Abstract: A method of controlling an internal combustion engine having a fuel vapor purging system and a fuel delivery system including a fuel pump and a fuel pressure sensor for detecting the fuel pressure provided by the fuel pump is disclosed. In one example, the method includes, during a degraded condition of the fuel pressure sensor, adjusting the fuel pump output in response to an operating condition, adjusting at least one of a condition of the fuel vapor purging system and adaptive learning of a characteristic of the fuel delivery system; and further adjusting the fuel pump output in response to an output of an exhaust gas sensor while also adjusting an amount of fuel injected into a cylinder of the engine in response to said output of the exhaust gas sensor.
Abstract: A system for adjusting valve timing of an engine is disclosed. In one embodiment, valve timing is adjusted during an engine start before the engine is started. The system may reduce engine emissions during engine starting.
Abstract: A method for an engine with first and second injectors in a cylinder provides different fuel injection compensation upon reaching minimum pulsewidths of the first and second injectors. When the first injector reaches its minimum pulsewidth, the first injector is disabled. However, when the second injector reaches its minimum pulsewidth, the second injector is maintained active and injection from the first injector is decreased. In this way, sufficient injection from the second injector is maintained in either situation.
Abstract: A method is provided to indicate improper fuel filling in a vehicle. An indicator is actuated if a proportion of alcohol in the fuel is outside a range of expected proportions. In some examples, the range corresponds to a non-flex fuel vehicle recommended range, or to a normal range for a low alcohol-content fuel, which may be between 0 and 15 percent alcohol by volume. The indicator may include a diagnostic code or a dash light. Further, the indicator may be actuated in combination with a mitigating action, which may involve adjustment of a fuel injector pulse width or an ignition spark timing, as examples.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 4, 2008
Date of Patent:
August 3, 2010
Assignee:
Ford Global Technologies, LLC
Inventors:
Ralph Wayne Cunningham, Mark William Peters
Abstract: The description relates to an internal combustion engine, and a method for an internal combustion engine with at least one cylinder, at each of which at least one spark providing device for ignition being provided. The engine is operated, in connection to a start procedure of the engine, in a controlled self-ignition mode comprising at least one controlled combustion without spark ignition. The controlled combustion without spark ignition can comprise homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI).
Abstract: A sliding door for a vehicle comprises a guide rail, a sliding carriage which is longitudinally displaceably on the guide rail and a hinge bow which is rotatably supported at the sliding carriage and at a body flange. To improve such a sliding door, an intermediate layer is provided which is rotatably supported at the sliding carriage, a control lever which is rotatably supported at the intermediate lever and at a body flange and a drive rod for the drive of the control lever.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 6, 2007
Date of Patent:
August 3, 2010
Assignee:
Dura Automotive Body & Glass Systems GmbH
Inventors:
Gerhard Heuel, Michael Krehmke, Ralf Rottmann
Abstract: Articles of footwear having a unitary midsole with an integrally molded toe cap that extends over the wearer's toes are disclosed, in which the midsole is molded in multiple sections one of which includes the integrally-molded toe cap which are joined to one another to provide the unitary midsole.
Abstract: To improve the handling, such as the gripping and displacement, of essentially rod-shaped objects, especially bars of articles that are stacked into one another in such a way that they can be separated, such as plastic cups, the present invention proposes a device with a plurality of first holding rods with essentially hook-like end pieces for extending under the rod-shaped objects. The device according to the present invention is characterized in that the end pieces can be moved under the objects and for releasing same by a motion into a plane extending at right angles to the direction of extension of the first holding rods.
Abstract: A sandal including a molded rubber outsole configured to support a lower surface of a foot including a heel, midfoot, and a forefoot; a toe cap extending from the outsole and configured to cover a top of at least a portion of the forefoot, the toe cap molded integrally with the outsole; and a plurality of sandal straps fixed to the outsole to retain the sandal on the foot, at least one of the sandal straps fixed to the toe.
Abstract: A ball and socket joint is provided for a motor vehicle that has a joint housing (1), in the interior space of which a ball shell (2) is arranged. The ball (3) of a ball pivot (4) is accommodated in the ball shell (2). A sensor device (7), for measuring forces and loads, is arranged on a flexurally elastic printed circuit board (6). The printed circuit board is fastened in the joint housing (1) in a flexurally mobile manner. The sensor device (7) measures deflections and mechanical stresses of the sensor printed circuit board (6). A transmission device introduces forces or a bending moments into the sensor printed circuit board (6) in case of a deformation of the ball shell (2). The process makes possible the permanent determination of the state of wear of the ball and socket joint via measurement of the prestressing force of the ball shell.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 14, 2006
Date of Patent:
July 27, 2010
Assignee:
ZF Friedrichshafen AG
Inventors:
Metin Ersoy, Joachim Spratte, Michael Klank, Peter Hofmann
Abstract: A patch panel assembly is provided including an angle module having one or more RJ modules, one or more insulation displacement contact (IDC) modules and a printed circuit board. Each of the RJ modules includes a base, an RJ plug receiving opening and spring contacts extending from the base into the RJ plug receiving opening. The IDC modules each include an IDC housing with an IDC module base and insulation displacement contacts (IDCs) with IDC contact pins extending from the IDC module base. The printed circuit board has RJ contact holes receiving the spring contacts with the RJ module mounted to the printed circuit board and has IDC contact holes receiving the IDC contact pins with the IDC module mounted to the printed circuit board as well as circuit traces connecting the RJ contact holes to the IDC contact holes. The plug receiving openings each have a plug insertion opening at an angle to the printed circuit board between to 0° and not equal to 90°.
Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed herein related to the construction of optical elements for structured light depth sensor systems. One disclosed embodiment provides a depth sensing system with an optical component comprising a first substrate surface, a first optical element formed in a polymer layer disposed on the first substrate surface, a second substrate surface, and a second optical element formed in a polymer layer disposed on the second substrate surface, wherein the second optical element is optically aligned with the first optical element. The depth sensing further comprises a projector configured to provide light to form a pattern to illuminate a target, and a sensor to acquire an image of the pattern.
Abstract: A method for determining degraded valve operation. According to the method, valve degradation can be determined from the duration of a spark event. This method allows for the determination of both intake and exhaust valve degradation.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 7, 2007
Date of Patent:
July 27, 2010
Assignee:
Ford Global Technologies, LLC
Inventors:
Alex O'Connor Gibson, Jeffrey Allen Doering, Nelson William Morrow, Jr., James Donald McCoy, Michael Damian Czekala
Abstract: A method for operation of a fuel delivery system in an internal combustion engine including a lower pressure pump, a higher pressure pump fluidly coupled downstream of the lower pressure pump, and a fuel rail fluidly coupled downstream of the high pressure pump. The method including initiating a mitigating action based on a fuel rail pressure response, the fuel rail pressure response occurring after an engine shut-down, where the mitigating action includes disabling vehicle operation if fuel rail pressure drops below a threshold value after activation of one of the pumps, the activation occurring before a subsequent engine start, the subsequent engine start occurring after the engine shut-down, and where the mitigating action includes adjusting operation of one of the pumps during the subsequent engine start if fuel rail pressure achieves at least the threshold value after or during the activation.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 22, 2008
Date of Patent:
July 27, 2010
Assignee:
Ford Global Technologies, LLC
Inventors:
Joseph Norman Ulrey, Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Diana D. Brehob
Abstract: A method for controlling a vehicle engine having a plurality of cylinders and an electric motor configured to rotate the engine is provided. The method includes, during engine idling, advancing spark timing of at least one cylinder to substantially before a peak torque timing. The method further includes adjusting motor torque output of the electric motor to maintain engine idle speed.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 6, 2008
Date of Patent:
July 27, 2010
Assignee:
Ford Global Technologies, LLC
Inventors:
Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Gopichandra Surnilla, Nate Trask
Abstract: A curable printing fluid composition for a thermal fluid ejection device is disclosed, wherein the printing fluid composition comprises a curable liquid-phase monomer, a volatile driver fluid capable of being vaporized by a thermal fluid ejection printhead, and a resistor protectant.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 22, 2006
Date of Patent:
July 27, 2010
Assignee:
ImTech, Inc.
Inventors:
Kenneth E. Trueba, William Allen Buskirk
Abstract: A method of driver training to improve fuel economy performance of a vehicle, the method including, receiving selected vehicle and driver operating data indicative of driving conditions and operator inputs captured during previous vehicle operation, processing the received selected vehicle and driver operating data, and generating driving recommendations to improve fuel economy performance based on the processed vehicle and driver operating data.
Abstract: A method for operating an engine and transmission in a vehicle is described. The method comprises up-shifting the transmission based on whether engine knock limits spark advance at engine conditions after the up-shift. Further, the method may include accounting for differences in fuel types, and their effects on engine knock in future gears.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 1, 2007
Date of Patent:
July 27, 2010
Assignee:
Ford Global Technologies, LLC
Inventors:
Jeff Allen Doering, Michael John Cullen