Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Ford Motor Company Limited

Tony Misovski

Mark Edward Nichols

Scott Adams

Marina Menendez Baker

Venkatesh Krishnan

Segundo Baldovino

Rashaun Phinisee

Christopher Michael Seubert

Kevin Richard John Ellwood

Aaron Fiala

Vahan Kazandjian

A sensor assembly includes a housing including an outlet, a sensor including a sensor window, and a flap rotatably coupled to the housing at the outlet. The sensor window is fixed to the housing. The outlet is aimed across the sensor window. The flap is rotatable between an open position angled away from the outlet and a closed position extending across the outlet.

Sensor assembly with cleaning

The present disclosure is directed toward a method for aligning a radiation head of a terahertz sensor system with a target surface. The method includes: scanning a selected area of the target surface with a terahertz radiation beam emitted by the radiation head; sensing a peak amplitude for each reflected radiation signal from a plurality of reflected radiation signals received by the radiation head during the scanning of the selected area; and identifying a normal position of the radiation head with respect to the target surface based on a maximum peak amplitude from among the peak amplitudes of the reflected radiation signals.

Method and system for aligning a terahertz sensor system

An inspection station includes a conveyor, a first scanner, a second scanner, a controller, and an interface. The conveyor is configured to continuously transport a vehicle body through the station. The first scanner is configured to detect features of the vehicle body and associated feature coordinates relative to a global coordinate system. The second scanner is configured to detect paint thicknesses on surfaces of the vehicle body and associated paint thickness coordinates relative to the global coordinate system. The controller is programmed to map corresponding pairs of the feature coordinates and paint thickness coordinates into a single set of local coordinates having a datum defined by the vehicle body such that each of the local coordinates defines a location of one of the features relative to the datum and one of the paint thicknesses at the location. The interface is configured to display the features and corresponding paint thicknesses.

System for inspecting vehicle bodies

A system for measuring a coating thickness on a target surface includes a terahertz spectroscopy device and a reference image projector. The terahertz spectroscopy device includes a radiation head that is operable to project a terahertz radiation beam onto the target surface and receive a reflected beam. The reference image projector includes a visible light device and is operable to project a reference image using the visible light device onto the target surface. A visual characteristic of the reference image indicates at least one of distance, rotational alignment, and angular alignment of the radiation head relative to the target surface.

System and method for visually aligning terahertz light beam

A method comprising scanning a first painted surface of a first vehicle having two or more paint layers with a robotic terahertz radiation instrument to obtain a first painted surface thickness data and map for each of the two or more paint layers, comparing the first thickness map to a control map, and adjusting one or more paint application parameters based on a comparison of the first thickness map with the control map for painting a second surface of a second vehicle different than the first vehicle.

Robotic vehicle painting instrument including a terahertz radiation device

A system for non-contact color harmony analysis is provided. The system may include an image acquisition system and an image analysis system. One or more cameras may take images of two regions of an object (e.g., a vehicle). The images may be transferred to the image analysis system, which may compare color values from each region and determine a color value difference. The color value difference may be compared to a predetermined threshold value to identify a possible color mismatch. The system may be used to analyze color harmony of adjacent vehicle components, for example, a front fascia and a fender or a rear fascia and a quarter panel.

Color harmony verification system

A method is provided for printing graphic designs in-line during manufacture of a vehicle. The method utilizes an ink jet printing system to apply graphic designs over an uncured base coat of paint on the vehicle surface followed by the application of a protective clear coat over the graphic design.

Growing community of inventors

Oxford, MI, United States of America

Tony Misovski