Patents by Inventor Chris Paul

Chris Paul 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: 20180274469
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for activating a universal exhaust gas oxygen (UEGO) sensor activation during each of a pre-delivery phase and a post-delivery phase of a vehicle. In one example, a method may include during the pre-delivery phase, following an engine start, using a lower current flowing via a heater coupled to the UEGO sensor to heat the UEGO sensor and during the post-delivery phase, following an engine start, once exhaust temperature reaches a threshold temperature, using a higher current flowing via the heater coupled to the UEGO sensor to heat the UEGO sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2017
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Inventor: Chris Paul Glugla
  • Publication number: 20180252197
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting an ignition timing of an internal combustion engine responsive to a biasing force of a pressure-reactive piston. In one example, an engine may include a pressure-reactive piston having a top wall biased away from a piston base by a pressure of gas contained within the base. An ignition timing of a combustion chamber including the piston is adjusted responsive to an estimated biasing force of the gas against the top wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2017
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Inventor: Chris Paul Glugla
  • Patent number: 10066559
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for coordinating cylinder deactivation adjustments with changes to individual cylinder piston displacement. In doing do, the benefits of variable displacement and variable compression ratio may be synergized. An engine can be operated with some cylinders deactivated while active cylinders operate with knock addressed while spark timing is at MBT for a longer duration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Chris Paul Glugla
  • Patent number: 10060382
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting spark and/or fuel injection to a cylinder based on late combustion, partial burn, or misfire in a neighboring cylinder. A pressure sensor coupled to a cylinder exhaust port is used to sample exhaust pressure pulsations over a cylinder exhaust valve event, and accurately estimate an amount of residuals generated in and released from the cylinder as well as residuals received from the neighboring cylinder. Mitigating actions are performed in the cylinder in accordance before the occurrence of a pre-ignition event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chris Paul Glugla, Gopichandra Surnilla
  • Patent number: 10054101
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for determining a type of spark plug fouling. In one example, a method may include differentiating spark plug fouling due to soot accumulation from spark plug fouling due to fuel additive accumulation based on a current on a control wire of the spark plug following application of a dwell command. Further, exhaust oxygen sensor degradation and/or exhaust catalyst degradation may be determined based on switching frequencies of one or more exhaust oxygen sensors and the type of spark plug fouling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chris Paul Glugla, Garlan J. Huberts, Nelson William Morrow, Qiuping Qu
  • Patent number: 10041448
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for reducing turbo lag in an engine system configured with a cylinder dedicated for exhaust gas recirculation and distinct turbines coupled to the dedicated EGR cylinder and remaining engine cylinders. An air-fuel ratio of combustion in the dedicated cylinder is adjusted responsive to a tip-in event by providing blow-through air and additional fuel based on the amount of heat required to spin up a turbine coupled to the dedicated cylinder and provide the requested boost pressure. The approach enables turbo lag to be reduced while providing high EGR at high boost conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Chris Paul Glugla
  • Patent number: 10006338
    Abstract: Embodiments for a charge air cooler are provided. In one example, an engine method comprises during a first mode, decreasing a volume of a charge air cooler in response to a compressor operation upstream of the charge air cooler. In this way, compressor surge may be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Julia Helen Buckland, Chris Paul Glugla, Robert Andrew Wade, Jason Eugene Devries, Charles A. Cockerill, Gregory Patrick McConville
  • Publication number: 20180172676
    Abstract: An automated microscope apparatus, comprises an outer housing having an external wall; optionally but preferably an internal wall in said housing, and configured to form a first compartment and a separate second compartment in said outer housing; a microscope assembly in said housing, preferably in said first compartment; and a microprocessor in said housing, preferably in said second compartment; and optionally but preferably a heat sink mounted on said housing external wall, preferably adjacent said second compartment, with said microprocessor thermally coupled to said heat sink and operatively associated with said microscope assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2017
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Inventors: Stefano Bresolin, David A. Calderwood, Tobias M. Heineck, David Newcomb, Chris Paul, Jaspar N. Pollard, Rodolfo R. Rodriguez, Demetris Young
  • Publication number: 20180163647
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for regulating engine operating parameters such as exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) based on road roughness conditions. Based on increased road roughness estimation, EGR flow rate may be opportunistically raised, enabling NVH associated with elevated EGR levels to be masked by NVH associated with rough road conditions. In addition, purging of fuel vapors from a canister or a crankcase to the engine may be increased while transmission shift schedules may be advanced so as to complete the shift during the rough road condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Inventor: Chris Paul Glugla
  • Publication number: 20180163649
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for improving the detection and mitigation of high speed pre-ignition. In one example, high speed pre-ignition is detected based on concurrent or sequential changes in an integrated knock sensor output in a knock window as well as a pre-ignition window. The high speed pre-ignition is addressed using cylinder fuel deactivation and/or engine load limiting to reduce the risk for run-away pre-ignition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2018
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Inventors: Chris Paul Glugla, James Matthew Kindree, Lee Benjamin McQuinn
  • Patent number: 9988994
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for reducing torque transients experienced when a dedicated EGR cylinder is deactivated to reduce EGR. Before deactivating the dedicated cylinder, an intake throttle position and spark timing of remaining engine cylinders is adjusted to build-up torque reserve in anticipation of a negative torque transient at deactivation. Then, the throttle position or spark timing is adjusted to reduce torque when a positive torque transient is expected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas G. Leone, Michael Howard Shelby, Chris Paul Glugla, Michael Damian Czekala, Daniel Joseph Styles
  • Patent number: 9988997
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided to improve engine temperature control. Cylinders scheduled for deactivation may have their exhaust retained in the cylinder by holding an exhaust valve closed on the preceding firing cycle. In this way soot emissions on reactivation are reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brad Alan VanDerWege, Chris Paul Glugla
  • Publication number: 20180141538
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a driveline of a hybrid vehicle are disclosed. In one example, an engine may enter or stay in one of two cylinder modes in response to a request to a negative torque capacity of an electric machine being insufficient to provide a desired driveline braking torque. One cylinder mode operates cylinders with cylinder valves held closed and without fuel being injected to the cylinders while the other cylinder mode operates cylinders with valves that open and close without fuel being injected to the cylinders.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Publication date: May 24, 2018
    Inventors: Jeffrey Allen Doering, Gregory Patrick McConville, Chris Paul Glugla
  • Patent number: 9976473
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for reducing corrosion of a charge air cooler and reducing engine misfire due to condensate formation. In response to charge air cooler outlet temperature, electric fan operation and grille shutter opening is adjusted. Electric fan operation and grille shutter opening may also be controlled in response to vehicle operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chris Paul Glugla, Garlan J. Huberts, Gopichandra Surnilla, Daniel Joseph Styles, David Karl Bidner
  • Patent number: 9964024
    Abstract: A charge air cooler arrangement, a charge air cooler tank, and method are disclosed. The charge air cooler arrangement includes a charge air cooler having an operable thermal transfer area configured to transfer heat from inside the charge air cooler to outside of the charge air cooler. The charge air cooler arrangement may also include a valve configured to change the operable thermal transfer area from a relatively large area to a relatively small area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Charles A. Cockerill, Shuya Shark Yamada, Chris Paul Glugla, Phil Andrew Fabien
  • Publication number: 20180119665
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling spark plug fouling in newly manufactured vehicles. In one example, an engine is operated with a first, more aggressive spark discharge schedule when in a pre-delivery state and transitioned to a second, less aggressive spark discharge schedule when in a post-delivery state. In each spark discharge schedule, a spark plug ignition coil is repeatedly discharged when the engine is off, such as when the engine is spinning down to rest on a shutdown event or before the engine is fueled on an engine restart event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2016
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Inventors: Chris Paul Glugla, Nelson William Morrow, JR., Michael Damian Czekala, Garlan J. Huberts, Robert Sarow Baskins, Russell Senior, Rodney Schook
  • Patent number: 9957907
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for improving the detection and mitigation of high speed pre-ignition. In one example, high speed pre-ignition is detected based on concurrent or sequential changes in an integrated knock sensor output in a knock window as well as a pre-ignition window. The high speed pre-ignition is addressed using cylinder fuel deactivation and/or engine load limiting to reduce the risk for run-away pre-ignition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chris Paul Glugla, James Matthew Kindree, Lee Benjamin McQuinn
  • Patent number: 9945344
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for addressing spark plug soot fouling. In one example, spark plug tip temperatures are raised and maintained elevated by advancing spark timing and increasing engine speed, while reducing an amount of EGR being delivered to the engine. The spark plug fouling mitigating actions are adjusted based on whether the engine is in a green condition at an assembly plant or not.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chris Paul Glugla, Nelson William Morrow
  • Patent number: 9909523
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling spark plug fouling in newly manufactured vehicles. In one example, a method may include operating an engine with a first direct injection fueling strategy including single intake direct injection on an engine start when in a pre-delivery state, and transitioning to a second different direct injection fueling strategy including split direct injection on the engine start when in a post-delivery state. In this way, spark plug fouling may be avoided in newly manufactured vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chris Paul Glugla, Nelson William Morrow, Jr., Michael Damian Czekala, Garlan J. Huberts, Jianwen James Yi
  • Patent number: 9897020
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for reducing a spark plug soot load and a combustion chamber soot load by controlling spark plug timing while injecting water or washer fluid. In one example, water or washer fluid is injected during a torque reduction while advancing spark timing so as to provide at least a portion of the torque reduction while opportunistically cleaning soot from the spark plug and combustion chamber. By reducing spark plug soot load, misfire occurrence is reduced, while pre-ignition occurrence is reduced by decarbonizing the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chris Paul Glugla, Michael Damian Czekala, Garlan J. Huberts, Gopichandra Surnilla