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).

  • Sanitizing systems and methods and control strategies based on wavelength
    Patent number: 11793902
    Abstract: Sanitizing devices and control strategies based on wavelength are provided herein. An example device includes an enclosure for receiving an object, a first cleaning element that emits radiation at a first wavelength adapted to sanitize or sterilize contaminants on the object, a contaminant exposing element that emits radiation at a second wavelength that illuminates the contaminants on the object, a notification element that emits visible light within the enclosure, the visible light having a selected hue, and a controller for executing a cleaning cycle that includes illuminating contaminants present on the object using the contaminant exposing element prior to sanitizing or sterilizing the contaminants present on the object using the first cleaning element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Michael Hrecznyj, Paul Kenneth Dellock
  • Vehicle appliques
    Patent number: 11787352
    Abstract: A vehicle applique includes a base structure and a polymeric coating disposed on the base structure. The polymeric coating at least partially covers an outer surface of the base structure. A diffraction grating is integrally defined by the polymeric coating. The diffraction grating has a thickness in a range of from about 100 nm to about 300 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Paul Kenneth Dellock, Richard Gall, David Brian Glickman, Stuart C. Salter, Cornel Lewis Gardner
  • Vehicle rock rails with energy absorbing structures and associated methods for manufacture
    Patent number: 11787482
    Abstract: Rock rail assemblies are provided for motor vehicles. An exemplary rock rail assembly may include a beam structure, an energy absorbing structure, and an outer skin. The energy absorbing structure may reinforce the beam structure and may be configured to distribute point loads when an obstacle impinges upon the rock rail assembly. The beam structure may be made of a metallic material, the energy absorbing structure may be made of a foamed polymer-based material, and the outer skin may be made of a polymer-based material. The rock rail assemblies may be constructed in a manufacturing method that involves roll forming and extrusion processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Paul Kenneth Dellock, David Brian Glickman, Stuart C Salter, Patrick Reed
  • Vehicle cargo management systems
    Patent number: 11787397
    Abstract: This disclosure details cargo management systems for monitoring the regulatory compliance of cargo positioned on a vehicle. Exemplary cargo management systems may be configured to estimate a distance an item of cargo extends beyond a perimeter of the vehicle and then compare the estimated distance with a cargo-related regulation to confirm compliance of the item of cargo with the cargo-related regulation. The cargo management system may further be configured to detect positional changes of the item of cargo to ensure continued compliance of the item of cargo with the cargo-related regulation during vehicle operation. The cargo management system may issue an alert when the item of cargo is determined to be non-compliant with the cargo-related regulation or when the item of cargo shifts during vehicle operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Aaron Gould, Stuart C. Salter, John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Paul Kenneth Dellock, David Brian Glickman
  • Projection on a vehicle window
    Patent number: 11787290
    Abstract: A system includes a camera aimed externally to a vehicle, a window of the vehicle, a projector positioned to project on the window, and a computer communicatively coupled to the camera and the projector. The computer is programmed to, upon receiving data from the camera indicating a first person outside the vehicle, instruct the projector to project an image on the window depicting a second person inside the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Kristopher Karl Brown, John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Hussein H. Berry
  • Systems for accessing cargo spaces on vehicles equipped with a tailgate assembly
    Patent number: 11780373
    Abstract: Various vehicle systems are proposed for accessing and utilizing vehicle cargo spaces on vehicles equipped with a tailgate assembly. The vehicle systems may include deployable and/or rotatable stairgate systems, deployable step systems, etc. designed for the accessing the vehicle cargo spaces. The proposed systems may include various deployment mechanisms that enable the stairgate/step systems to slide, pivot, rotate, swing, and/or otherwise adjust for providing ease of access and increased flexibility when stepping up to access the vehicle cargo space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, David Brian Glickman, Dawn Piechocki, Dennis Yee, Darshan Arun Nayak
  • Vehicle having movable assist handle with light device
    Patent number: 11780356
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a body defining a door opening, a door movable between a closed position closing the door opening in an open position exposing the door opening, and a support structure located proximate to the door opening. The vehicle also includes a deployable assist handle having a handle body configured to be gripped by a user, the handle body being deployable amongst a plurality of positions including at least a first position and a second position, the assist handle comprising a lighting device, wherein the lighting device provides an illumination beam directed to a first region when the handle is in a first position and directed to a second region when the handle is in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, David Brian Glickman, Ryan Kosior, Lucretia Williams, Annette Lynn Huebner
  • Running board activated vehicle powered closure member systems
    Patent number: 11781369
    Abstract: Motor vehicles may be equipped with running board activated powered closure member systems. A powered opening or closing sequence of a closure member may be initiated by activating a running board assembly of the powered closure member system in response to a user input. The user input can be provided by a limb of the user, for example. In some embodiments, the running board assembly may include integrated sensors for receiving the user input. In other embodiments, the running board assembly may be configured to function as a switch for receiving the user input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Kristopher Karl Brown, Heather Woycik, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Hussein Berry
  • METHODS AND SYSTEMS OF CONTROLLING A VEHICLE TO SUPPORT ELECTRICAL LOADS EXTERNAL TO THE VEHICLE
    Publication number: 20230313748
    Abstract: A method, includes operating a vehicle to generate electrical power, outputting the electrical power from the vehicle to one or more loads external to the vehicle, and adjusting the operating based, at least in part, on noise generated by the vehicle during the operating. The operating can include operating an engine of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2022
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Deborah Bjorge, Ryan J. O'Gorman, Vyas Shenoy, Peter Phung, Mark J. Ferrel
  • GUIDED DRIVER POSITIONING SYSTEMS AND METHODS
    Publication number: 20230311652
    Abstract: Guided driver positioning system and methods are disclosed herein. An example method can include determining gait for a user of a vehicle from images obtained from a camera, the gait being indicative of a posture of the user, determining a distance between the user and a display of the vehicle, and automatically adjusting a vehicle component in response to the gait and the distance to change a user position relative to the display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2022
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Mike Kipley, Adrian Aguirre, Hussein Berry, John Van Wiemeersch, James Simas
  • Automated vehicle windshield wiper systems for minimizing the buildup of frozen precipitation
    Patent number: 11766995
    Abstract: Vehicle windshield wiper systems and methods are disclosed for controlling windshield wipers in a manner that reduces the buildup of frozen precipitation on the vehicle windshield. In exemplary embodiments, a windshield wiper can be automatically commanded to wipe a windshield at a pre-calculated wiping interval rate when precipitation is detected on a vehicle surface, a vehicle ambient temperature is below a predefined ambient temperature threshold, and a vehicle interior temperature exceeds a predefined interior temperature threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, David Brian Glickman, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Aaron Halonen, Daniel J. Martin
  • Charging notification strategies for vehicle-to-recreational vehicle energy transfer systems
    Patent number: 11766949
    Abstract: Systems and methods may coordinate and execute bidirectional energy transfer events between electrified vehicles and one or more participating electrified recreational vehicles. The proposed systems and methods may be configured to provide charging alert notifications from the electrified vehicle to the one or more electrified recreational vehicles during group off-roading events. The charging alert notifications indicate the need for the one or more electrified recreational vehicles to return to the electrified vehicle for charging during the off-roading event in order to avoid a no start/stranded condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Ryan O'Gorman, Peter Phung, Katherine Howard-Cone, Paul Kenneth Dellock, David Brian Glickman
  • Spare tire cover systems for motor vehicles
    Patent number: 11767069
    Abstract: Exemplary spare tire cover systems for motor vehicles may include features for assisting in raising/lowering a spare tire to/from a vehicle mounted position. Exemplary system features may include, but are not limited to, a deployable ramp, a wheel stop, a wheel catcher, and a strut assembly for moving the deployable ramp between stowed and deployed positions. The spare tire cover systems may additionally include features designed for increasing the functionality of the system, including but not limited to integrated deployable steps and handrails, lighting, sensors, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, David Brian Glickman, Jeffrey Robert Seaman, Annette Lynn Huebner, Paul Kenneth Dellock
  • Collective vehicle power management
    Patent number: 11763682
    Abstract: A computer is programmed to allocate a plurality of electric vehicles with associated electric machines to locations to perform tasks based on the charges of the electric vehicles and electric machines and expected energy consumptions of the electric vehicles traveling to the locations and of the electric machines performing the tasks at the locations; and in response to a sum of the charges of a first electric vehicle and the electric machines associated with the first electric vehicle being less than a sum of the expected energy consumptions of the first electric vehicle traveling to a first location and of the electric machines associated with the first electric vehicle performing the tasks at the first location, instruct a second electric vehicle to travel to a second location at which the first electric vehicle will be located.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Ryan O'Gorman, Timothy Harris, Peter Phung, Katherine Howard-Cone
  • Vehicle assist handle assembly having a display
    Patent number: 11760249
    Abstract: An assist handle assembly for use in an interior of a vehicle. The assist handle assembly includes an assist handle configured to be gripped by a user, a display connected to the assist handle, a communication link operatively coupled to the display, a connector configured to secure the assist handle assembly to a structural component in the interior of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, David Brian Glickman, Annette Lynn Huebner, Jim Baumbick, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Robert J. Gelardi, Daniel J. Martin
  • Battery-powered vehicle sensors
    Patent number: 11760281
    Abstract: A computer includes a processor and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to instruct a first sensor to run at a scanning rate; in response to a trigger event, reduce the scanning rate; in response to receiving data from the first sensor indicating a newly present object, turn on a second sensor; and then record data from the second sensor. The second sensor has a higher power draw than the first sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Justin Carroll, Donald Paul Bilger, Zeljko Deljevic, Hussein H. Berry
  • Vehicle seat assembly having assist handle
    Patent number: 11752912
    Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly includes a seat, a seatback operatively coupled to the seat, and an assist handle located on the seat back, wherein the assist handle is releasable from a stowed position and pivotable outward to a first deployed position and rotatable laterally to a second deployed position. The vehicle seat assembly also includes a release mechanism configured to release the assist handle from at least one of the stowed position and the second deployed position, the release mechanism comprising a bias feature to bias the assist handle towards the first deployed position or the stowed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, David Brian Glickman, Lucretia Williams, Annette Lynn Huebner, Johnathan Andrew Line
  • OUTDOOR HEATING SYSTEM FOR MOTOR VEHICLE
    Publication number: 20230278389
    Abstract: In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to an outdoor heating system for a motor vehicle, including: a heater electrically connected to a power source of the motor vehicle and to a controller of the motor vehicle, wherein the heater is at least partially outside the motor vehicle, and wherein the controller is configured to issue commands to the heater to selectively adjust an output level of the heater and to selectively adjust an orientation of the heater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2022
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Jeffrey Robert Seaman, Brendan Diamond, Annette Lynn Huebner, Ryan O'Gorman
  • Vehicle security system
    Patent number: 11738713
    Abstract: A computer includes a processor and a memory. The memory stores instructions executable by the processor to determine, based on vehicle sensor data, that an object is present in a vehicle compartment; and to actuate the vehicle compartment to close based on the object presence, a user proximity to the vehicle, and environmental data including at least a risk index and an environmental condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Kendra White, Annette Lynn Huebner, Kristopher Karl Brown
  • Integrated pick up truck bed
    Patent number: 11739584
    Abstract: A vehicle cargo compartment system includes an electric outlet mounted within an accessible location within a vehicle cargo compartment and a sensor assembly mounted proximate the electric outlet within the cargo compartment for detecting a presence of an electrical power cord. The cargo compartment system integrates powered features such as an electric outlet, powered tailgate and the powered top that utilizes environmental information gathered by various sensors on the vehicle in combination with predefined actions to simplify use and automate operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, David Brian Glickman, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Aaron Halonen, Kristopher Karl Brown