Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Mark George Vojtisek

Travis S Garland

William S Gulker

Jonathan B Barnes

Jamal Kanso

Douglas Richard Olson

John Robert Van Wiemeersch

Mahendra Somasara Dassanayake

Patrick Kevin Holub

Scott Howard Gaboury

Lisa Therese Boran

Donald Paul Bilger

Jeff Allen Greenberg

Yitah Richard Wu

Richard Alan Kreder

Carla Ann Gale

Christopher Thomas Berchin

Chad A Widrick

Theresa Carranza-Fulmer

Michael J Miller

Mary C Spieth

A winch system for a vehicle is provided herein. The winch system includes a winch assembly that is coupled to a body. A sensor system is configured to monitor the winch assembly. A controller processes information from the sensor system. The controller is configured to determine a duration of use and service condition of the winch assembly. The controller is also configured to determine an unauthorized condition based on tampering. The controller is further configured to determine an operational condition from at least one of the service condition and the unauthorized condition. A display generates a visual message when the controller determines the operational condition.

Vehicle winch system

An apparatus is for use with a pillar adjacent to a vehicle window, such as a windshield. The apparatus includes a molding for positioning adjacent to the pillar, the molding forming a channel in a deployed condition for receiving moisture from the vehicle windshield, or for reducing the effects of wind throb when a single vehicle window is open. An actuator may be associated with the molding for activating a non-deployed condition of the molding for reducing the effects of wind noise. The molding may include a passage for receiving an airflow and transmitting it to an outlet for directing fluid away from the molding, the pillar and adjacent side window. In the deployed condition, the molding may project from a surface of the pillar and in the non-deployed condition may be substantially flush with the surface of the pillar.

Active vehicle pillar arrangement for selective wind noise, wind throb, snow buildup and moisture control

An apparatus is for use with a pillar adjacent to a vehicle window, such as a windshield. The apparatus includes a molding for positioning adjacent to the pillar, the molding forming a channel in a deployed condition for receiving moisture from the vehicle windshield, or for reducing the effects of wind throb when a single vehicle window is open. An actuator may be associated with the molding for activating a non-deployed condition of the molding for reducing the effects of wind noise.

A rearward viewing system for an automotive vehicle comprises an image display mounted proximate to a front windshield of the vehicle. An exterior image sensor captures a first image directed externally of the vehicle with a first field of view. An internal image sensor captures a second image directed internally of the vehicle with a second field of view. An image integrator merges the first and second images according to a predetermined alignment of the first and second fields of view, wherein the second image is muted in the merged image so that the first image is emphasized when displayed on the image display.

Rear view camera system using rear view mirror location

A system includes a receiver configured to receive a signal representing a sequence of user inputs to a portable electronic device and an audible device configured to generate a sound based at least in part on the sequence of user inputs. A duration and volume of the sound is based at least in part on the sequence of user inputs received within a predetermined time interval. A method includes receiving the signal provided to the portable electronic device within a predetermined time interval and generating the sound based at least in part on the sequence of user inputs.

Automobile location detector

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.

Virtual vehicle entry keypad and method of use thereof

Growing community of inventors

Royal Oak, MI, United States of America

Mark George Vojtisek