Patents by Inventor Douglas Malone

Douglas Malone 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: 11584014
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a robot body, at least one sensor coupled to the robot body and positioned to receive stimuli from a passenger cabin of a vehicle, an actuatable component coupled to the robot body, and a computer coupled to the robot body and communicatively coupled to the sensor and the actuatable component. The computer is programmed to predict an imminent anomalous event in the vehicle based on data from the at least one sensor, and in response to the determination, actuate the actuatable component to remediate the anomalous event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Sari Kassar, Tony Tae-Jin Pak, Sarra Awad Yako, Mark Douglas Malone
  • Patent number: 11529886
    Abstract: A power system for a vehicle includes a control module, a low-voltage battery electrically coupled to the control module, a high-voltage battery electrically coupled to the control module, an engine electrically coupled to the high-voltage battery, and a computer. The computer is programmed to, while the vehicle is in an off state, in response to a pending download to the control module, provide power to the control module with one of the low-voltage battery, the high-voltage battery, or the engine upon determining whether the low-voltage battery and the high-voltage battery have sufficient charge to power the control module for the download.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Yuming Niu, Ming Lang Kuang, Mark Douglas Malone, Daniel M. King
  • Patent number: 11391257
    Abstract: A system includes a virtual-driver module, a DC/DC converter electrically coupled to the virtual-driver module, a low-voltage battery electrically coupled to the virtual-driver module, a high-voltage battery electrically coupled to the DC/DC converter, and a computer communicatively coupled to the DC/DC converter. The computer is programmed to, in response to a request to start a vehicle including the virtual-driver module in a manual mode, the vehicle being in an off state at the time of the request, set a setpoint of the DC/DC converter at a first voltage; then perform at least one pre-drive test on the vehicle; and then set the setpoint of the DC/DC converter at a second voltage lower than the first voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Yuming Niu, Ming Lang Kuang, Mark Douglas Malone, Daniel M. King
  • Publication number: 20210229288
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a robot body, at least one sensor coupled to the robot body and positioned to receive stimuli from a passenger cabin of a vehicle, an actuatable component coupled to the robot body, and a computer coupled to the robot body and communicatively coupled to the sensor and the actuatable component. The computer is programmed to predict an imminent anomalous event in the vehicle based on data from the at least one sensor, and in response to the determination, actuate the actuatable component to remediate the anomalous event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Sari Kassar, Tony Tae-Jin Pak, Sarra Awad Yako, Mark Douglas Malone
  • Publication number: 20210114605
    Abstract: A computer includes a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to receive a request to activate a vehicle, receive diagnostic data for one or more vehicle components from an activation component, arbitrate the request and the diagnostic data to identify an activation mode of the vehicle that is one of an unpowered mode, a power-up mode, or a fully-started mode, and instruct the activation component to activate one or more vehicle components associated with the identified activation mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2019
    Publication date: April 22, 2021
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ming Lang Kuang, Mark Douglas Malone, Daniel M. King, Yuming Niu, David Celinske, Scott J. Lauffer, Ray Siciak, John David Jorgensen, Jayeshkumar Ramani, Suvrat Jain
  • Patent number: 10931269
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention include a process for receiving data and a first clock signal of a first chip and a second clock signal of a second chip, the data being received on a data path and the first clock signal being received on a clock signal path, and determining that the first clock signal is arriving before the second clock signal by a difference quantity. Also, the process includes adding delay to the data path and the clock signal path according to the difference quantity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael Sperling, Pawel Owczarczyk, Chad Andrew Marquart, Douglas Malone
  • Publication number: 20210025365
    Abstract: A system includes a virtual-driver module, a DC/DC converter electrically coupled to the virtual-driver module, a low-voltage battery electrically coupled to the virtual-driver module, a high-voltage battery electrically coupled to the DC/DC converter, and a computer communicatively coupled to the DC/DC converter. The computer is programmed to, in response to a request to start a vehicle including the virtual-driver module in a manual mode, the vehicle being in an off state at the time of the request, set a setpoint of the DC/DC converter at a first voltage; then perform at least one pre-drive test on the vehicle; and then set the setpoint of the DC/DC converter at a second voltage lower than the first voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yuming Niu, Ming Lang Kuang, Mark Douglas Malone, Daniel M. King
  • Publication number: 20210023960
    Abstract: A power system for a vehicle includes a control module, a low-voltage battery electrically coupled to the control module, a high-voltage battery electrically coupled to the control module, an engine electrically coupled to the high-voltage battery, and a computer. The computer is programmed to, while the vehicle is in an off state, in response to a pending download to the control module, provide power to the control module with one of the low-voltage battery, the high-voltage battery, or the engine upon determining whether the low-voltage battery and the high-voltage battery have sufficient charge to power the control module for the download.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yuming Niu, Ming Lang Kuang, Mark Douglas Malone, Daniel M. King
  • Patent number: 10229599
    Abstract: A computer is programmed to score a requested vehicle lane change and actuate vehicle components to perform the lane change upon determining that the score is less than a predetermined threshold within the predetermined time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Ahmad Khalifeh, Shane Elwart, Mark Douglas Malone, Levasseur Tellis, Shadi Jammoul
  • Patent number: 10086709
    Abstract: A method of operating a vehicular system includes charging, by a controller and via an electric vehicle charge station, a low-voltage battery when a module powered by the low-voltage battery is awake and an SOC of the low-voltage battery is less than a threshold; and in response to the SOC exceeding the threshold, commanding by the controller the module to enter a sleep mode for a sleep duration defined by a power usage of the module such that as the power usage changes, the sleep duration changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Paul Roberts, William Najib Mansur, Mark Douglas Malone, Beth Ann Dalrymple
  • Patent number: 10059328
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine and a controller configured to autostop and autostart the engine. Engine autostops are conditioned on a vehicle speed condition. In addition, engine autostops are conditioned on a battery current threshold that changes as the speed of the vehicle changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Hafiz Shafeek Khafagy, Mark Douglas Malone, Birgit Lisa Sorgenfrei, Essam Mohamed
  • Patent number: 10040455
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine and a vehicle park mechanism. The vehicle further includes a controller configured initiate an auto-stop of the engine in response to an auto-stop condition. The controller is further configured to actuate the vehicle park mechanism in response to a driver exit condition and the engine being auto-stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Hafiz Shafeek Khafagy, Mark Douglas Malone
  • Publication number: 20180204463
    Abstract: A computer is programmed to score a requested vehicle lane change and actuate vehicle components to perform the lane change upon determining that the score is less than a predetermined threshold within the predetermined time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Publication date: July 19, 2018
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ahmad Khalifeh, Shane Elwart, Mark Douglas Malone, Levasseur Tellis, Shadi Jammoul
  • Patent number: 10005448
    Abstract: An engine control system for a vehicle includes a controller that initiates a start of the engine in response to a state of charge (SOC) of a battery falling below an engine start threshold, initiates a stop of the engine in response to the SOC exceeding an engine stop threshold, and adjusts a value of the engine start threshold based on whether a load remote from the vehicle is drawing power from the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: William Najib Mansur, Ahmed Awadi, Mark Douglas Malone, Eric Michael Rademacher, Tuan Anh Be
  • Patent number: 10000132
    Abstract: A present location of a host vehicle is determined. A processor detects that the host vehicle is connected to a charging station. A predetermined setting associated with the present location is accessed. A charging indicator light that indicates that the vehicle is connected to a charging station in accordance with the predetermined setting is actuated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Paul Roberts, William Najib Mansur, Mark Douglas Malone, Beth Ann Dalrymple
  • Publication number: 20180148057
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine and a vehicle park mechanism. The vehicle further includes a controller configured initiate an auto-stop of the engine in response to an auto-stop condition. The controller is further configured to actuate the vehicle park mechanism in response to a driver exit condition and the engine being auto-stopped.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Publication date: May 31, 2018
    Inventors: Hafiz Shafeek KHAFAGY, Mark Douglas MALONE
  • Patent number: 9969287
    Abstract: A vehicle charging system may include a parking area, indicia, and a wireless charging station. The indicia may be disposed on the parking area and define a plurality of vehicle parking spots. The wireless charging station may include a primary charge coil and a mechanical conveyor having the primary charge coil mounted thereon. The mechanical conveyor may be configured to move the primary charge coil across and between the parking spots defined by the indicia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Paul Roberts, William Najib Mansur, Beth Ann Dalrymple, Mark Douglas Malone
  • Patent number: 9915239
    Abstract: A vehicle starter assembly includes a switching circuit configured to operate in a charging state and a discharging state, and a first energy storage device and a second energy storage device electrically connected to the switching circuit. The first energy storage device and the second energy storage device are connected in parallel to one another in the charging state and in series with one another in the discharging state. The processor is programmed to detect an engine start request and output a switch control signal that toggles the switching circuit between the charging state and the discharging state to start an internal combustion engine of a host vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Hasdi R. Hashim, Arnold Kweku Mensah-Brown, Bruce Carvell Blakemore, Mark Douglas Malone
  • Publication number: 20180043878
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine and a controller configured to autostop and autostart the engine. Engine autostops are conditioned on a vehicle speed condition. In addition, engine autostops are conditioned on a battery current threshold that changes as the speed of the vehicle changes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2016
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventors: Hafiz Shafeek KHAFAGY, Mark Douglas MALONE, Birgit Lisa SORGENFREI, Essam MOHAMED
  • Publication number: 20170355268
    Abstract: A method of operating a vehicular system includes charging, by a controller and via an electric vehicle charge station, a low-voltage battery when a module powered by the low-voltage battery is awake and an SOC of the low-voltage battery is less than a threshold; and in response to the SOC exceeding the threshold, commanding by the controller the module to enter a sleep mode for a sleep duration defined by a power usage of the module such that as the power usage changes, the sleep duration changes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2016
    Publication date: December 14, 2017
    Inventors: Daniel Paul Roberts, William Najib Mansur, Mark Douglas Malone, Beth Ann Dalrymple