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).

  • VEHICLE SENSOR CONTROL FOR OPTIMIZED MONITORING
    Publication number: 20230219529
    Abstract: Upon detecting a user departing a passenger cabin of a vehicle, a pose of the user id determined relative to the vehicle. A classification for a vehicle door is determined based on the pose. The classification is one of monitored or unmonitored. A sensor is controlled to monitor the vehicle door based on the classification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2022
    Publication date: July 13, 2023
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Brendan Francis Diamond, Hussein H. Berry, John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Timothy John Zuraw
  • SYNCHRONIZED VEHICLE OPERATION
    Publication number: 20230222811
    Abstract: While a host vehicle is within an area, a target vehicle is identified based on detecting the target vehicle within the area. Upon determining a component output, first instructions specifying the component output and a target vehicle component are provided to the target vehicle. A host clock for the host vehicle is synchronized with a clock maintained by a remote server computer. Then second instructions specifying to initiate, at a target time, actuation of the target vehicle component to provide the component output are provided to the target vehicle. Then a host vehicle component is actuated at a host time to provide the component output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2022
    Publication date: July 13, 2023
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Pietro Buttolo, Stuart C. Salter, Kristin A. Hellman, David Kennedy, William H. Wurz
  • CHARGING TRAILER AND METHOD
    Publication number: 20230219440
    Abstract: A charging trailer is provided and includes one or more motors to maneuver the charging trailer, a rechargeable battery pack for storing electrical energy, a recharging port for receiving electrical power from a charger to recharge the rechargeable battery pack, and one or more charging ports for charging one or more pieces of electrically powered equipment with the electrical energy stored in the rechargeable battery pack. The charging trailer also includes a controller for controlling movement of the charging trailer to position the charging trailer in a use position to charge the one or more pieces of electrically powered equipment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2022
    Publication date: July 13, 2023
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Lorne Forsythe, Hussein H. Berry, Todd Ansbacher, Pietro Buttolo
  • VEHICLE HAVING IMAGING DEVICE FOR PET DETECTION AND CONTROL
    Publication number: 20230219527
    Abstract: A vehicle is provided that includes an imaging device located on the vehicle and oriented to capture images, memory storing one or more pet profiles, and a controller processing the captured images to detect a pet and determining at least one of an estimated pose of the pet and a gait of the pet, wherein the processor determines a bone structure of the pet from the at least one estimated pose and gait and compares the bone structure to the one or more pet profiles to detect an authorized pet, the controller controlling one or more vehicle related features based on the detected authorized pet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2022
    Publication date: July 13, 2023
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Lawrence Amadi, Stuart C. Salter, John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Hussein H. Berry, Annette Lynn Huebner, Marguerite Lynn Kimball
  • SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR VIRTUAL PARKING LOT SPACE ALLOCATION
    Publication number: 20230222912
    Abstract: This disclosure describes systems and methods for virtual parking lot space allocation. An example method may include receiving, by a processor and from a first vehicle, sensor data relating to a first location. The example method may also include generating, by the processor and based on the sensor data, a first virtual parking space of a virtual parking location within the first location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2022
    Publication date: July 13, 2023
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jordan Barrett, Brendan Diamond, Michael Alan Mcnees, Keith Weston, Andrew Denis Lewandowski, Stuart C. Salter, John Robert Van Wiemeersch
  • VEHICLE POSE OPTIMIZATION FOR SENSOR MONITORING
    Publication number: 20230222898
    Abstract: Upon identifying a plurality of target regions for a monitored region, priority levels for the respective target regions are determined based on a user input. Vehicle sensors that are available to monitor the respective target regions are determined based on the priority levels for the respective target regions and parameters for the respective vehicle sensors. Based on the available vehicle sensors and the priority levels for the respective target regions, a pose is determined for a vehicle that optimizes monitoring of the target regions. The vehicle is operated to the pose.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2022
    Publication date: July 13, 2023
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Brendan Francis Diamond, Tarik Safir, Sam Harris
  • CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND HOME ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS
    Publication number: 20230219455
    Abstract: Responsive to indication that a predicted amount of solar or wind power from a power generating event will exceed a power storage capability of one or more power storage devices configured to receive the solar or wind power, controllers may command the one or more power storage devices to discharge energy to a power grid before the power generating event such that the power storage capability of the one or more power storage devices increases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2022
    Publication date: July 13, 2023
    Inventors: Stuart C. SALTER, Ryan O'Gorman, Timothy HARRIS, Peter PHUNG, Katherine HOWARD-CONE
  • VEHICLE SEAT STRUCTURE HANGER BRACKET
    Publication number: 20230219462
    Abstract: A stationary vehicle seating system, including: a hanger bracket assembly configured to engage at least one hinge assembly of a stationary vehicle; and a seat structure that hangs from the hanger bracket assembly when the hanger bracket assembly is engaged with the at least one hinge assembly. A seat structure supporting method includes hanging a seat structure from a hanger bracket assembly that is engaged with at least one hinge assembly of a stationary vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2022
    Publication date: July 13, 2023
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Adrian Aguirre, Dustin Shedlarski, Micah Jones, Hussein H. Berry, David Brian Glickman
  • Vehicle ride sharing system and method using smart modules
    Patent number: 11699110
    Abstract: A vehicle sharing system includes a vehicle having interior transceiver modules associated with different passenger seating areas and a vehicle computing system (VCS) including a processor and a memory in communication with the modules and programmed to detect occupancy status of each seating area based on signals from the modules and to communicate the occupancy statuses to a remote server to facilitate scheduling of ride-sharing passengers for a specified seating area of the vehicle. The reserved seating location may be used to align the seating location/door with a passenger during pick-up, adjust vehicle accessory settings associated with the reserved seating location, and activate a visual indicator to direct the passenger to the assigned/reserved seating location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Pietro Buttolo, Stuart C. Salter, James Stewart Rankin, II, James J. Surman, Annette Lynn Huebner, Jeffrey A. Wallace, Cornel Lewis Gardner
  • Systems and methods for evaluating loading and unloading times of items in a vehicle
    Patent number: 11699121
    Abstract: The disclosure is generally directed to evaluating loading and unloading times of items in a vehicle. The vehicle may be equipped with an object-sensing mat placed in a cargo area and coupled to a computer configured to execute a timing evaluation module. A first change in weight or pressure is sensed when an item is either placed upon, or removed from, the object-sensing mat. An increase in weight or pressure indicates loading of the item on to the vehicle, and vice-versa. The computer can generate a timing prediction model based on processing sensor signals from the object-sensing mat and determining the amount of time taken for loading or unloading items from the vehicle. In one application, a timing prediction model may be generated for each customer of a goods delivery service and used for optimizing delivery operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, TLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Kendra White, Annette Huebner, Pietro Buttolo
  • Vehicle exterior lighting systems with revealable fascia lamp assemblies
    Patent number: 11698180
    Abstract: Vehicle exterior lighting systems may be equipped with fascia mounted lamp assemblies. The proposed systems are capable of controlling a fascia lamp assembly to reveal the lamp assembly within the vehicle fascia and then produce various lighting effects based on sensed vehicle conditions. Exemplary fascia lamp assemblies may include a conductive lens that can be charged in order to reveal the lamp assembly within the vehicle fascia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Scott Aaron Ford, Aaron Bradley Johnson, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Stuart C. Salter, David Brian Glickman
  • METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR TRAILERS WITH ADJUSTABLE BATTERIES
    Publication number: 20230211641
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture for trailers with adjustable batteries are disclosed herein. An example trailer disclosed herein includes a platform, a battery disposed at a first location relative to the platform, a drive to move the battery relative to the platform, and a controller to determine a first load distribution on the platform and in response to determining the first load distribution on the platform does not satisfy a first threshold, adjust a position of the battery, via the drive, to a second location relative to the platform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2022
    Publication date: July 6, 2023
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Lorne Forsythe, Hussein Berry, Andrew Niedert, Darrel Alan Recker, Aaron Bradley Johnson
  • VEHICLE SENSOR CONTROL FOR OPTIMIZED MONITORING
    Publication number: 20230211753
    Abstract: Upon detecting an absence of a user inside a passenger cabin of a vehicle, an object inside the passenger cabin is classified as one of preferred or nonpreferred. Upon classifying the object as preferred, a sensor is activated to monitor an environment outside the passenger cabin based on determining the object is visible from outside the passenger cabin. A priority level for the preferred object is determined based on data from the sensor, wherein the priority level is one of high or low. A vehicle component is actuated to reduce the priority level based on determining the priority level for the preferred object is high.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2022
    Publication date: July 6, 2023
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brendan Francis Diamond, Stuart C. Salter, Hussein H. Berry, John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Tarik Safir
  • STRATEGIC RATIONING OF VEHICLE ENERGY FOR SUPPORTING HOUSEHOLD LOADS DURING POWER OUTAGES
    Publication number: 20230216304
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for coordinating and providing bidirectional energy transfer events between electrified vehicles and households or other structures, such as for supporting household loads associated with the structures during power outage conditions. In some implementations, available energy may be rationed from the vehicle to the structure based on a power outage restoration estimate. Rather than supporting household loads with constant energy during power outage conditions, the disclosed systems/methods may provide strategic rationing of bidirectional energy transfer in order to extend appliance operation for the duration of power outage conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2022
    Publication date: July 6, 2023
    Inventors: Stuart C. SALTER, Ryan O'GORMAN, Seth Anthony BRYAN, Peter PHUNG, William David TREHARNE, Katherine HOWARD-CONE
  • VEHICLE AUDIO ENHANCEMENT SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20230217167
    Abstract: The invention is an apparatus used to send sound exterior to the vehicle to a location on the interior of a vehicle which corresponds with the sound’s external location. The apparatus adjusts for gain by frequency and shifts frequencies of the audio signals received exterior to the vehicle to generate a modified audio signal. The adjustments include compensation for hearing loss, compensation for audio in the interior of the vehicle, and attenuation adjustments for unwanted exterior noise. The modified audio signal is generated by filtering unwanted audio from the exterior audio, adjusting for gain by frequency and shifting/compressing frequencies according to hearing deficiencies, and adjusting for gain by frequency according to audio in the interior of the vehicle. The modified audio signal may be limited to a maximum gain and then amplified in the interior of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2022
    Publication date: July 6, 2023
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Hussein Berry, Annette L. Huebner, Lucretia L. Williams, Robert W. McCoy, Monica Lam, John R. Van Wiemeersch
  • Vehicle having rear facing tailgate seating assembly
    Patent number: 11691547
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a cabin interior, a floor, and a deployable seat assembly. The deployable seat assembly includes a pair of deployable seat support assemblies, each having first and second pivot bars pivotally supported on the floor, a first rail coupled to the first and second pivot bars, wherein the first rail is raised and lowered as the first and second pivot bars rotate between first and second bar positions, and a second rail slidingly extendable from the first rail. The seat assembly has a seat supported by the second rail, wherein the seat faces rearward and extends rearward on the second rail as the second rail slides away from the first rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    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
  • Vehicle having sliding drawer positionable between compartments
    Patent number: 11685315
    Abstract: A vehicle including a passenger compartment is configured with one or more seats, a storage compartment separated from the passenger compartment by way of at least one wall, a housing extending through the at least one wall, and a drawer slidably positioned within the housing and movable between a first position accessible from within the passenger compartment and a second position accessible from the storage compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Aaron Gould, David Brian Glickman, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Katherine Howard-Cone
  • Vehicle exterior imaging systems
    Patent number: 11682216
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to vehicle exterior imaging systems that capture and display views of the exterior environment to vehicle operators. An exemplary vehicle exterior imaging system may include a glass panel including a combiner positioned between a first layer of glass and a second layer of glass, a first exterior side-view imager assembly configured to capture images of a vehicle exterior environment, and a projector assembly configured to project an output image onto the glass panel. The output image is based on the images captured by the first exterior side-view imager assembly. The glass panel may be part of either a windshield or a door window, and the projector assembly may be mounted either outside or inside of a housing of the first exterior side-view imager assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Paul Kenneth Dellock, David Brian Glickman, Keith Hoelscher
  • Slidable vehicle crossbars and cargo holding method
    Patent number: 11679709
    Abstract: A vehicle assembly includes, among other things, a cargo bed of a vehicle, a first crossbar spanning the cargo bed, and a second crossbar spanning the cargo bed. The first and second crossbars are slidable relative to the cargo bed. The first and second crossbars are slidable relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, William Wurz, David Brian Glickman, Pietro Buttolo, Paul Kenneth Dellock
  • VEHICLE RIDE SHARING SYSTEM AND METHOD USING SMART MODULES
    Publication number: 20230186182
    Abstract: A vehicle sharing system includes a vehicle having interior transceiver modules associated with different passenger seating areas and a vehicle computing system (VCS) including a processor and a memory in communication with the modules and programmed to detect occupancy status of each seating area based on signals from the modules and to communicate the occupancy statuses to a remote server to facilitate scheduling of ride-sharing passengers for a specified seating area of the vehicle. The reserved seating location may be used to align the seating location/door with a passenger during pick-up, adjust vehicle accessory settings associated with the reserved seating location, and activate a visual indicator to direct the passenger to the assigned/reserved seating location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2023
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Inventors: Pietro BUTTOLO, Stuart C. SALTER, James Stewart RANKIN, II, James J. SURMAN, Annette Lynn HUEBNER, Jeffrey A. WALLACE, Cornel Lewis GARDNER