Patents by Inventor John Craig Elson
John Craig Elson 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: 11659939Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly includes a seat base that has a first heating element. A seat back has a second heating element. A sensor is coupled to the seat base and is configured to obtain a weight data. A user-interface assembly is operably coupled to the first and second heating elements. A controller is in communication with the sensor to receive the weight data. The controller is configured to control the first and second heating elements in response to the weight data.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2022Date of Patent: May 30, 2023Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Scott Andrew Amman, Avrokin Surnilla, Nikhitha Bekkanti, John Craig Elson
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Patent number: 11644420Abstract: A system, comprising a processor and a memory. The memory stores instructions executable by the processor to determine, from an image including a portion of a surface of a human body, a reflected light intensity from the body surface portion, determine, a skin reflectance of the body surface portion based on a location of the body surface, a light source, and an image sensor location, and to determine, for the body surface portion, an incoming radiance, based on the skin reflectance and the reflected light intensity.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2020Date of Patent: May 9, 2023Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Avrokin Surnilla, David Michael Herman, John Craig Elson, Scott Andrew Amman, Nikhitha Bekkanti, Michael Monforton
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Publication number: 20220160144Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly includes a seat base that has a first heating element. A seat back has a second heating element. A sensor is coupled to the seat base and is configured to obtain a weight data. A user-interface assembly is operably coupled to the first and second heating elements. A controller is in communication with the sensor to receive the weight data. The controller is configured to control the first and second heating elements in response to the weight data.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 8, 2022Publication date: May 26, 2022Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Scott Andrew Amman, Avrokin Surnilla, Nikhitha Bekkanti, John Craig Elson
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Patent number: 11331982Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for purifying air for breathing. The apparatus includes an armrest having a receiver and an air purification module releasably received in the receiver. The air purification module is portable and displaceable between a first operating position held in the receiver and a second operating position remote from the armrest and the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2019Date of Patent: May 17, 2022Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Daniel C. Huang, Kevin Michael Swenskowski, John Craig Elson, Clay Wesley Maranville, Lawrence C. Karas
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Publication number: 20220128466Abstract: A system, comprising a processor and a memory. The memory stores instructions executable by the processor to determine, from an image including a portion of a surface of a human body, a reflected light intensity from the body surface portion, determine, a skin reflectance of the body surface portion based on a location of the body surface, a light source, and an image sensor location, and to determine, for the body surface portion, an incoming radiance, based on the skin reflectance and the reflected light intensity.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 22, 2020Publication date: April 28, 2022Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Avrokin Surnilla, David Michael Herman, John Craig Elson, Scott Andrew Amman, Nikhitha Bekkanti, Michael Monforton
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Patent number: 11272790Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly includes a seat base that has a first heating element. A seat back has a second heating element. A sensor is coupled to the seat base and is configured to obtain a weight data. A user-interface assembly is operably coupled to the first and second heating elements. A controller is in communication with the sensor to receive the weight data. The controller is configured to control the first and second heating elements in response to the weight data.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2019Date of Patent: March 15, 2022Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Scott Andrew Amman, Avrokin Surnilla, Nikhitha Bekkanti, John Craig Elson
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Publication number: 20210186231Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly includes a seat base that has a first heating element. A seat back has a second heating element. A sensor is coupled to the seat base and is configured to obtain a weight data. A user-interface assembly is operably coupled to the first and second heating elements. A controller is in communication with the sensor to receive the weight data. The controller is configured to control the first and second heating elements in response to the weight data.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2019Publication date: June 24, 2021Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Scott Andrew Amman, Avrokin Surnilla, Nikhitha Bekkanti, John Craig Elson
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Publication number: 20200361284Abstract: A climate control system for a vehicle includes a thermal management system and a controller configured to activate the thermal management system. The controller activates the thermal management system to satisfy a remote precondition request for a cabin of the vehicle, responsive to receiving the remote precondition request, data indicating the vehicle is in a ventilated area, and an estimated precondition time being less than a threshold precondition time. Each of the estimated precondition and threshold precondition times are derived from the remote precondition request and data.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 17, 2017Publication date: November 19, 2020Inventors: Franco RAGAZZI, Donald Peter SCHNEIDER, John Craig ELSON
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Patent number: 10814697Abstract: A radiant heating system includes a radiant heating zone, a first radiant heating feature on a first side of the radiant heating zone and a second radiant heating feature on a second side of the radiant heating zone opposite the first side. A method of radiant heating is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2017Date of Patent: October 27, 2020Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: John Craig Elson, James George Gebbie
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Publication number: 20200307359Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for purifying air for breathing. The apparatus includes an armrest having a receiver and an air purification module releasably received in the receiver. The air purification module is portable and displaceable between a first operating position held in the receiver and a second operating position remote from the armrest and the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2019Publication date: October 1, 2020Inventors: Daniel C. Huang, Kevin Michael Swenskowski, John Craig Elson, Clay Wesley Maranville, Lawrence C. Karas
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Patent number: 10752090Abstract: An operator configurable radiant heating system is provided for a motor vehicle. That operator configurable radiant heating system includes a plurality of docking points provided at different locations within the motor vehicle and a radiant heating panel configured for docking with any of the docking points of the plurality of docking points. A related method is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2017Date of Patent: August 25, 2020Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: John Craig Elson, Victoria Leigh Schein, Kerrie Kathleen Gath, Clay Wesley Maranville
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Patent number: 10569735Abstract: A vehicle seat belt system is provided. The vehicle seat belt system includes a seat belt comprising a tubular seat belt webbing defining a passageway and a plurality of exhaust openings located along a length of the webbing, and an air delivery device supplying air to the seat belt. The seat belt is configured such that air flowing out of the exhaust openings is substantially evenly distributed along the length of the webbing.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2017Date of Patent: February 25, 2020Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: John Craig Elson, Kerrie Kathleen Gath, Clay Wesley Maranville, Victoria Leigh Schein
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Patent number: 10532629Abstract: A radiant heating system includes a radiant heating element, a steering wheel position monitoring device and a controller configured to control the radiant heating element in response to steering wheel position data received from the steering wheel position monitoring device. A method of controlling operation of a radiant system.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2017Date of Patent: January 14, 2020Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: John Craig Elson, Kerrie Kathleen Gath, Clay Wesley Maranville, Victoria Leigh Schein, Donald Peter Schneider, III, Manfred Koberstein
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Patent number: 10479162Abstract: A vehicle seat belt system is provided. The vehicle seat belt system includes a seat belt comprising first and second seat belt webbings each defining a passageway, and one or more tubular extension members extending between the first and second seat belt webbings. The vehicle seat belt system also includes a plurality of exhaust openings formed in at least one of the first and second webbings, and an air delivery device supplying air to the seat belt.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2017Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: John Craig Elson, Kerrie Gath, Clay Wesley Maranville, Victoria Schein
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Patent number: 10471800Abstract: A vehicle seat belt system is provided. The vehicle seat belt system includes a seat belt comprising a webbing, an electric powered device such as a heater coupled to the webbing, electrical circuitry connected to the heater and extending through a seat belt buckle and connector tongue, and an electric power source for providing electric power to the electric heater via the electrical circuitry. The electrical circuitry supplies power through the connector tongue and seat belt buckle.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2017Date of Patent: November 12, 2019Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Clay Wesley Maranville, John Craig Elson, Victoria Schein, Kerrie Gath
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Patent number: 10442392Abstract: A vehicle seat belt system is provided. The vehicle seat belt system includes a seat belt comprising a tubular seat belt webbing defining a passageway and a plurality of exhaust openings. The seat belt system also has an air porous compressible material disposed within the passageway. The seat belt buckle has an air delivery device that supplies air to the seat belt, wherein the air porous compressible material allows air to flow through the passageway when compressed.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2017Date of Patent: October 15, 2019Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Kerrie Gath, John Craig Elson, Victoria Schein, Clay Wesley Maranville
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Publication number: 20190176566Abstract: A vehicle seat belt system is provided. The vehicle seat belt system includes a seat belt comprising a webbing, an electric powered device such as a heater coupled to the webbing, electrical circuitry connected to the heater and extending through a seat belt buckle and connector tongue, and an electric power source for providing electric power to the electric heater via the electrical circuitry. The electrical circuitry supplies power through the connector tongue and seat belt buckle.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2017Publication date: June 13, 2019Inventors: Clay Wesley Maranville, John Craig Elson, Victoria Schein, Kerrie Gath
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Publication number: 20190176747Abstract: A vehicle seat belt system is provided. The vehicle seat belt system includes a seat belt comprising a tubular seat belt webbing defining a passageway and a plurality of exhaust openings located along a length of the webbing, and an air delivery device supplying air to the seat belt. The seat belt is configured such that air flowing out of the exhaust openings is substantially evenly distributed along the length of the webbing.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2017Publication date: June 13, 2019Inventors: John Craig Elson, Kerrie Kathleen Gath, Clay Wesley Maranville, Victoria Leigh Schein
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Publication number: 20190176748Abstract: A vehicle seat belt system is provided. The vehicle seat belt system includes a seat belt comprising a tubular seat belt webbing defining a passageway and a plurality of exhaust openings. The seat belt system also has an air porous compressible material disposed within the passageway. The seat belt buckle has an air delivery device that supplies air to the seat belt, wherein the air porous compressible material allows air to flow through the passageway when compressed.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2017Publication date: June 13, 2019Inventors: Kerrie Gath, John Craig Elson, Victoria Schein, Clay Wesley Maranville
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Publication number: 20190176567Abstract: A vehicle seat belt system is provided. The vehicle seat belt system includes a seat belt comprising first and second seat belt webbings each defining a passageway, and one or more tubular extension members extending between the first and second seat belt webbings. The vehicle seat belt system also includes a plurality of exhaust openings formed in at least one of the first and second webbings, and an air delivery device supplying air to the seat belt.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2017Publication date: June 13, 2019Inventors: John Craig Elson, Kerrie Gath, Clay Wesley Maranville, Victoria Schein