Recent Ford Global Patents Granted...

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Fyi...

Ford Patents Granted Ford patent applications that are pending before the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).



Vehicle-based lighting control (https://patents.justia.com/patent/10201062)


Patent number: 10201062
Abstract: Infrastructure lighting is controlled from a vehicle. Wireless communication exists between the vehicle and at least one light source of the infrastructure lighting. At least one device of the vehicle is functionally linked to the infrastructure lighting. Switching on a light source of the infrastructure lighting is performed via wirelessly transmitting a first control command to the light source. Switching off the light source is performed via transmitting a second control command to the light source. A blinker is functionally linked to the light source such that activation of the blinker triggers the transmitting of the first control command to light source when vehicle headlights are switched on.
Type: Grant
Filed: March 22, 2018
Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
Inventors: Christoph Arndt, Uwe Gussen, Frederic Stefan, Frank Petri
Vibration assisted free form fabrication (https://patents.justia.com/patent/10195655)


Patent number: 10195655
Abstract: Systems and methods for forming a workpiece are disclosed. The system may include a fixture assembly for receiving a workpiece having opposing first and second surfaces, first and second tools, and a vibration source configured to vibrate the first and/or second tool. The first and second tools may be configured to move along first and second predetermined paths of motion as the first and/or second tool is vibrated by the vibration source and may exert force on the first and second surfaces to form the workpiece. The method may include vibrating a tool using a vibration source and moving the vibrating tool and another tool along first and second forming paths to form the workpiece. The vibration source may be an ultrasonic transducer and may vibrate the tool at a frequency of at least 1 kHz.
Type: Grant
Filed: July 28, 2015
Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
Inventors: Daniel E. Wilkosz, Vijitha Seraka Kiridena
Low profile battery assembly for electrified vehicles (https://patents.justia.com/patent/10199699)


Patent number: 10199699
Abstract: A battery assembly includes a plurality of battery cells and a support structure positioned about the plurality of battery cells. The support structure includes at least one sidewall and the at least one sidewall includes a first flange that extends adjacent a top surface of each of the plurality of battery cells and a second flange that extends beyond a bottom surface of each of the plurality of battery cells.
Type: Grant
Filed: December 22, 2016
Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Inventors: Stuart Schreiber, Patrick Daniel Maguire, Rajaram Subramanian, Edward Popyk, Keith Kearney
Motor core formed from a single steel source and having separately processed rotor and stator laminations (https://patents.justia.com/patent/10199910)


Patent number: 10199910
Abstract: Methods for forming a motor core having separately processed stator and rotor laminations are disclosed. The stator and rotor laminations may be formed from a single electrical steel source, such as a sheet or coil. The methods may include forming and heat treating a first portion of the steel source to form stator laminations having a first microstructure (e.g., mean grain size) and magnetic and mechanical properties (e.g., core loss). They may further include forming and heat treating a second portion of the steel source to form rotor laminations having a second microstructure that is different from the first and magnetic and mechanical properties that are different from the stator laminations. The stator laminations may have improved core loss and permeability performance and the rotor laminations may have improved mechanical properties. By separating the processing, each core may have properties tailored to conditions that they will experience in operation.
Type: Grant
Filed: October 3, 2014
Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Inventors: Feng Liang, Leyi Zhu, C Bing Rong
Sealed battery pack designs (https://patents.justia.com/patent/10199697)


Patent number: 10199697
Abstract: An exemplary battery pack includes a battery assembly and an enclosure assembly housing the battery assembly. The enclosure assembly is arranged to dissipate heat from at least two sides of the battery assembly.
Type: Grant
Filed: May 25, 2016
Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Inventors: Hari Addanki, Steve F. Chorian, George Albert Garfinkel, Keith Kearney, Kevin A. Montgomery, Chi Paik, Chung-hsing Kuo, Jeffrey Matthew Haag
Vehicle seating assembly (https://patents.justia.com/patent/10196002)


Patent number: 10196002
Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly is provided herein. The seating assembly includes a support structure defining a bin. A subassembly is disposed over the support structure and includes a cushion. The subassembly defines a void within the cushion. The void has a larger cross-sectional area than the bin. A seat insert is disposed within the void and is disposed over the bin.
Type: Grant
Filed: August 2, 2017
Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
Inventors: Raul Emilio del Puerto, Gerardo Diaz Paredes, Javier Bartolo Trujillo, Gregory Hagedorn, Ivonne Ruth Lepe, Arturo Emmanuel Salas Garcia
Suspension isolation portions, and suspension members incorporating same (https://patents.justia.com/patent/10195916)


Patent number: 10195916
Abstract: An isolation portion for a suspension member may include a substantially monolithic material configured to couple to a connected end of each of a first link and second link of the suspension member. The substantially monolithic material may be configured to dampen a vibration between the first link and the second link.
Type: Grant
Filed: October 20, 2015
Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Inventors: Keith Weston, Jorge Rivas
Tambour door and storage console incorporating a tambour door (https://patents.justia.com/patent/10196001)


Patent number: 10196001
Abstract: A storage console includes a housing having a storage chamber, an access opening and a guide track. The storage console also includes a tambour door including an articulated substrate and a plurality of slats carried on the articulated substrate. The articulated substrate includes integral overmolded guides and integral overmolded splines.
Type: Grant
Filed: June 27, 2017
Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
Inventor: Francis Raymond Gillis
Vehicle light system (https://patents.justia.com/patent/10195985)


Patent number: 10195985
Abstract: A vehicle is provided herein. The vehicle includes a headliner including a cover. A first luminescent structure is disposed on the cover and is configured to luminesce in response to excitation by a light assembly. The light assembly is disposed below the headliner. A controller is configured to activate the light assembly. The light assembly independently illuminates various portions of the luminescent structure.
Type: Grant
Filed: March 8, 2017
Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Carol C. Kordich, Paul Kenneth Dellock, James J. Surman, Julian Lopacki
Target monitoring system and method (https://patents.justia.com/patent/10196088)


Patent number: 10196088
Abstract: A target monitoring system and method are provided herein. An imager is configured to image a scene rearward of a vehicle and containing a target disposed on a trailer attached to the vehicle. A controller is configured to receive images from the imager, modify each image to increase the size of the imaged target, and analyze the modified images to determine at least one trailer related information.
Type: Grant
Filed: December 16, 2014
Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
Inventor: Erick Michael Lavoie
Vehicle trunk (https://patents.justia.com/patent/10196000)


Patent number: 10196000
Abstract: A vehicle trunk includes a panel having a leg protruding past a perimeter thereof and a trunk floor defining a recess and cavity. The leg occupies a first portion of the cavity to secure the panel perpendicular to the floor, and a second portion of the cavity different from the first to secure the panel flush within the recess such that the panel is disposed over unoccupied portions of the cavity.
Type: Grant
Filed: May 15, 2017
Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
Inventors: Pattrick Loew, Kendra White
Motor vehicle jack positioning system and method (https://patents.justia.com/patent/10195983)


Patent number: 10195983
Abstract: A motor vehicle jack positioning system includes a light source located adjacent a jack point for the motor vehicle and a controller configured to activate the light source in response to a data signal representative of a triggering event.
Type: Grant
Filed: September 6, 2016
Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
Inventors: Jose Abinadi Badillo Gutierrez, Pedro Garcia Zarco, Victor Negrete Cortes
Method and system for controlling water injection (https://patents.justia.com/patent/10196067)


Patent number: 10196067
Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for integrating engine water injection technology with a CVT transmission. Responsive to a driver demand, a controller may determine whether to maintain a current water injection state or transition to an alternate water injection state based on each of the efficiency of the transition, water availability, and any engine limitations that may be incurred at the engine speed-load following the transition. To improve the net fuel economy benefit while addressing the engine limitation, the water injection state transition may be combined with a CVT adjusted engine speed-load regime, while maintaining engine power output.
Type: Grant
Filed: July 21, 2016
Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
Inventors: Thomas G. Leone, Kenneth James Miller
Obstacle detection systems and methods (https://patents.justia.com/patent/10195992)


Patent number: 10195992
Abstract: Example obstacle detection systems and methods are described. In one implementation, a method receives data from at least one sensor mounted to a vehicle and creates a probabilistic grid-based map associated with an area near the vehicle. The method also determines a confidence associated with each probability in the grid-based map and determines a likelihood that an obstacle exists in the area near the vehicle based on the probabilistic grid-based map.
Type: Grant
Filed: April 3, 2017
Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Inventors: Marcos Paul Gerardo Castro, Dongran Liu, Sneha Kadetotad, Jinesh J Jain

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I guess this one should have gone here (I had put the link in GT350) ...notice that the headers may look familiar as they are the ones that, in the 11th hour of the development cycle, a Ford engineer designed on his own b/c he could not stomach the idea that the default headers that would have gone on the GT350 would have been castings, according to those who know him. So he stepped-up, did his own thing, and proved his design. :wtg:

Patent (http://pdfpiw.uspto.gov/.piw?PageNum=0&docid=08417439&IDKey=508D9C6FD123%0D%0A&HomeUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fpatft.uspto.gov%2Fnetacgi%2Fn ph-Parser%3FSect1%3DPTO1%2526Sect2%3DHITOFF%2526d%3DP ALL%2526p%3D1%2526u%3D%25252Fnetahtml%25252FPTO%25 252Fsrchnum.htm%2526r%3D1%2526f%3DG%2526l%3D50%252 6s1%3D8417439.PN.%2526OS%3DPN%2F8417439%2526RS%3DP N%2F8417439) US008417439

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Aug 2018 Ford Patent for [in door] puddle lamp generating a moving image.


2019 GT350 has puddle lamp showing an upright cobra logo but not a moving image.


I could see this potentially on an upcoming MGT or other mustang, esp since the patent illustration hints at a galloping pony.



24302


If you read the actual patent, there are no moving parts but rather a series of projections (presumably light-sequenced) such that the varying projected image would be to the "same general location" seemingly indicating that the mustang would be galloping in-place. Actually pretty cool! ...if entirely unnecessary -lol

...full patent (http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=10040392.PN.&OS=PN/10040392&RS=PN/10040392)

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Ford Patent 10,040,392 Aug 2018 for Puddle Lamp Moving Image Projection

2019 GT350 has a puddle-lamp (like some other mustangs) projecting an upright Cobra but NOT a moving image.

Patent image shows what would presumably be a galloping pony.

http://stangsunited.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=24303&d=1552840879

Looking at the full patent, if implemented on some future Mustang, the pony would be galloping in-place. There are no moving parts from what I can tell but rather an electronic sequencing of multiple puddle-light image elements focused on the same point on the ground, hence my conclusion the pony would be galloping in-place ...makes for a cool door light though motion is completely unnecessary -lol

Full patent. (http://stangsunited.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=24303&d=1552840879)

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This 2015-filednd now granted suspension patent is a true 'master' patent, imo. Extremely broad, it's not hard to conjure many applications for everything from Bronco and Raptor to Mustang and even heavy haulers. The Hagerty link below shows the main diagram and a patent summary. The click-thru near the bottom goes to the full patent (minus the drawing -- dunno why Justia click-thrus always seem to eliminate drawings but the Hagerty link below has it).

This is one mega-patent -- seemingly fully embracing virtually any level of active suspension integration imaginable.

https://www.hagerty.com/media/news/ford-patent-active-suspension-weird-applications-bronco/

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Full as-recorded Ford Dynamic Suspension patent at USPTO -- click "FULL PAGES" in left column at link below:

https://pdfpiw.uspto.gov/.piw?PageNum=0&docid=10315481&IDKey=9B26721B4FEB&HomeUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fpatft.uspto.gov%2Fnetacgi%2Fn ph-Parser%3FSect1%3DPTO2%2526Sect2%3DHITOFF%2526u%3D% 25252Fnetahtml%25252FPTO%25252Fsearch-adv.htm%2526r%3D1%2526f%3DG%2526l%3D50%2526d%3DPTX T%2526p%3D1%2526S1%3D%28%252522Ford%252BGlobal%252 Btechnologies%252522%252BAND%252B%252522dynamic%25 2Bsuspension%252522%29%2526OS%3D%252522Ford%252BGl obal%252Btechnologies%252522%252BAND%252B%252522dy namic%252Bsuspension%252522%2526RS%3D%28%252522For d%252BGlobal%252Btechnologies%252522%252BAND%252B% 252522dynamic%252Bsuspension%252522%29

[onecrazydog]

Systems and method for assigning vehicle suspension dynamics are disclosed. Control signals that correspond to a current driving dynamic of a suspension system of a vehicle are generated. A vehicle state associated with the generated control signals is computed and a non-traditional suspension mode is selected. Based on the computed vehicle state and the selected suspension mode, a suspension height of the vehicle is adjusted.


Sounds expensive!!


A steering system for a vehicle controls the turning of the road wheels. Conventional steering systems include rack-and-pinion systems with electric power-assisted steering, and steer-by-wire systems. Steering systems can include an electronic control unit (ECU) that is in communication with and receives input from a vehicle controller and/or a human driver. The human driver may control the steering via a steering wheel.

https://patents.justia.com/patent/20200114953

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I read most of that patent and few of the others but I found that one rather opaque in that it casts a such a very broad net of possibilities with very generalized/conceptual language. Then again, the most powerful patents seem to do exactly that.

I suspect (but dunno) this may be a potential exploitation of, among other things, the existing steering wheel hub system (available for a couple years now but I forget what Ford calls it -- dynamically modifies steering ratio mechanically in the steering wheel hub depending upon vehicle mode, speed, 'driver intent' , etc.) to dynamically adjust between driver intent and actual vehicle tracking. Could potentially also integrate with various other systems like stability control, collision avoidance, trailer back-up, trailer-sway control, etc.

Even if Ford never opens many of the opportunities umbrellaed in this patent, they remain covered and fenced-off and can be licensed, sold, etc. to potential infringers. Ford does have the most extensive patent portfolio in the global automotive industry -- both in total patents and the annual number of new patents (approaching 2 decades now).

I once had a [I]lengthy discussion with a patent attorney on a well-proven (non-product) advanced dynamic communication protocol we had prototyped, developed and were already running in production use on over 3,000(!) mainfames globally. He didn't seem to value the specific implementation as much as how the implementation might embody, relate to, impact or otherwise fence-off (my words) existing 'art' in the communications arena.