Patents Assigned to Ford Global Technologies, LLC
  • Publication number: 20240101036
    Abstract: A center console for a vehicle, having a storage trough which extends over at least a predominant part of a length of the center console. In order to provide a center console that can be easily configured by a user as required, the center console has at least two different electrical functional units which each individually are selectively arrangeable at least partially in a storage space of the storage trough.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Joerg Stephan
  • Publication number: 20240101063
    Abstract: An assembly includes a vehicle pillar elongated along an axis. The assembly includes seatbelt retractor and a webbing retractably extendable from the retractor. The seatbelt retractor is lockable from an unlocked position in which the webbing is extendable from and retractable into the retractor to a locked position in which the retractor restricts extension of the webbing from the retractor. A seatbelt guide is supported by the pillar. The seatbelt retractor is below the seatbelt guide. The webbing extends upwardly from the seatbelt retractor around the seatbelt guide. A releasable connection connects the seatbelt guide to the pillar when the seatbelt retractor is in the unlocked position and releases the seatbelt guide relative to the pillar when force on the webbing exceeds a threshold when the seatbelt retractor is in the locked position. An energy absorber is between the vehicle pillar and the seatbelt guide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2022
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dean M. Jaradi, Mohammad Omar Faruque, S.M. Iskander Farooq
  • Publication number: 20240101034
    Abstract: A center console for a vehicle, having at least one rearwardly situated armrest and having at least one functional unit. In order to enable an existing structural space to be utilized optimally, and at the same time optimize the center console with regard to its storage space, the functional unit is mounted to be linearly movable between a rearward rest position, in which the functional unit is arranged at least predominantly under the armrest, and at least one forward functional position, in which the functional unit is at least predominantly forwardly offset in relation to the armrest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Joerg Stephan
  • Publication number: 20240100984
    Abstract: An energy facility, such as a charge station operable for charging electrified vehicles, includes a controller. The controller selects from a group of energy management solutions which achieve favorable energy management activities with a same price of operation of the energy facility, an energy management solution resulting in favorable energy management results soonest. The controller controls the energy facility according to the selected energy management solution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2022
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Lan Yu, Michael W. Degner
  • Publication number: 20240104974
    Abstract: A method performed by an electronic control unit of a vehicle, to monitor tires of the vehicle. The method includes evaluating a target location to monitor the vehicle tires. Based on the evaluation that the target location is fit to monitor the tires, the method includes initiating a monitoring mode of the vehicle. In response to initiating the monitoring mode, the method includes rotating front tires and back tires of the vehicle in opposite directions. During the rotation of the front and back tires, the method includes monitoring the rotation of the tires by using one or more vehicle sensors. The method further includes determining one or more anomalies in the vehicle tires based on the monitoring of the rotation of the front and back tires. Based on the determination, the method includes performing one or more remedial actions to mitigate the anomalies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2022
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Aed M. Dudar, Mahmoud Yousef Ghannam
  • Publication number: 20240101035
    Abstract: A center console for a vehicle, having a storage trough which extends over at least a predominant part of a length of the center console and which has a longitudinally extending side wall that laterally delimits a storage space of the storage trough. In order to optimize an ability of the center console to store articles, the center console has a holding unit which is arranged in the storage space of the storage trough and on the side wall and by use of which at least one article can be temporarily clamped between the holding unit and the side wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Joerg Stephan
  • Publication number: 20240100947
    Abstract: The disclosure is generally directed to systems and methods for detecting that the vehicle is in a reverse mode, receiving a road surface topology, determining a feature of interest is within a collected image and outside a displayed field of view (FOV) for a rear-facing camera due to the road surface topology, adjusting the displayed FOV for the rear-facing camera to place the feature of interest within the displayed FOV. Receiving a reverse mode indication may be over a controller area network (CAN) bus in the vehicle. Receiving a road surface topology includes receiving an estimate of the road surface topology via at least one of monocular depth estimation, photogrammetric range imaging using structure from motion (SFM), multi-view stereo, imaging radar, lidar and a sensor system on the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2022
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Catherine Marie Amodeo, David Michael Herman
  • Publication number: 20240101012
    Abstract: A center console for a vehicle, having at least one storage trough which extends over at least a predominant part of a length of the center console. In order to provide a center console that is of simplified construction and is optimized in terms of its characteristics, the center console has at least one functional unit which is connected to an elevated rearward end portion of the storage trough and which, proceeding from the rearward end portion, extends forwardly in an overhanging manner at least over a part of a length of the storage trough.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Joerg Stephan
  • Publication number: 20240101058
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicle frame and a bumper. The vehicle frame includes a frame-rail end. The frame-rail end has a vehicle-forward end and a bore at the vehicle-forward end. The vehicle includes a resettable energy absorber supporting the bumper at the vehicle-forward end of the frame-rail end. The resettable energy absorber is moveable with the bumper relative to the frame-rail end between an extended position and a compressed position. The resettable energy absorber extends into the bore of the frame-rail end from the extended position to the compressed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2022
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: S.M. Iskander Farooq, Mohammad Omar Faruque, Dean M. Jaradi
  • Publication number: 20240101098
    Abstract: The disclosure is generally directed to systems and methods for controlling electrical power outlets in a vehicle. An example method executed by a processor of an electrical power outlet controller includes detecting a transitioning of a vehicle to a drive mode and further includes disconnecting, based on the transitioning, electrical power supplied to a first electrical power outlet in the vehicle. The transitioning of the vehicle to the drive mode may be detected based on a transition of a drive selector of the vehicle from a park position to a drive position. In another example method, the processor, detects the vehicle in motion and disconnects electrical power supplied to a second electrical power outlet in the vehicle. The first electrical power outlet and/or the second electrical power outlet are accessible from outside the vehicle, and may, for example, be located outside a cabin area of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2022
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Brendan Diamond, Ryan O'Gorman, David Celinske, Paul Kenneth Dellock, David Brian Glickman, Vyas Shenoy
  • Publication number: 20240104715
    Abstract: A component inspection system and method generate a 3D model based on a point cloud and images of an automotive component captured by an imaging system. It is determined whether an anomaly is present based on artificial intelligence driven training and learning. Upon anomaly detection, a type of anomaly is identified and classified. From the 3D model, a type of the automotive component can be identified. The identification of the automotive component and the anomaly detection involve a controller subject to artificial intelligence driven training and learning. The controller determines presence of anomaly and a location of anomaly if any.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brodie Schultz, Elizabeth Bullard, Francis Maslar
  • Publication number: 20240102867
    Abstract: The disclosure is generally directed to systems and methods to address surfaces of a vehicle that are uncomfortable to the touch. An example method executed by a processor includes determining a surface temperature of a component of the vehicle, determining that the surface temperature exceeds a threshold surface temperature, and issuing a notification based on the surface temperature of the component exceeding the threshold surface temperature. Determining the surface temperature of the component can involve operations such as measuring the surface temperature, estimating the surface temperature, and/or predicting the surface temperature. Measuring the surface temperature can involve obtaining a temperature measurement from a thermal sensor. Estimating the surface temperature can involve operations such as evaluating a thermal image of at least a portion of the component, evaluating an ambient temperature, and/or evaluating sunlight exposure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2022
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michelle Yi, Mahmoud Yousef Ghannam, John Robert Van Wiemeersch
  • Publication number: 20240101037
    Abstract: A center console for a vehicle has a storage trough, which extends over at least a predominant part of a length of the center console, and a storage container, which is insertable into the storage trough and which has an upper entrance opening. In order to provide a center console and front seat assembly for a vehicle that are individually configurable in terms of their characteristics, the storage container has a roller shutter for closing the entrance opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Joerg Stephan
  • Patent number: 11940023
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a driveline disconnect clutch of a hybrid vehicle are presented. In one example, a driveline disconnect clutch is de-stroked in a particular way so that the driveline disconnect clutch may be de-stroked more consistently. The de-stroking process may be followed by boosting and stroking the driveline disconnect clutch so as to preposition the driveline disconnect clutch or holding the clutch at an offset below stroke pressure to minimize drag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Akshay Bichkar, Corey James Blue, Jason Meyer, Maruthi Ravichandran, Bradley Dean Riedle
  • Patent number: 11942764
    Abstract: System and methods for operating a vehicle that includes a boosted engine are described. In one example, a spark plug may be adjusted between two operating states to reduce a possibility of pre-ignition and spark plug fouling. A first operating state may be conducive to operating the engine at light loads. The first operating state may be conducive to operating the engine at higher loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Czekala, Thomas G. Leone
  • Patent number: 11938842
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a powertrain having an electric machine configured to power driven wheels, an accelerator pedal, and friction brakes. A vehicle controller is programmed to, with the vehicle being in a one-pedal driving mode: in response to a braking torque capacity of the powertrain exceeding a target braking torque that is based on a position of the accelerator pedal, command a torque, that is equal to the target braking torque, from the powertrain such that the vehicle is slowed using the powertrain without application of the friction brakes, and, in response to the braking torque capacity of the powertrain being less than the target braking torque, command torques from the powertrain and the friction brakes such that the target braking torque is satisfied and the vehicle is slowed using the powertrain and the friction brakes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dale Scott Crombez, Bryan Michael Bolger, Alexander McCollough, Sergey Gennadievich Semenov, Brandon Jay Woodland
  • Patent number: 11940544
    Abstract: Position enhancement for vehicle positioning is provided. Vehicle-to-everything (V2X) messages are received from a roadside unit (RSU) to an onboard unit (OBU) of a vehicle via a transceiver of the vehicle, the V2X messages indicating a location of the RSU. Image sensors of the vehicle are utilized to capture sensor data of the RSU. A current position of the vehicle is updated to a corrected current position of the vehicle based the RSU as shown in the sensor data and the location of the RSU indicated in the V2X messages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Krishna Bandi, Samer Ibrahim, Brennan Hamilton, Sathyanarayana Chary Palakonda
  • Patent number: 11941926
    Abstract: A vehicle computer can be programmed to detect, in a vehicle, one of a plurality of variations, based on data received from one or more vehicle sensors or a vehicle interface, to transmit, to a remote computer, variation data including the detected variation and a version of software in the vehicle computer, wherein the variation data identifies the detected variation and the version of the software, to receive, from the remote computer, a response including that a software update is identified based on the detected variation, and upon identifying the software update, to download and install the software update in the vehicle computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Oliver Lei
  • Patent number: D1019499
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kemal Curic, Earl Lucas, Jordan Meadows, Jaewoo Chang, Henri Kavaja
  • Patent number: D1019502
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Martin B. Coons, Paul Wraith, Dong H. Park, James Marleau, Brian Purcell