Patents Assigned to Global Technologies LLC
  • Cargo box inner for a vehicle
    Patent number: 7503737
    Abstract: A cargo box inner comprised of a center floor panel, a pair of outboard floor panels, a pair of sidewall panels, and an understructure framework, with one or more of these parts comprised of aluminum. The sidewall panels surround a cargo bed and extend from the outboard panels by a predetermined angle. The outboard panels extend from a pair of opposing side portions of the center floor panel. These side portions are offset from a longitudinal axis of the center floor panel. The center floor panel and the outboard floor panels are attached to the understructure framework, which includes a pair of longitudinal rails and a series of lateral rails. Each longitudinal rail defines a slot and a channel in open communication with the cargo bed for receiving a fastener and securing a cargo item to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Andrew M. Sherman
  • Internal combustion engine with multiple combustion modes and fuel vapor purging
    Patent number: 7503167
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine having a plurality of combustion cylinders and a fuel delivery system. The plurality of combustion cylinders are configured to receive a mixture of gasoline and air and combust such mixture, where some of the combustion cylinders are configured to operate in a spark ignition mode, with the remaining cylinders being configured to operate in a compression ignition mode. The engine may be configured to operate so that fuel vapor purge is added only to cylinders operating in the spark ignition mode. Alternatively, the engine may be operated in either a first purge mode, in which fuel vapor purge is added only to spark ignition cylinders, or a second purge mode, in which fuel vapor purge is added to spark ignition cylinders and compression ignition cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Mrdjan Jankovic
  • Strategy for improving shift quality in a hybrid electric vehicle powertrain
    Patent number: 7503871
    Abstract: The hybrid electric vehicle powertrain includes an internal combustion engine and two electric machines, one electric machine being connected directly to an engine power output shaft and to a multiple-ratio transmission power input shaft. A second electric machine powers front vehicle traction wheels as the engine powers rear traction wheels during a transmission shift interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Shailesh Kozarekar, Stephen Burke
  • Gasoline internal combustion engine with dynamic combustion mode allocation
    Patent number: 7503166
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine having combustion cylinders capable of running on gasoline in either a spark ignition mode or in a homogenous charge compression mode. The allocation of cylinders in each mode is dynamic and may be dynamically controlled and varied during operating of the engine. Also, the engine may include plural aftertreatment systems which may be dynamically selected, typically based on the combustion mode(s) in which the cylinders are operating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Mrdjan Jankovic
  • Warm Up Strategy for Ethanol Direct Injection Plus Gasoline Port Fuel Injection
    Publication number: 20090070021
    Abstract: A system for an engine, comprising of a cylinder of the engine; a first injector configured to inject a first substance to said cylinder; a second injector configured to inject a second substance to said cylinder; and a controller configured to commence combustion in the engine by injecting fuel into said cylinder, where said fuel is injected by only one of said first and second injectors during said start and/or warm-up.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2008
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas G. Leone, Donald J. Lewis, Robert A. Stein
  • Power door for a passenger vehicle
    Patent number: 7500711
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an automotive vehicle is disclosed having a vehicle body with a first pillar, a second pillar, a roof member and a floor member defining a door opening therebetween. A lateral side entry door is pivotally connected to the vehicle body for enclosing the door opening. The side entry door moves along an operating path having a closed position and an open position. The vehicle has a motor and a lead screw mounted in the side entry door and connected to the motor to be driven by the motor. The vehicle has a link connected to the lead screw and connected to the vehicle body adjacent to the door opening. The motor drives the lead screw to translate the link to open and close the side entry door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kip Alan Ewing, Donald G. Mikolai, Kelly Michael Kohlstrand, Jason Falenski, Venkatesh Krishnan
  • Dual-mode one-way torque transmitting device
    Patent number: 7500548
    Abstract: A dual mode one-way torque transmitting device includes an inner race having a first plurality of notches spaced about an axis. An intermediate race includes a second plurality of notches spaced about the axis, a first plurality of pockets spaced about the axis, and a first plurality of rockers, each rocker being located in a pocket of the intermediate race. A spring urges each rocker toward engagement with a notch on the inner race. An outer race includes a second plurality of pockets spaced about the axis, a second plurality of rockers, each rocker being located in a pocket on the outer race, and a plurality of actuators, each actuator alternately engages and disengages a rocker on the outer race and a notch on the intermediate race.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John W. Kimes, Gregory D. Gardner, Norman J. Bird, Lee J. Becker, Dennis N. Wys
  • EMOTIVE TEXT-TO-SPEECH SYSTEM AND METHOD
    Publication number: 20090063154
    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: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2008
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Oleg Yurievitch Gusikhin, Perry Robinson MacNeille, Erica Klampfl, Kacie Alane Theisen, Dimitar Petrov Filev, Yifan Chen, Basavaraj Tonshal
  • Traction control system and method for a vehicle
    Patent number: 7499787
    Abstract: In one example, A method for controlling a powertrain of a vehicle with wheels, the vehicle having a pedal actuated by a driver, is described. The method may include generating powertrain torque transmitted to the wheels in a first relation to actuation of the pedal by the driver during a first condition where said transmitted torque causes said wheels to slip relative to a surface; overriding said driver actuated powertrain torque to control said slip; and during a second condition after said first condition where said vehicle is moving less than a threshold, generating powertrain torque transmitted to the wheels in a second relation to actuation of the pedal by the driver, where for a given pedal position, less powertrain torque is transmitted with said second relation compared to said first relation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Davor Hrovat, Michael Fodor, Mitch McConnell
  • Bonnet for a vehicle
    Patent number: 7497508
    Abstract: A bonnet for an automotive vehicle has a leading end, a trailing end, and a lock striker for locking the free end of the bonnet to the vehicle body during normal operation when the bonnet is closed. The lock striker is spaced from the bonnet portion by a mounting mechanism that includes at least one elongated arm extending between the inside of the bonnet portion and the lock striker. At least one portion of the elongated arm is weakened to permit relative pivoting of the bonnet portion and the lock striker around a geometrical axis when the elongated arm is loaded in excess of a predetermined value. The bonnet is thus allowed to move downwardly in the event of an impact between a pedestrian and the bonnet portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mattias Wallman, Lennart Olsson, Anders Fredriksson
  • System and method for improving performance of a fluid sensor for an internal combustion engine
    Patent number: 7497138
    Abstract: A system and method for improving sensor performance of an on-board vehicle sensor, such as an exhaust gas sensor, while sensing a predetermined substance in a fluid flowing through a pipe include a structure for extending into the pipe and having at least one inlet for receiving fluid flowing through the pipe and at least one outlet generally opposite the at least one inlet, wherein the structure redirects substantially all fluid flowing from the at least one inlet to the sensor to provide a representative sample of the fluid to the sensor before returning the fluid through the at least one outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Kubinski, Garry Zawacki
  • Emission control device
    Patent number: 7497074
    Abstract: Various systems and methods are disclosed for carrying out combustion in a fuel-cut operation in some or all of the engine cylinders of a vehicle. Further, various subsystems are considered, such as fuel vapor purging, air-fuel ratio control, engine torque control, catalyst design, and exhaust system design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Christian T. Goralski, Jr., Stephen B. Smith, James P. O'Neill, Gary Zawacki
  • System and method to control fuel injector reactivation during deceleration fuel shut off
    Patent number: 7497805
    Abstract: A method of controlling fuel injection in an engine of a vehicle comprises reactivating fuel injectors based on release or decrease of driver braking during deceleration fuel shut off operation. According to another aspect, a method of controlling fuel injection in an engine of a vehicle comprises reactivating fuel injectors based on release or decrease of driver braking during deceleration fuel shut off; and increasing air flow to a cylinder before reactivation of fuel injectors in response to said release or decrease of driver braking to enhance torque response. The methods allow an engine to exit DFSO earlier by making use the brake input and effort, which provides time to reactivate the fuel injection and stabilize torque control prior to tip-in.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jeff Seaman, David Bidner, Ken Behr, Mark Linenberg
  • System and method for controlling vehicle operation in response to fuel vapor purging
    Patent number: 7497198
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle propulsion system, comprising of an engine having at least one combustion cylinder configured to selectively operate in one of a plurality of combustion modes, wherein a first combustion mode is a spark ignition mode and a second combustion mode is a homogeneous charge compression ignition mode, an energy storage device configured to store energy, a motor configured to absorb at least a portion of an output produced by the engine and convert said absorbed engine output to energy storable by the energy storage device and wherein the motor is further configured to produce a motor output, a fuel tank vapor purging system coupled to the engine, and a controller configured to vary fuel vapors supplied to the engine during different combustion modes of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Leone, Gopichandra Surnilla, Tony Phillips
  • Air Conditioning System for a Motor Vehicle and Method for its Operation
    Publication number: 20090049848
    Abstract: In an air-conditioning system (10, 110, 210) for a motor vehicle, having a coolant circuit formed from a compressor (12, 112) for compressing the coolant, a condenser (14) for cooling the compressed coolant, an expansion device (16) for reducing the pressure of the coolant and an evaporator (18) for evaporating the coolant, a control unit (20) is provided which is connected to at least one of the coolant circuit components and which is set up to adapt an operating characteristic of the component to at least two different coolants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Markus Markowitz, Dietmar Fischer
  • Automatic transmission shift lever assembly
    Patent number: 7494441
    Abstract: A selector lever arrangement for an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle includes a selector lever which is pivotable about a pivot axis and has the purpose of generating a selector movement. It also includes connecting mechanism for transferring the selector movement to the automatic transmission, and a connecting arrangement for transmitting the selector movement from the selector lever to the connecting mechanism. The connecting arrangement includes a planetary gear mechanism. The selector lever is connected to the input side of the planetary gear mechanism and the connecting mechanism is connected to the output side of the planetary gear mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Marcus Haefner
  • Electro-hydraulic forming tool having two liquid volumes separated by a membrane
    Patent number: 7493787
    Abstract: An electro-hydraulic forming tool is disclosed in which a membrane is retained between two volumes of liquid that are separated by a membrane. Electrodes are provided with a high voltage impulse to create a shockwave in one of the volumes of fluid that is transferred through the membrane to the other volume of fluid. The shockwave is transmitted to a blank that is formed into a one-sided die. The blank is formed against the forming surface of the die. Air evacuation means are provided to remove air from the upper surface of one or both volumes of liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Sergey Golovashchenko, Vyacheslav Mamutov, Andrey Ilinich
  • System and method for diagnostic of low pressure exhaust gas recirculation system and adapting of measurement devices
    Patent number: 7493762
    Abstract: A system for a diesel engine having an intake manifold and an exhaust manifold comprises a turbocharger between the intake and exhaust manifolds of the engine, a low pressure exhaust gas recirculation system, and a high pressure exhaust gas recirculation system. Further, the system includes a controller for coordinating adjustment of exhaust gas recirculation valves and throttles in the system to compensate for interaction between the high and low pressure exhaust gas recirculation systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Barbe, Michiel J. van Nieuwstadt, Devesh Upadhyay
  • Emissions control
    Patent number: 7496443
    Abstract: A system for controlling a multiple cylinder internal combustion engine is presented. The system operates a first portion of cylinders in a homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) mode and a second portion of cylinders in a non-HCCI mode, and uses an engine controller that is coupled to the first and second portions of cylinders to electronically actuate valves to hold a combusted air and fuel charge in the second portion of cylinders, and exhaust the combusted air and fuel charge to adjust the residual air-to-fuel ratio of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Vincent J. Winstead
  • Motor vehicle
    Patent number: 7494175
    Abstract: A motor vehicle 1, 101 is disclosed having front and rear roof members 5 and 6 which can be moved from raised to stowed positions to change the style of the motor vehicle from a two box style to a convertible or pick-up style. The rear roof member 6 is stowed at an inclined angle between two rows of seats 9, 10 of the motor vehicle 1, 101 so as to occupy little space within the vehicle 1, 101.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alan Condon, Torsten Gerhardt, John Harding, Boris Ferko, Steve Fleming, Jan Kamenistiak