Ford Motor Patent Grants - Company Legal Profiles

Method and system for controlling a motive power system of an automotive vehicle

Granted: August 23, 2011
Patent Number: 8005587
Environment conditions expected to be encountered by a vehicle are used as inputs in determining operating modes of a motive power system of a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle. A vehicle operating in charge depleting mode may transition to operate in charge sustaining mode if the vehicle is expected to encounter circumstances where it is desirable to allow the vehicle to more quickly respond to sudden requests for torque.

Gas conditioning device and method

Granted: August 23, 2011
Patent Number: 8003265
A humidification device is disclosed. An illustrative embodiment of the humidification device includes at least one wet gas channel and at least one dry gas channel disposed in adjacent relationship to the at least one wet gas channel. The at least one wet gas channel and the at least one dry gas channel are adapted for exchange of moisture there between. A fuel cell system and a method of moisturizing a gas are also disclosed.

Vehicle wheel cover

Granted: August 9, 2011
Patent Number: D642967

Vehicle lamp

Granted: August 2, 2011
Patent Number: D642710

Vehicle mounting and alignment bracket

Granted: August 2, 2011
Patent Number: 7988212
A bracket for attaching and aligning a forward-looking radar (FLR) having a front face is disclosed according to one embodiment. The bracket includes a bracket frame having an attachment feature for attaching the FLR to the bracket frame. The bracket also includes a first mounting feature extending from the bracket frame for coupling the bracket face and the first mounting surface of the conveyance to define a first mounting surface angle. The bracket also includes a bracket member…

Vehicle trunk taillight

Granted: July 26, 2011
Patent Number: D642302

Automotive power supply system and method of operating same

Granted: July 19, 2011
Patent Number: 7982437
A battery control module monitors discharge voltages associated with a traction battery of an automotive vehicle. The battery control module cycles the traction battery at a discharge-voltage dependent charge/discharge profile to generate heat within the traction battery.

System and method for updating vehicle computing platform configuration information

Granted: July 12, 2011
Patent Number: 7979177
A configurable vehicle computer is enabled based on identification information associated with a driver. Updates to the configurable vehicle computer are stored at a remote location. The updates are downloaded upon an authorized vehicle start-up.

Vehicle fog lamp cover

Granted: July 5, 2011
Patent Number: D641102

Conduit to component fitting having a leak detection mechanism

Granted: July 5, 2011
Patent Number: 7971910
A leak detection mechanism for use with a pressurized system that relates generally to an assembly for connecting a conduit to a component. The mechanism utilizes a fluid passageway for detecting a leak or absence of a seal after connecting a conduit to a component such as an expansion valve of a pressurized fluid system. The fluid passageway forms a predetermined leak path enabling fluid flow into or out of the system when an o-ring or other seal means is missing.

Vehicle tonneau cover system

Granted: June 21, 2011
Patent Number: 7963585
A tonneau system for a vehicle bed includes a rail disposed on a top portion of the vehicle bed. A tonneau cover extends over the vehicle bed and includes an elongate retention clip is adjacent the rail and is connected thereto by an interference fit. The elongate retention clip includes a removal tab. A connection clip is slidable along the linear extent of the rail. An elongate band is slidably received in the tonneau cover and in a band aperture of the connection clip.

Method for analyzing operation of a machine

Granted: June 21, 2011
Patent Number: 7966151
A constraint analysis and reliability agent executes a method for analyzing operation of a manufacturing asset, and includes the steps of collecting operation data for a machine over a plurality of predetermined time periods. The operation data includes a plurality of mutually exclusive events that describe operation of the machine. For each of the predetermined time periods, it is determined whether the machine is in an “ON” or an “OFF” state. Data for the “OFF” states is…

Vehicle taillight

Granted: May 31, 2011
Patent Number: D638961

Vehicle headlight

Granted: May 24, 2011
Patent Number: D638556

Proton exchange membrane fuel cell humidity sensor

Granted: May 24, 2011
Patent Number: 7946151
A humidity sensing device for determining the amount of humidity in at least one primary fluid stream that is passed to a fuel cell stack is provided. The sensing device includes an outer housing and an inner housing. The outer housing is positioned within at least one conduit such that the outer housing and the conduit coact with each other to generate at least one secondary fluid stream from the primary fluid stream. The inner housing is positioned within the outer housing such that…

Anode leak test implementation

Granted: May 17, 2011
Patent Number: 7942035
A system and method is provided for detecting an anode leak of an anode stream in a fuel cell stack. The system comprises a controller that stores at least one first predetermined control value that corresponds to a first pre-selected pressure level. The controller generates at least one first operational control value. The controller controls a pressure regulator device to adjust the pressure of the anode stream to reach the first pre-selected pressure level with the at least one first…

System and method for recirculating unused fuel in fuel cell application

Granted: May 17, 2011
Patent Number: 7943260
A system and method for delivering an input fluid stream through a fuel cell stack and discharge an unused fluid stream is provided. An inlet of the fuel cell stack is adapted to receive the fluid stream. An ejector is configured to combine the supply fluid stream and the unused fluid stream to generate the input fluid stream and control the flow of the input fluid stream to the fuel cell stack. A blower is configured to control the flow of the unused fluid stream to the ejector. A…