Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Ian Salsbury

Benjamin Moffatt

Yasmin Jawad

Joseph Hornby

Jonathan Gregory

Tithal Bhandari

Jake Larsson

Christopher Harrison

Sanketh S Venkatesh Prasad

Bahareh Saboktakin Rizi

Cheok Man Chu

Parhum Purser

Jose G Das Neves Alves

Sheraz Atiq

The disclosure relates to simplifying the integration of a peripheral with a vehicle. The complexity of modern vehicle electronics means that integration of a peripheral with a vehicle requires a reconfiguration of the vehicle electronics in order for the resultant upfitted vehicle to function as desired by the user. This restricts the set of users and enterprises which are able to successfully integrate a new peripheral with a vehicle. To make the task more approachable, a software application is described which presents a user with a graphical user interface enabling them to specify, at a high-level, rules of behavior for the upfitted vehicle. From the user's inputs via the graphical user interface, the application creates configuration data to be applied to the vehicle electronics in order to produce the desired behavior in the upfitted vehicle.

Vehicle configuration for integration of an accessory

Systems and methods are described for operating a peripheral device of a vehicle. Control circuitry determines whether the peripheral device is connected to a vehicle controller. Control circuitry receives operational settings for the peripheral device, e.g., in response to determining that the peripheral device is connected to the vehicle controller. The vehicle controller is used to control the peripheral device using the received operational settings.

Methods and systems for operating a peripheral device of a vehicle

Methods and systems for using audio output devices to output audio content are provided. The audio output devices are provided in autonomously controllable vehicles. The vehicles are instructed to move to respective locations based on an audio output mode. For example, the vehicles may be arranged in a first configuration for a stereo sound mode and instructed to play left-channel or right channel audio data according to their location. The vehicles may be autonomously controlled to move into a different configuration for outputting audio content in another audio mode, for example, a surround sound mode. Where the audio output device is provided in a vehicle interior, such as internal speakers in a car, the vehicle may be instructed to, while playing the audio content, open the door and/or window.

Multi-vehicle audio system

A plastic panel forming part of a motor vehicle is disclosed having a number of embedded conductors for electrically connecting together an electrical connector and an electrical unit. Parts of the electrical connector and the electrical unit are formed as integral parts of the plastic panel. The electrical connector includes terminals connected to the electrical conductors for co-operation with terminals formed as part of a plug used to connect the conductors to other electrical circuits of the motor vehicle. In one embodiment the electrical unit is in the form of a fuse box having electrical terminals held in position by the plastic panel and in pairs for cooperation with a respective fuse.

Motor vehicle plastic panel having an integral electrical unit

An antenna assembly is disclosed in which at least part of the antenna assembly is formed as an integral part of an external plastic roof panel of a motor vehicle. In one embodiment a base member is formed as an integral part of the plastic panel, the base member being used to connect a flexible antenna to a circuit of the motor vehicle by means of an electrical connector. In a second embodiment the antenna is formed as an integral part of a base member. In both cases no aperture is required in the respective plastic panel and so no potential water leak paths are produced.

Motor vehicle antenna assembly

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Wickford, United Kingdom

Ian Salsbury