Patents by Inventor William Stewart Johnston
William Stewart Johnston 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).
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Patent number: 11919365Abstract: A method of operating a vehicle climate system when an ambient temperature is below a threshold temperature is provided. In response to an ambient temperature being less than a threshold temperature, a controller is adapted to operate a blower motor at a voltage that depends on whether the vehicle is in charge sustain mode or charge deplete mode. In response to an ambient temperature being greater than a threshold temperature, the controller is adapted to operate the blower motor at a voltage that does not depend on whether in the charge sustain or charge deplete modes.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2022Date of Patent: March 5, 2024Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Jasbir Jaglan, William Stewart Johnston, Alan Douglas Wallington, Curtis Mark Jones, Chris George Oehring, Mark G. Smith
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Patent number: 11916208Abstract: This disclosure relates to an electrified vehicle having a cabin pre-cooling strategy for managing battery and cabin cooling loads. A corresponding method is also disclosed. An example electrified vehicle includes a battery for propulsion, a cabin, a thermal management system configured to thermally condition both the battery and the cabin, and a controller configured to follow a cabin pre-cooling strategy to pre-cool the cabin when an expected cooling load of the battery, if the electrified vehicle were to be driven in present conditions, exceeds an upper battery cooling load threshold.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2021Date of Patent: February 27, 2024Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Luke McDermott, Westin Pusey, William Stewart Johnston, Manfred Koberstein, Lynn Collins
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Publication number: 20240051369Abstract: A method for defogging a window of a vehicle includes steps of automatically selecting a climate control system operating mode and determining a risk of window fogging. The climate control system operating mode is selected from an outside air mode, an air-conditioning mode, and a defrost mode. A controller determines the risk of window fogging according to one or more inputs, and the same or a different controller may automatically select the climate control system operating mode. The controller is configured to increase a climate control system blower speed to increase a rate of airflow provided by the currently-actuated climate control system operating mode. The controller may sequentially advance the climate control system operating mode through the outside air mode, air-conditioning mode, and defrost mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 23, 2023Publication date: February 15, 2024Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Alan Gutowski, Manfred Koberstein, William Stewart Johnston
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Patent number: 11897313Abstract: A method for defogging a window of a vehicle includes steps of automatically selecting a climate control system operating mode and determining a risk of window fogging. The climate control system operating mode is selected from an outside air mode, an air-conditioning mode, and a defrost mode. A controller determines the risk of window fogging according to one or more inputs, and the same or a different controller may automatically select the climate control system operating mode. The controller is configured to increase a climate control system blower speed to increase a rate of airflow provided by the currently-actuated climate control system operating mode. The controller may sequentially advance the climate control system operating mode through the outside air mode, air-conditioning mode, and defrost mode.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2021Date of Patent: February 13, 2024Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Alan Gutowski, Manfred Koberstein, William Stewart Johnston
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Patent number: 11896857Abstract: A respirator includes a head unit configured to be received on a human head and a purifying unit configured to provide purified air to the head unit. The purifying unit includes a first housing portion having an interior side defining a blower cavity, an exterior side defining a partial filter chamber with a filter sealing surface, and an inlet hole circumscribed by the sealing surface and extending between the interior and exterior sides. A second housing portion has an interior side defining a blower cavity. The first and second housings are attached to each other to form a housing such that the blower cavities are opposite each other to define a blower chamber within the housing. A blower is disposed in the blower chamber. A filter covers over the inlet hole and is disposed against the sealing surface such that air entering the hole passes through the filter.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2021Date of Patent: February 13, 2024Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Manfred Koberstein, Clay Wesley Maranville, William Stewart Johnston, Jennifer A. Herr-Rathke, Nicholas Andrew Mazzocchi
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Patent number: 11660935Abstract: A vehicle thermal management system including an electric powertrain, a single thermal loop, and a controller is provided. The electric powertrain includes a high voltage battery. The single thermal loop is for managing thermal conditions of the high voltage battery and a vehicle cabin and may include a climate control system, a blower, and a front evaporator in fluid communication with the vehicle cabin. The controller is programmed to, responsive to detection of a climate control system off request, output a command to direct the blower to push air through a heater core to the vehicle cabin at a predetermined temperature such that a temperature within the vehicle cabin is maintained at a predetermined temperature and refrigerant continues to flow through the front evaporator. The system may include a vehicle cabin temperature sensor and an ambient temperature sensor, each in electrical communication with the controller.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2020Date of Patent: May 30, 2023Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Alan Gutowski, Curtis Mark Jones, William Stewart Johnston, Manfred Koberstein
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Patent number: 11628704Abstract: A method of operating a cooling system for a vehicle including providing a cooling system including a coolant loop having a coolant valve, a first refrigerant loop having a first compressor and a first chiller configured to exchange heat with the coolant loop, a second refrigerant loop having a second compressor and a second chiller configured to exchange heat with the coolant loop, and a cooling system controller operably coupled to the first compressor, the second compressor, and the coolant valve. The coolant valve is configured to selectively direct or prevent the flow of coolant between the battery and each of the first chiller and the second chiller. The method further includes operating the cooling system in one of a second chiller only mode, a first chiller only mode, an air conditioning (AC) only mode, a first refrigerant loop only mode, and a dual refrigerant loop mode.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2020Date of Patent: April 18, 2023Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Joseph Allen Bray, Steven L. Lambert, Luke McDermott, William Stewart Johnston
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Patent number: 11563247Abstract: A cold ambient battery chilling mode of an electric vehicle may be implemented if the vehicle battery is being charged when the ambient air temperature is low and a temperature of the battery is elevated. During cold ambient charging, coolant flows through a heater core and through a battery heat exchanger. Cold ambient air may be utilized to cool the coolant flowing through the heater core, and coolant from the heater core flows through the battery heat exchanger and cools the battery during charging. A battery chiller may be deactivated when the cold ambient battery chilling mode is activated to reduce energy consumption.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2019Date of Patent: January 24, 2023Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Manfred Koberstein, Jennifer A. Herr-Rathke, William Stewart Johnston, Hamish Lewis, Christian Brent Schoeneman, Alan Gutowski
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Patent number: 11511595Abstract: A cooling system for a vehicle including a coolant loop configured to exchange heat with a battery. The coolant loop includes a proportional valve for directing a coolant from the battery to at least one of a first chiller and a second chiller. The cooling system for a vehicle also includes a first refrigerant loop comprising the first chiller. The first chiller is configured to exchange heat between the first refrigerant loop and the coolant loop. The cooling system for a vehicle also includes a second refrigerant loop comprising the second chiller. The second chiller is configured to exchange heat between the second refrigerant loop and the coolant loop.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2020Date of Patent: November 29, 2022Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Joseph Allen Bray, Luke McDermott, Steven L. Lambert, William Stewart Johnston
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Publication number: 20220371400Abstract: A method of operating a vehicle climate system when an ambient temperature is below a threshold temperature is provided. In response to an ambient temperature being less than a threshold temperature, a controller is adapted to operate a blower motor at a voltage that depends on whether the vehicle is in charge sustain mode or charge deplete mode. In response to an ambient temperature being greater than a threshold temperature, the controller is adapted to operate the blower motor at a voltage that does not depend on whether in the charge sustain or charge deplete modes.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 5, 2022Publication date: November 24, 2022Inventors: Jasbir Jaglan, William Stewart Johnston, Alan Douglas Wallington, Curtis Mark Jones, Chris George Oehring, Mark G. Smith
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Publication number: 20220311071Abstract: This disclosure relates to an electrified vehicle having a cabin pre-cooling strategy for managing battery and cabin cooling loads. A corresponding method is also disclosed. An example electrified vehicle includes a battery for propulsion, a cabin, a thermal management system configured to thermally condition both the battery and the cabin, and a controller configured to follow a cabin pre-cooling strategy to pre-cool the cabin when an expected cooling load of the battery, if the electrified vehicle were to be driven in present conditions, exceeds an upper battery cooling load threshold.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2021Publication date: September 29, 2022Inventors: Luke McDermott, Westin Pusey, William Stewart Johnston, Manfred Koberstein, Lynn Collins
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Patent number: 11413932Abstract: A method of operating a vehicle climate system when an ambient temperature is below a threshold temperature is provided. In response to an ambient temperature being less than a threshold temperature, a controller is adapted to operate a blower motor at a voltage that depends on whether the vehicle is in charge sustain mode or charge deplete mode. The controller operates the blower motor according to a first voltage responsive to a charge sustain mode, and operates the blower motor according to a second voltage different than the first voltage in response to a charge deplete mode.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2017Date of Patent: August 16, 2022Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Jasbir Jaglan, William Stewart Johnston, Alan Douglas Wallington, Curtis Mark Jones, Chris George Oehring, Mark G. Smith
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Publication number: 20220219023Abstract: A respirator includes a head unit configured to be received on a human head and a purifying unit configured to provide purified air to the head unit. The purifying unit includes a first housing portion having an interior side defining a blower cavity, an exterior side defining a partial filter chamber with a filter sealing surface, and an inlet hole circumscribed by the sealing surface and extending between the interior and exterior sides. A second housing portion has an interior side defining a blower cavity. The first and second housings are attached to each other to form a housing such that the blower cavities are opposite each other to define a blower chamber within the housing. A blower is disposed in the blower chamber. A filter covers over the inlet hole and is disposed against the sealing surface such that air entering the hole passes through the filter.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 14, 2021Publication date: July 14, 2022Inventors: Manfred Koberstein, Clay Wesley Maranville, William Stewart Johnston, Jennifer A. Herr-Rathke, Nicholas Andrew Mazzocchi
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Patent number: 11267314Abstract: A method for defogging a window of a vehicle includes steps of determining a risk of window fogging and automatically selecting a climate control system operating mode according to that determined risk of window fogging. The climate control system operating mode is selected from: an outside air mode, an air-conditioning mode, and a defrost mode. A controller determines the risk of window fogging according to one or more inputs, and the same or a different controller may automatically select the climate control system operating mode.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2017Date of Patent: March 8, 2022Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Alan Gutowski, Manfred Koberstein, William Stewart Johnston
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Publication number: 20220040504Abstract: This disclosure describes electrical control and power supply systems for powered air-purifying respirators (PAPRs). An exemplary electrical control system for a PAPR may be adapted to control the supply of power between a battery and a blower motor of a filtration unit of the PAPR. The electrical control system may include a plurality of integrated circuits that are capable of meeting minimum operating times while balancing power usage of various “off-the-shelf” components of the filtration unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 7, 2020Publication date: February 10, 2022Inventors: William Stewart JOHNSTON, Sheran ALLES, Eric Robert KRIEGER, Mario Domonick IAQUINTA, Jonathan Franklin IAQUINTO
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Publication number: 20210339604Abstract: A method for defogging a window of a vehicle includes steps of automatically selecting a climate control system operating mode and determining a risk of window fogging. The climate control system operating mode is selected from an outside air mode, an air-conditioning mode, and a defrost mode. A controller determines the risk of window fogging according to one or more inputs, and the same or a different controller may automatically select the climate control system operating mode. The controller is configured to increase a climate control system blower speed to increase a rate of airflow provided by the currently-actuated climate control system operating mode. The controller may sequentially advance the climate control system operating mode through the outside air mode, air-conditioning mode, and defrost mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 9, 2021Publication date: November 4, 2021Inventors: Alan Gutowski, Manfred Koberstein, William Stewart Johnston
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Publication number: 20210283979Abstract: A cooling system for a vehicle including a coolant loop configured to exchange heat with a battery. The coolant loop includes a proportional valve for directing a coolant from the battery to at least one of a first chiller and a second chiller. The cooling system for a vehicle also includes a first refrigerant loop comprising the first chiller. The first chiller is configured to exchange heat between the first refrigerant loop and the coolant loop. The cooling system for a vehicle also includes a second refrigerant loop comprising the second chiller. The second chiller is configured to exchange heat between the second refrigerant loop and the coolant loop.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2020Publication date: September 16, 2021Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Joseph Allen Bray, Luke McDermott, Steven L. Lambert, William Stewart Johnston
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Publication number: 20210283978Abstract: A method of operating a cooling system for a vehicle including providing a cooling system including a coolant loop having a coolant valve, a first refrigerant loop having a first compressor and a first chiller configured to exchange heat with the coolant loop, a second refrigerant loop having a second compressor and a second chiller configured to exchange heat with the coolant loop, and a cooling system controller operably coupled to the first compressor, the second compressor, and the coolant valve. The coolant valve is configured to selectively direct or prevent the flow of coolant between the battery and each of the first chiller and the second chiller. The method further includes operating the cooling system in one of a second chiller only mode, a first chiller only mode, an air conditioning (AC) only mode, a first refrigerant loop only mode, and a dual refrigerant loop mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2020Publication date: September 16, 2021Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Joseph Allen Bray, Steven L. Lambert, Luke McDermott, William Stewart Johnston
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Publication number: 20210111448Abstract: A cold ambient battery chilling mode of an electric vehicle may be implemented if the vehicle battery is being charged when the ambient air temperature is low and a temperature of the battery is elevated. During cold ambient charging, coolant flows through a heater core and through a battery heat exchanger. Cold ambient air may be utilized to cool the coolant flowing through the heater core, and coolant from the heater core flows through the battery heat exchanger and cools the battery during charging. A battery chiller may be deactivated when the cold ambient battery chilling mode is activated to reduce energy consumption.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 15, 2019Publication date: April 15, 2021Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Manfred Koberstein, Jennifer A. Herr-Rathke, William Stewart Johnston, Hamish Lewis, Christian Brent Schoeneman, Alan Gutowski
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Publication number: 20200406716Abstract: A vehicle thermal management system including an electric powertrain, a single thermal loop, and a controller is provided. The electric powertrain includes a high voltage battery. The single thermal loop is for managing thermal conditions of the high voltage battery and a vehicle cabin and may include a climate control system, a blower, and a front evaporator in fluid communication with the vehicle cabin. The controller is programmed to, responsive to detection of a climate control system off request, output a command to direct the blower to push air through a heater core to the vehicle cabin at a predetermined temperature such that a temperature within the vehicle cabin is maintained at a predetermined temperature and refrigerant continues to flow through the front evaporator. The system may include a vehicle cabin temperature sensor and an ambient temperature sensor, each in electrical communication with the controller.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 16, 2020Publication date: December 31, 2020Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Alan Gutowski, Curtis Mark Jones, William Stewart Johnston, Manfred Koberstein