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).

  • Publication number: 20170120916
    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: October 28, 2015
    Publication date: May 4, 2017
    Inventors: Alexander O`Connor Gibson, Steven Anatole Frait, Matthew John Shelton, Kirk Pebley, Hong Jiang
  • Publication number: 20170101098
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a vehicle that includes a manual transmission are presented. In one example, a clutch actuator that responds to a position of a manual operated clutch pedal is adjusted to operate a clutch so that the vehicle may be stopped, while the engine is running or not, without the driver applying the clutch pedal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Publication date: April 13, 2017
    Inventors: Alexander O`Connor Gibson, Matthew John Shelton, Michael Glenn Fodor, Bradley Dean Riedle, Hong Jiang
  • Publication number: 20170088123
    Abstract: Systems and methods for reducing driveline mode change busyness for a hybrid vehicle are presented. The systems and methods may delay a driveline mode change in response to a time since a change from a first desired vehicle speed to a second vehicle speed, or alternatively, driveline mode changes may be initiated in response to an estimated time to change from the first desired vehicle speed to the second desired vehicle speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Inventors: Alexander O`Connor Gibson, James William Loch McCallum, Felix Nedorezov, Xiaoyong Wang, Matthew John Shelton
  • Publication number: 20170082057
    Abstract: A method and system for improving starting of an engine is presented. In one example, the method selects a first cylinder to receive fuel since engine stop the cylinder's position relative to the cylinder's top-dead-center compression stroke. The method also describes adjusting a number of fuel injections for a first combustion event since engine stop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Inventors: Alexander O`Connor Gibson, Steven Wooldridge, Joseph Lyle Thomas, David Oshinsky
  • Patent number: 9599057
    Abstract: A method and system for improving starting of an engine is presented. In one example, the method selects a first cylinder to receive fuel since engine stop the cylinder's position relative to the cylinder's top-dead-center compression stroke. The method also describes adjusting a number of fuel injections for a first combustion event since engine stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alexander O'Connor Gibson, Steven Wooldridge, Joseph Lyle Thomas, David Oshinsky
  • Publication number: 20170037803
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for improving engine startability during cold-start conditions, when operating with gasoline fuels, alcohol fuels, or blended fuels. In one example, a method of engine cold-start control may include initiating fuel injection for cylinder combustion with manifold pressure lowered via intake throttle adjustments. The manifold pressure is lowered based on an optimization between cylinder charge reduction and improved fuel boiling at the lower pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2015
    Publication date: February 9, 2017
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Jianwen James Yi, Steven Wooldridge, Alexander O`Connor Gibson, Gary Alan Coulson, Foo Chern Ting
  • Publication number: 20170015297
    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 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 the actual engine start time is greater than the lower threshold time for a next engine start event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2015
    Publication date: January 19, 2017
    Inventors: Alexander O'Connor GIBSON, Felix NEDOREZOV, Jeffrey Allen DOERING, Xiaoyong WANG, Walter Joseph ORTMANN
  • Patent number: 9527505
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a transmission of a hybrid vehicle's driveline are presented. In one example, the systems and methods estimate a driveline disconnect clutch stroke pressure and gain via extending a line from a non-zero driveline disconnect clutch torque capacity to a zero driveline disconnect clutch torque capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alexander O'Connor Gibson, Todd McCullough, Felix Nedorezov, Akshay Bichkar, Stuart N. Ford, Walter Joseph Ortmann
  • Publication number: 20160368485
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a transmission of a hybrid vehicle's driveline are presented. In one example, the systems and methods estimate a driveline disconnect clutch stroke pressure and gain via extending a line from a non-zero driveline disconnect clutch torque capacity to a zero driveline disconnect clutch torque capacity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2015
    Publication date: December 22, 2016
    Inventors: Alexander O`Connor Gibson, Todd McCullough, Felix Nedorezov, Akshay Bichkar, Stuart N. Ford, Walter Joseph Ortmann
  • Patent number: 9517764
    Abstract: Systems and methods for reducing driveline mode change busyness for a hybrid vehicle are presented. The systems and methods may delay a driveline mode change in response to a time since a change from a first desired vehicle speed to a second vehicle speed, or alternatively, driveline mode changes may be initiated in response to an estimated time to change from the first desired vehicle speed to the second desired vehicle speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alexander O'Connor Gibson, James William Loch McCallum, Felix Nedorezov, Xiaoyong Wang, Matthew John Shelton
  • Patent number: 9506413
    Abstract: A method and system for improving starting of an engine is presented. In one example, the method selects a first cylinder to receive fuel since engine stop based on intake valve closing time. The method also describes selecting the first cylinder to receive fuel since engine stop based on an end of fuel injection time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alexander O'Connor Gibson, Steven Wooldridge, David Bruce Reiche, Brad Alan VanDerWege, Ethan D. Sanborn
  • Patent number: 9499164
    Abstract: A hybrid electric vehicle includes an engine, an electric motor, a transmission gearbox, and a clutch selectively coupling the engine to the electric motor. Engine speed can drop dramatically when operating at high speeds during a scheduled shift event in the gearbox. To reduce the effects felt by the engine speed change, at least one controller is provided and programmed to slip the clutch when locked in response to a drive torque, estimated to be present upon completion of an anticipated shift event, exceeding available negative torque, such as regenerative torque and engine braking torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Felix Nedorezov, Kenneth Jahr, Alexander O'Connor Gibson, Todd McCullough, Adam Nathan Banker
  • Patent number: 9481360
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an electric machine, a torque converter and damper, and a controller. The controller is programmed to operate the electric machine to apply a regenerative torque according to a deflection of the damper and a difference between a speed of the electric machine and an output speed of the torque converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alexander O'Connor Gibson, Steven Anatole Frait, Felix Nedorezov, Walter Joseph Ortmann
  • Publication number: 20160311433
    Abstract: A manual transmission is partially automated by utilizing a controller to regulate the torque capacity of the clutch. Under most circumstances, the controller manipulates the clutch according to driver manipulation of a clutch pedal to simulate a non-automated manual transmission. However, to save fuel, the controller may enter a sailing mode in which the clutch is disengaged without the driver depressing the clutch pedal. The controller exits sailing mode in response to the vehicle speed decreasing below a threshold which is a function of the currently selected gear ratio. The threshold is selected such that the engine will not stall and will be able to generate sufficient power for acceleration when the clutch is re-engaged to exit sailing mode. In order to extend the use of sailing mode, the controller may activate a downshift indicator at a slightly higher speed threshold to encourage the driver to downshift.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2015
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Inventors: Matthew John Shelton, Alexander O'Connor Gibson, James William Loch McCallum, Stuart N. Ford, Hong Jiang
  • Publication number: 20160304075
    Abstract: Systems and methods for shifting a transmission of a hybrid driveline that include a torque converter with a lockup clutch are presented. The systems and methods may adjust a feedforward motor torque command to match application of motor torque to a time that a gear clutch closes so that shifting may be improved and so that driveline torque disturbances may be less noticeable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Publication date: October 20, 2016
    Inventors: Alexander O`Connor Gibson, Felix Nedorezov, Matthew John Shelton, Stuart N. Ford, Todd McCullough
  • Publication number: 20160297418
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a hybrid vehicle driveline that includes an engine and a motor are presented. In one example, the systems and methods include one or more control modes where engine and/or motor speed or torque is adjusted responsive to different control parameters during a vehicle launch from zero speed or a creep speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2015
    Publication date: October 13, 2016
    Inventors: Chen Zhang, Rajit Johri, Ming Lang Kuang, Jeffrey Allen Doering, Xiaoyong Wang, Walter Joseph Ortmann, Felix Nedorezov, Alexander O`Connor Gibson
  • Publication number: 20160297419
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a hybrid vehicle driveline that includes an engine and a motor are presented. In one example, the systems and methods include one or more control modes where engine and/or motor speed or torque is adjusted responsive to different control parameters during a vehicle launch from zero speed or a creep speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2015
    Publication date: October 13, 2016
    Inventors: Chen Zhang, Rajit Johri, Xiaoyong Wang, Ming Lang Kuang, Jeffrey Allen Doering, Felix Nedorezov, Alexander O`Connor Gibson, Walter Joseph Ortmann
  • Publication number: 20160290263
    Abstract: A method and system for improving starting of an engine is presented. In one example, the method selects a first cylinder to receive fuel since engine stop based on intake valve closing time. The method also describes selecting the first cylinder to receive fuel since engine stop based on an end of fuel injection time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2016
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Inventors: Alexander O`Connor Gibson, Steven Wooldridge, David Bruce Reiche, Brad Alan VanDerWege, Ethan D. Sanborn
  • Patent number: 9452748
    Abstract: Systems and methods for improving hybrid vehicle shifting are presented. Specifically, torque supplied to an input shaft of a transmission may be adjusted during torque and inertia phases of a transmission gear shift. The torque supplied to the transmission input shaft may be increased or decreased based on the shift and the shift phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alexander O'Connor Gibson, Jeffrey Allen Doering, Seunghoon Lee, Felix Nedorezov
  • Patent number: 9447765
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, electrical loads, and at least one controller. While the engine is on, the controller calculates the change in current demand of the electrical loads expected from turning the engine off. The decision to command the engine off is then based on the expected change in current demand. Electrical loads that will change state from on to off when the engine is turned off will increase the expected change in current demand. Electrical loads that will change state from off to on when the engine is turned off will decrease the expected change in current demand. Operating conditions associated with the electrical loads, such as operating voltage, temperature, and speed, may affect the expected change in current demand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Eric Michael Rademacher, Alexander O'Connor Gibson, Robert Michael Grant