Patents by Inventor Donald Charles Franks

Donald Charles Franks 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: 9766648
    Abstract: A controller timing system according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a master controller to generate a timing signal, a first slave controller configured to wake in response to the timing signal, and a second slave controller configured to wake in response to the timing signal. Timing of the first slave controller and timing of the second slave controller is coordinated based on the timing signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Hasdi R. Hashim, Donald Charles Franks
  • Patent number: 9630521
    Abstract: An automotive vehicle includes an air conditioning system configured to selectively cool a cabin of the vehicle and at least one electrical component of the vehicle. The vehicle also includes one or more controllers configured to determine whether the air conditioning system is operating to cool the at least one electrical component, to determine whether cabin cooling is requested, and to enable the air conditioning system to cool the cabin if the air conditioning system is operating to cool the at least one electrical component and if cabin cooling is requested.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Jay Louch, Donald Charles Franks, Brian C. Moorhead, Hasdi R. Hashim
  • Publication number: 20170057362
    Abstract: A vehicle may include an electric machine, a traction battery, and a solar panel array. The vehicle may further include circuitry electrically connected with the battery and array. The circuitry may include at least one switch configured to close when activated by a calibrated maximum holding power to permit energy to flow from the array to the battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Fazal Urrahman Syed, Venkatapathi Raju Nallapa, Shailesh Shrikant Kozarekar, Michael Edward Loftus, Shane Schulze, Robert K. Taenaka, Donald Charles Franks, Ming Lang Kuang, Venkateswara Anand Sankaran
  • Patent number: 9556787
    Abstract: A system and method for improving engine starting and stopping is described. In one example, turbine vanes are adjusted to increase engine exhaust backpressure to reduce engine stopping time and to limit engine speed overshoot during engine starting. The system and method may reduce engine emissions and improve a vehicle driving experience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joe F. Stanek, John A. Lockwood, Sam Hashemi, Donald Charles Franks
  • Patent number: 9555704
    Abstract: A method according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, inhibiting operation of an internal combustion engine of a vehicle based on a proximity of the vehicle to a fueling location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC.
    Inventors: Joseph F. Stanek, Lisa Scott, Jeffrey Alan Palic, Mark Davison, John A Lockwood, Donald Charles Franks
  • Patent number: 9496751
    Abstract: A vehicle may include an electric machine, a traction battery, and a solar panel array. The vehicle may further include circuitry electrically connected with the battery and array. The circuitry may include at least one switch configured to close when activated by a calibrated maximum holding power to permit energy to flow from the array to the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Fazal Urrahman Syed, Venkatapathi Raju Nallapa, Shailesh Shrikant Kozarekar, Michael Edward Loftus, Shane Schulze, Robert K. Taenaka, Donald Charles Franks, Ming Lang Kuang, Venkateswa Anand Sankaran
  • Publication number: 20160016468
    Abstract: A method according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, inhibiting operation of an internal combustion engine of a vehicle based on a proximity of the vehicle to a fueling location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Inventors: Joseph F. Stanek, Lisa Scott, Jeffrey Alan Palic, Mark Davison, John A. Lockwood, Donald Charles Franks
  • Publication number: 20150226112
    Abstract: A system and method for improving engine starting and stopping is described. In one example, turbine vanes are adjusted to increase engine exhaust backpressure to reduce engine stopping time and to limit engine speed overshoot during engine starting. The system and method may reduce engine emissions and improve a vehicle driving experience.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2015
    Publication date: August 13, 2015
    Inventors: Joe F. Stanek, John A. Lockwood, Sam Hashemi, Donald Charles Franks
  • Patent number: 9014952
    Abstract: A system and method for improving engine starting and stopping is described. In one example, turbine vanes are adjusted to increase engine exhaust backpressure to reduce engine stopping time and to limit engine speed overshoot during engine starting. The system and method may reduce engine emissions and improve a vehicle driving experience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joe F. Stanek, John A. Lockwood, Sam Hashemi, Donald Charles Franks
  • Patent number: 8947039
    Abstract: A solar powered hybrid power system including a solar charge collector; a charge storage system comprising at least a first charge storage device adapted to receive and store charge from said solar charge collector; wherein said charge storage system further comprises a power electronic circuit selectively connectable to at least a second charge storage device, said power electronic circuit adapted to transfer said stored charge to said at least a second charge storage device at a selectable voltage level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Jay Louch, Donald Charles Franks
  • Publication number: 20150026504
    Abstract: A controller timing system according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a master controller to generate a timing signal, a first slave controller configured to wake in response to the timing signal, and a second slave controller configured to wake in response to the timing signal. Timing of the first slave controller and timing of the second slave controller is coordinated based on the timing signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2013
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: Hasdi R. Hashim, Donald Charles Franks
  • Publication number: 20140251267
    Abstract: A system and method for operating an engine is described. In one example, engine boost pressure is adjusted to improve engine starting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Sam Hashemi, Joe F. Stanek, Donald Charles Franks, John A. Lockwood
  • Publication number: 20140067238
    Abstract: A system and method for improving engine starting and stopping is described. In one example, turbine vanes are adjusted to increase engine exhaust backpressure to reduce engine stopping time and to limit engine speed overshoot during engine starting. The system and method may reduce engine emissions and improve a vehicle driving experience.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Joe F. Stanek, John A. Lockwood, Sam Hashemi, Donald Charles Franks
  • Publication number: 20130169210
    Abstract: A solar powered hybrid power system including a solar charge collector; a charge storage system comprising at least a first charge storage device adapted to receive and store charge from said solar charge collector; wherein said charge storage system further comprises a power electronic circuit selectively connectable to at least a second charge storage device, said power electronic circuit adapted to transfer said stored charge to said at least a second charge storage device at a selectable voltage level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Jay Louch, Donald Charles Franks
  • Patent number: 8354818
    Abstract: A solar powered hybrid power system including a solar charge collector; a charge storage system comprising at least a first charge storage device adapted to receive and store charge from said solar charge collector; wherein said charge storage system further comprises a power electronic circuit selectively connectable to at least a second charge storage device, said power electronic circuit adapted to transfer said stored charge to said at least a second charge storage device at a selectable voltage level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Jay Louch, Donald Charles Franks
  • Patent number: 8125182
    Abstract: An automotive vehicle includes an electrical circuit capable of being electrically connected with an electrical grid, a propulsion electrical bus electrically connected with the circuit, a power conversion module electrically connected with the propulsion electrical bus, and a power storage unit electrically connected with the power conversion module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Hasdi R. Hashim, Donald Charles Franks, Bruce Carvell Blakemore
  • Publication number: 20110163710
    Abstract: A vehicle may include an electric machine, a traction battery, and a solar panel array. The vehicle may further include circuitry electrically connected with the battery and array. The circuitry may include at least one switch configured to close when activated by a calibrated maximum holding power to permit energy to flow from the array to the battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2010
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Fazal Urrahman Syed, Venkatapathi Raju Nallapa, Shailesh Shrikant Kozarekar, Michael Edward Loftus, Shane Schulze, Robert K. Taenaka, Donald Charles Franks, Ming Lang Kuang, Venkateswa Anand Sankaran
  • Publication number: 20110083449
    Abstract: An automotive vehicle includes an air conditioning system configured to selectively cool a cabin of the vehicle and at least one electrical component of the vehicle. The vehicle also includes one or more controllers configured to determine whether the air conditioning system is operating to cool the at least one electrical component, to determine whether cabin cooling is requested, and to enable the air conditioning system to cool the cabin if the air conditioning system is operating to cool the at least one electrical component and if cabin cooling is requested.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2009
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Jay Louch, Donald Charles Franks, Brian C. Moorhead, Hasdi R. Hashim
  • Publication number: 20100231169
    Abstract: An automotive vehicle includes an electrical circuit capable of being electrically connected with an electrical grid, a propulsion electrical bus electrically connected with the circuit, a power conversion module electrically connected with the propulsion electrical bus, and a power storage unit electrically connected with the power conversion module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2009
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Hasdi R. Hashim, Donald Charles Franks, Bruce Carvell Blakemore
  • Publication number: 20100213887
    Abstract: A solar powered hybrid power system including a solar charge collector; a charge storage system comprising at least a first charge storage device adapted to receive and store charge from said solar charge collector; wherein said charge storage system further comprises a power electronic circuit selectively connectable to at least a second charge storage device, said power electronic circuit adapted to transfer said stored charge to said at least a second charge storage device at a selectable voltage level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2007
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Inventors: Robert Jay Louch, Donald Charles Franks