John F Pfeiffer

US Patent:

20220227305, Jul 21, 2022

Filed:

Jan 21, 2021

Appl. No.:

17/154679

Inventors:

- Dearborn MI, US
Robert J. Gelardi - Plymouth MI, US
Ryan A. Olsson - Farmington HIlls MI, US
William James Mangan - Ypsilanti MI, US
John Jeffrey Pfeiffer - Saline MI, US
Mario Adams-Campos - Ferndale MI, US

Assignee:

Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

B60R 11/02

Abstract:

An accessory mounting track includes a forward edge, a rearward edge, an upper surface, a lower surface, a first end region with a first end, a second end region with a second end, and an intermediate region positioned between the first and second end regions. A cross-section of the intermediate region includes an angular portion positioned on either side of a planar portion. The planar portion and the angular portions are delineated by an inflection point at a junction between the planar portion and each of the angled portions. A distance between the upper surface and the lower surface at the angular portions decreases as a distance from a centerline of the intermediate region increases. A distance between the forward edge and the rearward edge at the first and second end regions increases as a distance from the intermediate region increases.

US Patent:

20220227306, Jul 21, 2022

Filed:

Sep 9, 2021

Appl. No.:

17/470051

Inventors:

- Dearborn MI, US
James Day - Canton MI, US
Paul Jonathan Alexander Wraith - West Bloomfield MI, US
Robert J. Gelardi - Plymouth MI, US
Ryan A. Olsson - Farmington Hills MI, US
William James Mangan - Ypsilanti MI, US
John Jeffrey Pfeiffer - Saline MI, US
Mario Alejandro Adams-Campos - Ferndale MI, US

Assignee:

Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

B60R 11/02

Abstract:

A vehicle includes an instrument panel, a support structure coupled to the instrument panel, and a retainer. The support structure defines a receiver that extends from a lower end to an upper end that is vehicle-upward of the lower end. The portion of the support structure that defines the receiver includes at least one rib that protrudes into the receiver. The retainer includes a barrel portion having a threaded interior surface that defines a hollow and an exterior surface opposite the interior surface and having at least one wing. The retainer also includes a head portion coupled to the barrel portion. The retainer is operably coupled to the support structure, such that the barrel portion is received within the receiver and the at least one wing of the exterior surface is engaged with the at least one rib to maintain the retainer within the receiver.

US Patent:

20210126703, Apr 29, 2021

Filed:

Aug 24, 2017

Appl. No.:

16/639802

Inventors:

- Dearborn MI, US
Jeffrey Anthony HAMEL - Berkley MI, US
John Jeffrey PFEIFFER - Saline MI, US
Doug MOORE - Southfield MI, US

International Classification:

H04B 7/185
H04W 16/28
H04W 4/46

Abstract:

A drone communication system is described. Using the system, a method may be executed that includes: when a recipient vehicle is out of wireless range, transmitting a message, from a sending vehicle, to a plurality of drones that are focusing antenna beams on the sending vehicle so that the plurality then may transmit the message to the recipient vehicle by focusing antenna beams thereon.

US Patent:

20200018270, Jan 16, 2020

Filed:

Jul 11, 2018

Appl. No.:

16/032781

Inventors:

- Dearborn MI, US
Victor Martinez - Novi MI, US
John Jeffrey Pfeiffer - Saline MI, US

International Classification:

F02M 35/10
B22F 3/105
B22F 3/11
F02M 35/104

Abstract:

An intake system assembly including an intake manifold including a housing defining an interior conduit in fluidic communication with an intake valve and a lattice structure extending from an outer surface of the housing. The lattice structure includes a plurality of intersecting walls and the lattice structure and the housing form a continuous piece of material.

US Patent:

20190224910, Jul 25, 2019

Filed:

Jan 25, 2018

Appl. No.:

15/879852

Inventors:

- Dearborn MI, US
David D. Friske - Wolverine Lake MI, US
Siddharthan Selvasekar - Livermore CA, US
Ellen Lee - Ann Arbor MI, US
Ching-Hung Chuang - Northville MI, US
John Jeffrey Pfeiffer - Saline MI, US

International Classification:

B29C 64/135
B22F 3/105
B29C 64/153

Abstract:

An article includes a body that has a solid shell that encloses an interior region. The interior region has a solid sub-region, a lattice sub-region, and a hollow sub-region that are exclusive of each other and distributed based on load path. In an example, the article is a spoiler cap, such as for the spoiler on a vehicle.

US Patent:

20180201250, Jul 19, 2018

Filed:

Jan 13, 2017

Appl. No.:

15/406571

Inventors:

- Dearborn MI, US
Karin Lovett - Novi MI, US
Mark Warren Muddiman - Belleville MI, US
John Jeffrey Pfeiffer - Saline MI, US

International Classification:

B60W 20/12
B60W 20/13
B60W 10/06
B60W 10/08
B60W 30/188
B60K 6/20

Abstract:

Methods and systems are provided for managing torque arbitration for a hybrid powertrain. In one example, a method may include operating the hybrid powertrain over a predetermined route with a torque arbitration, and updating the torque arbitration based on a vehicle mass.

US Patent:

20180111440, Apr 26, 2018

Filed:

Oct 21, 2016

Appl. No.:

15/331411

Inventors:

- Dearborn MI, US
Harold Bernard Samuels - Farmington MI, US
John Jeffrey Pfeiffer - Saline MI, US

International Classification:

B60G 17/019
B60G 17/018

Abstract:

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a ride height sensing system that includes an encoded electromagnetic source as an input unit for a Hall Effect sensors and the signal from the electromagnet is encoded to enable the rejection of ambient magnetic field. In various embodiments, the ride height sensing system includes a self-calibration system including at least one Hall effect sensor mounted at a fixed distance and orientation with respect to the electromagnetic source to provide for continuous calibration of the system. In one embodiment, the enhanced ride height sensing system includes at least two inertial measurement units, such as accelerometers mounted to each of the body frame of the vehicle and the axle frame of the vehicle. This enables the system to optimize power usage by more accurately and efficiently measuring the ride height at high frequency rates with relatively lower power consumption.

US Patent:

20170282665, Oct 5, 2017

Filed:

Apr 4, 2016

Appl. No.:

15/090244

Inventors:

- Dearborn MI, US
Harold Bernard Samuels - Farmington MI, US
John Jeffrey Pfeiffer - Saline MI, US

International Classification:

B60G 17/016
G01D 5/14

Abstract:

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a ride height sensing system that includes an encoded electromagnetic source as an input unit for a Hall Effect sensors and the signal from the electromagnet is encoded to enable the rejection of ambient magnetic field. In various embodiments of the present disclosure, a band pass filter is used for signal processing of the encoded electromagnetic data. Additionally, several Hall Effect sensors may be used with a single electromagnetic source to provide multi-axis sensing and as such, provides robustness in determining ride height changes, or in the case of dependent suspensions (solid axle), a single electromagnetic source can used to determine ride height at multiple locations on the axle.