Patents by Inventor Chris Connelly

Chris Connelly 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: 9366217
    Abstract: A method and system for dealing with a change of mind event during an automatic shut-down of an engine 6 having a dual mass flywheel 8 is provided that reduces or eliminates the risk of excessive dual mass resonance during a restart of the engine 6 is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Nicholas Dashwood Crisp, Mark Richard Skilling, Chris Connelly
  • Patent number: 9358979
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes systems and methods for controlling the speed of a vehicle comprising: during a pulse phase of cruise control, applying engine torque to raise speed, the amount and duration of which being responsive to engine speed; and during a glide phase of cruise control, discontinuing engine combustion. In this way cruise control may maintain a mean speed equivalent to a desired, threshold speed while reducing fuel consumption, and NVH effects felt by the end user compared to traditional cruise control methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chris Edward Pedlar, Chris Connelly, David Hesketh, Themi Philemon Petridis
  • Patent number: 9208127
    Abstract: A method of operating a vehicle powertrain, includes: sensing a vehicle speed; selecting a plurality of control strategies; activating one of the plurality of control strategies, the control strategy including: (i) operating the vehicle in a stationary start-stop mode when the vehicle speed is below a first threshold; and (ii) operating the vehicle in a rolling stationary start-stop mode when the vehicle speed is above the first threshold but below a second threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ingo Lenz, Chris Connelly, Chris Edward Pedlar, Rainer Busch, Urs Christen, Baekhyun (“Harry”) Cho
  • Patent number: 9150210
    Abstract: A system and method for selectively opening a drivetrain of a vehicle is described. In one example, an electrically operated clutch is opened during selected driving conditions to conserve kinetic energy of the vehicle. The method may reduce fuel consumption during selected conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chris Edward Pedlar, Urs Christen, Rainer Busch, Chris Connelly, Ingo Lenz, Harry Cho
  • Publication number: 20150039203
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes systems and methods for controlling the speed of a vehicle comprising: during a pulse phase of cruise control, applying engine torque to raise speed, the amount and duration of which being responsive to engine speed; and during a glide phase of cruise control, discontinuing engine combustion. In this way cruise control may maintain a mean speed equivalent to a desired, threshold speed while reducing fuel consumption, and NVH effects felt by the end user compared to traditional cruise control methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: Chris Edward Pedlar, Chris Connelly, David Hesketh, Themi Philemon Petridis
  • Patent number: 8878481
    Abstract: A system and method for limiting engine starting current of a starter motor of an engine is described. In one example, starter motor current is controlled according to vehicle speed. The method may allow vehicle system voltage to remain at a higher level during automatically initiated engine starts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chris Connelly, Mark Conen
  • Patent number: 8868312
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes systems and methods for controlling the speed of a vehicle comprising: during a pulse phase of cruise control, applying engine torque to raise speed, the amount and duration of which being responsive to engine speed; and during a glide phase of cruise control, discontinuing engine combustion. In this way cruise control may maintain a mean speed equivalent to a desired, threshold speed while reducing fuel consumption, and NVH effects felt by the end user compared to traditional cruise control methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chris Edward Pedlar, Chris Connelly, David Hesketh, Themi Philemon Petridis
  • Publication number: 20140094344
    Abstract: A system and method for selectively opening a drivetrain of a vehicle is described. In one example, an electrically operated clutch is opened during selected driving conditions to conserve kinetic energy of the vehicle. The method may reduce fuel consumption during selected conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chris Edward Pedlar, Urs Christen, Rainer Busch, Chris Connelly, Ingo Lenz, Harry Cho
  • Patent number: 8622872
    Abstract: A system and method for selectively opening a drivetrain of a vehicle is described. In one example, an electrically operated clutch is opened during selected driving conditions to conserve kinetic energy of the vehicle. The method may reduce fuel consumption during selected conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chris Edward Pedlar, Urs Christen, Rainer Busch, Chris Connelly, Ingo Lenz, Harry Cho
  • Publication number: 20130116903
    Abstract: A method of operating a vehicle powertrain, includes: sensing a vehicle speed; selecting a plurality of control strategies; activating one of the plurality of control strategies, the control strategy including: (i) operating the vehicle in a stationary start-stop mode when the vehicle speed is below a first threshold; and (ii) operating the vehicle in a rolling stationary start-stop mode when the vehicle speed is above the first threshold but below a second threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2012
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Inventors: Ingo Lenz, Chris Connelly, Chris Edward Pedlar, Rainer Busch, Urs Christen, Baekhyun ("Harry") Cho
  • Publication number: 20120247414
    Abstract: A method and system for dealing with a change of mind event during an automatic shut-down of an engine 6 having a dual mass flywheel 8 is provided that reduces or eliminates the risk of excessive dual mass resonance during a restart of the engine 6 is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Nicholas Dashwood Crisp, Mark Richard Skilling, Chris Connelly
  • Publication number: 20120119516
    Abstract: A system and method for limiting engine starting current of a starter motor of an engine is described. In one example, starter motor current is controlled according to vehicle speed. The method may allow vehicle system voltage to remain at a higher level during automatically initiated engine starts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2011
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Chris Connelly, Mark Conen
  • Publication number: 20120100960
    Abstract: A system and method for selectively opening a drivetrain of a vehicle is described. In one example, an electrically operated clutch is opened during selected driving conditions to conserve kinetic energy of the vehicle. The method may reduce fuel consumption during selected conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Chris Edward Pedlar, Urs Christen, Rainer Busch, Chris Connelly, Ingo Lenz, Harry Cho