Patents by Inventor Eric Kurtz

Eric Kurtz 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).

  • Publication number: 20150083075
    Abstract: Methods and systems for adjusting a plurality of fuel injections supplied to a cylinder during a cycle of the cylinder are described. In one example, fuel amounts are moved between fuel injections in response to combustion phase. Engine feedgas hydrocarbons and/or carbonaceous particulate matter may be reduced when cetane of combusted fuel changes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventors: Eric Kurtz, Douglas Kuhel
  • Publication number: 20150075597
    Abstract: An electroconductive paste composition for use in forming backside soldering pads on a solar cell including metallic particles, glass frit including Bi2O3, Al2O3, SiO2, B2O3 and at least one of Li2O or Li3PO4, and an organic vehicle is provided. The invention also provides a solar cell comprising a silicon wafer having a front side and a backside, and a soldering pad formed on the silicon wafer produced from an electroconductive paste according to the invention. The invention further provides a solar cell module comprising electrically interconnected solar cells according to the invention. A method of producing of a solar cell, comprising the steps of providing a silicon wafer having a front side and a backside, applying an electroconductive paste composition according to the invention onto the backside of the silicon wafer, and firing the silicon wafer according to an appropriate profile, is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Eric KURTZ, Lindsey A. KARPOWICH, Weiming ZHANG
  • Patent number: 8899209
    Abstract: Methods and systems for adjusting a plurality of fuel injections supplied to a cylinder during a cycle of the cylinder are described. In one example, fuel amounts are moved between fuel injections in response to combustion phase. Engine feedgas hydrocarbons and/or carbonaceous particulate matter may be reduced when cetane of combusted fuel changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Eric Kurtz, Douglas Kuhel
  • Patent number: 8897995
    Abstract: A fuel injection system including injectors for two different fuels is disclosed. In one example, fuel injection is adjusted to compensate for changes in engine intake air amount. Combustion stability during transient conditions may be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Eric Kurtz
  • Publication number: 20140180561
    Abstract: A fuel injection system including injectors for two different fuels is disclosed. In one example, fuel injection is adjusted to compensate for changes in engine intake air amount. Combustion stability during transient conditions may be improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Eric Kurtz
  • Patent number: 8706386
    Abstract: A fuel injection system including injectors for two different fuels is disclosed. In one example, fuel injection is adjusted to compensate for changes in engine intake air amount. Combustion stability during transient conditions may be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Eric Kurtz
  • Publication number: 20140026539
    Abstract: Methods and systems for regenerating an after treatment device are disclosed. In one example, the possibility of introducing fuel to oil during after treatment device regeneration is reduced. The methods and systems may reduce engine degradation and improve engine emissions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Eric Kurtz
  • Patent number: 8550060
    Abstract: Methods and systems for operating a glow plug are disclosed. In one example, current supplied to a glow plug can be controlled to promote combustion stability of a cylinder after an engine start. Engine feedgas hydrocarbons may be reduced during conditions where combustion stability may be otherwise reduced in order to reduce tailpipe emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Eric Kurtz, Paul Joseph Tennison, David A. May
  • Publication number: 20130261930
    Abstract: Methods and systems for increasing fuel economy of a vehicle including a SCR catalyst are presented. In one example, an amount of EGR provided to an engine is decreased in response to performance of the SCR being within a predetermined range of performance. The methods and systems may increase vehicle fuel economy while vehicle tailpipe emissions are achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2012
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Eric Kurtz, Paul Joseph Tennison, William Charles Ruona, Waheed Alashe, David A. May, Joshua Putman Styron
  • Patent number: 8442744
    Abstract: To partially supplant the use of fossil fuels in diesel engines, oxygen-containing fuels, such as biodiesels, are proposed as blending agents in diesel fuel. Engine calibration coefficients to control EGR rate, timings and quantities of fuel injection pulses, turbocharger boost, etc, can be determined to compensate for the lower energy content of such oxygenate blends compared to diesel fuels. According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the fuel quantity of each of multiple injection pulses is increased proportionally to compensate for the impact of oxygenates. An adjustment in the fuel injection quantity is performed in response to a new tank of fuel and the adjustment is applied for that tank of fuel. A fuel compensation factor (FCF) can be determined based on the actual amount of fuel injected compared to the expected amount of diesel fuel at the present operating condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Eric Kurtz, Douglas Glen Kuhel, Jianwen James Wi, Christian Winge Viglid
  • Publication number: 20130087122
    Abstract: Methods and systems for operating a glow plug are disclosed. In one example, current supplied to a glow plug can be controlled to promote combustion stability of a cylinder after an engine start. Engine feedgas hydrocarbons may be reduced during conditions where combustion stability may be otherwise reduced in order to reduce tailpipe emissions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Eric Kurtz, Paul Joseph Tennison, David A. May
  • Publication number: 20130087129
    Abstract: Methods and systems for operating a glow plug are disclosed. In one example, current supplied to a glow plug can be controlled to promote combustion stability of a cylinder after an engine start. Engine feedgas hydrocarbons may be reduced during conditions where combustion stability may be otherwise reduced to reduce tailpipe emissions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Eric Kurtz, Paul Joseph Tennison, David A. May
  • Patent number: 8412442
    Abstract: An engine starting method is disclosed. In one example, engine operation is adjusted to reduce catalyst light off time. Exhaust temperatures may be increased until a threshold engine temperature is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Eric Kurtz
  • Publication number: 20130008418
    Abstract: An engine starting method is disclosed. In one example, engine operation is adjusted to reduce catalyst light off time. Exhaust temperatures may be increased until a threshold engine temperature is reached.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Eric Kurtz
  • Publication number: 20120290190
    Abstract: Systems and methods for diagnosing an EGR system are presented. The method provides for indicating EGR system degradation in response to a temperature at an outlet of an EGR cooler. The method may require less calibration effort than a model based diagnostic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2011
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Yong-Wha Kim, Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt, Eric Kurtz
  • Patent number: 8301358
    Abstract: An engine starting method is disclosed. In one example, engine operation is adjusted to reduce catalyst light off time. Exhaust temperatures may be increased until a threshold engine temperature is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Eric Kurtz
  • Patent number: 8281772
    Abstract: Methods and systems for operating a glow plug are disclosed. In one example, current supplied to a glow plug can be controlled to promote combustion stability of a cylinder after an engine start. Engine feedgas hydrocarbons may be reduced during conditions where combustion stability may be otherwise reduced in order to reduce tailpipe emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Eric Kurtz, Paul Joseph Tennison, David A. May
  • Patent number: 8267065
    Abstract: A method for adjusting fuel injection of an engine is disclosed. In one example, fuel injection timing is adjusted to account for fuels having different cetane numbers. Operation of the engine may be improved especially during conditions where combustion phase may vary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Eric Kurtz, Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt, Thomas Alan Brewbaker, Michael Hopka, Douglas Kuhel, David Joseph Dronzkowski
  • Patent number: 8245701
    Abstract: A method for charging an intake manifold of an engine comprises adjusting an LP EGR flow rate and an uncooled HP EGR flow rate within first limits to maintain a target dilution level in the intake manifold at steady state. The method further comprises adjusting the LP EGR and uncooled HP EGR rates within second limits, different from the first, to maintain the target dilution level in the intake manifold during transient conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Joseph Styles, David Joseph Dronzkowski, Eric Kurtz
  • Patent number: D663863
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Lumicor, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis Schober, Eric Kurtz, Todd Darrow