Patents Assigned to Ford Global Technologies, LLC
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Publication number: 20240096045Abstract: Based on a measured intensities of first and second light sources while both the first and second light sources are actuated, and a default secondary illuminator output intensity, a computer may determine an adjusted secondary illuminator output intensity and actuate the secondary light source to output light at the adjusted secondary light source output intensity.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 16, 2022Publication date: March 21, 2024Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Ali Hassani, Alexandra Taylor
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Publication number: 20240094384Abstract: Tracking an object included in a reflective surface by detecting the reflective surface included in one or more images included in a plurality of images by determining a location of the reflective surface in pixel coordinates and tracking the location of the reflective surface in the plurality of images. Real world locations of the object can be determined based on attributes of the reflective surface including a geometric class, extrinsic properties that relate the reflective surface to an environment, intrinsic properties describing the reflective surface without referring to the environment and calibration properties of the sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 15, 2022Publication date: March 21, 2024Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Marcos Paul Gerardo Castro, Aniruddh Ravindran, Mishel Johns
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Publication number: 20240093515Abstract: A work surface for a vehicle includes a first section, a central section, and a first lock assembly. The first section includes a proximal edge and a distal edge. The first section defines a channel therein. The central section includes a first end and a second end. The first end of the central section is positioned adjacent to the proximal edge of the first section. The proximal edge of the first section is pivotably coupled to the first end of the central section. The first section is movable between a stowed position and a fully-deployed position relative to the central section. The first lock assembly is coupled to the central section. The first lock assembly includes a post that is operable between a retracted position and an extended position. The fully-deployed position of the first section arranges the channel defined by the first section to receive the post.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2022Publication date: March 21, 2024Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Jose Ernesto Simon Gonzalez, Jose Maria Aburto, Lorena Virginia Mendez
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Publication number: 20240092388Abstract: Upon detecting an accumulation of snow on a driving surface, a driving path from a first location to a second location is identified. A vehicle is operated from the first location to the second location and then to a third location that is identical to or proximate to the first location.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 15, 2022Publication date: March 21, 2024Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Brendan Jenkins, Tyler James-Ray Kaldobsky, Daniel Sullivan
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Patent number: 11933721Abstract: A method for spectroscopically detecting a chemical in a gas sample includes illuminating the gas sample with ultraviolet light and photolyzing a first chemical in the gas sample to generate a photolyzed gas sample and spectroscopically detecting a second chemical in the photolyzed gas sample. The second chemical has an optical absorption range within a respective optical absorption range of the first chemical.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2022Date of Patent: March 19, 2024Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Reinoud Wolffenbuttel, David Bilby, Nathan Kempema, Jacobus Hendrik Visser
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Patent number: 11933087Abstract: A storage console includes a housing with a storage chamber, two closure members connected to the housing, an actuator movably arranged in the housing and a latch mechanism rotatably connected to the housing. The two closure members can be rotated to open or close the storage chamber. The latch mechanism includes two latch members and a synchronizer connected between the two latch members. The movement of the actuator actuates the two latch members to rotate to a lock position in which the two latch members engage with the two closure members or a release position in which the two latch members are separated from the two closure members. The two closure members of the storage console can be opened synchronously by use of the actuator and closed independently of each other.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2022Date of Patent: March 19, 2024Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Mona Li, Wei Xu, Leo Chen, Kevin Shen
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Patent number: 11932156Abstract: A vehicle is provided that includes a vehicle body defining a cabin interior and comprising a front row of seats and a rear row of seats, a plurality of seats located within the cabin interior, and a monitoring system for detecting and monitoring a pet or passenger within the cabin interior. The vehicle also includes a movable center console positioned between a pair of the forward row of seats and forward of the rear row of seats and comprising a holder for holding a drink container, and a controller processing signals generated by the monitoring system and determining a location of the detected pet or passenger on the rear row of seats based on the processed signals, the controller further controlling the movable console between a forward first position and a rearward second position closer to the rear row of seats.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2021Date of Patent: March 19, 2024Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Stuart C. Salter, Hussein H. Berry, Annette Lynn Huebner, Marguerite Lynn Kimball, David Brian Glickman, Gregory Paul Thomas, John Robert Van Wiemeersch
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Patent number: 11932256Abstract: The disclosure generally pertains to systems and methods for identifying a location of an occupant in a vehicle. In an example method, a processor deconvolves a vocal utterance by an occupant of a vehicle and also determines an angle of arrival of the vocal utterance. The location of the occupant in the vehicle is then identified by the processor based on evaluating the deconvolved vocal utterance and the angle of arrival of the vocal utterance. Deconvolving the vocal utterance can involve applying a cabin impulse response to the vocal utterance for eliminating undesirable effects that may be imposed upon the vocal utterance by acoustic characteristics of the cabin of the vehicle (echo, sound reflections, sound damping, reverberation etc.). In some applications, the processor may refer to a lookup table to estimate a location of the occupant in the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2021Date of Patent: March 19, 2024Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Ranjani Rangarajan, Leah Busch, Karthik Krishnamurthy, Nikhitha Bekkanti
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Patent number: 11932112Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, an electric machine, a clutch, and a controller. The clutch is disposed between the engine and the electric machine. The controller is programmed to, in response to an engine start, close the clutch to transfer power from the electric machine to the engine to start the engine. The controller is further programmed to, in response to the engine start, control a torque capacity of the clutch during the engine start according to a model of a pressure applied to the clutch. The controller is further programmed to, in response to the engine start, control the torque of the electric machine based on an adjusted torque capacity of the clutch.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2023Date of Patent: March 19, 2024Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Corey James Blue, Samuel Melville Glauber, Timothy Baxendale, Bradley D Riedle
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Patent number: 11931970Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing a film-covered component, having at least one assembly nest with at least one component section, on which a component to be covered can be arranged includes operating a film severing device. The film severing device is arranged on the assembly nest and has a severing element. The film severing device surrounds the component section at least partially laterally at a distance.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2021Date of Patent: March 19, 2024Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Torsten Voigt, Aydemir Kaplangiray, Stefan Martin Buerger
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Patent number: 11934202Abstract: A smart container for transporting items in transportation vehicles, e.g., an autonomous vehicle (AV), having heating/cooling capabilities, security features, unloading/loading assistance, and/or GPS cellular tracking for positional awareness, and methods of use thereof, are provided. The smart container includes an inductive charging module for receiving power from the vehicle. The container may provide information to facilitate delivery. When the vehicle arrives at a delivery destination, the customer may be provided a map of containers within the vehicle, and a specific container may provide an indication that it is the correct container. The customer may then provide a code to access the container. If a container is improperly removed, an alarm may be triggered and a notification may be provided to a third party.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2021Date of Patent: March 19, 2024Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Stuart Salter, Peter Phung, Adam Carlson, Benjamin Richer, Annette Huebner
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Patent number: 11936006Abstract: A traction battery assembly includes, among other things, a cover of a battery array, a holder attached to the cover, and a circuit board held by the holder in a position where the circuit board is spaced from the cover. The holder is configured to communicate thermal energy between the circuit board and the cover. A method of securing a circuit board of a traction battery pack includes, among other things, holding a circuit board with a holder, and attaching a holder that is holding the circuit board to a cover of a battery array. The circuit board held by the holder is held in a position where the circuit board is spaced from the cover.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2021Date of Patent: March 19, 2024Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Daniel Paul Roberts, Francisco Fernandez-Galindo, Aqil Hamid, Benjamin A. Tabatowski-Bush, George Albert Garfinkel
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Patent number: 11932254Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, a transmission, and a controller. The engine is configured to generate power. The transmission is configured to transfer power from the engine to at least one drive wheel to propel the vehicle. The controller is programmed to, in response to a command to shift the transmission and a corresponding command to decrease a torque of the engine to less than a threshold corresponding to a spark retard limit during the shift, (i) increase the pressure of an oncoming clutch to engage the oncoming clutch, (ii) retard an engine spark at the spark retard limit to reduce the torque of the engine to the threshold during the engagement of the oncoming clutch, and (iii) shutdown at least one cylinder of the engine to further reduce the torque of the engine to less than the threshold during the engagement of the oncoming clutch.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2022Date of Patent: March 19, 2024Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Cory Benson LaRoche, Stephen Michael Cicala, Jianping Zhang, Bradley Dean Riedle, Jesse D. L. Brunais, Michael Simon, Leonard Dziubinschi
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Patent number: 11933251Abstract: A fuel vapor recirculation system includes a filler neck adapted to receive a refueling nozzle that dispenses fuel into the filler neck. A fuel tank receives fuel from the filler neck through an inlet check valve. The check valve is disposed in the fuel inlet opening and is normally closed. The check valve opens when fuel is dispensed into the fuel tank. The check valve defines a vent hole that is always open. The fuel tank also includes a fuel limiting vent valve and a grade limit vent valve. A fuel vapor cannister collects fuel vapor and selectively supplies fuel vapor to an intake manifold of a vehicle. The fuel vapor recirculation manifold receives fuel vapor only from the fuel limiting vent valve and the grade limit vent valve in the fuel tank and does not receive fuel vapor directly from the filler neck.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2022Date of Patent: March 19, 2024Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Aed M. Dudar, Arman Ashrafi, Scott Alan Bohr, Dwayne Pollitt, Robert Murray
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Patent number: 11932271Abstract: Systems and methods for predicting an optimal use level of a driver assist system are provided. The system may collect historical driver behavior and road condition data, and train an optimization prediction model using the historical data, e.g., via machine learning or artificial intelligence. Moreover, the system may collect real-time driver behavior and road condition data, and predict an optimal use level of the driver assist system based on the real-time data using the trained optimization prediction model. The system may then send feedback to the driver assist system when the optimal use level falls outside a predetermined threshold, such that the driver assist system may be unavailable or have reduced functionality until the optimal use level improves.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2021Date of Patent: March 19, 2024Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Amin Ariannezhad, Navid Tafaghodi Khajavi, Mohsen Bahrami, Mohammad Nekoui
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Patent number: 11932165Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for mobile device tethering for a remote parking assist system of a vehicle. A vehicle includes a camera and a body control module. The body control module sends an instruction to a mobile device and captures, with the camera, an image of the mobile device. The body control module also analyzes the image to determine an initial location of the mobile device relative to the vehicle, and based on the initial location, performs dead reckoning on the mobile device to track the mobile device. When the mobile device is within a threshold distance, the body control module enables autonomous parking.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2021Date of Patent: March 19, 2024Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Hamid M. Golgiri, John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Erick Michael Lavoie, Vivekanandh Elangovan
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Patent number: 11935309Abstract: This document discloses methods of training a classifier to identify traffic signal states in images captured be a vehicle. The vehicle can then use the identified states when making movement decisions when traveling in an environment. The system determines that a traffic signal is within a field of view of the camera (i.e., within an image). The system also receives a signal with signal phase and timing data for the traffic signal. The system processes the images to identify an image that includes the traffic signal. The system analyzes the signal data to determine a state of the traffic signal at the time of image capture, labels the image with a label of determined state, and passes the image and a label to a classifier in order to train the classifier.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2020Date of Patent: March 19, 2024Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Guy Hotson, Richard L. Kwant, David James Chekan, Reza Azimi
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Patent number: 11932200Abstract: A vehicle includes a powered door having an actuator to move the door between open and closed positions, a transceiver configured to communicate with one or more mobile devices, and an imaging device oriented to capture images in a region proximate to the powered door. A controller processes the captured images and controls the actuator to move the door to the open position when a mobile device is detected proximate the vehicle and a user is detected in the captured images located in a door detection zone. The controller moves the door to the open position when a face of a user is recognized as an authorized user located in the door detection zone. The controller moves the door to the open position when a gait of the user is detected and identifies the gait are indicative of an authorized user located in the door detection zone.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2021Date of Patent: March 19, 2024Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Lawrence Amadi, Stuart C. Salter, Kristopher Karl Brown
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Patent number: D1018412Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2021Date of Patent: March 19, 2024Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Todd Willing, Max Wolff, Max Tran, David Dewitt, Seungyup Baek
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Patent number: D1018922Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2021Date of Patent: March 19, 2024Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Ehab Kaoud, William K. Moore, Richard L. Howard, Joshua P. Henry, Samuel R. Haire
