Visteon Global Technolgoies, Inc.

Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Ford Global Tech.inc

Peter Langer

Cindy Marie Rutyna

Jay DeAvis Baker

Richard Keith McMillan

Lawrence LeRoy Kneisel

Laura Viviana Hazebrouck

Brenda Joyce Nation

Charles Frederick Schweitzer

Robert Kwiecinski

Mark Christian Aaron

Paul Raymond Murray

Cindy Maria Rutyna

Eve Ann Hadley

Walter Kuzma Stepanenko

Susan Lynn Foust

An integrated light and accessory assembly for a vehicle is disclosed. The assembly includes at least one lamp for illumination of a vehicle, and also includes reflective, conductive and insulative portions inside a housing, and a module for controlling or accessorizing the assembly. Also disclosed is a method of manufacturing the assembly. The method includes providing materials for molding or shaping the components of the assembly, selectively etching conductive materials, molding the materials into a desired configuration, connecting a lamp and an accessory module to the conductive portions, and enclosing the components in a housing. A portion of the module may be removed for emergency lighting.

Integrated light and accessory assembly

A backup aid system () for detecting the presence of a trailer () includes a trailer connector () and a backup aid controller () that has an input () electrically coupled to the connector (). The backup aid controller () monitors a voltage level at input (). When the voltage level is above a first predetermined voltage, the controller () generates a backup warning signal. When the voltage is below a second predetermined voltage, the controller () disables the backup warning signal. Also, the system may monitor the voltage in between the first predetermined voltage and the second predetermined voltage to determine the presence of a lamp fault such as outage or corroded contacts.

Backup aid system and method for detecting the presence of a trailer attached thereto

A power supply module has an internal energy storage circuit to reduce the number of external wire connections to the power supply module. The power supply module is used to provide pulsed electrical energy to a load. The power supply module includes a semiconductor switch, an oscillator, and an energy storage circuit. The energy storage circuit accumulates energy for providing electrical energy to the oscillator to maintain stable, active operation of the oscillator and to provide a control voltage for the semiconductor switch.

Power supply module having internal energy storage circuit for stable oscillation

A method and apparatus for controlling engine temperature in a closed circuit cooling system of an automobile having an electric water pump , a flow control valve , and electric fan . A powertrain control module electrically coupled to the electric water pump , flow control valve and electric fan interprets inputs from various sensors to adjust the pumping speed of an electric water pump , adjust the rotational speed of an electric fan , and/or adjust the flow rate through a flow control valve to the radiator according to a look up table as a function of fuel economy, emissions, thermal management and electrical load management.

Electric waterpump, fluid control valve and electric cooling fan strategy

A pulse width modulated driver is provided for driving a load such as a halogen bulb, at a reduced voltage level. The driver includes a switch selectively opening and closing to apply a pulse width modulated signal V to a high voltage end of the load The switch operates responsive to a switch control signal V . The driver further includes a duty cycle control circuit generating the switch control signal V when an input operational voltage V is above a threshold voltage level. Finally, the driver includes an energy storage circuit for storing electrical energy when the switch is open to maintain the input operational voltage V above the threshold voltage level. The driver is connected on a high side of the load and does not require a separate line connected to system ground.

Pulse width modulated driver

A steering wheel heating assembly,which electively provides a relatively high voltage electrical signal to a heating element,which is coupled to a steering wheel, effective to heat the steering wheel. The assembly,includes a temperature sensor,which senses or monitors the temperature of the steering wheel and which communicates the monitored sensor to a controller,. Should the temperature of the steering wheel be above a certain value, the controller,prevents the relatively high voltage signal from being communicated to the heating element,. The controller,may also monitor the operating speed of the engine and prevent such signal communication when the engine is not being operated. The relatively high voltage signal allows a conventional clockspring wiring assembly,to be utilized since the power can be transferred at a lower current than would be required at a lower voltage, thereby obviating the need for a relatively costly and noisy slip ring assembly and relatively costly additional vehicular wiring.

Steering wheel heater assembly and a method for heating a steering wheel

Growing community of inventors

Lexington, MI, United States of America

Peter Langer