Patents Assigned to Global Technologies LLC
  • Supercharged internal combustion engine with two-channel turbine and method
    Patent number: 9359939
    Abstract: A supercharged internal combustion engine wherein a two-channel turbine comprising a shut-off body positioned within a flow transfer duct within a turbine housing fluidly couples the two channels of a turbine housing to one another via the transfer duct responsive to the exhaust gas flow rate to enable better operation of the turbocharger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Helmut Matthias Kindl, Norbert Andreas Schorn, Vanco Smiljanovski, Rob Stalman, Franz Arnd Sommerhoff
  • Pouch-type wrap for battery cell
    Patent number: 9362535
    Abstract: A battery assembly includes a cold plate and a plurality of battery cells arranged in an array. Each of the cells has a bottom in contact with the cold plate and is encased in a dielectric jacket. The dielectric jacket surrounds side portions and the bottom of the cell. The jacket has seams on the side portions of the cells but not on the bottom. The seamless bottom forms a continuous and uninterrupted panel over the bottom to provide a seamless interface between the bottom and cold plate. A method of installing the cell into the jacket is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Brian Utley, Patrick Daniel Maguire
  • Object detection during vehicle parking
    Patent number: 9359009
    Abstract: A computer in a vehicle is programmed to collect data related to an object; use the data to generate a virtual map of the object with respect to the vehicle; and provide output based on the virtual map that indicates a risk of the parking operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brad Ignaczak, Maher Ghneim, Andrew John Murray, Tania Vazquez
  • System off configuration for climate control system
    Patent number: 9358856
    Abstract: A system off configuration for an automotive climate control system is provided. The climate control system includes a compressor having two downstream flow paths. The two downstream flow paths may be selectively used to provide multiple modes of operation. When the compressor moves to an off condition the valves found in each flow path immediately downstream from the compressor are closed so that a refrigerant oil blend is kept in the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Franco Ragazzi
  • Methods and systems for operating a vehicle driveline
    Patent number: 9358972
    Abstract: Systems and methods for improving operation of a hybrid vehicle are presented. In one example, an engine is accelerated to a speed of a driveline integrated starter/generator before the engine is coupled to the driveline integrated starter/generator. Further, a driveline disconnect clutch application force is adjusted in response to torque of the driveline integrated starter/generator and a torque converter torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dennis Craig Reed, Alex O'Connor Gibson, Jeffrey Allen Doering, Adam Nathan Banker, Seung-Hoon Lee
  • Folding bicycle
    Patent number: 9359036
    Abstract: A bicycle frame includes a top tube, a head tube rotatably coupled to a forward portion of the top tube about a first pivot, a seat tube having an upper portion rotatably coupled to a rear portion of the top tube about a second pivot, and a chain stay rotatably coupled to a lower portion of the seat tube about a third pivot. The head tube and the seat tube each pivot between operating positions away from the top tube and storage positions substantially along the top tube, and the chain stay pivots between an operating position away from the seat tube and a storage position along the seat tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas Robert George Thompson
  • Adaptive real-time driver advisory control for a hybrid electric vehicle to achieve fuel economy
    Patent number: 9361272
    Abstract: A vehicle powertrain controller includes a fuzzy logic-based adaptive algorithm with a learning capability that estimates a driver's long term driving preferences. An adaptive algorithm arbitrates competing requirements for good fuel economy, avoidance of intrusiveness and vehicle drivability. A driver's acceptance or rejection of advisory information may be used to adapt subsequent advisory information to the driving style. Vehicle performance is maintained in accordance with a driver's driving style.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Fazal Urrahman Syed, Dimitar Petrov Filev, Finn Tseng
  • Electric motor control during unreliable power supply operations
    Patent number: 9362854
    Abstract: A motor system and a method of operating an electric motor that includes monitoring a voltage of power supplied to the motor by a mircrocontroller located in the motor; storing energy within the motor; detecting if the voltage drops below a nonzero threshold; and if the voltage drops below the threshold, immediately operating the microcontroller with the stored energy to store a state of the motor in non-volatile memory located within the motor, and ceasing operation of the motor. This motor operation may be employed with multiple motors in vehicles where voltage drop may occur during an engine start of a vehicle stop/start event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: David A. Symanow, Joseph S. Witek, Eric M. Rademacher, John T. Bremmer, Hafiz S. Khafagy, Zeljko Deljevic
  • Oil separator in a positive crankcase ventilation system of an engine
    Patent number: 9359925
    Abstract: An oil separator in a positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) system is described herein. The oil separator includes an oil separation conduit in fluidic communication with an intake conduit and an oil reservoir and an entry conduit including an entry conduit orifice arranged at an angle of between 80 and 100 degrees with regard to the oil separation conduit, the entry conduit orifice opening into the separation conduit at a point between the separation conduit outlet and the separation conduit inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Claude Weston Bailey, III, Kevin Joseph Kochanski, Christopher William Newman
  • Method for purging condensate from a charge air cooler
    Patent number: 9359941
    Abstract: Embodiments for controlling condensate in a charge air cooler are provided. In one example, a method for a charge air cooler comprises, responsive to a condensate level in the charge air cooler, increasing boost pressure and maintaining a requested level of torque by routing a portion of air flow exiting the charge air cooler to an intake passage upstream of a compressor. In this way, accumulated condensate in the charge air cooler may be removed while maintaining driver-requested torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kristofor Robert Norman, Shuya Shark Yamada
  • Method for identification of a threshold-level catalyst
    Patent number: 9359967
    Abstract: Systems and methods for estimating catalyst transfer function gain are disclosed. In one example, an air-fuel ratio forcing function is applied to a catalyst. Air-fuel ratios upstream and downstream of the catalyst are manipulated to determine a transfer function gain of the catalyst. The transfer function gain may be a basis for indicating the presence or absence of catalyst degradation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mario Anthony Santillo, Steve William Magner, Michael James Uhrich, Mrdjan J. Jankovic
  • Storage bin for a vehicle interior
    Patent number: 9358930
    Abstract: A storage bin includes a base, a plurality of pins supported by and moveable relative to the base, and a locking plate. The locking plate includes a plurality of sidewalls that each define an opening for one of the pins to pass therethrough. Each of the sidewalls are configured to engage one of the pins to lock the pins relative to the base in response to movement of the locking plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Steven Sic
  • Hybrid vehicle braking system and method
    Patent number: 9358890
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a powertrain having an electric machine, and friction brakes configured to resist rotation of a vehicle wheel. The further includes at least one controller programmed to (i) issue a command for the electric machine to apply a regenerative torque to decelerate the vehicle in response to driver braking demand, and (ii) cause both a decay in the regenerative torque and a countervailing increase in the resistance of the friction brakes when vehicle speed is reduced to less than a first threshold such that braking demand is substantially satisfied by only the friction brakes when the vehicle speed is less than a second threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Bernard D. Nefcy, Francis Thomas Connolly, Daniel Scott Colvin, Zhengyu Dai, Ming Lang Kuang, Xiaoyong Wang, Yanan Zhao
  • Interior trim electronic device holder
    Patent number: 9358929
    Abstract: An electronic device holder includes a vehicle pillar in which a vertical track assembly is disposed. First and second pivoting arms are pivotally coupled to the track assembly and are vertically adjustable along a length of the track assembly between release and cinched positions. The first and second pivoting arms are configured to be unfolded from a stowed position to an extended position. The first and second pivoting arms are configured to retain an electronic device between inner surfaces of the first and second pivoting arms, when the first and second pivoting arms are in the cinched position around the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Annette Lynn Huebner, Kristin Ann Hellman, Joshua Greiner
  • Seat belt presenter fault indication
    Patent number: 9358953
    Abstract: A vehicle system includes a seat belt buckle configured to receive a seat belt. The seat belt buckle is moveable between a first position and a second position. A timer is configured to determine an amount of time that the seat belt buckle is in the second position. If the seat belt buckle is in the second position for longer than a predetermined amount of time, the timer outputs an alert signal representing a potential fault.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Mark A. Cuddihy, Brian Robert Spahn, Edward Joseph DeSmet, Benjamin Yilma
  • Cold temperature engine start
    Patent number: 9358968
    Abstract: A method of starting a vehicle may include providing power to a motor to spin the motor at a speed at least equal to a target engine cranking speed while a clutch configured to couple an engine and motor is open. The method may also include cutting power to the motor in response to the motor achieving the speed, and locking the clutch to couple the rotating inertias of the motor and a transmission with the engine to start the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Felix Nedorezov, Kenneth Jahr, Steven Anatole Frait, Hong Jiang
  • Method and system for adjusting hybrid vehicle driveline torque
    Patent number: 9358974
    Abstract: Methods and systems for improving operation of a hybrid vehicle are presented. In one example, an engine torque estimate may be adapted in response to a torque converter impeller speed error. The methods and systems may reduce the possibility of driveline torque disturbances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Allen Doering, Alex O'Connor Gibson, Dennis Craig Reed, David Oshinsky, Adam Nathan Banker
  • Turbocharger waste gate
    Patent number: 9359942
    Abstract: A method for operating turbocharger waste gate of a turbocharged engine is disclosed. In one example, the method operates the waste gate synchronous with engine operation via a mechanical coupling between the waste gate and a camshaft or a crankshaft. The approach may reduce turbocharger lag and improve turbocharger efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Shuya S. Yamada, Keith D. Miazgowicz
  • Method and system for launching an application
    Patent number: 9363318
    Abstract: A vehicle computing system having at least one controller communicating with a transceiver. The at least one controller programed to configure a wireless signal having a first application identifier for a first application to be launched at a nomadic device. The at least one controller further programed to broadcast the wireless signal including the first application identifier via the transceiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Nelson, David Anthony Hatton, William Donald Hass, Hussein F. Nasrallah
  • System and operating method for a supercharged internal combustion engine with charge-air cooling
    Patent number: 9359936
    Abstract: A engine system, comprising a cylinder head with one or more cylinders, an outlet opening of a cylinder coupled to an exhaust line for discharging the exhaust gases via an exhaust-gas discharge system; an inlet opening of a cylinder coupled to an intake line for supplying charge air via an intake system, the intake system including one or more compressors for compressing the charge air and a charge-air cooler coupled to the intake system, the charge-air cooler including a first refrigerant evaporator through which a refrigerant and charge air can flow. The use of a refrigerant evaporator allows air charge to cool to a temperature below the ambient temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Bernd Brinkmann, Harald Kaufeld