Patents Assigned to Global Technologies LLC
  • METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR BOOST CONTROL
    Publication number: 20150047341
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for varying a proportion of compressed air recirculated to a compressor inlet from a location downstream of the compressor and upstream of a charge air cooler and a location downstream of the charge air cooler. A temperature-controlled compressor recirculation flow is used to reduce condensation from EGR being ingested into the compressor. The temperature-controlled compressor recirculation flow is also used to address compressor surge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2013
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Norman Ulrey, Julia Helen Buckland, Gregory Patrick McConville
  • Engine control system
    Patent number: 8958933
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting the operation of an electric coolant pump in a hybrid vehicle system. During vehicle compression braking conditions, a motor propels the vehicle while the engine spins un-fueled to absorb torque. During such conditions, the coolant pump is operated based on the absorbed torque to maintain an engine temperature within a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Osama A Abihana
  • System and method for managing a powertrain in a vehicle
    Patent number: 8958965
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a first disconnect disposed between a prime mover of the vehicle and a certain one of the vehicle drive wheels. The first disconnect is operable to connect and disconnect the prime mover to and from the certain one of the drive wheels. A second disconnect is disposed between the powertrain and the certain one of the drive wheels, and is operable to connect and disconnect the certain one of the drive wheels to and from the powertrain when the first disconnect is engaged. A control system and method are configured to control operation of at least the first and second disconnects. Through selective control of the disconnects, the system can be automatically placed in a four-wheel-drive mode based on predetermined criteria, or the desirability of the four-wheel-drive mode can be indicated to the vehicle operator in a passive version of the control system and method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: William Paul Perkins, Scott Howard Gaboury, Steven A. Daleiden
  • Internal multi-axis G sensing used to align an automotive forward radar to the vehicle's thrust axis
    Patent number: 8957807
    Abstract: A motor vehicle includes a vehicle floor, a tilt sensor attached to the vehicle floor and having an output, and a forward looking radar module attached to the vehicle. The radar module includes a radar, an accelerometer; and an output from the accelerometer, and a controller that averages the tilt sensor output and the accelerometer output and determines a difference between the output averages, the controller reporting when the differences changes more than a predetermined amount. A method of calibrating the forward looking radar module, when attached to a vehicle, comprises placing the vehicle on a flat surface to determine the accelerometer pitch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Aaron L. Mills, Scott Howard Gaboury
  • Power supply structure
    Patent number: 8956750
    Abstract: A retaining structure for a power supply may include top and bottom rails connected by columns, which carry loads that would otherwise be applied to the power supply. End plates may be attached to the rails to inhibit movement of the cells in directions parallel to the top and bottom rails. The rails may have a cross section configured to carry at least some of the loads applied to the battery pack. For example, at least a portion of the cross section may be configured in a shape that acts as a spring and deflects upon loading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Saravanan Paramasivam, Daniel Miller, Brian Utley, Patrick Daniel Maguire
  • Thermoelectric device for oil temperature control
    Patent number: 8955314
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes systems and methods to increase the speed of engine warm up by heating oil with a thermoelectric device and also to generate electricity using the same thermoelectric device, exploiting a temperature gradient between engine oil and exhaust gases. The disclosure describes a vehicle engine, comprising: an engine oil reservoir; an exhaust gas system; and a thermoelectric device having a hot side and a cold side and connected to a battery, wherein, the thermoelectric device is configured such that the hot side is thermally coupled to the exhaust gas system and the cold side is thermally coupled to the engine oil reservoir. A diverter valve and duct are provided in the exhaust gas system to selectively convey exhaust gases to the thermoelectric device located in or adjacent to the engine oil reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ian Graham Pegg, Robert Helle-Lorentzen
  • Method for increasing vacuum production for a vehicle
    Patent number: 8958964
    Abstract: Methods and systems for providing vacuum to a vehicle are described. In one example, a method adjusts an application force of a transmission clutch in response to a request for additional vacuum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ralph Wayne Cunningham, Ross Dykstra Pursifull
  • Method and device for operating a motor vehicle with an internal combustion engine in a coasting operating mode
    Patent number: 8958969
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for operating a motor vehicle with an internal combustion engine in a coasting operating mode in which the motor vehicle rolls essentially in a propulsionless fashion and essentially without a perceptible engine drag torque on an essentially level road if there is no propulsion request or braking request from a driver of the motor vehicle. According to the invention, the coasting operating mode is not brought about by automatically opening the drivetrain but rather is simulated with the clutch closed in that so much air/fuel mixture is fed to the internal combustion engine that the engine drag torque is largely but not completely compensated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Urs Christen, Andreas R. Schamel, Goetz-Phillipp Wegner, Uwe Gussen
  • Non-intrusive exhaust gas sensor monitoring
    Patent number: 8958974
    Abstract: A method of monitoring an exhaust gas sensor coupled in an engine exhaust is provided. The method comprises indicating exhaust gas sensor degradation based on a difference between a first set of estimated parameters of a rich operation model and a second set of estimated parameters of a lean operation model, the estimated parameters based on commanded lambda and determined lambda values collected during selected operating conditions. In this way, sensor degradation may be indicated with data collected in a non-intrusive manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Imad Hassan Makki, James Michael Kerns, Michael Casedy, Hassene Jammoussi
  • Intake manifold
    Patent number: 8955485
    Abstract: Various systems for reducing noise, vibration, and harshness in an intake manifold are provided. In one example, an intake manifold includes one or more runners, a plenum fluidically coupled to the one or more runners, an inlet having a wall thickness, and a first and a second indentation, where the first indentation protrudes radially inward at a first inflection point in a first direction, the second indentation protrudes radially inward at a second inflection point in a second direction substantially anti-parallel to the first direction, and the wall thickness is maintained at the first and second inflection points. In this way, noise, vibration, and harshness associated with the intake manifold and its inlet may be reduced without additional weight, cost, or complexity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Milind B. Kulkarni
  • Strategy for engine cold start emission reduction
    Patent number: 8955473
    Abstract: A method for operating an engine having a cylinder head, comprising: following light-off of an exhaust catalyst from a cold-start condition, circulating liquid coolant through a cooling jacket of the cylinder head, and at a subsequent engine-off condition, draining at least some of the liquid coolant from the cooling jacket. In this way, at a cold start condition, the cooling jacket of the cylinder head may be filled with air, thus decreasing the amount of time needed for the exhaust catalyst to reach a light-off temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Xiaogang Zhang
  • Enhanced alignment method for park assist
    Patent number: 8957786
    Abstract: A method of parking a running vehicle includes measuring a length of a parked vehicle that is proximate to a desired parking location, and estimating the width of the parked vehicle based on a regression equation. The running vehicle is parked based on the estimated width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Vern Stempnik, Brian Choi, Mark Crawford, Aric David Shaffer, Michael David Kane
  • System override for user selected electric-only operation of a hybrid vehicle
    Patent number: 8958936
    Abstract: A vehicle, a control system for a vehicle having a user interface, and a method of controlling a vehicle are provided. In response to input selecting an electric-only operating mode, an engine is disabled such that the vehicle is propelled by an electric machine. In response to detecting a predefined vehicle state while the electric-only operating mode is selected, the engine is re-enabled such that the vehicle is propelled by at least one of the engine and electric machine. In response to detecting an absence of the predefined vehicle state while the electric-only operating mode is selected, the engine is disabled such that the vehicle is propelled by the electric machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: William David Treharne, Paul Stephen Bryan, David Crist Gabriel, Thomas Chrostowski, Scott James Thompson
  • Sustained release dosage form
    Patent number: 8956654
    Abstract: An osmotic dosage form which comprising: (a) a core comprising a biologically active ingredient; (b) a semi-permeable membrane covering said core; and (c) at least one passageway through the semi-permeable membrane, wherein the semi-permeable membrane comprises ethyl cellulose, an acrylic or methacrylic polymer and a water-soluble plasticizer with the proviso that the semi-permeable membrane comprises no or not more than 15 weight percent of a water-soluble material excluding any water-soluble plasticizer, based on the total dry weight of the semi-permeable membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Yong Gan, Chunliu Zhu, Sophie Zhai, Robert I. Schmitt, Ka Chun A. Chan
  • Process for making ethers from alkoxide anions or precursors of alkoxide anions
    Patent number: 8957256
    Abstract: Improved methods for making ethers. In particular, an alkoxide can be more effectively converted into an ether by reaction with a hydrocarbyl halide in the presence of a substantial excess of a hygroscopic base such as NaOH. When present in such an unconventional excess, the base serves multiple functions. As a consequence, the alkoxide is extensively converted to the desired ether rapidly at excellent yields. The reaction environment also aids later product isolation. The use of the NaOH rather than Na metal allows the ether product to be separated from water soluble impurities such as salt products, left over base, left over hydrocarbyl halide, formates, etc. by liquid-liquid extraction among aqueous and organic phases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Stephen W. King, Richard R. Mitford, Jeffrey G. Hippler
  • Recliner swing-gate control spacer
    Patent number: 8955910
    Abstract: A recliner heart spacer ring includes a body portion having a substantially consistent inner diameter. First and second inner cutouts are diametrically opposed from one another. First and second pairs of retention features are diametrically opposed from one another and are adapted to engage a swing gate of a recliner heart. The recliner heart spacer ring guides the swing gate as the swing gate transitions between a range of positions associated with a seat back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, Khaled Ayyash, Jeffrey Gabalski, Robert Jen-Yue Du
  • Auxiliary lamp mounting adapter assembly for automotive vehicles
    Patent number: 8956020
    Abstract: An auxiliary lighting adapter housing for mounting one or more auxiliary lamps adjacent to a primary lamp mounted onto a lamp aperture provided within a portion of a vehicle. The adapter housing includes an adapter aperture, sized and positioned to align and communicate with the lamp aperture. One or more auxiliary mounts of the adapter housing are adapted to receive and accommodate auxiliary lamps. The housing includes multiple passages, and each passage connects a specific auxiliary mount to the adapter aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Greg Graves, Kent Bock
  • Method for adapting an exothermic reaction in the exhaust system of a motor vehicle
    Patent number: 8955309
    Abstract: A method for adapting a thermal model of a catalyst is provided. The method comprises adjusting an amount of exhaust gas reductant upstream of the catalyst based on a thermal model of the catalyst, the thermal model including heat input from exothermic catalyst reactions, an amount of the exothermic heat input adjusted responsive to an estimated temperature from the thermal model and a measured temperature downstream of the catalyst. In this way, a thermal model for catalyst activity and catalyst operating parameters may be adjusted to ensure optimal catalyst function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Yasser Mohamed sayed Yacoub
  • Variable valve timing for EGR control
    Patent number: 8955498
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting cylinder valve timings to enable a group of cylinders to operate and combust while another group of cylinders on a second are selectively deactivated. Valve timing may be adjusted to allow flow of air through the inactive cylinders to be reduced, lowering catalyst regeneration requirements upon reactivation. The valve timing may alternatively be adjusted to enable exhaust gas to be recirculated to the active cylinders via the inactive cylinders, providing cooled EGR benefits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: James Michael Kerns, Stephen B. Smith, Adam Nathan Banker, Michael James Uhrich
  • METHODS AND COMPOSITION FOR INDUCING SATIETY
    Publication number: 20150045320
    Abstract: A flowable or spoonable medicament, food, food ingredient or food supplement is useful for inducing satiety. It comprises (a) one or more mono-, di- and/or oligosaccharides and (b) a methylcellulose, wherein the methylcellulose has anhydroglucose units joined by 1-4 linkages wherein hydroxy groups of anhydroglucose units are substituted with methyl groups such that s23/s26 is from 0.17 to 0.36, wherein s23 is the molar fraction of anhydroglucose units wherein only the two hydroxy groups in the 2- and 3-positions of the anhydroglucose unit are substituted with methyl groups and wherein s26 is the molar fraction of anhydroglucose units wherein only the two hydroxy groups in the 2- and 6-positions of the anhydroglucose unit are substituted with methyl groups.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Applicant: DOW GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Roland Adden, Matthias Knarr, Britta Huebner-Keese, Robert L. Sammler