Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Kristin Ann Hellman

Annette Lynn Huebner

Ryan Welch

Artur Stanislavovich Sakarian

Stuart C Salter

Matthew B Rutman

Paul Kenneth Dellock

Josh Greiner

Pietro Buttolo

Scott Holmes Dunham

Joshua Greiner

Cornel Lewis Gardner

Johnathan Andrew Line

David Brian Glickman

James J Surman

Christian J Hosbach

William H Wurz

Vichit Chea

Kristopher Karl Brown

Peter Phung

Jeffrey M Nowak

Bernard Gerard Marchetti

Aaron Halonen

Ali Ammar

David Kennedy

Matt B Rutman

Susan Drobyshewski

Christian John Hosbach'

Justin Strong

Coleen Reister

Lisa E Petrauskas

Gerald Douglas Neely

Christopher Harold Stone

A vehicle assembly according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a cargo bed of a vehicle and a crossbar spanning the cargo bed. The crossbar is slidable relative to the cargo bed. A lift assist device is mounted to the crossbar. The assembly can include a passenger side rail mounted to a passenger side wall assembly of the cargo bed, and a driver side rail mounted to a driver side wall assembly of the cargo bed. The crossbar can be slidably coupled to both the driver side rail and the passenger side rail.

Vehicle assembly having cross-bar mounted lift assist device and operating method

A first message is broadcasted to a plurality of remote computers identifying an attribute of a host vehicle. A second message including a request to receive data about the identified attribute in response to broadcasting the first message is received from one of the remote computers. Upon receiving the second message, a host vehicle component is actuated to output at least one of light or sound associated with the identified attribute.

Vehicle operation for providing attribute data

A vehicle door control system includes a door assembly, which includes a side door and a liftgate. The door assembly includes an actuation assembly that adjusts each of the side door and the liftgate between opened and closed positions. A sensor assembly defines a rear sensor field, a first side sensor field, and a second side sensor field. A controller determines whether a person in at least one of the rear sensor field, the first side sensor field, and the second side sensor field is a recognized passenger, determines a speed of the recognized passenger, determines whether the recognized passenger is carrying an object, and activates the actuation assembly to open at least one of the liftgate and the side door based on whether the recognized passenger is carrying an object, where timing of activation of the actuation assembly is based on the speed of the recognized passenger.

Vehicle door control system

A vehicle includes a storage compartment having a door panel movable between closed and open positions allowing access to the storage compartment, a user input device located within the storage compartment, and a latch assembly for latching the door panel in the closed position. The latch assembly includes a first release stage in the closed position allowing the door panel to move to an intermediate position between the open and closed positions and a second release stage allowing the door panel to move to the open position. The vehicle also includes a vehicle speed sensor sensing vehicle speed and a controller monitoring the sensed vehicle speed and detecting a user input to the user input device and controlling the latch assembly to selectively allow the door panel to move to one of the intermediate and open positions based on the sensed vehicle speed and the detected user input.

Vehicle compartment having speed-based latch control

A computer having a processor and memory storing instructions executable by the processor. The computer is programmed to: determine a total trip parameter associated with a destination of an occupant of a vehicle; determine a progress parameter since an outset of an occupant trip; and control a light output of a status assembly, wherein the output represents the parameters.

Providing trip status in a vehicle

An object is identified within a specified distance from a vehicle. The object is assigned a position in the vehicle and the object is detected in the position. Upon detecting the object in the position, a vehicle component is actuated.

Object detection

A mirror assembly is coupled to a vehicle and includes a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensor, a mirror, and a metallized cover. A conductive mirror base is coupled to the LIDAR sensor, mirror, and metallized cover to form the mirror assembly. The mirror and metallized cover are each grounded to the conductive mirror base where the mirror and metallized cover each help to shield the LIDAR sensor from electromagnetic interference.

Autonomous vehicle LIDAR mirror

A vehicle seating assembly includes a seat and a seatback. The seatback further includes a compartment in a side portion of the seatback. The compartment is pivotably and resiliently coupled to the side portion.

In-board seat storage

A cargo management system includes a roof rack, a storage compartment rack and a first cross bar. The first cross bar is displaceable between a first position carried on the roof rack and a second position carried on the storage compartment rack. Clips at the opposed ends of the cross bar allow the first cross bar to be secured in position on either rack.

Vehicle interior and exterior cargo management system

A seat leveler device is configured for use with a vehicle seating assembly having a rearwardly inclined seating surface. The seat leveler device includes a support portion having a conformable outer casing with a seat engaging surface arranged at an angle complimentary to an angle of the inclined seating surface. A support surface is supported by the support portion in a substantially horizontal manner. One or more anchor members having engagement features are tethered to either the support surface or the support portion, and are configured to couple to anchoring locations disposed on the vehicle seating assembly to retain the seat leveler device on the vehicle seating assembly. The seat leveler device may include retaining straps and a cage assembly for assisting in controlled transport of items.

Seat leveler for transporting cargo

A vehicle cup holder assembly is provided herein. A receptacle is assembled to a vehicle console and a light source is coupled to the receptacle. An accessory is coupled to the receptacle and is deployable therefrom to increase the number of available cup holders in which to receive a beverage container. The accessory is configured to luminesce in response to light excitation by the light source.

Vehicle cup holder assembly with photoluminescent accessory for increasing the number of available cup holders

A folding console is provided. That folding console includes a support, a panel connected by a first pivot to the support and a flap connected by a second pivot to the panel.

Folding console for motor vehicle seat

A cargo assist apparatus is provided for a motor vehicle. That cargo assist apparatus includes a panel and a translating and pivoting connector whereby the panel is displaced between a stowed position below an upper face of the seat bottom, a first deployed position projecting above the upper face and a second deployed position projecting forward from the upper face.

Seat extender/barrier panel for a motor vehicle

A center console includes a base and a bin supported on the base. The bin has a first section and a second section that define a variable volume storage compartment.

Expandable and reconfigurable console

A light bar is provided and includes an elongated carrier having a surface extending along the carrier. Capacitive sensors are spaced along the carrier and positioned below the surface. Light sources are included for illuminating the surface, each associated with at least one capacitive sensor and positioned proximate thereto. A controller is included for detecting capacitive changes in the capacitive sensors, wherein when the controller detects a capacitive change in a capacitive sensor, the controller alters an illumination state of a light source associated therewith.

Growing community of inventors

Walled Lake, MI, United States of America

Kristin Ann Hellman