Patents by Inventor Darrell Erick Butler
Darrell Erick Butler 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).
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Publication number: 20240181829Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture are disclosed to use front load estimates for body control are disclosed herein. An example vehicle includes a front axle, a suspension system including a suspension element, and a processor to execute instructions to generate, based on a load on the front axle and a velocity of the vehicle, a body control adjustment, determine a modified body control output based on the body control adjustment and an unmodified body control output, and apply the modified body control output to the suspension element of the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 13, 2024Publication date: June 6, 2024Inventors: David Michael Russell, Charles Gavin McGee, Ben Bulat, Daniel Lee Grohnke, Darrell Erick Butler
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Patent number: 11945277Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture are disclosed to use front load estimates for body control are disclosed herein. An example apparatus disclosed herein includes memory including stored instructions, and a processor to execute the instructions to filter sensor data to generate a first load value, the first load value associated with a first load on a front axle of a vehicle, generate, based on the first load value and a velocity of the vehicle, a first body control adjustment value, modify a body control output value with the first body control adjustment value, and apply the modified body control output value to a suspension system of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2021Date of Patent: April 2, 2024Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: David Michael Russell, Charles Gavin McGee, Ben Bulat, Daniel Lee Grohnke, Darrell Erick Butler
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Patent number: 11731478Abstract: A system for damping control for a vehicle includes a parameter component and a damping adjustment component. The parameter component is configured to determine one or more driving parameters of a vehicle. The one or more driving parameters include a velocity of the vehicle. The damping adjustment component is configured to adjust damping of suspension of the vehicle during driving based on the one or more driving parameters. The damping adjustment component is also configured to adjust damping of suspension at a zero velocity for a threshold time period in response to transitioning from a non-zero velocity to the zero velocity.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2021Date of Patent: August 22, 2023Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: David Michael Russell, Charles Gavin McGee, Ben Bulat, Russ Lee Norton, John Keller, Darrell Erick Butler
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Publication number: 20230100724Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture are disclosed to use front load estimates for body control are disclosed herein. An example apparatus disclosed herein includes memory including stored instructions, and a processor to execute the instructions to filter sensor data to generate a first load value, the first load value associated with a first load on a front axle of a vehicle, generate, based on the first load value and a velocity of the vehicle, a first body control adjustment value, modify a body control output value with the first body control adjustment value, and apply the modified body control output value to a suspension system of the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2021Publication date: March 30, 2023Inventors: David Michael Russell, Charles Gavin McGee, Ben Bulat, Daniel Lee Grohnke, Darrell Erick Butler
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Publication number: 20210155067Abstract: A system for damping control for a vehicle includes a parameter component and a damping adjustment component. The parameter component is configured to determine one or more driving parameters of a vehicle. The one or more driving parameters include a velocity of the vehicle. The damping adjustment component is configured to adjust damping of suspension of the vehicle during driving based on the one or more driving parameters. The damping adjustment component is also configured to adjust damping of suspension at a zero velocity for a threshold time period in response to transitioning from a non-zero velocity to the zero velocity.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 3, 2021Publication date: May 27, 2021Inventors: David Michael Russell, Charles Gavin McGee, Ben Bulat, Russ Lee Norton, John Keller, Darrell Erick Butler
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Patent number: 10974564Abstract: A system for damping control for a vehicle includes a parameter component and a damping adjustment component. The parameter component is configured to determine one or more driving parameters of a vehicle. The one or more driving parameters include a velocity of the vehicle. The damping adjustment component is configured to adjust damping of suspension of the vehicle during driving based on the one or more driving parameters. The damping adjustment component is also configured to adjust damping of suspension at a zero velocity for a threshold time period in response to transitioning from a non-zero velocity to the zero velocity.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2019Date of Patent: April 13, 2021Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: David Michael Russell, Charles Gavin McGee, Ben Bulat, Russ Lee Norton, John Keller, Darrell Erick Butler
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Publication number: 20190225043Abstract: A system for damping control for a vehicle includes a parameter component and a damping adjustment component. The parameter component is configured to determine one or more driving parameters of a vehicle. The one or more driving parameters include a velocity of the vehicle. The damping adjustment component is configured to adjust damping of suspension of the vehicle during driving based on the one or more driving parameters. The damping adjustment component is also configured to adjust damping of suspension at a zero velocity for a threshold time period in response to transitioning from a non-zero velocity to the zero velocity.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 3, 2019Publication date: July 25, 2019Inventors: David Michael Russell, Charles Gavin McGee, Ben Bulat, Russ Lee Norton, John Keller, Darrell Erick Butler
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Patent number: 10286745Abstract: A system for damping control for a vehicle includes a parameter component and a damping adjustment component. The parameter component is configured to determine one or more driving parameters of a vehicle. The one or more driving parameters include a velocity of the vehicle. The damping adjustment component is configured to adjust damping of suspension of the vehicle during driving based on the one or more driving parameters. The damping adjustment component is also configured to adjust damping of suspension at a zero velocity for a threshold time period in response to transitioning from a non-zero velocity to the zero velocity.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2016Date of Patent: May 14, 2019Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: David Michael Russell, Charles Gavin McGee, Ben Bulat, Russ Lee Norton, John Keller, Darrell Erick Butler
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Publication number: 20180126817Abstract: A system for damping control for a vehicle includes a parameter component and a damping adjustment component. The parameter component is configured to determine one or more driving parameters of a vehicle. The one or more driving parameters include a velocity of the vehicle. The damping adjustment component is configured to adjust damping of suspension of the vehicle during driving based on the one or more driving parameters. The damping adjustment component is also configured to adjust damping of suspension at a zero velocity for a threshold time period in response to transitioning from a non-zero velocity to the zero velocity.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 7, 2016Publication date: May 10, 2018Inventors: David Michael Russell, Charles Gavin McGee, Ben Bulat, Russ Lee Norton, John Keller, Darrell Erick Butler
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Patent number: 9738132Abstract: An active vehicle suspension system includes an active damping mechanism operatively coupled to a vehicle wheel and configured for controlling a damping force applied to the wheel responsive to a control signal. A controller is operatively coupled to the damping mechanism and configured for generating a control signal to the damping mechanism responsive to velocity of the wheel in a downward vertical direction. At least one of a timer threshold and velocity threshold, used to determine whether a vehicle wheel has encountered a depression in a road surface, may be varied on a basis of a speed of the vehicle. A damping mechanism for a rear wheel of a vehicle may be controlled on a basis of how a damping mechanism for a front wheel is controlled.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2015Date of Patent: August 22, 2017Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Russ Lee Norton, Benjamin Bulat, William Gregory Suter, Albert Chenouda Salib, David Michael Russell, Uwe Hoffmann, Marc Suermann, Darrell Erick Butler, Louis Joseph Jamail
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Publication number: 20160339916Abstract: A driving mode system for a motor vehicle includes a controller configured to transition from a first driving mode to a second driving mode by transitioning from the first driving mode to an intermediate driving mode and from the intermediate driving mode to the second driving mode. The controller is further configured to calculate the intermediate driving mode based on values for both the first driving mode and the second driving mode and control the motor vehicle according to the second driving mode. Methods of controlling a driving mode of a motor vehicle and vehicles including a driving mode system are further contemplated.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 21, 2015Publication date: November 24, 2016Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Russ Lee NORTON, Darrell Erick BUTLER
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Publication number: 20160046166Abstract: An active vehicle suspension system includes an active damping mechanism operatively coupled to a vehicle wheel and configured for controlling a damping force applied to the wheel responsive to a control signal. A controller is operatively coupled to the damping mechanism and configured for generating a control signal to the damping mechanism responsive to velocity of the wheel in a downward vertical direction. At least one of a timer threshold and velocity threshold, used to determine whether a vehicle wheel has encountered a depression in a road surface, may be varied on a basis of a speed of the vehicle. A damping mechanism for a rear wheel of a vehicle may be controlled on a basis of how a damping mechanism for a front wheel is controlled.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2015Publication date: February 18, 2016Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Russ Lee NORTON, Benjamin BULAT, William Gregory SUTER, Albert Chenouda SALIB, David Michael RUSSELL, Uwe HOFFMANN, Marc SUERMANN, Darrell Erick BUTLER, Louis Joseph JAMAIL
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Patent number: 9027532Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for generating sufficient vacuum to enable a leak detection routine. While a fuel tank pressure is within mechanical limits, fuel vapors are purged from a canister to an engine with an isolation valve open to generate a desired level of vacuum in the fuel tank. Thereafter, the fuel tank is isolated and leak detection is performed concurrent to the purging.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2011Date of Patent: May 12, 2015Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Mark W. Peters, Robert Roy Jentz, Darrell Erick Butler, Aed Mohammad Dudar
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Publication number: 20130112176Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for generating sufficient vacuum to enable a leak detection routine. While a fuel tank pressure is within mechanical limits, fuel vapors are purged from a canister to an engine with an isolation valve open to generate a desired level of vacuum in the fuel tank. Thereafter, the fuel tank is isolated and leak detection is performed concurrent to the purging.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 8, 2011Publication date: May 9, 2013Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Mark W. Peters, Robert Roy Jentz, Darrell Erick Butler, Aed Mohammad Dudar
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Patent number: 7942134Abstract: A method for controlling an automotive canister purge valve in fluid communication with an evaporative canister includes selecting a purge flow rate of increase for the purge valve based on a hydrocarbon concentration in a fluid stream exiting the evaporative canister, and operating the purge valve based on the selected rate.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2009Date of Patent: May 17, 2011Assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLCInventors: Mark Peters, Darrell Erick Butler, Kenneth James Miller, Eric J. Bensen, Kenneth L. Pifher
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Publication number: 20100229837Abstract: A method for controlling an automotive canister purge valve in fluid communication with an evaporative canister includes selecting a purge flow rate of increase for the purge valve based on a hydrocarbon concentration in a fluid stream exiting the evaporative canister, and operating the purge valve based on the selected rate.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2009Publication date: September 16, 2010Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Mark Peters, Darrell Erick Butler, Kenneth James Miller, Eric J. Bensen, Kenneth L. Pifher