Ford Motor Company Limited

Visteon Global Technolgoies, Inc.

Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Harold Sean Hilbert

Zeljko Popovic

Shawn Harold Swales

William Francis Stockhausen

Robert E Hetrick

Stephen James Newton

Lawrence Andrew Mianzo

Ibrahim Haskara

Michael Howard Parsons

Brett Denton Collins

Youqing Xiang

An apparatus and a method for electromagnetically actuating engine valves to obtain soft seating. The magnitude and duration of current pulses applied to the armature attracting coils are determined based upon a total mechanical energy and a total energy loss of the armature obtained from the armature position.

Electromagnetic actuator system and method for engine valves

A method and system for braking a hybrid electric vehicle having an internal combustion engine and a traction motor coupled to a common output shaft, with the vehicle also having an energy storage battery. The method includes monitoring of the vehicle to determine if the vehicle's driver is operating the vehicle in a braking mode and if so, controlling the engine and traction motor so as to provide dynamic braking such that when the traction motor is operated regeneratively, the brake torque produce by the engine is reduced from a maximum contemporaneous brake torque value.

Method and apparatus for braking a hybrid electric vehicle

The variable valve mechanism of a preferred embodiment of the invention includes a valve slidably mounted to move between a closed position and an open position, a cam rotatably mounted to push the valve from the closed position toward the open position, and an electromagnet adapted to selectively hold the valve in the open position. The variable valve mechanism acquires most of the benefits of a bi-directional electromagnetic arrangement (such as increased fuel economy, decreased start-up emissions, etc.), while avoiding most of the disadvantages (costs, NVH, etc.).

Variable valve mechanism for an engine

A method and an apparatus for reducing the amount of vehicular emissions during and shortly after a vehicle has been started. The assembly includes at least one heater which is coupled to a catalytic converter assembly and which heats the catalytic assembly during and/or for a period occurring shortly after the vehicle has been started. The assembly also includes a load, such as motor/generator , which is selectively applied to the internal combustion engine of the vehicle during and/or for a period occurring shortly after the vehicle has been started in order to increase the temperature and the amount of exhaust gasses which are communicated to the catalytic converter assembly from the internal combustion engine

Method and apparatus for reducing vehicular emissions by selectively heating a catalytic converter

A fuel injection system used in the intake air passageway of an internal combustion engine has a strategy for reducing cold start hydrocarbon emissions. The fuel injector has an actuator which allows the fuel spray pattern to be varied from one which is widely dispersed and atomized to one which is only weakly dispersed. A strategy for varying the spray pattern during the engine warm-up period after cold start is disclosed. The strategy increases evaporation within the passageway so that cold start overfuelling and attendant hydrocarbon emissions are reduced.

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Canton, MI, United States of America

Harold Sean Hilbert