Patents by Inventor Douglas James McEwan
Douglas James McEwan 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: 20230417857Abstract: A computer includes a processor and a memory, and the memory stores instructions executable to receive range data from a plurality of ultrasonic sensors on a vehicle, determine two ellipses from respective pulses of the range datadetermine a plurality of intersections of the two ellipses, exclude a subset of the intersections, and actuate a component of the vehicle based on the nonexcluded intersections. The ultrasonic sensors have respective fields of view, the fields of view overlap, and the range data includes distances traveled by pulses emitted by the ultrasonic sensors and received by the ultrasonic sensors. Each pulse is emitted by a different one of the ultrasonic sensors than received that pulse. Excluding the subset of the intersections is based on the fields of view.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 17, 2022Publication date: December 28, 2023Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Rajiv Sithiravel, Sutharsan Sivagnanam, Douglas James McEwan, David A. LaPorte
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Patent number: 11555919Abstract: A system includes a computer including a processor and a memory. The memory includes instructions such that the processor is programmed to: receive, from a radar sensor of a vehicle, radar data indicative of a stationary object proximate to the radar sensor; receive, from a non-radar sensor of the vehicle, vehicle state data indicative of a vehicle state, the vehicle state data indicative of at least a longitudinal velocity and a yaw rate of the vehicle; determine an orientation estimate and an offset estimate of the radar sensor based on the radar data and the vehicle state data; and determine whether to actuate a vehicle system based on at least one of the orientation estimate or the offset estimate.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2019Date of Patent: January 17, 2023Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Douglas James McEwan, Timothy Stolzenfeld
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Publication number: 20210103050Abstract: A system includes a computer including a processor and a memory. The memory includes instructions such that the processor is programmed to: receive, from a radar sensor of a vehicle, radar data indicative of a stationary object proximate to the radar sensor; receive, from a non-radar sensor of the vehicle, vehicle state data indicative of a vehicle state, the vehicle state data indicative of at least a longitudinal velocity and a yaw rate of the vehicle; determine an orientation estimate and an offset estimate of the radar sensor based on the radar data and the vehicle state data; and determine whether to actuate a vehicle system based on at least one of the orientation estimate or the offset estimate.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 7, 2019Publication date: April 8, 2021Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Douglas James McEwan, Timothy Stolzenfeld
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Patent number: 10145326Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for performing mitigating actions in response to detecting a fuel injector leak. In one example, a method may include in response to detecting a fuel injector leak, performing first high pressure mitigating actions including increasing a fuel rail pressure, increasing a pulse width delivered to the leaking fuel injector, and commanding fuel injection during compression stroke; in response to the first mitigating actions not reducing the leak below a threshold rate, performing second high pressure mitigating actions including increasing the fuel rail pressure, increasing the pulse width delivered to the leaking injector, and commanding fuel injection during intake stroke for a cylinder receiving fuel from the leaking injector; and in response to the second mitigating actions not reducing the leak below the threshold rate, reducing the fuel rail pressure, and commanding intake stroke fuel injection to all cylinders.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2017Date of Patent: December 4, 2018Assignee: Ford Global Technolgies, LLCInventors: Douglas James McEwan, Chris Paul Glugla
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Patent number: 9932922Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for detecting cylinder air-fuel imbalance. In one example, a method may include adjusting engine operation based on an indication of cylinder air-fuel imbalance. The imbalance may be detected based on output from a second exhaust gas sensor and a plurality of individual cylinder weighting factors, the second sensor located in an exhaust system downstream of a first sensor located in the exhaust system.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2014Date of Patent: April 3, 2018Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventor: Douglas James McEwan
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Publication number: 20170260923Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for performing mitigating actions in response to detecting a fuel injector leak. In one example, a method may include in response to detecting a fuel injector leak, performing first high pressure mitigating actions including increasing a fuel rail pressure, increasing a pulse width delivered to the leaking fuel injector, and commanding fuel injection during compression stroke; in response to the first mitigating actions not reducing the leak below a threshold rate, performing second high pressure mitigating actions including increasing the fuel rail pressure, increasing the pulse width delivered to the leaking injector, and commanding fuel injection during intake stroke for a cylinder receiving fuel from the leaking injector; and in response to the second mitigating actions not reducing the leak below the threshold rate, reducing the fuel rail pressure, and commanding intake stroke fuel injection to all cylinders.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 30, 2017Publication date: September 14, 2017Inventors: Douglas James McEwan, Chris Paul Glugla
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Patent number: 9663096Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for performing mitigating actions in response to detecting a fuel injector leak. In one example, a method may include in response to detecting a fuel injector leak, performing first high pressure mitigating actions including increasing a fuel rail pressure, increasing a pulse width delivered to the leaking fuel injector, and commanding fuel injection during compression stroke; in response to the first mitigating actions not reducing the leak below a threshold rate, performing second high pressure mitigating actions including increasing the fuel rail pressure, increasing the pulse width delivered to the leaking injector, and commanding fuel injection during intake stroke for a cylinder receiving fuel from the leaking injector; and in response to the second mitigating actions not reducing the leak below the threshold rate, reducing the fuel rail pressure, and commanding intake stroke fuel injection to all cylinders.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2015Date of Patent: May 30, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Douglas James McEwan, Chris Paul Glugla
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Patent number: 9527494Abstract: Methods and systems for determining driveline control parameters for a vehicle are described. In one example, a method for requesting a vehicle to operate in a specific operating region based on a request from a cloud network is described. The method may include options for driver interaction and autonomous vehicle operation.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2015Date of Patent: December 27, 2016Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Chris Paul Glugla, Douglas James McEwan, Garlan J. Huberts
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Publication number: 20160245221Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for performing mitigating actions in response to detecting a fuel injector leak. In one example, a method may include in response to detecting a fuel injector leak, performing first high pressure mitigating actions including increasing a fuel rail pressure, increasing a pulse width delivered to the leaking fuel injector, and commanding fuel injection during compression stroke; in response to the first mitigating actions not reducing the leak below a threshold rate, performing second high pressure mitigating actions including increasing the fuel rail pressure, increasing the pulse width delivered to the leaking injector, and commanding fuel injection during intake stroke for a cylinder receiving fuel from the leaking injector; and in response to the second mitigating actions not reducing the leak below the threshold rate, reducing the fuel rail pressure, and commanding intake stroke fuel injection to all cylinders.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 20, 2015Publication date: August 25, 2016Inventors: Douglas James McEwan, Chris Paul Glugla
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Publication number: 20160214596Abstract: Methods and systems for determining driveline control parameters for a vehicle are described. In one example, a method for requesting a vehicle to operate in a specific operating region based on a request from a cloud network is described. The method may include options for driver interaction and autonomous vehicle operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 26, 2015Publication date: July 28, 2016Inventors: Chris Paul Glugla, Douglas James McEwan, Garlan J. Huberts
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Patent number: 9399961Abstract: Air/fuel imbalance monitoring systems and methods for monitoring air/fuel ratio imbalance of an internal combustion engine are disclosed. In one embodiment, adjusting engine operation responsive to cylinder air/fuel imbalance based on a determined total number of instances where sensed peak-to-peak exhaust air-fuel ratios differentials are less than a threshold normalized to a total number of peak-to-peak oscillations. The approach can be used to indicate air/fuel ratio imbalances between engine cylinders.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2014Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Allen Lehmen, Douglas James McEwan, Adam Nathan Banker
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Patent number: 9346469Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for expediting updating a vehicle's powertrain calibration table. The table is updated with data generated on-board a given vehicle while being matured with data downloaded from a cloud-based network, the downloaded data generated on-board one or more other vehicles having matching powertrain characteristics. Regions of a vehicle's calibration table where sufficient data is not generated on-board a given vehicle is populated with data from one or more other vehicles having sufficient data for those corresponding regions.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2014Date of Patent: May 24, 2016Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Chris Paul Glugla, Michael Damian Czekala, Garlan J. Huberts, Douglas James McEwan
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Publication number: 20160123257Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for detecting cylinder air-fuel imbalance. In one example, a method may include adjusting engine operation based on an indication of cylinder air-fuel imbalance. The imbalance may be detected based on output from a second exhaust gas sensor and a plurality of individual cylinder weighting factors, the second sensor located in an exhaust system downstream of a first sensor located in the exhaust system.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2014Publication date: May 5, 2016Inventor: Douglas James McEwan
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Publication number: 20160115879Abstract: Air/fuel imbalance monitoring systems and methods for monitoring air/fuel ratio imbalance of an internal combustion engine are disclosed. In one embodiment, adjusting engine operation responsive to cylinder air/fuel imbalance based on a determined total number of instances where sensed peak-to-peak exhaust air-fuel ratios differentials are less than a threshold normalized to a total number of peak-to-peak oscillations. The approach can be used to indicate air/fuel ratio imbalances between engine cylinders.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 27, 2014Publication date: April 28, 2016Inventors: Allen Lehmen, Douglas James McEwan, Adam Nathan Banker
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Publication number: 20160035145Abstract: A system includes a processor configured to receive vehicle data from a plurality of vehicles. The processor is also configured to save the data with respect to a reporting vehicle. Further, the processor is configured to associate the data with any recent reporting vehicle repairs. The processor is additionally configured to analyze the associated data with respect to other vehicles having similar repairs to determine root causes of malfunction leading to the repair and save a record of identified causes of the malfunction.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2014Publication date: February 4, 2016Inventors: Douglas James McEwan, Christopher Paul Glugla, Michael Damian Czekala, Garlan J. Huberts
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Publication number: 20160035151Abstract: A system includes a processor configured to receive identification of a vehicle system-usage parameter. The processor is also configured to receive identification of a vehicle model in which to track the parameter. Further, the processor is configured to transmit the parameter to wirelessly connected vehicles of the identified model. The processor is additionally configured to receive usage-related tracking data corresponding to the parameter from the wirelessly connected vehicles. The processor is also configured to determine if usage-related tracking data indicates usage below a predefined threshold and report determined usage-related tracking data when the usage is below the threshold.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2014Publication date: February 4, 2016Inventors: Douglas James McEwan, Christopher Paul Glugla, Michael Damian Czekala, Garlan J. Huberts
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Publication number: 20150224997Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for expediting updating a vehicle's powertrain calibration table. The table is updated with data generated on-board a given vehicle while being matured with data downloaded from a cloud-based network, the downloaded data generated on-board one or more other vehicles having matching powertrain characteristics. Regions of a vehicle's calibration table where sufficient data is not generated on-board a given vehicle is populated with data from one or more other vehicles having sufficient data for those corresponding regions.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 7, 2014Publication date: August 13, 2015Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Chris Paul Glugla, Michael Damian Czekala, Garlan J. Huberts, Douglas James McEwan