Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Ford Motor Company Limited

Ronald Patrick Brombach

John Robert Van Wiemeersch

Anthony Dwayne Cooprider

Karl Wojcik

Thomas Lee Miller

John Thomas Ricks

Kevin Thomas Hille

Brian Bennie

Robert Bruce Kleve

Howard Paul Tsvi Linden

Lisa Therese Boran

Terry Thomas Cwik

Jim Michael Weinfurther

Matthew J Dalebout

Kosta Papanikolaou

Ryan Edwin Hanson

Laura Viviana Hazebrouck

Andrew D Sarkisian

Scott Alan Watkins

Daniel James Card

Aaron Lewis Mills

Henry W Hausler

Thomas Michael McQuade

Daniel M King

Donald Paul Iacovoni

Paul L Heirtzler, Jr

Michael Irby

Lawrence Daniel Cepuran

Christopher Matthew Radjewski

Noah Barlow Mass

James Weinfurther

Daniel Carl Bejune

H Paul Tsvi Linden

George Anthony Bernwanger, Jr

Shimul Bhuva

David J Dainelis

Erick Michael Lavoie

Rajesh K Patel

Hanyang B Chen

Kevin Stanton Giaier

Alyssa Chatten

Frederick James Porter

Maria Eugenia Protopapas

Mark Christian Aaron

Raymond S Alvey

Douglas George Rosner

Leena Shah

Timothy John Zuraw

Conrad M Smith

John Barrs

John Steven McWilliams

Maeen Mawari

Bradley Allen Drogosch

Fernando Cruz Solis

Brian Tian

Amol Bhaskar Kurkute

Monirul Huq Talukder

Madhuri Narvekar

A powered latch system for motor vehicles includes at least one powered latch that can be controlled based, at least in part, on vehicle operating conditions. The system may be configured to control unlatching of the vehicle doors utilizing data relating to the vehicle speed and/or the existence of a crash event. The powered latch system can be configured as required for various vehicles, and to accommodate specific operating requirements with respect to child locks in various geographic jurisdictions.

Electronic safe door unlatching operations

A latch system for vehicle doors includes a powered latch including a powered actuator that is configured to unlatch the powered latch. An interior unlatch input feature such as an unlatch switch can be actuated by a user to provide an unlatch request. The system may include a controller that is operably connected to the powered actuator of the powered latch. The controller is configured such that it does not unlatch the powered latch if a vehicle speed is greater than a predefined value unless the interior latch feature is actuated at least two times according to predefined criteria.

Powered latch system for vehicle doors and control system therefor

A vehicle is able to be set to operate in a factory mode (as opposed to a normal mode) in which certain features are disabled, such as an alarm system, a power liftgate, etc. This allows assembly workers to assemble, test, and calibrate the vehicle without various systems in the vehicle being undesirably activated. While in the factory mode, the vehicle can accomplish multiple ignition on/off cycles while being tested or driven between stations. A steering column and connected steering wheel are provided in the vehicle, and are situated between an instrument panel and a front seat. In response to the ignition completing an on/off cycle, a controller commands a motor to move the steering wheel and steering column to a predetermined position that is based on a visibility of the instrument panel relative to the steering wheel and steering column.

Optimizing alignment of steering column and steering wheel during vehicle production

A vehicle door includes a door panel slidably operable between a secured position within a door aperture and a staging position partially distal from the door aperture. A latch is engaged with a striker path during operation of the door panel between the secured and staging positions, and is selectively disengaged from the striker path to define open and closed positions of the door panel when the door panel is in the staging position.

Operating mechanism for rear hinged fully sealed independent side operating doors

Electrostatic friction textures on a touchscreen panel are used to create the sensation of braille text in a contextual menu adapted to an automotive environment. In particular, a center stack touchscreen friction display in a passenger vehicle provides one set of touch controls and HMI data to the driver while simultaneously providing either the same control options and HMI to the passenger in Braille form or a completely different set of information and menu structure in Braille form. The manner of providing a Braille display in an automobile is adapted for vehicle vibration and movement, the types of functions normally presented and/or controlled by passengers, and other challenges Braille readers of different ages, health, or experience may face when attempting to read Braille in a vehicle cabin.

Automotive touchscreen with simulated texture for the visually impaired

Method and apparatus are disclosed for window short drop for a vehicle with an electronic latch. An example door of a vehicle includes a door control unit communicatively coupled to an electronic latch. The electronic latch, in response to detecting a user touching an exterior handle, requests authorization from the vehicle. In response to receiving authorization, the electronic latch sends a request to the door control unit to lower a window of the door. Additionally, in response to receiving a confirmation from the door control unit, the electronic latch unlatches the door.

Window short drop for a vehicle with an electronic latch

Systems and methods for managing keys that operate a given vehicle include a processor. Responsive to identifying a received first key for operating the vehicle as having an administrative status, the processor is configured to enable creation of a second key for operating the vehicle having the administrative status, and enable creation of a third key for operating the vehicle having a secondary status and a passcode. Responsive to receiving and identifying the third key as having the secondary status, the processor is configured to enable alteration of the passcode.

Vehicle key management

A powered door latch system for vehicles includes a controller configured to receive data concerning vehicle operating conditions. The door latch system also includes at least one electrically powered door latch having a powered actuator that can be actuated by the controller to unlatch the electrically powered latch. An emergency release is mechanically connected to the electrically powered latch to mechanically release the latch. The system also includes a user communication device such as a display screen that is operably connected to the controller. The user communication device provides a user with information concerning the location and/or operation of the emergency release if a predefined operating condition such as a loss of electrical power has occurred.

Customer coaching method for location of E-latch backup handles

System and method are disclosed for vehicle accessory power management. An example vehicle includes an engine configured to operate in a start-stop mode, and a power management system. The power management system is configured to receive an input requesting use of a vehicle accessory in an accessory mode, and responsive to the input, reduce an electrical load, disable the start-stop mode, and enable use of the accessory mode.

Vehicle accessory power management

Apparatus and systems are disclosed for detecting outages in an LED lamp assembly. An example disclosed lamp assembly includes a plurality of LED circuits serially connected together. The LED circuits include an LED, a first resistor and an optocouper. The example disclosed lamp assembly also includes a sense line electrically coupled to one of the LED circuits. The sense line has a first voltage value when all of LEDs in that plurality of LED circuits are operational and a second voltage value when at least one of the LEDs has failed.

Detecting outages in a LED lamp assembly

A vehicle control system uses a touchscreen display to displaying a graphical HMI and detect a contact point where touched by a user's finger. A haptic texture system has an electrode disposed across the touchscreen display and a signal generator generating an oscillating signal to produce a potential difference between the finger and the electrode resulting in a corresponding perceived texture as the finger slides over the touchscreen. A control circuit is configured to set at least a frequency or amplitude of the oscillating signal to vary the perceived texture according to first and second modes while navigating the graphical HMI. The first mode uses a localized texture mapping defined by respective feature icon selection regions on the touchscreen display. The second mode uses a status texture mapping relating the perceived texture to each potential adjustment setting available for a feature icon that has been selected using the first mode.

Automotive touchscreen controls with simulated texture for haptic feedback

An electronic control unit may include input channels configured to receive signals indicative of a power to a steering system and signals indicative of an operating mode of the vehicle, and output channels configured to provide a command to redistribute current from an electrical load to the steering system. The electronic control unit may further include control logic configured to, in response to the power falling below a threshold value and the operating mode being of a pre-defined type, generate the command to increase the power to the steering system to meet the threshold value.

Vehicle with power management

Growing community of inventors

Plymouth, MI, United States of America

Ronald Patrick Brombach