Patents by Inventor Brad Alan

Brad Alan has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10524532
    Abstract: A shoe assembly includes a front sole section, a rear sole section, a heel, and a hinge. The front sole section has a front sole section rear edge. The rear sole section includes a rear sole section front edge, a shank, and a release button. The heel may be removably attached to the shank and may be released from a locked position by the release button. The hinge connects the front sole section and the rear sole section. The hinge is perpendicular to a rear sole section axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Inventors: Brad Alan, Elizabeth Allen
  • Patent number: 10529235
    Abstract: In various embodiments, the present disclosure includes a system for reducing vehicular collisions having: (a) a vehicle comprising sensors, an acceleration system, a braking system, a processor, and memory; and (b) programs operatively coupled to the vehicle including: (1) a marking program configured to mark an outside vehicle as V2X or standard; (2) a reaction program configured to generate a signal in response to the mark, the signal being based on the mark.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth James Miller, Charles James Miller, Cynthia M. Neubecker, Brad Alan Ignaczak, Adil Nizam Siddiqui, Jonathan Diedrich, Somak Datta Gupta, Haron Abdel-Raziq
  • Publication number: 20190367072
    Abstract: A system includes an armrest. The system includes a steering wheel support arm supported by the armrest and movable between an extended position outside the armrest and a retracted position inside the armrest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2018
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: CHERI LYN HANSEN, CYNTHIA M. NEUBECKER, BRAD ALAN IGNACZAK
  • Patent number: 10486730
    Abstract: A system includes a seat. The system includes a steering assembly including a support shaft and a user interface, the steering assembly movable between a first position and a second position. The steering assembly is disposed in front of the seat in the first position and below the seat in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Cheri Lyn Hansen, Cynthia M. Neubecker, Brad Alan Ignaczak
  • Patent number: 10486549
    Abstract: A vehicle system includes a camera and a display device. The camera is configured to capture an image and the display device is programmed to display the image. Each image includes a target, and the display device displays a virtual overlay on the image. The virtual overlay is displayed on the display device at a fixed location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Brad Alan Ignaczak, Ali Hassani, Adil Nizam Siddiqui, Paul Theodosis, Christopher W. Bell, Thomas Edward Pilutti, Brian Bennie
  • Patent number: 10471934
    Abstract: A boundary detection system for a vehicle includes a controller programmed to generate an alert in response to sensing a presence of a person in a first zone extending from the vehicle. The system also includes a wireless receiver configured to receive signals transmitted by a nomadic device in a second zone surrounding the vehicle. The controller is further programmed to, in response to the receiver receiving the signals, output the alert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brad Alan Ignaczak, Adil Nizam Siddiqui, Brian Bennie, Jacob Lucero, Cynthia M. Neubecker
  • Patent number: 10453346
    Abstract: A system including a computer for a vehicle is programmed to identify the vehicle as a lead vehicle in a platoon of three or more vehicles, and to identify one of the vehicles in the platoon as a caboose vehicle. The computer is programmed to deactivate a rear light of the lead vehicle, and to instruct activation of a rear light of the caboose vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Cynthia M. Neubecker, Somak Datta Gupta, Brad Alan Ignaczak, Pramita Mitra, Jayanthi Rao, Perry Robinson MacNeille
  • Patent number: 10391938
    Abstract: Electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles include a rechargeable traction battery. An automated vehicle charging system is configured to charge the traction battery with minimal operator intervention. The vehicle charging system includes at least one tire pad including a plurality of pressure-sensitive sensors arranged at known locations of the tire pad and outputting signals having a magnitude indicative of a pressure applied by a tire at the known locations. The vehicle charging system also includes at least one controller programmed to receive the signals and control movement of a transmit coil according to a position of the tire on the tire pad that is derived from the signals. The known locations may be generally equally spaced or unevenly spaced across the tire pad. The tire pad may include a tire stop to limit motion of the tire in one direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John Paul Gibeau, Christopher W. Bell, Ali Hassani, Brad Alan Ignaczak, Adil Nizam Siddiqui
  • Patent number: 10393041
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for operating a split exhaust engine system that provides blowthrough air and exhaust gas recirculation to an intake passage via a second exhaust manifold and exhaust gas to an exhaust passage via a first exhaust manifold. In one example, in response to an intake throttle being at least partially closed, intake air may be routed from the intake passage to the second exhaust manifold via an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) passage where the intake air may be heated via an EGR cooler. The heated intake air may then be routed to an intake manifold, downstream of the intake throttle, via a flow passage coupled between the second exhaust manifold and the intake manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Norman Ulrey, Daniel Paul Madison, Brad Alan Boyer
  • Publication number: 20190234327
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for operating a split exhaust engine system that provides blowthrough air and exhaust gas recirculation to an intake passage via a first exhaust manifold and exhaust gas to an exhaust passage via a second exhaust manifold. In one example, during a cold start, a method may include adjusting a position of a first valve disposed in an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) passage based on an engine operating condition, the EGR passage coupled between the first exhaust manifold coupled to a first set of exhaust valves and the intake passage, upstream of a compressor. As one example, the engine operating condition may include an engine temperature or a temperature of a catalyst disposed in the exhaust passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Inventors: Joseph Norman Ulrey, Michael Howard Shelby, Kim Hwe Ku, Brad Alan Boyer
  • Patent number: 10364738
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a pre-chamber ignition system. In one example, a pre-chamber ignition system may include a pre-chamber extending into a combustion chamber, a piston protrusion shaped to fit through a bottom aperture of the pre-chamber, and a plurality of orifices formed by sidewall of the pre-chamber. A method for the pre-chamber ignition system includes adjusting spark timing within the pre-chamber and pressing the protrusion into the pre-chamber to ignite air/fuel within a main chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Brad Alan VanDerWege
  • Patent number: 10337425
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for operating a split exhaust engine system that provides blowthrough air and exhaust gas recirculation to an intake passage via a first exhaust manifold and exhaust gas to an exhaust passage via a second exhaust manifold. In one example, exhaust from a first set of exhaust valves coupled to the first exhaust manifold may be selectively routed to the intake passage via each of a first EGR passage coupled to the intake passage upstream of a compressor driven by a turbine and a second EGR passage coupled downstream of an outlet of the compressor. A decision of whether to route exhaust gas to the intake passage via the first EGR passage, second EGR passage, or both passages may be based on engine operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brad Alan Boyer, Joseph Norman Ulrey, Daniel Paul Madison, Corey Weaver
  • Patent number: 10337397
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for purging a pre-chamber. In one example, a system is provided with a combustion chamber formed by a cylinder head coupled to a cylinder block and a pre-chamber in fluidic communication with the combustion chamber. The system is also provided with a purge port coupled to the pre-chamber and structured to flow purge air into the pre-chamber, where the flow of the purge air is driven by operation a purge pump and a piston disposed within the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Howard Shelby, Brad Alan VanDerWege
  • Patent number: 10330001
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for operating a split exhaust engine system that provides blowthrough air and exhaust gas recirculation to an intake passage via a first exhaust manifold and exhaust gas to an exhaust passage via a second exhaust manifold. In one example, in response to flowing the exhaust gas recirculation and blowthrough air from the first exhaust manifold to the intake passage via a first set of exhaust valves, a first set of swirl valves coupled upstream of a first set of intake valves may be adjusted to at least partially block intake air flow to the first set of intake valves. Each engine cylinder may include two intake valves including one of the first set of intake valves and two exhaust valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas G. Leone, Joseph Norman Ulrey, Brad Alan Boyer
  • Patent number: 10323588
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for particulate matter control in an engine configured for skip-fire operation. A cylinder pattern selected for selective cylinder deactivation, including a total number of deactivated/active cylinders as well as individual deactivated cylinder identities, may be adjusted based on an engine soot load, or a parameter indicative of engine soot load such as engine coolant temperature. In addition, reactivated engine cylinders may be transiently operated with split fuel injection to raise combustion surface temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Brad Alan VanDerWege
  • Patent number: 10316771
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for operating a split exhaust engine system that provides blowthrough air and exhaust gas recirculation to an intake passage via a first exhaust manifold and exhaust gas to an exhaust passage via a second exhaust manifold. In one example, during a cold start, a method may include adjusting a position of a first valve disposed in an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) passage based on an engine operating condition, the EGR passage coupled between the first exhaust manifold coupled to a first set of exhaust valves and the intake passage, upstream of a compressor. As one example, the engine operating condition may include an engine temperature or a temperature of a catalyst disposed in the exhaust passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Norman Ulrey, Michael Howard Shelby, Kim Hwe Ku, Brad Alan Boyer
  • Publication number: 20190152505
    Abstract: A system includes a seat. The system includes a steering assembly including a support shaft and a user interface, the steering assembly movable between a first position and a second position. The steering assembly is disposed in front of the seat in the first position and below the seat in the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2017
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Cheri Lyn Hansen, Cynthia M. Neubecker, Brad Alan Ignaczak
  • Publication number: 20190149950
    Abstract: A plurality of transducers positioned at respective specified locations in a vehicle are actuated to generate a plurality of respective tones. A plurality of respective time differences are determined between times that each respective tone is generated by the respective transducer and the tone is detected by a portable device. A location of the portable device is determined based at least in part on the time differences.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2015
    Publication date: May 16, 2019
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: PATRICK KEVIN HOLUB, JOHN ROBERT VAN WIEMEERSCH, ADIL NIZAM SIDDIQUI, JEFFREY ALLEN GREENBERG, BRAD ALAN IGNACZAK
  • Publication number: 20190120146
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for operating a split exhaust engine system that provides blowthrough air and exhaust gas recirculation to an intake passage via a first exhaust manifold and exhaust gas to an exhaust passage via a second exhaust manifold. In one example, one or more valves of a set of first exhaust valves coupled to the second exhaust manifold may be deactivated in response to select engine operating conditions, while maintaining active all valves of a set of second exhaust valves coupled to the first exhaust manifold. The select engine operating conditions may include one or more of a deceleration fuel shut-off condition, a part throttle condition, and a cold start condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Inventors: Joseph Norman Ulrey, Gregory Patrick McConville, Brad Alan Boyer
  • Patent number: 10267222
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling transitions between engine operating modes in a four-cylinder engine. One method includes transitioning engine operation between two-cylinder, three-cylinder, and four-cylinder modes wherein the transitioning includes a sequence of firing events such that successive firing events are separated by at least 120 crank angle degree intervals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gregory Patrick McConville, Brad Alan Boyer, James Douglas Ervin, Kim Hwe Ku