Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Other

Robert Michael Grant

John Eric Rollinger

John Anthony DeMarco

Alex O'Connor Gibson

Allan Roy Gale

Karen Willard

Jeffrey Allen Doering

Adam J Richards

Paul A Pietrzyk

Steven Lin

Matthew Gerow

Michael John Cullen

Alexander O'Connor Gibson

Eric Michael Rademacher

Patrick Joseph Curran

Nicholas Dashwood Crisp

Eric A Luehrsen

Hugh Hamilton

John Smiley, Iii

Brent Jacobsen

Michael Stephen Sweppy

Kevin Douglas Macfarlane

Andrew Clement Dame

John W Harris

Duncan Borthwick

Brian Jay Fedoroff

Gregory Blin

Peter Robert Brooks

Ken Carl Leisenring

Gregory Sapick

Marian Chipa

Eugene S Zimmerman

Richard Tuttle

Methods and systems are provided for estimation of a road roughness index (RRI) and adjusting vehicle operation based on the metric. In one example, a method may include estimating the RRI as a function of a pitch energy and a roll energy of the vehicle travelling on the road. In response to the RRI being higher than a threshold, engine operation such as EGR flow rate may be adjusted.

Methods for a road surface metric

Systems and methods for operating an engine with deactivating and non-deactivating valves are presented. In one example, valves of a cylinder are deactivated in a closed state in response to an indication of degradation of a valve of the cylinder. Further, fuel flow to the cylinder may be stopped via ceasing to inject fuel to the cylinder.

System and method for mitigating cylinder deactivation degradation

Systems and methods for operating an engine with deactivating and non-deactivating valves are presented. In one example, mode changes between deactivating cylinders is based on an amount of time a valve is deactivated, and the longer the valve is deactivated the sooner cylinder valves may be deactivated. If the amount of time the valve is deactivated is short, the time that valves may be deactivated may be delayed.

System and method for controlling busyness of cylinder mode changes

Systems and methods for operating an engine with deactivating and non-deactivating valves are presented. In one example, a position of one or more volumetric efficiency control devices is changed in response to a request to deactivate one or more engine cylinders while at the same time the engine central throttle is adjusted. Spark timing may also be adjusted if engine air flow deviates from a desired engine air flow.

System and method for controlling engine torque while deactivating engine cylinders

Systems and methods for operating an engine in a variety of different cylinder operating modes are presented. In one example, an actual total number of available cylinder modes is increased in response to a vehicle's suspension setting and road roughness. By increasing the available cylinder modes, the engine may be operated in a higher number of modes where one or more engine cylinders may be deactivated to conserve fuel. The number of cylinder modes is increased during conditions where vehicle occupants may be less likely to object to operating the engine with fewer active cylinders.

Variable displacement engine control

A vehicle may include a vehicle charging system having an alternator operatively coupled to an engine and a controller. The controller may be programmed to output a warning indicative of a vehicle charging system fault in response to a quotient of a voltage drop associated with the alternator and an output current of the alternator exceeding a threshold value while the alternator is operating in a steady state condition.

Methods and systems for detecting vehicle charging system faults

A method for supplying power to an electrically assisted steering system is described. In one example, the method adjusts alternator field current to increase energy supplied to the electrically assisted steering system in response to an automatic engine stop request. The method may improve operation of the electrically assisted steering system.

Method for supplying power to an electrically assisted steering system

A vehicle includes an engine, electrical loads, and at least one controller. While the engine is on, the controller calculates the change in current demand of the electrical loads expected from turning the engine off. The decision to command the engine off is then based on the expected change in current demand. Electrical loads that will change state from on to off when the engine is turned off will increase the expected change in current demand. Electrical loads that will change state from off to on when the engine is turned off will decrease the expected change in current demand. Operating conditions associated with the electrical loads, such as operating voltage, temperature, and speed, may affect the expected change in current demand.

Powertrain delta current estimation method

A method and system for operating vehicle accessories is described. The method and system allocate an available amount of engine torque between different accessories depending on boundary conditions and nominal vehicle operating conditions. In one example, the accessories may include an air conditioner compressor, an alternator, and various vehicle electrical loads that are in electrical communication with the alternator.

Method and system for operating vehicle accessories

A system for improving engine starting is disclosed. In one example, an engine starting is improved by providing a variable load to the engine during engine starting. The variable load may be provided by controlling alternator field current during the engine start.

Methods and systems for improved engine speed control during engine starting

A method for improving starting of an engine that may be repeatedly stopped and started is presented. In one embodiment, the method adjusts a transmission actuator in response to engine combustion during an engine start. The method may improve vehicle launch for stop/start vehicles.

Method for controlling vehicle launch

A system described is for providing improved cabin heating. The system may include a vehicle cabin heating system having a first and second heating system receiving coolant flow from the engine; and a control system for operating the engine at a first engine idle speed upon entering idle speed control operation from previous drive operation, maintaining said first idle speed for a duration, and then increasing engine speed to increase coolant flow to the second heating system during cold ambient conditions when the second heater system is in operation.

Cabin heating control system

A system and method for demonstrating or testing operation of on-board diagnostics in a vehicle include imitating performance degradation of a vehicle hardware component and/or associated vehicle system by dynamically modifying at least one control system parameter value associated with the hardware component in response to a request to demonstrate operation of a selected diagnostic function or a specified performance degradation. Embodiments modify at least one control system parameter value associated with the input/output signal of a sensor/actuator to imitate a specified performance degradation. The diagnostics independently monitor operation of various vehicle control systems and operate to detect the degraded performance without knowledge of, or distinguishing between, whether the performance degradation was caused by an actual hardware component, or by the requested modification to the control system parameter value(s) associated with a particular hardware component.

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Farmington Hills, MI, United States of America

Robert Michael Grant