Patents by Inventor Anna Stefanopoulou

Anna Stefanopoulou 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: 6681728
    Abstract: A method for controlling movement of an armature for an electromagnetic valve actuator. The armature moves between pole faces of juxtaposed solenoid coils. Voltage applied to armature capturing coil is varied in a closed-loop fashion as the armature moves through a flux initialization phase, followed by an armature landing phase whereby a soft landing of the armature is achieved during valve opening movement and valve closing movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mohammad Haghgooie, Anna Stefanopoulou, Katherine Peterson, Thomas William Megli
  • Publication number: 20030084860
    Abstract: A method for controlling movement of an armature for an electromagnetic valve actuator. The armature moves between pole faces of juxtaposed solenoid coils. Voltage applied to armature capturing coil is varied in a closed-loop fashion as the armature moves through a flux initialization phase, followed by an armature landing phase whereby a soft landing of the armature is achieved during valve opening movement and valve closing movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2001
    Publication date: May 8, 2003
    Inventors: Mohammad Haghgooie, Anna Stefanopoulou, Katherine Peterson, Thomas William Megli
  • Patent number: 6186124
    Abstract: A system for controlling camshaft timing, air/fuel ratio and electronic throttle position in an automotive internal combustion engine uses a controller for operating a camshaft phaser, electronic throttle positioner and fuel injectors. The controller determines camshaft timing, steady-state electronic throttle position, steady-state fuel supply, and compensatory transient electronic throttle position, and transient fuel supply such that an engine operating with the present system has the torque output characteristics matching a conventional engine having fixed camshaft timing, but with lower fuel consumption and lower exhaust emissions than a conventional engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Anna Stefanopoulou, Mrdjan J Jankovic
  • Patent number: 6076353
    Abstract: A method of controlling the airflow into a compression ignition engine having an EGR and a VGT is disclosed. The control strategy includes the steps of determining the engine speed and fueling rate and, retrieving desired values for the intake manifold pressure (P.sub.1 *) and compressor mass flow rate (W.sub.a *) as a function of the engine speed and fueling rate wherein the desired values P.sub.1 * and W.sub.a * correspond to desired values for the air-fuel ratio and burnt gas fraction at each engine operating point. The desired values are then compared against measured values for the intake pressure (P.sub.1) and mass airflow (W.sub.a) to generate an EGR valve position command and VGT guide vane position command as a function of the weighted sum of the differences between P.sub.1 and P.sub.1 *, and W.sub.a and W.sub.a *. These position commands are then applied to the EGR valve and turbocharger turbine guide vanes, respectively, to drive the EGR valve and VGT vanes to the respective desired positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James Scott Freudenberg, Anna Stefanopoulou, Iiya V. Kolmanovsky
  • Patent number: 6006725
    Abstract: A system for controlling camshaft timing, air/fuel ratio and electronic throttle position in an automotive internal combustion engine uses a controller for operating a camshaft phaser, electronic throttle positioner and fuel injectors. The controller determines camshaft timing, steady-state electronic throttle position, steady-state fuel supply, and compensatory transient electronic throttle position, and transient fuel supply such that an engine operating with the present system has the torque output characteristics matching a conventional engine having fixed camshaft timing, but with lower fuel consumption and lower exhaust emissions than a conventional engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Anna Stefanopoulou, Mrdjan J Jankovic
  • Patent number: 5787848
    Abstract: A system for adjusting the operating timing of a cylinder valve system of a reciprocating internal combustion engine determines a static cylinder valve timing based upon at least two engine operating parameters and a time constant for governing the transient behavior of a valve phaser for adjusting valve timing according to the output of a filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1998
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Anna Stefanopoulou, Ilya V. Kolmanovsky
  • Patent number: 5755202
    Abstract: A method of reducing feed gas emissions and improving fuel economy in an internal combustion engine uses a variable cam timing mechanism and an electronically controlled throttle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Anna Stefanopoulou, Kenneth Roy Butts