Ford Patents
Ford Motor Company is a a global automotive manufacturer and distributor of Ford and Lincoln branded vehicles.
Ford Patents by Type- Ford Patents Granted: Ford patents that have been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
- Ford Patent Applications: Ford patent applications that are pending before the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 11973384Abstract: An electric motor includes a stator, an insulating layer, and a wire. The stator includes a first circular laminate and a second circular laminate. The first laminate includes a first finger having a distal end extending toward a center point of the first circular laminate. The second laminate includes a second finger having a distal end extending toward a center point of the second circular laminate. The first and second fingers define a wall. The distal ends of the first and second fingers define a space therebetween. The insulating layer extends along the wall and into the space. The insulating layer is spaced from the distal end of the second finger. The wire extends along the insulating layer below the distal ends of the first and second fingers.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2022Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: Ford Motor CompanyInventor: Xiaogang Zhang
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Patent number: 11973847Abstract: Intelligent ticketing and data offload planning is provided. A data center receives a ticket request from a vehicle requesting to perform a data upload of vehicle data over a communications network. An optimizer is utilized to generate a ticket, the ticket specifying a time and a location for the vehicle to perform the data upload. The ticket is received from the vehicle. The ticket is validated to ensure that the vehicle should still perform the data upload. The vehicle is indicated to perform the data upload over the communications network responsive to the optimizer confirming the data upload to proceed. The data upload is stored to a storage of the data center.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2022Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Omar Makke, Jeremy Lerner, Oleg Yurievitch Gusikhin
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Patent number: 11973241Abstract: A traction battery assembly according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a tray, at least one battery module, a lid secured to the tray to provide an enclosure having an interior that houses the at least one battery module, the lid having a lid aperture, and a reinforcement member is secured directly to the lid. The reinforcement member has a reinforcement member aperture. A fastener extends through the lid aperture and the reinforcement member aperture. The fastener is secured to a structure within the interior. The reinforcement member is secured directly to the lid separately from the fastener.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2021Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Yongcai Wang, James Lawrence Swoish, Melissa Kathryn Christensen, Yunan Guo, Ahteram Khan, Micah Smith, Michael Luchtman
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Patent number: 11973348Abstract: A controller initiates operation of a climate system in advance of a departure time defined by a user such that the climate system operates for a duration defined by the user before the departure time, provided that grid power from a plug is not available to power the operation. The controller also initiates operation of the climate system at a start time selected by the controller such that a temperature within a cabin achieves a target temperature defined by the user in advance of the departure time and the climate system does not operate for a duration defined by the user before the departure time, provided that the grid power is available to power the operation.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2021Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Charles Everett Badger, II, Angel Fernando Porras
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Patent number: 11972015Abstract: Removal of PII is provided. Sensor data is captured using sensors of a vehicle. Object detection is performed on the sensor data to create a sematic labeling of objects in the sensor data. A model is utilized to classify regions of the sensor data with a public or private labeling according to the sematic labeling and a PII filter corresponding to a jurisdiction of a current location of the vehicle. The sensor data is utilized in accordance with the public or private labeling.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2021Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: David Michael Herman, Gregg William Byrne, Akshay Vaidya
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Patent number: 11972685Abstract: A pollution management method is provided. The method comprises determining a target relating to a level of pollution in an area associated with one or more parking spaces; monitoring a level of pollution in the area; adjusting a parking policy of the one or more parking spaces based on a comparison between the target and the level of pollution, in order to incentivise or disincentivise parking in the area; monitoring vehicles parking in the area; and re-adjusting the parking policy according to the vehicles parking in the area in order to adjust the incentivise or disincentivise to parking in the area and thereby achieve the target relating to the level of pollution in the area.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2020Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Andrew Malczyk, Emily Jackson, Adrian Raisin
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Patent number: 11970044Abstract: A vehicle having a heating and cooling system includes a refrigerant loop for conveying refrigerant, a coolant loop for conveying coolant, a chiller configured to convey the refrigerant and the coolant, and a vessel coupled to the chiller and having a phase change material disposed in the vessel. The phase change material is configured to freeze via heat transfer from the phase change material to the refrigerant and melt via heat transfer from the coolant to the phase change material.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2020Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Tim Van Evans, Manfred Koberstein, Angelo Patti, Saad Afzal Bhatti
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Patent number: 11972669Abstract: A monitoring system for a vehicle includes a plurality of surveillance sensors in connection with the vehicle and configured to capture sensor data proximate to the vehicle. A position sensor is configured to detect a location of the vehicle. A controller determines a surveillance mode for the vehicle based on the sensor data and a plurality of security factors associated with the location of the vehicle. The controller activates the surveillance mode in response to the security factors and monitors the sensor data. The controller further filters a plurality of security events from a plurality of benign events and selectively outputs alerts in response to the security events and the benign events.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2022Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Douglas Rogan, Shruthi Venkat, Nikhil Nagraj Rao, Sam Harris, Tarik Safir
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Patent number: 11972888Abstract: An inductor for a converter of an electric machine includes a core defining a channel configured to receive transmission fluid on an outer surface of the core. Coils made of windings are wrapped on the core. The windings enclose an open side of the channel to define an oil flow passage, wherein oil flowing through the oil flow passage is in direct contact with both the windings and the core to absorb heat from the windings and the core.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2020Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Moon Young Lee, Baoming Ge, Fan Wang, Lihua Chen
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Patent number: 11970096Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly includes a seat base, a split seatback having a seatback frame and pivotally coupled to the seat base, the split seatback having a first seatback and a second seatback, a first pivot mechanism coupled to the seatback frame allowing the split seatback to pivot between an upright position and a folded position, and a motor for moving the split seatback to pivot to the folded position. The assembly also includes a second pivot mechanism comprising a pair of locking pivot mechanisms coupled to the second seatback for releasably holding the second seatback in an upright position, a dump spring operatively coupled to the second seatback to spring bias the second seatback towards the folded position, and a second mechanism comprising a pull mechanism for releasing the second pair of pivot mechanisms to allow the second seatback to move to the folded position.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2022Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Jaspinder S. Sahi, Matthew T. Jensen, Rabindranath Persad, Christopher Rumaczyk, Kurt Leon Kormos
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Patent number: 11970122Abstract: A motor vehicle bumper assembly according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a main bumper body and an actuator. The actuator includes a bracket mounted to the main bumper body, a screw jack supported by the bracket, and a trolley driven to translate by the screw jack. A lower support is mounted to the trolley. The actuator is configured to translate the lower support relative to the main bumper body from an integrated position to a deployed position.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2022Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: David Brian Glickman, Aaron Peter Klop, Dennis Yee, Satvinder Singh Matharu
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Patent number: 11970126Abstract: An assembly includes a vehicle body including an opening. A track is supported by the vehicle body and extends along the opening. A screen is supported by the vehicle body and is slideable along the track and across the opening between a retracted position and an extended position. The assembly includes a motor supported by the vehicle body and connected to the screen.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2020Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Dean M. Jaradi, Anil Kalra, Mohammad Omar Faruque, S. M. Iskander Farooq
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Patent number: 11970137Abstract: A vehicle includes a storage compartment, a belt conveyor located in the storage compartment and having a slat belt supported by a pair of rollers, and a shelf operatively coupled to the slat belt and configured to move between a lower stowed position within the storage compartment and an upper deployed position extending outward from the storage compartment.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2022Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Stuart C. Salter, David Brian Glickman, Jeff Robert Seaman, Annette Lynn Huebner, George Abram Thornton, Michael John Harmon
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Patent number: 11970153Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a driveline disconnect clutch of a hybrid vehicle are presented. In one example, a driveline disconnect clutch liftoff pressure is estimated according to a derivative of a driveline disconnect clutch pressure when a driveline disconnect clutch is being de-stroked. The driveline disconnect clutch may be prepositioned in anticipation of driveline disconnect closing based on the estimated driveline disconnect clutch liftoff pressure.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2022Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Akshay Bichkar, Corey James Blue, Samuel Melville Glauber, Joseph Kucharski, Bradley Dean Riedle
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Patent number: 11970131Abstract: A seatbelt retractor comprises a housing having a first end and a second end. The seatbelt retractor includes a spool having a first end and a second end each rotatably supported by the housing, the spool being elongated on an axis from the first end to the second end. The seatbelt retractor includes a torsion bar having a first end fixed to the first end of the spool and a second end operatively engaged with the housing. The torsion bar includes a wire elongated along the axis and connected to the first end of the torsion bar and the second end of the torsion bar.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2022Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Dean M. Jaradi, Mohammad Omar Faruque, S. M. Iskander Farooq
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Patent number: 11970037Abstract: A method for controlling a vertical vibration damping of a wheel of a vehicle, in which the wheel has a suspension including a vibration damper with a control element including an actuating element for adapting a damping characteristic of the vibration damper includes a series of steps. The vehicle includes a first sensor for detecting roadway anomalies, a second sensor for detecting a vertical displacement of the wheel, and a control unit connected to the first and second sensors and the control element. The method steps include detecting roadway anomalies with the first sensor, detecting the vertical displacement with the second sensor and switching the vibration damper with the control element at a first point in time from a first state with a first damping characteristic into a second state with a second damping characteristic when a first sensor signal generated by the first sensor indicates a roadway anomaly with a minimum height.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2021Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Cyril Coerman, Uwe Hoffmann, Georg Johann Maurer
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Patent number: 11970139Abstract: A storage module connects to a frame forming a door opening of a vehicle. The storage module includes a housing conforming to the door opening and extending into the compartment in an installed configuration. The storage module further includes an exterior panel disposed on a first side of the housing. The exterior panel conforms to an exterior surface of the vehicle enclosing the door opening. At least one storage compartment is disposed inside the housing and the compartment in the installed configuration. The storage compartment includes an access panel forming a portion of the exterior surface and forms a first storage volume.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2020Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Stuart C. Salter, David Brian Glickman, Hussein Berry, Adam Carlson, Peter Phung, Benjamin Richer
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Patent number: 11970185Abstract: Methods and systems for determining information about an area that includes a polygon for controlling navigation of an autonomous vehicle are disclosed. The methods include defining a bounding box that encloses the area, and generating a KD-tree from the bounding box that partitions the polygon into a plurality of leaf nodes that each include at least some of a plurality of edges of the polygon. The methods also include assigning a reference point to each leaf node, creating a data representation of the area that comprises the KD-tree, and adding the data representation to map data comprising the area. A reference point is associated with a location within that leaf node, and information relating to whether the reference point lies outside or inside the at least one polygon.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2021Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventor: Gregory Boyd Nichols
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Patent number: 11970998Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for diagnosing a heating element coupled to a canister of an evaporative emissions control (EVAP) system. In one example, a method (or system) may include evacuating the canister at different temperature conditions, and diagnosing the heating element based on the different times taken to evacuate the canister at the different temperature conditions.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2023Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventor: Aed Dudar
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Patent number: 11970989Abstract: Methods and systems are presented for improving operation of an evaporative emissions system. In one example, the methods and systems estimate a fuel vapor concentration based on output of a fuel tank level sensor and output of a fuel pressure sensor. A canister purge valve is adjusted to an initial position at a beginning of a fuel vapor purging cycle to reduce a fuel vapor purging time.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2022Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Aed Dudar, Dennis Yang, Jonathan Bauer, Kenneth Pifher
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Patent number: 11972378Abstract: A dispatch database maintains, for a plurality of vehicles available for dispatch, vehicle data and constraints data. A processor is programmed to execute a dispatch server to perform operations including to receive a dispatch request requesting a vehicle to arrive at a request location, utilize a machine-learning model to identify one or more of the plurality of vehicles to respond to the dispatch request, the machine-learning model utilizing the vehicle data and the constraints data as inputs to determine the one or more of the plurality of vehicles, and inform the one or more of the plurality of vehicles of the dispatch request.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2020Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Donald Conroy, Hyongju Park, Jeffrey McLendon, Fiona Gronowicz, Subrahmanyam Gade
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Publication number: 20240131935Abstract: An electrified vehicle includes a traction battery coupled to an electric machine that provides propulsive force, an auxiliary battery, a voltage converter coupled to the traction battery and configured to convert traction battery voltage to auxiliary battery voltage, and a controller programmed to control the voltage converter to provide either a non-oscillating voltage above a first voltage threshold, or an oscillating voltage having a peak below the first voltage threshold based on a vehicle start signal and a vehicle brake pedal position signal. The controller may control the voltage converter to provide the non-oscillating voltage in response to the vehicle start signal being received while the brake pedal position signal indicates a released brake pedal, and to provide the oscillating voltage in response to the vehicle start signal being received while the brake pedal position signal indicates a depressed brake pedal.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 19, 2022Publication date: April 25, 2024Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Hanyang CHEN, Michael J Irby
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Publication number: 20240131551Abstract: A varnish injector assembly for an electric motor includes an injector nozzle, a varnish reservoir fluidly connected to the injector nozzle, and a filament extending from the varnish reservoir. The filament is configured to direct varnish from the injector nozzle to a slot of a stator core.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2022Publication date: April 25, 2024Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventor: Xiaogang Zhang
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Publication number: 20240136899Abstract: A motor assembly tool includes a stator defining a plurality of slots and a varnish application fixture. The fixture includes a disc defining a plurality of slots, an outer shield disposed on the disc radially outward of the slots of the disc, and an inner shield disposed on the disc radially inward of the slots on the disc. The disc is disposed on the stator and the outer and inner shields are configured to direct varnish through the slots of the disc and into the slots of the stator.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2022Publication date: April 25, 2024Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventor: Xiaogang Zhang
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Publication number: 20240132160Abstract: A component for a vehicle includes a skid plate configured to attach to an underbody of the vehicle, a plurality of cooling channels extending in a longitudinal direction between the skid plate and the underbody of the vehicle, and a structural reinforcement extending outward from the skid plate. The skid plate, the plurality of cooling channels, and the structural reinforcement are additively manufactured in a unitary construction.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2022Publication date: April 25, 2024Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Keith Weston, Jim Stevens, David D. Friske, Mark Meinhart, Matthew Arthur Titus
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Publication number: 20240132013Abstract: A seatbelt retractor includes a frame and a spool having a first end and a second end each rotatably supported by the frame. The spool is elongated on an axis from the first end to the second end. The seatbelt retractor includes a plurality of torsion posts fixed to the frame. The seatbelt retractor includes a locking device operatively coupled between the spool and the plurality of torsion posts.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2022Publication date: April 25, 2024Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Dean M. Jaradi, Mohammad Omar Faruque, S.M. Iskander Farooq
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Publication number: 20240131898Abstract: A vehicle includes a body, a cabin that is defined by the body, an air delivery system, and a controller. The air delivery system includes a blower, an air register, ductwork, and an intake module. The air register is positioned within the cabin. The ductwork extends between the blower and the air register. The intake module is positioned upstream of the blower. The controller adjusts a speed of the blower as a function of a speed of the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2022Publication date: April 25, 2024Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Halim Wijaya, Alan Gutowski, Manfred Koberstein
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Patent number: 11964583Abstract: A computer can execute instructions to: receive power-receiving vehicle data identifying a power-receiving vehicle; identify one or more power-supplying vehicles for providing charging to the power-receiving vehicle; determine a rank for each of the identified one or more power-supplying vehicles based on the received power-receiving vehicle data and data received from the one or more power-supplying vehicles; upon selecting one of the one or more power-supplying vehicles, provide a navigation instruction to navigate at least one of the power-receiving vehicle and the selected power-supplying vehicle to a charging location based on a power-receiving vehicle location and a selected power-supplying vehicle location; and send access data to the power-receiving vehicle to access a charge port of the selected power-supplying vehicle; send a first light actuation instruction to the power-supplying vehicle based on a charging status; and send a second light actuation instruction to the power-receiving vehicle basedType: GrantFiled: August 3, 2021Date of Patent: April 23, 2024Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Stuart C. Salter, David Kennedy, Annette Lynn Huebner, Peter Phung
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Patent number: 11964632Abstract: A vehicle accessory attachment system include a structure having apertures. The system further includes a plurality of feet. Each foot is receivable within one of the apertures. The system further includes a locking assembly configured to transition back-and-forth between an unlocked position and a locked position. The locking assembly includes a biasing device, an extension coupled to one of the structure or the accessory, and at least one opening in the other of the structure or the accessory. When the locking assembly is in the unlocked position, the feet are slidable relative to the structure. When the locking assembly is in the locked position, the feet are received within one of the apertures and are shifted toward a side of the aperture to secure an accessory to a vehicle. The biasing device biases the locking assembly toward the locked position where the extension is received within the at least one opening.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2022Date of Patent: April 23, 2024Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventor: Matthew B. Rutman
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Patent number: 11964568Abstract: A vehicle includes a controller programmed to generate a command to an electric machine to reduce a torque output rate after an accelerator pedal is tipped out based upon a vehicle speed value and a wheel acceleration torque value. The torque output rate is initially reduced at a first rate, and is then reduced at a second rate slower than the first rate when the wheel acceleration torque value is greater than 0 Nm.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2020Date of Patent: April 23, 2024Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Bryan Michael Bolger, Sergey Gennadievich Semenov
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Patent number: 11964576Abstract: An electrified vehicle includes a wireless charger that wirelessly receives power from an external source, cameras, LEDs, a speaker, and at least one controller programmed individually or in combination to, when the wireless charger is receiving power from the external source, process images from at least one of the cameras and operate the LEDs and the speaker based on detection of an object within the images. The controller may change the color of the LEDs and/or sound emitted by the speaker in response to whether the object is detected within a first zone farther from the vehicle or a second zone nearer the vehicle. The LEDs and cameras may be positioned on external side mirrors, front, rear, and/or underbody portions of the vehicle. The speaker may be external to the vehicle cabin and provide an audible signal when operating the vehicle in electric mode at low speeds.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2021Date of Patent: April 23, 2024Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Kevin Mackenzie, Jonathan Barker
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Patent number: 11964693Abstract: A vehicle having park assist includes a plurality of powered closure doors, each door having an actuator for moving the door between closed and open positions, a plurality of sensors located on the vehicle for sensing objects relative to the vehicle and generating sensed signals indicative of the sensed objects, and a transceiver for communicating with a parked vehicle. The vehicle also includes a controller processing the sensed signals, determining a distance and location of the sensed objects relative to the doors, and determining a parking location for the vehicle in a garage where the closure doors are free from contact with an object in the garage when in an open position and are free of contact with powered closure doors on the parked vehicle. An output is provided to assist a driver of the vehicle to park the vehicle in the garage in the determined parking location.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2021Date of Patent: April 23, 2024Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Stuart C. Salter, Kristopher Karl Brown, John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Hussein H. Berry
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Patent number: 11967683Abstract: A system and method for intelligent battery charging management to improve battery life and charging efficiency of high capacity batteries that may not be deeply discharged on a regular basis may learn driving habits automatically and/or with user input and select an ending state-of-charge (SOC) to limit battery charging to less than maximum capacity based on current and/or anticipated ambient temperature and battery health of life (HOL). An expected vehicle travel distance before the next charge may be learned or determined based on vehicle or user inputs. An ending SOC based on battery temperature, a delta SOC to meet propulsive energy for the expected travel distance, cycling effect (depth of discharge) on battery HOL for a given delta SOC, and/or battery working efficiency may be used to control charging of the vehicle battery.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2022Date of Patent: April 23, 2024Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Xiaohong Duan, Yanan Zhao, Robert Taenaka
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Patent number: 11964064Abstract: A vehicle apparatus charges and sanitizes a mobile device. The mobile device has an inductive power receiver coil for wireless charging. A storage bin in the vehicle (such as a center console or a glove compartment) has a movable lid. A tray of the charging/sanitizing apparatus is adapted to receive a side surface of the mobile device so that a majority of the side surface is suspended from the tray by a gap. A first wireless power link is configured to inductively charge the mobile device from the tray to the power receiver coil. A plurality of ultraviolet emitters are disposed at a plurality of locations inside the storage bin to illuminate an exterior of the mobile device when the movable lid is closed. At least some of the ultraviolet emitters are also inductively powered.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2021Date of Patent: April 23, 2024Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Michael Hrecznyj, John Van Wiemeersch, Vivekanandh Elangovan
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Patent number: 11967744Abstract: A fuel cell vehicle includes a bypass valve positioned downstream of a compressor and upstream of a fuel cell stack to selectively direct airflow from the compressor to an exhaust bypassing the fuel cell in an attempt to clear a partially or fully obstructed exhaust pipe. The bypass valve may be opened by a controller when an exhaust throttle valve is at or near a wide-open throttle position. The controller may also increase compressor flow and adjust airflow to the fuel cell stack until compressor pressure, speed, or temperature exceed corresponding limits.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2022Date of Patent: April 23, 2024Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Martin Dale Pryor, Ryan Ma, Craig Michael Mathie
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Patent number: 11964692Abstract: A vehicle hitching assistance system includes a controller executing an initial alignment process including searching for a trailer within a specified area of image data that is less than a total field of the image data in directions corresponding with both a longitudinal distance between the vehicle and the trailer and a lateral direction perpendicular to the longitudinal distance, presenting an indication to a driver of the vehicle to reposition the vehicle when the trailer is not identified within the specified area, and removing the indication when the trailer is identified within the specified area. The controller further executes an automated backing process upon identifying the trailer within the specified area, including identifying a coupler of the trailer and outputting a steering signal to the vehicle to cause the vehicle to steer to align a hitch ball of the vehicle with the coupler of the trailer during reversing.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2022Date of Patent: April 23, 2024Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Luke Niewiadomski, Douglas Rogan, Shannon Brooks-Lehnert, Chen Zhang, Roger Arnold Trombley, Peter Ling, Kenneth Michael Mayer, Seyed Armin Raeis Hosseiny, Bo Bao, Steven Wayne Friedlander
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Patent number: 11964547Abstract: This disclosure relates to a motor vehicle with an arrangement configured to oppose movement of a vehicle door, and a corresponding method. An example motor vehicle includes a body, a door configured to slide relative to the body between an open position and a closed position, and a bracket connected to the door. The bracket includes a slot. Further, a locking arm is mounted to the body, and, when the door is in the closed position, the locking arm is configured to move such that the locking arm is received in the slot.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2021Date of Patent: April 23, 2024Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Michelle Carolina Herrera Gutierrez, Luis Enrique Castillo Jaime, Antonio Dario Garay Serrano, Alejandro Sánchez Islas, Zhibing Deng
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Patent number: 11964589Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 10, 2021Date of Patent: April 23, 2024Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Patrick Gordon Collins, David Michael Horan, Thomas Karl Rothermel, Jacob Gregory Powers
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Patent number: 11967184Abstract: A computer, including a processor and a memory, the memory including instructions to be executed by the processor to acquire a first image with a visible and NIR light camera and acquire a second image with an infrared camera. The instructions can include further instructions to determine whether the second image includes a live human face by comparing a first infrared profile included in the second image with second infrared profile included in a previously acquired third image acquired with the infrared camera; and when the second image includes the live human face, output the first image.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2021Date of Patent: April 23, 2024Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Ali Hassani, Jonathan Diedrich, Hafiz Malik, David Hiskens, Ryan Edwin Hanson
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Patent number: 11967864Abstract: An electric machine rotor including a rotor core having a plurality of magnets and several pairs of elongated slots circumferentially distributed on the rotor core. Each pair of elongated slots jointly forms a V-shaped configuration with an opening facing an outer periphery of the rotor core. Each elongated slot includes a mounting portion that matches the shape of the magnet and an end hole located at an end of the elongated slot pointing to the outer periphery. The end hole includes a main body area and a lobe area, and the lobe area extends from the main body area toward outside of the V-shaped configuration until it is partially located outside a side extension line of the mounting portion.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 2021Date of Patent: April 23, 2024Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventor: Chuan Deng
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Patent number: 11968261Abstract: Provided are systems, methods, and computer program products for monitoring, testing, or debugging transportation services, generating or transmitting an initiating message from a global manager cloud to an external service cloud, to invoke a transportation as a service (TaaS) message from external service clouds that comprise confirmation, also including generating or transmitting a simulated message from the global manager cloud to mirror the TaaS message, or a portion, transmitted on a TaaS link from the external service cloud to the on-vehicle modem, determining, a confidence threshold for a capability or security of the TaaS link, validating AV service data sent from the global manager cloud to a TaaS component in an on-vehicle black box of the autonomous vehicle system, validating AV compute data sent from the autonomous vehicle system to the TaaS component in the on-vehicle black box, validating TaaS message data received from the external service cloud.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2022Date of Patent: April 23, 2024Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Matthew Puchalski, Scott Plant
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Patent number: D1024860Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2022Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Joel Piaskowski, Doyle Letson, Christopher Walter, Omead Dorandish
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Patent number: D1024866Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2022Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Joel Piaskowski, Doyle Letson, Christopher Walter, Omead Dorandish, Christopher Stevens
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Patent number: D1024867Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2022Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Joel Piaskowski, Doyle Letson, Christopher Walter, Omead Dorandish, Christopher Stevens
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Patent number: D1024869Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2022Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Joel Piaskowski, Doyle Letson, Christopher Walter
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Patent number: D1024870Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2022Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Joel Piaskowski, Doyle Letson, Christopher Walter, Joshua Greiner, Rachel Robinson
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Patent number: D1024871Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2022Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Joel Piaskowski, Doyle Letson, Christopher Walter, Omead Dorandish, Joshua Greiner
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Patent number: D1024891Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2022Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Mark Kaski, Dean Carbis, Jeremy Leng
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