Patents by Inventor Frank M Korpics

Frank M Korpics 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: 11434841
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a NOx sensor. In one example, a method includes heating a NOx sensor during a vehicle off in response to a cumulative heat energy applied to the NOx.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Frank M Korpics, Brett Gayney, Dean Pennala, William Goodwin, Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt
  • Publication number: 20220195956
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a NOx sensor. In one example, a method includes heating a NOx sensor during a vehicle off in response to a cumulative heat energy applied to the NOx.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2020
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Inventors: Frank M Korpics, Brett Gayney, Dean Pennala, William Goodwin, Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt
  • Patent number: 11326495
    Abstract: Methods and systems for operating an engine that includes a controller and a NOx sensor are described. In one example, output of the NOx sensor is selectively made available to software modules within the controller when an offset in NOx sensor output is not expected. If the offset in NOx sensor output is expected, the NOx sensor output may not be made available to the software modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dean Pennala, Justin Trzeciak, Frank M. Korpics, Jim Bromham
  • Publication number: 20220025806
    Abstract: Methods and systems for operating an engine that includes a controller and a NOx sensor are described. In one example, output of the NOx sensor is selectively made available to software modules within the controller when an offset in NOx sensor output is not expected. If the offset in NOx sensor output is expected, the NOx sensor output may not be made available to the software modules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2020
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Inventors: Dean Pennala, Justin Trzeciak, Frank M. Korpics, Jim Bromham
  • Patent number: 11015539
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for identifying when an exhaust valve of an engine cylinder is not functioning as desired while the engine is being operated to raise a temperature of an exhaust system emissions control device, and in turn taking mitigating action. Thus, in one example a method comprises adjusting an amount of fuel that is provided to each of a plurality of cylinders of an engine during an exhaust stroke of the engine in response to an indication of degraded combustion stemming from a cylinder of the engine. In this way, the engine may continue to be operated to raise the temperature of the exhaust system emissions control device, while mitigating the issue of the degraded combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brien Lloyd Fulton, Frank M. Korpics, Aaron John Oakley, Kirk Andrew Parrish, Sanket Anil Gujarathi, Nicholas Sovis, Dayton Brenner, Joseph Goode, Nicholas John Vella
  • Publication number: 20210095607
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for identifying when an exhaust valve of an engine cylinder is not functioning as desired while the engine is being operated to raise a temperature of an exhaust system emissions control device, and in turn taking mitigating action. Thus, in one example a method comprises adjusting an amount of fuel that is provided to each of a plurality of cylinders of an engine during an exhaust stroke of the engine in response to an indication of degraded combustion stemming from a cylinder of the engine. In this way, the engine may continue to be operated to raise the temperature of the exhaust system emissions control device, while mitigating the issue of the degraded combustion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Inventors: Brien Lloyd Fulton, Frank M. Korpics, Aaron John Oakley, Kirk Andrew Parrish, Sanket Anil Gujarathi, Nicholas Sovis, Dayton Brenner, Joseph Goode, Nicholas John Vella
  • Patent number: 9429059
    Abstract: Various systems and methods are described for detecting ammonia slip. In one example method, an exhaust system with two NOx sensors uses transient responses of the NOx sensors to allocate tailpipe NOx sensor output to NOx and NH3 levels therein. An ammonia slip detection counter with gains is included that determines a probability of NOx and NH3 based on the measured sensor activities that are further processed by a controller to adjust one or more parameters based on the allocation and changes of sensor output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chris Riffle, Frank M. Korpics, Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt, Devesh Upadhyay, David Robert Nader
  • Patent number: 9297338
    Abstract: The systems and method described above in the present disclosure allow for regeneration of a diesel particulate filter while a vehicle is in stationary power take-off mode. Described is a method of: during select power take-off conditions, reducing an EGR rate responsive to an indication to regenerate a diesel particulate filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jeff Reich, Frank M. Korpics, Dean Pennala, Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt, David Wynn Philion, James Campbell, Timothy Webb
  • Patent number: 9038611
    Abstract: A method for controlling combustion in an engine is provided. The method comprises under a first condition, adjusting an EGR amount of a total cylinder charge in response to engine out NOx levels being below a first threshold. In this way, NOx levels may be used as feedback to control combustion stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Peter Mitchell Lyon, Chris Riffle, Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt, Frank M. Korpics, Jeff Reich, Dean Pennala
  • Patent number: 8943798
    Abstract: Various systems and methods are described for detecting ammonia slip. In one example method, an amount of exhaust gas recirculation is reduced when output from an exhaust gas sensor indicates an increase in nitrogen oxide above a threshold amount. When the sensor output increases above a second threshold while the exhaust gas recirculation is reduced, the sensor output is allocated to nitrogen oxide; and when the sensor output does not increase above a second threshold while the exhaust gas recirculation is reduced, the sensor output is allocated to ammonia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chris Riffle, Frank M. Korpics, Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt, Devesh Upadhyay, John Paul Bogema, Jeff Reich
  • Publication number: 20140331643
    Abstract: The systems and method described above in the present disclosure allow for regeneration of a diesel particulate filter while a vehicle is in stationary power take-off mode. Described is a method of: during select power take-off conditions, reducing an EGR rate responsive to an indication to regenerate a diesel particulate filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2013
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jeff Reich, Frank M. Korpics, Dean Pennala, Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt, David Wynn Philion, James Campbell, Timothy Webb
  • Publication number: 20140298778
    Abstract: Various systems and methods are described for detecting ammonia slip. In one example method, an exhaust system with two NOx sensors uses transient responses of the NOx sensors to allocate tailpipe NOx sensor output to NOx and NH3 levels therein. An ammonia slip detection counter with gains is included that determines a probability of NOx and NH3 based on the measured sensor activities that are further processed by a controller to adjust one or more parameters based on the allocation and changes of sensor output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2013
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chris Riffle, Frank M. Korpics, Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt, Devesh Upadhyay, David Robert Nader
  • Publication number: 20140102077
    Abstract: Various systems and methods are described for detecting ammonia slip. In one example method, an amount of exhaust gas recirculation is reduced when output from an exhaust gas sensor indicates an increase in nitrogen oxide above a threshold amount. When the sensor output increases above a second threshold while the exhaust gas recirculation is reduced, the sensor output is allocated to nitrogen oxide; and when the sensor output does not increase above a second threshold while the exhaust gas recirculation is reduced, the sensor output is allocated to ammonia.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Chris Riffle, Frank M. Korpics, Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt, Devesh Upadhyay, John Paul Bogema, Jeff Reich
  • Patent number: 8516815
    Abstract: A method for responding to an existing or incipient surge condition of a turbocharger coupled to an engine of a motor vehicle is provided. The method comprises receiving a signal responsive to an operating condition of the turbocharger and adjusting one or more operating parameters of the motor vehicle when a power of the signal, integrated over a pre-selected range of non-zero frequencies, exceeds a pre-selected threshold. Other embodiments provide related systems for responding to an existing or incipient surge condition of a turbocharger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yong Shu, Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt, Brien Lloyd Fulton, Frank M. Korpics, Harold Huimin Sun
  • Publication number: 20130118461
    Abstract: A method for controlling combustion in an engine is provided. The method comprises under a first condition, adjusting an EGR amount of a total cylinder charge in response to engine out NOx levels being below a first threshold. In this way, NOx levels may be used as feedback to control combustion stability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Peter Mitchell, Chris Riffle, Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt, Frank M. Korpics, Jeff Reich, Dean Pennala
  • Publication number: 20130013168
    Abstract: A method for responding to an existing or incipient surge condition of a turbocharger coupled to an engine of a motor vehicle is provided. The method comprises receiving a signal responsive to an operating condition of the turbocharger and adjusting one or more operating parameters of the motor vehicle when a power of the signal, integrated over a pre-selected range of non-zero frequencies, exceeds a pre-selected threshold. Other embodiments provide related systems for responding to an existing or incipient surge condition of a turbocharger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Yong Shu, Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt, Brien Lloyd Fulton, Frank M. Korpics, Harold Huimin Sun
  • Patent number: 8272215
    Abstract: A method for responding to an existing or incipient surge condition of a turbocharger coupled to an engine of a motor vehicle is provided. The method comprises receiving a signal responsive to an operating condition of the turbocharger and adjusting one or more operating parameters of the motor vehicle when a power of the signal, integrated over a pre-selected range of non-zero frequencies, exceeds a pre-selected threshold. Other embodiments provide related systems for responding to an existing or incipient surge condition of a turbocharger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yong Shu, Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt, Brien Lloyd Fulton, Frank M. Korpics, Harold Huimin Sun
  • Patent number: 8047184
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling an engine control an EGR cooler bypass valve to divert at least a portion of EGR flow around an EGR cooler when operating under cooler fouling/plugging conditions, such as during idle, off-idle, exhaust system warm up and DPF regeneration or other post injection operation with EGR gas temperature below a corresponding threshold or with EGR low-temperature coolant temperature below a corresponding threshold. The system and method reduce exhaust gases passing through the EGR cooler that contain a high concentration of unburned or partially unburned fuel when the temperature in the EGR system is lower than the fuel condensation temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Joseph Styles, Kevin Chen, David Curtis Ives, Frank M Korpics, Norman Hiam Opolsky, Timothy Webb
  • Publication number: 20110023839
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling an engine control an EGR cooler bypass valve to divert at least a portion of EGR flow around an EGR cooler when operating under cooler fouling/plugging conditions, such as during idle, off-idle, exhaust system warm up and DPF regeneration or other post injection operation with EGR gas temperature below a corresponding threshold or with EGR low-temperature coolant temperature below a corresponding threshold. The system and method reduce exhaust gases passing through the EGR cooler that contain a high concentration of unburned or partially unburned fuel when the temperature in the EGR system is lower than the fuel condensation temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Joseph Styles, Kevin Chen, David Curtis Ives, Frank M. Korpics, Norman Hiam Opolsky, Timothy Webb
  • Publication number: 20090293477
    Abstract: A method for responding to an existing or incipient surge condition of a turbocharger coupled to an engine of a motor vehicle is provided. The method comprises receiving a signal responsive to an operating condition of the turbocharger and adjusting one or more operating parameters of the motor vehicle when a power of the signal, integrated over a pre-selected range of non-zero frequencies, exceeds a pre-selected threshold. Other embodiments provide related systems for responding to an existing or incipient surge condition of a turbocharger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2009
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Yong Shu, Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt, Brien Lloyd Fulton, Frank M. Korpics, Harold Huimin Sun