Patents by Inventor Alexander O'Connor Gibson

Alexander O'Connor 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: 11787390
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling an engine idle-stop based on upcoming traffic and road conditions. In one example, a method may include receiving data including traffic information and road characteristics immediately ahead of a vehicle from one or more remote sources, and adjusting one or more vehicle thresholds based on the received data. A duration of a prospective engine idle-stop may be estimated based on the received data and an engine idle-stop may be initiated based on the duration of the prospective engine idle-stop and the adjusted one or more vehicle threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas G. Leone, Alexander O'Connor Gibson, Kenneth James Miller
  • Patent number: 11204010
    Abstract: A method for operating a vehicle that includes a DC/DC converter is described. In one example, the method includes adjusting an output voltage of the DC/DC converter after the DC/DC converter is used to crank an engine. The output voltage of the DC/DC converter may be adjusted responsive to a state of charge of an ultra-capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alexander O'Connor Gibson, John Eric Rollinger, David Hancock, William Taylor, Mark E. Shields
  • Publication number: 20210332782
    Abstract: Systems and methods for supplying electrical power between two electric energy storage devices are disclosed. In one example, an electric isolation switch is held open after engine starting until a voltage of a first electric energy storage device and a voltage of a second electric energy storage device are within a threshold voltage of at least one predetermined voltage level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2021
    Publication date: October 28, 2021
    Inventors: Alexander O'Connor Gibson, David Lew
  • Patent number: 11131285
    Abstract: Systems and methods for supplying electrical power between two electric energy storage devices are disclosed. In one example, an electric isolation switch is held open after engine starting until a voltage of a first electric energy storage device and a voltage of a second electric energy storage device are within a threshold voltage of at least one predetermined voltage level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alexander O'Connor Gibson, David Lew
  • Publication number: 20210262428
    Abstract: A method for operating a vehicle that includes a DC/DC converter is described. In one example, the method includes adjusting an output voltage of the DC/DC converter after the DC/DC converter is used to crank an engine. The output voltage of the DC/DC converter may be adjusted responsive to a state of charge of an ultra-capacitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2020
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Inventors: Alexander O'Connor Gibson, John Eric Rollinger, David Hancock, William Taylor, Mark E. Shields
  • Patent number: 11060464
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating an internal combustion engine are described. In one example, an engine's position is adjusted during engine stopping so that the engine may be less likely to stop at a crankshaft angle where rotating a fuel pump may increase engine cranking torque due to work performed by the fuel pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: M. Scott Christensen, Michael Bastanipour, David Hancock, Alexander O'connor Gibson
  • Patent number: 10836397
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating an engine and a transmission to reduce a catalyst light off time are disclosed. In one example, clutches of a transmission are operated to provide a desired load to the engine so that engine combustion stability may be improved while supplying heat to a catalyst so that the catalyst light off time may be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: M. Scott Christensen, Adam Joseph Krach, Michael Bastanipour, Nicholas Herhusky, Alexander O'Connor Gibson
  • Patent number: 10800396
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a hybrid powertrain that includes an engine and a motor/generator are described. The systems and methods provide a way of prepositioning an engine to improve a range of driveline disconnect clutch transfer function adaptation. In one example, an engine is positioned at a location where its torque to turn exceeds a threshold torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart Ford, Alexander O'Connor Gibson, Corey Blue
  • Publication number: 20200317183
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling operation of an engine of a vehicle to supply power to a power box that in turn supplies power to loads external to the vehicle. In one example, a method comprises, via a controller, detecting that the vehicle is in a condition of reduced air exchange, and in response to a request to operate the engine to supply power to the power box, alerting the vehicle operator of the condition and discontinuing engine operation if a response to the alert is not received within a threshold duration. In this way, engine control strategy may account for the condition of reduced air exchange when the vehicle operator has acknowledged that the engine is operating under such conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2019
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Inventors: John Rollinger, Alexander O'Connor Gibson, Scott Thompson
  • Patent number: 10773704
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling operation of an engine of a vehicle to supply power to a power box that in turn supplies power to loads external to the vehicle. In one example, a method comprises, via a controller, detecting that the vehicle is in a condition of reduced air exchange, and in response to a request to operate the engine to supply power to the power box, alerting the vehicle operator of the condition and discontinuing engine operation if a response to the alert is not received within a threshold duration. In this way, engine control strategy may account for the condition of reduced air exchange when the vehicle operator has acknowledged that the engine is operating under such conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Gloabal Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John Rollinger, Alexander O'Connor Gibson, Scott Thompson
  • Publication number: 20200256262
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating an internal combustion engine are described. In one example, an engine's position is adjusted during engine stopping so that the engine may be less likely to stop at a crankshaft angle where rotating a fuel pump may increase engine cranking torque due to work performed by the fuel pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2019
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Inventors: M. Scott Christensen, Michael Bastanipour, David Hancock, Alexander O'Connor Gibson
  • Publication number: 20200217290
    Abstract: Systems and methods for supplying electrical power between two electric energy storage devices are disclosed. In one example, an electric isolation switch is held open after engine starting until a voltage of a first electric energy storage device and a voltage of a second electric energy storage device are within a threshold voltage of at least one predetermined voltage level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2019
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Inventors: Alexander O'Connor Gibson, David Lew
  • Patent number: 10549758
    Abstract: Methods and systems for improving operation of a vehicle driveline that includes an engine and an automatic transmission with a torque converter are presented. In one non-limiting example, the engine may be stopped while a vehicle in which the engine operates is rolling. A transmission coupled to the engine may be shifted as the vehicle rolls so that vehicle response may be improved if a driver requests an increase of engine torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alexander O'Connor Gibson, Steven Anatole Frait, Matthew John Shelton, Kirk Pebley, Hong Jiang
  • Publication number: 20190322268
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling an engine idle-stop based on upcoming traffic and road conditions. In one example, a method may include receiving data including traffic information and road characteristics immediately ahead of a vehicle from one or more remote sources, and adjusting one or more vehicle thresholds based on the received data. A duration of a prospective engine idle-stop may be estimated based on the received data and an engine idle-stop may be initiated based on the duration of the prospective engine idle-stop and the adjusted one or more vehicle threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2019
    Publication date: October 24, 2019
    Inventors: Thomas G. Leone, Alexander O'Connor Gibson, Kenneth James Miller
  • Publication number: 20190276024
    Abstract: Methods and systems for improving operation of a vehicle driveline that includes an engine and an automatic transmission with a torque converter are presented. In one non-limiting example, the engine may be stopped while a vehicle in which the engine operates is rolling. A transmission coupled to the engine may be shifted as the vehicle rolls so that vehicle response may be improved if a driver requests an increase of engine torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventors: Alexander O`Connor Gibson, Steven Anatole Frait, Matthew John Shelton, Kirk Pebley, Hong Jiang
  • Patent number: 10408183
    Abstract: Systems and methods for restarting an engine are presented. In one example, an engine may be automatically stopped and started in response to thresholds that may be adjusted as a distance traveled by the vehicle increases. The thresholds may be adjusted responsive to useful life consumed of an engine starter that may participate in automatic engine starting and stopping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas G. Leone, Kenneth James Miller, Eric Michael Rademacher, Alexander O'Connor Gibson
  • Patent number: 10392002
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling an engine idle-stop based on upcoming traffic and road conditions. In one example, a method may include receiving data including traffic information and road characteristics immediately ahead of a vehicle from one or more remote sources, and adjusting one or more vehicle thresholds based on the received data. A duration of a prospective engine idle-stop may be estimated based on the received data and an engine idle-stop may be initiated based on the duration of the prospective engine idle-stop and the adjusted one or more vehicle threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas G. Leone, Alexander O'Connor Gibson, Kenneth James Miller
  • Patent number: 10369982
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, a transmission, a clutch, and a controller. The clutch is configured to couple the engine and transmission during engine starts. The controller is programmed to, in response to an actual engine start time being greater than an upper threshold time for an engine start event, alter an engine start torque apply schedule for the clutch such that the actual engine start time is less than the upper threshold time for a next engine start event. The controller may be further programmed to, in response to the actual engine start time being less than a lower threshold time for the engine start event, alter the engine start torque apply schedule for the clutch such that the actual engine start time is greater than the lower threshold time for the next engine start event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alexander O'Connor Gibson, Felix Nedorezov, Jeffrey Allen Doering, Xiaoyong Wang, Walter Joseph Ortmann
  • Patent number: 10336333
    Abstract: Methods and systems for improving operation of a vehicle driveline that includes an engine and an automatic transmission with a torque converter are presented. In one non-limiting example, the engine may be stopped while a vehicle in which the engine operates is rolling. A transmission coupled to the engine may be shifted as the vehicle rolls so that vehicle response may be improved if a driver requests an increase of engine torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alexander O'Connor Gibson, Steven Anatole Frait, Matthew John Shelton, Kirk Pebley, Hong Jiang
  • Patent number: 10322708
    Abstract: An automotive vehicle includes an engine, an alternator or integrated starter generator, and at least one controller. The at least one controller reduces voltage output of the alternator or integrated starter generator prior to initiating an auto stop of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Filip Tomik, Eric Michael Rademacher, Alexander O'Connor Gibson, John Anthony DeMarco, Chad Everette Griffin, Kirk Pebley