Vehicle tracks

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11027680-B2
Application number	US-201816218662-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 13, 2018
Priority date	Dec 13, 2018
Publication date	Jun 8, 2021
Grant date	Jun 8, 2021

Abstract

A vehicle includes a track that defines a guide channel, first and second transmitters positioned on first and second sides of the guide channel, respectively, and a bridge that extends over an upper portion of the track to cover the guide channel when the bridge is in a closed position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle, comprising:
a track defining a guide channel, wherein the track comprises a first transceiver;
first and second transmitters positioned on first and second sides of the guide channel, respectively; and
an anchor that engages with the guide channel, wherein the anchor comprises first and second receivers positioned on first and second sides of the anchor, respectively, and wherein the anchor comprises a second transceiver, wherein the first transceiver communicates data to the second transceiver and the first transceiver receives data from the second transceiver, wherein the second transceiver is coupled to a control module such that a path of communication is established between the first transceiver and the control module, and wherein the control module is selected from the group consisting of a seat control module and a cargo control module.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising:
a bridge that extends over an upper portion of the track to cover the guide channel when in a closed position.

3. The vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the anchor actuates the bridge to an open position.

4. The vehicle of claim 3 , wherein the bridge pivots as the bridge is transitioned between the open position and the closed position.

5. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the first and second receivers on the anchor receive a signal from at least one of the first and second transmitters on the guide channel.

6. The vehicle of claim 5 , wherein the signal received by the first and second receivers from the first and second transmitters is a power transfer signal.

7. The vehicle of claim 6 , wherein the power transfer signal is transmitted from the first and second transmitter to the first and second receivers by capacitive power transfer.

8. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the first and second transceivers communicate data to one another in a wireless fashion.

9. A vehicle, comprising:
a track defining a guide channel, wherein the track comprises a first transceiver such that the first transceiver is housed within the track;
first and second electrical transmitters positioned on first and second sides of the guide channel, respectively; and
first and second electrical receivers positioned on first and second sides of an anchor, respectively, the anchor being received within the guide channel and configured to communicate with the first and second electrical transmitters, wherein the anchor comprises a second transceiver, and wherein the second transceiver is positioned within the anchor such that the second transceiver is positioned within the guide channel when the anchor is coupled to the track, wherein the first transceiver communicates data to the second transceiver and the first transceiver receives data from the second transceiver, wherein the second transceiver is coupled to a control module such that a path of communication is established between the first transceiver and the control module, and wherein the control module is selected from the group consisting of a seat control module and a cargo control module.

10. The vehicle of claim 9 , further comprising:
a bridge that extends over an upper portion of the track to cover the guide channel when in a closed position.

11. The vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the anchor actuates the bridge to an open position at locations along the track where the anchor is located.

12. The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the first and second electrical receivers on the anchor receive a signal from at least one of the first and second electrical transmitters on the guide channel.

13. The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the signal received by the first and second electrical receivers from the first and second electrical transmitters is a power transfer signal.

14. The vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the power transfer signal is transmitted from the first and second electrical transmitters to the first and second electrical receivers by capacitive power transfer.

15. The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the first and second transceivers communicate data to one another in a wireless fashion.

16. A vehicle, comprising:
a track defining a guide channel, wherein the track comprises a first transceiver;
first and second transmitters positioned on first and second sides of the guide channel, respectively;
a bridge that extends over an upper portion of the track when in a closed position;
an anchor that engages with the guide channel and pivots the bridge to an open position, wherein the anchor comprises a second transceiver, wherein the first transceiver communicates data to the second transceiver and the first transceiver receives data from the second transceiver, wherein the second transceiver is coupled to a control module such that a path of communication is established between the first transceiver and the control module, and wherein the control module is selected from the group consisting of a seat control module and a cargo control module; and
first and second receivers positioned on first and second sides of the anchor, respectively.

17. The vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the first and second receivers on the anchor receive a signal from at least one of the first and second transmitters on the guide channel.

18. The vehicle of claim 17 , wherein the signal received by the first and second receivers from the first and second transmitters is a power transfer signal.

19. The vehicle of claim 18 , wherein the power transfer signal is transmitted from the first and second transmitter to the first and second receivers by capacitive power transfer.

20. The vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the first and second transceivers communicate data to one another in a wireless fashion.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Line Johnathan Andrew
• Ferretti Daniel
• Moua Jimmy
• Dry Alan George

Classifications

• B60N2230/10

  Wired data transmission · CPC title

• B60N2230/20

  Wireless data transmission · CPC title

• B60N2230/30

  Signal processing of sensor data · CPC title

• B60N2220/10

  using a database · CPC title

• B60N2/0244

  with logic circuits · CPC title