David K Ford

US Patent:

6362021, Mar 26, 2002

Filed:

Feb 2, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/776514

Inventors:

David H. Ford - Wilmington DE
Allen M. Barnett - Newark DE
Robert B. Hall - Newark DE
James A. Rand - Landenberg PA

Assignee:

AstroPower, Inc. - Newark DE

International Classification:

H01L 31068

US Classification:

438 97, 136258, 136256, 136261, 257 64, 257461, 257465, 257459, 257431, 427588, 427578, 427 74, 427 58, 438488, 438166, 438487, 423348

Abstract:

A polycrystalline film of silicon including silicon grains having an aspect ratio, d/t, of more than 1:1, wherein âdâ is the grain diameter and âtâ is the grain thickness. The polycrystalline film of silicon can be used to form an electronic device, such as a monolithically integrated solar cell having ohmic contacts formed on opposed surfaces or on the same surface of the film. A plurality of solar cells can be monolithically integrated to provide a solar cell module that includes an electrically insulating substrate and at least two solar cells disposed on the substrate in physical isolation from one another. Methods for manufacturing the film, solar cell and solar cell module are also disclosed. The simplified structure and method allow for substantial cost reduction on a mass-production scale, at least in part due to the high aspect ratio silicon grains in the film.

US Patent:

6420643, Jul 16, 2002

Filed:

Feb 2, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/776583

Inventors:

David H. Ford - Wilmington DE
Allen M. Barnett - Newark DE
Robert B. Hall - Newark DE
James A. Rand - Landenberg PA

Assignee:

AstroPower, Inc. - Newark DE

International Classification:

H01L 31042

US Classification:

136244, 136249, 136251, 136255, 136256, 136261, 136252, 257433, 257461, 257443, 257454, 257457, 257459

Abstract:

A polycrystalline film of silicon including silicon grains having an aspect ratio, d/t, of more than 1:1, wherein âdâ is the grain diameter and âtâ is the grain thickness. The polycrystalline film of silicon can be used to form an electronic device, such as a monolithically integrated solar cell having ohmic contacts formed on opposed surfaces or on the same surface of the film. A plurality of solar cells can be monolithically integrated to provide a solar cell module that includes an electrically insulating substrate and at least two solar cells disposed on the substrate in physical isolation from one another. Methods for manufacturing the film, solar cell and solar cell module are also disclosed. The simplified structure and method allow for substantial cost reduction on a mass-production scale, at least in part due to the high aspect ratio silicon grains in the film.

US Patent:

6877371, Apr 12, 2005

Filed:

Nov 7, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/704369

Inventors:

Allen J. Walenty - Macomb MI, US
Onno R. Van Eikema Hommes - West Bloomfield MI, US
David M Ford - Huntington Woods MI, US
J. David Rosa - Clarkston MI, US

Assignee:

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI

International Classification:

B60C023/02

US Classification:

731465, 340443

Abstract:

A method and apparatus of characterizing for tire pressure imbalances in a set of tires of vehicle, the vehicle having four wheels, and each wheel having a sensor generating a pulse for a predetermined amount of distance traveled by the wheel including entering a first characterization mode, accumulating a number of pulses from each sensor and adding the number of pulses from each sensor to generate a first record total pulse count in the characterization mode, generating a second record total pulse count in the characterization mode, determining if the first record is similar to the second record, and discarding at least one of the first and second records if the first and second records do not meet a criteria.

US Patent:

8359831, Jan 29, 2013

Filed:

Oct 29, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/608408

Inventors:

Thaddeus A. Chmielewski - Huntington Woods MI, US
Antonio J. DaSilva - Middleton CT, US
David H. Ford - Canton MI, US
Eric J. Grant - Ypsilanti MI, US
Peter P. Kuperus - Pigeon MI, US
Glenn A. Moss - Cass City MI, US
Joseph M. Ross - Greenville TN, US

Assignee:

TI Group Automotive Systems, L.L.C. - Auburn Hills MI

International Classification:

F01N 3/36

US Classification:

60286, 60295

Abstract:

A reactant delivery system for engine exhaust gas treatment may include a tank in which a reactant is received, a pumping device, a pressure relief device, and a reactant distribution device. The pumping device may have an inlet disposed within the interior of the tank to receive the reactant, and an outlet through which the reactant is discharged. The pressure relief device may have an inlet in fluid communication with the outlet of the pumping device, a primary outlet to discharge the reactant under pressure to a downstream location, and a bypass outlet through which at least some of the reactant discharged from the pumping device is selectively discharged. And the reactant distribution device may be in fluid communication with the bypass outlet of the pressure relief device and have a plurality of outlets to distribute the reactant to at least two different locations within the tank.

US Patent:

8521654, Aug 27, 2013

Filed:

May 21, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/442806

Inventors:

David John Ford - Canton MI, US
John Garfield Graham - Plymouth MI, US
Joseph Retzbach - Novi MI, US
Kenneth James McCaffrey - Canton MI, US
Nadine Ann Mooney - Livonia MI, US

Assignee:

Ford Motor Company - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

G06Q 10/00

US Classification:

705305, 705303, 705304

Abstract:

One aspect of the present invention is an online method for advising a customer on service needs and facilitating the scheduling of a vehicle service appointment. The method can comprise receiving a service inquiry, receiving input information regarding potential service of the vehicle, transmitting an open appointments request to a dealer management system (DMS), receiving a plurality of open appointments from the DMS, causing display of the plurality of open appointments wherein one of the plurality of open appointments is selected as an appointment request, and transmitting the input information and the appointment request to the DMS to facilitate the scheduling of the vehicle service appointment. The last four steps outlined can be conducted in substantially real-time.

US Patent:

20040059613, Mar 25, 2004

Filed:

Sep 4, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/064962

Inventors:

David Ford - Canton MI, US
John Graham - Plymouth MI, US
Joseph Retzbach - Novi MI, US
Kenneth McCaffrey - Canton MI, US
Nadine Mooney - Livonia MI, US

Assignee:

Ford Motor Company - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

G06F017/60

US Classification:

705/008000

Abstract:

The present invention relates to an online method and system for advising customers on service needs, facilitating the scheduling of vehicle service appointments, and checking vehicle service status. A preferred method embodiment of the present invention includes receiving a service inquiry, receiving input information regarding the potential service of the vehicle, and transmitting the input information and an appointment request to a vehicle service provider to facilitate the scheduling of the vehicle service appointment. A preferred computer system of the present invention is configured to receive a service inquiry, receive input information regarding the potential service of the vehicle, and transmit the input information and an appointment request to a vehicle service provider to facilitate the scheduling of the vehicle service appointment.

US Patent:

20110000297, Jan 6, 2011

Filed:

Jul 6, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/830502

Inventors:

David H. Ford - Canton MI, US

Assignee:

TI Group Automotive Systems, L.L.C. - Auburn Hills MI

International Classification:

G01F 23/32

US Classification:

73313, 73317

Abstract:

A fluid level sender may include a sensing feature disposed within an internal volume of a tank, responsive to the level of liquid within the tank and including a drive member, a signaling feature disposed outside of the internal volume of the tank and including a driven member and a dividing wall. The dividing wall may be disposed between and separating the sensing feature from the signaling feature. The drive member provides a force and the driven member is responsive to the force provided from the drive member to enable the signaling feature to provide an indication of the amount of liquid within the tank.

US Patent:

20110002798, Jan 6, 2011

Filed:

Jul 1, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/828347

Inventors:

David H. Ford - Canton MI, US

Assignee:

TI Group Automotive Systems, L.L.C. - Auburn Hills MI

International Classification:

F04B 35/04
B65D 25/04

US Classification:

4174101, 220500

Abstract:

A fluid tank assembly may include a fluid tank having a wall defining an internal volume in which a fluid is received and a fluid pump. The fluid pump may have a motor including an electrically driven motor, a pumping element driven to rotate by the motor, a dividing wall disposed between and separating the motor and the pumping element, and a magnetic coupling between the motor and the pumping element and operative through the dividing wall to couple the motor with the pumping element. The motor may be located outside of the internal volume of the fluid tank and the pumping element may be located inside of the internal volume of the fluid tank.