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).
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Patent number: 11918974Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 19, 2019Date of Patent: March 5, 2024Assignee: The Regents of the University of ColoradoInventors: John L. Falconer, James William Medlin, Lucas Delano Ellis, Hans H. Funke, Surya Parker
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Patent number: 11608040Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 1, 2020Date of Patent: March 21, 2023Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: William Falconer, Leonard Eber Carrier, Zachary Konchan, Erick Michael Lavoie
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Patent number: 10814846Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 11, 2017Date of Patent: October 27, 2020Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: William Falconer, Leonard Eber Carrier, Zachary Konchan, Erick Michael Lavoie
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Publication number: 20200331443Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2020Publication date: October 22, 2020Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: William Falconer, Leonard Eber Carrier, Zachary Konchan, Erick Michael Lavoie
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Patent number: 10810621Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 17, 2018Date of Patent: October 20, 2020Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: William Falconer, Zachary Konchan, James Hartman Teasley, George T. Dickinson
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Patent number: 10759433Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 14, 2018Date of Patent: September 1, 2020Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: William Falconer, Zachary Konchan, Leonard Eber Carrier, Erick Michael Lavoie
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Patent number: 10613539Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 16, 2017Date of Patent: April 7, 2020Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: William Falconer, Zachary Konchan, Leonard Eber Carrier, Erick Michael Lavoie
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Publication number: 20200090224Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2018Publication date: March 19, 2020Inventors: William Falconer, Zachary Konchan, James Hartman Teasley, George T. Dickinson
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Patent number: 10562403Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 23, 2018Date of Patent: February 18, 2020Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: William Falconer, Charles R. Boardman
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Patent number: 10473678Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 18, 2016Date of Patent: November 12, 2019Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Hans Gangwar, William Falconer
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Publication number: 20190291587Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2018Publication date: September 26, 2019Inventors: William FALCONER, Charles R. BOARDMAN
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Publication number: 20190111932Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 2018Publication date: April 18, 2019Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: WILLIAM FALCONER, ZACHARY KONCHAN, LEONARD EBER CARRIER, ERICK MICHAEL LAVOIE
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Publication number: 20190113924Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 16, 2017Publication date: April 18, 2019Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: William Falconer, Zachary Konchan, Leonard Eber Carrier, Erick Michael Lavoie
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Publication number: 20190047527Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 11, 2017Publication date: February 14, 2019Inventors: William Falconer, Leonard Eber Carrier, Zachary Konchan, Erick Michael Lavoie
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Publication number: 20170299621Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 18, 2016Publication date: October 19, 2017Inventors: Hans Gangwar, William Falconer