Patents Assigned to Global Technologies LLC
  • METHOD OF CONTROLLING AN AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLE HAVING A TRAILER USING REAR AXLE SLIP ANGLE
    Publication number: 20050206229
    Abstract: A system and method of controlling a vehicle with a trailer comprises determining the presence of a trailer, determining a vehicle velocity, determining a steering wheel angle, and determining a rear axle side slip angle. When the rear axle side slip angle is above a predetermined value, the vehicle velocity is above a velocity threshold, and the steering wheel is about zero, brake-steer is applied to the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2004
    Publication date: September 22, 2005
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jianbo Lu, Timothy Offerle
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING AN AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLE IN A U-TURN
    Publication number: 20050206226
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling an automotive vehicle includes determining the vehicle is in a U-turn and generating a U-turn signal and applying brake-steer in response to the U-turn signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2004
    Publication date: September 22, 2005
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jianbo Lu, Douglas Rhode
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING BRAKE-STEER IN AN AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLE IN A FORWARD AND REVERSE DIRECTION
    Publication number: 20050206232
    Abstract: A system and method of controlling an automotive vehicle includes determining a forward direction and reverse direction of the vehicle and applying brake-steer in a forward position as a function of a first threshold and applying brake-steer in the reverse position as a function of a second threshold different than the first threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2004
    Publication date: September 22, 2005
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Timothy Offerle
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS TO ENHANCE BRAKE-STEER OF A VEHICLE USING A CONTROLLABLE SUSPENSION COMPONENT
    Publication number: 20050206234
    Abstract: A system and method of controlling an automotive vehicle having a controllable suspension component includes applying brake-steer to at least one wheel, generating a suspension control signal in response to the brake-steer signal, and allowing at least one wheel coupled to the suspension component to articulate to reduce the turning radius of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2004
    Publication date: September 22, 2005
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Hongtei Tseng, Timothy Offerle, Gregory Brown
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PREDICTING THE POSITION OF A TRAILER RELATIVE TO A VEHICLE
    Publication number: 20050206225
    Abstract: A system and method of controlling a vehicle includes sensing a current position of the trailer relative to the vehicle, determining a vehicle steering wheel angle, determining a predicted position of the trailer based upon the current position of the steering wheel angle, and displaying to the vehicle driver the current position and the predicted position of the trailer relative to the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2004
    Publication date: September 22, 2005
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Offerle, Craig Stephan, Gregory Brown
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAINTAINING A TRAILER IN A STRAIGHT POSITION RELATIVE TO THE VEHICLE
    Publication number: 20050206233
    Abstract: A system and method of controlling a vehicle with a trailer comprises determining the presence of a trailer, determining a vehicle velocity, determining a steering wheel angle, and determining a rear axle side slip angle. When the rear axle side slip angle is above a predetermined value, the vehicle velocity is above a velocity threshold, and the steering wheel is about zero, brake-steer is applied to the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2004
    Publication date: September 22, 2005
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Offerle, Craig Stephan, Douglas Rhode
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING BRAKE-STEER IN AN AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLE IN REVERSE
    Publication number: 20050209763
    Abstract: A system and method of controlling an automotive vehicle includes generating a reverse direction signal corresponding to a reverse direction of the vehicle and generating brake-steer in response to the reverse direction signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2004
    Publication date: September 22, 2005
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Offerle, Hongtei Tseng, Douglas Rhode, Gregory Brown
  • METHOD OF CONTROLLING AN AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLE HAVING A TRAILER
    Publication number: 20050206224
    Abstract: A system and method of controlling an automotive vehicle and trailer includes determining the presence of a trailer and applying brake-steer to the vehicle in response to the trailer to reduce the turning radius of the vehicle and the trailer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2004
    Publication date: September 22, 2005
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Jianbo Lu
  • Intake manifold valve system, method, and diagnostic
    Patent number: 6945226
    Abstract: A valve control and diagnostic system uses physical stops to determine whether a connection between the valve motor and the valves has become degraded. The method can detect degradation in both the opening and closing direction, as well as in multi-valve systems, such as used on internal combustion engines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Songping Yu, Gene Andersen, Michael John Cullen, Eric S. Levine
  • Pressure sensor diagnosis via a computer
    Patent number: 6947831
    Abstract: A method is described for controlling regeneration of a particulate filter based on at least a sensor, such as a differential pressure sensor. Degradation of the sensor is then detected in a variety of ways. One approach takes advantage of the slowly varying flow resistance of the filter compared with the more rapid variations in flow caused by changing engine conditions. Default operation is then taken when a degraded sensor is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Michiel J. van Nieuwstadt
  • Method and system for determining weather strip fit for a closure panel of a vehicle
    Patent number: 6946194
    Abstract: A method and system for determining weather strip fit for the closure panels of a vehicle includes a flexible carrier with a transferable disclosing agent disposed on the flexible carrier. The flexible carriers may be applied to a closure panel of vehicle when the panel is in an open position, with the panel then being closed so as to allow the disclosing agent to either be transferred to the fixed side of the opening, or to be merely dislodged from the flexible carrier. In either case, the pattern of interference fit between the weather strip and the closure panel is then disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Chris Conway Gearhart, Sankaran Subramaniam, Vijitha Senaka Kiridena
  • Vehicle trajectory control system
    Patent number: 6945910
    Abstract: A method for controlling an engine coupled to a transmission is described. The method is especially suited for a transmission having at least one gear in which an over-running clutch is present. The invention describes a method for adjusting an engine operating parameter to maintain transmission input speed at or below a synchronous transmission input speed when the transmission is in the gear with the over-running clutch. The synchronous transmission input speed is based on transmission state and transmission output speed. Alternatively, vehicle speed can be used in place of transmission output speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael John Cullen, Ralph Wayne Cunningham
  • Method and system for calibrating a tire pressure sensing system for an automotive vehicle
    Patent number: 6945087
    Abstract: A system (10) and method is provided for calibrating a tire pressure monitoring system using an EM transmitter (14). The present invention includes a first pressure sensor coupled to a wheel of an automotive vehicle (12). The EM pressure transmitter (14) is coupled to the pressure sensor (32). The transmitter (14) has a serial number associated therewith. An EM calibration device has a transmitting range. The EM transmitter device has an actuator. When the actuator is activated, a calibration signal (34) is transmitted within the transmitting range. The calibration signal causes the EM pressure transmitter (32) to transmit a serial number. A controller (16) is EM coupled to the pressure transmitter. The controller (16) receives the serial number and associates the serial number with a tire location of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Frederick James Porter, John LeBeau Rust, John Tenbusch, Thomas Michael McQuade, Thomas Lee Miller
  • Vehicle load floor
    Patent number: 6945594
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a load floor (14) for attachment to a rear portion (18) of a vehicle floorpan (20). The load floor (14) includes a one-piece injection-molded body (42) that has a panel portion (44), one or more reinforcement members (84) coupled to the panel portion (44), and one or more support members (46) extending from the panel portion (44). The support members (46) are configured for supporting the one-piece injection-molded body (42) on the floorpan (20) and minimizing a load span (32–36) across said panel portion (44). Also, the reinforcement members (84) are utilized for sufficiently reinforcing the panel portion (44) for supporting a predetermined load and minimizing deflection of the panel portion (44).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Peter Bejin, Jennifer Bremmer, Mike Whitens
  • Determining degradation of an idle air throttling device
    Patent number: 6945222
    Abstract: A method to determine degradation of an idle air throttling device in an internal combustion engine. Degradation is determined in a manner that may permit evaluation of both the idle air throttling device and expected engine operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Kluzner, Margherita Zanini-Fisher
  • Catalyst preconditioning method and system
    Patent number: 6945033
    Abstract: Method and system for controlling an internal combustion engine of a vehicle where a catalyst is communicated to engine exhaust gases including predicting occurrence of an impending engine operating event that will change an exhaust constituent in the engine exhaust gases, determining an oxygen content of exhaust gases downstream of the catalyst, and adjusting an air-fuel ratio of the engine based on the determined oxygen content and the predicted engine operating event to precondition the catalyst prior to occurrence of the particular event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brent Edward Sealy, Donald James Lewis, Kenneth John Behr, Thomas Raymond Culbertson
  • Direct injection variable valve timing engine control system and method
    Patent number: 6945227
    Abstract: A method for controlling mode transitions, such as from stratified to homogeneous mode, in a direct injection engine adjusts an intake manifold outlet control device, such as a cam timing, to rapidly control cylinder fresh charge despite manifold dynamics. In addition, a coordinated change between an intake manifold inlet control device, for example a throttle, and the outlet control device is used to achieve the rapid cylinder fresh charge control. In this way, engine torque disturbances during the mode transition are eliminated, even when cylinder air/fuel ratio is changed from one cylinder event to the next.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John David Russell, Gopichandra Surnilla, Stephen Lee Cooper
  • Speed control method
    Patent number: 6945225
    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: February 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John David Russell, Brian D. Rutkowski
  • Adaptive vehicle safety system for collision compatibility
    Patent number: 6944544
    Abstract: A safety system for a host vehicle includes a pre-crash sensing system generating host vehicle dynamics data, a target vehicle threat assessment, and target vehicle bumper or doorsill location data. A ride-height, Dynamic State Self-Turning (DSST) controller generates a reference ride-height signal as a function of the host vehicle dynamics data, target vehicle threat assessment, and target vehicle bumper or doorsill location data. A Rule-Based Height Regulator (RBHR) controller is feedback communication with an adjustable suspension system, is programmed to continuously adjust the host vehicle ride-height with reference to the ride-height signal, and the host vehicle bumper location to optimize the collision conditions between the two vehicles until just prior to impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kwaku O. Prakah-Asante, Manoharprasad K. Rao
  • Vehicle tail lamp
    Patent number: D509609
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Craig Metros, Patrick J. Schiavone, Jeffery Nowak, Tyler Jon Blake