside of a predetermined range; and actuate components in the vehicle to heat the power device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Petros Taskas, Lihua Chen, Shuitao Yang, Fan Xu, Mohammed Khorshed Alam, Baoming Ge
  • Lidar point cloud compression
    Patent number: 10739461
    Abstract: A system includes a processor and a memory. The memory stores instructions executable by the processor to define a plurality of volumes represented in an original set of point cloud data. The memory stores instructions executable by the processor to define a respective set of sub-volumes in each of the volumes, and to generate a reduced set of point cloud data including a number of points counted in selected sub-volumes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Siddharth Agarwal
  • Power electronic test automation circuit
    Patent number: 10739411
    Abstract: A system for testing a phase leg of an inverter includes a load coupled to an output terminal of the phase leg. A test circuit includes a capacitor coupled between an inverter power input and a switch module operative to couple the capacitor to the load. The circuit further includes a switch operative to select a polarity of a voltage across the capacitor. The circuit also includes a pair of switching elements operative to selectively couple the first terminal to the inverter power input and the inverter power return. The components can be operated by a controller configured to selectively couple the load to the inverter power and return terminals, selectively charge and couple the capacitor to the load, and interface with the inverter to control a path of current flow through active and passive elements of the phase leg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Krishna Prasad Bhat, Chingchi Chen
  • Manufacture of vibration damping structures
    Patent number: 10737478
    Abstract: A computer system generates a lattice structure effective to satisfy static loading criteria, the lattice structure including surfaces, nodes, and branches interconnecting nodes. The branches are removed and various alternative configurations are tested to identify one that meets low frequency damping requirements. An outer damping layer is selected to satisfy high frequency damping requirements and is added to the lattice structure. The lattice structure may then be fabricated using an additive manufacturing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Siddharthan Selvasekar, Alexander Groh
  • Method of manufacturing a manganese bismuth alloy
    Patent number: 10737328
    Abstract: A method of increasing volume ratio of magnetic particles in a MnBi alloy includes operating a jet miller fed with a MnBi alloy powder containing magnetic particles and non-magnetic particles with gas flow parameters selected such that, only for the magnetic particles, a gas drag force is greater than a centrifugal force within the jet miller to separate the magnetic particles from the non-magnetic particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Wanfeng Li
  • Storage for seating assembly
    Patent number: 10737595
    Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly includes a seat and a seatback. The seatback includes a vehicle facing portion. The vehicle facing portion includes a first bracket and a second bracket mounted to a frame and a module mounted to the first bracket and the second bracket. The module includes protrusions that are rotatably coupled to first apertures in the first bracket and a mounting apparatus for securing the module to the second bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Adam Ewel, Corbin Johnston, Johnathan Andrew Line, Marcos Silva Kondrad, Gregory Hagedorn
  • System and method for reactivating engine cylinders
    Patent number: 10738724
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating an engine with deactivating valves are presented. In one example, deactivated valves may be reactivated to increase a rate of camshaft phase indexing relative to engine crankshaft position. However, if a desired rate of camshaft indexing is low, the engine cylinders may remain deactivated based on the low rate of desired camshaft indexing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Chris Paul Glugla
  • Crankshaft controller
    Patent number: 10738725
    Abstract: A hybrid electric vehicle includes a controller and control method to control position of a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine when the engine is stopped and the vehicle is moving to balance bearing wear associated with road-surface induced vibrations or oscillations imparted to the bearings while the crankshaft is not rotating. The controller is configured to store information relating to a cumulative time stopped at a plurality of angular positions of the crankshaft while the vehicle is in operation and/or moving, and to control stopping or repositioning of the crankshaft to balance or approximately evenly distribute the stopping positions among the plurality angular stopping positions to reduce or eliminate the possibility of excessive wear at any particular position relative to the others.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Donatus Andreas Josephine Kees, Baekhyun Cho
  • Vehicle rear bumper cover
    Patent number: D892686
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Dewitt, Todd Willing, Max Wolff, Pedro Guarinon