Patents by Inventor Ian Oldknow

Ian Oldknow 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: 9499153
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and device for changing from a coasting or free-rolling mode of a motor vehicle with an internal combustion engine and an automatic clutch, which is disengaged during the coasting or free-rolling mode, to a fuel cut-off mode, in which the clutch is engaged, wherein before engagement of the clutch the internal combustion engine is brought to a revolution rate at which the engagement of the clutch induces no or only small changes in revolution rate in the drive train, and whereby the fuel supply to the internal combustion engine is reduced following engagement of the clutch. Under one or more predetermined conditions the increase of the drag torque of the internal combustion engine acting on the motor vehicle during the changeover from coasting or free-rolling mode to fuel cut-off mode takes place so slowly that the change is not usually noticed by the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Urs Christen, Ian Oldknow, Erik Alpman, Rainer Busch
  • Publication number: 20150046050
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and device for changing from a coasting or free-rolling mode of a motor vehicle with an internal combustion engine and an automatic clutch, which is disengaged during the coasting or free-rolling mode, to a fuel cut-off mode, in which the clutch is engaged, wherein before engagement of the clutch the internal combustion engine is brought to a revolution rate at which the engagement of the clutch induces no or only small changes in revolution rate in the drive train, and whereby the fuel supply to the internal combustion engine is reduced following engagement of the clutch. Under one or more predetermined conditions the increase of the drag torque of the internal combustion engine acting on the motor vehicle during the changeover from coasting or free-rolling mode to fuel cut-off mode takes place so slowly that the change is not usually noticed by the driver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2013
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventors: Urs Christen, Ian Oldknow, Erik Alpman, Rainer Busch
  • Patent number: 8398526
    Abstract: A method for controlling a transmission input clutch during a vehicle launch includes determining a desired clutch torque, a desired engine torque, a desired vehicle acceleration and a desired engine speed, determining a change in clutch torque and a change in engine torque with reference to the first and second errors and current operating conditions, applying to the clutch an updated clutch torque capacity whose magnitude is the sum of the desired clutch torque and the change in engine torque, and producing an updated engine torque whose magnitude is the sum of the desired engine torque and the change in engine torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Davor D. Hrovat, Michael G. Fodor, Hong Jiang, Ian Oldknow, Jahan Asgari
  • Patent number: 7998026
    Abstract: A method for controlling a transmission input clutch during a vehicle launch includes selecting a subject device that transmits torque between an input and an output, a providing a mathematical model of the subject device, such that the model employing only static relationships of engine speed and transmission input speed to a desired magnitude of torque produced by the subject device, using the model, the current engine speed and the current engine speed to determine the desired torque produced by the subject device, and adjusting the torque capacity of the clutch to the desired torque of the subject device determined from the model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael G. Fodor, Davor D. Hrovat, Hong Jiang, Ian Oldknow, Jahan Asgari
  • Publication number: 20100105523
    Abstract: A method for controlling a transmission input clutch during a vehicle launch includes determining a desired clutch torque, a desired engine torque, a desired vehicle acceleration and a desired engine speed, determining a change in clutch torque and a change in engine torque with reference to the first and second errors and current operating conditions, applying to the clutch an updated clutch torque capacity whose magnitude is the sum of the desired clutch torque and the change in engine torque, and producing an updated engine torque whose magnitude is the sum of the desired engine torque and the change in engine torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2010
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Davor D. Hrovat, Michael G. Fodor, Hong Jiang, Ian Oldknow, Jahan Asgari
  • Publication number: 20090186743
    Abstract: A method for controlling a transmission input clutch during a vehicle launch includes selecting a subject device that transmits torque between an input and an output, a providing a mathematical model of the subject device, such that the model employing only static relationships of engine speed and transmission input speed to a desired magnitude of torque produced by the subject device, using the model, the current engine speed and the current engine speed to determine the desired torque produced by the subject device, and adjusting the torque capacity of the clutch to the desired torque of the subject device determined from the model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2008
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Inventors: Michael G. Fodor, Davor D. Hrovat, Jahan Asgari, Hong Jiang, Ian Oldknow