Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Mark Larry

Biaohe Guo

Erick Michael Lavoie

John Robert Van Wiemeersch

Pietro Buttolo

Kenneth Michael Mayer

Neha Singhal

Dongwoo Kim

Stuart C Salter

Brendan F Diamond

Ali Hassani

Jayanthi Rao

Todd Nelson Clark

Scott Alan Watkins

Eugene Karpinsky

Patrick Badaru

Tanmoy Joshi

Kathleen M Schulz

Mark Vincent Burns

Christopher Tulik

A computer that includes a processor and a memory, the memory including instructions executable by the processor to provide direct backlighting to a display device by generating a first image at a first viewing angle during a first time period by energizing an LED zone to a first luminance, controlling a first LCD zone to be at a first transparency and controlling a second LCD zone to be non-transparent. A second image can be generated at a second viewing angle during a second time period by energizing the LED zone to a second luminance, controlling the first LCD zone to be non-transparent and controlling the second LCD zone to a second transparency. The first luminance can be transmitted through the first LCD zone disposed over the LED zone and directed at the first viewing angle by a parallax barrier when the first LCD zone is at the first transparency and the second luminance can be transmitted through the second LCD zone disposed over the LED zone and directed at a second viewing angle by the parallax barrier when the second LCD zone is at the second transparency.

Dual view display

A near-field communication (NFC) reader is integrated with a display panel in a passenger cabin of a vehicle by constructing a hidden antenna of the reader into a portion of the display panel. The display comprises a touchscreen display providing a display surface coincident with a touch-sensitive input detector. A trigger monitor is configured to detect a user activity by a user which is indicative of a potential for the user to attempt pairing of a mobile NFC device with the hidden antenna. A positioning messenger is configured to generate a depiction on the display surface indicating a region to be covered on the display surface by the mobile NFC device to align a mobile antenna on the mobile NFC device with the hidden antenna. The NFC device may be a smartphone, a key fob, or an NFC transponder card.

Placement of mobile wireless device on a display panel with a hidden antenna

A system includes a processor and a memory. The memory includes instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations including perform a remote maneuver of a vehicle, and instruct a mobile device to provide a feedback to an individual.

Remote maneuvering system for a vehicle and associated method

A computing device may determine a first illumination value based on a first sub-area of an image of a display. The display may include LED zones. The first sub-area may be centered on the image. The computer may define a plurality of second sub-areas of the image based on the LED zones, determine second illumination values of the second sub-areas, compare the second illumination values to a value range, the value range being defined by at least one of an addition and a subtraction of the first illumination value and a threshold value, and actuate the display based on comparing the second illumination values to the value range.

Display light compensation

The disclosure generally pertains to a visor system of a vehicle. The visor system may include a multifunctional visor having a multilayer stack. A first layer of the multilayer stack may include a material whose optical transmittance is modifiable in response to a control signal provided by a controller, a second layer containing a material whose optical reflectance is modifiable in response to another control signal provided by the controller, and a third layer, which is interposed between the first layer and the second layer and includes a display system that turns optically transparent in response to another control signal provided by the controller. An occupant of the vehicle can make a selection to place the multifunctional visor in any of various states, such as a mirror state, a visor state, or a display state (for displaying images such as a speedometer and/or a GPS route map).

Systems and methods for a multifunctional visor for a vehicle

A vehicle having controllable light illumination includes a cabin interior, a plurality of light illumination devices located in the cabin interior, a user input configured to receive a user selectable lighting theme, and a controller configured to control the plurality of light illumination devices to simulate an environmental lighting condition based on the user selectable lighting theme. The controller controls color and brightness of the plurality of light illumination devices to simulate the environmental lighting condition.

Vehicle having selectable lighting environment and method

An apparatus and method, according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a transparent lighting source, a switchable opaque film bonded to the transparent lighting source to provide a vehicle component, and an electrical connection that connects to the transparent lighting source and the switchable opaque film such that the switchable opaque film is electrically controlled to switch between an opaque state and a transparent state. A control unit independently controls the switchable opaque film and the transparent lighting source based on a predetermined application for the vehicle component.

Vehicle lighting and display systems using switchable opaque film

A vehicle having a touch device configured to receive user inputs is disclosed. The touch device may include a haptic component configured to provide haptic feedback to a user and a force touch component configured to detect force applied by the user on the touch device and actuate the touch device. The vehicle may further include a transceiver and a processor. The transceiver may be configured to receive road information on which the vehicle may be traversing. The processor may be configured to obtain the road information from the transceiver, determine road condition based on the road information, and adjust parameters associated with the haptic component or the force touch component based on the road condition.

Automatic in-vehicle haptic feedback and force touch adjustment systems and methods

The invention is an apparatus used for providing control of functions of a vehicle in response to touch commands of an authorized passenger. The functions for which the authorized passenger is provided control are disallowed to the driver when the vehicle is moving. The passenger is authorized with two-factor authentication. The first of the two factors is the fingerprint of the passenger which is enrolled before vehicle movement. The second factor is the location of the passenger. The first factor is used when an occupant attempts to control disallowed functions. The second factor is used when an occupant attempts to enroll a fingerprint. A display panel displays a prompt to enroll a fingerprint before vehicle movement, uses a fingerprint interface to enroll an original fingerprint, and instantaneously captures fingerprints of those attempting to control disallowed functions and compares them to enrolled fingerprints.

Vehicle control panel with passenger detection for function enablement

A retractable video screen has switchable opaque films laminated onto a transparent display panel. A transport unit at a headliner of a passenger cabin includes a motorized carrier configured to move the video screen to 1) a stowed position in which the video screen is retained horizontally in the transport unit, 2) a forward position where the video screen hangs vertically from a forward end of the transport unit, and 3) a rearward position where video screen hangs vertically from a rearward end of the transport unit. A first opaque film is opaque and a second opaque film is clear when the carrier is forward, so that the display panel is viewable from the seating area. The second opaque film is opaque and the first opaque film is clear when the carrier is rearward, so that the display panel is viewable from outside the vehicle through the liftgate opening.

Video display retractable to vehicle headliner with dual deployment locations

Display technologies are provided for configuring the direction of content presentation using a single display assembly. In some embodiments, the display assembly includes a transparent display unit intercalated between a first switchable layer and a second switchable layer. Each one of the first switchable layer and the second switchable layer is formed to reversibly transition between a transparent state and an opaque state in response to an applied electric field. The transparent display unit, the first switchable layer, and the second switchable layer can be operated individually to configure a particular direction of presenting digital content. In other embodiments, the display assembly includes a switchable layer intercalated between a first transparent display unit and a second transparent display unit. The switchable layer, the first transparent display unit, and the second transparent display unit can be operated individually to configure a particular direction of presenting digital content.

Reversible configuration of content presentation direction in transparent displays

Exterior facing, multilayer display systems and methods of use are provided herein. An example method includes determining an amount of power for a multilayer display, the multilayer display having a first layer comprising a transparent display unit and a second layer comprising a reflective display unit, the second layer being bonded to the first layer, selecting the transparent display unit when the amount of the power is above a threshold amount, determining that amount of the power is above a threshold amount is below the threshold amount, and selecting the reflective display unit when the power is below the threshold amount.

Exterior facing multilayer display systems and methods of use

Method and apparatus are disclosed for gaze detection of occupants for vehicle displays. An example vehicle includes a panoramic display including polarized displays. The example vehicle also includes a controller to identify a primary operator interface and a primary passenger interface and detect, via one or more cameras, an operator gaze and a passenger gaze. The controller also is to present the primary operator interface to an operator via one of the polarized displays corresponding with the operator gaze and present the primary passenger interface to a passenger via one of the polarized displays corresponding with the passenger gaze.

Growing community of inventors

Macomb Township, MI, United States of America

Mark Larry