Patents Assigned to Ford Global Technologies, LLC
  • Publication number: 20200247341
    Abstract: An assembly includes a front console having a panel. The assembly includes a torsion bar fixed relative to the front console. The assembly includes a gear fixed to the torsion bar. The assembly includes a rack including teeth meshed with the gear, the rack extending toward the panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2019
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mohammad Omar Faruque, Dean M. Jaradi, S. M. Iskander Farooq
  • Publication number: 20200247359
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for protecting property, wherein the method comprises receiving information indicating an attack on the property, determining, from the received information, a type of attack upon the property indicated by the received information, and transmitting a data packet to a receiver, the data packet comprising metadata describing the determined type of attack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2020
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Andy John Murray, James Nicholas Murray, Sam Harris, Andy Charalambous, Edward Ogorman, Tarik Safir, Gabriel Mitchell, Aaron Abentheuer, Betsy Fields Smith
  • Publication number: 20200247304
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a seating assembly attached to a vehicle interior. A seat is rotationally operable relative to a seatback. A retention device is selectively positionable in a stored position or a cargo storage position and extends between the seatback and a floor area disposed adjacent to the seating assembly. The seat is selectively positionable in a seating position or a stadium position. The retention device in the cargo storage position, the seat in the stadium position, and a floor at least partially define an enclosure configured to secure cargo to the floor and the seat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2019
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: James Hugh Fowler, Marcos Silva Kondrad, Kevin Wayne Preuss
  • Publication number: 20200247409
    Abstract: A system includes a processor and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to select a distance based on a determination of whether a lane adjacent a primary vehicle and a secondary vehicle in front of the primary vehicle is clear. The instructions include instructions to actuate a braking system of the primary vehicle when the primary vehicle is at the distance from the secondary vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Grant Patrick Mayer, Andrew Denis Lewandowski
  • Publication number: 20200249329
    Abstract: A system includes a sensor including a window; at least three lamps positioned to illuminate the window and able to generate different ranges of wavelengths than one another; a cleaning component positioned to clean the window; and a computer communicatively coupled to the sensor, the lamps, and the cleaning component. The computer is programmed to activate the lamps and actuate the cleaning component based on data generated by the sensor during the activations of the lamps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2019
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Michael Herman, Ashwin Arunmozhi, Venkatesh Krishnan
  • Publication number: 20200247349
    Abstract: An instrument panel assembly includes an instrument panel. The instrument panel assembly includes an airbag having an inboard chamber and an outboard chamber. A panel separates the inboard chamber and the outboard chamber. A diffuser is in fluid communication with both the inboard chamber and the outboard chamber. A releasable vent is between the diffuser and one of the inboard chamber and the outboard chamber. An inflator is in fluid communication with the diffuser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2019
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Srinivas Reddy Malapati, Mangesh Kadam, Yuqin Zhao
  • Publication number: 20200250971
    Abstract: A system, comprising a computer that includes a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to detect, classify and locate an object by processing video camera data with a capsule network, wherein training the capsule network includes saving routing coefficients. The computer can be further programmed to receive the detected, classified, and located object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2019
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Zhen Zhao, KP Unnikrishnan, Ashley Naomi Kleinhans, Gursharan Sandhu, Ishan Patel, Bryan Roger Goodman
  • Publication number: 20200247342
    Abstract: A vehicle door includes a trim panel coupled to a frame. A single-piece armrest substrate is coupled with the frame. The armrest substrate is a three-dimensionally printed member having interior walls that are printed within the armrest substrate according to a virtual force model generated during a virtual impact scenario. The interior walls define a plurality of voids defined within the armrest substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael James Whitens, Robert D. Bedard, Siddharthan Selvasekar, Amit Chakravarty, Robert Walter Bartus
  • Publication number: 20200247282
    Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly includes a seatback rotationally coupled to a base at a first pivot. A securing pin is coupled with the seatback. An inertial latch is operable about a second pivot to define an idle position defined by the inertial latch biased distal from the securing pin. A deployed position is defined by an opposing directional force biasing the inertial latch into selective engagement with the securing pin wherein the seatback is maintained in a predetermined rotational position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2019
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Macit Aktas
  • Publication number: 20200247329
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a housing defining a chamber and including a panel including at least one aperture, at least one sensor fixed inside the chamber and having a field of view through a lens and the aperture, at least one annular disc attached to the sensor concentrically around the lens and including a radially outer edge contactlessly exposed to the chamber, and at least three vanes extending from the disc to the panel and arranged radially asymmetrically around the disc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Robertson, JR., Segundo Baldovino, Venkatesh Krishnan, Sunil Patil, Raghuraman Surineedi
  • Publication number: 20200247365
    Abstract: A method (500) for protection of a vehicle (100), the method comprising: receiving information from a sensor (502); comparing the information with known signatures indicative of a likely attack (504); determining whether a known signature indicative of a likely attack is present (506); and if a known signature indicative of a likely attack is present, placing at least one system of the vehicle into a heightened state of alert (508).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2020
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Tarik Safir, Gabriel Mitchell, Sam Harris, James Nicholas Murray, Aaron Abentheuer, Betsy Fields Smith
  • Publication number: 20200249046
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments described in this disclosure are generally directed to systems and methods for predicting a travel destination of an automobile based at least in part on identifying a category of an attire worn by an individual who is an occupant of the automobile or is moving towards the automobile with the intention of entering the vehicle. The attire may be one of various categories such as a business attire category, a business-casual attire category, a casual attire category, or a social attire category. The travel destination may be additionally predicted based on other factors such as an attire worn by a co-occupant of the automobile and historical data associated with the occupant and/or the co-occupant. The historical data may include a record of times at which the occupant traveled to a particular destination and the attire worn by the occupant when traveling to the destination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2019
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Scott Mayberry
  • Publication number: 20200249043
    Abstract: A computer is programmed to determine a target area to project, along a planned travel path of a vehicle, a symbol based on detecting a target object. The computer is further programmed to actuate a light source to project the symbol moving within the target area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2020
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Venkatesh Krishnan, Paul Kenneth Dellock
  • Publication number: 20200247354
    Abstract: A restraint system includes a seat defining a centerline and including a seat bottom and a seatback. A pair of upper retractors are disposed on the seatback, a pair of lower retractors are disposed on the seat bottom, and a pair of middle retractors are disposed on the seat between the pairs of upper and lower retractors. Each pair of retractors includes one retractor disposed on each side of the centerline.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2019
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dean M. Jaradi, Mohammad Omar Faruque, S.M. Iskander Farooq
  • Publication number: 20200249262
    Abstract: A system for testing a plurality of electrical circuits includes a first remote cooperative testing device including a testing component and a first transceiver and a second remote cooperative testing device including a conductive component and a second transceiver. In response to receiving instructions from a remote computing device, the first remote cooperative testing device locates a first electrical circuit and a second electrical circuit and selectively positions the testing component to electrically couple a first portion of the first electrical circuit to a first portion of the second electrical circuit at a first node, and the second remote cooperative testing device selectively positions the conductive component to electrically couple a second portion of the first electrical circuit to a second portion of the second electrical circuit at a second node, thereby forming a testing circuit between the first node and the second node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2020
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Rajarshi Roychowdhury, David Jeffeory Berels, Mahmoud Yousef Ghannam, Scott Mayberry
  • Publication number: 20200247356
    Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly includes a seatback with a frame assembly having first and second portions. A primary structure extends between the first and second portions and defines a seating surface. A secondary structure extends between the first and second portions. A retractor mechanism is disposed on one of the first and second portions and is selectively positionable in an unlocked, a locked, or a pre-tensioned position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Spencer Robert Hoernke, Johnathan Andrew Line, Scott Holmes Dunham, Jimmy Moua
  • Publication number: 20200249693
    Abstract: A system, comprising a computer that includes a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to receive authentication an operator of a service controller from a server computer, identify a vehicle by scanning a physical code with the service controller and pair the service controller with the vehicle. The vehicle can be operated with the service controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kathryn Hamilton, Michael Adel Awad Alla, Ray Siciak
  • Publication number: 20200247470
    Abstract: A vehicle system is disclosed herein. The system includes a hitch ball mounted on a vehicle. A controller is configured to identify a coupler position of a trailer and control motion of the vehicle to an aligned position, wherein the hitch ball is aligned with the coupler position. The controller is further configured to initiate a vehicle agitation routine after the vehicle has reached the aligned position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2019
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: James Dottavio, Ross Dykstra Pursifull
  • Publication number: 20200249698
    Abstract: This disclosure is generally directed to systems and methods for using an autonomous vehicle to provide navigation assistance to a delivery robot. In one exemplary implementation, the delivery robot is transported by the autonomous vehicle to a delivery destination such as a residence or a workplace. The delivery robot disembarks at the delivery destination for delivering a package to a recipient at the residence or workplace. A computer system in the autonomous vehicle communicates with a navigation assistance system of the autonomous vehicle to obtain information pertaining to a terrain between the autonomous vehicle and a package drop-off spot at the residence or workplace, and uses the information to generate a route map of the terrain. The autonomous vehicle may transmit the route map and/or navigation instructions derived from the route map, to the delivery robot to assist the delivery robot navigate around obstacles and reach the package drop-off spot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2019
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jianbo Lu, Justin Miller, Sanghyun Hong
  • Publication number: 20200247345
    Abstract: An assembly includes a vehicle interior component. The assembly includes an airbag mounted to the vehicle interior component. The assembly includes a deployable panel supported by the vehicle interior component adjacent the airbag, the deployable panel being movable relative to the vehicle interior component between a retracted position and an extended position. The assembly includes a spring between the vehicle interior component and the deployable panel. The spring biases the deployable panel toward the extended position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2019
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: SRINIVAS REDDY MALAPATI, MANGESH KADAM