The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Date of Patent:
Mar. 19, 2024

Filed:

Feb. 09, 2021
Applicant:

Ford Global Technologies, Llc, Dearborn, MI (US);

Inventors:

Stuart Salter, White Lake, MI (US);

Peter Phung, Windsor, CA;

Adam Carlson, Ann Arbor, MI (US);

Benjamin Richer, Detroit, MI (US);

Annette Huebner, Highland, MI (US);

Assignee:

Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US);

Attorneys:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G05D 1/02 (2020.01); G05B 15/02 (2006.01); G05D 1/00 (2006.01); G06Q 10/0833 (2023.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
G05D 1/0291 (2013.01); G05B 15/02 (2013.01); G06Q 10/0833 (2013.01);
Abstract

A smart container for transporting items in transportation vehicles, e.g., an autonomous vehicle (AV), having heating/cooling capabilities, security features, unloading/loading assistance, and/or GPS cellular tracking for positional awareness, and methods of use thereof, are provided. The smart container includes an inductive charging module for receiving power from the vehicle. The container may provide information to facilitate delivery. When the vehicle arrives at a delivery destination, the customer may be provided a map of containers within the vehicle, and a specific container may provide an indication that it is the correct container. The customer may then provide a code to access the container. If a container is improperly removed, an alarm may be triggered and a notification may be provided to a third party.


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