Patents by Inventor Rob Ciarrocchi

Rob Ciarrocchi 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: 20240083433
    Abstract: Methods and systems for operating a vehicle that includes a manual transmission are presented. In one example, a method for a vehicle having a manual transmission comprises, during an initial launch with traction control enabled, overriding driver throttle commands to maintain a setpoint speed of an engine and limiting wheel slip until wheel slip decreases below a non-zero threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2022
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventors: Brij Datta, Brad Drogosch, Rob Ciarrocchi, Colton Knopf, Matthew Arthur Titus, Adam Busack
  • Patent number: 11619179
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating an engine that includes two throttles that are arranged in parallel to deliver air into a single intake manifold are described. In one example, a first throttle and a second throttle are opened according to a value of a variable that changes as a function of a requested engine air flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Rohit Bhat, Rob Ciarrocchi, Adam J. Richards, Conner Cecott
  • Publication number: 20220298983
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating an engine that includes two throttles that are arranged in parallel to deliver air into a single intake manifold are described. In one example, a first throttle is opened before a second throttle during a first condition and the second throttle is opened before the first throttle during a second condition. The throttles may be operated in this way to ensure even operation of the throttles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2021
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Inventors: Conner Cecott, Rob Ciarrocchi, Rohit Bhat, Adam J. Richards
  • Publication number: 20220298977
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating an engine that includes two throttles that are arranged in parallel to deliver air into a single intake manifold are described. In one example, a first throttle and a second throttle are opened according to a value of a variable that changes as a function of a requested engine air flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2021
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Inventors: Rohit Bhat, Rob Ciarrocchi, Adam J. Richards, Conner Cecott
  • Patent number: 11448144
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating an engine that includes two throttles that are arranged in parallel to deliver air into a single intake manifold are described. In one example, a first throttle is opened before a second throttle during a first condition and the second throttle is opened before the first throttle during a second condition. The throttles may be operated in this way to ensure even operation of the throttles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Conner Cecott, Rob Ciarrocchi, Rohit Bhat, Adam J. Richards
  • Patent number: 10711666
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for monitoring and controlling a cylinder valve deactivation mechanism. In one example, a method may include sending a lower command signal to a cylinder deactivation valve control (CDVC) system without actuating a cylinder valve transition, determining an impedance of a solenoid of the CDVC system while sending the lower command signal, and actuating the cylinder valve transition responsive to the determined impedance by sending a higher command signal to the CDVC system. In this way, the cylinder valve transition is performed when the impedance is high enough to prevent over-current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Adam Krach, John Rollinger, Rob Ciarrocchi, Adam Richards
  • Patent number: 9227619
    Abstract: A vehicle control method for a vehicle having an internal combustion engine coupled to a torque converter is described. In one embodiment, the engine air flow and spark are adjusted to control torque converter operation. The method can improve vehicle response to driver accelerator commands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jeff Doering, Bradley D Riedle, Rob Ciarrocchi, Scott Redmon, Hank Kwong, William Eckenrode, Frederick Page
  • Publication number: 20140106934
    Abstract: A vehicle control method for a vehicle having an internal combustion engine coupled to a torque converter is described. In one embodiment, the engine air flow and spark are adjusted to control torque converter operation. The method can improve vehicle response to driver accelerator commands.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jeff Doering, Brad D. Riedle, Rob Ciarrocchi, Scott Redmon, Hank Kwong, William Eckenrode, Frederick Page
  • Patent number: 8635001
    Abstract: A vehicle control method for a vehicle having an internal combustion engine coupled to a torque converter is described. In one embodiment, the engine air flow and spark are adjusted to control torque converter operation. The method can improve vehicle response to driver accelerator commands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jeff Doering, Brad Riedle, Rob Ciarrocchi, Scott Redmon, Hank Kwong, William Eckenrode, Frederick Page
  • Patent number: 7917275
    Abstract: A vehicle control method for a vehicle having an internal combustion engine coupled to a torque converter is described. In one embodiment, the engine air flow and spark are adjusted to control torque converter operation. The method can improve vehicle response to driver accelerator commands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jeff Doering, Brad Riedle, Rob Ciarrocchi, Scott Redmon, Hank Kwong, William Eckenrode, Frederick Page
  • Publication number: 20110034298
    Abstract: A vehicle control method for a vehicle having an internal combustion engine coupled to a torque converter is described. In one embodiment, the engine air flow and spark are adjusted to control torque converter operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Jeff Doering, Brad Riedle, Rob Ciarrocchi, Scott Redmon, Hank Kwong, William Eckenrode, Frederick Page
  • Patent number: 7380447
    Abstract: A method for determining airflow to a cylinder of an internal combustion engine, such airflow passing to the cylinder through an intake manifold. The method includes providing a model of the intake manifold, such model providing a relationship between expected output airflow from the intake manifold in response to airflow into the intake manifold; determining from the model the expected output airflow from the intake manifold from a previous commanded airflow into the intake manifold; determining a compensation airflow required for the input airflow to the intake manifold to drive the expected output from the intake manifold towards the desired cylinder airflow; and providing such compensation airflow to the intake manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies. LLC
    Inventors: John Rollinger, Paul Pietrzyk, Karen Willard, Michael Cullen, Rob Ciarrocchi, Jeff A. Doering
  • Publication number: 20070295067
    Abstract: A method for determining airflow to a cylinder of an internal combustion engine, such airflow passing to the cylinder through an intake manifold. The method includes providing a model of the intake manifold, such model providing a relationship between expected output airflow from the intake manifold in response to airflow into the intake manifold; determining from the model the expected output airflow from the intake manifold from a previous commanded airflow into the intake manifold; determining a compensation airflow required for the input airflow to the intake manifold to drive the expected output from the intake manifold towards the desired cylinder airflow; and providing such compensation airflow to the intake manifold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2006
    Publication date: December 27, 2007
    Inventors: John Rollinger, Paul Pietrzyk, Karen Willard, Michael Cullen, Rob Ciarrocchi, Jeff A. Doering
  • Publication number: 20070213909
    Abstract: A vehicle control method for a vehicle having an internal combustion engine coupled to a torque converter, the torque converter having an input speed and an output speed, the torque converter coupled to a transmission, the transmission coupled to wheels on a road, the method comprising in response to a driver tip-out during at least some conditions, decreasing powertrain output so that positive torque is not transmitted to the wheels, and after said tip-out and in response to a driver tip-in, and at least during transitioning to transmission of positive powertrain torque to the wheels, retarding ignition timing while adjusting engine airflow until torque converter input speed is greater than torque converter output speed, and then advancing spark angle to rapidly provide output torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2006
    Publication date: September 13, 2007
    Inventors: Jeff Doering, Brad Riedle, Rob Ciarrocchi, Scott Redmon, Hank Kwong, William Eckenrode, Frederick Page
  • Patent number: 6910990
    Abstract: An engine control system controls engine torque to transition through the transmission and driveline's lash zone. The transmission and driveline's lash zone is indicated using information of the speed ratio across the torque converter. This information is then supplemented with information of the driver's request and vehicle speed so that engine torque is adjusted at various predetermined rates based on current operating conditions. As such, the system can reduce undesired drive feel that otherwise may occur as the system passes through the transmission and driveline's lash zone. By limiting the change of torque in this way, driveability, while at the same time maintaining acceptable performance response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Doering, Michael J. Cullen, Rob Ciarrocchi
  • Publication number: 20050054482
    Abstract: An engine control system controls engine torque to transition through the transmission and driveline's lash zone. The transmission and driveline's lash zone is indicated using information of the speed ratio across the torque converter. This information is then supplemented with information of the driver's request and vehicle speed so that engine torque is adjusted at various predetermined rates based on current operating conditions. As such, the system can reduce undesired drive feel that otherwise may occur as the system passes through the transmission and driveline's lash zone. By limiting the change of torque in this way, driveability, while at the same time maintaining acceptable performance response.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2003
    Publication date: March 10, 2005
    Inventors: Jeffrey Doering, Michael Cullen, Rob Ciarrocchi