Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Ford Motor Company Limited

John Robert Grabowski

Michael W Degner

Theodore Joseph Filippi

Ilya V Kolmanovsky

Alex Gibson

Ross Maxwell Stuntz

Bernard Dale Baughn

John Michael Miller

Vince Winstead

Richard E Soltis

Richard Joseph Hampo

Steven Joseph Szwabowski

Suriyaprakash Ayyangar Janarthanam

Paul Theodore Momcilovich

William Goodwin

John Richard Blankenship

Roy I Davis

Gary Robert Flohr

Michael Brown

Anthony G Grabowski

Arun Kumar Jaura

A gaseous fuel management system for an automotive vehicle includes at least one gas sensor for detecting the presence of gaseous fuel outside of the confines of the vehicle's fuel storage tank, fuel lines, and prime mover. In the event that fugitive gas is detected and the concentration exceeds a predetermined threshold, the fuel supply to the vehicle's prime mover will be shut off and, if so equipped, the vehicle may then be operated in a battery power mode for the convenience of the driver.

Gaseous fuel management system for automotive vehicle

A method for initializing valves of an engine having a starting apparatus is disclosed. The engine may have electromechanically actuated cylinder valves. The method comprises moving at least a first valve away from a neutral position of the first valve before the engine is rotated by said starting apparatus; and moving at least a second valve away from a neutral position of the second valve after the engine is rotated by said starting apparatus.

Initialization of electromechanical valve actuator in an internal combustion engine

A dual coil half bridge converter adapted to be coupled to a dual coil actuator of a cylinder valve in an internal combustion engine is described. In one example, the converter has a first and second capacitor and a voltage source, where the converter is actuated via switches to individually energizing coils in said dual coil actuator. A voltage regulator is also shown for maintaining midpoint voltage during unequal loading of different actuator coils in the converter.

Power electronics circuit for electromechanical valve actuator of an internal combustion engine

A bi-directional dual coil half bridge converter adapted to be coupled to a dual coil actuator of a cylinder valve in an internal combustion engine is described. In one example, the converter has a first and second capacitor and a voltage source, where the converter is actuated via switches to individually energizing coils in said dual coil actuator. A voltage regulator is also shown for maintaining midpoint voltage during unequal loading of different actuator coils in the converter.

Bi-directional power electronics circuit for electromechanical valve actuator of an internal combustion engine

A method for improving engine position sensing of an internal combustion engine is described. According to one aspect of the description, the determination of engine position may be improved by correcting rotational position of the internal combustion engine at a number of engine locations.

Engine position correction

A system and method to control spark in a cylinder of a multi-cylinder engine. Spark can be controlled in a cylinder while reducing the possibility of producing a spark at a spark plug coupled to an ignition coil.

Controlling spark for an engine with controllable valves

A system and method to control spark in a cylinder of a multi-cylinder engine. Spark can be controlled in a cylinder based on operating conditions of a selectively operable valve.

Power electronics circuit with voltage regulator for electromechanical valve actuator of an internal combustion engine

A method of transitioning a motor from a torque control mode to a speed control mode includes providing the motor with a torque command to eliminate torque holes at the transition. A speed controller generates a speed error, which is used to generate two torque terms. The first torque term is proportional to the speed error, and the second torque term includes the integral of the speed error. A third torque term comprises a feedforward torque, which is added to the first two torque terms to generate the torque command.

Method and system for controlling a motor

A battery current limiter and current-limiting method for a battery system and an electric motor in a hybrid automotive vehicle powertrain. The battery current limiter monitors measured battery current and torque commands. A modified current is developed to take a predetermined current margin into account. The modified current reduces battery current in a closed loop fashion simultaneously with a reduction in commanded torque by a feed-forward torque value.

Battery current limiter for a high voltage battery pack in a hybrid electric vehicle powertrain

A position sensor and variable reluctance type controller interface circuit ( ) is provided. The circuit ( ) includes a position sensor ( ) having an output terminal (OUT) and generating a position signal. A variable reluctance type controller ( ), having an input bus ( ), is electrically coupled to the position sensor ( ) via a voltage divider circuit ( ). The circuit ( ) supplies a voltage differential output signal in response to the position signal to the input bus ( ). A method of interfacing between the position sensor ( ) and the controller ( ) is also provided. The method includes generating a position signal. The reference voltage on the controller ( ) is divided to an approximately fixed voltage level. The approximately fixed voltage level is supplied to a negative input terminal (INPUT&minus;) on the variable reluctance type controller. The position signal is received on a positive input terminal (INPUT&plus;) of the controller ( ).

Magneto-resistive position sensor and variable reluctance controller interface circuit

A method is provided for controlling an electro-hydraulic power assist steering system including a variable-speed electric motor for pumping hydraulic fluid in the system. The method includes monitoring vehicle speed and vehicle steering wheel angle. A vehicle yaw rate is estimated using the monitored vehicle speed and monitored vehicle steering wheel angle. A control signal for setting the speed of the variable speed electric motor is compensated based based on the estimated vehicle yaw rate. Accordingly, a wide range of vehicle driving conditions are accommodated and vehicle fuel efficiency is improved.

Method for compensating a power assist steering system control signal

A method and apparatus for determining a center position of the vehicular steering system includes a vehicle speed sensor, a steering sensor and a control unit. The control unit uses a strategy to determine an estimate of the steering assist force. When the steering assist force is below a force threshold and a vehicle speed is above a speed threshold, the controller filters data from the steering sensor so as to rapidly determine a precise center position for the steering system.

Growing community of inventors

Dearborn, MI, United States of America

John Robert Grabowski