Patents by Inventor Thomas Karl Rothermel

Thomas Karl Rothermel 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).

  • Patent number: 11964589
    Abstract: An electrified vehicle includes a storage compartment positioned forward of a vehicle passenger cabin and accessible by opening a vehicle hood, a thermally conductive plate or heat exchanger in contact with a bottom surface of the storage compartment and having an associated conduit configured for circulating a working fluid from a vehicle cooling system, and a valve operable to control flow of the working fluid through the conduit. The storage compartment may be filled with a cooling medium, such as ice or dry ice, to provide enhanced cooling during high-demand operation or charging of the vehicle, such as when operating in a performance/track mode, towing a trailer, or in other extreme use scenarios. The valve may be controlled so that the working fluid bypasses the conduit when the storage compartment is used for cargo and/or enhanced cooling is not desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Patrick Gordon Collins, David Michael Horan, Thomas Karl Rothermel, Jacob Gregory Powers
  • Patent number: 11807255
    Abstract: A system for a vehicle includes a first input device and a second input device that provides a plurality of selectable input options. The plurality of selectable input options comprises a plurality of control input options for controlling a plurality of vehicle functions and an association input option for associating the first input device with at least one vehicle function suggested from among the plurality of vehicle functions. The at least one vehicle function is suggested based on historical use of the control input option that controls the at least one vehicle function and an accessibility score of the control input option.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jacob Gregory Powers, Thomas Karl Rothermel, David Michael Horan, Patrick Gordon Collins
  • Publication number: 20230143533
    Abstract: A system for a vehicle includes a first input device and a second input device that provides a plurality of selectable input options. The plurality of selectable input options comprises a plurality of control input options for controlling a plurality of vehicle functions and an association input option for associating the first input device with at least one vehicle function suggested from among the plurality of vehicle functions. The at least one vehicle function is suggested based on historical use of the control input option that controls the at least one vehicle function and an accessibility score of the control input option.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2021
    Publication date: May 11, 2023
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jacob Gregory Powers, Thomas Karl Rothermel, David Michael Horan, Patrick Gordon Collins
  • Publication number: 20230145131
    Abstract: An electrified vehicle includes a storage compartment positioned forward of a vehicle passenger cabin and accessible by opening a vehicle hood, a thermally conductive plate or heat exchanger in contact with a bottom surface of the storage compartment and having an associated conduit configured for circulating a working fluid from a vehicle cooling system, and a valve operable to control flow of the working fluid through the conduit. The storage compartment may be filled with a cooling medium, such as ice or dry ice, to provide enhanced cooling during high-demand operation or charging of the vehicle, such as when operating in a performance/track mode, towing a trailer, or in other extreme use scenarios. The valve may be controlled so that the working fluid bypasses the conduit when the storage compartment is used for cargo and/or enhanced cooling is not desired.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2021
    Publication date: May 11, 2023
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Patrick Gordon COLLINS, David Michael HORAN, Thomas Karl ROTHERMEL, Jacob Gregory POWERS