Patents by Inventor Karl William Wojcik

Karl William Wojcik 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: 10093197
    Abstract: A vehicle may include a body controller programmed to limit operation of at least one vehicle feature to reduce battery consumption during transit of the vehicle in response to a vehicle flag indicating a transport status, and to enable operation of the at least one vehicle feature during manufacturing in response to the vehicle flag indicating a factory status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Zeljko Deljevic, James Michael Weinfurther, Karl William Wojcik
  • Patent number: 9694768
    Abstract: A vehicle system with a processing device programmed to determine an ignition state and determine a vehicle speed and then send a control signal to enable power for at least one vehicle subsystem if the ignition state is off and the vehicle speed is above a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Karl William Wojcik, James Michael Weinfurther, David James Tippy, Anthony Dwayne Cooprider, Aaron Acuna
  • Publication number: 20170174157
    Abstract: A vehicle may include a body controller programmed to limit operation of at least one vehicle feature to reduce battery consumption during transit of the vehicle in response to a vehicle flag indicating a transport status, and to enable operation of the at least one vehicle feature during manufacturing in response to the vehicle flag indicating a factory status.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: Zeljko Deljevic, James Michael Weinfurther, Karl William Wojcik
  • Patent number: 9682669
    Abstract: A vehicle system includes a processing device programmed to determine an ignition state and a vehicle speed. The processing device powers at least one vehicle subsystem if the ignition state is off and the vehicle speed is above a predetermined threshold. The processing device may disable the vehicle subsystem when the vehicle speed falls below the predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Aaron Acuna, Anthony Dwayne Cooprider, Karl William Wojcik, James Michael Weinfurther, David James Tippy, Barb LeMaigre
  • Publication number: 20160311384
    Abstract: A vehicle system includes a processing device programmed to determine an ignition state and a vehicle speed. The processing device powers at least one vehicle subsystem if the ignition state is off and the vehicle speed is above a predetermined threshold. The processing device may disable the vehicle subsystem when the vehicle speed falls below the predetermined threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Aaron Acuna, Anthony Dwayne Cooprider, Karl William Wojcik, James Michael Weinfurther, David James Tippy, Barb LeMaigre
  • Publication number: 20160311385
    Abstract: A vehicle system with a processing device programmed to determine an ignition state and determine a vehicle speed and then send a control signal to enable power for at least one vehicle subsystem if the ignition state is off and the vehicle speed is above a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2015
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Karl William Wojcik, James Michael Weinfurther, David James Tippy, Anthony Dwayne Cooprider, Aaron Acuna
  • Patent number: 9199606
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an intrusion sensor configured to detect a Doppler shift in a passenger compartment and output an intrusion signal representing the Doppler shift. The vehicle further includes a processing device configured to receive the intrusion signal and activate an alarm if the Doppler shift exceeds a predetermined threshold. A method includes measuring a Doppler shift in a passenger compartment of a vehicle, comparing the Doppler shift to a predetermined threshold, and activating an alarm system if the Doppler shift exceeds the predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies
    Inventors: John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Karl William Wojcik
  • Publication number: 20150329079
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an intrusion sensor configured to detect a Doppler shift in a passenger compartment and output an intrusion signal representing the Doppler shift. The vehicle further includes a processing device configured to receive the intrusion signal and activate an alarm if the Doppler shift exceeds a predetermined threshold. A method includes measuring a Doppler shift in a passenger compartment of a vehicle, comparing the Doppler shift to a predetermined threshold, and activating an alarm system if the Doppler shift exceeds the predetermined threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Karl William Wojcik
  • Patent number: 9080363
    Abstract: A vehicle door swing governor is positioned between a door and a body of a vehicle. The door swing governor includes a motor and a controller for controlling the mechanical resistance applied by the motor to the door so as to control velocity of the door swing. The mechanical resistance applied to the door is a function of the velocity of the swing of the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Eric L. Reed, Karl William Wojcik
  • Patent number: 8548730
    Abstract: Primary and secondary keys are adapted to be associated to primary and secondary drivers. A key ignition device is positioned on each of the primary and secondary keys and is configured to generate a driver status signal indicative of whether the driver the primary driver or the secondary driver. A controller is operably coupled to the key ignition device. The controller is adapted to determine whether the driver is the primary driver or the secondary driver. The controller is adapted to generate a position notification signal indicative of the position of the object with respect to the vehicle. The controller is adapted to notify the primary and secondary drivers of the position of the object. The controller is adapted to selectively control the operation of generating the position notification signals based on whether the driver is the primary driver or the secondary driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Lee Miller, Anthony Dwayne Cooprider, Ronald Patrick Bromnach, Kevin Thomas Hille, John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Karl William Wojcik, Shimul Bhuva, Aaron Lewis Mills
  • Publication number: 20130239485
    Abstract: A vehicle door swing governor is positioned between a door and a body of a vehicle. The door swing governor includes a motor and a controller for controlling the mechanical resistance applied by the motor to the door so as to control velocity of the door swing. The mechanical resistance applied to the door is a function of the velocity of the swing of the door.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Eric L. Reed, Karl William Wojcik
  • Patent number: 8457859
    Abstract: A method for preserving battery operation and life during vehicle post idle shutdown, such vehicle having a delayed accessory power mode operative when an ignition state of the vehicle is in a non-engine running condition while an ignition switch of the vehicle is in the ON position to supply accessories in the vehicle the battery. The method includes: detecting whether the vehicle has been in an post idle shutdown condition and brake pedal not pressed and ignition state unchanged; and placing the vehicle in the delayed accessory power mode after detecting that the vehicle has been in an post idle shutdown condition and while the ignition switch is in the ON position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Bradley Allen Drogosch, Anthony Dwayne Cooprider, Karl William Wojcik, Ronald Patrick Brombach, Ryan Edwin Hanson, Daniel James Card
  • Patent number: 8384535
    Abstract: A system and method is provided for controlling the operation of notifying drivers of the fluid level. Primary and secondary keys are adapted to be associated to primary and secondary drivers. A key ignition device is positioned on the primary and secondary keys and generates driver status signals. A fluid level sensing device is operable to generate a fluid level signal indicative of the fluid level. A controller is coupled to the fluid level sensing device and the key ignition device. The controller determines whether the driver of the vehicle is the primary or secondary driver in response to the driver status signals. The controller notifies the primary or secondary driver of the fluid level in response to the fluid level signal. The controller selectively controls the operation of notifying the primary or the secondary driver based on whether the driver is the primary or secondary driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Lee Miller, Matthew J. Dalebout, Andrew D. Sarkisian, Anthony Dwayne Cooprider, Ronald Patrick Brombach, Kevin Thomas Hille, Karl William Wojcik, Terry Thomas Cwik, Brian Bennie, John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Scott Alan Watkins
  • Patent number: 8306728
    Abstract: Primary and secondary keys are adapted to be associated to primary and secondary drivers. A key ignition device is positioned on each of the primary and secondary keys and is configured to generate a driver status signal indicative of whether the driver the primary driver or the secondary driver. A controller is operably coupled to the key ignition device. The controller is adapted to determine whether the driver is the primary driver or the secondary driver. The controller is adapted to generate a position notification signal indicative of the position of the object with respect to the vehicle. The controller is adapted to notify the primary and secondary drivers of the position of the object. The controller is adapted to selectively control the operation of generating the position notification signals based on whether the driver is the primary driver or the secondary driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Lee Miller, Anthony Dwayne Cooprider, Ronald Patrick Brombach, Kevin Thomas Hille, John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Karl William Wojcik, Shimul Bhuva, Aaron Lewis Mills
  • Patent number: 8280580
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling the operation of stabilizing the movement of a vehicle between primary and secondary drivers is provided. A primary key is adapted to be associated to the primary driver. A secondary key is adapted to be associated to the secondary driver. A key ignition device is positioned on the primary and secondary keys and is configured to generate driver status signals indicative of whether the driver is a primary or secondary driver. The controller is adapted to determine whether the driver of the vehicle is the primary driver or the secondary driver based on the driver status signals. The controller is further adapted to stabilize the movement of the vehicle. The controller is further adapted to selectively control the operation of stabilizing the movement of the vehicle in response to the driver status signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Lee Miller, Matthew J. Dalebout, Anthony Dwayne Cooprider, Ronald Patrick Brombach, Kevin Thomas Hille, Karl William Wojcik, Terry Thomas Cwik, John Robert Van Wiemeersch
  • Patent number: 8258702
    Abstract: In at least one embodiment, an ambient lighting system comprising a lighting module and a controller is provided. The lighting module is configured to drive a light emitting device (LED) arrangement to display a desired ambient color in response to a lighting control signal and to transmit a lighting status signal providing diagnostic information for one of the lighting module and the LED arrangement. The controller is configured to transmit the lighting control signal including first digital data indicative of the desired ambient color and a feed signal for powering the lighting module on a bi-directional data communication bus between the controller and the lighting module. The controller is further configured to receive the lighting status signal on the bi-directional data communication bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Andre Zielinski, Karl William Wojcik, Robert Andrew Miller, James Martin Lawlis
  • Patent number: 8258939
    Abstract: In at least one embodiment, a device for controlling one or more vehicle features for a primary driver and a secondary driver is provided. The device comprises at least one controller that is configured to receive at least one driver status signal indicative of the driver being one of the primary driver and the secondary driver and to determine whether the driver of the vehicle is the one of the primary driver and the secondary driver based on the at least one driver status signal. The controller is further configured to control one or more vehicle features and to prevent the one or more vehicle features from being disabled in response to determining that the at least one driver status signal indicates that the driver of the vehicle is the secondary driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Lee Miller, Brian Bennie, Andrew D. Sarkisian, Matthew J. Dalebout, Lawrence Daniel Cepuran, Anthony Dwayne Cooprider, Ronald Patrick Brombach, Kevin Thomas Hille, Karl William Wojcik, John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Terry Thomas Cwik, Scott Alan Watkins, Shimul Bhuva, Aaron Lewis Mills
  • Publication number: 20120126964
    Abstract: A system and method is provided for controlling the operation of notifying drivers of the fluid level. Primary and secondary keys are adapted to be associated to primary and secondary drivers. A key ignition device is positioned on the primary and secondary keys and generates driver status signals. A fluid level sensing device is operable to generate a fluid level signal indicative of the fluid level. A controller is coupled to the fluid level sensing device and the key ignition device. The controller determines whether the driver of the vehicle is the primary or secondary driver in response to the driver status signals. The controller notifies the primary or secondary driver of the fluid level in response to the fluid level signal. The controller selectively controls the operation of notifying the primary or the secondary driver based on whether the driver is the primary or secondary driver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Lee Miller, Matthew J. Dalebout, Andrew D. Sarkisian, Anthony Dwayne Cooprider, Ronald Patrick Brombach, Kevin Thomas Hille, Karl William Wojcik, Terry Thomas Cwik, Brian Bennie, John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Scott Alan Watkins
  • Patent number: 8106759
    Abstract: A system and method is provided for controlling the operation of notifying drivers of the fluid level. Primary and secondary keys are adapted to be associated to primary and secondary drivers. A key ignition device is positioned on the primary and secondary keys and generate driver status signals. A fluid level sensing device is operable to generate a fluid level signal indicative of the fluid level. A controller is coupled to the fluid level sensing device and the key ignition device. The controller determines whether the driver of the vehicle is the primary or secondary driver in response to the driver status signals. The controller notifies the primary or secondary driver of the fluid level in response to the fluid level signal. The controller selectively controls the operation of notifying the primary or the secondary driver based on whether the driver is the primary or secondary driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Lee Miller, Matthew J. Dalebout, Andrew D. Sarkisian, Anthony Dwayne Cooprider, Ronald Patrick Brombach, Kevin Thomas Hille, Karl William Wojcik, Terry Thomas Cwik, Brian Bennie, John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Scott Alan Watkins
  • Patent number: 8019545
    Abstract: Primary and secondary keys are adapted to be associated to primary and secondary drivers. A key ignition device is positioned on each of the primary and secondary keys and is configured to generate a driver status signal indicative of whether the driver the primary driver or the secondary driver. A controller is operably coupled to the key ignition device. The controller is adapted to determine whether the driver is the primary driver or the secondary driver. The controller is adapted to generate a position notification signal indicative of the position of the object with respect to the vehicle. The controller is adapted to notify the primary and secondary drivers of the position of the object. The controller is adapted to selectively control the operation of generating the position notification signals based on whether the driver is the primary driver or the secondary driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Lee Miller, Anthony Dwayne Cooprider, Ronald Patrick Brombach, Kevin Thomas Hille, John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Karl William Wojcik, Shimul Bhuva, Aaron Lewis Mills