Patents by Inventor Craig Alan Smith

Craig Alan Smith has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Engine control coordination with grille shutter adjustment and ambient conditions
    Patent number: 9650942
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for reducing corrosion of a charge air cooler and preventing engine misfire due to condensate formation. In response to an engine controller determining a condensate forming location within a charge air cooler, a grille shutter system is adjusted, moving the condensate region to a different location in the charge air cooler. Grille shutter orientation may also be controlled in response to vehicle operating conditions and condensate-forming weather conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Daniel Joseph Styles, Kristofor Robert Norman, Chris Paul Glugla, Craig Alan Smith, Joseph Patrick Whitehead
  • Methods and systems for cylinder bank misfire detection and reactivation
    Patent number: 9599048
    Abstract: Various systems and methods are described for deactivation and reactivation of a cylinder bank in a V-engine. In one example, the cylinder bank is deactivated responsive to an indication of misfire based on crankshaft acceleration and exhaust air fuel ratio. The cylinder bank is reactivated sequentially based on exhaust catalyst temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chris Paul Glugla, Robert Sarow Baskins, Joseph Patrick Whitehead, Craig Alan Smith, Timothy Robert Gernant, Scott Richard Hughes
  • Charge air cooler component diagnostics
    Patent number: 9506430
    Abstract: Embodiments for a charge air cooler are provided. In one example, a method comprises adjusting an operating parameter in response to a degraded grille shutter, the degraded grille shutter determined based on a temperature difference across a charge air cooler. In this way, degradation of the charge air cooler or engine may be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Craig Alan Smith, Joseph Patrick Whitehead, Chris Paul Glugla, Charles Allen Cockerill
  • METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR CYLINDER BANK MISFIRE DETECTION AND REACTIVATION
    Publication number: 20160138500
    Abstract: Various systems and methods are described for deactivation and reactivation of a cylinder bank in a V-engine. In one example, the cylinder bank is deactivated responsive to an indication of misfire based on crankshaft acceleration and exhaust air fuel ratio. The cylinder bank is reactivated sequentially based on exhaust catalyst temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2016
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Inventors: Chris Paul Glugla, Robert Sarow Baskins, Joseph Patrick Whitehead, Craig Alan Smith, Timothy Robert Gernant, Scott Richard Hughes
  • Methods and systems for cylinder bank misfire detection and reactivation
    Patent number: 9243573
    Abstract: Various systems and methods are described for deactivation and reactivation of a cylinder bank in a V-engine. In one example, the cylinder bank is deactivated responsive to an indication of misfire based on crankshaft acceleration and exhaust air fuel ratio. The cylinder bank is reactivated sequentially based on exhaust catalyst temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chris Paul Glugla, Robert Sarow Baskins, Joseph Patrick Whitehead, Craig Alan Smith, Timothy Robert Gernant, Scott Richard Hughes
  • Method of inferring start-up misfires due to the build-up of ice and melt water in the intake system of a vehicle engine
    Patent number: 9175619
    Abstract: Methods are provided for determining ice formation during cruising under cold weather conditions at the intake manifold or throttle body of an engine system and for enabling engine misfire diagnostics upon detection of dissipation of the formed ice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Patrick Whitehead, Craig Alan Smith, Timothy Robert Gernant, Robert Sarow Baskins, Gregory Joseph Pawlak
  • METHOD OF INFERRING START-UP MISFIRES DUE TO THE BUILD-UP OF ICE AND MELT WATER IN THE INTAKE SYSTEM OF A VEHICLE ENGINE
    Publication number: 20150019107
    Abstract: Methods are provided for determining ice formation during cruising under cold weather conditions at the intake manifold or throttle body of an engine system and for enabling engine misfire diagnostics upon detection of dissipation of the formed ice.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2013
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventors: Joseph Patrick Whitehead, Craig Alan Smith, Timothy Robert Gernant, Robert Sarow Baskins, Gregory Joseph Pawlak
  • METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR CYLINDER BANK MISFIRE DETECTION AND REACTIVATION
    Publication number: 20140352659
    Abstract: Various systems and methods are described for deactivation and reactivation of a cylinder bank in a V-engine. In one example, the cylinder bank is deactivated responsive to an indication of misfire based on crankshaft acceleration and exhaust air fuel ratio. The cylinder bank is reactivated sequentially based on exhaust catalyst temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventors: Chris Paul Glugla, Robert Sarow Baskins, Joseph Patrick Whitehead, Craig Alan Smith, Timothy Robert Gernant, Scott Richard Hughes
  • CHARGE AIR COOLER COMPONENT DIAGNOSTICS
    Publication number: 20140150756
    Abstract: Embodiments for a charge air cooler are provided. In one example, a method comprises adjusting an operating parameter in response to a degraded grille shutter, the degraded grille shutter determined based on a temperature difference across a charge air cooler. In this way, degradation of the charge air cooler or engine may be reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Craig Alan Smith, Joseph Patrick Whitehead, Chris Paul Glugla, Charles Allen Cockerill
  • ENGINE CONTROL COORDINATION WITH GRILLE SHUTTER ADJUSTMENT AND AMBIENT CONDITIONS
    Publication number: 20140110488
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for reducing corrosion of a charge air cooler and preventing engine misfire due to condensate formation. In response to a condensate forming region in a charge air cooler, a grille shutter system is adjusted, moving the condensate region to a different location in the charge air cooler. Grille shutter orientation may also be controlled in response to vehicle operating conditions and condensate-forming weather conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Daniel Joseph Styles, Kristofor Robert Norman, Chris Paul Glugla, Craig Alan Smith, Joseph Patrick Whitehead