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).

  • ENHANCED ROUTE PLANNING
    Publication number: 20200393250
    Abstract: A computer is programmed to estimate a total travel time for a vehicle from a current location in a multilevel structure to a destination. The estimated total travel time includes a sum of an estimated travel time from a specified point at the multilevel structure to the destination and estimated travel times for each level of the multilevel structure from a level of the current location to the specified point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2017
    Publication date: December 17, 2020
    Inventors: Kenneth J. MILLER, Aed M. DUDAR, Thomas G. LEONE
  • Engine variable oil pump diagnostic method
    Patent number: 10865670
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for indicating degradation of a variable displacement oil pump. In one example, an engine method comprises indicating degradation of the oil pump based on a fuel usage change of the engine, responsive to a commanded change in displacement of the variable oil pump. In response to an indicated degradation, engine wear may be avoided and fuel economy may be improved by adjusting engine operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Aed M. Dudar
  • SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PURGING A FUEL VAPOR CANISTER IN DUAL-PATH PURGE SYSTEMS
    Publication number: 20200386193
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for improving fuel vapor storage canister purging operations for vehicles with dual-path purge systems. In one example, a method may include purging fuel vapors from a fuel vapor storage canister to an engine of a vehicle via a single path, and in response to an unmetered increase in a concentration of the fuel vapors being purged to the engine via the single path, switching the fuel vapors to be purged to the engine via two paths simultaneously. In this way, fuel vapors may be distributed in time along the two paths, which may lower an effective concentration of fuel vapors entering the engine and may thereby avoid degradation of engine operating conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2019
    Publication date: December 10, 2020
    Inventor: Aed M. Dudar
  • Vehicle maintenance operation
    Patent number: 10861251
    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: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Miller, Aed M. Dudar, Thomas G. Leone
  • Methods and systems for removing moisture from engine components
    Patent number: 10859044
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for removing moisture from engine intake manifold and exhaust manifold. In one example, a method may include, during an engine non-combusting condition, while the ambient humidity is higher than a threshold humidity, operating an intake electric booster to route pressurized air via each of the intake manifold and the exhaust manifold, thereby removing accumulated moisture from the engine components. The electric booster may also be operated immediately prior to an anticipated vehicle key-on event to remove condensate from engine components prior to an actual engine start.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Aed M. Dudar
  • Solar vehicle charging system and method
    Patent number: 10857892
    Abstract: A system includes processor. The system includes a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to identify, in a vehicle at a first location, a second location receiving reflected light. The memory stores instructions executable by the processor to navigate the vehicle from the first location to the second location receiving the reflected light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Aed M. Dudar
  • SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR VEHICLE FUEL SYSTEM AND EVAPORATIVE EMISSIONS SYSTEM DIAGNOSTICS
    Publication number: 20200378345
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a fuel system of a hybrid vehicle. In one example, a system may include a fuel tank selectively fluidly coupled to a fuel vapor canister via a first conduit that includes a fuel tank isolation valve and via a second conduit that includes a tank pressure control valve and a pump. In one example, the pump is a vacuum pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2019
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Inventor: Aed M. Dudar
  • System and method for evaporative emissions detection
    Patent number: 10850587
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for conducting an evaporative emissions test on a fuel system in a vehicle. In one example, in response to a determination, based on the prevailing vehicle and ambient thermal conditions, that altering vehicle height may increase pressure or vacuum build during a pressure or vacuum build phase of an engine off natural vacuum test, employing the vehicle's active suspension to make said height adjustments. In this way the accuracy of engine off natural vacuum testing can be improved, and the conditions under which such testing can be efficaciously conducted increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Aed M. Dudar
  • SYSTEMS, METHODS AND DEVICES FOR DETERMINING LIFT HEIGHTS FOR LAUNCHING UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES
    Publication number: 20200369375
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for determining a vehicle elevation height for launching an unmanned aerial vehicle. Example methods may include performing a quantitative balancing analysis using baseline factors, establishing optimal values for operational goals of a vehicle based on the quantitative balancing analysis, determining a vehicle elevation height that achieves the established optimal values for the operational goals of the vehicle by evaluating vehicle delivery parameters using normalized values, and initiating on a winch system elevation of the unmanned aerial vehicle to the determined vehicle elevation height for launching.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2019
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Leone, Kenneth Miller, Aed M. Dudar
  • SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR VEHICLE MULTI-CANISTER EVAPORATIVE EMISSIONS SYSTEMS
    Publication number: 20200369508
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for pinpointing a restriction in a vehicle evaporative emissions system which may adversely impact refueling and/or fuel vapor canister purging operations. In one example a method comprises conducting a diagnostic to identify a location of a restriction based on a rise time at which a pressure in a fuel system of a vehicle rises to a threshold pressure during a refueling event where fuel is added to the fuel system. In this way, a location of the restriction may be identified so as to enable appropriate mitigating action to be taken.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2019
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Inventor: Aed M. Dudar
  • SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR VEHICLE MULTI-CANISTER EVAPORATIVE EMISSIONS SYSTEMS
    Publication number: 20200370516
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for improving canister back-purging operations in multi-canister evaporative emissions systems. In one example a method comprises controlling a state of one or more valves positioned in the evaporative emissions system of a vehicle that includes at least two fuel vapor storage canister, so that fuel vapors may be selectively purged from a single canister while other canisters are bypassed. In this way, fuel vapors from the single canister may be directly back-purged to the fuel tank, which may in turn reduce opportunity for release of undesired evaporative emissions to atmosphere.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2019
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Inventor: Aed M. Dudar
  • DRONE ELEVATOR SYSTEMS AND METHODS
    Publication number: 20200361631
    Abstract: This disclosure is generally directed to systems and methods for lifting drones to a desired height before launching. In one exemplary embodiment, a drone elevator system includes a looped cable that is engaged to a pair of pulleys. A first pulley of the pair of pulleys is coupled to a lighter-than-air craft and the second pulley is attached to a motor. The lighter-than-air craft moves upwards so as to raise the first pulley skywards and place the looped cable at an angle with respect to the ground. The motor is then operated to rotate the second pulley for moving the looped cable. The cable includes a set of tethers each of which is used to tether a drone. Each tether includes an extension arm that prevents the tethered drone from making contact with the cable when being lifted. Each tethered drone can be launched after being lifted to a desired height.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2019
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Leone, Kenneth Miller, Aed M. Dudar
  • Systems and methods for vehicle multi-canister evaporative emissions systems
    Patent number: 10830189
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for improving canister back-purging operations in multi-canister evaporative emissions systems. In one example a method comprises controlling a state of one or more valves positioned in the evaporative emissions system of a vehicle that includes at least two fuel vapor storage canister, so that fuel vapors may be selectively purged from a single canister while other canisters are bypassed. In this way, fuel vapors from the single canister may be directly back-purged to the fuel tank, which may in turn reduce opportunity for release of undesired evaporative emissions to atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Aed M. Dudar
  • Evaporative emissions testing using inductive heating
    Patent number: 10830188
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for conducting an evaporative emissions test on a fuel tank and an evaporative emissions system in a vehicle. In one example, pressure for the evaporative emissions test is provided by inductive heating of the fuel tank while the vehicle undergoes an inductive battery charging operation. In this way, evaporative emissions testing may be enabled under conditions wherein sufficient heat rejection from the engine to the fuel tank is not available, and further enables evaporative emissions testing without the use of an external pump thus eliminating additional costs, and reducing the space occupied in the vehicle for evaporative emissions testing diagnostics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Aed M. Dudar
  • Evaporative emissions system diagnostic for GTDI engines using an electronic booster
    Patent number: 10815937
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for diagnosing a vehicle fuel system and evaporative emissions system, and for diagnosing components in the evaporative emissions system. In one example, a method comprises activating an electric compressor while an engine that propels a vehicle is not in operation, to evacuate the fuel system and evaporative emissions system, sealing the fuel system and evaporative emissions system responsive to a threshold vacuum being reached during the evacuating, and indicating a presence or absence of non-gross undesired evaporative emissions based on a pressure rise in the sealed fuel system and evaporative emissions system. In this way, sources of undesired evaporative emissions may be readily detected, such that release of undesired evaporative emissions to the environment may be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Aed M. Dudar
  • Platooning vehicle order
    Patent number: 10818189
    Abstract: A vehicle computer includes a memory and a processor programmed to execute instructions stored in the memory. The instructions include determining whether to operate a host vehicle in a mini-platoon based at least in part on at least one of a powertrain type and emissions of at least one of a plurality of nearby vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Aed M. Dudar
  • Vehicle washer fluid delivery diagnostics and cleaning
    Patent number: 10807569
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for vehicle washer fluid delivery diagnostics and cleaning. An example vehicle includes an engine, a windshield, a camera for capturing images of the windshield, a nozzle, and a washer fluid controller. The washer fluid controller is to instruct the nozzle to spray washer fluid responsive to detecting the windshield is obstructed based upon a first image, determine whether the nozzle emitted a target spray based upon a second image, and pump pressurized air through the nozzle upon detecting the target spray was not emitted and the engine is off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mahmoud Yousef Ghannam, Aed M. Dudar
  • Systems and methods for expedited vehicle soak
    Patent number: 10801392
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for rapidly cooling an engine system of a vehicle at vehicle-off events. In one example, a method may include cooling the engine system via selecting whether to rotate a cooling fan in a first direction or a second direction based on an indication of whether temperature of the engine system decays at a faster rate under conditions where the cooling fan is rotated in the first direction as compared to the second direction, or vice versa. In this way, diagnostics that rely on static, low-noise conditions may be conducted for vehicle-off conditions that are not sufficiently long to allow for sufficient engine system cooling in a timeframe of the vehicle-off condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Aed M. Dudar
  • SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR REDUCING SADDLE FUEL TANK DEPRESSURIZATION TIME
    Publication number: 20200290861
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for increase a rate at which a saddle fuel tank is depressurized responsive to a request for refueling. In one example, a method may include, responsive to the request for refueling, depressurizing a primary side of the saddle fuel tank to a secondary side of the saddle fuel tank, and commanding open a refueling lock coupled to the primary side to allow fuel to be delivered to the primary side when pressure in the primary side drops below a threshold pressure. In this way, the secondary fuel tank may be maintained at atmospheric pressure prior to the request for refueling, which may increase the rate of depressurization of the saddle fuel tank responsive to the request.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2019
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Inventor: Aed M. Dudar
  • Systems and methods for reducing vehicle valve degradation
    Patent number: 10774761
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for reducing degradation and issues related to noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) for a fuel tank pressure control valve configured to seal a fuel tank from atmosphere. In one example, a method may include depressurizing the fuel tank of a vehicle by duty cycling a tank pressure control valve and routing fuel vapors from the fuel tank to an engine, while controlling a timing of opening and closing events of the tank pressure control valve to coincide with pressure differences across the tank pressure control valve less than a threshold pressure difference in terms of pressure oscillations across the tank pressure control valve. In this way, higher loads and stress on the tank pressure control valve may be avoided, thus reducing degradation and NVH issues.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Aed M. Dudar, Thomas Leone, Kenneth Miller