Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Todd Ansbacher

Stuart C Salter

David Celinske

John Robert Van Wiemeersch

Brendan F Diamond

Patrick Kevin Holub

Adam Stratton

Ronald Fitzgerald

John Anthony DeMarco

Anthony Thomas Spoto

Paul Kenneth Dellock

Keith Weston

Zeljko Deljevic

Kevin Thomas Hille

Thomas Joseph Hermann

Hanyang B Chen

Michael Irby

Anthony Gerald King

Tarik Safir

Donald Paul Bilger

Sam Harris

Christopher Semanson

Jeremy Rawlings

Alan Francis Judge

Jeffrey Raymond Mohr

Gabriel Jim

Vyas Shenoy

Ryan O'gorman

Jessica Smith

Karen Price

Frederick Shell

Leann Kridner

Jerry P Bonnici

Stuart Easson

Alasdair Collins

Brian Grifka

Daniel Luke Rabideau

Vyas Darshan Shenoy

Brendan Diamond

Matthew Volpone

Jessica Louise Smith

A vehicle including a sensor unit, an exterior light and a processor is disclosed. The sensor unit may capture inputs associated with vehicle surroundings. The processor may determine that a user may be performing an activity in proximity to the exterior light based on the inputs obtained from the sensor unit. The processor may also determine an activity type based on the inputs responsive to determining that the user is performing the activity. The processor may further determine an optimal lighting intensity for the exterior light based on the activity type. The processor may then illuminate the exterior light at the optimal lighting intensity.

Systems and methods to control operation of vehicle exterior lights based on user activity

A first vehicle configured to jump start a second vehicle is disclosed. The first vehicle may include a first energy storage system, a second energy storage system, and a converter. The first vehicle may further include a switch between the second energy storage system and the converter, and a control unit. The control unit may obtain a user request to activate a jump start mode of the first vehicle, deactivate a vehicle load in the first vehicle, and cause the switch to operate in the ON state. The control unit may further cause the second energy storage system to supply a first amount of current to pre-charge a battery of the second vehicle for a predefined time duration, and cause the second energy storage system to supply a second amount of current to the battery to start a second vehicle ignition system when the battery is pre-charged.

Systems and methods for jump starting vehicles

A motor vehicle electrical distribution system includes an upfitter power supply subsystem with overcurrent protection for tripping (opening) a solid-state relay when current drawn from a main electrical source by the upfitter subsystem impacts other priority electrical loads of the vehicle. Warnings/alerts are generated to inform the user (e.g., driver) of the tripping events, which may include real-time graphing of a recent history of events. In order to restore power to the upfitter subsystem, a voltage supplied by a supplemental battery (i.e., vehicle start-up battery) to the upfitter subsystem is monitored. If the voltage stabilizes then a voltage from the main electrical source is intentionally dropped to the stabilized value and the solid-state relay is re-closed. Then the main voltage is ramped back up to its nominal value. An automatic reset time may be added to delay the reclosing if the solid-state relay has been operated excessively.

Vehicular electrical system sharing primary power with upfit equipment

A vehicle having an air compressor, an air storage tank and a sensor is disclosed. The air compressor may supply compressed air to the air storage tank, and the air storage tank may supply the compressed air to an external tool. The sensor may be configured to receive information associated with the external tool and send the information to a vehicle processor. The processor may determine tool specification and expected tool usage characteristics based on the information associated with the external tool. The processor may further calculate a target pressure of compressed air in the air storage tank based on the tool specification and the expected tool usage characteristics. Furthermore, the processor may cause air compressor operation to fill the air storage tank with the compressed air at the target pressure.

Systems and methods for controlling vehicle air compressor

One or more controllers may, after activation of a vehicle, sequentially pulse field effect transistors of a power distribution module of the vehicle that are connected to inputs of an upfitter power module, and preclude operation of the upfitter power module responsive to, for at least two of the field effect transistors, electrical parameters resulting from the corresponding pulses being reported for a same one of the inputs.

Vehicle upfitter power connection management strategies

Responsive to a magnitude of current associated with power from a vehicle being supplied to upfitter loads approaching a predefined threshold, a controller discontinues supply of power to vehicle loads according to a user defined priority order of the vehicle loads such that the vehicle loads of lowest priority among the priority order of the vehicle loads are sequentially shed to maintain the magnitude less than the predefined threshold.

Automotive power supply, upfitter module architectures, and user defined load shedding related to same

A depletion amount of energy required to charge a user device connected to a device port of a vehicle is estimated based on a state of charge (SoC) of a device battery of the connected user device. Responsive to an expected SoC of a LV battery of the vehicle after providing the depletion amount of energy exceeding a calibrated threshold amount of energy of the LV battery, the connected user device is charged during key off. Otherwise, an engine start/stop schedule defining a time to start an engine of the vehicle and a duration of run time for the engine is utilized to generate additional energy to charge the connected user device to ensure the LV battery remains above the calibrated threshold amount of energy.

User device vehicle charger strategy

The disclosure generally pertains to systems and methods for detecting obstacles in the pathway of cables. In an example method, a first location at a site for stationing a vehicle may be selected. A first routing for a cable may then be determined, where a first end of the cable is connected to the vehicle stationed at the first location. It may then be determined at the vehicle whether the first routing for the cable passes through at least one potential or actual obstacle, where the determination is based at least in part on a topographic map. Responsive to the determination that the first routing for the cable passes through the at least one potential or actual obstacle, a remedial action may be performed, where the remedial action prevents the first routing of the cable from passing through the at least one potential or actual obstacle.

Systems and methods for detecting obstacles in the pathway of cables

A vehicle electrical system includes a battery, a customer connection point, a switch electrically connected in series between the battery and the customer connection point, a solar panel electrically connected to a node between the battery and the switch, and a computer communicatively coupled to the switch. The computer is programmed to instruct the switch to close upon determining that a voltage of the solar panel is greater than a voltage of the battery.

Vehicle electrical system

While a vehicle is in a minimal power state, a first sensor is activated based on a location of the vehicle within a monitored area. The vehicle is transitioned to an on state based on detecting an object via data from the first sensor. Then the vehicle is operated to block an exit from the monitored area based on identifying the object as an unauthorized object.

Vehicle object detection

A computer-implemented method includes determining a vehicle configuration indicative of a towing mode setting for the vehicle, which can include a neutral transmission gear setting, a battery conservation mode, or another towing mode setting. The method can include determining at least one vehicle operation characteristic that changes with time while the vehicle is in the towing mode setting, and performing, via a vehicle control module and based at least in part on the towing mode setting and the vehicle operation characteristic, one or more vehicle actions that include generating an alert signal indicative that vehicle damage may occur.

Sustained neutral operation of vehicles

A method for managing electrical Key Off Load (KOL) and other potentially damaging operational conditions in a vehicle while in a neutral mode setting, comprising: determining a vehicle drivetrain is in the neutral mode setting; determining an operational characteristic that changes with time while the vehicle is in the neutral mode setting; performing, via a vehicle control module and based on the neutral mode setting and the operational characteristic, vehicle actions comprising engaging an automated start powertrain activation while the vehicle is in the neutral mode setting.

Automatic powertrain operation for maintenance of neutral operation

An electrical system of a vehicle includes a first battery, a second battery, a first switch electrically connected in series between the first battery and the second battery, an external connection point, and a second switch electrically connected in series between the second battery and the external connection point. The system and a method of operating the system include determining that the first battery will need assistance to start an engine of the vehicle, opening the second switch in response to a state of charge of the second battery decreasing below a charge threshold, and closing the first switch for the second battery to assist the first battery to crank the engine for starting.

Split charge battery start assist

A computer-implemented method includes determining a vehicle configuration indicative of a towing mode setting for the vehicle, which can include a neutral transmission gear setting, a battery conservation mode, or another towing mode setting. The method can include determining at least one vehicle operation characteristic that changes with time while the vehicle is in the towing mode setting, and performing, via a vehicle control module and based at least in part on the towing mode setting and the vehicle operation characteristic, one or more vehicle actions that include generating an alert signal indicative that vehicle damage may be imminent.

A vehicle power system includes a controller that reduces a voltage setpoint of an alternator by a predetermined amount in response to a magnitude of electric charge provided by the alternator during a predetermined time period exceeding a first threshold and a rate of change of power output by the alternator exceeding a second threshold during the time period. The controller also regulates an output voltage of the alternator based on the setpoint.

Growing community of inventors

Westland, MI, United States of America

Todd Ansbacher