Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Tuan Anh Be

Mark Douglas Malone

William Najib Mansur

Allen R Murray

Oliver Lei

David Joseph Orris

Nicholas Colella

Kirk Pebley

Ahmed Awadi

Hank Kwong

Vladyslav Slyusar

Noorulla Mohammed

John Robert Van Wiemeersch

Hafiz Shafeek Khafagy

Eric Michael Rademacher

George Edmund Walley

Filip Tomik

David Richard Tengler

Leo James Lanctot

Alex Michael Heilala

Leonid Tikh

Systems and methods for managing communications equipment of a vehicle. The vehicle includes a first modem and a second modem coupled to the first modem. Responsive to the second modem wireless receiving first data for the first modem when the vehicle is in an inactive state, the first modem is in an off state, and the second modem is in a low power state, the vehicle is configured to wake the first modem from the off state, and process the first data via the first modem.

Vehicle communications management

An antenna housing assembly includes: a first housing enclosing an antenna assembly and a grounding plate; a second housing enclosing the first housing and a heating ring defining apertures and comprising resistive heating elements; a wiper blade driven by a motor and rotatable about the second housing to clear snow from an exterior of the second housing. The antenna assembly and the grounding plate are located vertically above a top-most surface of the heating ring.

Antenna housing

Method and apparatus are disclosed for communicatively coupling mobile devices to wireless local area networks of vehicles. An example vehicle includes a communication module for a wireless local area network including an internal antenna and an external antenna. The example vehicle also includes an antenna adjuster to communicatively couple, in response to determining a mobile device is inside a vehicle cabin, the internal antenna to the mobile device and to communicatively couple, in response to determining the mobile device is outside of the vehicle cabin, the external antenna to the mobile device.

Communicatively coupling mobile devices to wireless local area networks of vehicles

An automated system is provided for closing a closure of a motor vehicle. That automated system includes a plurality of closures, a plurality of closure modules for opening and closing that plurality of closures and a control module. The control module is configured to monitor a transmission state of the motor vehicle and an open/close state of the plurality of closures and then close an open closure of the plurality of closures when the transmission is shifted out of park and the open closure is detected. A related method is also provided.

Automated system for closing a closure of a motor vehicle based upon transmission state

An engine control system for a vehicle includes a controller that initiates a start of the engine in response to a state of charge (SOC) of a battery falling below an engine start threshold, initiates a stop of the engine in response to the SOC exceeding an engine stop threshold, and adjusts a value of the engine start threshold based on whether a load remote from the vehicle is drawing power from the battery.

Load based engine start-stop control

A vehicle system includes at least one sensor that can detect a first target vehicle in a first blind spot and a second target vehicle in a second blind spot. The first blind spot is associated with an adjacent lane relative to a host vehicle and the second blind spot is associated with an extended lane relative to the host vehicle. A processor can generate a first alert signal when the first target vehicle is detected and a second alert signal when the second target vehicle is detected.

Extended lane blind spot detection

A vehicle computer system, comprising a wireless transceiver configured to communicate with a mobile device. The vehicle computer system further comprises a processor configured to output an alert to a driver of a vehicle indicating a location of a hazardous area when the vehicle is in a pre-defined distance from a boundary of a geo-fence of the driver defining the hazardous area, and activate a vehicle function addressing the hazardous area based upon the vehicle entering a boundary of the geo-fence.

Geofencing application for driver convenience

Exemplary methods, vehicles, and systems are disclosed. An exemplary method may include establishing at least one visible signal configured to provide a signal during a normal state of a vehicle, detecting an alarm state of the vehicle, and initiating a visible nuisance via the at least one visible signal in response to at least the detected alarm state. An exemplary vehicle may include at least one lighting device configured to provide a signal during a normal state of a vehicle, and a processor configured to detect an alarm state of the vehicle and initiate a visible nuisance via the at least one visible signal in response to at least the detected alarm state.

Urgent vehicle warning indicator using vehicle illumination

A vehicle may include a plurality of antennas each associated with a different radio frequency; and a modem including a radio-frequency transceiver and an antenna control processor configured to selectively connect a selected one or more of the plurality of antennas having a radio frequency matching at least one frequency associated with a desired service provider to the transceiver. The vehicle may also determine whether a service-provider-recommended alternate frequency is available, responsive to service provider signal strength being below a predefined signal strength; and if so, direct the modem to switch to an antenna associated with the alternate frequency, and otherwise, cycle to a next available antenna frequency.

Service provider adaptive vehicle antenna

Vehicles capable of operating in an energy conserving mode may include an interface for conveying inhibitors preventing activation of the energy conserving mode. The system may identify the inhibiting features and prompt an operator of the vehicle for authorization to disable the inhibiting features or adjust the feature states to enable the energy conserving mode. In response to receiving authorization, the system may automatically control feature interfaces to remove inhibits to the energy conserving mode. The interface may communicate active inhibitors to an operator using a display or a speaker, or both. Additionally, the interface may query the operator to approve automatic deactivation of the inhibiting features and facilitate the receipt of operator input to the query.

System and method for optimizing availability of vehicle energy conserving modes

Vehicles equipped with an automatic start-stop system may include an interface for conveying inhibitors preventing an engine from auto-stopping in addition to the status of the automatic start-stop system. The system may identify one or more inhibitors actively preventing an auto-stop event from occurring and select at least one of the active inhibitors based on a priority scheme. The interface may communicate the at least one selected inhibitor to a driver using a display or a speaker, or both.

User interface for automatic start-stop system and method of controlling the same

A method for controlling vehicle powertrain operation includes activating all-wheel-drive or 4&#xd7;4-operation provided one of an environmental condition, vehicle use condition and vehicle electrical condition exceeds a corresponding reference, deactivating fuel saving operation provided all-wheel-drive or 4&#xd7;4-operation is activated, activating fuel saving operation provided none of said conditions indicates need for AWD/4&#xd7;4-operation, deactivating all-wheel-drive or 4&#xd7;4-operation provided fuel saving operation is activated.

All-wheel-drive system interaction with fuel savings operation of a motor vehicle

A method and system relates to improving powertrain responsiveness in a vehicle while maintaining fuel economy by inhibiting entry into, or exiting, energy-saving modes when oncoming traffic is detected. In one example, the energy-saving mode is inhibited in response to an indication of an oncoming vehicle of concern. In a second example, the energy-saving mode is selectively maintained in response to an indication of an absence of oncoming traffic.

Utilization of vehicle presence systems for powertrain response readiness and conserving energy

Methods for operating a vehicle as the vehicle approaches an intersection with a traffic control device are provided herein. One example method includes detecting a traffic control device at an intersection the vehicle is approaching, and releasing and applying a disconnect clutch arranged in a driveline of the vehicle intermediate an engine and a starter/generator based on a type of the detected traffic control device. Because releasing the disconnect clutch disconnects the engine from the vehicle driveline, the engine may be turned off to increase fuel efficiency while the disconnect clutch is released.

Methods for utilizing stop sign and traffic light detections to enhance fuel economy and safety

A method of operating a heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system of a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, comprising during a first engine-running condition, where a vehicle window or vent is in a more closed position, operating a climate control system to provide a user requested level of thermal comfort, and during a second engine-running condition, wherein the vehicle window or vent is in a less closed position, limiting the performance of the climate control system and biasing shared vehicle resources to provide additional fuel economy. In this manner, thermal comfort of the vehicle passengers can be maintained while providing additional fuel economy.

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Livonia, MI, United States of America

Tuan Anh Be