Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

David Hancock

John Eric Rollinger

M Scott Christensen

Adam J Richards

Alan Gutowski

Curtis Mark Jones

Peter Mitchell Lyon

Steve T Skikun

Frank Fusco

Stephen Michael White

David Lew

Fred Koberstein

Scott Thompson

Alexander O'Connor Gibson

Scott Steadmon Thompson

Venkatesh Krishnan

Alex O'Connor Gibson

Robert Roy Jentz

Manfred Koberstein

Scott James Thompson

Jeffrey James Tumavitch

Dennis Allen Light

Michael Bastanipour

James M Basile

Mark Edward Shields

Jeremy L Russell

William Taylor

David H Schmitt

Scott Christensen

Methods and systems are provided for heat sanitizing a vehicle. In one example, a method may include, responsive to receiving a request for cleaning an interior of a vehicle, adjusting a position of a sun shade based on at least one of an ambient temperature outside of the vehicle and a sun load of the vehicle, and operating a heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system to heat the interior above an upper threshold temperature for a first threshold duration. In this way, the HVAC system may be advantageously used to expose the vehicle interior to temperatures that kill or inactive microbes.

Method and system for a vehicle sanitizing mode

Systems and methods for limiting functionality of a vehicle are described. In one example, vehicle feature modules may specify vehicle behaviors and vehicle operation is limited according to the specified behaviors. Vehicle actuators may be adjusted to limit vehicle operation according to the specified vehicle behaviors. The vehicle behaviors may apply to powertrain systems, navigation systems, climate control systems, lighting systems and other vehicle systems.

Methods and system for vehicle function limiting

Methods and systems are provided for heat sanitizing a vehicle. In one example, a method may include, responsive to receiving a request for sanitization of a vehicle interior, activating an ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) system and operating a heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system to heat the vehicle interior above an upper threshold temperature for a threshold duration. In this way, the HVAC system may be advantageously used to expose the vehicle interior to temperatures that kill or inactive microbes while the UVGI system may supplement the heat sanitizing.

A method for operating a powertrain of an autonomous vehicle is described. In one example, the autonomous driver may supply a torque request and a torque or power urgency assessment to a powertrain controller. The powertrain controller may monitor vehicle control system parameters based on the driver demand torque and the torque or power urgency assessment.

Method and system for categorizing powertrain torque requests

Methods and systems are provided for heat sanitizing a vehicle. In one example, a method may include, while receiving power from an external power source and responsive to receiving a request for cleaning an interior of a vehicle, operating an electric heater of a heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system to heat the interior above an upper threshold temperature for a first threshold duration using the power received from the external power source. In this way, the HVAC system may be advantageously used to expose the vehicle interior to temperatures that kill or inactive microbes while vehicle battery power and fuel are conserved by using power supplied from the external power source.

Methods and systems are provided for heat sanitizing a vehicle. In one example, a method may include, responsive to receiving a request for sanitization of a vehicle interior, operating a heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system to heat the vehicle interior above an upper threshold temperature for a threshold duration. In this way, the HVAC system may be advantageously used to expose the vehicle interior to temperatures that kill or inactive microbes.

A method for operating a vehicle that includes a DC/DC converter is described. In one example, the method includes adjusting an output voltage of the DC/DC converter after the DC/DC converter is used to crank an engine. The output voltage of the DC/DC converter may be adjusted responsive to a state of charge of an ultra-capacitor.

Methods and system for cranking an engine via output of a DC/DC converter

Methods and systems are provided for adjusting engine cranking. In one example, a method for an engine cold start may include extending engine cranking at least based on one or more engine cold start conditions, where extending engine cranking may increase an engine oil pressure in a plurality of camshaft phaser cavities of a variable camshaft timing (VCT) phaser. In some examples, the method may further include, after engine cranking, enabling fueling. In this way, fuel efficiency considerations may be balanced with increases to the engine oil pressure such that components of the VCT phaser may be actuated and/or lubricated.

Methods and systems for engine cranking

A method for operating a vehicle that includes a DC/DC converter is described. In one example, the method includes adjusting an output voltage of the DC/DC converter to increase torque of a belt integrated starter/generator. The output voltage of the DC/DC converter may be adjusted before and during engine cranking.

Methods and system for operating a vehicle having a DC/DC converter

Systems and methods for operating an internal combustion engine are described. In one example, an engine's position is adjusted during engine stopping so that the engine may be less likely to stop at a crankshaft angle where rotating a fuel pump may increase engine cranking torque due to work performed by the fuel pump.

Methods and system for stopping and starting a vehicle

Systems and methods for operating a powertrain or driveline that includes an engine and a belt integrated starter/generator are described. In one example, the belt integrated starter/generator is used to start an engine unless vehicle operating conditions indicate that the belt integrated starter/generator may be having difficulty starting the engine.

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Flat Rock, MI, United States of America

David Hancock