Patents by Inventor Alex Gibson

Alex Gibson 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).

  • Patent number: 7277789
    Abstract: A system for communicating information between a first controller and a second controller is presented. The system is designed to improve and increase the robustness data transferred between two controllers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alex Gibson, Ilya Kolmanovsky, Brian Moorhead
  • Publication number: 20070192018
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling an internal combustion engine in a vehicle include controlling the engine to achieve a desired vehicle speed/deceleration when the accelerator pedal is released. A desired vehicle deceleration may be determined based on current transmission gear, vehicle speed, and road grade. Vehicle speed/deceleration is measured using a vehicle speed sensor and/or wheel speed sensor(s) and the engine is controlled to reduce the error between the desired and measured decelerations. Electronically actuated intake and/or exhaust valves, and/or an electronically controlled throttle may be used to achieve a desired vehicle deceleration profile. A selector switch or similar device may be used by the driver to select a desired deceleration profile from two or more available profiles and/or a desired deceleration profile may be automatically selected based on current ambient and/or vehicle/engine operating conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2006
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Alex Gibson, IIya Kolmanovsky
  • Publication number: 20070131196
    Abstract: A method for controlling an engine to reduce vehicle shuffle mode vibration during mode transition. The engine includes multiple cylinders, each with at least one electrically actuated valve, and the engine operates in a first mode having a first number of firing cylinders and a second mode having a second number of firing cylinders. The method comprises transitioning the engine from operating in the first mode to the second mode; adjusting at least a valve timing or lift of one of a last cylinder to be fired in said first mode and a first cylinder to be fired in said second mode to temporarily adjust a cylinder torque and thereby reduce vehicle shuffle mode vibration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2005
    Publication date: June 14, 2007
    Inventors: Alex Gibson, John Michelini, James McCallum, Ilya Kolmanovsky, Gang Song
  • Publication number: 20070118269
    Abstract: A method for controlling engine torque during disruption of a primary communication link between an engine control unit and a valve control unit in an engine is provided. The method includes determining disruption of the primary communication link between the engine control unit and the valve control unit, operating a preset valve timing schedule upon determination of disruption of the communication link between the engine control unit and the valve control unit; and sending a status message from the valve control unit to the engine control unit regarding the operational status of the valve control unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2005
    Publication date: May 24, 2007
    Inventors: Alex Gibson, Joseph Thomas, Yan Wang, Brian Moorhead, Vince Winstead
  • Patent number: 7201140
    Abstract: A system and method for operating at least an intake and exhaust valve in a cylinder with a piston of an engine in a vehicle are described. In one aspect, the method comprises maintaining at least one of the intake and exhaust valves in a closed position during a period. Further, during said period where said at least one valve is in said closed position, the method may also include opening the other of the intake and exhaust valve, then closing the other of the intake and exhaust valve, and then opening the other of the intake and exhaust valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Megli, Alex Gibson, John O. Michelini, Nate Trask
  • Publication number: 20070032340
    Abstract: In one example, a method for controlling powertrain operation in a vehicle is provided, the powertrain having an engine and an automatic transmission, the engine having at least an electrically actuated cylinder valve. The method includes changing gears from a first discreet gear ratio to a second discreet gear ratio of the transmission; and increasing engine torque during a torque phase of said gear change by changing operation of the electrically actuated cylinder valve, and decreasing engine torque during an inertia phase of said gear change.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2005
    Publication date: February 8, 2007
    Inventors: Davor Hrovat, Alex Gibson, Ilya Kolmanovsky, James McCallum, Marvin Kraska
  • Publication number: 20060292075
    Abstract: Synthetic analogues of lysine and glutamine are provided which function as substrates for the fibrin-stabilising enzyme Factor XIIIa even when labelled with a detectable moiety. The use of suitable protecting groups provides compounds which possess reduced susceptibility to in vivo metabolism especially by peptidases, and are hence useful agents for the diagnosis of thrombosis, embolism, atherosclerosis, inflammation or cancer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2006
    Publication date: December 28, 2006
    Inventors: Anthony Storey, Marivi Mendizabal, Susan Champion, Alex Gibson, Benedicte Guilbert, Ian Wilson, Peter Knox
  • Publication number: 20060207569
    Abstract: A system and method to control spark in a cylinder of a multi-cylinder engine. Spark can be controlled in a cylinder while reducing the possibility of producing a spark at a spark plug coupled to an ignition coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2006
    Publication date: September 21, 2006
    Inventors: Vince Winstead, John Grabowski, Ilya Kolmanovsky, Michael Degner, Alex Gibson
  • Patent number: 7049289
    Abstract: Synthetic analogues of lysine and glutamine are provided which function as substrates for the fibrin-stabilising enzyme Factor XIIIa even when labelled with a detectable moiety. The use of suitable protecting groups provides compounds which possess reduced susceptibility to in vivo metabolism especially by peptidases, and are hence useful agents for the diagnosis of thrombosis, embolism, atherosclerosis, inflammation or cancer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Amersham PLC
    Inventors: Anthony Eamon Storey, Marivi Mendizabal, Susan Champion, Alex Gibson, Benedicte Guilbert, Ian Andrew Wilson, Peter Knox
  • Patent number: 7032581
    Abstract: A system and method to control engine valve timing to improve air-fuel control in an engine with valves that may be deactivated. Valves that may be deactivated are controlled in a manner to improve detection of individual cylinder air-fuel ratios.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alex Gibson, Ilya V. Kolmanovsky
  • Publication number: 20060042609
    Abstract: A system and method to control spark in a cylinder of a multi-cylinder engine. Spark can be controlled in a cylinder based on operating conditions of a selectively operable valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2004
    Publication date: March 2, 2006
    Inventors: Vince Winstead, John Grabowski, Ilya Kolmanovsky, Michael Degner, Alex Gibson
  • Publication number: 20060032479
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling operation of cylinder with at least an intake and exhaust valve and a piston are described. In one aspect, the method comprises maintaining at least one of the intake and exhaust valves in a closed position during a period. Further, closing the other of the intake and exhaust valves with the piston at a first position from, and then opening the other of the intake and exhaust valves at a second position of the piston closer to bottom center than said first position, during said period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2005
    Publication date: February 16, 2006
    Inventors: Thomas Megli, Alex Gibson, John Michelini, Nate Trask, Ilya Kolmanovsky, Davor Hrovat
  • Publication number: 20060010961
    Abstract: A tire pressure monitoring system for a vehicle has been disclosed that can detect an excessive leakage rate of a tire. The system utilizes the starting pressure and starting temperature of a tire and the current pressure and current temperature of that tire with the time lapsed to determine the leakage rate of the tire. This leakage rate is compared to a leakage rate threshold. If the leakage rate is greater than the leakage rate threshold, an excessive leakage rate alert is generated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2004
    Publication date: January 19, 2006
    Inventors: Alex Gibson, Fred Porter, Thomas McQuade
  • Publication number: 20060005807
    Abstract: A system and method for operating at least an intake and exhaust valve in a cylinder with a piston of an engine in a vehicle are described. In one aspect, the method comprises maintaining at least one of the intake and exhaust valves in a closed position during a period. Further, during said period where said at least one valve is in said closed position, the method may also include opening the other of the intake and exhaust valve, then closing the other of the intake and exhaust valve, and then opening the other of the intake and exhaust valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2004
    Publication date: January 12, 2006
    Inventors: Thomas Megli, Alex Gibson, John Michelini, Nate Trask
  • Publication number: 20050256956
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and systems for analyzing user-activity data are disclosed. In one disclosed embodiment, for example, two or more data streams of low-level, user-activity data are detected at a computer workstation via two or more respective sensors. The two or more respective sensors may comprise a first sensor configured to detect network-access requests and a second sensor configured to detect at least one of the following events: file-activity events, window-title-change events, or user-interface events. Targeted user activity is identified from at least one of the data streams. The targeted user activity can comprise, for example, a user initiating a network access; performing a search on a search engine; creating, opening, or modifying a file; or initiating a network access that causes a window title to change.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2004
    Publication date: November 17, 2005
    Inventors: Richard Littlefield, Janis Littlefield, Barbara Cheney, Paula Cowley, Daniel Adams, Alex Gibson, Jereme Haack, Laura Curtis, Jonathon McCall
  • Patent number: 6959689
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling operation of cylinder with at least an intake and exhaust valve and a piston are described. In one aspect, the method comprises maintaining at least one of the intake and exhaust valves in a closed position during a period. Further, closing the other of the intake and exhaust valves with the piston at a first position from, and then opening the other of the intake and exhaust valves at a second position of the piston closer to bottom center than said first position, during said period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Megli, Alex Gibson, John O. Michelini, Nate Trask, Ilya V. Kolmanovsky, Davor Hrovat
  • Patent number: 6951198
    Abstract: A system and method for operating at least an intake and exhaust valve in a cylinder with a piston of an engine in a vehicle are described. In one aspect, the method comprises maintaining at least the exhaust valve in a closed position during a period of net engine torque less than zero. Further, during said period of net engine torque less than zero, operating with at least the intake valve open, then closing the intake valve, and then opening the intake valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2005
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Megli, Alex Gibson, John O. Michelini, Nate Trask
  • Publication number: 20050205074
    Abstract: A system and method to control engine valve timing to improve air-fuel control in an engine with valves that may be deactivated. Valves that may be deactivated are controlled in a manner to improve detection of individual cylinder air-fuel ratios.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2004
    Publication date: September 22, 2005
    Inventors: Alex Gibson, Ilya Kolmanovsky
  • Patent number: 6897209
    Abstract: A complex of a radiometal or paramagnetic metal ion with a metal chelating agent such as a diaminedioxime has attached thereto a substituent of formula (Y)m-A-NHR)k can function as a substrate for the fibrin-stabilizing Factor XIIIa. The complex is useful for the diagnosis or therapy of thrombosis, embolism, atherosclerosis, inflammation or cancer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: GE Healthcare Limited
    Inventors: Alan Michael Forster, Peter Knox, Marivi Mendizabal, Timothy Charles Richardson, Anthony Eamon Storey, Ian Andrew Wilson, Susan Champion, Alex Gibson, Benedicte Guilbert
  • Publication number: 20040076580
    Abstract: A complex of a radiometal or paramagnetic metal ion with a metal chelating agent such as a diaminedioxime has attached thereto a substituent of formula (Y)m—A—NHR)k can function as a substrate for the fibrin-stabilizing Factor XIIIa. The complex is useful for the diagnosis or therapy of thrombosis, embolism, atherosclerosis, inflammation or cancer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2003
    Publication date: April 22, 2004
    Applicant: AMERSHAM PLC
    Inventors: Alan Michael Forster, Peter Knox, Marivi Mendizabal, Timothy Charles Richardson, Anthony Eamon Storey, Ian Andrew Wilson, Susan Champion, Alex Gibson, Benedicte Guilbert