Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Lear Automotive Dearborn, Inc.

Donald Paul Bilger

Stuart C Salter

John Robert Van Wiemeersch

Mahendra Somasara Dassanayake

Tarik Safir

Sam Harris

Zeljko Deljevic

Arun Dutta

Megan Lovejoy

Nithya Somanath

Colleen M Cauvet

Collin P Hurley

Paul Kenneth Dellock

David Brian Glickman

Hussein H Berry

Arun Kumar

Thomas Joseph Hermann

Patrick Kevin Holub

Todd Ansbacher

Jeff Allen Greenberg

David Alan Hamilton

Mark George Vojtisek

Yitah Richard Wu

Justin Carroll

Andrew Matzkin-Bridger

Chad A Widrick

Javier Onate

Richard Bernhart Kolbas

A computer includes a processor and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to select a scanning rate for a first sensor of a vehicle based on at least one of data related to a current time or data related to a location of the vehicle; instruct the first sensor to run at the selected scanning rate; in response to receiving data from the first sensor indicating a newly present object, turn on a second sensor; and then record data from the second sensor. The second sensor has a higher power draw than the first sensor.

Battery-powered vehicle sensors

Upon determining a mobile object is approaching an ice layer above a body of water, a thermal image of the ice layer is obtained. The thermal image and ambient temperature data are input to a neural network that outputs a plurality of regions of the ice layer and respective estimated thicknesses for the regions. A classification for each region is determined based on its estimated thickness and the mobile object. The classification is one of preferred or nonpreferred. The classifications for the regions are output.

Ice thickness estimation for mobile object operation

Upon identifying an authorized user approaching a vehicle, vehicle locks are controlled to permit the authorized user to access an authorized area based on a user authorization. Permitted vehicle features within the authorized area for the authorized user are identified based on the user authorization. Upon receiving a user input selecting one permitted vehicle feature, the selected permitted vehicle feature is actuated based on determining that a state of charge of a battery is above a charge threshold. Upon determining that the state of charge of the battery decreases below the charge threshold, actuation of the selected permitted vehicle feature is stopped. Then an engine is controlled to charge the battery based on the user authorization.

Vehicle power management

While a vehicle is in a minimal power state, a first sensor is activated based on a location of the vehicle within a monitored area. The vehicle is transitioned to an on state based on detecting an object via data from the first sensor. Then the vehicle is operated to block an exit from the monitored area based on identifying the object as an unauthorized object.

Vehicle object detection

A charge level of a sensor battery providing power to a sensor in a vehicle is determined. A charge depletion of the sensor battery is determined based on the charge level. A recharge rate to recharge the sensor battery is determined based on a time elapsed on a previously traveled path, a current charge level, and the charge depletion. Upon activation of the vehicle, one or both of a propulsion or a vehicle battery is actuated to recharge the sensor battery at the recharge rate.

Vehicle sensor operation

A computer includes a processor and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to instruct a first sensor to run at a scanning rate; in response to a trigger event, reduce the scanning rate; in response to receiving data from the first sensor indicating a newly present object, turn on a second sensor; and then record data from the second sensor. The second sensor has a higher power draw than the first sensor.

A computer includes a processor and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to detect an object in data received from a rear-facing radar on a vehicle and activate an alarm in response to the object moving through a predesignated region behind the vehicle at a speed below a threshold speed or for a duration above a threshold time.

Vehicle alarm

In order to display driving assistance images to a driver in a vehicle, visible light images are captured using a visible light camera mounted for viewing a roadway on which the vehicle travels and infrared images overlapping with the visible light images are captured using an infrared camera mounted for viewing the roadway. The visible light images are normally displayed on a display screen when a visible light brightness around the vehicle is greater than a brightness threshold. Trigger conditions are monitored which are indicative of limitations of a driver visibility when directly viewing the roadway. The trigger conditions include a driver reaction. The monitored trigger condition is classified according to a plurality of predetermined classifications which indicate an occurrence of an impairment event. The infrared images are selected for display on the display screen upon occurrence of the impairment event.

Multi-camera imaging system selecting between visible and infrared views in a vehicle

A computer includes a processor and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to receive radar data from a radar sensor of a vehicle; demarcate a zone of coverage of the radar sensor, the zone of coverage having an area based on a number of objects indicated by the radar data; and after demarcating the zone of coverage, in response to detecting a newly present object in the zone of coverage, adjust a scanning rate of the radar sensor based on a distance of the newly present object from the radar sensor.

In a dimmable trim component for a vehicle interior, a trim article includes a reflective member having a photoreactive or an electro-optic coating disposed over the reflective member. The reflective member is configured to reflect ambient light. The coating is a bistable coating and is operable between a first light transmissive state and a second light transmissive state. When in the first light transmissive state, ambient light is transmitted to the reflective member for reflection by the reflective member through the coating. When in the second light transmissive state, a portion of the ambient light is absorbed by the coating and therefore, not reflected by the reflective member, such that the coating provides a dimming effect to the trim article in high ambient conditions.

Trim article with reflectance reducing features

A video display system includes a light source configured to generate light and a substrate having a plurality of pixels deposited on a first side of the substrate. Each of the pixels is formed from a plurality of photo-luminescent dyes, and the light source is configured to project light onto the first side of the substrate to illuminate at least a subset of the photo-luminescent dyes in a raster pattern to generate an image. In another embodiment omitting the substrate, the photo-luminescent dyes forming the pixels are deposited directly onto a screen.

Video display with photo-luminescent dyes

Method for reducing reflectance of bright decorative trim under high ambient light conditions

Keypad indicia are integral with a window of a vehicle. The keypad indicia are formed using a ultra-violet (UV) fluorescent dye that is nearly invisible to a human eye until exposed to UV light. A UV light emitting device of the vehicle is configured for outputting UV light. The light emitting device is mounted for enabling the keypad indicia to be exposed to the outputted UV light thereby causing the keypad indicia to become readily visible by the human eye. An imaging device of the vehicle captures user interaction with the keypad indicia while the keypad indicia is exposed to the outputted UV light. The keypad interaction processor determines if a sequence of body part movements with respect to the keypad indicia that is captured by the imaging device during exposure of the keypad indicia to the outputted light corresponds to an access code of the vehicle.

Growing community of inventors

Livonia, MI, United States of America

Donald Paul Bilger