Patents Assigned to Global Technologies LLC
  • Method and system for generating trimlines for stamping processes
    Patent number: 7317963
    Abstract: According to one embodiment of the present invention, an electronic method for generating a trimline for trimming sheet metal to be stamped to obtain a stamped part is disclosed. The method includes providing a CAD part file representing a part that can be stamped from a sheet metal material; receiving a selection of a part surface on the part to be stamped and a line on the surface; receiving an input of a sheet metal thickness for the sheet metal material; and generating a trimline based on the CAD part file, the line on the surface, and the sheet metal thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Weigang Hu, Gerald McLaughlin
  • Fiber and corrugated metal mat support
    Patent number: 7316803
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a support for securely holding an exhaust catalyst in a combustion and exhaust system. The support of the invention includes a flexible refractory mat adapted to surround the exhaust catalyst and a metal foil having a plurality of protrusions disposed over the flexible refractory mat. The present invention also discloses an exhaust system in which a catalyst is held in place with the support of the invention. Finally, methods for securing a catalyst to an exhaust system are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Dave Weber
  • Engine shut-down for engine having adjustable valve timing
    Patent number: 7317984
    Abstract: A method for operating at least an intake and exhaust valve in a cylinder with a piston of an engine in a vehicle, comprising during conditions of an engine shut-down, maintaining at least one of the intake and exhaust valves in a closed position, and during conditions where said at least one valve is in said closed position operating with the other of the intake and exhaust valve open, then closing the other of the intake and exhaust valve, and then opening the other of the intake and exhaust valve to generate braking torque to slow the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
    Inventor: Donald J. Lewis
  • Turbo-lag compensation system for an engine
    Patent number: 7314043
    Abstract: A boost system for an engine, comprising an engine having at least a cylinder; a fuel injector coupled to said cylinder; a compression device coupled to said engine; a compressed air storage device coupled to said compression device and configured to deliver compressed air to an air flow amplifier device located in the inlet air passageway to said cylinder; and a controller to adjust an amount of fuel injection to account for variation of air delivered to said cylinder from said flow amplifier device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Al Berger, Thomas Leone
  • Powertrain for a hybrid vehicle with all-wheel drive capability and method for controlling wheel slip
    Patent number: 7314424
    Abstract: A hybrid-electric powertrain and control method for a vehicle having forward traction wheels and rearward traction wheels in an all-wheel drive configuration. An engine and an electric motor deliver power through delivery paths to the traction wheels. The power delivery paths may have multiple ratio gearing so that more power can be delivered mechanically to improve powertrain performance and to allow the electric motor size to be reduced. The powertrain may include a controller for automatically balancing power distribution to the forward and rearward traction wheels to avoid wheel slip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Supina, Shailesh Kozarekar, Stefan P. Pototschnik
  • Electronic valve actuator having hydraulic displacement amplifier
    Patent number: 7314026
    Abstract: An electronically controlled valve actuator having a hydraulic lever in the form of a fluid filled chamber, is used to amplify the motion of a magnetic armature and thereby achieve a desired valve displacement with reduced effective travel of the armature, reduced transition time and power consumption while incorporating passive hydraulic lash adjustment in the hydraulic lever mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Philip Koneda, Thomas Megli, James Ervin
  • Method for setting, calibrating, and verifying an occupation classification system threshold
    Publication number: 20070299586
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for setting an occupant classification system threshold for a vehicle occupant detection system, the method comprising collecting occupant classification system data for a seat, the data being indicative of occupant weight, analyzing the data to determine where a separation exists between an occupant for which a restraint should be suppressed and an occupant for which the restraint should be deployed, and analyzing the data to determine a worst case child suppression weight and shape, which is based at least on where the separation exists. The worst case child suppression weight and shape define the occupant classification system threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2006
    Publication date: December 27, 2007
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Christopher Griffin
  • Door system for automotive vehicle
    Patent number: 7311169
    Abstract: A door system for an automotive vehicle includes an impact-responsive catcher pin which may be operated by a supplemental restraint system having side impact sensing capability so that the impact-responsive catcher pin may be directed to deploy from a housing mounted within a vehicle door, to a position in which the catcher pin locks the vehicle door to a rocker beam adjoining the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ari Caliskan, Allen Preston
  • Engine system and method with cylinder deactivation
    Patent number: 7311079
    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: September 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, David Bidner, Shane Elwart, Jeff Doering, Christian T. Goralski, Jr.
  • Engine method
    Patent number: 7311083
    Abstract: A method for controlling an engine having both an electronically controlled inlet device, such as an electronic throttle unite, and an electronically controlled outlet device, such as a variable cam timing system is disclosed. The method of the present invention achieves cylinder air charge control that is faster than possible by using an inlet device alone. In other words, the method of the present invention controls cylinder air charge faster than manifold dynamics by coordination of the inlet and outlet device. This improved control is used to improve various engine control functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: John David Russell, Allan Joseph Kotwicki, Brian D. Rutkowski
  • Low fuel pressure warning system
    Patent number: 7311076
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine system having an internal combustion engine, a fuel source, a fuel filter for filtering fuel from the source to the engine, and a fuel pressure switch disposed between the fuel filter and the fuel source. An additional sensor is provided for sensing a condition of a substance fed to the engine. An output device is connected to both the fuel pressure switch and the additional sensor for indicating when either the fuel pressure switch indicates an improper fuel pressure condition or the additional sensor indicates the sensed condition is an unwanted condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Richard Wineland
  • Automotive interior trim panel with integral acoustic chamber
    Patent number: 7313247
    Abstract: An automotive interior trim panel includes a contoured panel having an interior surface forming a portion of a passenger compartment of a vehicle, and an exterior surface cooperating with an exterior body panel, such as a door, to define a first volume. A speaker port is formed in the contoured panel for locating a speaker within the first volume. A shell including an integral acoustic volume circumscribes a portion of the exterior surface of the contoured panel, including the speaker port. The shell is mounted to the exterior surface of the contoured panel so as to define an acoustic chamber supported by the contoured panel and extending within the first volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Tilli, Benjamin Coon, Michael Whitens, Zhibing Deng, Chunhui Li, Se Kyoon Shin
  • Vehicle torque monitoring system
    Patent number: 7313470
    Abstract: A distributed torque monitoring and control system for a hybrid vehicle. The hybrid vehicle has a power transfer unit adapted to drive a vehicle wheel and a power source adapted to drive the power transfer unit. The system includes a local torque monitor and a vehicle level torque monitor. The local torque monitor is associated with the power source and is adapted to implement a local mitigation strategy to inhibit undesired torque. The vehicle level torque monitor is adapted to implement a vehicle level mitigation strategy to inhibit acceleration of the hybrid vehicle if the local mitigation strategy is unsuccessful.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alexander Zaremba, Miroslava Jankovic
  • Automobile grille
    Patent number: D558102
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chelsia Lau, Patrick Schiavone
  • Vehicle front bumper cover
    Patent number: D558105
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: George Bucher, Edward Golden, David Mahoney
  • Vehicle headlight lens
    Patent number: D558906
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Edward Golden, Darrell Behmer, Melvin Betancourt, Solomon Song, Shawn Wehrly, Addam Ebel, Sang Kim, Garen Nicoghosian
  • Automobile headlight lens
    Patent number: D559412
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Patrick Schiavone, Craig Metros, Jeffrey Nowak, Shawn Yu, James Smith, Ryan Niemiec
  • Vehicle headlight lens
    Patent number: D559414
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Edward Golden, Darrell Behmer, Melvin Betancourt, Solomon Song, Shawn Wehrly
  • Vehicle headlight lens
    Patent number: D559415
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Douglas Gaffka, Scott Strong, Wolfgang Gotschke, Keith Rogman
  • Vehicle headlight
    Patent number: D559416
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Patrick Schiavone, James Grake, Curt Aumiller, Laurens Van Den Acker