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.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 10, 2026
Filed:
Apr. 30, 2024
Ford Global Technologies, Llc, Dearborn, MI (US);
Sophia Dancel, Rochester Hills, MI (US);
Andrew Vaccariello, Canton, MI (US);
Levasseur Tellis, Southfield, MI (US);
Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US);
Abstract
A computer in a vehicle can determine a monitoring time and an attentiveness window. Upon detecting attentiveness of an operator for the duration of the attentiveness window, the monitoring time is increased by an adjustment increment and a counter is incremented. Upon detecting inattentiveness of the operator during the duration of the attentiveness window, the counter is incremented. Upon expiration of the monitoring time, a component in the vehicle is actuated based on the inattentiveness of the operator. The monitoring time can be initiated for a vehicle operator assistance feature such as hands-free operation.