Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Ford Motor Company Limited

Casco Products Corporation

Ford New Holland, Inc.

David John Rutkowski

Brian D Rutkowski

Thomas D Belanger, Jr

Russ Lee Norton

John Harry Floros

Paul Chester Dara

Gary Lee Firman, Ii

Clair E Mitchell

Imad Sharaa

Wendell J Ver Ploeg

Rudolf Beim

John H Tanzer

Peter Langer

Philip Mark Bator

Gregory J Holland

Edmund Scott Anderson

Karl W Wojcik

Timothy Patrick Diez

Shairyl I Pearce

Denny D Colovas

Douglas H McLean

Ma Ming

Rex J Eccleston

Mohammad H Arghavani-Badrabadi

Hassan Arghavani

Richard Cherry

John Repp

Larry I Ross

Systems, apparatus, and related methods for vehicle sensor calibration are disclosed. An example vehicle includes a sensor including an output; sensor interface circuitry including a transistor, the sensor interface circuitry communicatively coupled to the output; and processor circuitry communicatively coupled to the sensor via the sensor interface circuitry. The processor circuitry is to cause the transistor to activate to electrically couple the output to one of (a) a ground potential or (b) a voltage source associated with a voltage different than a voltage corresponding to an output voltage range of the sensor; and cause a code to be transmitted to the sensor. The sensor is to perform a calibration in response to the electrical coupling of the output to the ground potential or the voltage source and receipt of the code.

Systems, apparatus, and related methods for vehicle sensor calibration

Sense mirror circuitry receives a voltage signal having values corresponding to a magnitude of a measured current. Responsive to the values falling within a first predefined range, the sense mirror circuitry outputs a current at a first predefined magnitude that corresponds to the first predefined range. Responsive to the values falling within a second predefined range, the sense mirror circuitry outputs a current at a second predefined magnitude different than the first predefined magnitude and that corresponds to the second predefined range.

Sensor mirror circuitry with reduced error compounding

This disclosure describes a method for shorting one or more windings in a steering motor. The method determines that a signal has not been received at a circuit from a processor. The method discharges a first capacitor in the circuit in response to the circuit not receiving the signal from the processor. The method turns on a first plurality of transistors via a resistor in response to discharging the first capacitor. The method turns on a second plurality of transistors in response to turning on the first plurality of transistors. The method sends a short circuit signal from the second plurality of transistors to a steering motor.

Steering motor brake

A suspension system includes a vehicle frame component, a suspension component coupled to and movable relative to the vehicle frame component, a flexible sensor, and a rotatable joint. The flexible sensor is elongated between a first end and a second end, and the first end of the flexible sensor is fixed relative to one of the vehicle frame component or the suspension component. The rotatable joint couples the second end of the flexible sensor to the other of the vehicle frame component or the suspension component.

Suspension sensor

A damper control system includes a controller configured to estimate a temperature of a damper fluid based on data relating to heat added to and heat removed from the fluid. At least one damper is operatively coupled to the controller, and the controller is configured to control a size of a damper flow path of the at least one damper based on the estimated temperature. Methods relate to controlling at least one damper based on an estimated temperature of a damper fluid.

Suspension damper temperature compensation systems and methods

Exemplary methods are disclosed, which may include providing a conductive component configured to conduct a current to at least two electrical systems or elements. Methods may further include determining one of the electrical elements as a low-priority system and a second one of the electrical elements as a high-priority system, measuring or estimating a current associated with the at least two electrical systems to establish the current exceeds a predetermined parameter, and deactivating the low-priority system in response to at least the determination of the current exceeding the predetermined parameter.

Current limit management for multi-function systems

A vehicle damper monitoring system of the present disclosure may include at least one height sensor and at least one controller configured to receive signals from the at least one height sensor and generate a notification if the signals indicate that one or more suspension dampers of a vehicle need to be serviced.

System and method for vehicle damper monitoring

One embodiment of a drive system may include a motor shaft coupled to a gear set in connection between an input shaft and an output shaft. The system may also have a direct current motor selectively holding the motor shaft in a fixed position for engaging the input and output shafts to one another in response to a sudden power loss from a main power supply. The system may further include an auxiliary power supply enabling the direct current motor to provide a resistive torque.

Drive system with a direct current motor brake

A cable retractor for paying out and retracting an electrical cable providing electrical power to an electrical load on a movable window element comprising a first assembly having a rotatable cable spool for receiving the electrical cable for winding on the cable spool, the first assembly including a first housing having an opening therein for paying out a first end of the electrical cable wound on the spool and at least one electrical terminal for connecting a second end of the electrical cable on the spool to one of an electrical power source or the electrical load; a second assembly having at least one electrical connection connected to the first end of the electrical cable and further being connected to the other one of the electrical load or the electrical power source; thereby to provide power to the electrical load from the electrical cable; one of the first and second assemblies being mounted for movement with the movable window element and the other of the first and second assemblies being fixed; and a guide channel disposed between the first and second assemblies for guiding the electrical cable as the electrical cable is retracted into the first housing on the cable spool as the movable window element moves such that the first and second assemblies move relatively toward each other; whereby the electrical load is provided with electrical power from the electrical power source at all positions of the movable window element.

Electrical cable retractor assembly for a movable window

An electrical connector for supplying electrical power from a fixed member to a movable member that moves with respect to the fixed member, the movable member bearing an electrical load. The electrical connector has a first connector part fixed to the fixed member and connected to a source of electrical power. A second connector part is fixed to the movable member and is connected to the electrical load. The first connector part and second connector part are movable into electrical engagement when the movable member is moved adjacent the fixed member. The first connector part has a first housing, a movable enclosure in the housing, having first external electrical contacts, and a movable carriage bearing second electrical contacts. The movable carriage has first magnets or magnet attractive components, the second contacts being movable with the carriage by a first magnetic force into electrical engagement with the first contacts.

Sliding window magnetic electrical connector

A system and method for compensating the output of an uncompensated Hall Effect sensor used to monitor an output shaft of an actuator. The actuator includes an output shaft, a magnet coupled to the output shaft, a motor for rotating the output shaft between a first position and a second position and an electronic control module having a controller, a diode and an uncompensated Hall Effect sensor.

Hall Effect sensor temperature compensator

An actuator having an output shaft, a motor for rotating the output shaft between a first position and a second position, and an electronic control module having a controller and a sensor. The sensor is configured to output a signal to the controller indicative of the position of the output shaft, and the controller is configured to determine whether the output shaft is in the first position or the second position.

Calibration of a hall effect sensor

An arrangement of a flex circuit relay is provided. The flex circuit relay has a first substrate . A first connective member is connected on the first substrate . A second flexible substrate is provided having a contact portion spaced away from the first substrate in a first position and being spaced adjacent to the first substrate in a second position. A second conductive member is provided on the second substrate for making contact with the first conductive member . A piezoelectric actuator is connected with the second substrate to cause the second substrate contact portion to move between the first and second positions.

Flexible circuit piezoelectric relay

An arrangement of a flex circuit ( ) is provided which includes a first substrate ( ) with a connected first conductive membrane ( ) having a first gap ( ). A second substrate ( ) with a connected conductive membrane ( ) is spaced away from the first substrate ( ). At least one of the substrates ( ), ( ) is flexible. A first surface mounted device ( ) with a first end cap termination ( ), bridges over the first gap ( ). The end cap termination ( ) electrically connects with the second conductive membrane ( ) to complete an electrical circuit between the first and second conductive membranes ( ), ( ) when the substrates ( ), ( ) are displaced toward one another.

Flexible circuit relay

An arrangement of a flex circuit relay ( ) is provided which in a preferred embodiment has a first substrate ( ) and a second substrate ( ). The substrates ( ), ( ) have conductive membranes ( ), ( ) connected thereto. The second substrate ( ) has a contact portion ( ). Adjacent to contact portion ( ) is a ferritic member ( ). A coil ( ) is provided having wire windings wrapped around a core. The coil ( ) provides a magnetic field to cause the second substrate ( ) to move between a first position spaced away from the first substrate ( ) and a second position spaced adjacent to the first substrate ( ) against a flexural force of the second substrate ( ).

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Grosse lle, MI, United States of America

David John Rutkowski