# US 11,027,680 B2 · Vehicle tracks > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,027,680 B2 - Document ID: US11027680B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/218,662 - Filed: 2018-12-13 - Published: 2020-06-18 - Granted: 2021-06-08 - Earliest claimed: 2018-12-13 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Johnathan Andrew Line; Daniel Ferretti; Jimmy Moua; Alan George Dry - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11027680B2 ## CPC - B60R 16/03: for supply of electrical power to vehicle subsystems {or for (circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00)} - B60N 2/01: Arrangement of seats relative to one another - B60N 2/0244: {with logic circuits} - B60N 2/06: slidable (B60N2/12 {, B60N2/2209} take precedence) - B60R 16/027: between relatively movable parts of the vehicle, e.g. between steering wheel and column {(devices for measuring, signalling or controlling tyre pressure or temperature specially adapted for mounting on vehicles B60C23/00)} - B60R 16/037: for occupant comfort {, e.g. for automatic adjustment of appliances according to personal settings, e.g. seats, mirrors, steering wheel} - H02J 50/05: using capacitive coupling - B60N 2/0264: {characterised by the type of electrical connection, e.g. wiring, plugs or USB} - B60N 2220/10: using a database - B60N 2230/10: Wired data transmission - B60N 2230/20: Wireless data transmission - B60N 2230/30: Signal processing of sensor data - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - B60N: SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) 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. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The vehicle of claim 2, wherein the anchor actuates the bridge to an open position. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The vehicle of claim 3, wherein the bridge pivots as the bridge is transitioned between the open position and the closed position. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) 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. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) 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. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) 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. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first and second transceivers communicate data to one another in a wireless fashion. ### Claim 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. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) 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. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) 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. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) 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. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) 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. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) 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. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the first and second transceivers communicate data to one another in a wireless fashion. ### Claim 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. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) 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. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) 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. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) 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. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The vehicle of claim 16, wherein the first and second transceivers communicate data to one another in a wireless fashion.