Patents by Inventor Jonathan THOMBS

Jonathan THOMBS 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: 11498547
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an internal combustion engine, an electric machine, and a controller. The electric machine is rotatably coupled to the engine and is configured to deliver electrical power to electrical accessories. The controller is programmed to, in response to a control signal loss between the electric machine and the controller, limit torque output of electric machine to less than a torque threshold that corresponds to the power threshold. The controller is further programmed to, in response an accessory power demand being greater than the power threshold, control the engine to power the electric machine to increase the torque output of electric machine to greater than the torque threshold to meet the accessory power demand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Edward Ball, David Cox, Matthew Mitchell, David Hesketh, Jonathan Thombs, David Ramiro Garcia
  • Patent number: 11476028
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a solenoid actuator. In one example, a method may include adjusting a switching frequency during an activation cycle of the solenoid actuator to a lower switching frequency relative to other phases of the activation cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mike Garrard, Jonathan Thombs
  • Publication number: 20220024442
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an internal combustion engine, an electric machine, and a controller. The electric machine is rotatably coupled to the engine and is configured to deliver electrical power to electrical accessories. The controller is programmed to, in response to a control signal loss between the electric machine and the controller, limit torque output of electric machine to less than a torque threshold that corresponds to the power threshold. The controller is further programmed to, in response an accessory power demand being greater than the power threshold, control the engine to power the electric machine to increase the torque output of electric machine to greater than the torque threshold to meet the accessory power demand.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2020
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Inventors: Edward Ball, David Cox, Matthew Mitchell, David Hesketh, Jonathan Thombs, David Ramiro Garcia
  • Publication number: 20210217549
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a solenoid actuator. In one example, a method may include adjusting a switching frequency during an activation cycle of the solenoid actuator to a lower switching frequency relative to other phases of the activation cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2021
    Publication date: July 15, 2021
    Inventors: Mike Garrard, Jonathan Thombs
  • Publication number: 20180281708
    Abstract: A device to detect engine oil level and temperature. The device comprises: a thermistor; an unregulated, or voltage-only regulated, power supply configured to provide a non-continuous high current to the thermistor for a predetermined time in order to induce self-heating of the thermistor. An ADC (“Analog-Digital Converter”) configured to read a voltage across the thermistor before and after the heating of the thermistor. A processor is configured to calculate a change in temperature of the thermistor on the basis of a change in voltage measured by the ADC, and, thereby, deduce an engine oil level and temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2018
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Robert GARRARD, Jonathan THOMBS