Ford Custom Signal Provider patent: how the new accessory-connection system works

© A. Krivonosov

Owning a future Ford could soon make it easier to add aftermarket lights, dash cams and other accessories. The automaker has filed a patent application for a system that feeds selected signals from the vehicle’s factory electronics to accessories through dedicated connection points. The application was filed on February 7, 2025, and published on August 13, 2026.

Today, installing a complex accessory often means tapping into specific vehicle wires — hunting down the ignition signal, reverse signal or parking-light signal, for instance. Ford proposes placing special “Custom Signal Provider” modules in the vehicle, fitted with electrical connectors. They receive data from the vehicle’s electronic control units and pass only the approved signals on to the connected device.

Setup is handled through the vehicle’s built-in interface or a personal device. The patent gives the example of an auxiliary LED light bar: the owner could choose to trigger it from brake, turn-signal, parking-light or ignition-on signals, and the electronics would then route them to the right connector. The list of potential accessories also includes auxiliary headlights, ambient lighting, displays, dash cams, external GPS units and biometric equipment.

Ford also builds in access restrictions: the automaker would be able to mark signals as either permitted or off-limits for third-party hardware. The description also mentions fuses and surge protection. In other words, the idea isn’t just an extra outlet — it’s a controlled gateway between the vehicle’s factory electronics and aftermarket tuning.

Still, don’t expect this connector on the next F-150, Bronco or Ranger just yet. A patent application protects a technical concept but doesn’t by itself confirm plans for mass production. Ford regularly builds up a large portfolio of automotive patents and treats patenting as a routine part of its research and innovation work.