Patents by Inventor Thomas G. Leone

Thomas G. Leone 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).

  • METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING ENGINE IDLE-STOP
    Publication number: 20190071067
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling an engine idle-stop based on upcoming traffic and road conditions. In one example, a method may include receiving data including traffic information and road characteristics immediately ahead of a vehicle from one or more remote sources, and adjusting one or more vehicle thresholds based on the received data. A duration of a prospective engine idle-stop may be estimated based on the received data and an engine idle-stop may be initiated based on the duration of the prospective engine idle-stop and the adjusted one or more vehicle threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2017
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Inventors: Thomas G. Leone, Alexander O`Connor Gibson, Kenneth James Miller
  • DETERMINING VEHICLE WHEEL IMBALANCE
    Publication number: 20190064027
    Abstract: A vehicle computer is described that includes a processor and memory storing instructions executable by the processor. The instructions may include, to: determine a vehicle speed; determine, for a first wheel, a first vibration profile; determine, for a second wheel, a second vibration profile that includes a roadway disturbance input; and using the speed and the two profiles, determine a wheel imbalance at the first wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2017
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas G. Leone, Kenneth James Miller
  • VEHICLE FUEL DELIVERY
    Publication number: 20190062143
    Abstract: Data are received indicating an amount of pumped fuel provided to a vehicle fuel tank. A vehicle fuel tank fuel volume is received. Upon determining that a difference between the pumped amount of fuel and a detected change in a fuel volume in the fuel tank exceeds a threshold, a fuel pump is deactivated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2017
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Aed M. Dudar, Kenneth James Miller, Thomas G. Leone
  • DETERMINING VEHICLE WHEEL MISALIGNMENT
    Publication number: 20190063913
    Abstract: A computer and a method executable by the computer. The computer may include a processor and memory storing instructions executable by the processor. The instructions may include, to: receive sensor data from a sensor in a vehicle operating in a fully autonomous mode; using the data, determine a misalignment value; and based on the value, perform one of a plurality of vehicle driving functions that include stopping the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas G. Leone, Kenneth James Miller
  • METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ENGINE CONTROL
    Publication number: 20190055892
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for integrating a VCR engine with a CVT transmission. Responsive to a driver demand, a controller may determine whether to maintain a current compression ratio or transition to an alternate compression ratio based on the fuel economy benefit of the transition and further based on any engine limitations that may be incurred at the engine speed-load following the transition. To improve the net fuel economy benefit while addressing the engine limitation, a compression ratio transition may be combined with a CVT adjusted engine speed-load regime, while maintaining engine power output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Publication date: February 21, 2019
    Inventors: Kenneth James Miller, Thomas G. Leone, Douglas Raymond Martin
  • Powertrain Fault Management
    Publication number: 20190047567
    Abstract: A computer is programmed to determine an occupancy status of a vehicle based on received sensor data; and adjust a parameter of a powertrain of the vehicle in response to data indicating a critical condition of the powertrain based on the occupancy status. The parameter may be one of engine speed, cylinder deactivation, transmission-shift time, and shift schedule.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2017
    Publication date: February 14, 2019
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth James Miller, Thomas G. Leone, Aed M. Dudar
  • Powertrain Fault Management
    Publication number: 20190047566
    Abstract: A computer is programmed to cap power provided by a powertrain to a power limit in response to data indicating a critical condition of the powertrain; and provide power from the powertrain above the power limit in response to a demand for acceleration above an acceleration threshold. The computer may be programmed to cap power provided by the powertrain above the power limit to an energy limit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2017
    Publication date: February 14, 2019
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth James Miller, Thomas G. Leone, Aed M. Dudar
  • POWERTRAIN FAULT MANAGEMENT
    Publication number: 20190049952
    Abstract: A computer is programmed to modify a first route for a vehicle to a second route in response to data indicating a critical condition of a powertrain of the vehicle, such as a temperature of the powertrain exceeding a temperature threshold. A predicted energy consumption by the powertrain is lower for the second route than for the first route.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2017
    Publication date: February 14, 2019
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth James Miller, Thomas G. Leone, Aed M. Dudar
  • VEHICLE TRAILER DETECTION
    Publication number: 20190047528
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for vehicle trailer detection. An example vehicle includes an accelerometer and an electronic stability control unit. The electronic stability control unit (a) detects, with the accelerometer, signals indicative of axles traversing a bump (b) when at least three axle signals are detected, generates an axle profile based on a speed of the vehicle and timing of the signals, (c) based on the axle profile, determines whether a trailer is connected to the vehicle, and (d) when the trailer is connected, controls the vehicle stability based on the trailer being connected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2017
    Publication date: February 14, 2019
    Inventor: Thomas G. Leone
  • Vehicle trailer detection
    Patent number: 10202106
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for vehicle trailer detection. An example vehicle includes an accelerometer and an electronic stability control unit. The electronic stability control unit (a) detects, with the accelerometer, signals indicative of axles traversing a bump (b) when at least three axle signals are detected, generates an axle profile based on a speed of the vehicle and timing of the signals, (c) based on the axle profile, determines whether a trailer is connected to the vehicle, and (d) when the trailer is connected, controls the vehicle stability based on the trailer being connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas G. Leone
  • System and method for selective cylinder deactivation
    Patent number: 10202910
    Abstract: Embodiments for operating an engine with skip fire are provided. In one example, a method comprises during a skip fire mode or during a skip fire mode transition, port injecting a first fuel quantity to a cylinder of an engine, the first fuel quantity based on a first, predicted air charge amount for the cylinder and lean of a desired air-fuel ratio, and direct injecting a second fuel quantity to the cylinder, the second fuel quantity based on the first fuel quantity and a second, calculated air charge amount for the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas G. Leone, John Eric Rollinger, Mrdjan J. Jankovic, Brad Alan Boyer
  • Method and system for controlling water injection
    Patent number: 10196067
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for integrating engine water injection technology with a CVT transmission. Responsive to a driver demand, a controller may determine whether to maintain a current water injection state or transition to an alternate water injection state based on each of the efficiency of the transition, water availability, and any engine limitations that may be incurred at the engine speed-load following the transition. To improve the net fuel economy benefit while addressing the engine limitation, the water injection state transition may be combined with a CVT adjusted engine speed-load regime, while maintaining engine power output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas G. Leone, Kenneth James Miller
  • Powertrain control system
    Patent number: 10196994
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a transmission, a torque converter coupled to the transmission, a controller in communication with the transmission and the torque converter; a driver seat, a passenger seat, and a back seat coupled to the transmission, and sensors configured to detect occupancy of the seats. The sensors are in communication with the controller. The controller is programmed to receive data from the sensors, determine an occupancy status based on the occupancy data, set an engine operating parameter of one of the transmission and the torque converter based on the occupancy status, and control one of the transmission and the torque converter to operate according to the parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas G. Leone, Kenneth James Miller, Chris James Hocking
  • VEHICLE PLATOON REFUELING
    Publication number: 20190016583
    Abstract: Upon a determination to refuel a platoon of vehicles, a respective fuel inlet location is identified for each of the vehicles in the platoon. Based on the fuel inlet locations, a refueling location is selected. The platoon is navigated to the refueling location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2017
    Publication date: January 17, 2019
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Aed M. Dudar, Kenneth James Miller, Thomas G. Leone
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR BEHAVIOR-BASED VEHICLE PURCHASE RECOMMENDATIONS
    Publication number: 20190012603
    Abstract: A system includes a processor configured to wirelessly receive data indicating vehicle-feature usage for an individual vehicle. The processor is also configured to aggregate received data to form a feature-usage customer profile defining feature preferences. The processor is further configured to select vehicles associated with a customer-classification, including predefined feature-usage characteristics, the customer-classification determined based on a correlation between the predefined feature-usage characteristics and the aggregated data in the feature-usage profile defining feature preferences. The processor is also configured to compare the aggregated data to the selected vehicles to determine a vehicle having features preferred by a customer as indicated by the aggregated data in the feature-usage profile and recommend the determined vehicle to the customer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2017
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventors: Kenneth James Miller, Thomas G. Leone
  • THERMAL ENGINE ENCAPSULATION DIAGNOSTIC
    Publication number: 20180347493
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for diagnosing an engine thermal encapsulation positioned around a powertrain of a vehicle. In one example, degradation of the thermal encapsulation may be determined by comparing a temperature sampled via a sensor during engine off condition with an expected temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2017
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Inventors: Mark Anthony Tascillo, Thomas G. Leone, Kenneth James Miller, William Charles Ruona
  • Method and system for engine control
    Patent number: 10145316
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for integrating a VCR engine with a CVT transmission. Responsive to a driver demand, a controller may determine whether to maintain a current compression ratio or transition to an alternate compression ratio based on the fuel economy benefit of the transition and further based on any engine limitations that may be incurred at the engine speed-load following the transition. To improve the net fuel economy benefit while addressing the engine limitation, a compression ratio transition may be combined with a CVT adjusted engine speed-load regime, while maintaining engine power output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth James Miller, Thomas G. Leone, Douglas Raymond Martin
  • PTWA coating on pistons and/or cylinder heads and/or cylinder bores
    Patent number: 10138840
    Abstract: A surface of a piston and/or a cylinder head and/or a cylinder bore of an internal combustion cylinder with selectively applied plasma transferred wire arc coating which acts as a thermal barrier improving fuel efficiency and reducing fuel emissions and a method of producing the plasma transferred wire arc coating on a surface of a piston and/or cylinder head and/or a cylinder bore of a compression ignition and/or spark ignition engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: William Charles Ruona, Rick L. Williams, Thomas G. Leone, Clifford E. Maki
  • Alternator charging based on marginal fuel cost
    Patent number: 10128784
    Abstract: Method and systems are provided for, in response to a state of charge (SOC) of a vehicle battery increasing above a threshold SOC, reducing an alternator charging based on one or more of a spark timing, an engine speed, an air-fuel ratio, and an engine load. In this way, fuel consumption may be reduced while maintaining a battery SOC for operation of front-end accessories may be achieved, and fuel consumption may be reduced during aggressive vehicle driving conditions such has high engine loads near transmission downshift thresholds and high engine speeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas G. Leone, Ross Dykstra Pursifull
  • Method and system for torque control
    Patent number: 10106146
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for reducing torque pulsations during hybrid engine shutdown and restarts. A valve actuating mechanism may be actuated to operate an engine with a selected valve lift profile during engine restart and shutdown events that is distinct from the valve lift profile applied during cylinder combustion. The selected valve lift profile reduces cylinder pressure during engine shutdown and restarts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas G. Leone, Kenneth James Miller