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:
May. 06, 2025

Filed:

Oct. 19, 2022
Applicant:

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

Inventors:

Jake S. Schwartz, Dearborn, MI (US);

John R. Van Wiemeersch, Novi, MI (US);

David A. Hiskens, Ypsilanti, MI (US);

Assignee:

FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US);

Attorneys:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B60R 25/25 (2012.12); B60R 25/20 (2012.12); B60R 25/24 (2012.12); B60R 25/30 (2012.12); B60S 1/02 (2005.12); B60S 1/56 (2005.12); G01K 3/00 (2005.12); G06V 20/58 (2021.12); G06V 40/13 (2021.12);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
B60R 25/252 (2012.12); B60R 25/209 (2012.12); B60R 25/245 (2012.12); B60R 25/305 (2012.12); B60S 1/026 (2012.12); B60S 1/56 (2012.12); G01K 3/005 (2012.12); G06V 20/58 (2021.12); G06V 40/13 (2021.12);
Abstract

While a vehicle is off, an automatic trigger strategy activates a heating device that melts snow and ice off exterior vehicle sensors as it is needed. The automatic trigger strategy determines when to turn on the heating device while the vehicle is in a limited power state by using data pulled from memory or data obtained from a current data check. Collected, analyzed, and stored during key-off, data pulled from memory allows the invention to accurately choose the correct time to start the heating device without consuming additional power. If current data checks are required because data saved at key-off is not enough information to execute a decision, the invention may determine the least power consuming data checks. A power manager extends a threshold that is dependent on the energy reserve. Once the energy reserve is below the threshold, the power manager inactivates the heating device and voids manual commands.


Find Patent Forward Citations

Loading…