Patents by Inventor William Falconer

William Falconer 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: 11918974
    Abstract: Functionalized zeolites, including a zeolite substrate and a self-assembled monolayer of a phosphonic acid on a surface of the zeolite substrate, are disclosed, as are methods of making and using the functionalized zeolites. The disclosed methods and compositions have various applications, including in the use of molecular sieves to separate small-molecule gases from mixtures thereof. Gas adsorption selectivities and diffusion rates of the functionalized zeolites may be tuned or selected according to the disclosed methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of Colorado
    Inventors: John L. Falconer, James William Medlin, Lucas Delano Ellis, Hans H. Funke, Surya Parker
  • Patent number: 11608040
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for traction control based on friction coefficient estimation. An example vehicle includes a plurality of sensors to measure qualities of a surface of a road and an anti-lock brake system module. The anti-lock brake system module (a) estimates confidence values for different road surface types based on the qualities of the surface of the road, (b) estimates a coefficient of friction between the road and tires of the vehicle based on the confidence values, and (c) adapt a traction control system by altering a target slip based on the coefficient of friction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: William Falconer, Leonard Eber Carrier, Zachary Konchan, Erick Michael Lavoie
  • Patent number: 10814846
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for traction control based on friction coefficient estimation. An example vehicle includes a plurality of sensors to measure qualities of a surface of a road and an anti-lock brake system module. The anti-lock brake system module (a) estimates confidence values for different road surface types based on the qualities of the surface of the road, (b) estimates a coefficient of friction between the road and tires of the vehicle based on the confidence values, and (c) adapt a traction control system by altering a target slip based on the coefficient of friction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: William Falconer, Leonard Eber Carrier, Zachary Konchan, Erick Michael Lavoie
  • Publication number: 20200331443
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for traction control based on friction coefficient estimation. An example vehicle includes a plurality of sensors to measure qualities of a surface of a road and an anti-lock brake system module. The anti-lock brake system module (a) estimates confidence values for different road surface types based on the qualities of the surface of the road, (b) estimates a coefficient of friction between the road and tires of the vehicle based on the confidence values, and (c) adapt a traction control system by altering a target slip based on the coefficient of friction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2020
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: William Falconer, Leonard Eber Carrier, Zachary Konchan, Erick Michael Lavoie
  • Patent number: 10810621
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a controller programmed to, responsive to detecting a barcode displayed outside the vehicle via an exterior sensor, decode the barcode, and project an image representing an information decoded from the barcode on a windshield of the vehicle, the image overlaying the barcode from a perspective of a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: William Falconer, Zachary Konchan, James Hartman Teasley, George T. Dickinson
  • Patent number: 10759433
    Abstract: A map, including potential obstacles, can be generated by a computing device in a vehicle. An estimated coefficient of friction between the vehicle wheels and a roadway surrounding a stuck vehicle can be generated based on sensor data. A path can be determined based on the map, and the stuck vehicle can be operated based on the path and a determined slip ratio based on the vehicle wheels to unstick the stuck vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: William Falconer, Zachary Konchan, Leonard Eber Carrier, Erick Michael Lavoie
  • Patent number: 10613539
    Abstract: An autonomous vehicle controller includes a memory and a processor programmed to execute instructions stored in the memory. The instructions include detecting that a host vehicle is on a low friction surface, generating a composite map representing locations of a plurality of high friction surfaces, selecting one of the plurality of high friction surfaces, and autonomously navigating the host vehicle to the selected high friction surface by executing a slip control process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: William Falconer, Zachary Konchan, Leonard Eber Carrier, Erick Michael Lavoie
  • Publication number: 20200090224
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a controller programmed to, responsive to detecting a barcode displayed outside the vehicle via an exterior sensor, decode the barcode, and project an image representing an information decoded from the barcode on a windshield of the vehicle, the image overlaying the barcode from a perspective of a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2018
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Inventors: William Falconer, Zachary Konchan, James Hartman Teasley, George T. Dickinson
  • Patent number: 10562403
    Abstract: This disclosure details electrified vehicles that are equipped with secondary battery packs for increasing the electric range of the vehicles. An exemplary electrified vehicle includes a cargo space, such as a truck bed, and a secondary battery pack positioned within the cargo space. The secondary battery pack is adapted to selectively supply power for propelling one or more vehicle drive wheels. In some embodiments, the secondary battery pack is configured as a floor liner that lines a floor of the cargo space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: William Falconer, Charles R. Boardman
  • Patent number: 10473678
    Abstract: Wireless transmission of wheel rotation direction is disclosed. A disclosed apparatus includes a tone ring exhibiting a rotational asymmetry and a detector to measure a rotational direction of a wheel of a vehicle based on the rotational asymmetry and to measure a rotational speed of the wheel, where the detector or the tone ring is operatively coupled to the wheel. The disclosed apparatus also includes a wireless transmitter to transmit the rotational direction and the rotational speed to a receiver proximate or within an engine compartment of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Hans Gangwar, William Falconer
  • Publication number: 20190291587
    Abstract: This disclosure details electrified vehicles that are equipped with secondary battery packs for increasing the electric range of the vehicles. An exemplary electrified vehicle includes a cargo space, such as a truck bed, and a secondary battery pack positioned within the cargo space. The secondary battery pack is adapted to selectively supply power for propelling one or more vehicle drive wheels. In some embodiments, the secondary battery pack is configured as a floor liner that lines a floor of the cargo space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    Inventors: William FALCONER, Charles R. BOARDMAN
  • Publication number: 20190111932
    Abstract: A map, including potential obstacles, can be generated by a computing device in a vehicle. An estimated coefficient of friction between the vehicle wheels and a roadway surrounding a stuck vehicle can be generated based on sensor data. A path can be determined based on the map, and the stuck vehicle can be operated based on the path and a determined slip ratio based on the vehicle wheels to unstick the stuck vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2018
    Publication date: April 18, 2019
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: WILLIAM FALCONER, ZACHARY KONCHAN, LEONARD EBER CARRIER, ERICK MICHAEL LAVOIE
  • Publication number: 20190113924
    Abstract: An autonomous vehicle controller includes a memory and a processor programmed to execute instructions stored in the memory. The instructions include detecting that a host vehicle is on a low friction surface, generating a composite map representing locations of a plurality of high friction surfaces, selecting one of the plurality of high friction surfaces, and autonomously navigating the host vehicle to the selected high friction surface by executing a slip control process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Publication date: April 18, 2019
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: William Falconer, Zachary Konchan, Leonard Eber Carrier, Erick Michael Lavoie
  • Publication number: 20190047527
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for traction control based on friction coefficient estimation. An example vehicle includes a plurality of sensors to measure qualities of a surface of a road and an anti-lock brake system module. The anti-lock brake system module (a) estimates confidence values for different road surface types based on the qualities of the surface of the road, (b) estimates a coefficient of friction between the road and tires of the vehicle based on the confidence values, and (c) adapt a traction control system by altering a target slip based on the coefficient of friction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2017
    Publication date: February 14, 2019
    Inventors: William Falconer, Leonard Eber Carrier, Zachary Konchan, Erick Michael Lavoie
  • Publication number: 20170299621
    Abstract: Wireless transmission of wheel rotation direction is disclosed. A disclosed apparatus includes a tone ring exhibiting a rotational asymmetry and a detector to measure a rotational direction of a wheel of a vehicle based on the rotational asymmetry and to measure a rotational speed of the wheel, where the detector or the tone ring is operatively coupled to the wheel. The disclosed apparatus also includes a wireless transmitter to transmit the rotational direction and the rotational speed to a receiver proximate or within an engine compartment of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2016
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Inventors: Hans Gangwar, William Falconer