Patents by Inventor Matthew John Gerhart

Matthew John Gerhart 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: 10202913
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for operating an electric supercharger as an on-board air pump and/or vacuum pump. During conditions when a vehicle is not being propelled and the vehicle engine is idling, a portion of an air intake passage is sealed and the supercharger is operated to deliver compressed air into the sealed portion. Compressed air can then be picked up directly from the sealed portion for use in tire inflation, or picked up via an ejector to provide vacuum for vacuum actuators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Baitao Xiao, Matthew Blake Tranter, Justin Lesniak, W. Cary Cole, Matthew John Gerhart, Tyler Kelly, Corey Ducklow, Adam Nathan Banker, Erik Mikael Hellstrom
  • Publication number: 20180223751
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for operating an electric supercharger as an on-board air pump and/or vacuum pump. During conditions when a vehicle is not being propelled and the vehicle engine is idling, a portion of an air intake passage is sealed and the supercharger is operated to deliver compressed air into the sealed portion. Compressed air can then be picked up directly from the sealed portion for use in tire inflation, or picked up via an ejector to provide vacuum for vacuum actuators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2017
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventors: Baitao Xiao, Matthew Blake Tranter, Justin Lesniak, W. Cary Cole, Matthew John Gerhart, Tyler Kelly, Corey Ducklow, Adam Nathan Banker, Erik Mikael Hellstrom
  • Patent number: 9957906
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for estimating a positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) flow based on outputs of an intake manifold oxygen sensor. For example, during engine operation when exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) and fuel canister purge are disabled, PCV flow may be estimated based on a difference between a first output of the sensor with boost enabled and a second output of the sensor with boost disabled. Then, during subsequent operation wherein EGR is enabled, PCV flow is enabled, and purge is disabled, a third output of the sensor may be adjusted based on the estimated PCV flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Gloabl Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, James Alfred Hilditch, Matthew John Gerhart, Lynn Aimee Chesney, Stephen B. Smith
  • Patent number: 9897030
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for accurately learning the zero point of an intake gas oxygen sensor during selected engine no-fueling conditions. The learned zero point is used to infer EGR flow and accordingly adjust EGR valve control. In addition, EGR valve leakage is diagnosed based on the zero point learned during a DFSO adaptation relative to a zero point learned during an idle adaptation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Joseph Clark, Gopichandra Surnilla, Matthew John Gerhart, Daniel Joseph Styles
  • Patent number: 9765688
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a compressor and a compressor recirculation valve of a turbocharged engine to avoid the possibility of compressor surge are presented. The systems and methods position the compressor recirculation valve responsive to a compressor surge line that is based on two other compressor surge lines that may be a function of compressor pressure ratio and compressor flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Hamid-Reza Ossareh, Todd Anthony Rumpsa, Adam Nathan Banker, Matthew John Gerhart, Gregory Patrick McConville, Baitao Xiao
  • Patent number: 9657635
    Abstract: Various methods for controlling a wastegate actuator are provided. In one example, a method comprises adjusting one or more wastegate controller gains responsive to limiting current supplied to a wastegate actuator, the current limited in response to a temperature of the wastegate actuator exceeding a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yan Wang, Matthew John Gerhart
  • Patent number: 9518529
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for correcting an EGR rate determined based on an intake manifold oxygen sensor based on an air-fuel ratio of EGR. The output of the sensor is corrected to compensate for extra fuel in rich EGR or extra air in lean EGR and used to reliably estimate the EGR rate. One or more engine operating parameters are adjusted based on an uncorrected output of the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Timothy Joseph Clark, James Alfred Hilditch, Matthew John Gerhart
  • Publication number: 20160245212
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for accurately learning the zero point of an intake gas oxygen sensor during selected engine no-fueling conditions. The learned zero point is used to infer EGR flow and accordingly adjust EGR valve control. In addition, EGR valve leakage is diagnosed based on the zero point learned during a DFSO adaptation relative to a zero point learned during an idle adaptation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2016
    Publication date: August 25, 2016
    Inventors: Timothy Joseph Clark, Gopichandra Surnilla, Matthew John Gerhart, Daniel Joseph Styles
  • Publication number: 20160169096
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a compressor and a compressor recirculation valve of a turbocharged engine to avoid the possibility of compressor surge are presented. The systems and methods position the compressor recirculation valve responsive to a compressor surge line that is based on two other compressor surge lines that may be a function of compressor pressure ratio and compressor flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventors: Hamid-Reza Ossareh, Todd Anthony Rumpsa, Adam Nathan Banker, Matthew John Gerhart, Gregory Patrick McConville, Baitao Xiao
  • Patent number: 9328679
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for accurately learning the zero point of an intake gas oxygen sensor during selected engine no-fueling conditions. The learned zero point is used to infer EGR flow and accordingly adjust EGR valve control. In addition, EGR valve leakage is diagnosed based on the zero point learned during a DFSO adaptation relative to a zero point learned during an idle adaptation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Joseph Clark, Gopichandra Surnilla, Matthew John Gerhart, Daniel Joseph Styles
  • Publication number: 20160108800
    Abstract: Various methods for controlling a wastegate actuator are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2014
    Publication date: April 21, 2016
    Inventors: Yan Wang, Matthew John Gerhart
  • Patent number: 9273602
    Abstract: To compensate for possible corruption in exhaust gas recirculation control caused by fuel vapor purging, while still enabling the purging to continue, an engine intake oxygen concentration may be corrected based on a fuel canister vapor purge only during boosted conditions. Responsive to the intake oxygen concentration, exhaust gas recirculation may be adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Lynn Aimee Chesney, Mark W. Peters, Timothy Joseph Clark, Matthew John Gerhart
  • Patent number: 9181887
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for accurately learning the zero point of an intake gas oxygen sensor during selected idling conditions. The learned zero point is used to infer EGR flow and accordingly adjust EGR valve control. In addition, EGR valve leakage is diagnosed based on the zero point learned during an idle adaptation relative to a zero point learned during a DFSO adaptation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Richard E. Soltis, James Alfred Hilditch, Timothy Joseph Clark, Matthew John Gerhart, Todd Anthony Rumpsa
  • Patent number: 9175629
    Abstract: A method and system for providing a suitable engine torque response during a transient condition is presented. In one example, when a desired inlet manifold pressure is greater than a throttle inlet pressure of a first throttle, a second throttle positioned upstream from the first throttle is opened to increase the throttle inlet pressure. The method may provide an appropriate torque response while minimizing impact on fuel economy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ralph Wayne Cunningham, Matthew John Gerhart, Julia Helen Buckland, Suzanne Kay Wait, Michael Howard Shelby, Jeffrey Allen Doering, Mrdjan J. Jankovic, John Eric Rollinger, Gopichandra Surnilla, Naginder Gogna
  • Patent number: 9174637
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for improving surge control. When surge conditions are approached, a reference governor reduces engine airflow at a slower rate and to a higher level than the engine airflow required to meet the reduced torque demand. The excess torque resulting from the extra airflow is offset by applying a negative torque on the driveshaft via an electric machine coupled to the engine or via alternate engine actuator adjustments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Adam Nathan Banker, Julia Helen Buckland, Joseph Norman Ulrey, Uros Vojko Kalabic, Matthew John Gerhart, Tobias John Pallett, Ilya Kolmanovsky, Suzanne Kay Wait
  • Publication number: 20150121864
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for estimating a positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) flow based on outputs of an intake manifold oxygen sensor. For example, during engine operation when exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) and fuel canister purge are disabled, PCV flow may be estimated based on a difference between a first output of the sensor with boost enabled and a second output of the sensor with boost disabled. Then, during subsequent operation wherein EGR is enabled, PCV flow is enabled, and purge is disabled, a third output of the sensor may be adjusted based on the estimated PCV flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2013
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, James Alfred Hilditch, Matthew John Gerhart, Lynn Aimee Chesney, Stephen B. Smith
  • Publication number: 20150101327
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for accurately learning the zero point of an intake gas oxygen sensor during selected engine no-fueling conditions. The learned zero point is used to infer EGR flow and accordingly adjust EGR valve control. In addition, EGR valve leakage is diagnosed based on the zero point learned during a DFSO adaptation relative to a zero point learned during an idle adaptation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Joseph Clark, Gopichandra Surnilla, Matthew John Gerhart, Daniel Joseph Styles
  • Publication number: 20150101326
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for accurately learning the zero point of an intake gas oxygen sensor during selected idling conditions. The learned zero point is used to infer EGR flow and accordingly adjust EGR valve control. In addition, EGR valve leakage is diagnosed based on the zero point learned during an idle adaptation relative to a zero point learned during a DFSO adaptation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Richard E. Soltis, James Alfred Hilditch, Timothy Joseph Clark, Matthew John Gerhart, Todd Anthony Rumpsa
  • Publication number: 20150101564
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for correcting an EGR rate determined based on an intake manifold oxygen sensor based on an air-fuel ratio of EGR. The output of the sensor is corrected to compensate for extra fuel in rich EGR or extra air in lean EGR and used to reliably estimate the EGR rate. One or more engine operating parameters are adjusted based on an uncorrected output of the sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Timothy Joseph Clark, James Alfred Hilditch, Matthew John Gerhart
  • Publication number: 20150051762
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for improving surge control. When surge conditions are approached, a reference governor reduces engine airflow at a slower rate and to a higher level than the engine airflow required to meet the reduced torque demand. The excess torque resulting from the extra airflow is offset by applying a negative torque on the driveshaft via an electric machine coupled to the engine or via alternate engine actuator adjustments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2013
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Adam Nathan Banker, Julia Helen Buckland, Joseph Norman Ulrey, Uros Vojko Kalabic, Matthew John Gerhart, Tobias John Pallett, Ilya Kolmanovsky, Suzanne Kay Wait