Patents Assigned to Global Technologies LLC
  • VEHICLE LIGHT ANOMALY STATE WARNING
    Publication number: 20150279194
    Abstract: A vehicle system includes a communication interface in communication with a processing device. The communication interface is configured to receive ambient light information from a remote server over a communication network. The processing device is configured to selectively enable a vehicle lighting system in accordance with the ambient light information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2014
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC.
    Inventors: Fling Tseng, Aed M. Dudar, Imad Hassan Makki, Robert Roy Jentz
  • NON-UNIFORMLY PERFORATED PLASTIC BAG
    Publication number: 20150274406
    Abstract: Provided is a perforated plastic bag wherein the volume of said bag is 100 liters or more; wherein the average perforation diameter is 500 micrometers or less; wherein said plastic bag comprises a lower zone and a top zone, wherein the perforation density of said lower zone is greater than the perforation density of said top zone. Also provided is a method of using such a plastic bag.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2013
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Applicants: ROHM AND HAAS COMPANY, DOW GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Aishwaraya Balasubramanian, Nazir Mir, Robert L. Mcgee, Bruce A. Menning
  • INTEGRATED HIGH VOLTAGE SERVICE DISCONNECT
    Publication number: 20150280182
    Abstract: A traction battery includes a housing. A service disconnect base is disposed on the exterior surface of the housing. The service disconnect base includes a uni-terminal connector disposed within the base and electrically connected to the battery cells that are disposed within the housing. A service disconnect plug is configured to mechanically engage with the base. The service disconnect plug includes cabling configured to electrically connect the uni-terminal to a high voltage bus when the plug is engaged with the base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: John Paul GIBEAU
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CLOSING A CONTACTOR ON EARLY WAKE TO IMPROVE VEHICLE START TIME
    Publication number: 20150274098
    Abstract: A method according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, controlling an electrified vehicle by closing a contactor prior to a key on condition of the electrified vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Bryan BOLGER, Ryan J. SKAFF
  • IN-VEHICLE TELEMATICS UPGRADES
    Publication number: 20150278150
    Abstract: A system may include in-vehicle telematics adapter including a telematics unit configured to implement telematics functions for use within a vehicle, and a vehicle bus emulator connected to a vehicle bus input of the telematics unit configured to provide a simulated vehicle bus to allow the telematics unit to function outside of integration with the vehicle. A method may include receiving, by a vehicle bus emulator having a simulated vehicle bus output connected to a vehicle bus input of a telematics unit, a control notification indicative of user input from a user interface control; and generating a human-machine interface (HMI) control event message specifying the user input to the user interface control via the simulated vehicle bus output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Louis Vincent Bellanca, Nunzio DeCia, Stephen Michael Cunningham
  • SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR IMPROVING VEHICLE DRIVELINE OPERATION
    Publication number: 20150274155
    Abstract: Systems and methods for improving operation of a hybrid vehicle driveline are presented. In one example, pressures applied to two different clutches are coordinated such that a pressure boost phase of a driveline disconnect clutch does not occur at a same time as a pressure boost phase of a transmission shifting clutch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Bernard D. Nefcy, Marvin P. Kraska, Daniel S. Colvin, Matthew J. Shelton
  • VEHICLE SEATING ASSEMBLY WITH MANUAL CUSHION TILT
    Publication number: 20150274050
    Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly includes a seat base. A thigh support is pivotally coupled to and extends forward from the seat base. The thigh support is spring-biased relative to the seat base to a raised position. A lever is operably coupled to a center portion of the thigh support by a hinge. The lever is spring-biased to a raised position relative to the thigh support and includes a rack with a plurality of teeth proximate the hinge. The teeth of the rack are configured to engage a catch projecting from the seat base. A handle extends transversely from the lever. The handle is operable to disengage the rack from the catch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Christian J. Hosbach, Brandon W. Nichols, Johnathan Andrew Line, Mandeep Singh Sidhu, Jason William Nisbett
  • CROWD ENHANCED CONNECTIVITY MAP FOR DATA TRANSFER INTERMITTENCY MITIGATION
    Publication number: 20150281906
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a communication interface, a memory device, and a processing device. The communication interface is configured to communicate over a communication network. The memory device is configured to store a connectivity map associated with a geographic area. The connectivity map defines a communication quality at a plurality of locations in the geographic area. The processing device is configured to initiate a remote data transfer over the communication network in accordance with the connectivity map.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Fling Tseng, Dimitar Petrov Filev, Imad Hassan Makki, Kwaku O. Prakah-Asante, Hsin-hsiang Yang
  • TRACTION BATTERY ASSEMBLY
    Publication number: 20150280183
    Abstract: A traction battery assembly includes a base plate and a plurality of prismatic cells stacked in an array on the base plate. A spacer assembly surrounds and is in contact with at least a portion of each of the cells. Each of the spacers assemblies include a pair of brackets having retaining tabs configured to extend over and retain a top portion of the cell opposite the base plate and anchoring tabs extending away from a base of the array. A clamp is disposed along the array and is configured to anchor the anchoring tabs to the base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Brian UTLEY, Patrick Daniel MAGUIRE, Sai K. PERUMALLA, Steven DROSTE
  • FOLDING VEHICLE SEAT
    Publication number: 20150274041
    Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly includes a seat member, a back member, and a base having a track and a guide with horizontal and vertical portions. The seat member is connected to the base by scissors linkage engaging the track to provide vertical and rearward translation of the seat member between use and stowed positions. The back member has a lower portion engaging the guide and providing horizontal and vertical translation of the lower portion of the back member, and rotation of the back member between upright and stowed positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Patrick Verhee
  • Support Structure for Battery Cells Within a Traction Battery Assembly
    Publication number: 20150280184
    Abstract: A traction battery assembly may include an array of battery cells having opposing end faces, opposing side faces, and a bottom face. The assembly may also include a pair of end plates and a pair of side plates arranged to form a four-sided enclosure around the end and side faces and configured to compress and retain the cells without being mechanically attached thereto or covering the bottom face. The side plates may partially cover an upper portion of the array. The side plates may have a lower horizontal edge, an upper horizontal edge, and at least one diagonal reinforcement rib configured to extend from a location where the vertical edge and lower horizontal edge meet upward to the upper horizontal edge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brian Utley, Patrick Daniel Maguire
  • CROWD SOURCED ENERGY ESTIMATION
    Publication number: 20150276420
    Abstract: A method of advising a driver of a vehicle may include at a computing system, receiving from the vehicle a predicted energy usage request for a selected route. In response to the request, the method may further include transmitting for each of a plurality of segments defining the selected route, an energy usage estimate based on data indicative of propulsive energy previously used by vehicles to travel the segments and to travel other segments having common characteristics with the segments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: RYAN ABRAHAM McGEE, FLING TSENG, JOHANNES GEIR KRISTINSSON
  • VARIABLE REPORTING RATE TELEMATICS
    Publication number: 20150279125
    Abstract: A vehicle controller may collect vehicle data related to functioning of at least one vehicle system according to reporting settings maintained by the controller; send the vehicle data to a server according to a reporting frequency specified by the reporting settings; and update the reporting settings responsive to receipt from the server of a command configured to cause the at least one controller to adjust the reporting settings. A system may include a server configured to receive vehicle data from a vehicle; identify a vehicle-related trigger condition; evaluate the trigger condition according to the received vehicle data; responsive to trigger condition occurrence, generate a command configured to adjust reporting settings used by the vehicle in providing the vehicle data to the server; and send the command to the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David CHRONOWSKI, Kevin Michael BULLISTER
  • SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR OPERATING A TORQUE CONVERTER CLUTCH
    Publication number: 20150274147
    Abstract: Systems and methods for improving operation of a hybrid vehicle driveline are presented. In one example, a margin torque for closing a torque converter clutch is adjusted responsive to a state of engine operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Bernard D. Nefcy, Zhengyu Dai, Daniel Colvin
  • PEDESTRIAN PROTECTION SENSING SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE HAVING METAL BUMPERS
    Publication number: 20150274107
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling deployment of the pedestrian head protection devices on a motor vehicle having a metal bumper is disclosed. The disclosed inventive concept involves strategic placement of accelerometer sensing devices and the derivation of a real time impact signal from the signals generated by the accelerometers. This real time impact signal is used along with thresholds and time window to control deployment. The apparatus includes a metal bumper, two support brackets attaching the bumper to the vehicle and at least two accelerometers fitted to the bumper proximate the brackets. The derivation and use of a single impact signal from said first and second signal-generating accelerometers is achieved by taking the larger of two absolute values derived from the accelerometers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jialiang Le, Manoharprasad K. Rao, Yeruva Satya Reddy, Kowling Cheng
  • Stop/start vehicle and method for controlling engine of same
    Patent number: 9145864
    Abstract: A stop/start system of a vehicle can issue auto stop commands and auto start commands. An engine of the vehicle is auto stopped in response to the auto stop commands and auto started in response to the auto start commands. The stop/start system can prevent an auto stop of the engine based on a predicted stop duration for a predicted stop location for the vehicle such that the engine remains running when the predicted stop duration is less than a threshold duration and the vehicle is stopped in a vicinity of the predicted stop location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Johannes Geir Kristinsson, Hai Yu
  • Hydraulic pump configuration for automatic transmission
    Patent number: 9145966
    Abstract: An automatic transmission pump assembly includes a torque converter housing and pinion that rotate about a first axis, an idler engaged with the pinion, a gear engaged with the idler, shaft secured to the gear, and a pump rotor secured to the shaft and that rotates about a second axis offset from the first axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Steven A. Frait, Larry A. Deutsch, Jeffrey E. Maurer
  • Hybrid electric vehicle engine starting with a preloaded damper spring
    Patent number: 9145862
    Abstract: A method for starting an engine includes preloading a spring of a torsion damper by transmitting torque having a magnitude less than engine cranking torque from an electric motor through a clutch to the spring, before cranking the engine, increasing a torque capacity of the clutch, and using the electric motor to crank the engine in response to a command to start the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Bernard D. Nefcy, Wei Liang
  • System and method of arbitrating audio source streamed by mobile applications
    Patent number: 9146899
    Abstract: A system for attenuating vehicle audio for mobile application audible statements, the system comprising a vehicle computing system having one or more processors for playing audio in the vehicle from a plurality of different audio sources. The system also includes a wireless transceiver for communicating signals from a mobile computing device for processing by the vehicle computing system. The vehicle computing system is configured to receive a wireless signal from the mobile computing device representative of an audible statement to be played in the vehicle. If the vehicle computing system is playing audio in the vehicle at the time the wireless signal is received from the mobile computing device, determine an amount to attenuate the audio based on the source of the audio. Attenuate the audio and play the audible statement based on the determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yiping Xia, Douglas VanDagens, Edward Andrew Pleet, Julius Marchwicki, Doron M. Elliott
  • Vehicle box reinforcing brace
    Patent number: 9145176
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a frame having a pair of longitudinal rails and a box. The box includes a bed supported by the rails and a pair of opposing sidewalls connected to the bed outboard of the rails. A pair of braces provide additional support between the bed and the frame rails. Each may be attached between respective rails and a bottom portion of the bed outboard the rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Philip Van Wyk, Jeffrey Alan Firzlaff, Vincent Chimento, Jack Marchlewski