Patents by Inventor Rick H. Wykoff
Rick H. Wykoff 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: 11878575Abstract: A computing device in a vehicle can determine an occupant type, location and orientation and determine intensity and direction of sunlight. The computing device can tint one or more portions of vehicle windows based on the occupant type, location and orientation and the strength and direction of sunlight.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2017Date of Patent: January 23, 2024Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Cynthia Mowery Flanigan, Victoria Leigh Schein, Clay Wesley Maranville, Rick H. Wykoff, II, Kenneth Edward Nietering, John Michael Galan Ferrer
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Patent number: 11865234Abstract: A treatment apparatus for a vehicle comprises: a housing with at least one wall and a floor forming a treatment chamber; a source of ultraviolet light configured to emit ultraviolet light into the treatment chamber; and a door connected to the housing, the door having (i) an open position providing access to the treatment chamber and (ii) a closed position denying access to the treatment chamber and, together with the housing, preventing emitted ultraviolet light from irradiating beyond the treatment chamber.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2020Date of Patent: January 9, 2024Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Jay Z. Chen, Anthony Ligi, Jr., John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Michael Hrecznyj, Clay Wesley Maranville, Amy Ellen Langhorst, Rick H. Wykoff
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Publication number: 20210308317Abstract: A treatment apparatus for a vehicle comprises: a housing with at least one wall and a floor forming a treatment chamber; a source of ultraviolet light configured to emit ultraviolet light into the treatment chamber; and a door connected to the housing, the door having (i) an open position providing access to the treatment chamber and (ii) a closed position denying access to the treatment chamber and, together with the housing, preventing emitted ultraviolet light from irradiating beyond the treatment chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 1, 2020Publication date: October 7, 2021Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Jay Z. Chen, Anthony Ligi, JR., John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Michael Hrecznyj, Clay Wesley Maranville, Amy Ellen Langhorst, Rick H. Wykoff
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Patent number: 11124297Abstract: A portable case for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and a system including a portable case for UAV and an adapter for coupling the portable case to a vehicle are disclosed. An example system may include an exterior attachment disposed on an exterior of a vehicle, an adapter configured to couple a portable case for an UAV to the exterior attachment, and a moveable cover connected to the vehicle and configured to cover the portable case when the portable case is coupled to the vehicle. An example portable case may comprise a landing pad for the UAV, a bottom portion having the landing pad and configured to connect to the exterior attachment via the adapter, and a removable upper portion configured to be connected to the bottom portion when the bottom portion is disconnected from the at least one exterior attachment.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2018Date of Patent: September 21, 2021Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Raj Sohmshetty, Rick H. Wykoff, Michael Musa Azzouz, Kevin VanNieulande, Jeremy John Malick
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Publication number: 20200108700Abstract: A computing device in a vehicle can determine an occupant type, location and orientation and determine intensity and direction of sunlight. The computing device can tint one or more portions of vehicle windows based on the occupant type, location and orientation and the strength and direction of sunlight.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2017Publication date: April 9, 2020Inventors: Cynthia Mowery FLANIGAN, Victoria Leigh SCHEIN, Clay Wesley MARANVILLE, Rick H. WYKOFF, II, Kenneth Edward NIETERING, John Michael Galan FERRER
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Publication number: 20200094957Abstract: A portable case for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and a system including a portable case for UAV and an adapter for coupling the portable case to a vehicle are disclosed. An example system may include an exterior attachment disposed on an exterior of a vehicle, an adapter configured to couple a portable case for an UAV to the exterior attachment, and a moveable cover connected to the vehicle and configured to cover the portable case when the portable case is coupled to the vehicle. An example portable case may comprise a landing pad for the UAV, a bottom portion having the landing pad and configured to connect to the exterior attachment via the adapter, and a removable upper portion configured to be connected to the bottom portion when the bottom portion is disconnected from the at least one exterior attachment.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2018Publication date: March 26, 2020Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Raj Sohmshetty, Rick H. Wykoff, Michael Musa Azzouz, Kevin VanNieulande, Jeremy John Malick
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Patent number: 10343950Abstract: A glass bubble includes a hollow glass body having an outer surface with a diameter of between about 16 micrometers and about 25 micrometers and a surface roughness of about 0.01% to about 0.1% of that diameter. A low density sheet molding compound incorporating a plurality of glass bubbles and resin is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2017Date of Patent: July 9, 2019Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Haibo Zhao, Daniel Quinn Houston, Rick H. Wykoff
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Patent number: 10343500Abstract: A window assembly includes a first polarizing windowpane, and a second polarizing windowpane. The first and second polarizing windowpanes are each independently moveable between a first position that blocks an opening to an interior of a vehicle, and a second position that does not block the opening. A window operating method includes moving first and second polarizing windowpanes of a window assembly from respective first positions that block an opening to an interior of a vehicle to respective second positions that do not block the opening.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2017Date of Patent: July 9, 2019Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Bala Chander, Rick H. Wykoff, II, Kenneth Edward Nietering
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Publication number: 20180272843Abstract: A window assembly includes a first polarizing windowpane, and a second polarizing windowpane. The first and second polarizing windowpanes are each independently moveable between a first position that blocks an opening to an interior of a vehicle, and a second position that does not block the opening. A window operating method includes moving first and second polarizing windowpanes of a window assembly from respective first positions that block an opening to an interior of a vehicle to respective second positions that do not block the opening.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 24, 2017Publication date: September 27, 2018Inventors: Bala Chander, Rick H. Wykoff, II, Kenneth Edward Nietering
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Patent number: 10046713Abstract: A vehicle roof mount includes at least one datum feature. The datum feature is provided according to at least one datum. The at least one datum is determined according to a specified orientation of a sensor included in a sensor frame. The sensor frame is mateable to the roof mount.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2016Date of Patent: August 14, 2018Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Clay Wesley Maranville, Douglas Scott Rhode, Rick H. Wykoff, Randal Henry Visintainer
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Publication number: 20180037496Abstract: A glass bubble includes a hollow glass body having an outer surface with a diameter of between about 16 micrometers and about 25 micrometers and a surface roughness of about 0.01% to about 0.1% of that diameter. A low density sheet molding compound incorporating a plurality of glass bubbles and resin is also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 13, 2017Publication date: February 8, 2018Inventors: Haibo Zhao, Daniel Quinn Houston, Rick H. Wykoff
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Patent number: 9809493Abstract: A method is provided for treating the outer surfaces of a plurality of glass bubbles. That method includes loading a plurality of glass bubbles into a processing vessel having a roughened lining and displacing the processing vessel so that the plurality of glass bubbles move against the roughened lining to thereby roughen the outer surfaces. Alternatively, or in addition, the glass bubbles are subjected to air plasma treatment to increase the surface energy of the glass bubbles.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2015Date of Patent: November 7, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Haibo Zhao, Daniel Quinn Houston, Rick H. Wykoff
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Publication number: 20170190300Abstract: A vehicle roof mount includes at least one datum feature. The datum feature is provided according to at least one datum. The at least one datum is determined according to a specified orientation of a sensor included in a sensor frame. The sensor frame is mateable to the roof mount.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 4, 2016Publication date: July 6, 2017Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Clay Wesley Maranville, Douglas Scott Rhode, Rick H. Wykoff, Randal Henry Visintainer
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Publication number: 20160340236Abstract: A method is provided for treating the outer surfaces of a plurality of glass bubbles. That method includes loading a plurality of glass bubbles into a processing vessel having a roughened lining and displacing the processing vessel so that the plurality of glass bubbles move against the roughened lining to thereby roughen the outer surfaces. Alternatively, or in addition, the glass bubbles are subjected to air plasma treatment to increase the surface energy of the glass bubbles.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2015Publication date: November 24, 2016Inventors: Haibo Zhao, Daniel Quinn Houston, Rick H. Wykoff
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Patent number: 9180917Abstract: A vehicle panoramic sunroof assembly includes a vehicle frame including a medial pillar that extends vertically from a lower frame portion to a longitudinal member of a roof frame portion. A top portion of the medial pillar includes a supplemental support flange. A panoramic sunroof frame is set within and connected to the longitudinal member of the roof frame portion and connected to the supplemental support flange. The supplemental support flange is mechanically connected to the panoramic sunroof frame.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2014Date of Patent: November 10, 2015Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Fubang Wu, Mohammed Omar Faruque, Rick H. Wykoff
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Publication number: 20150140337Abstract: According to one or more embodiments, a polymeric article includes a polymeric composition, which in turn includes a polymeric material in a first weight percent, a non-metallic fibrous material in a second weight percent, and a metallic fiber material in a third weight percent and being intermixed with the non-metallic fibrous material. The polymeric material may include at least one of epoxy, vinyl ester, and/or polyester. The fibrous material may include at least one of glass fiber and carbon fiber. The metallic fiber material may include at least one of steel and aluminum.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 19, 2013Publication date: May 21, 2015Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Rick H. Wykoff, Mohammed Omar Faruque, Fubang Wu, Yijung Chen, Matthew John Zaluzec
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Publication number: 20140346811Abstract: A beam sub-assembly for a vehicle includes a beam member and at least one carbon-fiber prepreg bonded to a first portion of an exterior surface of the beam member so as to cover an entire length of the beam member along the first portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 24, 2013Publication date: November 27, 2014Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Matt J. Zaluzec, Fubang Wu, Rick H. Wykoff, Mohammed Omar Faruque, Ridha Baccouche