Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Ford Motor Company Limited

Michael Howard Parsons

Jacobus Hendrik Visser

Robert E Hetrick

John David Russell

Richard E Soltis

Allan Joseph Kotwicki

David John Kubinski

Allan J Lippa

Daniel Lawrence Meyer

Yi Ding

Philip W Husak

Carina Eva Irene Bjornsson

Carol S Smith

Michael John Cullen

William Francis Stockhausen

Margherita Zanini-Fisher

Shaun L McCarthy

Russell J Haeberle

Harold Sean Hilbert

Xia Zhang

Kathirgamasundaram Sooriakumar

Jonathan Edward Fleming

Jaco Visser

William Martin Sheeran

A method of operating a gas sensor is disclosed, wherein the sensor includes a pumping electrode configuration and a measuring electrode configuration, and wherein the method includes operating the sensor in a first mode in which a first, lower pumping potential sufficient to electrochemically remove an interfering compound from the sensor without electrochemically removing the analyte from the sensor is applied across the pumping electrode configuration and a measuring potential sufficient to electrochemically remove the analyte from the sensor is applied across the measuring electrode configuration; and operating the sensor in a second mode in which a second, higher pumping potential sufficient to electrochemically remove the analyte from the sensor is applied to the pumping electrode configuration.

System and method for updating a baseline output of a gas sensor

A system is described using a fuel quality sensor for controlling various aspects of engine operation. In particular, an acoustic wave sensor is utilized to measure viscosity and density of gasoline fuels. This measurement is utilized to predict engine combustion quality during an engine start. Based on the prediction, the method adjusts engine operating parameters (such as fuel injection amount and ignition timing) to achieve improved vehicle driveability and engine combustion.

Engine control with fuel quality sensor

An automotive fuel injector having a fluorine-coating amphorous hydronated carbon film coating to resist the formation of carbonaceous deposits thereon. The fluorine-coating amphorous hydronated carbon film is made in part form trifluoromethyltrimethylsilane. The coating helps the fuel injector resist coking or the growth of hard carbonaceous deposits. This reduction in coking and deposits improves the fuel economy and engine performance.

Carbonaceous deposit-resistant coating for fuel injectors

An electrospray adapted fuel injection valve includes an anode and cathode to inject monopolar electric charge into electrically insulating fuel. On exiting the injector, the charge containing fuel atomizes and disperses to reduce electrostatic energy. Additional electrodes with an appropriate method of biasing extend the range of applicability of the process by adjusting space charge distribution within the injector to compensate for variability in component manufacture and variability in the electrical conductivity of the fuel.

Electrospray fuel injection

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.

Fuel injection system and strategy

A method for making pressure sensors is disclosed. A wafer of doped silicon or other semiconductive material is selectively chemically etched (micromachined) on both sides to form a plurality of diaphragms, a thicker silicon rim surrounding each diaphragm, and a feedthrough hole corresponding to each diaphragm external to the silicon rim. A small metallized area of the upper surface of the silicon substrate on the rim adjacent each diaphragm permits external electrical connection to the silicon plate. Capacitor plates are formed by depositing a metallized film or other conductive material on a dielectric substrate in locations corresponding to the diaphragms of the silicon wafer. To permit external electrical connection to the conductive material, contact pads electrically connected to the conductive material are formed on the dielectric substrate external to the area corresponding to the diaphragms. A buffer layer of nonconductive material is disposed over the entire dielectric substrate, and then selectively removed from the contact pads. The lower surface of the silicon substrate is joined to the dielectric substrate, such that the diaphragms formed in the semiconductor material are in alignment with the conductive areas of the dielectric substrate and the contact pads on the dielectric substrate are in alignment with the feedthrough holes in the silicon wafer. The resulting assembly comprises a plurality of electric capacitors and may be cut into individual capacitive pressure sensors.

Fabrication methods for silicon/glass capacitive absolute pressure

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Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America

Michael Howard Parsons