Patents by Inventor Curtis Mark Jones

Curtis Mark Jones 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: 11919365
    Abstract: A method of operating a vehicle climate system when an ambient temperature is below a threshold temperature is provided. In response to an ambient temperature being less than a threshold temperature, a controller is adapted to operate a blower motor at a voltage that depends on whether the vehicle is in charge sustain mode or charge deplete mode. In response to an ambient temperature being greater than a threshold temperature, the controller is adapted to operate the blower motor at a voltage that does not depend on whether in the charge sustain or charge deplete modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jasbir Jaglan, William Stewart Johnston, Alan Douglas Wallington, Curtis Mark Jones, Chris George Oehring, Mark G. Smith
  • Patent number: 11865897
    Abstract: A vehicle climate system includes a blower and a controller. The controller is configured to, responsive to input of a particular user selected climate setting, operate the blower with an initial power having a predetermined value corresponding to the climate setting provided that cabin temperature is outside a predetermined range. The controller is also configured to operate the blower with an initial power having a value less than the predetermined value provided that the cabin temperature is within the predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Curtis Mark Jones, Manfred Koberstein, Alan Douglas Wallington, Zhengyu Liu
  • Patent number: 11660935
    Abstract: A vehicle thermal management system including an electric powertrain, a single thermal loop, and a controller is provided. The electric powertrain includes a high voltage battery. The single thermal loop is for managing thermal conditions of the high voltage battery and a vehicle cabin and may include a climate control system, a blower, and a front evaporator in fluid communication with the vehicle cabin. The controller is programmed to, responsive to detection of a climate control system off request, output a command to direct the blower to push air through a heater core to the vehicle cabin at a predetermined temperature such that a temperature within the vehicle cabin is maintained at a predetermined temperature and refrigerant continues to flow through the front evaporator. The system may include a vehicle cabin temperature sensor and an ambient temperature sensor, each in electrical communication with the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Alan Gutowski, Curtis Mark Jones, William Stewart Johnston, Manfred Koberstein
  • Publication number: 20220371400
    Abstract: A method of operating a vehicle climate system when an ambient temperature is below a threshold temperature is provided. In response to an ambient temperature being less than a threshold temperature, a controller is adapted to operate a blower motor at a voltage that depends on whether the vehicle is in charge sustain mode or charge deplete mode. In response to an ambient temperature being greater than a threshold temperature, the controller is adapted to operate the blower motor at a voltage that does not depend on whether in the charge sustain or charge deplete modes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2022
    Publication date: November 24, 2022
    Inventors: Jasbir Jaglan, William Stewart Johnston, Alan Douglas Wallington, Curtis Mark Jones, Chris George Oehring, Mark G. Smith
  • Patent number: 11413932
    Abstract: A method of operating a vehicle climate system when an ambient temperature is below a threshold temperature is provided. In response to an ambient temperature being less than a threshold temperature, a controller is adapted to operate a blower motor at a voltage that depends on whether the vehicle is in charge sustain mode or charge deplete mode. The controller operates the blower motor according to a first voltage responsive to a charge sustain mode, and operates the blower motor according to a second voltage different than the first voltage in response to a charge deplete mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jasbir Jaglan, William Stewart Johnston, Alan Douglas Wallington, Curtis Mark Jones, Chris George Oehring, Mark G. Smith
  • Patent number: 10933716
    Abstract: An autonomous vehicle includes a passenger cabin, a sensor group and a passenger cabin climate control system including a control module. The sensor group includes a passenger cabin odor sensor, an occupancy sensor and a vehicle speed sensor. The control module has a control logic adapted to purge an odor from the passenger cabin in response to data received from the sensor group indicating the presence of an odor in the passenger cabin, an unoccupied passenger cabin and the autonomous vehicle is moving at a minimum predetermined speed for a minimum predetermined time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alan Gutowski, Jennifer A. Herr-Rathke, Manfred Koberstein, Curtis Mark Jones
  • Publication number: 20200406716
    Abstract: A vehicle thermal management system including an electric powertrain, a single thermal loop, and a controller is provided. The electric powertrain includes a high voltage battery. The single thermal loop is for managing thermal conditions of the high voltage battery and a vehicle cabin and may include a climate control system, a blower, and a front evaporator in fluid communication with the vehicle cabin. The controller is programmed to, responsive to detection of a climate control system off request, output a command to direct the blower to push air through a heater core to the vehicle cabin at a predetermined temperature such that a temperature within the vehicle cabin is maintained at a predetermined temperature and refrigerant continues to flow through the front evaporator. The system may include a vehicle cabin temperature sensor and an ambient temperature sensor, each in electrical communication with the controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2020
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alan Gutowski, Curtis Mark Jones, William Stewart Johnston, Manfred Koberstein
  • Patent number: 10865698
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine cooling system. The engine cooling system includes an engine. A radiator is fluidly coupled to the engine. A sensor is configured to provide a temperature reading of a coolant at the engine. The vehicle further includes a heat pump system. The heat pump system includes a condenser disposed proximate the radiator and fluidly coupled to the compressor. An evaporator is fluidly coupled to the condenser. A climate fan is fluidly coupled to an exterior surface of the evaporator. A climate control module is configured to control a speed of the climate fan. The climate control module establishes a maximum speed of the climate fan in response to a temperature reading from the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alan Gutowski, Manfred Koberstein, Curtis Mark Jones, James C. Rollinson
  • Patent number: 10814700
    Abstract: A vehicle thermal management system including an electric powertrain, a single thermal loop, and a controller is provided. The electric powertrain includes a high voltage battery. The single thermal loop is for managing thermal conditions of the high voltage battery and a vehicle cabin and may include a climate control system, a blower, and a front evaporator in fluid communication with the vehicle cabin. The controller is programmed to, responsive to detection of a climate control system off request, output a command to direct the blower to push air through a heater core to the vehicle cabin at a predetermined temperature such that a temperature within the vehicle cabin is maintained at a predetermined temperature and refrigerant continues to flow through the front evaporator. The system may include a vehicle cabin temperature sensor and an ambient temperature sensor, each in electrical communication with the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Alan Gutowski, Curtis Mark Jones, William Stewart Johnston, Manfred Koberstein
  • Publication number: 20200298658
    Abstract: A vehicle climate system includes a blower and a controller. The controller is configured to, responsive to input of a particular user selected climate setting, operate the blower with an initial power having a predetermined value corresponding to the climate setting provided that cabin temperature is outside a predetermined range. The controller is also configured to operate the blower with an initial power having a value less than the predetermined value provided that the cabin temperature is within the predetermined range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Inventors: Curtis Mark JONES, Manfred KOBERSTEIN, Alan Douglas WALLINGTON, Zhengyu LIU
  • Publication number: 20200298649
    Abstract: An autonomous vehicle includes a passenger cabin, a sensor group and a passenger cabin climate control system including a control module. The sensor group includes a passenger cabin odor sensor, an occupancy sensor and a vehicle speed sensor. The control module has a control logic adapted to purge an odor from the passenger cabin in response to data received from the sensor group indicating the presence of an odor in the passenger cabin, an unoccupied passenger cabin and the autonomous vehicle is moving at a minimum predetermined speed for a minimum predetermined time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2019
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Inventors: Alan Gutowski, Jennifer A. Herr-Rathke, Manfred Koberstein, Curtis Mark Jones
  • Patent number: 10717340
    Abstract: A vehicle climate system includes a blower and a controller. The controller is configured to, responsive to input of a particular user selected climate setting, operate the blower with an initial power having a predetermined value corresponding to the climate setting provided that cabin temperature is outside a predetermined range. The controller is also configured to operate the blower with an initial power having a value less than the predetermined value provided that the cabin temperature is within the predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Curtis Mark Jones, Manfred Koberstein, Alan Douglas Wallington, Zhengyu Liu
  • Patent number: 10611214
    Abstract: A supplemental heating subsystem is provided for a vehicle climate control system including an air flow control door. The supplemental heating subsystem includes a controller configured to control the supplemental heating subsystem, a supplemental heating element responsive to the controller and an actuator for positioning the door responsive to the controller. In operation, the position of the door is controlled to improve the operating efficiency of the supplemental heating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alan Gutowski, Curtis Mark Jones, Tina Marie Maurer
  • Publication number: 20190291540
    Abstract: A vehicle thermal management system including an electric powertrain, a single thermal loop, and a controller is provided. The electric powertrain includes a high voltage battery. The single thermal loop is for managing thermal conditions of the high voltage battery and a vehicle cabin and may include a climate control system, a blower, and a front evaporator in fluid communication with the vehicle cabin. The controller is programmed to, responsive to detection of a climate control system off request, output a command to direct the blower to push air through a heater core to the vehicle cabin at a predetermined temperature such that a temperature within the vehicle cabin is maintained at a predetermined temperature and refrigerant continues to flow through the front evaporator. The system may include a vehicle cabin temperature sensor and an ambient temperature sensor, each in electrical communication with the controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2018
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alan Gutowski, Curtis Mark Jones, William Stewart Johnston, Manfred Koberstein
  • Publication number: 20190111761
    Abstract: A method of operating a vehicle climate system when an ambient temperature is below a threshold temperature is provided. In response to an ambient temperature being less than a threshold temperature, a controller is adapted to operate a blower motor at a voltage that depends on whether the vehicle is in charge sustain mode or charge deplete mode. In response to an ambient temperature being greater than a threshold temperature, the controller is adapted to operate the blower motor at a voltage that does not depend on whether in the charge sustain or charge deplete modes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2017
    Publication date: April 18, 2019
    Inventors: Jasbir JAGLAN, William Stewart JOHNSTON, Alan Douglas WALLINGTON, Curtis Mark JONES, Chris George OEHRING, Mark G. SMITH
  • Publication number: 20180105022
    Abstract: A vehicle climate system includes a blower and a controller. The controller is configured to, responsive to input of a particular user selected climate setting, operate the blower with an initial power having a predetermined value corresponding to the climate setting provided that cabin temperature is outside a predetermined range. The controller is also configured to operate the blower with an initial power having a value less than the predetermined value provided that the cabin temperature is within the predetermined range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2017
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventors: Curtis Mark JONES, Manfred KOBERSTEIN, Alan Douglas WALLINGTON, Zhengyu LIU
  • Publication number: 20160288616
    Abstract: A supplemental heating subsystem is provided for a vehicle climate control system including an air flow control door. The supplemental heating subsystem includes a controller configured to control the supplemental heating subsystem, a supplemental heating element responsive to the controller and an actuator for positioning the door responsive to the controller. In operation, the position of the door is controlled to improve the operating efficiency of the supplemental heating element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2015
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Inventors: Alan Gutowski, Curtis Mark Jones, Tina Marie Maurer
  • Publication number: 20140251721
    Abstract: A blower for an HVAC system of a motor vehicle. A fan is supplied with airflow by a duct having a bend adjacent to the fan that causes a low-pressure region at a face of the fan. A baffle is located immediately adjacent to the fan face and collocated with at least a portion of the low-pressure region to impede airflow through the face of the fan at that location. The baffle acts to reduce unwanted low frequency noise and improves the mechanical efficiency of the fan. The baffle covers a circular segment of the fan face and may have sound-suppressing features, such as ridges formed on at least one surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Zhengyu Liu, Ahmed Cherif, Curtis Mark Jones, Steven Pryor Perry
  • Patent number: 8813908
    Abstract: A blower for an HVAC system of a motor vehicle. A fan is supplied with airflow by a duct having a bend adjacent to the fan that causes a low-pressure region at a face of the fan. A baffle is located immediately adjacent to the fan face and collocated with at least a portion of the low-pressure region to impede airflow through the face of the fan at that location. The baffle acts to reduce unwanted low frequency noise and improves the mechanical efficiency of the fan. The baffle covers a circular segment of the fan face and may have sound-suppressing features, such as ridges formed on at least one surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Zhengyu Liu, Ahmed Cherif, Curtis Mark Jones, Steven Pryor Perry