Patents by Inventor Stuart C. Salter

Stuart C. Salter 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).

  • Publication number: 20250256680
    Abstract: Systems, apparatus, articles of manufacture, and methods are disclosed to remove a steering wheel of a vehicle. As disclosed herein, a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed, cause processor circuitry of a vehicle to: detect a request to remove a steering wheel from a steering system of a vehicle; verify a user identity based on a user profile, the user profile stored in a memory associated with the vehicle; determine whether a disengagement criterion is satisfied; and after the user identity is detected and the disengagement criterion is satisfied, disengage a lock to enable removal of the steering wheel from the steering system of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2024
    Publication date: August 14, 2025
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Christian Lange, Michael Kowalski, Miguel Angel Bahena, Brendan Diamond
  • Publication number: 20250260226
    Abstract: A power management system for a vehicle includes a power source, switching circuitry, and a first converter electrically interposing the power source and the switching circuitry. The first converter has a first power output threshold. A second converter electrically interposes the power source and the switching circuitry. The second converter has a second power output threshold lower than the first power output threshold. Control circuitry is configured to, in response to a key-off state of the vehicle, control the switching circuitry to supply power to at least one load, compare the power drawn from the second converter by the at least one load to the second power output threshold, and communicate an output to limit the power drawn from the second converter by the at least one load in response to the comparison.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2024
    Publication date: August 14, 2025
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Jessica Louise Smith, Roxanne Anthonette Pinheiro, David Celinske, Rudi Todd Ansbacher, Justin Richard Longbourne
  • Patent number: 12384398
    Abstract: A vehicle power system generates alerts prior to discontinuance of power to upfitter loads and vehicle loads according to a user defined priority sequence such that the alerts generated prior to discontinuance of power to the upfitter loads are different than the alerts generated prior to discontinuance of power to the vehicle loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2025
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES. LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, David Celinske, Peter Attila Farkas, Solomon Lin, Sheran Anthony Alles, Peter Phung
  • Publication number: 20250249774
    Abstract: A recommendation system including a transceiver and a processor is disclosed. The transceiver may be configured to receive charging station information. The charging station information may include information associated with real-time waiting times and presence of fast chargers at a plurality of charging stations located in a geographical area. The processor may be configured to obtain a trigger signal, and estimate a vehicle charging time associated with each charging station based on the charging station information responsive to obtaining the trigger signal. The processor may further determine a recommended charging station, from the plurality of charging stations, based on the vehicle charging time. The processor may additionally output recommended charging station information responsive to determining the recommended charging station.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2024
    Publication date: August 7, 2025
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Brendan Diamond, Annette Lynn Huebner, Keith Weston, Stuart C. Salter, Aaron L. Mills
  • Publication number: 20250249749
    Abstract: A vehicle including a transceiver and a processor is disclosed. The transceiver may be configured to receive a charging station location. The processor is configured to determine that the vehicle is in a key-off mode. Responsive to determining that the vehicle is in the key-off mode, the processor may determine at least one of a vehicle State of Charge (SOC) level or a vehicle distance from the charging station location based on a current vehicle location. The processor may further determine that a predefined condition is met based on the at least one of the vehicle SOC level or the vehicle distance. Responsive to a determination that the predefined condition is met, the processor may select a vehicle feature from a plurality of vehicle features based on historical usage pattern of the plurality of vehicle features in the key-off mode, and enable a high-power mode of the vehicle feature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2024
    Publication date: August 7, 2025
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Michael Duke, Jessica Louise Smith, David Celinske, Todd Ansbacher, Brendan Diamond
  • Publication number: 20250249779
    Abstract: A charging management system including a transceiver and a processor is disclosed. The transceiver may be configured to receive vehicle inputs associated with a plurality of vehicles located in a geographical area. The processor may be configured to estimate a probability of vehicle charging at a charging station located in the geographical area for each vehicle based on the vehicle inputs. The processor may further estimate a count of vehicles, from the plurality of vehicles, having respective probabilities of vehicle charging at the charging station greater than a predefined probability threshold. Further, the processor may cause the charging station to operate in a charge limit operational mode when the count of vehicles exceeds a predefined estimated count threshold. The charging station may be configured to limit an amount of charge transferred to a vehicle when the charging station operates in the charge limit operational mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2024
    Publication date: August 7, 2025
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Victor Martinez, Brendan Diamond, Keith Weston, Stuart C. Salter
  • Publication number: 20250251247
    Abstract: A navigation system is disclosed. The system may include a transceiver and a processor. The transceiver may be configured to receive a destination location, a destination location map and information associated with a site of interest in the destination location. The processor may determine an optimal drop-off location, from a plurality of drop-off locations, at the destination location based on the information associated with the site of interest and the destination location map. The processor may further determine a real-time location of a vehicle or a user device and generate navigation instructions to navigate the vehicle or the user device from the real-time location to the optimal drop-off location. The processor may further transmit the navigation instructions to the vehicle or the user device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2024
    Publication date: August 7, 2025
    Inventors: Keith Weston, Brendan Diamond, Stuart C. Salter, Anthony Maraldo
  • Publication number: 20250249786
    Abstract: A transfer switch for transferring power to a building is disclosed. The transfer switch may include a detection unit configured to monitor a utility power supply from a power grid. The transfer switch may further include a processor configured to determine that a power supply communication between the transfer switch and a vehicle is established, and determine that a predefined condition is met based on inputs associated with the utility power supply obtained from the detection unit, when the power supply communication is established. The processor may be further configured to enable the vehicle to supply power to the building responsive to a determination that the predefined condition is met.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2024
    Publication date: August 7, 2025
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Vyas Darshan Shenoy, Brendan Diamond, Mark J. Ferrel, Ryan O'Gorman, Todd Ansbacher
  • Patent number: 12382169
    Abstract: A computer includes a processor and a memory, and the memory stores instructions executable by the processor to receive range data from a range sensor of a vehicle, detect a person in proximity to the vehicle based on the range data, activate a camera of the vehicle upon detecting the person, set a parameter of one of the camera or a facial recognition algorithm based on the range data of the person, and perform the facial recognition algorithm on the person using data from the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2025
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Vivekanandh Elangovan, Ryan Edwin Hanson, John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Brendan Francis Diamond, Stuart C. Salter
  • Publication number: 20250246079
    Abstract: A first vehicle including a transceiver and a processor is disclosed. The transceiver may be configured to transmit a surveillance request to a first set of vehicles and/or a first set infrastructure sensors located within a first radius from the first vehicle, and receive inputs from a second vehicle from the first set of vehicles and/or a first infrastructure sensor from the first set of infrastructure sensors responsive to transmitting the surveillance request. The processor may be configured to determine that a predefined condition may be met based on the inputs. The processor may further cause the transceiver to transmit the surveillance request to a second set of vehicles and/or a second set of infrastructure sensors located within a second radius from the first vehicle, responsive to determining that the predefined condition may be met. The second radius may be greater than the first radius.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2024
    Publication date: July 31, 2025
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Brendan Diamond, Kendra White, Keith Weston, John Robert Van Wiemeersch
  • Publication number: 20250243821
    Abstract: Methods and systems for operating a vehicle powertrain that includes a power take-off are presented. In one non-limiting example, engine speed may be adjusted to increase engine efficiency during conditions when the engine is operating at idle conditions for longer than a threshold amount of time so that fuel consumption and wear may be reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2024
    Publication date: July 31, 2025
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Brendan Diamond, Bryan Wilbur Hoy, Todd Ansbacher, Jon Holt, Ryan Delaney
  • Patent number: 12374176
    Abstract: The disclosure is generally directed to systems and methods for securing an item in a vehicle. An example method can include a processor receiving a primary trigger to unlock a gate of the vehicle, followed by unlocking of the gate to allow access to a cargo compartment. A secondary trigger may then be received for unlocking a security lock that is a part of a cargo item holder located in the cargo compartment. The processor may perform an authentication procedure upon the secondary trigger and unlock the security lock, based on a successful authentication of the secondary trigger. In an example implementation, the cargo item holder is a gun rack that includes a security lock, the primary trigger can be a signal produced by activating a pushbutton switch, and the secondary trigger can be a spoken command, a signal generated by a smart tag, or an image of an individual.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2025
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Brendan Diamond, David Celinske, Erick Mogollon, Fernando Camargo
  • Publication number: 20250236190
    Abstract: A vehicle including a Direct Current-to-Direct Current (DC to DC) converter, a low-voltage battery, a memory and a processor is disclosed. The DC to DC converter may be configured to convert a high voltage electric power to a low voltage electric power, and the low-voltage battery may be configured to be charged by the DC to DC converter via the low voltage electric power. The memory may be configured to store inputs associated with a vehicle user. The processor may be configured to determine that a trigger event has occurred, and estimate a future vehicle usage based on the inputs responsive to determining that the trigger event has occurred. The processor may further control a charging operation of the low-voltage battery by the DC to DC converter based on the future vehicle usage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2024
    Publication date: July 24, 2025
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Jeff Robert Seaman, Tim Michael Farmer, Todd Ansbacher, David Celinske, Brendan Diamond
  • Patent number: 12365298
    Abstract: A rock rail assembly for a vehicle includes a mounting structure, an arm mounted to the mounting structure, a motor bracket coupled to the mounting structure, a motor mounted to the motor bracket, a pivot bar pivotably coupled with the mounting structure, a rail coupled with the pivot bar and operable to move between stowed and deployed positions, and a sector gear coupled to the pivot bar. The motor has a shaft that includes a first end, a second end, and a worm gear portion. Operation of the motor drives rotation of the shaft. The sector gear is operably engaged with the worm gear portion of the shaft, such that rotation of the shaft by the motor drives pivotal movement of the pivot bar relative to the mounting structure, causing movement of the rail coupled thereto between the stowed and deployed positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2025
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, David Brian Glickman, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Dennis Yee, Aaron Peter Klop, Satvinder Singh Matharu
  • Patent number: 12367537
    Abstract: An on-demand security inspection system is provided for dispatching an investigator to a target dwelling. The investigator (e.g., a police officer) carries a video camera (e.g., a body cam). The inspection system comprises a service management server, a requestor interface, and an investigator interface. The requestor interface is configured to link a user to the service management server in order to specify a checklist. The investigator interface is configured to link a mobile unit (e.g., a vehicle control module or a handheld mobile unit) to the service management server in order to (1) communicate a plurality of checklist prompts to the mobile unit, and (2) return video data from the video camera captured according to the checklist prompts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2025
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Christopher C. Hunt, Brendan F. Diamond, Paul K. Dellock, John R. Van Wiemeersch
  • Publication number: 20250229724
    Abstract: In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a motor vehicle assembly, including: a roof including a recess; a rail, wherein the rail is moveable between a retracted position and a deployed position, wherein the rail is at least partially within a recess of the roof in the retracted position, wherein the rail is able to connect to an accessory arranged above the roof in the deployed position; and a joint assembly, wherein the joint assembly is configured to guide movement of the rail between the retracted position and the deployed position, wherein the joint assembly includes a first foot, a second foot, and a slotted track, and wherein the first foot and the second foot are arranged at least partially within the slotted track.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2025
    Publication date: July 17, 2025
    Inventors: Michael John Harmon, David Brian Glickman, Stuart C. Salter, Jeffrey Scott Mayville
  • Patent number: 12358496
    Abstract: Parking settings and map data indicative of parking locations in proximity to a structure that are available for the vehicle are maintained to a memory of a vehicle, the parking settings indicating a first time at which the vehicle is to enter an automatic parking mode in which the vehicle moves among the parking locations in proximity to the structure, and a second time at which the vehicle is to exit the automatic parking mode. In the automatic parking mode, responsive to the parking settings indicating an automated parking movement, the parking locations are selected from to determine a parking location into which to move the vehicle and the automated parking movement is performed using a virtual drive system of the vehicle to move the vehicle from a current parked location in proximity to the structure to the determined parking location in proximity to the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2025
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Brendan F. Diamond, Jonathan Hair, Keith Weston, Stuart C. Salter, Michael Alan McNees
  • Patent number: 12358441
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2025
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Richard Gall, Satyanarayana Raju Vemulapati, James J. Surman
  • Publication number: 20250225870
    Abstract: A traffic management system is disclosed. The system may include a transceiver configured to receive inputs from a sensor suite located in proximity to a first location, and a processor configured to obtain the inputs from the transceiver. The processor may be further configured to determine a count of vehicles in a vehicle queue in proximity to the first location and/or a vehicle queue length based on the inputs. The processor may further determine that a predefined condition may be met based on the count of vehicles and/or the vehicle queue length. The processor may determine a presence of a vehicle behind a point of interest in the vehicle queue based on the inputs responsive to determining that the predefined condition is met, and transmit an instruction to the vehicle to move to a second location responsive to determining the vehicle presence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2024
    Publication date: July 10, 2025
    Inventors: Brendan Diamond, Keith Weston, Anthony Maraldo, Stuart C. Salter, John Robert Van Wiemeersch
  • Patent number: 12351049
    Abstract: Charging cord assemblies for transferring power between electrified vehicles during in-flight bidirectional energy transfer events may include a cable including a wire bundle coated with a conductive foamed plastic shielding to establish a cable subassembly. The conductive foamed plastic shielding is configured to reduce electromagnetic interference (EMI) of the cable. Various cable routing arrangements may be utilized for routing the cable of the charging cord assembly during the in-flight bidirectional energy transfer events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2025
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: James Baumbick, Paul Kenneth Dellock, David Brian Glickman, Katherine Howard-Cone, Annette Lynn Huebner, Ryan O'Gorman, Stuart C. Salter, Peter Phung