Patents Assigned to Global Technologies LLC
  • FUEL OXIDATION REDUCTION FOR HYBRID VEHICLES
    Publication number: 20150083089
    Abstract: Systems and methods to control fuel tank pressure to reduce fuel oxidation in plug-in hybrid electric vehicles are disclosed. A method comprises routing vapors from a fuel system canister to the fuel tank to maintain the fuel tank pressure at a desired pressure. In this way, the engine may be maintained off for greater durations while still retaining fuel quality of fuel stored on-board the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Russell Randall Pearce, Kenneth J. Kuenzel
  • AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE WINDOW CLEARING
    Publication number: 20150088374
    Abstract: At least one datum is received relating to a condition of a window in the vehicle. A determination is made to change a parameter based on the at least one datum, the parameter governing clearing the window. An instruction is provided to initiate or change operation of a vehicle component based on the change of the parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Wilford Trent Yopp, Mark Allan Lippman
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING CONTACTOR HEALTH
    Publication number: 20150088361
    Abstract: A method for monitoring contactor health according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, storing wear data associated with a contactor, categorizing the wear data into at least a first bin and a second bin, assigning a first health level to the wear data associated with the first bin and assigning a second health level to the wear data associated with the second bin. Health information concerning the contactor is communicated to the vehicle operator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Derek HARTL, Ai KERAMIDAS
  • TRANSITIONING FROM AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE CONTROL TO DRIVER CONTROL TO RESPONDING TO DRIVER CONTROL
    Publication number: 20150088358
    Abstract: Instructions are provided to at least one vehicle control for autonomous operation of a vehicle. A change in position is detected of at the least one vehicle control. A determination is made whether to modify operation of the vehicle at least in part according to the change in position of the at least one vehicle control. The autonomous operation of the vehicle is modified according to the change in position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Wilford Trent Yopp
  • OPTICAL GRADE LIGHT PIPE
    Publication number: 20150085519
    Abstract: A light guide system includes a light pipe and a carrier member. An outwardly extending attachment flange is disposed on an outer surface of the carrier member. In assembly, the outwardly extending attachment flange is adapted to provide an attachment feature for securing the light guide system to surrounding commodities. The outwardly extending attachment flange is disposed along a length of the carrier member to ensure uniform access to the outwardly extending attachment flange and uniform securement of the light guide system to a material substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ali Ammar, Cornel Lewis Gardner, Khaled Omar, Ben Sohizad, Stuart C. Salter, Scott H. Dunham
  • PARALLEL ASPIRATOR ARRANGEMENT FOR VACUUM GENERATION AND COMPRESSOR BYPASS
    Publication number: 20150083094
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a parallel arrangement of at least two aspirators bypassing an intake compressor in an engine system, the aspirator arrangement including an aspirator shut-off valve arranged in series with each aspirator. The aspirator shut-off valves may be controlled based on engine vacuum needs as well as based on intake manifold pressure, during non-boost conditions, and compressor surge, during boost conditions. For example, during boost conditions, the aspirator shut-off valves may be controlled to enable a selectable discrete compressor recirculation flow rate, whereas during non-boost conditions the aspirator shut-off valves may be controlled to enable a selectable, discrete level of vacuum generation for use by various engine vacuum consumers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Ross Dykstra Pursifull
  • REGENERATIVE BRAKING AND TORQUE CONVERTER CONTROL
    Publication number: 20150087475
    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: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Zhengyu Dai, Yanan Zhao, Felix Nedorezov, Mark S. Yamazaki, Philip J. Wiethe, JR.
  • Heat pipe assembly in an engine lubrication system
    Patent number: 8985067
    Abstract: An engine lubrication system is provided. The engine lubrication system includes an oil pan housing a lubricant, an oil pump having a pick-up tube including an inlet submerged in the lubricant, and a heat pipe assembly including a fluidly sealed heat pipe coupled to the oil pan adjacent to the inlet of the pick-up tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Danrich Henry Demitroff, Furqan Zafar Shaikh, Donald Masch, Michael Levin, James Patrick O'Neill, Lawrence Marshall
  • Cross axis joint with elastomeric isolation
    Patent number: 8985604
    Abstract: A front lower control arm assembly includes a front lower control arm and a bushing attached to the arm. The bushing has a first central axis. A ball joint is also attached to the arm. The ball joint has a second central axis oriented substantially perpendicularly to a plane including the first central axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Steven C Hopson, Steve S Allen, Kanak Soundrapandian
  • Mixing apparatus for continuous production of monomer emulsion
    Patent number: 8985840
    Abstract: Mixing apparatus and methods for the continuous production of monomer emulsions that may be used in the production of polymer dispersions by radical aqueous emulsion polymerization. The mixing apparatus can include a pipe-in-pipe injector (100) and a suitable rotor-stator mixer (102). Liquids are delivered to the rotor-stator mixer via an inner (110) and an outer (108) pipe in such a way as to substantially prevent feed inconsistencies in a feed ratio of the liquids prior to entering a mixing zone of the rotor-stator mixer for emulsion formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth W. Hester, Daniel R. Stanley, Mark S. Riddle, Mark A. Greschaw, Dennis D. Hacker
  • Differential unit with damper system
    Patent number: 8985291
    Abstract: A vehicle differential unit (DU), including: a torsional damper assembly having a plurality of independently sprung damper assemblies positioned with respect to the DU, each damper assembly configured to reduce noise or vibration generated by the DU in a predetermined frequency range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Javed Iqbal, Amir E. Keyvanmanesh, Yitzongn Chern, Tony Ge, Wan Joe Chen
  • Physical-virtual hybrid representation
    Patent number: 8988465
    Abstract: A virtual environment, including at least one virtual element representing a component of an item is generated. The virtual environment is mapped to a physical environment that includes a physical mockup of at least a subset of the item. The virtual environment is provided to a display. The at least one virtual element is displayed in relation to the physical element according to the mapping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Elizabeth S. Baron, Richard T. Jakacki, Daniel H. Orr, James Stamper, Jr., David Canfield
  • Process for making low viscosity, fast curing silane terminated polymers
    Patent number: 8987401
    Abstract: Methods of producing a composition comprising a crosslinkable silane-terminated polymer having at least one crosslinkable silyl group in each molecule are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Kamesh R. Vyakaranam, Ling Zhang, Venkat S. Minnikanti, Rajat Duggal, William A. Koonce, Amarnath Singh, Phillip S. Athey
  • Methods and apparatus for selective emergency alert notification and response
    Patent number: 8989699
    Abstract: Various embodiments include communicating emergency information to a vehicle. A computer may receive one or more emergency notifications issued by a government agency. Additionally, a geographic location of a vehicle may be determined based on GPS data. At least one emergency notification may be selected based on the geographic location of the vehicle and a geographic attribute of the emergency notifications. The selected emergency notifications may be output so that the notification may be presented to a vehicle occupant. In some embodiments, the notification may be output depending on the direction that the vehicle is travelling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Anthony Hatton, Robert Earl Johnson, Jr.
  • Method of enhancing the shelf stability of probiotics
    Patent number: 8986760
    Abstract: Described are methods of providing a shelf-stable probiotic-containing food or beverage, comprising forming a semi-permeable microsphere, said microsphere comprising a probiotic, a high molecular weight polymer, and an effective amount of bacteriostatic agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Liang Hong, Kathy L. Lichtenwald, Krishna Madduri, Syed A. Shah, Christopher J. Tucker, Caroline Woelfle
  • Process for reducing inorganics from and concentrating anionic surfactant solutions
    Patent number: 8987506
    Abstract: A process including contacting one or more Strecker sulfonation reaction products of one or more halogenated alkyl ethers in the presence of sulfite with one or more polar water soluble organic solvents selected from acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, the C2-C5 alkyl alcohols, and the like, to form an extraction mixture; allowing the extraction mixture to separate into an aqueous phase and an organic phase; and separating the aqueous phase from the organic phase; wherein the one or more Strecker sulfonation reaction products each comprise at least 30 percent by weight of one or more inorganic salts and the organic phase following separation comprises less than 20 percent by weight of one or more inorganic salts, is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventor: Edward D. Daugs
  • V shape bumper extension
    Patent number: 8985671
    Abstract: A V shape bumper extension for a vehicle is provided where the V shape member has an extension member and a support member. The extension member extends linearly away from a bumper and the support member is positioned at an acute angle with respect to a crush can. The support member includes an outer edge spaced apart from the crush can and is connected to the crush can through at least one breakable attachment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Wanjun Lei, Yi Qu, Chris Stephen O'Connor, Naeem Ahmed Ghias, Erika Kristin Low
  • Flame retardant thermoplastic elastomer
    Patent number: 8987597
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a composition which includes a thermoplastic elastomer and a flame retardant composed of a metal hydrate and an oligomeric phosphate ester. The weight ratio of metal hydrate to oligomeric phosphate ester is greater than 1.45:1. The composition may be a component of an article such as a coated wire or a coated cable, with the composition present in the coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Xiang Y. Tai, Wei G. Yao, Yu D. Qi, Given J. Chen, Robert F. Eaton
  • Overrunning clutch reacting a force produced by a hydraulically actuated friction brake
    Patent number: 8986157
    Abstract: An assembly for an automatic transmission includes a casing, a carrier of a planetary gear set, a hydraulically actuated brake that driveably connects the carrier and the casing mutually when the brake is engaged in reverse drive and disconnects the carrier from the casing when the brake is disengaged in forward drive, and an overrunning clutch including an outer race driveably connected to the casing, an inner race driveably connected to the carrier, and multiple rockers carried on the inner race that pivot toward engagement with the cam surfaces, contact of the clutch with the casing providing a reaction to a force tending to engage the brake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: John W. Kimes
  • Headlamp aiming using high-dynamic range camera
    Patent number: 8988672
    Abstract: A method of aiming a light source includes using an image-capturing device to capture a light beam pattern from the light source. Here, the light beam pattern is configured to include a plurality of contrast ratios transitioning from a first intensity region to a second intensity region. The method includes processing the contrast ratios of the light beam pattern to obtain corresponding values of the contrast ratios, transitioning from the first intensity region to the second intensity region, where the corresponding values are logarithmic values, which in turn generate a related response curve. Finally, the method provides for using the logarithmic values and the response curve to aim the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John Wesley Wilds, Michael Wegrzyn, Stephanie Askew, Albert Ekladyous, Arun Kumar, Diane Marie LaHaie