Patents by Inventor Derek K. Ward

Derek K. Ward 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).

  • Patent number: 10166865
    Abstract: A method for controlling a vehicle driveline uses sensors to estimate a need for powering secondary wheels for each of a plurality of conditions. The estimates are scaled and the scaled estimates summed. Only primary wheels are powered when the summed estimates are less than a reference value. Both the primary and secondary wheels are powered when the summed estimates exceed the reference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Ashok E. Rodrigues, Andreas E. Perakes, Richard D. Bruns, Derek K. Ward, Jim Koppenol, Nicholas E. McCubbin, Peter J. Grutter
  • Publication number: 20140324290
    Abstract: A method for controlling cornering of a motor vehicle having a front wheel drive and an electronically controllable locking differential. A motion model of the motor vehicle is calculated on the basis of the control inputs of a vehicle driver, a lateral movement parameter of the motor vehicle is measured. Deviations of the measured lateral movement parameter to the modeled movement, and the rotational speed of a front wheel which is on the inside during cornering from such a rotational speed of a front wheel which is on the outside are determined. The deviations are reduced if the rotational speed of the front wheel which is on the inside is not lower than the rotational speed of the front wheel which is on the outside, and if the measured lateral movement parameter deviates from the modeled lateral movement parameter. Reduction of the deviation is carried out by applying a locking torque to the locking differential and by single-sided braking of at least one wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Jens Dornhege, Derek K. Ward, Lucian Lippok
  • Publication number: 20140236443
    Abstract: A method for controlling a vehicle driveline uses sensors to estimate a need for powering secondary wheels for each of a plurality of conditions. The estimates are scaled and the scaled estimates summed. Only primary wheels are powered when the summed estimates are less than a reference value. Both the primary and secondary wheels are powered when the summed estimates exceed the reference value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Ashok E. Rodrigues, Andreas E. Perakes, Richard D. Bruns, Derek K. Ward, Jim Koppenol, Nicholas E. McCubbin, Peter J. Grutter
  • Publication number: 20120095659
    Abstract: A method for controlling a vehicle driveline includes using current conditions to estimate wheel slip probability and vehicle dynamics handling support requirements, producing two-wheel drive operation, if said slip probability and handling support requirement is low and a condition for forced driveline connection is absent, and producing four-wheel drive operation, if said slip probability and/or handling support requirement is high and a condition for forced driveline disconnection is absent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2010
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Ashok E. Rodrigues, Andreas E. Perakes, Richard D. Bruns, Jim Koppenol, Derek K. Ward, Nicholas E. McCubbin, Peter J. Grutter