Ford Global Technologies, LLC

Adrian Aguirre

Stuart C Salter

David Brian Glickman

Hussein H Berry

Dustin Shedlarski

Micah Jones

Michael J Kipley

John Robert Van Wiemeersch

Pietro Buttolo

Pedro Antonio Romero Oceguera

Alberto Soto Marin

James Robert Chascsa, Ii

Mike Kipley

Alana Strager

Ross Kern

Claudia Alejandra Ardura

James Simas

Guided driver positioning system and methods are disclosed herein. An example method can include determining gait for a user of a vehicle from images obtained from a camera, the gait being indicative of a posture of the user, determining a distance between the user and a display of the vehicle, and automatically adjusting a vehicle component in response to the gait and the distance to change a user position relative to the display.

Guided driver positioning systems and methods

A vehicle is provided that includes a steering wheel, a steering wheel sensor sensing rotational movement of the steering wheel, an accelerator pedal actuatable to accelerate the vehicle, a brake pedal actuatable to decelerate the vehicle, and a sensor sensing a signal indicative of an acceleration or deceleration of the vehicle. The vehicle also includes at least one proximity switch located on the steering wheel, and a controller configured to process the rotational movement of the steering wheel and the sensed signal and control an interaction mode of the at least one input switch, wherein the controller changes the interaction mode of the at least one input switch based on the sensed steering wheel movement and the sensed signal.

Vehicle having steering wheel switches and method to reduce false actuation

A vehicle is provided that includes a cabin interior, a seat configured to hold a passenger, a window having a movable panel actuatable between open and closed positions, and an actuator to power the window between the open and closed positions. The vehicle also includes an imaging device located in the cabin interior and oriented to capture images of a passenger seated on the seat and at least a portion of the movable panel of the window, and a controller processing the images to determine one or more characteristics of a face of the passenger. The controller further processes the images to monitor a position of the movable panel.

Vehicle having imaging device for driver and window monitoring

A vehicle includes a body defining an interior cabin having at least one seat and a tailgate rearward of the at least one seat at a rear end of the cabin interior, a shelf configured to extend between lateral sides of the cabin interior in a region between the at least one seat and the liftgate. The shelf is configured to be arranged in one of a first shelf position, a second shelf position and a seat backrest position, and a heating device operable to heat the shelf. The vehicle also includes an orientation sensor to sense orientation of the shelf in one of the first position, second position and backrest position, and a controller controlling temperature of the heating element based on the sensed orientation of the shelf.

Vehicle having reconfigurable heated shelf

A stationary vehicle seating system, including: a hanger bracket assembly configured to engage at least one hinge assembly of a stationary vehicle; and a seat structure that hangs from the hanger bracket assembly when the hanger bracket assembly is engaged with the at least one hinge assembly. A seat structure supporting method includes hanging a seat structure from a hanger bracket assembly that is engaged with at least one hinge assembly of a stationary vehicle.

Vehicle seat structure hanger bracket

A vehicle system, includes an upper liftgate of a split liftgate assembly, a lower liftgate of the split liftgate assembly, and a privacy panel assembly that extends between the upper liftgate and the lower liftgate. Another vehicle system includes a hanger bracket assembly configured to engage at least one hinge assembly of a vehicle, a liftgate assembly pivotably connected to the vehicle, and a privacy panel that is coupled to the hanger bracket assembly and the liftgate. A shielding method includes securing a privacy panel assembly to an upper liftgate of a split liftgate assembly of a vehicle, and securing the privacy panel assembly to a lower liftgate of the split liftgate assembly.

Privacy panel assembly for a vehicle

A seating assembly for a vehicle including a seat movable between a raised vertical position and a lowered horizontal position. A storage cavity is defined by an underside of the seat. The storage cavity includes a plurality of vehicle emergency items. Retaining features are disposed on the underside of the seat and secure the plurality of vehicle emergency items. An access opening is disposed on the underside of the seat. A door covers the access opening and is pivotally connected to the underside of the seat. The door is maintained in a latched condition until the seat is moved to the raised vertical position. The door moves to an unlatched condition when the seat is in the raised vertical position and access to the access opening is possible.

Integrated underseat storage

An interface system is provided for a truck box. A recess is formed in a sidewall of the truck box that is covered by a face plate. An interface apparatus may be inserted through an opening formed in the face plate. Sliding blocks may be included that are spring biased outwardly to permit an anchor portion of the interface apparatus to be compressed and inserted through the opening. The sliding blocks are then expanded within the recess to hold the interface apparatus to the sidewall of the truck box. A backing plate may be attached to an inside surface of the sidewall.

Growing community of inventors

Xochimilco, Mexico

Adrian Aguirre