Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Ford Motor Company Limited

Irving Toivo Salmeen

Ronald Hugh Miller

David Michael DiMeo

Perry Robinson Macneille

Anya Lynn Tascillo

Gary Steven Strumolo

Mahendra Somasara Dassanayake

Chaitanya Kumar Narula

David Anthony Wagner

Sheran Anthony Alles

Byung R Kim

A vehicle safety system () includes a light source (). A beam-forming assembly () is optically coupled to the light source (). An object detection sensor () detects an object and generates an object detection signal. A controller () is coupled to the beam-forming assembly () and the object detection sensor (). The controller () adjusts illumination output of the vehicle safety system () in response to the object detection signal.

Adaptive vehicle communication controlled lighting system

A system for sensing a potential collision of a first vehicle ( ) with a second vehicle ( ) that transmits a second position signal. The first vehicle has a pre-crash sensing system ( ) includes a memory ( ) that stores vehicle data and generates a vehicle data signal. A first global positioning system ( ) generates a first position signal corresponding to a position of the first vehicle. A first sensor ( ) generating sensor data signals from the first vehicle. A receiver ( ) receives a second position signal from the second vehicle. A countermeasure system ( ) is also coupled within the first vehicle. A controller ( ) is coupled to the memory ( ), the global positioning receiver ( ) the first sensor ( ) and the counter measure system ( ). The controller ( ) determines a distance to the second vehicle in as a function of the second position signal. The controller determines a first vehicle trajectory from the vehicle data, the first sensor data signal and the position signal. The controller ( ) determines a threat level as a function of the distance and the first vehicle trajectory and activates the counter-measure system in response to the threat level.

Method and apparatus for activating a crash countermeasure

A method and system for sensing a potential collision of a first vehicle ( ) with a second vehicle ( ) is disclosed. The first vehicle generates a data signal in response to an urgent event, a transponder signal from a second vehicle ( ) or from an adaptive cruise control signal from the first vehicle. The first vehicle data signal includes a first position signal corresponding to a position of the vehicle and sensor signals from the first vehicle. The second vehicle ( ) receives the data signal and determines a distance and vehicle trajectory from the vehicle data, the sensor signals and the position signals. A countermeasure is activated in response to the trajectory and the distance.

Method and apparatus for activating a crash countermeasure using a transponder having various modes of operation

A system for sensing a potential collision of a first vehicle ( ) with a second vehicle ( ) that transmits a second position signal. The first vehicle has a pre-crash sensing system ( ) includes a memory ( ) that stores vehicle data and generates a vehicle data signal. A first global positioning system ( ) generates a first position signal corresponding to a position of the first vehicle. A first sensor ( ) generating sensor data signals from the first vehicle. A receiver ( ) receives a second position signal and a road condition signal from the second vehicle. A countermeasure system ( ) is also coupled within the first vehicle. A controller ( ) is coupled to the memory ( ), the global positioning receiver ( ) the first sensor ( ) and the counter measure system ( ). The controller ( ) determines a distance to the second vehicle in as a function of the second position signal. The controller determines a first vehicle trajectory from the sensor data signals and the position signal. The controller ( ) determines a threat level as a function of the distance, the first vehicle trajectory and the road condition signal and activates the counter-measure system in response to the threat level.

Method and apparatus for activating a crash countermeasure in response to the road condition

A method for operating a pre-crash sensing system for a vehicle having an object detecting system and an associated data storage. The method includes partitioning the vehicle operating environment into a plurality of zones wherein each zone represents a different area surrounding the vehicle. In response to detecting an object within any one of the zones, the method activates the zone, and modifies an state of the object detection system and the contents of,the data storage as a function. the active zone. In one embodiment, three zones are disclosed wherein each zone represents a spheroidal area surrounding the vehicle. When the furthest zone is active, all data within the data storage is given approximately equal processing priority. When the middle zone is active, the content of the data storage is modified to prioritize data regarding the detected object for processing. Finally, when the nearest zone is active, the content of the data storage is further modified to provide highest priority to data regarding the detected object.

Method and apparatus for pre-crash threat assessment using spheroidal partitioning

The invention is a process for decomposing dried paint sludge to recover the organic and inorganic components of the paint sludge as gaseous, liquid, and composite materials. The process comprises drying the paint sludge to remove water and organic solvents, pyrolizing the dried paint sludge in an inert atmosphere in an elevated temperature of up to about 600.degree. C. to form gaseous and liquid decomposition materials and a solid residue. The process further comprises collecting the gaseous and liquid decomposition materials and subjecting the solid residue to sintering in an elevated temperate of about 900.degree. to 1300.degree. C. in an atmosphere of nitrogen, argon or ammonia to convert the solid residue to composite materials comprising barium nitranate and titanium compounds such as titanium dioxide, titanium nitride, and titanium carbide. The gaseous and liquid materials may be further pyrolyzed to carbon materials.

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Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America

Irving Toivo Salmeen