Patents by Inventor Francis Judge

Francis Judge 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: 10819136
    Abstract: A vehicle includes first loads, a power source, and a processor coupled to the power source. Each of the first loads is configured to generate a fault signal indicative of an occurrence of an action performed by said first load to mitigate a voltage transient event. The processor is configured to, in response to a second different load being electrically coupled to the power source: control a voltage available within the power source based on calibration parameters; and in response to receiving the fault signal, adjust at least one of the calibration parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alan Francis Judge, Jeff Raymond Mohr, John G. Fraser, James Brian Keyse
  • Publication number: 20200266653
    Abstract: A vehicle includes first loads, a power source, and a processor coupled to the power source. Each of the first loads is configured to generate a fault signal indicative of an occurrence of an action performed by said first load to mitigate a voltage transient event. The processor is configured to, in response to a second different load being electrically coupled to the power source: control a voltage available within the power source based on calibration parameters; and in response to receiving the fault signal, adjust at least one of the calibration parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Inventors: Alan Francis Judge, Jeff Raymond Mohr, John G. Fraser, James Brian Keyse
  • Patent number: 10707788
    Abstract: A vehicle power system includes a controller that reduces a voltage setpoint of an alternator by a predetermined amount in response to a magnitude of electric charge provided by the alternator during a predetermined time period exceeding a first threshold and a rate of change of power output by the alternator exceeding a second threshold during the time period. The controller also regulates an output voltage of the alternator based on the setpoint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Todd Ansbacher, Alan Francis Judge, Jeffrey Raymond Mohr, Frederick Shell, Michael J. Irby, Karen Price, Gabriel Jim, Christopher Semanson
  • Patent number: 10491147
    Abstract: System and method are disclosed for power management in a vehicle having two or more alternators. An example vehicle power system includes first and second alternators, and a processor. The processor is configured to determine that a load coupled to the first and second alternators increases at greater than a threshold rate. The processor is also configured to responsively (i) reduce respective voltage setpoints of the first and second alternators, and (ii) turn off the second alternator. And the processor is further configured to, after determining that a voltage transient caused by the load has expired, turn on the second alternator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alan Francis Judge, Gabriel Jim, Jeffrey Raymond Mohr, James Brian Keyse, Anthony Thomas Spoto, John G. Fraser
  • Publication number: 20190165710
    Abstract: System and method are disclosed for power management in a vehicle having two or more alternators. An example vehicle power system includes first and second alternators, and a processor. The processor is configured to determine that a load coupled to the first and second alternators increases at greater than a threshold rate. The processor is also configured to responsively (i) reduce respective voltage setpoints of the first and second alternators, and (ii) turn off the second alternator. And the processor is further configured to, after determining that a voltage transient caused by the load has expired, turn on the second alternator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2017
    Publication date: May 30, 2019
    Inventors: Alan Francis Judge, Gabriel Jim, Jeffrey Raymond Mohr, James Brian Keyse, Anthony Thomas Spoto, John G. Fraser
  • Patent number: 9746218
    Abstract: An economized refrigeration system includes a main refrigerant circuit having a condenser, an evaporator, an economizer, an expansion device intermediate the condenser and the economizer, and a main compressor fluidly connected by a main refrigerant line. The system also includes an economized refrigerant circuit including an auxiliary compressor system and an auxiliary refrigerant line fluidly connecting the economizer to the auxiliary compressor system and fluidly connecting the main refrigerant line to the auxiliary compressor at a location intermediate the main compressor system and the condenser. The auxiliary compressor system is independently controllable with respect to the main compressor system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Steven Trent Sommer, Stephen Harold Smith, John Francis Judge
  • Publication number: 20170033717
    Abstract: A vehicle power system includes a controller that reduces a voltage setpoint of an alternator by a predetermined amount in response to a magnitude of electric charge provided by the alternator during a predetermined time period exceeding a first threshold and a rate of change of power output by the alternator exceeding a second threshold during the time period. The controller also regulates an output voltage of the alternator based on the setpoint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2015
    Publication date: February 2, 2017
    Inventors: Todd Ansbacher, Alan Francis Judge, Jeffrey Raymond Mohr, Frederick Shell, Michael J. Irby, Karen Price, Gabriel Jim, Christopher Semanson
  • Patent number: 9528487
    Abstract: A control circuit receives a starting signal from a powertrain control module of a vehicle and delays the coupling of the main starting current from the battery to the starting motor until a reduced current in an alternative flow path is provided to the starter motor, initiating its motion. In a preferred, the pre-start sequence is controlled by a microprocessor which provides a control signal to a solid state switch coupled by a conductor providing current limiting resistance between the battery supply and the starter motor for a predetermined period of time. Subsequent to the pre-spin period, the control circuit provides a signal to a different solid state switch which activates the starter solenoid, in turn, coupling the battery to the starter motor and engaging the pinion gear with the ring gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Xiangying Liu, Chuck De Biasi, Ravi Atluru, Frederick Shell, Alan Francis Judge, Sheran Anthony Alles
  • Publication number: 20130125850
    Abstract: A control circuit receives a starting signal from a powertrain control module of a vehicle and delays the coupling of the main starting current from the battery to the starting motor until a reduced current in an alternative flow path is provided to the starter motor, initiating its motion. In a preferred, the pre-start sequence is controlled by a microprocessor which provides a control signal to a solid state switch coupled by a conductor providing current limiting resistance between the battery supply and the starter motor for a predetermined period of time. Subsequent to the pre-spin period, the control circuit provides a signal to a different solid state switch which activates the starter solenoid, in turn, coupling the battery to the starter motor and engaging the pinion gear with the ring gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Xiangying Liu, Chuck De Biasi, Ravi Atluru, Frederick Shell, Alan Francis Judge, Sheran Anthony Alles
  • Patent number: 7849710
    Abstract: A falling film evaporator is provided for use in a two-phase refrigeration system or process system. The evaporator includes a shell having an upper portion, a lower portion, and a tube bundle having tubes extending substantially horizontally in the shell. A hood is disposed over the tube bundle, the hood having an upper end adjacent the upper portion above the tube bundle, the upper end having opposed substantially parallel walls extending toward the lower portion, the walls terminating at an open end opposite the upper end. Once liquid refrigerant or liquid refrigerant and vapor refrigerant is deposited onto the tube bundle, the substantially parallel walls of the hood substantially prevent cross flow of refrigerant vapor or liquid and vapor between the tubes of the tube bundle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: York International Corporation
    Inventors: Paul De Larminat, Luc Le Cointe, John Francis Judge, Satheesh Kulankara
  • Publication number: 20080098754
    Abstract: An economized refrigeration system includes a main refrigerant circuit having a condenser, an evaporator, an economizer, an expansion device intermediate the condenser and the economizer, and a main compressor fluidly connected by a main refrigerant line. The system also includes an economized refrigerant circuit including an auxiliary compressor system and an auxiliary refrigerant line fluidly connecting the economizer to the auxiliary compressor system and fluidly connecting the main refrigerant line to the auxiliary compressor at a location intermediate the main compressor system and the condenser. The auxiliary compressor system is independently controllable with respect to the main compressor system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Publication date: May 1, 2008
    Applicant: JOHNSON CONTROLS TECHNOLOGY COMPANY
    Inventors: Steven Trent Sommer, Stephen Harold Smith, John Francis Judge
  • Publication number: 20070073899
    Abstract: A system, apparatus, method and article for techniques to synchronize heterogeneous data sources are described. The apparatus may include an application client, and multiple server access modules each corresponding to a different type of application server. Each server access module may comprise, for example, a data synchronization module to synchronize information between the application client and a corresponding application server, a protocol translation module to communicate information using an application server protocol for the corresponding application server, and a data format converter to convert information between an application client data format for the application client and an application server data format for the corresponding application server. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2005
    Publication date: March 29, 2007
    Inventors: Francis Judge, Michael Bonnette, Paul Emond
  • Publication number: 20070060113
    Abstract: A system, apparatus, method and article for a modular electronic mail software architecture are described. The apparatus may include a processing sub-system having a processor and memory. The memory may store software components for execution by the processor. The software components may comprise an application program implemented using a model driven application framework and capable of operating with multiple operating systems. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2005
    Publication date: March 15, 2007
    Inventors: Michael Bonnette, Francis Judge, Darsono Sutedja, Rich Long
  • Patent number: 6194877
    Abstract: A fault detection method is disclosed for a motor vehicle charging system including a generator and an electrical component coupled to receive electrical current from the generator. In one embodiment, the method comprises sensing a first voltage at an output of the generator and sensing a second voltage at the electrical component and, if the first voltage and the second voltage differ by more than a predetermined amount, reducing or suspending output of electrical current from the generator. One advantage of the method disclosed herein is in its ability to diagnose a fault in an electrical connection at the output of a motor vehicle generator, where the fault manifests itself as a high resistance connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Francis Judge, John Francis Renehan, Zeljko Deljevic
  • Patent number: 5739676
    Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, an electrical generating system for a motor vehicle includes a first alternator and a second alternator. The first alternator includes a first plurality of electrical power output windings, a first field winding in electromagnetic communication with the first plurality of electrical power output windings and a voltage regulator. The voltage regulator further includes an electrical driver coupled to the first field winding to control a current through the first field winding. The second alternator includes a second alternator further including a second plurality of electrical power output windings and a second field winding in electromagnetic communication with the second plurality of electrical power output windings. The said second field winding is coupled to the electrical driver for control of electrical current through the second field winding by the electrical driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Alan Francis Judge, Brent S. Williams