Patents by Inventor James J. Surman
James J. Surman 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).
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Patent number: 11699110Abstract: A vehicle sharing system includes a vehicle having interior transceiver modules associated with different passenger seating areas and a vehicle computing system (VCS) including a processor and a memory in communication with the modules and programmed to detect occupancy status of each seating area based on signals from the modules and to communicate the occupancy statuses to a remote server to facilitate scheduling of ride-sharing passengers for a specified seating area of the vehicle. The reserved seating location may be used to align the seating location/door with a passenger during pick-up, adjust vehicle accessory settings associated with the reserved seating location, and activate a visual indicator to direct the passenger to the assigned/reserved seating location.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2021Date of Patent: July 11, 2023Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Pietro Buttolo, Stuart C. Salter, James Stewart Rankin, II, James J. Surman, Annette Lynn Huebner, Jeffrey A. Wallace, Cornel Lewis Gardner
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Publication number: 20230186182Abstract: A vehicle sharing system includes a vehicle having interior transceiver modules associated with different passenger seating areas and a vehicle computing system (VCS) including a processor and a memory in communication with the modules and programmed to detect occupancy status of each seating area based on signals from the modules and to communicate the occupancy statuses to a remote server to facilitate scheduling of ride-sharing passengers for a specified seating area of the vehicle. The reserved seating location may be used to align the seating location/door with a passenger during pick-up, adjust vehicle accessory settings associated with the reserved seating location, and activate a visual indicator to direct the passenger to the assigned/reserved seating location.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 8, 2023Publication date: June 15, 2023Inventors: Pietro BUTTOLO, Stuart C. SALTER, James Stewart RANKIN, II, James J. SURMAN, Annette Lynn HUEBNER, Jeffrey A. WALLACE, Cornel Lewis GARDNER
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Publication number: 20230076901Abstract: A vehicle includes a body having an uninterrupted side aperture that provides access to an interior passenger cabin. A front door is hingedly attached at a forward edge of the uninterrupted side aperture. The front door is selectively operable between front open and front closed positions. A rear door is hingedly attached at a rearward edge of the uninterrupted side aperture. The rear door is selectively operable between rear open and rear closed positions. A latching assembly is at least partially positioned within the body and configured to receive the front door in the front closed position and the rear door in the rear closed position. A sealing assembly is defined between a forward seal of the rear door and a rearward seal of the front door. The forward and rearward seals engage one another in a fully-closed position.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2022Publication date: March 9, 2023Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Stuart C. Salter, James J. Surman, David Brian Glickman, Kristopher Karl Brown
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Patent number: 11599833Abstract: A vehicle sharing system includes a vehicle having interior transceiver modules associated with different passenger seating areas and a vehicle computing system (VCS) including a processor and a memory in communication with the modules and programmed to detect occupancy status of each seating area based on signals from the modules and to communicate the occupancy statuses to a remote server to facilitate scheduling of ride-sharing passengers for a specified seating area of the vehicle. The reserved seating location may be used to align the seating location/door with a passenger during pick-up, adjust vehicle accessory settings associated with the reserved seating location, and activate a visual indicator to direct the passenger to the assigned/reserved seating location.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2016Date of Patent: March 7, 2023Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Pietro Buttolo, Stuart C. Salter, James Stewart Rankin, II, James J. Surman, Annette Lynn Huebner, Jeffrey A. Wallace, Cornel Lewis Gardner
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Publication number: 20230014649Abstract: A vehicle console includes a trim ring disposed over a periphery of a housing. The trim ring includes a polymeric material and is electrically conductive and grounded. A proximity switch assembly is retained in the housing. The proximity switch assembly includes a proximity sensor proximate a sensing pad for generating an activation field. The sensing pad is proximate the trim ring.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 23, 2022Publication date: January 19, 2023Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Stuart C. Salter, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Richard Gall, Satyanarayana Raju Vemulapati, James J. Surman
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Patent number: 11525291Abstract: A vehicle includes a body having an uninterrupted side aperture that provides access to an interior passenger cabin. A front door is hingedly attached at a forward edge of the uninterrupted side aperture. The front door is selectively operable between front open and front closed positions. A rear door is hingedly attached at a rearward edge of the uninterrupted side aperture. The rear door is selectively operable between rear open and rear closed positions. A latching assembly is at least partially positioned within the body and configured to receive the front door in the front closed position and the rear door in the rear closed position. A sealing assembly is defined between a forward seal of the rear door and a rearward seal of the front door. The forward and rearward seals engage one another in a fully-closed position.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2020Date of Patent: December 13, 2022Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Stuart C. Salter, James J. Surman, David Brian Glickman, Kristopher Karl Brown
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Patent number: 11485297Abstract: A vehicle console includes a trim ring disposed over a periphery of a housing. The trim ring includes a polymeric material and is electrically conductive and grounded. A proximity switch assembly is retained in the housing. The proximity switch assembly includes a proximity sensor proximate a sensing pad for generating an activation field. The sensing pad is proximate the trim ring.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2021Date of Patent: November 1, 2022Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Stuart C. Salter, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Richard Gall, Satyanarayana Raju Vemulapati, James J. Surman
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Patent number: 11447008Abstract: A computer that includes a processor and memory storing instructions executable by the processor. The computer may be programmed to: determine feature-selection data; determine that a mobile device is within a proximity threshold of a vehicle; and in response to the determinations, control a vehicle display in accordance with the feature-selection data.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2017Date of Patent: September 20, 2022Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Stuart C. Salter, Annette Lynn Huebner, Paul Kenneth Dellock, James J. Surman
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Patent number: 11270543Abstract: This disclosure relates to a method and system for an exterior display of a vehicle, such as an autonomous vehicle, configured to issue feedback prompts. An example method includes issuing a prompt via a human-machine interface on an exterior of a vehicle permitting an input indicative of an undesired condition of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2019Date of Patent: March 8, 2022Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Stuart C. Salter, Kristopher Karl Brown, Steven Wayne Friedlander, James J. Surman, Cornel Lewis Gardner
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Patent number: 11140514Abstract: A system includes a processor configured to provide an informational report to a wireless device about a vehicle component associated with a BLUETOOTH low energy (BTLE) chip, affixed to a vehicle, when the wireless device is determined to be within a predefined proximity to the BTLE chip. This can include information such as operational and wear status, but also can be purely explanatory, as to what the function of the component is.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2015Date of Patent: October 5, 2021Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Stuart C. Salter, Pietro Buttolo, James J. Surman, James Stewart Rankin, II, Stephen Ronald Tokish
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Publication number: 20210237663Abstract: A vehicle console includes a trim ring disposed over a periphery of a housing. The trim ring includes a polymeric material and is electrically conductive and grounded. A proximity switch assembly is retained in the housing. The proximity switch assembly includes a proximity sensor proximate a sensing pad for generating an activation field. The sensing pad is proximate the trim ring.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2021Publication date: August 5, 2021Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Stuart C. Salter, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Richard Gall, Satyanarayana Raju Vemulapati, James J. Surman
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Publication number: 20210241188Abstract: A vehicle sharing system includes a vehicle having interior transceiver modules associated with different passenger seating areas and a vehicle computing system (VCS) including a processor and a memory in communication with the modules and programmed to detect occupancy status of each seating area based on signals from the modules and to communicate the occupancy statuses to a remote server to facilitate scheduling of ride-sharing passengers for a specified seating area of the vehicle. The reserved seating location may be used to align the seating location/door with a passenger during pick-up, adjust vehicle accessory settings associated with the reserved seating location, and activate a visual indicator to direct the passenger to the assigned/reserved seating location.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 26, 2021Publication date: August 5, 2021Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Pietro Buttolo, Stuart C. Salter, James Stewart Rankin, II, James J. Surman, Annette Lynn Huebner, Jeffrey A. Wallace, Cornel Lewis Gardner
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Patent number: 10994670Abstract: A vehicle console includes a trim ring disposed over a periphery of a housing. The trim ring includes a polymeric material and is electrically conductive and grounded. A proximity switch assembly is retained in the housing. The proximity switch assembly includes a proximity sensor proximate a sensing pad for generating an activation field. The sensing pad is proximate the trim ring.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2019Date of Patent: May 4, 2021Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Stuart C. Salter, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Richard Gall, Satyanarayana Raju Vemulapati, James J. Surman
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Publication number: 20210019963Abstract: This disclosure relates to a method and system for an exterior display of a vehicle, such as an autonomous vehicle, configured to issue feedback prompts. An example method includes issuing a prompt via a human-machine interface on an exterior of a vehicle permitting an input indicative of an undesired condition of the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 17, 2019Publication date: January 21, 2021Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Kristopher Karl Brown, Steven Wayne Friedlander, James J. Surman, Cornel Lewis Gardner
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Patent number: 10857863Abstract: A vehicle includes a removable roof panel and an integrated handle and roof rack assembly mounted to the removable roof panel. The integrated handle and roof rack assembly is adapted to function both as a handle for installing or removing the roof panel and as a roof rack for achieving vehicle rooftop cargo storage.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2018Date of Patent: December 8, 2020Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Paul Kenneth Dellock, Stuart C. Salter, James J. Surman, Harry Lobo, Travis S. Garland
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Patent number: 10815709Abstract: An apparatus includes a panel, a removable window and a latch assembly for securing the removable window to the panel. In one embodiment, a removable roof assembly for a motor vehicle includes a removable roof panel, a releasable locking feature that secures the removable roof panel to the motor vehicle, a removable window and a latch assembly. The latch assembly secures the removable window to the removable roof panel. The latch assembly includes a push button actuator to release the latch assembly and remove the removable window from the removable roof panel.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2018Date of Patent: October 27, 2020Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Ronald M. Lovasz, David Brian Glickman, Harry Lobo, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Stuart C. Salter, James J. Surman
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Patent number: 10807567Abstract: A computer is programmed to receive, via a vehicle wireless receiver, a wireless signal from a mobile device, and determine a presence of the mobile device within a distance of the vehicle. The computer is programmed to classify a movement of the mobile device based at least on the determined device presence, and actuate a vehicle component based on the determined device presence and the classified movement of the mobile device.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2017Date of Patent: October 20, 2020Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Stuart C. Salter, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Pietro Buttolo, James J. Surman
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Patent number: 10800213Abstract: Tire wear detection apparatus and related methods are disclosed. An example vehicle includes a tire including a wear bar coupled thereto. The example vehicle also includes a light source to emit a light and means for directing the light to the tire. At least a portion of the wear bar is to glow when exposed to the light.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2017Date of Patent: October 13, 2020Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Stuart C. Salter, Paul Kenneth Dellock, David Brian Glickman, James J. Surman, Terry Lobsinger
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Publication number: 20200308882Abstract: A vehicle includes a body having an uninterrupted side aperture that provides access to an interior passenger cabin. A front door is hingedly attached at a forward edge of the uninterrupted side aperture. The front door is selectively operable between front open and front closed positions. A rear door is hingedly attached at a rearward edge of the uninterrupted side aperture. The rear door is selectively operable between rear open and rear closed positions. A latching assembly is at least partially positioned within the body and configured to receive the front door in the front closed position and the rear door in the rear closed position. A sealing assembly is defined between a forward seal of the rear door and a rearward seal of the front door. The forward and rearward seals engage one another in a fully-closed position.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2020Publication date: October 1, 2020Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Stuart C. Salter, James J. Surman, David Brian Glickman, Kristopher Karl Brown
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Patent number: 10773632Abstract: A vehicular cargo restraint assembly includes a support platform. A plurality of panels are each movably coupled to the support platform. Each of the panels is independently movable between a first position wherein the panel is flat against the support platform, and a second position wherein the panel is offset from the support platform and configured to prevent the movement of cargo within a vehicle cabin.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2018Date of Patent: September 15, 2020Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Stuart C. Salter, Wei Xu, James J. Surman, Satyanarayana Raju Vemulapati