Patents Assigned to Global Technologies LLC
  • Regenerative braking and torque converter control
    Patent number: 9187081
    Abstract: A method for controlling vehicle regenerative braking includes decreasing regenerative braking, provided a converter clutch is locked, such that regenerative braking torque reaches zero before a converter clutch opens due to vehicle speed reaching a reference speed; decreasing regenerative braking, provided the converter clutch is scheduled to open, such that regenerative braking torque reaches zero before the converter clutch opens due to vehicle speed reaching the reference speed; and braking the vehicle using wheel brakes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Zhengyu Dai, Yanan Zhao, Felix Nedorezov, Mark S. Yamazaki, Philip J. Wiethe, Jr.
  • Method and system for cylinder compression diagnostics
    Patent number: 9188505
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for performing a non-intrusive engine compression test. When compression testing is requested, a hybrid vehicle engine may be spun unfueled using energy from a battery driven electric motor. Changes in battery current over multiple engine cycles is used to infer cylinder compression parameters and assess cylinder compression degradation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Douglas Raymond Martin
  • Autonomous lane control system
    Patent number: 9187117
    Abstract: An autonomous control system for a vehicle that controls the speed and steering system of the vehicle to operate in a lane-keeping mode or a lane-changing mode. Position sensors sense the location of surrounding vehicles. A lane determining system identifies a current lane where the vehicle is located. A source of oncoming lane course data provides information as to the course of the current lane. A controller provides instructions to the steering system and speed control system to maneuver the vehicle in either the lane-keeping mode or the lane-changing mode. The driver may override the control system by providing a manual input to the steering system or the speed control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Dorian Jack Spero, Thomas Edward Pilutti, Matthew Y. Rupp, Peter Gyumyeong Joh
  • Collapsible door trim pull handle
    Patent number: 9187937
    Abstract: A collapsible vehicle door pull handle comprises two separate pieces joined together by a break away feature. This arrangement allows the pull handle to be strong when the occupant pulls the vehicle door closed, but allows deflection because of the break away feature during a side impact event. The collapsible vehicle door pull handle comprises a handle, a base, an attachment member fitted to one of the handle and the base, and an elastic deformable portion having a keyway for receiving and holding the attachment member with the attachment portion being on the other of the base and the handle. A molded handle might enclose part of the handle or might enclose the entire handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Paul Schryer
  • Methods and systems for assisted direct start control
    Patent number: 9187076
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for reducing audible clunks and objectionable drive feel in vehicles including start/stop systems. In one example, a vehicle engine is shutdown during vehicle coasting. The vehicle engine is then restarted, while the vehicle is moving with a torque converter clutch disengaged. A transmission clutch pressure is then adjusted during the restart based on a torque converter output speed relative to a torque converter input speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Felix Nedorezov, Hong Jiang, Davor David Hrovat, Alex O'Connor Gibson
  • Elution of metal ions from chelating resin using amino acid eluant
    Patent number: 9187588
    Abstract: A method of eluting metal ions from a bed of metal-loaded chelating resin wherein the resin includes a crosslinked styrene-divinylbenzene copolymer matrix with pendent methyleneaminopyridine or phosphonic acid groups and the method includes the step of passing an eluant through the bed to at least partially remove the metal ions from the chelating resin and create a metal-rich eluate, wherein the eluant includes an aqueous solution comprising an amino acid compound having a molecular weight less than 500 Daltons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignees: Dow Global Technologies LLC, Rohm and Haas Company
    Inventors: Charles R. Marston, Stephen M. Smith, Matthew L. Rodgers, Karen S. Eastman
  • Vehicle and method for charging vehicle batteries
    Patent number: 9190868
    Abstract: An automotive vehicle includes a traction battery, an auxiliary battery and at least one controller. The at least one controller may be configured to cause a specified charge current to be provided to the traction battery and to cause another specified charge current to be provided to the auxiliary battery if the current being provided to the traction battery is increasing or decreasing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Allan Roy Gale, Paul Theodore Momcilovich, Michael W. Degner
  • Fuel tank pressure-relief vent to prevent ejection of fuel during refill
    Patent number: 9186982
    Abstract: A fuel tank having an interior space defined by a wall, a fill tube to admit fuel into the interior space, and a vent to discharge air and vapor from the interior space as the fuel is admitted. The vent includes a vent tube extending through the wall and downward into the interior space, and having a non-circular opening. In this manner ejection of fuel from the fill tube can be prevented reliably under a wide range of refueling conditions, and without imparting excessive length to the vent tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Damien Baldwin, Michael William Soltis, Jeffrey Dumler
  • Thigh support for customer accommodation seat
    Patent number: 9187019
    Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly includes a seatback. A seat base includes a first thigh support and a second thigh support. A self-locking cam system is operably coupled with the first thigh support and the second thigh support, including a torque tube. A plurality of cams are disposed along the torque tube and are operably coupled with a plurality of spring guides. The self-locking cam system is configured to move the first thigh support and the second thigh support from a lowered position to a raised position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alan George Dry, Gunnar Groesbeck, Johnathan Andrew Line
  • Twelve-cornered strengthening member, assemblies including a twelve-cornered strengthening member, and methods of manufacturing and joining the same
    Patent number: 9187127
    Abstract: A strengthening member for an automotive vehicle comprises a twelve-cornered cross section including sides and corners creating internal angles and external angles. To facilitate a connection between the strengthening member and the automotive component, one of the strengthening member and the automotive component may transition from the twelve-cornered cross section at a first end of the strengthening member to a four-cornered cross section at a second end of the strengthening member. An automotive assembly may include a strengthening member connected to an automotive component via a separate bridge connection member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Tau Tyan, Yu-Kan Hu, Leonard Anthony Shaner, Ajay Kumar Gupta, Mark Wlotkowski, Narayana Venugopal
  • Hybrid composite instrument panel
    Patent number: 9186993
    Abstract: A vehicular instrument panel having a reinforcement that includes a plurality of chopped carbon fibers within a nylon resin, and a substrate coupled to the reinforcement comprising a plurality of chopped carbon and chopped glass fibers within a nylon resin. The plurality of chopped carbon and glass fibers in the substrate are segregated such that the carbon fibers and the glass fibers are each substantially concentrated within respective driver-side and passenger-side portions of the substrate. The substrate can also include a boundary region such that the plurality of chopped carbon and glass fibers in the substrate are substantially mixed in the boundary region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jeff Webb, Kalyanaraman Bharathan, Tim Beard
  • Emotive engine and method for generating a simulated emotion for an information system
    Patent number: 9189879
    Abstract: Information about a device may be emotively conveyed to a user of the device. Input indicative of an operating state of the device may be received. The input may be transformed into data representing a simulated emotional state. Data representing an avatar that expresses the simulated emotional state may be generated and displayed. A query from the user regarding the simulated emotional state expressed by the avatar may be received. The query may be responded to.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dimitar Petrov Filev, Oleg Yurievitch Gusikhin, Fazal Urrahman Syed, Erica Klampfl, Thomas J. Giuli, Yifan Chen
  • Sterilization and decontamination of an enclosed environment
    Patent number: 9186428
    Abstract: A method of sterilization, decontamination and/or sanitation of an enclosed environment, the method comprising the steps of measuring the temperature of an enclosed environment to be treated; calculating the relative humidity required to provide a desired partial pressure at the measured temperature, the actual desired partial pressure required being based on a predetermined optimum partial pressure at a base temperature corresponding to an optimum operating temperature for that environment; introducing a predetermined quantity of water to the environment to provide the calculated relative humidity for the measured temperature; discharging ozone into the humidified environment; maintaining the ozone level at a concentration that will achieve the required degree of decontamination, sterilization and/or sanitation of the humid environment; and reducing the ozone level to an acceptable safe exposure level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: DOW GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: James Robert Jennings
  • Emission control with a particulate matter sensor
    Patent number: 9188034
    Abstract: A method for controlling a particulate matter sensor heater is provided. The method includes operating the heater to burn-off soot accumulated on the sensor; and adjusting the heater level based on sensor output generated during the heater operation. In this way, improved heater control can be achieved using the sensor output already available.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Hopka, Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt, Robert F. Novak
  • Electric vehicle control based on operating costs associated with power sources
    Patent number: 9187085
    Abstract: A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle operates the engine and/or traction motor in response to energy costs or prices received from an external source, such as a user or network. The vehicle can include a battery; an engine; an electric motor; a memory to store a battery charge point, and a controller to modify the battery charge point in response to arbitration criteria to control battery charging from the engine. The arbitration criteria can be based at least partially on fuel cost for the engine. The arbitration criteria can be based at least partially on electricity cost. The arbitration criteria can also include location of the vehicle. The controller may alter a deadband between charging the battery with the engine and discharging the battery to power the traction motor based on the arbitration criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Venkatapathi Raju Nallapa, Kerry Eden Grand, Fazal Urrahman Syed, Ming Lang Kuang
  • Method to produce alcohols from organic acids
    Patent number: 9187389
    Abstract: A method of producing an alcohol compound from an organic acid compound including the step of heating a solution of the organic acid compound in the presence of a heterogeneous catalyst including transition metal supported upon a cross-linked functional polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignees: Rohm and Haas Company, Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Brandon A. Rodriguez, Jose A. Trejo O'Reilly
  • Multi-speed transmission
    Patent number: 9188197
    Abstract: A vehicle transmission includes first, second, third and fourth meshing gear-pinion pairs. The transmission produces a first speed ratio through a power path that includes first and second input shafts, a gear coupler and the first, second and third gear-pinion pairs. The transmission also produces a second speed ratio through a power path that includes the second input shaft, the gear coupler and the second, third and fourth gear-pinion pairs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Steven G. Thomas
  • Engine control system and method
    Patent number: 9188056
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for purging condensate from a charge air cooler to an engine intake while reducing misfire events related to the water ingestion. During the purging, a spark timing is adjusted based on the amount of condensate purged per cycle. The spark timing is adjusted differently when the condensate is purged during a tip-in versus a pro-active clean-out routine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher P. Glugla, Gopichandra Surnilla
  • Turbocharger system having an air-cooled wastegate actuator
    Patent number: 9188057
    Abstract: A turbocharger system is provided herein. The turbocharger system includes a turbine positioned downstream of a combustion chamber, a turbine bypass conduit in fluidic communication with a turbine inlet and a turbine outlet, a wastegate positioned in the turbine bypass conduit, and an air-cooled wastegate actuator adjusting the position of the wastegate, the air-cooled wastegate actuator receiving cooling airflow from an intake conduit positioned upstream of a compressor mechanically coupled to the turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Patrick Matthews
  • Assembly including a reinforced composite part with a pre-formed rivet receiving button
    Patent number: 9186867
    Abstract: A composite part defining a button shaped protrusion and including fibers reinforcing a resin matrix throughout the part. The fibers may be in the form of a woven mat or in the form of loose fibers that are deposited in a mold. Methods of making the composite part with a woven mat or loose fibers being provided in the button shaped recess that defines a void in the fiber reinforced composite part at a predetermined location where a self-piercing rivet is to be inserted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Aindrea McKelvey Campbell