Patents by Inventor Aed M. Dudar

Aed M. Dudar 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).

  • System and methods for managing fuel vapor canister temperature
    Patent number: 10337462
    Abstract: A system for an engine, comprising: a fuel vapor canister coupled to a fuel tank; a thermal jacket comprising a phase-change material, the thermal jacket spatially sheathing the fuel vapor canister; and an engine coolant passage positioned to transfer thermal energy between engine coolant and the phase-change material. In this way, the phase-change material may buffer the temperature of the fuel vapor canister by absorbing heat generated during hydrocarbon adsorption, and returning the heat to the vapor canister during hydrocarbon desorption. By coupling the phase-change material to engine coolant, the thermal capacity of the thermal jacket can be increased, as heated coolant can thus transfer thermal energy to the phase-change material to replace the thermal energy transferred to the canister during hydrocarbon desorption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dennis Seung-Man Yang, Aed M Dudar, Russell Randall Pearce, Shahid Ahmed Siddiqui
  • SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR EGR VALVE DIAGNOSTICS
    Publication number: 20190195153
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for diagnosing degradation of an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve. In one example, a method may include, during a vehicle key-off condition, routing compressed air through an EGR passage housing the EGR valve, and indicating degradation of the EGR valve based on a change in an estimated EGR pressure, upon a commanded change in EGR valve position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Inventor: Aed M. Dudar
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DIAGNOSING A TURBOCHARGER WASTEGATE OF AN ENGINE
    Publication number: 20190195158
    Abstract: Systems and methods for diagnosing the presence or absence of turbocharger wastegate degradation are presented. In one example, an intake manifold pressure sensor provides a basis for determining whether or not turbocharger wastegate degradation present. The turbocharged engine may be rotated in a reverse direction to assess wastegate degradation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Inventor: Aed M. Dudar
  • ENGINE VARIABLE OIL PUMP DIAGNOSTIC METHOD
    Publication number: 20190195095
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for diagnosing the functioning of a variable displacement oil pump. In one example, a method may include commanding a change in displacement of the variable displacement oil pump during a vehicle keyed-off condition and diagnosing a degradation of the oil pump based on a corresponding change in an estimated crankcase pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Inventor: Aed M. Dudar
  • Systems and methods for intelligent vehicle evaporative emissions diagnostics
    Patent number: 10330051
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for conducting tests for undesired evaporative emissions on a vehicle fuel system and evaporative emissions system. In one example, a method may include learning routes commonly traveled by the vehicle, including altitude changes and stop durations, and may further include diagnosing the fuel system and evaporative emissions system based on the learned altitude changes in one example, and may include diagnosing the fuel system and evaporative emissions system based on a learned stop duration in another example. By conducting tests for undesired evaporative emissions as a function of learned travel routes, completion rates for tests for undesired evaporative emissions tests may be increased, and the release of undesired evaporative emissions to atmosphere may be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Aed M. Dudar, Douglas Raymond Martin, Robert Roy Jentz, Kevin Lucka, Mohammad R. Aghili, Donald P. Tinsley, III
  • Systems and methods for active engine mount diagnostics
    Patent number: 10328944
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for diagnosing whether active engine mounts configured to isolate engine vibration from a cabin and chassis of a vehicle are functioning as desired. In one example, a method includes indicating degradation of an active engine mount by inducing degraded combustion events in a preselected engine cylinder, and operating the active engine mount in multiple modes, the indication responsive to an amount of vehicle chassis vibration during each of the modes. By monitoring chassis vibrations as a function of induced degraded combustion events, and further responsive to the active engine mounts being controlled to the multiple modes, it may be indicated as to whether the active engine mounts are functioning as desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Aed M. Dudar
  • Method and system for determining air-fuel imbalance
    Patent number: 10330035
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided to determine air-fuel imbalance of cylinders in a variable displacement engine. In one example, the method may include during a cylinder deactivation event, sequentially deactivating each cylinder of a cylinder group including two or more cylinders and estimating a lambda deviation for each cylinder following the sequential deactivation of each cylinder of the cylinder group; and learning an air error for each cylinder based on the estimated lambda deviation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Douglas Raymond Martin, Aed M. Dudar, Robert Roy Jentz, John Eric Rollinger
  • SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR VEHICLE FUEL SYSTEM AND EVAPORATIVE EMISSIONS SYSTEM DIAGNOSTICS
    Publication number: 20190186392
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for diagnosing a vehicle fuel system for a presence or absence of undesired evaporative emissions. In one example, a method comprises evacuating the fuel system of a vehicle to a variable vacuum target as a function of a volatility of fuel in a fuel tank positioned in the fuel system and a loading state of a fuel vapor storage canister configured for capturing and storing fuel vapors from the fuel tank. In this way, analysis of a pressure-bleedup portion of the diagnostic may be more reliable and completion rates of the diagnostic may be improved, while conducting the test in an environmentally fashion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2017
    Publication date: June 20, 2019
    Inventors: Aed M. Dudar, Dennis Seung-Man Yang, Mark W. Peters
  • Secondary system and method for controlling an engine
    Patent number: 10323599
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating an engine in response to a condition where air flow into an engine via an air filter of an engine air intake is limited are presented. In one example, a canister purge valve is adjusted responsive to accelerator pedal position to reduce engine torque reduction that may be caused by a partially clogged air filter or lower barometric pressure. In this way, the engine air amount may be adjusted to provide additional torque from an engine while engine air flow through the air filter may be limited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Aed M. Dudar
  • Vehicle repositioning system
    Patent number: 10322719
    Abstract: A vehicle system to reduce parking tickets is described. The vehicle system includes a communication interface that receives vehicle operator preferences regarding ticketing risk and parking preferences. A processing device calculates an instruction signal which is sent to an autonomous mode controller. The autonomous mode controller moves the vehicle to a pick up location or a new parking spot as a function of the instruction signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Aed M. Dudar, Scott A. Bohr
  • METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR EXHAUST TUNING VALVE DIAGNOSTICS
    Publication number: 20190176810
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for diagnostics of an exhaust tuning valve during vehicle-off conditions. In one example, the engine may be reverse rotated, unfueled while the position of the exhaust is varied and an intake air flow is estimated at each position of the exhaust tuning valve. The exhaust tuning valve may be diagnosed based on a change in air flow with the variation in the position of the exhaust tuning valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Inventor: Aed M. Dudar
  • METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR ON-DEMAND FUEL DELIVERY
    Publication number: 20190178664
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for on-demand fuel delivery are disclosed herein. An example method includes predicting, by executing an instruction with a processor, a vehicle usage event for a vehicle. The predicted vehicle usage event is associated with a fuel amount. The example method includes comparing a fuel level of the vehicle and the fuel amount. The example method includes automatically generating, via the processor, a refuel request for the vehicle based on the comparison and transmitting the refuel request to a mobile device. The refuel request is to be viewable via a user interface at the mobile device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Inventors: Aed M. DUDAR, Kevin LUCKA, Dennis Seung-Man YANG, Mohammad R. AGHILI, Finn Finn TSENG
  • METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR INTAKE AIR FILTER DIAGNOSTICS
    Publication number: 20190178190
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for diagnostics of an intake air filter during vehicle-off conditions. In one example, the engine may be reverse rotated, unfueled, and air flow via the exhaust manifold and the intake manifold are estimated and compared to a baseline air flow. A blocked intake air flow may be indicated based on the comparison between air flow via the exhaust manifold and the intake manifold and the baseline air flow upon opening a secondary flow path to atmosphere.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Inventor: Aed M. Dudar
  • VEHICLE MAINTENANCE OPERATION
    Publication number: 20190180521
    Abstract: A system includes a processor and a memory. The memory stores instructions executable by the processor to identify a vehicle fault condition, select a vehicle component according to a location of the fault condition in the vehicle and a detected location of a user outside of the vehicle, and actuate the vehicle component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Miller, Aed M. Dudar, Thomas G. Leone
  • MONITORING OF ANTI-SWAY BAR CHAINS OF TRAILER HITCH SYSTEMS
    Publication number: 20190176553
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for monitoring of anti-sway bar chains of trailer hitch systems. An example disclosed trailer hitch system includes a hitch including a hitch ball to receive a trailer, an anti-sway bar extending from the hitch, anti-sway chains to couple the anti-sway bar to the trailer, sensors, and a controller. The controller is to emit an alert responsive to detecting, via the sensors, that at least one of the anti-sway chains is decoupled from at least one of the anti-sway bar and the trailer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2017
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Inventors: Mahmoud Yousef Ghannam, David James Tippy, Aed M. Dudar
  • Adaptive climate control system
    Patent number: 10315663
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for an adaptive climate control system. An example vehicle includes a plurality of sensors to determine the speed of the vehicle, an internal temperature of the vehicle, and a fuel economy of the vehicle. The vehicle includes control units each coupled to a corresponding window and an HVAC controller. The vehicle also includes a processor and memory with a climate control adapter. The climate control adapter performs adaptive cooling based on the speed, fuel economy, and the internal temperature of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Aed M. Dudar
  • Modular fuel vapor canister
    Patent number: 10316800
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a fuel vapor canister with a modular configuration that may include a number of physically and releasably coupled canister modules, each module including a temperature sensor embedded therein and filled with one of a number of adsorbents. The temperature sensors may be utilized in combination with information regarding module position and the adsorbents within each module to indicate whether one or more of the individual canister modules are not functioning as desired, where such indications are determined during either refueling events, or during canister purging events. In this way, costs associated with servicing fuel vapor canisters may be reduced, the lifetime of fuel vapor canisters may be improved, an overall reduction in undesired evaporative emissions may be achieved, and the capacity of the canister may be readily adjusted based on emissions standards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dennis Seung-Man Yang, Aed M. Dudar, Russell Randall Pearce
  • SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR TURBO WASTEGATE DIAGNOSTICS
    Publication number: 20190170061
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for indicating whether a wastegate positioned in a vehicle exhaust system is stuck in a closed or open configuration. In one example, a method comprises activating an electric air compressor positioned in an intake of the engine and obtaining a first baseline air flow and a second baseline air flow in the exhaust system, and in response to an indication that the wastegate is potentially stuck open or closed, obtaining a test air flow measurement via activating the electric air compressor and comparing the test air flow in the exhaust system to the first and/or the second baseline air flow. In this way, the wastegate may be diagnosed under conditions of limited engine operation, such as that which may occur in hybrid electric vehicles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Inventor: Aed M. Dudar
  • METHOD FOR ENGINE LASER IGNITION SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20190162159
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for diagnosing a laser ignition system of an engine. In one example, a controller may operate the laser in a sealed cylinder hours after key-off. Then, the cylinder may be unsealed and a change in exhaust temperature may be correlated with laser functionality.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2017
    Publication date: May 30, 2019
    Inventor: Aed M. Dudar
  • VEHICLE SNOW LEVEL RESPONSE
    Publication number: 20190161085
    Abstract: A system, including a processor and a memory, the memory including instructions to be executed by the processor to determine a best-fit snow boundary in an image including a reference object, determine a snow level based on comparing the best-fit snow boundary to the image of the reference object, and operate a vehicle by actuating vehicle components based on the determined snow level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Publication date: May 30, 2019
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Aed M. Dudar, Thomas G. Leone, Kenneth J. Miller