Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Vinod Kumar Ravi

Sumanth Reddy Dadam

Hani Mohammad Ayesh

Vivek Kumar

Di Zhu

Robert Roy Jentz

Douglas Raymond Martin

Adam Krach

Edward Doemer

A method for operating a vehicle that includes a passenger is described. In one example, the method adjusts vehicle suspension and exhaust system sound in response to characteristics of the passenger that are monitored via a camera and a microphone. The method may operate the vehicle suspension and exhaust system in a way that soothes the passenger.

Methods and system for adjusting vehicle operation based on a predicted state of a vehicle occupant

Systems and methods for energy efficient mobility are provided. The method may include identifying a vehicle moving on a road, calculating a first energy required to complete a trip, determining a size of an air pocket zone of the vehicle, calculating a second energy required to transition to the air pocket zone of the vehicle and to complete the trip in the air pocket zone of the vehicle, and transitioning to the air pocket zone of the vehicle if the second energy is more energy efficient than the first energy.

Systems and methods for energy efficient mobility using machine learning and artificial intelligence

A traction battery venting system includes, among other things, an engine exhaust system that discharges engine exhaust gas to an area outside an electrified vehicle. The engine exhaust gas is emitted from an internal combustion engine of the electrified vehicle. The system further includes a sound deadening device of the engine exhaust system, a traction battery, and a battery vent system that communicates battery vent byproducts to the engine exhaust system at a position that is downstream from the sound deadening device. The battery vent byproducts are emitted from the traction battery of the electrified vehicle.

Traction battery venting system and venting method

Vehicle sound attenuation systems and methods are provided herein. An example method includes determining a triggering event for a vehicle using an advanced driver assisted technology system, and controlling a sound enhancing system of the vehicle in response to the triggering event. Controlling the sound enhancing system may include attenuating engine or exhaust sound produced by the sound enhancing system of the vehicle.

Vehicle sound attenuation

Methods and systems are provided for adjusting a position of an exhaust valve that regulates engine exhaust noise. In one example, the position of the exhaust valve is adjusted according to a distance between a first vehicle and a second vehicle. The exhaust valve may be adjusted to reduce an exhaust noise level when the distance between the first vehicle and the second vehicle is less than a threshold distance.

Exhaust sound tuning system and method

A method for operating a vehicle that includes a passenger is described. In one example, the method adjusts vehicle suspension and exhaust system sound in response to characteristics of the passenger that are monitored via a camera and a microphone. The method may operate the vehicle suspension and exhaust system in a way that sooths the passenger.

Methods and systems are provided for controlling imbalance with an exhaust tuning valve. In one example, a method may include adjusting a first exhaust tuning valve in response to combustion torque imbalance in a first and second group of cylinders. Additionally or alternatively, the position of the second exhaust tuning valve may be adjusted in response to an imbalance generated by the same group of cylinders.

Methods and systems for controlling imbalance with an exhaust tuning valve

Methods and systems are provided for controlling engine oil dilution in automotive vehicles. The method comprises heating coolant by operating an exhaust gas heat recovery device and circulating the heated coolant via a first coolant loop between the exhaust gas heat recovery device and a heat exchanger; and heating coolant by operating an exhaust gas recirculation cooler and circulating the heated coolant via a second coolant loop between the exhaust gas recirculation cooler and the heat exchanger, wherein the heated coolant from both the exhaust gas heat recovery device and the exhaust gas recirculation cooler mix at the heat exchanger and allows heating of an engine oil via the heat exchanger. In one example, the method prevents excessive accumulation of water and/or fuel in the engine oil.

Engine oil dilution control in automotive vehicles

Methods and systems are provided for an exhaust tuning valve. In one example, a method may include adjusting the exhaust tuning valve in response to a steering wheel angle input. Additionally or alternatively, the position of the exhaust tuning valve may be adjusted differently in response to a same steering wheel angle input during different driving behaviors.

Methods and systems for an exhaust tuning valve

Methods and systems are provided for diagnosing a humidity sensor in an engine. In one example, a method may include heating intake air entering an intake passage of an engine using heat recirculated from an exhaust system of the engine. A response of the humidity sensor to the heating of the intake air may be used to assess an integrity of the humidity sensor.

Systems and methods for relative humidity sensor diagnostics

Methods and systems are provided for adjusting a position of an exhaust valve that regulates engine exhaust noise. In one example, the position of the exhaust valve is adjusted according to a road grade estimate. The road grade estimate may be based on a vehicle's present position on a road or a position that is a distance away from the vehicle's present position.

Exhaust tuning system and method

Methods and systems are provided for diagnosing an active exhaust valve in an exhaust system based on thermal data. In one example, a method may include indicating degradation of a first active exhaust valve positioned in a first exhaust pipe of a first engine bank based on a difference between a first temperature of exhaust downstream of the first active exhaust valve and a second temperature of exhaust downstream of a second active exhaust valve positioned in a second exhaust pipe of a second engine bank. Degradation of the valve may be confirmed based on thermal image data acquired at outlets of the first and second exhaust pipes.

Methods and system for diagnosing active exhaust valves based on temperature and thermal image data

Methods and systems are provided for opportunistically mitigating an intermittent degradation of an active exhaust valve. In one example, a method may include differentiating between a permanent degradation of the active exhaust valve and an intermittent degradation of the active exhaust valve and adjusting actuation of the valve based on a vehicle operating condition and a road condition to mitigate the intermittent degradation.

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Canton, MI, United States of America

Vinod Kumar Ravi