Patents Assigned to Global Technologies LLC
  • Vehicle charging system
    Patent number: 9467002
    Abstract: A vehicle is provided comprising a battery, a charge plate electrically connected to the battery, and a thermal sensor configured to output a signal indicative of a sensed temperature. The thermal sensor can be positioned to determine temperature in the area proximate to the charge plate. The vehicle further includes at least one controller configured to (a) cause an association signal to be repeatedly transmitted during a battery charge procedure such that charging of the battery via the charge plate is maintained, and (b) in response to the sensed temperature exceeding a primary threshold, cause the repeated transmission of the association signal to be interrupted such that charging of the battery ceases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Douglas Raymond Martin, William David Treharne
  • Method for operating an electric steering support for a motor vehicle, and electric steering support and accordingly equipped motor vehicle
    Patent number: 9463826
    Abstract: A system or method for steering support for a vehicle with a start-stop system is configured to temporarily switch off a running internal combustion engine at the beginning of a stop phase and to restart the internal combustion engine at the end of the stop phase. An electric motor of the steering support is operated with accumulated electric current during the stop phase. Consumption of the accumulated current is monitored from the beginning of the stop phase with future consumption of current by the electric motor estimated based on consumption during previous stop phases. The steering support is configured so that supply of the accumulated current to the electric motor during the stop phase can be regulated as required on the basis of the estimated future consumption of accumulated current by the electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Ronny Hause
  • Methods and systems for managing a vehicle computer to record information and images
    Patent number: 9465214
    Abstract: A vehicle recording event method and device to monitor one or more parameters at the vehicle based on a trigger condition during a vehicle drive event. The method may receive, via a vehicle computing system, a configuration from a handheld device to output at least a portion of one or more parameters at a heads-up display (HUD). The method may record the parameters during a vehicle drive event based on a trigger condition. The method may transmit the parameters to the handheld device for storage of the vehicle drive event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Casey Bryan Feldman
  • Variable valve system to reduce condensation in a charge air cooler
    Patent number: 9464562
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for regulating air flow through a charge air cooler. In one example, an air flow regulating element may be positioned in a tank of the charge air cooler, the air flow regulating element including a cylindrical barrel valve rotatable about a rotational axis to adjust air flow through cooling tubes in the charge air cooler. A position of the barrel valve may be based on a mass air flow rate and/or a temperature at an outlet of the charge air cooler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gregory Patrick McConville, Daniel Joseph Styles, Mehdi Abarham, James Alfred Hilditch
  • Radio station genre categorization
    Patent number: 9467241
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes receiving a request from a user to locate a radio station similar to a radio station currently providing content in a predefined genre to a radio receiver; accessing stored genre information compiled from a radio station scan to locate a second radio station providing content in the genre; and tuning the radio receiver to the second radio station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joel Fischer, Joey Ray Grover
  • Portable device holding apparatus
    Patent number: 9468122
    Abstract: An apparatus for holding a portable device is provided which includes a cradle for holding the portable device. A support member is operatively coupled to the cradle and includes an inserting member. The inserting member may be received by a receiving member coupled to a base member, wherein the base member is mounted to a supporting surface. Once the receiving member receives the inserting member, at least one locking mechanism can releasably couple the support member to the base member for securing the apparatus to the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Ian Woodward
  • Armrest substrate having detachable elongated support bands
    Patent number: 9463723
    Abstract: A collapsible vehicle armrest includes an armrest substrate extending between a door frame and a door trim and defining an opening therebetween. The opening has a longitudinal axis substantially parallel with the door frame. A plurality of support bands extends co-planar across the opening and parallel with the longitudinal axis. A plurality of stubs extends across each gap defined between adjacent support bands. Each stub is free of alignment with each other of the plurality of stubs in a direction perpendicular to the plurality of support bands. A cover member extends over the armrest substrate and the plurality of support bands, wherein the cover member is vertically supported proximate the opening by the plurality of parallel support bands and the plurality of stubs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Muhsin M. Hamdoon, Marwan Ahmad Elbkaily, Bakhtyar Baig, Linh Doan, Bhaskara Rao Pamarthi
  • Vehicle visor assembly with illuminating check assembly
    Patent number: 9463735
    Abstract: A visor assembly of a vehicle is provided herein. A visor body is pivotally coupled to a vehicle roof structure and has a securing portion. A bracket of a check assembly is coupled to the vehicle roof structure and has a clasp for removably engaging the securing portion. A tab of the check assembly extends from the bracket for holding an informational item and has a luminescent portion adapted to luminesce in response to excitation light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David R. Huelke, John Andrew Stakoe, Scott Holmes Dunham
  • Seatbelt lighting system
    Patent number: 9463738
    Abstract: A lighting system for a vehicle seatbelt assembly is provided herein. The lighting system includes a light source disposed on a seatbelt webbing. A first photoluminescent structure is configured to luminesce in response to excitation by at least a portion of the light source. A controller is configured to control an activation state of the light source. In some embodiments, the light source may implement a thin design, thereby helping to fit the light source into small package spaces of the vehicle where traditional light sources may not be practicable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, James J. Surman, Edward Joseph DeSmet, Michael Masserant, Christine Boese
  • HV relay sticking control system and method
    Patent number: 9466448
    Abstract: A high voltage relay sticking control system for a vehicle having at least one contactor, a high voltage battery pack interfacing with the contactor and a weld diagnostic detection system interfacing with the high voltage battery pack and the contactor includes an increment counter adapted to interface with the contactor, the high voltage battery pack and the weld diagnostic detection system. The increment counter is adapted to transmit at least one set of coil power cycles through the contactor if a weld exists at the contactor. A high voltage relay sticking control method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Derek Hartl
  • Staged bacteriophage remediation of target bacteria
    Patent number: 9464267
    Abstract: A process for remediation of target bacteria, particularly sulfur reducing bacteria (SRB), in waters (“target water”) having a multiplicity and diverse host target bacteria by employing serial or staged bacteria culturing and lysing of dominant bacteria. Remediation of sulfur reducing bacteria (SRB) is effected by application of a series of bacteriophage isolated from the staged culturing and bacteriophage lysing of successive aliquots of waters containing a multiplicity of SRB.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Elizabeth J. Summer, Mei Liu, Neil S. Summer, Douglas Baldwin
  • Systems and methods for separation of liquid and gaseous fuel for injection
    Patent number: 9464596
    Abstract: A method for an engine may comprise, on board a vehicle, supplying fuel from a fuel tank to a fuel separator, wherein the fuel comprises a gaseous fuel solubilized in a liquid fuel, desolubilizing the gaseous fuel from the liquid fuel in the fuel separator, and separating the gaseous fuel from the liquid fuel in the fuel separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas G. Leone, Mark Allen Dearth
  • Sun visor with photoluminescent structure
    Patent number: 9463739
    Abstract: A vehicle lighting system is provided. The system includes a sun visor having a visor body movable between a stored position and a use position. A photoluminescent structure is coupled to a surface of the visor body and a light source is coupled to a headliner and oriented to excite the photoluminescent structure when the visor body is in the use position. A switch is included for activating the light source in response to a signal change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Cornel Lewis Gardner, Mahendra Somasara Dassanayake, Carol Kordich
  • Compartment panel assembly and vehicle employing the same
    Patent number: 9463747
    Abstract: The present invention in one or more embodiments provides a compartment panel assembly to be positioned between one or more seats and a trunk storage of a vehicle. The compartment panel includes a panel portion, a protruding portion extending from the panel portion and including a first wall which defines thereupon a first aperture, and a first storage container to be at least partially received through the first aperture. The present invention in one or more embodiments is advantageous positioned in providing effective storage within the vehicle interior, and in particular providing storage spaces that are lockable and/or not directly visible for enhanced storage security.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Charlene Chen, Frank Wu, Peter Zhang, Tom Xu
  • Catalysts and methods for alcohol dehydration
    Patent number: 9463445
    Abstract: Provided is a process for preparing a diaryl ether compound through the dehydration of an aromatic alcohol compound in the presence of a halogenated rare earth element oxide catalyst, providing a reaction vessel having loaded therein a rare earth element oxide; halogenating the rare earth element oxide with a halogen source to form an activated catalyst; and dehydrating an aromatic alcohol compound over the activated catalyst to form the diaryl ether compound, where the halogenating and dehydrating steps occur in the same vessel. The rare earth element oxide is an oxide of a light rare earth element, an oxide of a medium rare earth element, an oxide of a heavy rare earth element, an oxide of yttrium, or a mixture of two or more thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: David G. Barton, Adam Chojecki, Paul R. Elowe, Beata A. Kilos, Adam S. Cieszlak
  • Vehicle light system with illuminating exhaust
    Patent number: 9464776
    Abstract: An illumination apparatus for a vehicle is disclosed. The illumination apparatus comprises a photoluminescent portion disposed on a surface of a vehicle exhaust system component. The illumination apparatus further includes a light source located proximate the component. The light source is configured to emit light at a first wavelength directed toward the photoluminescent portion. The photoluminescent portion is configured to convert the first wavelength to at least a second wavelength to illuminate the exhaust system component and/or an area proximate the vehicle exhaust system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, James J. Surman
  • Foam composition with olefin block copolymer gel particles
    Patent number: 9464177
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a composition and articles containing the composition. The composition comprises a foam and a plurality of gel particles dispersed in the foam. The gel particles comprise an olefin block copolymer and an oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey C. Munro, Kaoru Aou, Raymond L. Laakso, Jr., Gary R. Marchand, Rogelio R. Gamboa
  • Illuminated seatbelt assembly
    Patent number: 9463737
    Abstract: A lighting system for a vehicle seatbelt assembly is provided herein. The lighting system includes a first seatbelt component configured to couple to a second seatbelt component. A light source is disposed on the first seatbelt component. A photoluminescent structure is disposed on the second component and is configured to luminesce in response to excitation by the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, James J. Surman, Cornel Lewis Gardner
  • Vehicular light guides and assemblies with uniform illumination
    Patent number: 9464785
    Abstract: A light guide is provided that includes a light chamber defined by isotropically luminant top, bottom, and back surfaces, and a front surface having a translucent lens. The light guide also includes a reflective diaphragm within the chamber that defines a top gap between the diaphragm and the top surface, and a bottom gap between the diaphragm and the bottom surface. The light guide further includes an LED light source located between the diaphragm and the back surface of the chamber. The light guide may also be configured with a front surface having a partially transmissive lens and no reflective diaphragm. A vehicle lighting assembly is also provided that includes a plurality of interconnected light chamber sections comprising light guides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Arun Kumar, Mahendra Somasara Dassanayake, Steven Darrell Miller
  • Methods and system for starting an engine of a hybrid vehicle
    Patent number: 9463790
    Abstract: Systems and methods for cranking an engine of a hybrid vehicle that includes an electric machine to crank the engine and propel the vehicle are disclosed. In one example, engine cranking speed and engine cranking source are selected in response to vehicle operating conditions that may affect whether or not an electrical power source has sufficient energy to crank the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Scott James Thompson, David Farrell, Robert Wright, Xiaoyong Wang