Patents Assigned to Ford Global Technologies, LLC
  • Systems and methods for creating infrastructure models
    Patent number: 11928406
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided herein for creating and building a model of a unique infrastructure, such as a parking structure. The model may be created through the identification of various triggers by a vehicle traversing the infrastructure. The triggers may include, for example, sensors or other devices capable of sensing the vehicle within the infrastructure. The triggers may also be information received from the vehicle itself. Based on the triggers, it may be inferred that various places exist throughout the infrastructure. For example, it may be inferred through two subsequent triggers that a place exists between the two triggers. The place may be added to the model of the infrastructure in between the two triggers. The model may continue to grow in this manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Omar Makke, Oleg Gusikhin, Andrew Gliesman, Bardia Madani, Sina Fakhraee, David Kramer, Melinda Kaye Hunsaker
  • Method and system for multiple injections
    Patent number: 11927149
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting injection timing of closely spaced multiple injections via a same injector. In one example, during an inter-injection spacing between a first injection and a second injection in a set of multiple injections being lower than a threshold period, an opening time of the second injection in the set of multiple injections may be adjusted based on another opening time of another second injection in a previous set of multiple injections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ross Pursifull, Ethan Sanborn, Joseph Thomas
  • Accelerometer wake-up
    Patent number: 11926283
    Abstract: A system includes a first controller including a processor and a memory, and the memory stores instructions executable by the processor to receive first acceleration data from an accelerometer; upon determining that the first acceleration data satisfies a first criterion, transmit a wake-up instruction to a second controller; upon determining that the first acceleration data fails to satisfy the first criterion, instruct the accelerometer to send second acceleration data; and upon determining that the second acceleration data satisfies a second criterion, transmit the wake-up instruction to the second controller. The first criterion includes jerk exceeding a jerk threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Khalid Shamsuddin Hossain
  • Method for operating a parking assistance function of a motor vehicle
    Patent number: 11926260
    Abstract: A method for operating a parking assistance function of a motor vehicle is described, wherein the motor vehicle comprises at least one sensor for detecting the road surrounding the motor vehicle. The method includes the following steps: Finding and specifying a free parking space; Determining a trajectory for parking the motor vehicle in the parking space and a sequence of an at least partially automated parking process; Determining at least one outer boundary line of the road surface required for parking along the identified trajectory; Detecting at least one road user approaching the determined outer boundary line on the road by means of at least one sensor; Determining the distance of the road user approaching the determined outer boundary line from the outer boundary line; if the determined distance falls below a specified first threshold, outputting a warning signal to the approaching road user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Marc Roeber, Florian Vieten
  • Steering wheel systems and torque feedback actuator assemblies for use in steer-by-wire vehicles
    Patent number: 11926371
    Abstract: Example steering wheel systems and torque feedback actuator assemblies for use in steer-by-wire vehicles are described herein. An example steering wheel system includes a steering wheel and a torque feedback actuator assembly. The torque feedback actuator assembly includes a housing and a helical gear rotatably disposed in the housing. The steering wheel is coupled to and coaxially aligned with the helical gear. The torque feedback actuator assembly also includes a motor with a worm gear engaged with the helical gear to provide torque feedback to the steering wheel by driving the helical gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jeremy Rawlings, Robert Mrozek, Lodewijk Wijffels, Eugene Lau
  • Mechanical metal joint for vehicle component
    Patent number: 11925998
    Abstract: A system for forming a vehicle component includes a first metal sheet having an aperture, a second metal sheet contacting a lower surface of the first metal sheet, an anvil supporting the first and second metal sheets beneath the aperture, and a press bit disposed above the aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Nicholas Dornik
  • Enhanced sensor operation
    Patent number: 11930302
    Abstract: A two-dimensional image of a vehicle occupant in a vehicle is collected. The collected two-dimensional image is input to a machine learning program trained to output one or more reference points of the vehicle occupant, each reference point being a landmark of the vehicle occupant. One or more reference points of the vehicle occupant in the two-dimensional image is output from the machine learning program. A location of the vehicle occupant in an interior of the vehicle is determined based on the one or more reference points. A vehicle component is actuated based on the determined location. For each of the one or more reference points, a similarity measure is determined between the reference point and a three-dimensional reference point, the similarity measure based on a distance between the reference point and the three-dimensional reference point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Board of Trustees of Michigan State University
    Inventors: Robert Parenti, Adil Siddiqui, Mahmoud Yousef Ghannam, Yasodekshna Boddeti
  • Systems and methods for random vehicle movement for vehicle safety
    Patent number: 11926282
    Abstract: Systems and methods for random vehicle movement to prevent theft are disclosed. The vehicle system may automatically reposition to make it seem like the user is home and to reduce battery drain and flat spots on the tire. The system may randomize the start time based on the preferences of the user. At the randomly decided time, the vehicle may start up on its own and reposition itself. In addition, the system may learn a driving behavior pattern of the vehicle via machine learning based on driving behavior associated with the vehicle, such that the vehicle may perform vehicle movement based on the learned driving behavior pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew Castaldini, Naman Kohli, Vidhya Iyer, Shounak Athavale, Sonal Doomra
  • Door assembly for a motor vehicle
    Patent number: 11926197
    Abstract: A door assembly for a motor vehicle includes a door trim panel attached to a door body on the vehicle inside. The door trim panel includes a first impact region and a second impact region formed integrally therewith, wherein at each of the impact regions, an intermediate space is formed between the door trim panel and the door body. In order to allow an optimized protection of an occupant's pelvic region from injury by a vehicle door in a side impact, the door trim panel includes a channel portion, which is recessed back towards the door body, is formed between the impact regions and has two mutually opposite wall portions extending in the vehicle transverse direction, each of which is formed integrally with an impact region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Curtis, Emrah Tokyuerek
  • Confidence-based vehicle charge control
    Patent number: 11926243
    Abstract: A vehicle comprising includes a traction battery and a controller. The controller, responsive to an interval exceeding a predefined threshold and a predicted net loss in energy, charges the traction battery such that the traction battery acquires energy in an amount at least equal to the predicted net loss in energy. The interval defines a confidence level that a predicted net change in energy stored by the traction battery will occur as a result of use of the vehicle between a current charge location of the vehicle and a next charge location of the vehicle. The amount is based on the interval such that the amount increases as the interval decreases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ryan J. O'Gorman, Devang Bhalchandra Dave, Farshad Harirchi
  • Rear closure assembly for vehicle including liftgate and tailgate moveable by common actuator
    Patent number: 11926200
    Abstract: This relates to a vehicle including a rear closure assembly having a liftgate and a tailgate. The liftgate and the tailgate are moveable by a common actuator. In one embodiment, a vehicle includes a liftgate moveable between a liftgate closed position and a liftgate open position to selectively cover and uncover a first portion of a rear opening in a body of the vehicle, a tailgate moveable between a tailgate closed position and a tailgate open position to selectively cover and uncover a second portion of the rear opening, and an actuator mechanically coupled to both the liftgate and the tailgate. The actuator is configured to move the liftgate between the liftgate closed position and the liftgate open position, and the actuator is configured to move the tailgate between the tailgate closed position and the tailgate open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Adrian Nania
  • Method for manufacturing a component by fused filament fabrication and apparatus for producing a component
    Patent number: 11926097
    Abstract: An additive manufacturing method for a component, the component being produced layerwise by fused filament fabrication, includes magnetizing a substrate plate, depositing at least one first layer on the substrate plate, this first layer including a first substance that contains magnetic material, depositing at least one further layer of a second substance, and demagnetizing the substrate plate. An apparatus for producing a component by fused filament fabrication includes a substrate plate for depositing layers of the component, wherein the substrate plate is magnetized before depositing a first layer on the substrate plate, the first layer including a first substance that contains magnetic material, and further layers including a second substance that does not contain a magnetic material are deposited on the first layer, and the substrate plate is demagnetized after forming the part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Baranowski, Maik Broda, Markus Franzen, Pascal Rebmann
  • Method and system for learning water content in fuel
    Patent number: 11928718
    Abstract: A method for recommending fuel filling stations based on water in fuel content is disclosed. In one example, a data structure is generated to house data from a plurality of fuel filling stations. The data structure may include data that is indicative of water in fuel. A recommendation for refilling a fuel tank may be provided according to data that is held in the data structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yun Xing, John Erik Mikael Hellstrom
  • Traction battery securing assembly and method
    Patent number: 11929517
    Abstract: A battery pack assembly includes, among other things, a tray, a lid secured to the tray to provide an enclosure having an interior, at least one battery module disposed within the interior, a cross-member disposed within the interior adjacent to the at least one battery module, and a stanchion secured to the cross-member. The stanchion disposed entirely within the interior. The assembly further includes a fastener that extends through an opening in the lid to engage the stanchion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Derek Langley, Dave Moschet, Micah Smith, Melissa Kathryn Christensen, Brent Zapczynski, Michael Luchtman, Saravanan Paramasivam
  • Vapor injection heat pump
    Patent number: 11927372
    Abstract: A heat pump includes a refrigerant loop. The refrigerant loop includes a compressor, a first region of a first heat exchanger. The first heat exchanger is positioned immediately downstream of an outlet of the compressor. A second heat exchanger is positioned downstream of the first heat exchanger. A vapor generator is positioned downstream of the first heat exchanger. The vapor generator is positioned upstream of the second heat exchanger in a first mode of operation. The vapor generator is positioned downstream of the second heat exchanger in a second mode of operation. A first branching point is positioned immediately downstream of the first region of the first heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Rachael Shey, Jeffrey Paul Brown
  • Vehicle lighting system including lamp assembly with one or more sections having variable light transmissivity
    Patent number: 11927319
    Abstract: A lighting system may include a lamp assembly including a lens assembly, wherein the lens assembly includes a first section and a second section, wherein the first and second sections each include a material having variable light transmissivity in response to an applied voltage, and wherein the light transmissivity of the first section is adjustable independent of the light transmissivity of the second section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Robertson, Jr., Venkatesh Krishnan, Segundo Baldovino, Tyler Hamilton
  • Front trunk including closure providing increased headroom and shade
    Patent number: 11926287
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a front trunk including a closure providing increased headroom and shade. In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a motor vehicle, including: a front trunk establishing a cargo space; and a closure assembly configured to move between a closed position and an open position to selectively cover and uncover the front trunk, wherein the closure assembly includes a hood section and a grille section, wherein, when the closure assembly is not in the closed position, the grille section is rotatable relative to the hood section in a direction away from a ground surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael John Harmon, Hussain Z. Tajmahal, Benjamin Howard, Kathryn N. Cezar
  • Motor vehicle, toy replica, and/or other replica
    Patent number: D1017465
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Max Wolff, Maurizio Tocco, David Dewitt, Andrew Wolton, Nonthawat Kongsari, Siddhartha Kazami, Rohan Satyamurthy, Emily Lai, Luana Teixeira, Peter Jones
  • Display screen with graphical user interface
    Patent number: D1017626
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Luke Niewiadomski, Bo Bao, Seyed Armin Raeis Hosseiny, Katherine Rouen, Clay Cundiff
  • Vehicle tail lamp
    Patent number: D1017852
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ehab Kaoud, William K. Moore, Richard L. Howard, Joshua P. Henry, Samuel R. Haire