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: 20240075864
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a body, an access aperture that is defined by the body, a closure panel, a load ramp, and a moisture sensor. The access aperture provides access to an interior of the vehicle. The closure panel selectively covers at least a portion of the access aperture. The closure panel is movable between an open position and a dosed position relative to the access aperture. The load ramp is deployably coupled to the closure panel. The load ramp includes a coupled end and a free end. The load ramp is movable between a retracted position and an extended position. The moisture sensor is positioned proximate to the free end of the load ramp. Methods of controlling the vehicle are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2022
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Stuart C. Salter, David Brian Glickman, Peter Phung, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Pietro Buttolo
  • Publication number: 20240075883
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a storage compartment, a belt conveyor located in the storage compartment and having a slat belt supported by a pair of rollers, and a shelf operatively coupled to the slat belt and configured to move between a lower stowed position within the storage compartment and an upper deployed position extending outward from the storage compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2022
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, David Brian Glickman, Jeff Robert Seaman, Annette Lynn Huebner, George Abram Thornton, Michael John Harmon
  • Publication number: 20240075891
    Abstract: A vehicle electrical distribution system includes an electrical box having at least one power outlet. The electrical box is configured to be moved between a stowed position where the electrical box is housed within a compartment of a vehicle, and an deployed position where the electrical box is outside the compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2022
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Vyas Darshan Shenoy, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Jesse Rene Diephuis, David Brian Glickman, Michael John Harmon
  • Publication number: 20240066990
    Abstract: Remote power supply systems are provided for motor vehicles. The remote power supply systems may power auxiliary devices separate from the vehicle. Exemplary remote power supply systems may include one or more exportable power outlet boxes that include electrical power outlets for connecting the auxiliary devices. The electrical power outlets may be powered by a generator system of the vehicle. A control module associated with the remote power supply system may command one or more vehicle-specific actions designed to reduce the realized sound level at one or more nearby areas of interest when operating the vehicle in a power generation mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2022
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Vyas Shenoy, Brendan Diamond, William David Treharne, John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Ryan O'Gorman
  • Patent number: 11912235
    Abstract: While a vehicle is in a minimal power state, a first sensor is activated based on a location of the vehicle within a monitored area. The vehicle is transitioned to an on state based on detecting an object via data from the first sensor. Then the vehicle is operated to block an exit from the monitored area based on identifying the object as an unauthorized object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Sam Harris, Tarik Safir, Donald Paul Bilger, Thomas Joseph Hermann, Todd Ansbacher
  • Patent number: 11916420
    Abstract: A charge level of a sensor battery providing power to a sensor in a vehicle is determined. A charge depletion of the sensor battery is determined based on the charge level. A recharge rate to recharge the sensor battery is determined based on a time elapsed on a previously traveled path, a current charge level, and the charge depletion. Upon activation of the vehicle, one or both of a propulsion or a vehicle battery is actuated to recharge the sensor battery at the recharge rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Donald Paul Bilger, Tarik Safir, John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Zeljko Deljevic, Sam Harris
  • Patent number: 11914914
    Abstract: A system includes a display screen positioned to display on an exterior of a host vehicle, a user interface of the host vehicle, and a computer communicatively coupled to the display screen and the user interface. The computer is programmed to, in response to detecting a target vehicle having prespecified indicia, instruct the user interface to output an instruction to an occupant of the host vehicle, and in response to detecting personnel from the target vehicle, instruct the display screen to output a message to the personnel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Hussein H. Berry, Lucretia Williams, Monica Lam, John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Clay Carpenter
  • Patent number: 11912348
    Abstract: A vehicle is provided that includes a sensor arrangement configured to sense one or more regions proximate to an exterior of the vehicle, and a controller configured to process signals generated by the sensor arrangement and to detect and generate a geometric profile of a trailer in the one or more regions proximate to the exterior of the vehicle, the controller further determining an air resistance of the trailer based on the geometric profile and calculating an expected driving range of the vehicle based on the detected air resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Darren Palmer, Ryan O'Gorman, Peter Phung, Katherine Howard-Cone
  • Patent number: 11912206
    Abstract: An apparatus includes, among other things, a spare tire cover comprising an attaching ring configured to surround an outer circumference of a tire and a center panel that is attached to the attaching ring. At least one exciter is mounted to the center panel. A method includes, among other things, molding at least one temperature sensor to a center panel, mounting the center panel to enclose one open side of an attaching ring to form a spare tire cover, and mounting at least one exciter to the center panel to selectively generate a desired sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Paul Kenneth Dellock, David Brian Glickman, Annette Lynn Huebner, John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Jeffrey Robert Seaman
  • Patent number: 11916429
    Abstract: A power system includes a bidirectional power transfer inverter that receives grid power and can be electrically connected with electric vehicle supply equipment, and an auxiliary battery electrically connected with the bidirectional power transfer inverter and that supplies power to the bidirectional power transfer inverter and electric vehicle supply equipment while the grid power is unavailable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Harris, Stuart C. Salter, Ryan O'Gorman, Peter Phung, Katherine Howard-Cone
  • Publication number: 20240062156
    Abstract: A tool application system for a vehicle may include a database configured to maintain an inventory of items on a vehicle, and a server configured to receive a request for at least one item relating to a worksite from a technician, compare the request for the at least one item to the inventory, determine that the item is not part of the inventory, transmit a part request to at least one location based on at least one factor, and transmit instructions to the vehicle in response to receiving a response to the request from the location confirming availability of the item.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2022
    Publication date: February 22, 2024
    Inventors: Stuart C. SALTER, Brendan F. DIAMOND, Meghan PREISS, Annette Lynn HUEBNER, Lia PILLEN
  • Publication number: 20240059177
    Abstract: A local electrical energy management method includes, when an grid power source is not providing electrical energy to an electrical load, receiving electrical energy from an electrified vehicle and powering the electrical load with the electrical energy from the electrified vehicle. The method further includes compensating a user of the electrified vehicle for providing electrical energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2022
    Publication date: February 22, 2024
    Inventors: Dominique Meroux, Hossein Sartipizadeh, Ryan J. O'Gorman, Stuart C. Salter
  • Patent number: 11904761
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to an exterior lighting system for a motor vehicle. An example system includes a plurality of lights configured to illuminate an area adjacent the motor vehicle, a plurality of sensors, and a controller configured to selectively activate and deactivate the lights based on signals from the sensors. The example system includes various aspects configured to preserve energy, including reducing the polling rate of sensors corresponding to deactivated lights, increasing light intensity in proportion to the speed of detected motion, and only illuminating those lights that correspond to locations of a recognized user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Hussein Berry, Clayton Benjamin Ford, Paul Kenneth Dellock, David Brian Glickman, Dave Diamond
  • Patent number: 11904743
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a cabin interior, a floor, and a tailgate at the rear end of the cabin interior, wherein at least a portion of the tailgate pivots between a vertical closed position and a horizontal open position. The vehicle has a first seat track assembly is supported on the floor in the cabin interior, a second seat track assembly supported on the tailgate, and a seat assembly. The seat assembly including a first seat panel, a second seat panel, a bracket that allows the first seat panel and the second seat panel to pivot between a forward facing position and a rearward facing position, and a guide supporting the bracket on one of the first and second seat track assemblies, wherein the seat assembly may slide rearward along the first seat track assembly onto the second seat track assembly when the tailgate is in the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, David Brian Glickman, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Sean Bayle West, Johnathan Andrew Line, Peter Phung, Kevin Wayne Preuss
  • Patent number: 11905743
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a storage compartment having a door panel movable between closed and open positions allowing access to the storage compartment, a user input device located within the storage compartment, and a latch assembly for latching the door panel in the closed position. The latch assembly includes a first release stage in the closed position allowing the door panel to move to an intermediate position between the open and closed positions and a second release stage allowing the door panel to move to the open position. The vehicle also includes a vehicle speed sensor sensing vehicle speed and a controller monitoring the sensed vehicle speed and detecting a user input to the user input device and controlling the latch assembly to selectively allow the door panel to move to one of the intermediate and open positions based on the sensed vehicle speed and the detected user input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Annette Lynn Huebner, Kristin Ann Hellman, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Peter Phung
  • Patent number: 11904692
    Abstract: A workstation includes a dashboard for a vehicle having a recess on an upper surface, a first display screen extending from the dashboard, and a second display screen that is deployable between a stowed position within the recess in the dashboard and an extended deployed position aligned proximate to the first display screen. A control arm operatively couples the first display screen with the second display screen, wherein the control arm pivots about a pivot axis to deploy the second display screen proximate to the first display screen. The workstation has a deployable desk that pivots between a stowed position proximate to the dashboard and an extended deployed position forward of the dashboard, wherein the desk in the stowed position covers the second display screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, David Brian Glickman, Dustin Shedlarski, Micah Jones, Hussein H. Berry
  • Patent number: 11904947
    Abstract: Exemplary deployable splash guard systems for motor vehicles may include features designed for blocking road spray. The deployable splash guard systems may include a flap that is movable between a stowed position and a deployed position for blocking the road spray. In the deployed position, the flap is positioned within a spray field of a tire of the motor vehicle and is therefore positioned to block the road spray from spraying onto a door handle and/or other structures of the motor vehicle. A control module of the deployable splash guard system may be programmed to utilize a sensor weighting scheme for accurately determining when to deploy the flap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Jeffrey Robert Seaman, Annette Lynn Huebner, David Brian Glickman, Paul Kenneth Dellock
  • Patent number: 11904794
    Abstract: A pet restraint system for a vehicle is provided. The pet restraint system includes a leash configured to connect to a restraint device on a pet, a wearable device comprising one of a collar and a harness configured to be worn on the pet and connected to the leash, a retractor device coupled to the leash and configured to be secured to a support structure on the vehicle, a sensor for detecting an expected condition of the vehicle, and a controller for controlling the retractor to retract or lock the leash based on the determined expected condition of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Pietro Buttolo, Stuart C. Salter, Marguerite Lynn Kimball, Benjamin Yilma, Annette Lynn Huebner
  • Patent number: 11904665
    Abstract: An apparatus and method, according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a switchable glass structure supported within a vehicle and comprised of a plurality of layers. A power source is selectively applied to the switchable glass structure to change the switchable glass structure from opaque to clear. Markings are formed within at least one of the plurality of layers to identify user input areas. A control system includes a circuit configured cooperate with the power source to allow the switchable glass structure to act as a capacitive sensor such that user input to the user input areas can be sensed to change the switchable glass structure between opaque and clear modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Hussein Berry, Tom F. Boettger, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Harry Kon, Terry Vandenbrink
  • Patent number: 11906348
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a body, an aperture defined by the body, a closure panel, and a load sensor. The closure panel is movable between an open position and a closed position. The closure panel covers at least a portion of the aperture when the closure panel is in the closed position. The load sensor is coupled to the closure panel. The load sensor senses a load that is applied to the closure panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, David Brian Glickman, Peter Phung, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Pietro Buttolo, John Robert Van Wiemeersch