Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Tyler Kelly

Douglas Raymond Martin

John Eric Rollinger

Timothy Stolzenfeld

Julia Helen Buckland

Baitao Xiao

David Bell

Patrick Matthews

Benjamin M Rocci

Scott Steadmon Thompson

Michiel Jacques Van Nieuwstadt

Adam Nathan Banker

Joseph Lyle Thomas

Mrdjan J Jankovic

Gregory McConville

Adam J Richards

Adam Krach

John Erik Mikael Hellstrom

Matthew John Gerhart

W Cary Cole

Vincent Martinez

Anthony Morelli

Emil G Serban

Erik Mikael Hellstrom

Joshua Schumaker

Victor Martinez

Julia Helen Buckland Seeds

Anil Shah

Vincent Mariucci

Matthew Blake Tranter

Justin Lesniak

Corey Ducklow

Owen Bailey

Methods and systems are provided for improving vehicle speed measurements. A vehicle may detect the impact of a roadway irregularity to its front wheels and its rear wheels, and may calculate an instantaneous vehicle speed on the basis of its wheelbase and an elapsed time between the two impacts. This instantaneous vehicle speed may then be used to calculate one or more correction factors which may be used to correct a conventionally-acquired vehicle speed measurement, an operational parameter of the vehicle underlying such measurements (such as a wheel size or a final drive ratio), or both.

Adjust operational parameters based on identified roadway irregularities

Methods and systems are provided for updating a relevant vehicle parameter in a vehicle so as to improve accuracy of a vehicle velocity determination. In one example, a method comprises integrating signals of a longitudinal acceleration sensor to obtain a first vehicle velocity and obtaining a second vehicle velocity from a wheel speed sensor between a first and a second reference point, and updating the relevant vehicle parameter as a function of a difference between a slope associated with the first vehicle velocity and another slope associated with the second vehicle velocity. In this way, accuracy of vehicle speed determination via one or more wheel speed sensors may be improved.

Systems and methods for vehicle speedometer calibration

Methods and systems are provided for detecting cylinder-to-cylinder air-fuel ratio (AFR) imbalance in engine cylinders. In one example, a method may include detecting an AFR imbalance of an engine cylinder based on an individual crankshaft acceleration of the cylinder relative to a mean crankshaft acceleration produced by all cylinders of the engine, and correcting a fuel amount of the cylinder via a fuel multiplier value, the fuel multiplier value selected from a plurality of fuel multiplier values based on an imbalance source. In this way, the AFR imbalance may be accurately detected and correcting using existing engine system sensors.

Method and system for balancing cylinder air-fuel ratio

Methods and systems are provided for enabling vehicle speed control without overfilling a system battery. In one example, braking energy is applied (or recuperated) by applying a negative torque from BISG until a system battery has been sufficiently charged. Thereafter, the electrical power generated by the BISG is used to operate an electric boost assist motor, and the energy is recuperated in the form of stored compressed air.

Method and system for engine control

Methods and systems are provided for controlling engine knock. In one example, a method may include decreasing intake valve lift at a first set of cylinders where knock is indicated and increasing intake valve lift at a second set of cylinders where knock is not indicated. A stoichiometric air-to-fuel ratio is thereby maintained.

Method for knock mitigation

Methods and systems are provided for detection of cylinder-to-cylinder air fuel ratio imbalance in engine cylinders. In one example, a method may include indicating air fuel ratio imbalance in an engine cylinder based on a comparison of an estimated cylinder acceleration for the cylinder and a calibrated cylinder acceleration for each of the engine cylinders. The indication of imbalance may be further confirmed based on one or more of an exhaust air-fuel ratio, an exhaust manifold pressure, and an individual cylinder torque weighted by respective confidence factors.

Method and system for cylinder imbalance detection

Methods and systems are provided for improving surge control in a boosted engine system configured with an electric motor to provide electrical boost assistance. Tip-in and tip-out surge are addressed by increasing the opening of a compressor recirculation valve and coordinating the recirculation valve opening with adjustments to an exhaust waste-gate position and a power output by the electric motor. The adjustments enable an intake airflow to be provided that operates the compressor outside a surge region while providing a target boost pressure as operator torque demand increases or decreases.

System and method for boost control

Methods and systems are provided for expediting emission control device heating. In one example, a method may include flowing air from an intake of an engine to one or more emission control devices via an air injection system while operating a turbocharger via an electric motor to maintain a desired airflow to the engine in response to an emission control device heating condition. In this way, fresh air is provided to the one or more emission control devices without degrading engine performance or increasing engine speed.

Method and system for emission control device heating

Methods and systems are provided for diagnosing valve operation during a cylinder deactivation event in a variable displacement engine. Crankshaft acceleration data is captured during an exhaust stroke of a deactivated cylinder and compared to a calibrated map of crankshaft acceleration data for the given cylinder. Based on the comparison, it may be indicated that the deactivation of the exhaust valve of the given cylinder is degraded, and that the exhaust valve is open when commanded closed.

Method and system for variable displacement engines

Methods and systems are provided for expediting charging of a battery before entry into a zero emissions zone. In one example, the battery is charged with a ratio of motor torque drawn from a first electric motor of an electric turbocharger and a second electric motor of an HEV driveline. The ratio is coordinated with adjustments to an exhaust waste-gate and an intake throttle so as to maintain operator torque demand and propel the vehicle while charging the battery.

System and method for battery charging

Methods and systems are provided for diagnosing a source of degradation in an exhaust system of a vehicle. In one example, a method may include actuating an electric turbocharger to rotate in a first direction to evaluate integrity of an exhaust pipe of the exhaust system and rotation the turbocharger in a second direction to assess an exhaust manifold of the exhaust system, after an engine of the vehicle is turned off. Pressures generated in the exhaust system are compared to thresholds based on barometric pressure and/or turbocharger speed.

Detection of leaks and blockages in a vehicle exhaust system

Methods and systems are provided for improving transient performance in a boosted engine having staged air compression systems. An electric supercharger compressor is staged downstream of a turbocharger compressor in a bypass, airflow diverted from a main intake passage to the bypass via closure of a bypass valve. During selected conditions when the supercharger compressor is not being spun, the bypass valve may be closed to direct air to the engine after flowing through the supercharger in a stand-by mode, thereby enabling a transient increase in torque demand to be rapidly met.

Method and system for a boosted engine

Methods and systems are provided for regenerating and purging a particulate filter of an exhaust treatment system for a combustion engine. In one example, a method may include flowing exhaust gas in a reverse direction through the particulate filter to purge particulate matter to an intake manifold of the engine for combusting. The duration of purging may be based on a regeneration achieved during a previous regeneration of the particulate filter during a deceleration fuel shut-off event.

Method and system for a particulate filter

Systems and methods for operating an internal combustion engine that includes an electric turbocharger are described. The systems and methods may operate the electric turbocharger in a motor mode or a generator mode. The electric turbocharger may be operated in a generator mode to reduce an amount of time to activate electric turbocharger in a motor mode.

Methods and system for operating an electric turbocharger

Methods and systems are provided for coordinated control of a compound boosting system, including a first compressor staged upstream of a second compressor in an engine intake. In one example, a method may include operating the second, downstream compressor in steady-state to achieve an overall pressure ratio across the compound boosting system while operating the first, upstream compressor transiently, based on an airflow shortfall at the downstream compressor. A timing and amount of electric assistance provided to transiently operate the first, upstream compressor may be adjusted dynamically as the pressure ratio across the second compressor changes.

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Plymouth, MI, United States of America

Tyler Kelly