Patents Assigned to Global Technologies LLC
  • Method and system for assessing combustion noise in an internal combustion engine
    Patent number: 6850836
    Abstract: A method for assessing noise generated during combustion in an internal combustion engine, such method comprising determining a noise index by processing a signal generated in a cylinder of such engine in accordance with a shift invariant wavelet transform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Scholl, Urs Christen
  • Method and system for providing fuel injection time scheduling for internal combustion engines using engine speed prediction
    Patent number: 6848427
    Abstract: A system and process for determining fuel injection time scheduling in an internal combustion engine. The system and method uses a prediction of engine speed to compensate for the errors due to rapid speed change in fuel injection during crank/start and engine speed transition like engine tip-in and tip-out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gang Song, James Michael Kerns, Stephen B. Smith
  • Bimodal catalyst-urea SCR system for enhanced NOx conversion and durability
    Patent number: 6846464
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for reducing NOx in exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine. The purpose of this invention is to convert engine out NOx (approximately 90% NO in diesel exhaust) into roughly a 50:50 mixture of NO and NO2, while simultaneously oxidizing engine-out hydrocarbons which interfere with the reduction of NOx by urea or ammonia. The present invention demonstrates that a 50:50 blend of NO and NO2 is reduced more rapidly and with higher efficiency than a gas stream which is predominantly NO. In addition, catalyst in an engine exhaust that is a 50:50 mixture of NO and NO2 is far more resistant to hydrothermal deterioration than using NO alone. In another embodiment of the present invention, a vehicle exhaust system utilizing the method of the present invention is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Clifford Norman Montreuil, Joseph Robert Theis
  • System and method for controlling ignition timing in an engine
    Patent number: 6845753
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling ignition timing of an engine is provided. The method includes determining a change in a combustion temperature rise within an engine based on a change in at least one engine operating parameter. The method further includes adjusting the ignition timing of the engine based on the change of combustion temperature rise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Allan Joseph Kotwicki
  • Method for determining a longitudinal vehicle velocity by compensating individual wheel speeds
    Patent number: 6847875
    Abstract: A control system (24) for controlling a safety system (40) of an automotive vehicle includes a plurality of wheel speed sensors (30) generating a plurality of wheel velocity signals, a steering angle sensor (39) generating a steering actuator angle signal, a yaw rate sensor (28) generating a yaw rate signal, a lateral acceleration sensor (32) generating a lateral acceleration signal and a controller (26). The controller (26) generates a final reference vehicle velocity in response to the plurality of wheel speed signals, the steering angle signal, the yaw rate signal and the lateral acceleration signal. The controller (26) controls the safety system in response to the final reference vehicle velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jianbo Lu, Todd Allen Brown
  • Vehicle closure panel with torsion bar assist and integral vibration damping
    Patent number: 6846030
    Abstract: An automotive vehicle has a door adapted to pivot about a generally horizontal pivot axis, with the door including a shell defining a space surrounded by the shell. The door is pivoted upon bearings located at each end of the door. A torsion bar lift assist is provided with a vibration and noise isolator and damper, which is engaged about a central portion of the torsion bar. The damper prevents objectionable noise which could otherwise result in the event that the torsion bar strikes the shell of the door because of road-induced vibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Duane A. Koehler, Scott G. Miller
  • System and method for combustion engines
    Patent number: 6845761
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for improving combustion in a combustion chamber of a combustion engine. The method comprises the first step of receiving a measured air-to-fuel ratio value. Further, the method comprises the step of receiving at least one estimated air-to-fuel ratio value. The air-to-fuel ratio estimate is generated in dependence of a predetermined fuel deposit factor. Furthermore, the method comprises the step of establishing a fuel volatility value in dependence of said measured air-to-fuel ratio value and said air-to-fuel ratio estimate. Finally the method comprises the step of controlling combustion in dependence of said fuel volatility value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Anders H. Johnsson
  • Method of evaluating long-term average portfolio risk and return for cyclical corporation
    Patent number: 6847944
    Abstract: A method of evaluating long-term average portfolio risk and return for a cyclical corporation includes the steps of obtaining historical pricing information for financial instruments used for a relevant historical period and dividing the relevant historical period up into time segments. The method also includes calculating a gain or loss for each financial instrument in a portfolio for the time segments over the relevant historical period and obtaining actual cash level for each time segment and dividing up the actual cash level of the corporation between asset classes to determine what the portfolio is invested in. The method further includes the steps of determining an average return and risk for a typical one of the time segments over the historical period and using an optimization framework to pick out the most efficient portfolios in risk versus return.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dennis Alan Tosh, Mark Paul Everson
  • Vehicular weather strip
    Patent number: 6846034
    Abstract: A weather strip for use between a closure panel and the body of a vehicle includes a foundation bulb extending about the periphery of an opening in the body and a contactor bulb supported entirely by the foundation bulb and having a compliance which is less than the compliance of the foundation bulb such that the configuration of the contactor bulb remains relatively invariant as sidewalls of the foundation bulb deform in response to a compressive load imposed by the closure panel and the body opening panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Steven Wayne Angus, Matthew Partsch, Tadeusz J. Siedlecki
  • Method and apparatus for controlling lean-burn engine to purge trap of stored NOx
    Patent number: 6843051
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the operation of a “lean-burn” internal combustion engine in cooperation with an exhaust gas purification system having an emissions control device capable of alternatively storing and releasing NOx when exposed to exhaust gases that are lean and rich of stoichiometry, respectively, determines a performance impact, such as a fuel-economy benefit, of operating the engine at a selected lean or rich operating condition. The method and apparatus then enable the selected operating condition as long as such enabled operation provides further performance benefits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, David K. Bidner
  • Material applicator assembly and a method for using the same
    Patent number: 6843853
    Abstract: A material applicator assembly 10 which includes a rotor member 12 having a plurality of dispenser apertures 20 and a deformable material application ring 23 around the outer periphery of the rotor member 12. The assembly 10 being rotatably coupled to a centrally mounted tubular member 40. Member 40 having at least one aperture through which an adhesive material 45 is forced into each of the plurality of apertures 20 as the rotor member 12 is rotated about member 40, thereby injecting the adhesive material 45 into the application ring 23 to deposit the adhesive material 45 upon components 60 having varying cross-sectional shapes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Peter Miskech, Joseph Paul Tekelly, David Gary Dahlstrom, Keith Alan Kuzmich
  • Method for determining automotive brake structure vibration damping and friction material bonding
    Patent number: 6843128
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the vibration damping characteristics of an automotive brake structure measures the vibration response of a brake structure during application of random-frequency wide spectrum excitation, followed by measuring vibration of the structure at particularly noted modal frequencies, using a confined bandwidth random-frequency vibratory excitation. The method and apparatus may be used also to assess the bonding or attachment characteristics of damping materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Frank Chen, Alexander Petniunas, Ronald L. Quaglia, James L. Swayze
  • Control methods for electromagnetic valve actuators
    Patent number: 6845300
    Abstract: An electromagnetically operated valve assembly (28) has a first solenoid (58) and a second solenoid (60). An armature (56) having a valve stem (54) coupled thereto is positioned between the first solenoid (58) and second solenoid (60). A controller (12) is coupled to the first solenoid (58), the second solenoid (60). A current sensor (49) is coupled to the first solenoid and generated a signal corresponding to the induced current in the first solenoid. The controller (12) changes a voltage applied to the first solenoid from a first polarity to a second polarity. The controller (12) is further configured to hold the voltage at the second polarity for a predetermined time period and a predetermined amplitude to decrease the induced current. The predetermined time period or the predetermined amplitude is determined based on the first signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mohammad Haghgooie, Thomas William Megli, Yan Wang
  • Pick up truck
    Patent number: D500968
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Craig Metros, Patrick J. Schiavone, Tyler Jon Blake, Jeffery Nowak
  • Rear bumper fascia
    Patent number: D500969
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: J C. Mays, Larry R. Erickson
  • Rear bumper fascia
    Patent number: D500970
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: J C. Mays, Larry R. Erickson
  • Rear door to an automobile
    Patent number: D500973
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Henrik Otto, Fedde Talsma, Alsed Briscoe
  • Front bumper fascia
    Patent number: D501162
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: J C. Mays, Larry R. Erickson
  • Rear door to an automobile
    Patent number: D501167
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Henrik Otto, Fedde Talsma, Alsed Briscoe
  • Front door to an automobile
    Patent number: D501168
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC.
    Inventors: Henrik Otto, Fedde Talsma, Alsed Briscoe